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Question 152: What does every sin deserve at the hands of God?
Answer: Every sin, even the least, being against the sovereignty1,
goodness2, and holiness of God3, and against his
righteous law4, deserves his wrath and curse5,
both in this life6, and that which is to come7;
and cannot be expiated but by the blood of Christ8.
1. James 2:10-11
2. Exod. 20:1-2
3. Hab. 1:13; Lev. 10:3; 11:44-45
4. 1John 3:4; Rom. 7:12
5. Eph. 5:6; Gal. 3:10
6. Lam. 3:39; Deut. 28:15-68
7. Matt. 25:41
8. Heb. 9:22; 1Peter 1:18-19
Question 153: What does God require of us, that we may escape his
wrath and curse due to us by reason of the transgression of the law?
Answer: That we may escape the wrath and curse of God due to us by
reason of the transgression of the law, he requires of us repentance
toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ1, and the
diligent use of the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the
benefits of his mediation2.
1. Acts 16:30-31; 20:21;
Matt. 3:7-8; Luke 13:3, 5; John 3:16, 18
2. Prov. 2:1-5; 8:33-36
Question 154: What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates
to us the benefits of his mediation?
Answer: The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to
his church the benefits of his mediation, are all his ordinances;
especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made
effectual to the elect for their salvation.
Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:42, 46-47
Question 155: How is the Word made effectual to salvation?
Answer: The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the
preaching of the Word, an effectual means of enlightening1,
convincing, and humbling sinners2; of driving them out of
themselves, and drawing them unto Christ3; of conforming them
to his image4, and subduing them to his will5; of
strengthening them against temptations and corruptions6; of
building them up in grace7, and establishing their hearts in
holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation8.
1. Neh. 8:8; Acts 26:18;
Ps. 19:8
2. 1Cor. 14:24-25; 2Chr. 34:18-19, 26-28
3. Acts 2:37, 41; 8:27-39
4. 2Cor. 3:18
5. 2Cor. 10:4-6; Rom. 6:17
6. Matt. 4:4, 7, 10; Eph. 6:16-17; Ps. 19:11; 1Cor. 10:11
7. Acts 20:32; 2Tim. 3:15-17
8. Rom. 1:16; 10:13-17; 15:4; 16:25; 1Thess. 3:2, 10-11, 13
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Question 156: Is the Word of God to be read by all?
Answer: Although all are not to be permitted to read the Word publicly
to the congregation1, yet all sorts of people are bound to
read it apart by themselves2, and with their families3:
to which end, the holy Scriptures are to be translated out of the
original into vulgar languages4.
1. Deut. 31:9, 11-13; Neh.
8:2-3; 9:3-5
2. Deut. 17:19; Rev. 1:3; John 5:39; Isa. 34:16
3. Deut. 6:6-9; Gen. 18:17, 19; Ps. 78:5-7
4. 1Cor. 14:6, 9, 11-12, 15-16, 24, 27-28
Question 157: How is the Word of God to be read?
Answer: The holy Scriptures are to be read with an high and reverent
esteem of them1; with a firm persuasion that they are the
very Word of God2, and that he only can enable us to
understand them3; with desire to know, believe, and obey the
will of God revealed in them4; with diligence5,
and attention to the matter and scope of them6; with
meditation7, application8, self-denial9,
and prayer10.
1. Ps. 19:10; Neh. 8:3-10;
Exod. 24:7; 2Chr. 34:27; Isa. 66:2
2. 2Peter 1:19-21
3. Luke 24:45; 2Cor. 3:13-16
4. Deut. 17:10, 20
5. Acts 17:11
6. Acts 8:30, 34; Luke 10:26-28
7. Ps. 1:2, 119:97
8. 2Chr. 24:21
9. Prov. 3:5; Deut 33:3
10. Prov. 2:1-6; Ps. 119:18; Neh. 7:6, 8
Question 158: By whom is the Word of God to be preached?
Answer: The Word of God is to be preached only by such as are
sufficiently gifted1, and also duly approved and called to
that office2.
1. 1Tim. 3:2, 6; Eph.
4:8-11; Hosea 4:6; Mal. 2:7; 2Cor. 3:6
2. Jer. 14:15; Rom. 10:15; Heb. 5:4; 1Cor. 12:28-29; 1Tim. 3:10;
4:14; 5:22
Question 159: How is the Word of God to be preached by those that are
called thereunto?
Answer: They that are called to labor in the ministry of the Word, are
to preach sound doctrine1, diligently2, in season
and out of season3; plainly4, not in the enticing
words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power5;
faithfully6, making known the whole counsel of God7;
wisely8, applying themselves to the necessities and
capacities of the hearers9; zealously10, with
fervent love to God11 and the souls of his people12;
sincerely13, aiming at his glory14, and their
conversion15, edification16, and salvation17.
1. Titus 2:1, 8
2. Acts 18:25
3. 2Tim. 4:2
4. 1Cor. 14:19
5. 1Cor. 2:4
6. Jer. 23:28; 1Cor. 4:1-2
7. Acts 20:27
8. Col. 1:28; 2Tim. 2:15
9. 1Cor. 3:2; Heb. 5:12-14; Luke 12:42
10. Acts 18:25
11. 2Cor. 5:13-14; Phil. 1:15-17
12. Col. 4:12; 2Cor. 12:15
13. 2Cor. 2:17; 4:2
14. 1Thess. 2:4-6; John 7:18
15. 1Cor. 9:19-22
16. 2Cor. 12:19; Eph. 4:12
17. 1Tim. 4:16; Acts 26:16-18
Question 160: What is required of those that hear the Word preached?
Answer: It is required of those that hear the Word preached, that they
attend upon it with diligence1, preparation2, and
prayer3; examine what they hear by the Scriptures4;
receive the truth with faith5, love6, meekness7,
and readiness of mind8, as the Word of God9;
meditate10, and confer of it1; hide it in their
hearts12, and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives13.
1. Prov. 8:34
2. 1Peter 2:1-2; Luke 8:18
3. Ps. 119:18; Eph. 6:18-19
4. Acts 17:11
5. Heb. 4:2
6. 2Thess 2:10
7. James 1:21
8. Acts 17:11
9. 1Thess 2:13
10. Luke 9:44; Heb. 2:1
11. Luke 24:14; Deut 6:6-7
12. Prov. 2:1; Ps. 119:11
13. Luke 8:15; James 1:25
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