A. A twofold misery, viz. Sin and hell. First, Sin ; Matth. i. 21. Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Secondly, Hell ; 1 Thess. i. 10. Even Jesus, who deli- vered us from the wrath to come.
Q. 3. How did Christ deliver us from this misery.'*
A. First, by price; Secondly, l^y power. By price ; 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. Ye are not redeemed with silver and gold from your vain conver- sation, received by tradition from your fathers ; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish, and without spot. By power; Col. i. 13. Who hath deUvered us from the power of dark- ness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
Q. 4. When was the redemption wrouglit by Christ ?
A. It was decreed from eternity ; it was actually wrought on the cross ; Col. i. 20. And (having made peace through, the blood of his cross) by him to reconcile all things unto himself, by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Q. 5. How then could they be redeemed tliat died before?
ITS AX EXrOSlTlON OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CxVTECHlSM.
A. Though Christ's blood was actually shed after the Old Testa- ment believers died: yet the virtue of Christ's death extends to them^ as well as us ; Heb. xi. 39, 40. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise, God having provided some better things for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Q. 6. Why would not God deliver us without such a Redeemer ?
A. Because it was not so much for the honour of his justice ; Rom. iii. 25, 26. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. To declare, I say, at this time, his righteousness, that he might be just and the justifier of him that belie veth in Jesus.
Q. T. What is the first instruction from hence ?
A. That all that are out of Christ are in a miserable bondage and captivit)/ ; John viii. 36. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Q. 8. What is the second instruction ?
A. Hence see the heinous nature of sin, which required such a price to satisfy^ for it ; 1 Pet. i. 18, 19- We were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish, and without spot.
Q. 9. What is the third instruction from hence ?
A, The wonderful love of Christ in redeeming us at such a rate ; Rev. i. 5. Who loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Q. 10. What is the last instruction ?
A. This strongly obligeth us to an universal holiness ; 1 Cor. vi, SO. For ye are bought with a price ; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
o OfChrisfs Incarnation.
Quest. 22. Jio W did Christ, being the Son of God, become man ?
A. Christ the Son of God became man hij taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul^ being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet with" out sin.
Q. 1. Who is the only Redeemer of God's elect .?^
A. The Lord Jesus Christ is their only Redeemer, and there is no other Redeemer besides him ; Acts iv. 12. Neither is there salva- tion in any other ; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Q. 2. How is he the Son of God, or can be, as no other is so ?
A. He is the Son of God by nature, from all eternity, and so no angel or saint is ; Heb. i. 5. For unto which of the angels said he at any time. Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee ?
AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM. 179
Q. 3. Why was it necessary he should become man ?
A. That he might be capable to suffer death in our room ; Heb. ii. 15, 16, 17. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham ; wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest, in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Q. 4. Why must the Redeemer be God as well as man ?
J. Because the blood of a mere man could not satisfy and redeem us ; Acts XX. 28. Feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Q. 5. Do these two natures make two persons ?
A, No, the human nature is united to the second person, and sub- sists in union with it; John i. 14. And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Q. 6. Was the union only for a time ?
A. No, it continues and abides for ever; Heb. vii. 24. But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
Q. 7. What is the first instruction from hence ?
A. Hence we learn the transcendent love of God to poor sinners ; John iii. 16. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever beheveth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Q. 8. What is the second instruction ?
A. Hence we learn the matchless love of Christ, that he should stoop to such a condition for us ; 2 Cor. viii. 9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be made rich.
Q. 9. What is the third instruction ?
A. That the greatest sins are capable of remission to believers ; John i. 29- Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.
Q. 10. What is the fourth instruction ?
A. That those that be in Christ need not fear the denial or want of any other mercy ; Rom. viii. 32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all ; how shall he not with him also freely give us all things ?
Q. 11.* What is the fifth instruction ;
A. Hence we learn how impious it is to ascribe any part of the glory of redemption to any other besides Christ.
Q. 12. What is the sixth instruction ;
A. This teaches us the miserable condition of all that are out of Christ, and the necessity of their damnation, he being the onlj Redeemer.
180 AN EXrOSISION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHlSSf*
Of the Manner ofChrisfs Incatmation.
Quest. 1. T T AS Christ's incarnation a voluntary act in him ?
A. Yes, it was ; for though he had a command to die for us, John X. 18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. Yet he came willingly ; Psal. xl. 6^ 7. Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire, mine ears hast thou opened ; burnt-offerings and sin- offerings hast thou not required ; lo, I come ; in the volume of thy book, it is written of me. Ver. 8. I delight to do thy will, O my God, yea, thy law is within my heart.
Q. 2. Was the body of Christ a real and true human body ?