Q. 81. What is forbidden in the tenth
commandment?
A. The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate,(1)
envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour,(2) and all inordinate
motions and affections to any thing that is his.(3)
(1) I Kings 21:4; Esther 5:13; I Cor.
10:10.
(2) Gal. 5:26; James 3:14, 16.
(3) Rom. 7:7-8; 13:9; Deut. 5:21.
Q. 82. Is any man able perfectly to
keep the commandments of God?
A. No mere man since the fall is able in this life perfectly to keep the
commandments of God,(1) but doth daily break them in thought, word, and
deed.(2)
(1) Eccles. 7:20; I John 1:8, 10; Gal.
5:17.
(2) Gen. 6:5;
8:21
;
Rom.
3:9-21;
James 3:2-13.
Q. 83. Are all transgression of the
law equally heinous?
A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more
heinous in the sight of God than others.(1)
(1) Ezek. 8:6, 13, 15; I John
5:16
; Ps. 78:17,
32, 56.
Q. 84. What doth every sin deserve?
A. Every sin deserveth God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and that
which is to come.(1)
(1) Eph. 5:6; Gal.
3:10
; Lam.
3:39
; Matt.
25:41.
Q. 85. What doth God require of us,
that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us for sin?
A. To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, God requireth
of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life,(1) with the diligent use of
all the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of
redemption.(2)
(1) Acts. 20:21.
(2) Prov. 2:1-5;
8:33
-36; Isa.
55:3.
Q. 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ?
A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace,(1) whereby we receive and rest
upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.(2)
(1) Heb. 10:39.
(2) John 1:12; Isa. 26:3-4; Phil. 3:9; Gal. 2:16.
Q. 87. What is repentance unto life?
A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace,(1) whereby a sinner, out of a true
sense of his sin,(2) and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ,(3) doth,
with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God,(4) with full purpose
of, and endeavour after, new obedience.(5)
(1) Acts. 11:18.
(2) Acts.
2:37
-38.
(3) Joel 2:12; Jer. 3:22.
(4) Jer. 31:18-19; Ezek. 36:31.
(5) II Cor. 7:11; Isa. 1:16-17.
Q. 88. What are the outward means
whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?
A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the
benefits of redemption, are his ordinances, especially the word, sacraments,
and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.(1)
(1) Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:42, 46-47.
Q. 89. How is the word made effectual
to salvation?
A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the
word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building
them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation.(1)
(1) Neh. 8:8; I Cor. 14:24-25; Acts 26:18; Ps. 19:8; Acts 20:32; Rom. 15:4; II
Tim. 3:15-17; Rom. 10:13-17; 1:16.
Q. 90. How is the word to be read and
heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?
A. The word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with
diligence,(1) preparation,(2) and prayer;(3) receive it with faith and
love,(4) lay it up in our hearts,(5) and practice it in our lives.(6)
(1) Prov. 8:34.
(2) I Pet. 2:1-2.
(3) Ps. 119:18.
(4) Heb. 4:2; II Thess. 2:10.
(5) Ps. 119:11.
(6) Luke 8:15; James 1:25.
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