Visit the Catechism for Boys and Girls page to read the entire catechism as it is posted.
Q.124: How does the Holy Spirit bring us to salvation?
A. He uses the Bible, which is the Word of God.
( 1Thessalonians 1:5-6; 2:13; 2Timothy 3:15-16; James 1:18; 1Peter 1:22-23 )
Q.125: How can we know the Word of God?
A. We are commanded to hear, read and search the Scriptures.
( 1Peter 2:2; Revelation 3:22; Matthew 21:42; 22:29; 2Timothy 3:14-17 )
Q.126: What is a church?
A. A church is an assembly of baptized believers joined by a covenant of discipline and witness who meet together regularly under the preaching of the Word of God.
Q.127: What two ordinances did Christ give to his Church?
A. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
( Matthew 28:19; 1Corithians 11:24-26 )
Q.128: Why Did Christ give these ordinances?
A. To show that his disciples belong to him, and to remind them of what he has done for them.
( Matthew 28:19; 1Corinthians 11:24-26 )
Q.129: What is Baptism?
A. The dipping of believers into water, as a sign of their union with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection.
( John 3:23; Acts 2:41; 8:12, 35-38; Colossians 2:12 )
Q.130: What is the purpose of baptism?
A. Baptism testifies to believers that God has cleansed them from their sins through Jesus Christ.
( Acts 22:16; Colossians 2:11-14 )
Q.131: Who are to be baptized?
A. Only those who repent of their sins, and believe in Christ for salvation should be baptized.
( Act 2:37-41; 8:12; 18:8; 19:4-5 )
Q.132: Should babies be baptized?
A. No; because they can show neither repentance nor faith and the Bible neither commands it, nor gives any example of it.
Q.133: What is the Lord’s Supper?
A. At the Lord’s Supper, the church eats bread and drinks wine to remember the sufferings and death of Christ.
( Mark 14:22-24; 1Corinthians 11:23-29 )
Q.134: What does the bread represent?
A. The bread represents the body of Christ, broken for our sins.
( Matthew 26:26; 1Corinthians 11:24 )
Q.135: What does the wine represent?
A. The wine represents the blood of Christ, shed for our salvation
( Matthew 26:27-28; 1Corinthians 11:25 )
Q.136: Who should partake of the Lord’s Supper?
A. The Lord’s Supper is for those only who repent of their sins, believe in Christ for salvation, receive baptism, and love their fellow men.
( Matthew 5:21-24; 1Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:18, 20, 27-33; 1John 3:24-27; 4:9-11 )