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| 65 Q. |
It is by faith alone
that we share in Christ and all his blessings:
where then does that faith come from? |
| A. |
The Holy Spirit produces it in our hearts1
by the preaching of the holy gospel,2
and confirms it
through our use of the holy sacraments.3
1 John 3:5; 1 Cor. 2:10-14; Eph. 2:8
2 Rom. 10:17; 1 Pet. 1:23-25
3 Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 10:16 |
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| 66 Q. |
What are sacraments? |
| A. |
Sacraments are holy signs and seals for us to see.
They were instituted by God so that
by our use of them
he might make us understand more clearly
the promise of the gospel,
and might put his seal on that promise.1
And this is God's gospel promise:
to forgive our sins and give us eternal life
by grace alone
because of Christ's one sacrifice
finished on the cross.2
1 Gen. 17:11; Deut. 30:6; Rom. 4:11
2 Matt. 26:27-28; Acts 2:38; Heb. 10:10 |
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| 67 Q. |
Are both the word and the sacraments then
intended to focus our faith
on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross
as the only ground of our salvation? |
| A. |
Right!
In the gospel the Holy Spirit teaches us
and through the holy sacraments he assures us
that our entire salvation
rests on Christ's one sacrifice for us on the cross.1
1 Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 11:26; Gal. 3:27 |
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| 68 Q. |
How many sacraments
did Christ institute in the New Testament? |
| A. |
Two: baptism and the Lord's Supper.1
1 Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26 |
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