Quest. 13. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?
Ans. 13. Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God. 十四問:罪是什麽? 答:罪就是不遵行或違背上帝的律法(1)。 1. 利5:17;羅3:23;約一3:4;雅4:17
Quest. 14. What is sin?
Ans. 14. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.
Quest. 15. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?
Ans. 15. The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit.(1) 十六問:全人類都在亞當的首次犯罪中墮落了嗎? 答:上帝與亞當所立的約(1),不僅是爲他,也是爲他的後裔(2),所以那按常例而生由他傳下的全人類,都在他裏面犯了罪,在他首次犯罪中與他一同墮落了(3)。
創2:16-17;雅2:10
徒17:26;參十二問
羅5:12-20;林前 15:21-22
Quest. 16. Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression?
Ans. 16. The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression.
Quest. 18. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?
Ans. 18. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam's first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called Original Sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it.
Quest. 19. What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?
Ans. 19. All mankind by their fall lost communion with God,(1) are under his wrath and curse,(2) and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever.
Quest. 31. What is effectual calling? Ans. 31. Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills,(4) he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
Quest. 32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life? Ans. 32. They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, and sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them. 三十三問:什麽是稱義? 答:稱義是上帝的作爲,出於他白白的恩典,由此而赦免我們一切的罪,並悅納我們爲義人,這僅是因爲基督的義歸於我們,且惟獨用信心才能接受的 。
Quest. 33. What is justification? Ans. 33. Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.
Quest. 34. What is adoption? Ans. 34. Adoption is an act of God's free grace,(1) whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the Sons of God.(2)
Quest. 35. What is sanctification? Ans. 35. Sanctification is the work of God's free grace,(1) whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God,(2) and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.(3)
Praise God for His working amongst us in the past 5 years.
Praise God for the marriages and new families being formed amongst us.
Pray for continued good fellowship and unity despite our members being somewhat dispersed.
Pray that the Lord would raise up men to be future indigenous leaders in the RP church. Ask God for wisdom in knowing how best to train and guide such aspiring men.