Lord's Day 19

Question 50.

Why is it added, "and sitteth at the right hand of God"?

Answer. Because Christ is ascended into heaven for this end, that he might [a] appear as head of his church, by whom the Father [b] governs all things.

Question 51.

What profit is this glory of Christ, our head, unto us?

Answer. First, that by his Holy Spirit he [c] pours our heavenly graces upon us his members; and then that by his power he defends [d] and preserves us against all enemies.

Question 52.

What comfort is it to thee that "Christ shall come again to judge the quick and the dead"?

Answer. That in all my sorrows and persecutions, with uplifted head [e] I look for the very same person, who before offered himself for my sake, to the tribunal of God, and has removed all curse from me, to come as judge from heaven: who shall cast all his [f] and my enemies into everlasting condemnation, but shall translate [g] me with all his chosen ones to himself, into heavenly joys and glory.

[a]: Eph. 1:20,21,22; Col. 1:18
[b]: Mat 28:18; John 5:22
[c]: Eph. 4:8
[d]: Psa. 2:9; John 10:28
[e]: Luke 21:28; Rom. 8:23,24; 1Thes. 4:16
[f]: 2Thes. 1:6,7,8,9; Mat. 25:41
[g]: Mat. 25:34

Lord's Day 31

Question 83.

What are [a] the keys of the kingdom of heaven?

Answer. The preaching [b] of the holy gospel, and christian discipline, [c] or excommunication out of the christian church; by these two, the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers, and shut against unbelievers.

Question 84.

How is the kingdom of heaven opened and shut by the preaching of the holy gospel?

Answer. Thus: when according to the command of [d] Christ, it is declared and publicly testified to all and every believer, that, whenever they [e] receive the promise of the gospel by a true faith, all their sins are really forgiven them of God, for the sake of Christ's merits; and on the contrary, when it is declared and testified to all unbelievers, and such as do not sincerely repent, that they stand exposed to the wrath of God, and eternal [f] condemnation, so long as they are [g] unconverted: according to which testimony of the gospel, God will judge them, both in this, and in the life to come.

Question 85.

How is the kingdom of heaven shut and opened by christian discipline?

Answer. Thus: when according [h] to the command of Christ, those, who under the name of christians, maintain doctrines, or practices [i] inconsistent therewith, and will not, after having been often brotherly admonished, renounce their errors and wicked course of life, are complained of to the church, [j] or to those, who are thereunto [k] appointed by the church; and if they despise their admonition, [l] are by them forbidden the use of the sacraments; whereby they are excluded from the christian church, and by God himself from the kingdom of Christ; and when they promise and show real amendment, are again [m] received as members of Christ and his church.

[a]: Mat. 16:19
[b]: John 20:23
[c]: Mat. 18:15,16,17,18
[d]: Mat. 28:19
[e]: John 3:18,36; Mark 16:16
[f]: 2Thes. 1:7,8,9
[g]: John 20:21,22,23; Mat. 16:19; Rom. 2:2,13-17
[h]: Mat. 18:15
[i]: Cor. 5:12
[j]: Mat. 18:15-18
[k]: Rom. 12:7,8,9; 1Cor. 12:28; 1Tim. 5:17; 2Thes. 3:14
[l]: Mat. 18:17; 1Cor. 5:3,4,5
[m]: 2Cor. 2:6,7,8,10,11; Luke 15:18

Lord's Day 48

Question 123

Which is the second petition?

Answer. [a] "Thy kingdom come"; that is, rule us so by thy word and Spirit, that we may [b] submit ourselves more and more to thee; preserve and [c] increase thy church; destroy the [d] works of the devil, and all violence which would exalt itself against thee; and also, all wicked counsels devised against thy holy word; till the full [e] perfection of thy kingdom take place, [f] wherein thou shalt be all in all.

[a]: Mat. 6:10
[b]: Psa. 119:5
[c]: Psa. 51:18
[d]: 1John 3:8; Rom. 16:20
[e]: Rev. 22:17,20
[f]: 1Cor. 15:15,28

Lord's Day 52

Question 127.

Which is the sixth petition?

Answer. [a] "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"; that is, since we are so weak in ourselves, that we cannot stand [b] a moment; and besides this, since our mortal enemies, [c] the devil, the [d] world, and our own [e] flesh, cease not to assault us, do thou therefore preserve and strength us by the power of the Holy Spirit, that we may not be overcome in this spiritual warfare, [f] but constantly and strenuously may resist our foes, till at last we [g] obtain a complete victory.

Question 128.

How dost thou conclude thy prayer?

Answer. [h] "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever"; that is, all these we ask of thee, because thou, being our King and almighty, art willing and able to [i] give us all good; and all this we pray for, that thereby not we, but thy holy name, [j] may be glorified for ever.

Question 129. 

What doth the word "Amen" signify?

Answer. [k] "Amen" signifies, it shall truly and certainly be: for my prayer is more assuredly heard of God, than I feel in my heart that I desire these things of him.

[a]: Mat. 6:13
[b]: Rom. 8:26; Psa. 103:14
[c]: 1Pet. 5:8
[d]: Eph. 6:12; John 15:19; Rom. 7:23; Gal. 5:17
[f]: Mat. 26:41; Mark 13:33
[g]: 1Thes. 3:13; 1Thes. 5:23
[h]: Mat. 6:13
[i]: Rom. 10:12; 2Pet. 2:9
[j]: John 14:13; Psa. 115:1; Phil. 4:20
[k]: 2Cor. 1:20; 2Tim. 2:13