Q&A 20 Are all saved through Christ just as all were lost through Adam?

No.

Only those are saved

who by true faith

are grafted into Christ

and accept all his blessings.¹

 

¹ Matt. 7:14; John 3:16, 18, 36; Rom. 11:16-21

 

Q&A 21 What is true faith?

 
True faith is

not only a knowledge and conviction

that everything God reveals in his Word is true;¹

it is also a deep-rooted assurance,²

created in me by the Holy Spirit³ through the gospel,⁴

that, out of sheer grace earned for us by Christ,⁵

not only others, but I too,⁶

have had my sins forgiven,

have been made forever right with God,

and have been granted salvation.⁷

 

¹ John 17:3, 17; Heb. 11:1-3; James 2:19

² Rom. 4:18-21; 5:1; 10:10; Heb. 4:14-16

³ Matt. 16:15-17; John 3:5; Acts 16:14

⁴ Rom. 1:16; 10:17; 1 Cor. 1:21

⁵ Rom. 3:21-26; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-10

⁶ Gal. 2:20

⁷ Rom. 1:17; Heb. 10:10

 
Q&A 22 What then must a Christian believe?

 
Everything God promises us in the gospel.¹

That gospel is summarized for us

in the articles of our Christian faith--

a creed beyond doubt,

and confessed throughout the world.

¹ Matt. 28:18-20; John 20:30-31

 
Q&A 23 What are these articles?

 

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth.

 And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary;

suffered under Pontius Pilate;

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended into hell.

The third day he rose again from the dead;

he ascended into heaven,

and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

From thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.

 

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

I believe a holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

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