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July 1-8: Overview
The Ten Commandments summarize God’s law—his commands for all people. The Apostles’ Creed summarizes the gospel, the good news of what the triune God has done and continues to do for us.
In the Apostles’ Creed, we confess the gospel truths in three sections, each section highlighting the work of one of the three persons of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each section of the creed is called an article. Each article tells us what one of the divine persons has done and is continuing to do for us.
A closer look
A creed is a statement that expresses what people believe and teach. The Apostles’ Creed wasn’t written by the apostles, but it is a statement that expresses the truths taught by the apostles. It can be traced back to the third century.
Two other Christian creeds have played an important part in the history of the Christian church. When false teachings arose within the Christian church, God’s people needed to confess the truth and avoid the errors. The Nicene Creed (adopted in A.D. 325, see p. 15) and the Athanasian Creed (written about A.D. 500) were written to defend the truth of what the Bible teaches about God.
Most of our worship services include the confession of one of these creeds as an expression of our faith.
The triune God
118. Christians worship the triune God. What do we mean when we say that God is triune?
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
1 Corinthians 8:4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.”
John 10:30 I and the Father are one.
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.”
Matthew 3:16,17 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 28:19 Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
John 15:26 When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.
1 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
A closer look
The word triune comes from two Latin words: tria, meaning “three,” and unus, meaning “one.” When we say that God is triune, we mean that he is three persons yet one God (Trinity). The word trinity is not found in the Bible, but it helps us describe what God tells us about himself.
119. Because of our limited understanding, the truth of the Trinity— three persons in one God—is impossible for us to grasp or explain. Though we can’t comprehend this great truth, why do we believe that God is triune?
John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
Isaiah 55:9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Jeremiah 10:7 Who should not fear you, King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise leaders of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you.
1 Corinthians 2:13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
1 John 5:20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
God is so much greater than our ability to understand, but the Holy Spirit reveals the truth to us. Because God’s Word tells us that there are three persons yet one God, we believe that it is true.
121. Why is it so important that we teach the doctrine of the Trinity?
John 3:16 God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Psalm 49:7,8 No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough.
John 5:23 All may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Salvation is found in only one place. Whoever wishes to be saved must confess the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—as the only true God.
Connections
Luther
“How can we, miserable, poor mortals comprehend this mystery? We do not know the how of our own speaking, laughing, or sleeping, although we daily perform and experience these natural functions. And yet we want to speak of God and the conditions existing within his divine Being. We want to do so without the Word of God, solely according to our own mind. Is it not blindness above all blindness for a man who cannot explain the most insignificant functions he daily observes in his own body to presume to know what is beyond and above all reason and of which no one except God alone can speak, and to have the audacity to state so rashly and bluntly that Christ is not God?” (What Luther Says, Ewald M. Plass, p. 1388, par. 4466)
July 9-15: The First Article
I believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
122. Why do we believers label the first person of the triune God “the Father”?
Malachi 2:10 Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?
Matthew 3:17 A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
John 20:17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Galatians 4:4,5 When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
Galatians 3:26 In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.
123. How did God show his almighty power in the creation of the world?
Genesis 1:1–2:3 (God created everything in heaven and on earth out of nothing.)
Psalm 33:6,9 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
125. Why don’t we accept human theories about the origin of the world and the origin of people?
2 Peter 3:5 They deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.
1 Timothy 6:20,21 Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.
Job 38 and Job 39 (God reminded Job that no humans witnessed the creation or can claim to be instrumental in preserving the creation.)
Hebrews 3:4 Every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.
Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Revelation 4:11 You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.
Matthew 19:4 (Jesus presented the biblical account of the creation as fact.)
Acts 4:24; 14:15-17; 17:22-31 (The apostles spoke of the creation of the world by God.)
The certainty that God created the entire world in six days and that humans occupy a special place and purpose in the creation is based on faith in God’s message to us in the Bible. We don’t accept human theories because they are human attempts to explain what no one has witnessed and what we can know only by faith.
130. What are all the things God does to provide for his creation?
Psalm 36:6,7 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, LORD, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 147:8,9 He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.
Psalm 147:4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.
Matthew 6:25-34 (Jesus assures us that we have no need to worry, because God provides our food and clothing.)
Psalm 37:25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
Psalm 50:15 Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.
Psalm 103:2,3 Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.
Psalm 121:3 He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber.
Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
134. What does God tell us about angels?
Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
Hebrews 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Psalm 103:20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
Daniel 7:10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
Psalm 91:11,12 He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
Matthew 18:10 See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
Angels are powerful spirit beings who were created sometime during the six days of creation. They are holy. There are many of them. They serve God and watch over us.
143. What has our heavenly Father done to rescue us from the devil’s evil plan?
1 John 3:8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.
John 3:16 God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 5:18,19 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
July 16-22: The Second Article
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
145. How do we know Jesus Christ is true God?
Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
Romans 9:5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
John 20:26-28 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
John 3:16 God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is God and often uses divine names for Jesus. These divine names aren’t simply titles of honor. They tell us who Jesus is.
Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me . . . And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Omnipotent, Omnipresent)
John 1:1,2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. (Eternal)
John 1:43-51 (Jesus knew all about Nathanael without being told.) (Omniscient)
John 21:17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” (Omniscient)
John 4:1-26 (Jesus knew all about the life of the Samaritan woman.) (Omniscient)
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Unchangeable)
Jesus has the characteristics of God.
John 2:1-11 (Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine.)
Matthew 8:23-27 (Jesus calmed the storm.)
Mark 5:1-20 (Jesus freed a man who was possessed by demons.)
John 11:38-44 (Jesus raised Lazarus.)
Romans 1:4 [He] through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Matthew 9:6 “I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”
Jesus does things only God can do.
John 5:22,23 The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
Hebrews 1:6 When God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
Philippians 2:10 At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
Revelation 5:13 I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
Jesus is worshiped as God. We are commanded to honor and worship him as well.
147. How did God’s Son become man?
Luke 1:26-38 (Jesus’ birth is announced.)
Matthew 1:20 After he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 1:22,23 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
148. Why is it necessary for our salvation that Jesus is true God and true man?
Galatians 4:4,5 When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
Romans 5:19 Just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
It was necessary for Jesus to be both God and man so that he could be subject to God’s law and keep all the commandments perfectly in the place of all humanity. This is called Christ’s active obedience.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Hebrews 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil.
Psalm 49:7,8 No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough.
Mark 10:45 The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Romans 3:23,24 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
2 Timothy 1:10 [Grace] has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
It was necessary for Jesus to be both God and man so that he could die and so that his death could count for everyone, as a ransom for us from death. This is called Christ’s passive obedience.
152. How did Jesus serve as prophet while he was on earth?
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.
Matthew 17:5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
Luke 8:1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him.
Mark 1:38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”
John 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
155. How did Christ serve as high Priest while he was on earth?
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Ephesians 5:2 Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Hebrews 7:26,27 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.
2 Corinthians 5:19 God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
158. How did Christ serve as King while he was on earth?
Hebrews 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil.
1 Corinthians 15:56,57 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:20 You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
Jesus conquered sin, death, and the devil and gave us the victory.
July 23-29: The Second Article (continued)
A closer look
Ransom: A ransom is a payment given to free someone who is held captive. We sometimes hear the term when a person is being held hostage. His captors want something given to them in exchange for releasing the hostage, a ransom.
Jesus paid the ransom price necessary to free us from captivity to sin, death, and the devil.
We call Christ’s work of ransoming all people from slavery to sin, death, and the devil redemption.
163. A ransom is often paid with money. However, gold or silver could not cover the cost to ransom our souls. What ransom price did Jesus need to pay for our redemption?
Matthew 20:28 The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Isaiah 53:5 He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
1 Peter 1:18,19 You know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
Revelation 1:5,6 . . . from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
Christ suffered and died as the ransom payment for our redemption (“with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death”).
168. When we speak of Christ’s humiliation, we aren’t using the word as we commonly do, as if someone has done something embarrassing or worthy of shame. What do we mean when we speak of Christ’s humiliation?
Philippians 2:6-8 [Christ Jesus,] who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
2 Corinthians 8:9 You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
Jesus’ life and work, from the time of his conception, were very different from what we would expect for the Son of God. He chose not to make full use of his divine powers. Instead, he voluntarily submitted to a very humble and lowly life that ended with death on a cross.
171. What do we mean when we speak of Christ’s exaltation?
John 17:5 Now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Philippians 2:9,10 God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
Hebrews 2:9 We do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
After Christ’s work as our Redeemer was accomplished, he once again made full use of his divine power and glory.
173. His exaltation reminds us of the precious promises that Jesus made and fulfilled. What does the truth of Jesus’ exaltation mean for us?
Resurrection
Romans 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
1 Corinthians 15:17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
John 14:19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
1 Corinthians 15:22,23 As in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
Christ’s resurrection assures us that he is the Son of God, that our redemption is complete, and that we too will rise from the dead.
Descent into hell
1 Peter 3:18,19 He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits.
Colossians 2:15 Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Matthew 28:18 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Christ’s descent into hell assures us that he conquered Satan.
Ascension
John 14:2,3 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
1 John 2:1,2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 Timothy 2:5 There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.
When Jesus’ work on earth was done, it was time for him to return to his Father. Jesus’ ascension assures us that he is preparing an eternal home for us. His ascension comforts us with the knowledge that he is pleading our cases before the Father.
Sitting at the right hand of God
Ephesians 1:19-22 His incomparably great power for us who believe . .. is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.
Romans 8:28 We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
We are comforted that Christ is seated at the right hand of God because it assures us that Christ is ruling all things for our good.
Christ’s return in judgment
Luke 21:27,28 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
Matthew 25:31-34 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”
Romans 8:1 There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
We look forward to Christ’s return on the Last Day. Because he will judge us on the basis of his perfect life and innocent death, we will be welcomed into our eternal home to enjoy the glory of heaven.
July 30-August 5: The Third Article
I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy Christian church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
A closer look
Decision theology
Can people decide, by the power of their own wills, to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior?
Unfortunately, many today speak about faith in Christ as a personal decision. They believe that people must ultimately decide whether or not to accept what God has to say and whether or not to invite Jesus into their hearts.
The Bible doesn’t teach this. Rather, it teaches that we are all by nature spiritually dead. Our human wills, in any spiritual sense, are also dead.
What is dead can’t contribute toward becoming spiritually alive. Those who view faith as something brought about by a human decision are placing confidence for salvation in something other than God. Such mis- placed confidence opens the door to uncertainty and doubt, leaving them to wonder if they truly believe or if they are sincere. We place our trust in God, who alone has the power to work the miracle of faith through the gospel.
189. In what different ways does the Bible describe the miracle the holy Spirit works when he calls us to faith?
Conversion
Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.
Jeremiah 31:18 I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: “You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the LORD my God.”
Psalm 51:13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.
Acts 11:21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
1 Peter 2:25 “You were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Acts 15:3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad.
Conversion is turning from unbelief to faith in God.
Rebirth
1 Peter 1:3,23 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
Titus 3:5 He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
John 3:3,6 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
Rebirth is being born again spiritually.
Quickening
Ephesians 2:4,5 Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.
Quickening is being made alive spiritually.
192. The Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts doesn’t stop after he creates our faith. What ongoing work does the Holy Spirit do after our conversions?
1 Thessalonians 2:13 We also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.
Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Ephesians 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
Philippians 1:6 . . . being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 1:5 [You] through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 5:10 The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
After the Holy Spirit sanctifies us at our conversions by setting us apart from the unbelieving world, he then continues to sanctify us by setting us apart more and more from sinful behaviors. He does this by strengthening our faith.
205. What is the holy Christian church?
Ephesians 2:19-22 You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Acts 5:14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
Acts 2:46,47 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
The holy Christian church includes all people everywhere who believe in Christ Jesus as their Savior.
213. How do we express the bond of fellowship with others who faithfully teach God’s Word?
Hebrews 10:25 . . . not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Romans 1:11,12 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
Ephesians 4:11-16 (God works through his servants so that we grow in strength and in unity with one another.)
We join in fellowship as we worship and study God’s Word together so that together we grow stronger in our faith.
1 Corinthians 10:17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
Acts 1:14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
1 Timothy 2:1-4,8 (Paul encourages Christians throughout the world to join with one another to offer all kinds of prayers.)
We join in fellowship as we pray together, go to the Lord’s Supper together, and preach and teach the gospel together.
John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Psalm 78:4-7 We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.
Joel 1:3 Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.
Proverbs 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
Christians join in fellowship as they work together to teach God’s Word to their children.
We support parents in the teaching of their children in the home, and we also join with other Christians who faithfully hold to God’s Word to provide Christian training in a variety of school settings.
Acts 13, Acts 14 especially Acts 13:1-3 (A congregation of believers, guided by the Holy Spirit, sent Paul and Barnabas out to preach and teach the message of the gospel to others throughout the world. Acts 13 and 14 offer a record of Paul’s first missionary journey.)
Matthew 28:19 Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 4:14-16 (The Philippians helped support Paul so he could devote his time to preaching the Word.)
We join in fellowship as we send out and support missionaries throughout the world.
229. What does the Bible tell us about heaven, the final home of believers?
John 11:25,26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him.
Revelation 14:13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
Revelation 21:3,4 I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 7:15-17 Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
Hebrews 4:9,10 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.
Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Revelation 21:22-26 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.
