Shorter Catechism (31 - 40)

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Q. 31. What is effectual calling?

A. 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,o and renewing our wills,p he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ,q freely offered to us in the gospel.r

(o) Acts 26:18; 1 Cor 2:10,12; 2 Cor 4:6; Eph 1:17-18
(p) Deut 30:6; Ezek 36:26-27; John 3:5; Titus 3:5
(q) John 6:44-45; Acts 16:14
(r) Isa 45:22; Matt 11:28-30; Rev 22:17

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Q. 32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?

A. 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.s

(s) Rom 8:30; 1 Cor 1:30; 1 Cor 6:11; Eph 1:5

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Q. 33. What is justification?

A. Justification is an act of God's free grace,t wherein he pardoneth all our sins,u and accepteth us as righteous in his sight,w only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us,x and received by faith alone.y

(t) Rom 3:24
(u) Rom 4:6-8; 2 Cor 5:19
(w) 2 Cor 5:21
(x) Rom 4:6,11; Rom 5:19
(y) Gal 2:16; Phil 3:9

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Q. 34. What is adoption?

A. Adoption is an act of God's free grace,z whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God.a

(z) 1 John 3:1
(a) John 1:12; Rom 8:17

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Q. 35. What is sanctification?

A. Sanctification is the work of God's free grace,b whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God,c and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.d

(b) Ezek 36:27; Phil 2:13; 2 Thess 2:13
(c) 2 Cor 5:17; Eph 4:23-24; 1 Thess 5:23
(d) Ezek 36:25-27; Rom 6:4,6,12-14; 2 Cor 7:1; 1 Pet 2:24

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Q. 36. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God's love,e peace of conscience,f joy in the Holy Ghost,g increase of grace,h and perseverance therein to the end.i

(e) Rom 5:5
(f) Rom 5:1
(g) Rom 14:17
(h) 2 Pet 3:18
(i) Phil 1:6; 1 Pet 1:5

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Q. 37. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?

A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness,k and do immediately pass into glory;l and their bodies, being still united to Christ,m do rest in their graves, till the resurrection.n

(k) Heb 12:23
(l) Luke 23:43; 2 Cor 5:6,8; Phil 1:23
(m) 1 Thess 4:14
(n) Dan 12:2; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15

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Q. 38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?

A. At the resurrection, believers, being raised up in glory,o shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment,p and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of Godq to all eternity.r

(o) 1 Cor 15:42-43
(p) Matt 25:33-34,46
(q) Rom 8:29; 1 John 3:2
(r) Ps 16:11; 1 Thess 4:17

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Q. 39. What is the duty which God requireth of man?

A. The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will.s

(s) Deut 29:29; Mic 6:8; 1 John 5:2-3

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Q. 40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?

A. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the moral law.t

(t) Rom 2:14-15; Rom 10:5


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