Lord's Day 7

20.	Q.	Are all men, then, saved by Christ just as they perished through Adam?
	A.	No. Only those are saved who by a true faith are grafted into Christ and accept all his benefits. ¹
		1. Mt 7:14; Jn 1:12; 3:16, 18, 36; Rom 11:16-21.

21.	Q.	What is true faith?
	A.	True faith is a sure knowledge whereby I accept as true all that God has revealed to us in his Word. ¹ At the same time it is a firm confidence ² that not only to others, but also to me, ³ God has granted forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness, and salvation, ⁴ out of mere grace, only for the sake of Christ's merits. ⁵ This faith the Holy Spirit works in my heart by the gospel. ⁶
		1. Jn 17:3, 17; Heb 11:1-3; Jas 2:19. 2. Rom 4:18-21; 5:1; 10:10; Heb 4:16. 3. Gal 2:20. 4. Rom 1:17; Heb 10:10. 5. Rom 3:20-26; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8-10. 6. Acts 16:14; Rom 1:16; 10:17; 1 Cor 1:21.

22.	Q.	What, then, must a Christian believe?
	A.	All that is promised us in the gospel, ¹ which the articles of our catholic and undoubted Christian faith teach us in a summary.
		1. Mt 28:19; Jn 20:30, 31.

23.	Q.	What are these articles?
	A.	I. 1. I believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. II. 2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only-begotten Son, our Lord; 3. he was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary; 4. suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell. 5. On the third day he arose from the dead; 6. he ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty; 7. from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. III. 8. I believe in the Holy Spirit; 9. I believe a holy catholic Christian church, the communion of saints; 10. the forgiveness of sins; 11. the resurrection of the body; 12. and the life everlasting.