The Larger Catechism – Questions 31-40
Q.
31. With whom was the covenant of grace made?
A. The covenant of grace was made
with Christ as the second Adam, and in him with all the elect as his seeda.
a Gal.3:16; Rom.5:15-21; Isa.53:10,11
Q. 32. How is the grace of God
manifested in the second covenant?
A. The grace of God is manifested
in the second covenant, in that he freely provideth and offereth to sinners a
Mediatora, and life and salvation by himb; and requiring
faith as the condition to interest them in himc, promiseth and
giveth his Holy Spiritd to all his elect, to work in them that
faithe, with all other saving gracesf; and to enable
them unto all holy obedienceg, as the evidence of the truth of
their faithh and thankfulness to Godi, and as the way
which he hath appointed them to salvationk.
a Gen.3:15; Isa.42:6; John
6:27
b 1 John
5:11
,12 c John
3:16
; John
1:12
d Prov.
1:23
e 2 Cor.4:13 f Gal.5:22,23 g Ezek.36:27 h
James
2:18
,22 i 2
Cor.5:14,15 k Eph.2:18
Q. 33. Was the covenant of grace
always administered after one and the same manner?
A. The covenant of grace was not
always administered after the same manner, but the administrations of it under
the Old Testament were different from those under the Newa.
a 2 Cor.3:6-9
Q. 34. How was the covenant of
grace administered under the Old Testament?
A. The covenant of grace was
administered under the Old Testament, by promisesa, propheciesb,
sacrificesc, circumcisiond, the passovere,
and other types and ordinances, which did all fore-signify Christ then to
come, and were for that time sufficient to build up the elect in faith in the
promised Messiahf, by whom they then had full remission of sin, and
eternal salvationg.
a Rom.15:8 b Acts 3:20,24 c
Heb.10:1 d Rom.4:11 e 1 Cor.5:7 f Heb.8,9,10; Heb. 11:13 g
Gal.3:7-9,14
Q. 35. How is the covenant of
grace administered under the New Testament?
A. Under the New Testament, when
Christ the substance was exhibited, the same covenant of grace was and still
is to be administered in the preaching of the worda, and the
administration of the sacraments of baptismb and the Lord's supperc;
in which grace and salvation are held forth in more fulness, evidence, and
efficacy, to all nationsd.
a Mark 16:15 b Matt.28:19,20 c 1
Cor.11:23-25 d 2 Cor.3:6-18; Heb.8:6,10,11; Matt.28:19
Q. 36. Who is the Mediator of the
covenant of grace?
A. The only Mediator of the
covenant of grace is the Lord Jesus Christa, who, being the eternal
Son of God, of one substance and equal with the Fatherb, in the
fulness of time became manc, and so was and continues to be God and
man, in two entire distinct natures, and one person, for everd.
a 1 Tim.2:5 b John 1:1,14; John 10:30;
Phil.2:6 c Gal.4:4 d Luke 1:35; Rom.9:5; Col.2:9; Heb.7:24,25
Q. 37. How did Christ, being the
Son of God, become man?
A. Christ the Son of God became
man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soula,
being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary,
of her substance, and born of herb, yet without sinc.
a John 1:14; Matt.26:38 b Luke
1:27,31,35,42; Gal.4:4 c Heb.4:15; Heb.7:26
Q. 38. Why was it requisite that
the Mediator should be God?
A. It was requisite that the
Mediator should be God, that he might sustain and keep the human nature from
sinking under the infinite wrath of God, and the power of deatha;
give worth and efficacy to his sufferings, obedience, and intercessionb;
and to satisfy God's justicec, procure his favourd,
purchase a peculiar peoplee, give his Spirit to themf,
conquer all their enemiesg, and bring them to everlasting salvationh.
a Acts 2:24,25; Rom.1:4 compared with
Rom.4:25; Heb.9:14 b Acts 20:28; Heb.9:14; Heb.7:25-28 c
Rom.3:24-26 d Eph.1:6; Matt.3:17 e Tit.2:13,14 f Gal.4:6 g
Luke 1:68,69,71,74 h Heb.5:8,9; Heb.9:11-15
Q. 39. Why was it requisite that
the Mediator should be man?
A. It was requisite that the
Mediator should be man, that he might advance our naturea, perform
obedience to the lawb, suffer and make intercession for us in our
naturec, have a fellow-feeling of our infirmitiesd; that
we might receive the adoption of sonse, and have comfort and access
with boldness unto the throne of gracef.
a Heb.2:16 b Gal.4:4 c Heb.2:14;
Heb.7:24,25 d Heb.4:15 e Gal.4:5 f Heb.4:16
Q. 40. Why was it requisite that
the Mediator should be God and man in one person?
A. It was requisite that the
Mediator, who was to reconcile God and man, should himself be both God and
man, and this in one person, that the proper works of each nature might be
accepted of God for usa, and relied on by us, as the works of the
whole personb.
a Matt.1:21,23; Matt.3:17; Heb.9:14 b 1
Pet.3:6
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