Category 5, The Westminster Shorter Catechism

Questions 85 - 97 concerning the "Sacraments of Baptism" and "Holy Communion".

  • Q. 85. What does 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 requires of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life,[176] with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption.[177]
  • Q. 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ?
    • A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace,[178] whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.[179]
  • Q. 87. What is repentance unto life?
    • A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace,[180] whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ,[181] does, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God,[182] with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience.[183]
  • Q. 88. What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption?
  • Q. 89. How is the Word made effectual to salvation?
    • A. The Spirit of God makes 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.[185]
  • Q. 90. How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?
    • A. That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer;[186] receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.[187]
  • Q. 91. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?
    • A. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that does administer them; but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them.[188]
  • Q. 92. What is a sacrament?
    • A. A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ;[189] wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.[190]
  • Q. 93. Which are the sacraments of the New Testament?
    • A. The sacraments of the New Testament are, baptism,[191] and the Lord’s Supper.[192]
  • Q. 94. What is baptism?
    • A. Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,[193] does signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.[194]
  • Q. 95. To whom is Baptism to be administered?
    • A. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him;[195] but the infants of such as are members of the visible church do not need to be baptized.[196]
  • Q. 96. What is the Lord’s Supper?
    • A. The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ’s appointment, his death is showed forth;[197] and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace.[198]
  • Q. 97. What is required for the worthy receiving of the Lord’s Supper?
    • A. It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord’s Supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord’s body, of their faith to feed upon him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves.[199]

    The catechism is composed of 107 questions and answers broken down into six categories.

    This organization mimics the earlier Heidelberg Catechism of the continental Reformed churches.

     

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