Open Salvation

Salvation 

1. What is the human condition?

Though created good and made for fellowship with our Creator, humanity has been cut off from God by self-centered rebellion against him, leading to lawless living, guilt, shame, death, and the fear of judgment. This is the state of sin. 

(Genesis 3:1–13; Psalm 14:1–3; Matthew 15:10–20; Romans 1:18–23; 3:9–23)

2. What is the Gospel?

The Gospel is the good news that God loves the world and offers salvation from sin through his Son, Jesus Christ. 

(Psalm 103:1–13; Isaiah 53:4–5; John 3:16–17; 1 Corinthians 15:1–5)

3. How does sin affect you?

Sin alienates me from God, my neighbor, God’s good creation, and myself. Apart from Christ, I am hopeless, guilty, lost, helpless, and walking in the way of death. 

(Genesis 3:14–19; Psalm 38; Isaiah 53:6; 59:1–2; Romans 6:20–23)

4. What is the way of death?

The way of death is a life without God’s love and Holy Spirit, a life controlled by things that cannot bring me eternal

Open Concerning Holy Scripture

Concerning Holy Scripture

18. What is Holy Scripture?

Holy Scripture is “God’s Word written”, given by the Holy Spirit through prophets and apostles as the revelation of God and his acts in human history, and is therefore the Church’s final authority in all matters of faith and practice. 

(Psalm 19:7–11; Jeremiah 36:1–8; 2 Timothy 3:14–17; Revelation 1:1–11)

19. What books are contained in Holy Scripture?

The thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament together form the whole of Holy Scripture. 

20. What is in the Old Testament?

The Old Testament proclaims God’s creation of all things; mankind’s original disobedience; God’s calling of Israel to be his people; his Law, wisdom, and saving deeds; and the teaching of his prophets. The Old Testament bears witness to Christ, revealing God’s intention to redeem and reconcile the world through Christ. 

(Luke 24:44; 1 Corinthians 10:1–4; Hebrews 11)

21. What is in the New Tes

Open Concerning the Creeds

Concerning the Creeds

28. What is a creed?

A creed is a statement of faith. The word “creed” comes from the Latin credo, which means “I believe.” 

(Deuteronomy 11:18–23; 26:1–11; John 20:24–29; 1 John 5:9–12)

29. What is the purpose of the creeds?

The purpose of the creeds is to declare and safeguard for all generations essential truths about God, the Church, and the world, as revealed in Holy Scripture. 

(Deuteronomy 7:9–11; Psalm 145:4–13; John 20:30–31; 2 Timothy 1:13–14; Hebrews 2:1–4)

30. What does affirmation of the creeds signify?

Affirmation of the creeds signifies acceptance of God’s revealed truth and the intention to live by it. To reject any element of the creeds signifies a departure from the Christian faith. 

(Matthew 16:13–20; 2 Timothy 3:14–15; 4:1–5; James 2:10–26)

31. Which creeds does this church affirm?

This church affirms the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Chalcedonian Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. We further subscrive to

Open The Apostles' Creed: Article 1

The Apostles’ Creed: Article 1

I Believe in God

35. Who is God?

God is one divine Being eternally existing in three divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is the Holy Trinity. 

(Deuteronomy 6:4–7; Psalm 86:8–10; Isaiah 44:6–8; Matthew 3:16–17; 28:19; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

36. What does Holy Scripture tell us about the character of God?

God is both loving and holy. God mercifully redeems fallen creation, while righteously opposing all sin and evil. The Lord Jesus Christ is the fullest revelation of God’s holy love. 

(Exodus 34:6–7; Psalm 145; John 1:14–18; 14:9–10; Romans 5:6–11; Hebrews 1:1–3)

The Father Almighty

37. Who is God the Father?

God the Father is the first Person of the Holy Trinity, from whom the Son is eternally begotten and the Holy Spirit eternally proceeds. 

(Psalm 104; John 1:1, 14; 15:26; 1 Corinthians 2:10–16; 1 Peter 1:10–12; Nicene Creed)

38. Why do you call the first of the three d

Open The Apostles' Creed: Article 2

The Apostles’ Creed: Article 2

I Believe in Jesus Christ

47. Who is Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ is the eternal Word and Son of God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity. He took on human nature to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world, the only Mediator between God and fallen humanity. 

(Psalm 2; Malachi 3:1; John 1:1–18; Philippians 2:5–11; 1 Timothy 2:5–6)

48. What does “Jesus” mean?

“Jesus” means “God saves” and is taken from the Hebrew name Yeshua or Joshua. In Jesus, God has come to save us from the power of sin and death. 

(Joshua 1:1–9; Psalm 20; Matthew 1:18–25; Romans 8:1–2)

49. What does “Christ” mean?

Christos is the Greek term for the Hebrew title Messiah, meaning “Anointed One.” Old Testament kings, priests, and prophets were anointed with oil. Jesus the Christ was anointed by the Holy Spirit to perfectly fulfill these roles, and he rules now as Prophet, Priest, and King over his Church and all creation. 

_(Exodus 40:1216; 1 Samuel 16:11–13; 1

Open The Apostles' Creed: Article 3

The Apostles’ Creed: Article 3

I Believe in the Holy Spirit

83. Who is the Holy Spirit?

God the Holy Spirit is the third Person in the one Being of the Holy Trinity, coequal and coeternal with God the Father and God the Son, and equally worthy of our honor and worship. 

(Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:30; Matthew 3:16–17; 28:19; John 15:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

84. What principal names does the New Testament give to the Holy Spirit?

Jesus names the Holy Spirit “Paraclete” (“the one alongside”), which signifies Comforter, Guide, Counselor, Advocate, and Helper. Other descriptions for the Holy Spirit are “Spirit of God,” “Spirit of your Father,” “Spirit of Christ,” and “Spirit of truth.” 

(Matthew 10:20; John 14:16–17, 26; Acts 16:7; Romans 8:9)

85. What are the particular ministries of the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit imparts life to every living thing in creation, reveals God’s Word to his people, and calls sinners to a new life of faith in the saving and life-giving wo

Open Concerning Sacraments

Concerning Sacraments

120. What is a sacrament?

A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. God gives us the sign as a means by which we receive that grace and as a tangible assurance that we do in fact receive it. 

(Genesis 17:121; John 6:53–58; Romans 2:25–29; 1 Corinthians 10:16)

121. How should you receive the sacraments?

I should receive the sacraments by faith in Christ, with repentance and thanksgiving. Faith in Christ is necessary to receive the grace of the sacraments, and obedience to Christ is necessary for the benefits of the sacraments to bear fruit in my life. 

(Mark 16:16; John 6:52–58; Acts 2:38–47; 1 Corinthians 11:27–32)

122. What sacraments were ordained by Christ?

The two sacraments ordained by Christ that are “generally necessary to salvation”  are Baptism and Holy Communion (also called the Lord’s Supper or the Holy Eucharist). These are sometimes called “sacraments of the Gospel.” 

_(Matthew 28:19–20; Luke 22:

Open Concerning Prayer

Concerning Prayer

145. What is prayer?

Prayer is turning my heart toward God, to listen and to speak with him. 

(Psalms 84; 123; Matthew 7:7–11; John 17:1–9)

146. What should you seek in prayer?

In prayer, I should seek not only God’s provision for my needs, but fellowship with God, who made me for fellowship with himself. 

(Exodus 33:7–11; Psalms 27:4, 8; 42:1–2; John 14:18–23; 1 John 1:3)

147. How can you have fellowship with God?

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and union with him by the Holy Spirit, I have fellowship with God as his adopted child. I experience this in prayer, worship, God’s Word, the sacraments, and Christian community, as I daily follow him by faith. 

(Nehemiah 9:1–8; Psalm 65:1–4; John 15:9–17; Acts 2:42–47; Romans 8:14–17; 1 John 1:3–7)

148. Why should you pray?

I should pray because God calls me to do so, because I was made for fellowship with him, because I need the help of his Holy Spirit, and because he has promis

Open The Lord's Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

151. What is the prayer our Lord Jesus taught his disciples to pray?

The traditional version of the Lord’s Prayer is this:

Our Father, who is in heaven,  hallowed be your Name,  your kingdom come,  your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,  as we forgive those who trespass against us.  And lead us not into temptation,  but deliver us from evil.  For yours is the kingdom,  and the power, and the glory,  for ever and ever. Amen.

(Matthew 6:9–13; see also Luke 11:2–4)

152. Why should you learn the Lord’s Prayer?

I should learn the Lord’s Prayer because Jesus taught it to his disciples as both a practice and a pattern for prayer to God the Father. 

(Matthew 6:5–8; Luke 11:1, 5–13)

153. Why should you practice the Lord’s Prayer?

I should pray the Lord’s Prayer regularly because it teaches me to pray as Jesus commanded and to desire what his Father

Open A Rule of Prayer: Scripture, Prayer, and Worship

A Rule of Prayer: Scripture, Prayer, and Worship

215. What is a “rule” of prayer?

A rule of prayer is a regular discipline by which I cultivate a life of prayer and grow to love and glorify God more fully. 

(Psalms 5:1–3; 119:164; Daniel 6:6–13; Mark 1:35–39; Luke 5:12–16; Ephesians 6:10–20)

216. What can hinder your regular prayers?

My prayers may be hindered by many things, such as lethargy or loss, selfishness or sin, distractions or difficulties, or seasons of spiritual dryness. With God’s help, a rule of prayer strengthens me to overcome all these. 

(1 Kings 19:1–18; Psalm 116; Matthew 26:36–46; Luke 20:45–47; Romans 8:22–27)

217. What nurtures a fruitful life of prayer?

My life of prayer is fed by the regular reading of Scripture, practice of personal prayer, and corporate worship of God. 

(Psalm 1; John 15:1–17; Ephesians 5:15–20; Philippians 4:8–9; Hebrews 10:19–25)

Scripture

218. How should the Holy Scriptures shape your daily life?

I sho

Open The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments

238. Recite the Ten Commandments.

1. I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods but me.
2. You shall not make for yourself any idol.
3. You shall not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.

(Exodus 20:1–17; Deuteronomy 5:6–21)

239. What are the Ten Commandments?

The Ten Commandments are a summary and outline of God’s Law.

(Exodus 20:18–21; Deuteronomy 5:28–33; Psalm 78:5–8)

240. What is God’s Law?

God’s Law (Hebrew, torah: “instruction”) is God’s direct pronouncement of his will, both for our good and for his glory.

(Deuteronomy 30; Psalms 19:7–11; 119:89–104; Galatians 3:15–24)

241. When did God give his Law?

After delivering his people Israel from slav

Open Justification and Sanctification: Living in Forgiveness and Healing

Justification and Sanctification: Living in Forgiveness and Healing

343. Is it possible for you to keep these commandments?

No. I fail to keep them perfectly, however hard I try. They show me my inability to obey God’s Law and my need for God’s grace in Christ Jesus.

(1 Kings 8:46; Psalms 53:2–3; 130:3; Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:9–20; 1 John 1:8, 10)

344. Since you cannot perfectly keep God’s Law, what has Jesus done on your behalf?

As the perfect human and unblemished Lamb of God, Jesus lived a wholly obedient and sinless life. He suffered death for my redemption upon the Cross, offering himself once for all as a “full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world.”

(Isaiah 53:4–6; Mark 10:45; John 1:29; Romans 8:3–4; Colossians 2:13–15; Hebrews 10:10–14)

345. What do you receive through Christ’s sacrifice?

I receive the unmerited gift of God’s grace. If I confess my sins, God grants me forgiveness a