The Book of Confessions - The Presbyterian Leader

Q. 32. But why are you called a Christian?
A. Because through faith I share in Christ and thus in his anointing, so that I may
confess his name, offer myself a living sacrifice of gratitude to him, and fight against sin and the
devil with a free and good conscience throughout this life and hereafter rule with him in eternity
over all creatures.
LORD'S DAY 13
Q. 33. Why is he called GOD'S ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON, since we also are God's
children?
A. Because Christ alone is God's own eternal Son, whereas we are accepted for his
sake as children of God by grace.
Q. 34. Why do you call him OUR LORD?
A. Because, not with gold or silver but at the cost of his blood, he has redeemed us
body and soul from sin and all the dominion of the devil, and has bought us for his very own.
LORD'S DAY 14
Q. 35. What is the meaning of: "Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin
Mary"?
A. That the eternal Son of God, who is and remains true and eternal God, took upon
himself our true manhood from the flesh and blood of the Virgin Mary through the action of the
Holy Spirit, so that he might also be the true seed of David, like his fellow men in all things,
except for sin.
Q. 36. What benefit do you receive from the holy conception and birth of Christ?
A. That he is our Mediator, and that, in God's sight, he covers over with his
innocence and perfect holiness the sinfulness in which I have been conceived.
Q. 37. What do you understand by the word "suffered"?
LORD'S DAY 15
A. That throughout his life on earth, but especially at the end of it, he bore in body
and soul the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race, so that by his suffering, as the
only expiatory sacrifice, he might redeem our body and soul from everlasting damnation, and
might obtain for us God's grace, righteousness, and eternal life.
Q. 38. Why did he suffer "under Pontius Pilate" as his judge?
A. That he, being innocent, might be condemned by an earthly judge, and thereby set
us free from the judgment of God which, in all its severity, ought to fall upon us.
Copyright © 1996 by the Office of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (USA)