Ten Commandments

No; it demands the whole man, and the willing obedience of heart and mind.

No; since the fall in sin no man can perfectly keep the Law.

1. It points out to us our sins and the wrath of God toward sin.

2. It makes us anxious to seek Christ.

3. It points out to the believer what fruits his faith must bear.

Love to God, ourselves, and our neighbor.

Love of God.

18. What does "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" mean?

That is...

We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

It forbids the worship of strange gods, or idols.

Anything that man worships, fears, loves, and trusts in instead of the one true God.

They who worship the created things instead of the Creator, and pray to the sun, the moon, stars, images, angels, or saints.

They who turn their love, fear, and trust from the living God, that they may secretly cling to something else than Him.

They serve the devil who is the father of lies, and the lord of all impenitent and hardened sinners.

We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

Upon the attitude of our hearts toward Him.

We fear God when we think so highly of Him, that we are afraid of offending Him by any wrongdoing.

Of two kinds: slavish fear and child-like fear.

When we fear God because we are afraid of punishment.

When we love God so dearly that we wish to do nothing that is against His will.

God's children only.

We love God when He is dearer to us than all else, so that we have no true joy except in Him, and gladly submit to His will in all things.

By no means.

We must love God because of His goodness toward us.

By a holy life.

We trust in God above all things when we have confidence in Him as in a loving father, and when we look to Him for every blessing, and put all our affairs into His hands.

Because He is our almighty and faithful Friend.

Humility, patience, and self-denial.

What does "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain" mean?

That is...

We should fear and love God, and not curse, swear, conjure, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon His name in every time of need, and worship Him with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.

1. The usual names given to Him in the Bible.

2. His nature and attributes and all that by which He is especially known, such as His Word, sacraments, and works.

When it is used in a thoughtless and mocking manner and without devotion and reverence.

1. When we use God's name or Word in jesting or as a by-word.

2. When we find fault with anything God has done.

3. When we use the name of God in cursing, swearing, conjuring, lying, or deceiving.

It is to call down evil upon ourselves, our neighbor, or any other created thing, by the name of God.

It is to bear witness to anything by the holy name of God.

Yes; when the proper authorities demand it in God's stead.

Because the perjurer shows open disregard for God and the salvation of his own soul, and frankly calls down the judgment of God upon himself.

Yes, indeed; for whatever we curse or swear by, we really do so by God who is the Lord of all things.

Most certainly; for a sinful habit proves that sin is our master.

It is trying to cure diseases, or to practice any other kind of superstition, by the name of God or a passage from the Bible.

By perjury, false teaching, and hypocrisy.

Great punishment, both in time and eternity; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.

When we sincerely call upon the name of God in every time of need, and worship Him with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

That is...

We should fear and love God, and not despise or neglect His Word, but deem it holy and gladly hear and learn it.

Sunday, the first day of the week, on which Christ arose from the dead.

1. We must rest from our daily labor, that the time may be used for our instruction in the fear of the Lord.

2. We must earnestly hear and study the Word of God, both in our homes and in church.

No; He has appointed such days also for the needed rest of mind and body.

1. When we neglect and despise the Word of God.

2. When we do work or take part in amusements that either are actually sinful or turn our minds away from God.

Yes; any work of necessity that cannot be delayed, and any loving kindness we may show our neighbor who is in need. Luke 14:1–6.

Love to ourselves and our neighbor.

Yes, for God has made us, but we must beware of selfishness.

For his soul, the immortal part of himself.

We must feel and act toward him, as we would have him feel and act toward us.

Every human being is our neighbor. Read Luke 10:29–37.

Yes; for even our enemy is our neighbor.

Honor thy father and thy mother, that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

That is...

We should fear and love God, and not despise or give offense to our parents or superiors; but honor, serve, obey, love, and esteem them.

Because God has placed them over us to care for us.

By respectful, loving, and willing obedience and by good behavior to their parents, both in their presence and in their absence.

All those whom God has placed over us, such as guardians, employers, teachers, and the government.

No; we ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29.

They must love them, pray for them, bring them up in the fear of the Lord, and in everything seek their temporal and spiritual good.

It shall be well with them, and they shall live long on the earth.

Yes; in this sense, that special blessings rest upon obedient children, and upon every nation honoring father and mother.

Yes; He has given us our native land, that we may love it and help it to prosper.

To despise and give offense to father and mother.

Condemnation and punishment from God.

Thou shalt not kill.

That is...

We should fear and love God, and not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and befriend him in all bodily distress.

1. By taking our neighbor's life, or by doing him any bodily harm.

2. By hatred, anger, abusive words, and all offensive behavior toward our neighbor.

Yes; when we cause him to sin, either by purposely leading him astray, or by bad example, thus helping to destroy his soul.

No; God has given us life, and He alone has the right to take it.

That we help our neighbor in all bodily distress, and associate with him in love and gentleness.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

That is...

We should fear and love God, and live a chaste and pure life, in words and deeds, husband and wife loving and honoring each other.

1. When husband and wife are unfaithful to each other.

God Himself instituted it in Paradise.

They despise it, and thus bring down upon themselves the judgment of God.

Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Jesus says: I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth!

Because it affects both soul and body more than any other sin.

We must watch and pray, and avoid everything that awakens impure desires.

Gluttony and drunkenness, immoral and exciting amusements, bad company, the reading of improper books, and everything that excites carnal and impure thoughts.

Yes, indeed; they are a shameful abuse of God's gifts, by which we ruin soul and body and shut ourselves out from the kingdom of God.

We must live a chaste and pure life, whether we are married or unmarried, husband and wife loving and honoring each other.

Thou shalt not steal.

That is...

We should fear and love God, and not take our neighbor's money or property, nor get it by unfair dealing or other dishonesty, but help him to improve and protect his property and living.

To steal is to take from our neighbor even the smallest part of his property against his will.

In a coarse or in an artful manner.

Those who, without any right or permission whatever, take their neighbor's money or property.

Those who take or withhold the property of others by any kind of fraud.

Yes; the partner of a thief is no better than the thief.

They shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

No; we are but keepers of God's gifts, and we must once give an account of how we have used them.

We must be honest and unselfish in all our dealings, and help our neighbor to improve and protect his property and living.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

That is...

We should fear and love God, and not tell lies about our neighbor, nor betray, slander, or defame him; but excuse him, speak well of him, and look upon all his acts as well-meant.

All untruthful speaking about our neighbor, in or out of court.

When a witness swears to a lie, and when a judge decides wrong to be right, and right to be wrong.

When we tell lies about our neighbor and slander or defame him in our conversation.

Yes; when we do so with an unloving heart, either because we wish to hurt our neighbor, or thoughtlessly and in gossiping.

We must always be truthful, excuse, and speak well of our neighbor, as far as truth permits, and look upon all his acts as well-meant.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.

That is...

We should fear and love God, and not by deceit or craft seek to gain our neighbor's inheritance or home, nor try to get it though we seem to have some right thereto, but help him to keep his own.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is his.

That is...

We should fear and love God, and not estrange, force, or entice away from our neighbor, his wife, servants, or cattle, but urge them to stay and do their duty.

All sinful desire to get what belongs to our neighbor.

We must heartily wish our neighbor all good, rejoice in his success, and help him to keep what he owns.

Perfect purity and holiness in all our thoughts and desires, words and acts.

That is...

God threatens to punish all who transgress these commandments; we should therefore fear His wrath, and do nothing against them.

On the other hand He promises grace and every blessing to all who keep these commandments; we should therefore love Him and trust in Him, and gladly do according to His commandments.

He reminds us of the fact that He is a just God, who in His holy wrath punishes every sin.

Sin is any thought or feeling, word or act, which is contrary to God's holy Law.

Original sin is the inborn wickedness, deep corruption, and evil disposition, of the human heart.

Actual sin is all evil thoughts and desires, words and acts, springing from original sin.

Yes, indeed; to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

James 4:17.

They hate sin, and heartily strive to keep the law of God; but it is their experience that they sin every day, and that the new life within them is weak.

They are deeply grieved, they ask their heavenly Father to forgive them, and earnestly strive to put off sin.

They love sin, and do not ask to be forgiven.

He will visit, that is, punish, their wickedness.

In soul and body; now and forever.

He will have mercy upon them in a thousand generations.

Every blessing for soul and body, now and forever.

It says, Keep the commandments and you shall be saved.

No; every man is a sinner, and he lacks that perfect love which is the fulfillment of the law.

Yes; in the blessed Gospel.

The four last parts.

1. From the world's creation, its preservation and government.

2. From my conscience, which is troubled when I do evil and rejoices when I do good.

3. From the holy Scriptures wherein He still more clearly reveals Himself.

God is a spirit, who is eternal and almighty; all-knowing and everywhere present; wise, good, and merciful; holy, true, and just.

No; there is but one God, and there is none else besides Him.

Three; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are perfectly alike in character, and equal in greatness.

He who truly repents, feels his sins with shame and sorrow, he freely confesses his sins to God, and earnestly seeks the grace of God in Christ.

We learn this through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.

Through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit our knowledge of the Gospel truths becomes a living and saving knowledge to our hearts.

It is a dead knowledge only, which does not lead to repentance and faith, but leaves us in our sins.

This is faith, that a repentant sinner lays hold of Christ as his only Savior from sin, and death, and the power of Satan;

That he takes refuge with Christ and His righteousness, and builds thereon with the confidence of his whole heart.

Yes; the faith which lays hold of Christ and His righteousness, can be wrought in that heart only which bitterly feels the pain and misery of living in sin.

No; it is often very weak and scarcely able to avail itself of the grace of God.

The true and living faith is known by an earnest hatred of sin, and an eager longing for grace.

Yes, indeed; only it be true and sincere.

By faith we are justified, born anew, sanctified, and finally saved forever.

Justification is the gracious act of God whereby He for Christ's sake acquits a repentant and believing sinner of his sin and guilt, and looks upon him, in Christ, as though he had never sinned.

He receives the forgiveness of sins, and is adopted as a child of God.

His everlasting love and mercy alone.

For Christ's sake, who has satisfied for the sins of the whole world by His death on the cross.

The forgiveness of sins leads to the full enjoyment of the blessed rights which belong to a child of God; it also gives free access to the Father's fellowship and blessing, and to the glorious inheritance of eternal life.

The New Birth is the gracious work of the Holy Spirit whereby He, through His indwelling in our hearts, renews the image of God in us, and thus creates a new spiritual man.

We get a new heart or a new spiritual life; namely,

1. In the understanding, a new spiritual light
2. In the conscience, real peace and joy
3. In the will, a holy desire and a steadfast purpose.

In consists in love to God who first loved us.

In little children it is accomplished by water and the Spirit in baptism; but in those who have fallen from the grace of their baptism, also by the Word of God.

Yes, indeed; except a man be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3: 3. [R. V.]

He sanctifies and preserves him.

Sanctification is the gracious work of the Holy Spirit whereby He day by day renews the believer more and more after the image of God.

The old man, or sin, is put away more and more, and the new man, or the new spiritual life, appears more and more in all our conduct.

A Christian denies himself, strives against the devil, the world, and his own flesh; he grows in love toward God and man, and seeks to do the will of God in all things.

No; our best works avail nothing to this end: we must build our hope of salvation on Christ alone and His righteousness.

Preservation is the gracious work of the Holy Spirit whereby He keeps us, through all temptations, in the true and living faith in Jesus, until the end.

By the Word of God and the Lord's Supper.

He teaches and guides, corrects and comforts him.

They are called the children of God; the Elect of God; Holy and Beloved; Members of the Body of Christ. In a body they make up the holy Christian church.

The holy Christian Church is the congregation of saints or true believers, where the Word of God is preached and the sacraments are administered according to the ordinance of God.

The church is called holy because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who performs His sanctifying work in all its members. For this reason the church is called holy, in spite of its sins and shortcomings.

The church is called universal because its object is to gather all nations, and because it includes all true believers of all times and all places.

The church of God on earth is militant.

The enemies of the church are the devil, the world, and our own flesh. Its last enemy is death.

It will be triumphant, because all its enemies are conquered.

Yes; in the congregation, which in the Scriptures is called "the body of Jesus Christ", and "the house of God."

No; in this organized body both hypocrites and true Christians are found.

Hypocrites are they who indeed make outward confession of Christ, but who inwardly and in their conduct deny Him.

Yes; the congregation should expel the openly [Pg 62] ungodly and unbelieving; but it cannot judge concerning the secret thoughts of the heart.

They who believe in Christ with all their heart, and confess Him both in word and deed.

The Communion of Saints.

In this Christian church He daily forgives me and all believers all our sins.

Yes; because sanctification is never perfected in this life, and sin cleaves to a Christian as long as he is in the world.

The congregation, through its ministers. [Absolution.]

That he repents every day, or that he daily feels his sins with deep shame and sorrow, confesses his sins to God, and earnestly seeks the grace of God in Christ.

First of all to God; then, if he feels the need of it, to his pastor; finally to his neighbor, if he feels that he has wronged him in any way.

The daily renewal, or that he day by day becomes more and more thankful to God, and increases in child-like obedience and faithfulness.

His soul goes home to God, where it rests from all strife and sorrow, in blessed fellowship with Him, until the resurrection of the body.

On the last day, when the Lord Jesus returns to earth, the bodies of the dead shall be made alive and shall be reunited with their souls.

Their bodies shall arise glorified and incorruptible, like unto the body of the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

The chosen enter into life everlasting; the condemned, into eternal death.

Life everlasting is the blessed state in which the chosen are free from all evil, and live forever in fellowship with their God and Savior, praising God in the company of the holy angels, in everlasting peace and joy.

Eternal death is a dreadful state of separation from God, and everlasting anguish and suffering in hell.

All who continue in impenitence and unbelief until death.

All who continue steadfast in faith until death.

Because I know that what I here confess is certainly true.

I will pray God every day graciously to help and strengthen me.