God’s command in the gospel – Question 85
Q. 85. What does God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse, due to us for sin?
To escape the wrath and curse due to us for sin, God requires of us faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and repentance leading to life[a] together with the diligent use of all the outward means by which Christ gives to us the benefits of redemption.[b]
[a]. Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21
[b]. Acts 2:38; 1 Cor 11:24-25; Col 3:16
God’s command in the gospel : Faith – Question 86
Q. 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ?
Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace[a] by which we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation as he is freely offered to us in the gospel.[b]
[a]. Eph 2:8-9; cf. Rom 4:16
[b]. John 20:30-31; Gal 2:15-16; Php 3:3-11
God’s command in the gospel : Repentance Leading to Life – Question 87
Q. 87. What is repentance unto life?
Repentance leading to life is a saving grace,[a] by which a sinner having truly realised his sin and grasped the mercy of God in Christ,[b] turns from his sin with grief and hatred and turns to God[c] with full resolve and effort after new obedience.[d]
[a]. Acts 11:18; 2 Tim 2:25
[b]. Psa 51:1-4; Joel 2:13; Luk 15:7, 10; Acts 2:37
[c]. Jer 31:18-19; Luk 1:16-17; 1 Thes 1:9
[d]. 2 Chr 7:14; Psa 119:57-64; Mat 3:8; 2 Cor 7:10
Comment on Q. 87.
Suppose a child goes beyond the safety mark when swimming to reach a brightly coloured piece of wood, gets into difficulties, and is about to drown – despite desperately clinging to the wood. About to sink, the child hears its father’s voice, ‘Let go [of] that toy, hold tight to me, and I will save you.’ The child does so, and is saved. This story can illustrate repentance and faith. We have been put into this world to serve God, but we have gone beyond the limits set for us after other things that are no true help to us. In fact, if we hold on to them we will be lost. We must give up the ways God has forbidden – we call this repentance, and we must truly rely upon Christ to save us – we call this faith. Although explained separately in the catechism, repentance and faith cannot be separated in our experience, for each is involved in the other. Whoever truly repents, believes; and whoever truly believes, repents.
