Catechism
Workbook
2
(Lord’s
Days 27-52)
2001
Printing
by
Rev.
Dale H. Kuiper
Lord’s
Day 27
Name
____________________________
This
important Lord’s Day deals with the question, “Does the water of baptism itself
wash away sin?” as well as the great covenant doctrine of infant baptism.
A. The working of baptism.
1. Baptism is a very spiritual matter. However, superstition has arisen concerning it. The Roman Catholic Church teaches not only that a
person must be baptized with water to be saved, but also that the external sign (water)
actually washes away sin.
a. Our Lord’s Day denies
this when it says “____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________”
b. The Belgic Confession, Art.
34 denies this when it teaches “___________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________”c. Why does Answer 72 of the Catechism speak of the Holy
Ghost as well as the blood of Jesus Christ? __________________________________________________________________________________”
c. Why does Answer 72 of the
Catechism speak of the Holy Ghost as well as the blood of Jesus Christ? ____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Baptism is called the “washing of
regeneration” and the “washing away of sins” for two good reasons. These reasons are, according to Answer 73:
a. To teach us
_______________________________________________________________________
b. To assure us
______________________________________________________________________
c. In both this teaching and
assuring, the emphasis is on the words as and as really as. Thus
the idea of the sacrament as a sign and seal must always be remembered.
B. Infant baptism.
1. What well-known church group insists that
infants must not be baptized, but only those who profess to be believers? ____________________________________________________________________
a. They call this “faith
baptism,” that is, faith must be present in an individual before he may receive this
sacrament.
b. They appeal to such a text as
Mark 16:16
to prove their point. Look
up this passage. Does this passage prove their
point? Why or why not? ___________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
c. Look up the following
passages. What part of these verses indicates
that more than the adult believers were baptized?
1) Acts
2) Acts
2. Answer 74 gives three reasons why infants are
to be baptized.
a. Infants as well as adults
are included in the covenant and
1) Quote
Genesis 17:7:
“_________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________”
2) Quote Acts
__________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________”
3) Quote from the Baptism Form,
first line under “I. To Infants of
Believers.” “_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________”
b. The Holy Ghost, the author
of faith, is promised to infants as well as to adults.
1) Quote Psalm
_________________________________________________________________________________”
2) Quote
Luke 1:15
b: “_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________”
c. Infants of believers must be
distinguished from children of unbelievers as was done in the Old Testament by circumcision
(Gen. 17:9-14).
1) The sign of the covenant in
the O.T. was _____________________.
2) This sign involved
_________________________, but since the precious blood of Christ has been shed, we are
given a new sign of the covenant which is ______________________.
3) Circumcision was performed
upon male infants at what age? _______________
4)
Colossians 2:11, 12
teaches
us that being circumcised without hands (that is, spiritual circumcision) means that we
are ______________________ in baptism, and risen with Him through
_____________________________.
C. True or False (Review of Lord’s
Days 25-27)
____ 1.
The sins of everyone who is baptized are washed away
by the blood of Jesus.
____ 2.
A person must be baptized into Christ in order to be
saved.
____ 3.
Sacraments are signs and seals of the righteousness
of faith.
____ 4.
God promises to save all the infants of believers.
____ 5.
Infants of unbelievers may also be baptized.
____ 6.
The sacrament of baptism has replaced the rite of
circumcision.
____ 7.
Being washed in the blood of Jesus, we more and more
die to sin and live unto holiness.
____ 8.
Faith is worked in our hearts by the sacraments.
____ 9.
The water in baptism becomes powerful, that it
washes away sin.
____ 10. As
the preaching is designed for the ear, so the sacraments are for the eye.
Lord’s
Day 28
Name: ___________________________
With Lord’s
Day 28 the Catechism begins the treatment of the Lord’s Supper. Here we are instructed in its institution and
general meaning.
A. Question and
Answer 75.
1. In the
columns below write: a) the elements or
earthly things used in the Lord’s Supper, b) what is done to them when the minister
administers Communion, and c) what does each stand for.
__________ ___________________________________ ____________________________________
__________ ___________________________________ ____________________________________
2. The answer
begins with the words, “... Christ has commanded all believers.” What does this mean for young people who have come
to definite faith in Christ? __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. Christ
promises the believer two things through this Supper.
Find these two main ideas in Answer 75.
_______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
4. The
question speaks of being assured in the Lord’s Supper.
We expect this since sacraments are seals or guarantees. But what can it mean that the Supper “admonished”
us? __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
5. Does it
make any difference whether a congregation uses individual cups or a common cup when it
celebrates Communion? __________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
B. Question and
Answer 76 go a bit deeper into the meaning of the Supper.
1. The
Question states that we eat the crucified body and drink the shed blood of Christ.
a. The Belgic
Confession, Art. 35 states this in these words: “In
the meantime ____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________”
b. To clarify
this, the very next line of this article states: “_________________
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________”
c. This same
article states this very beautifully when it calls faith the ________
____________________________________________________________________________.
d. Hence, the
confessions stress partaking in a conscious faith.
2. To eat and
drink Christ with a believing heart means:
a. That we
obtain ________________________________________________________
b. That we
become _______________________________________________________
c. That we
live ___________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
C. Question and
Answer 77 speak of the institution of the Supper.
1. One of the
requirements of a sacrament is that it is instituted by Christ in the church. Where in Scripture do we read of this institution? ____________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
2. According
to the opening words of Art. 35 of the Belgic Confession, why did our Savior ordain and
institute the Holy Supper? _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
3. In what
night was Christ betrayed? ___________________________________________
a. What was
Christ doing with His disciples at the time He instituted the Holy Supper? ____________________________________________________________________
b. In other
words, the Lord’ Supper takes the place of _______________________, just as Baptism
takes the place of _____________________________.
4. In your
own words, what does the last sentence of Answer 77 teach?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Lord’s
Day 29
Name: ___________________________
Here we get into
the actual relationship between the body and blood of Christ on the one hand, and the
bread and wine on the other. A great deal of
meditation and thought is required of us if we are to understand the wonderful gift Christ
gives to us in this Supper. Read Art. 35 of
the Belgic Confession.
A. Question and
Answer 78 states that the bread and wine do not become the very body and blood of Christ.
1. Here we
are told to remember that the sacrament is a sign!
a. Does the
water of baptism change into the blood of Christ? ____ Is the sprinkling of water the actual washing away
of sins? _____
b. Thus, the
bread does not become the ________________, and the wine does not become the
_____________________.
2. Yet, it is
the nature of sacraments to call the signs (bread and wine) by the name of the things
signified or pointed to (body and blood).
a. Can you
give an example of this from daily life? _________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
b. Read
Matthew 26:26-28.
Why is it clear in this
passage that the bread and wine are not actually the body and blood of Christ? ____________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
c. As far as
our tasting and seeing are concerned, why is it impossible to maintain that what we eat
and drink is really the body and blood of Christ? __________
____________________________________________________________________________
3. There are
various views concerning the Lord’s Supper. By
referring to a book, or asking your parents, tell what is maintained by the:
a. Roman
Catholics: _____________________________________________________
b. Lutherans: ___________________________________________________________
B. Question and
Answer 79 look at the same question positively.
1. We are fed
as to our souls by the crucified body and shed blood of Christ just as _______________ and
_________________ support this temporal life.
a. Why is bread used in the sacrament? ________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
b. Why is
wine used? _______________________________ Would grape juice be just as good? _______ Why or why not?
_______________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
2. Just as
with Baptism, the emphasis is on the words as
really. The seal or pledge stands out
here. As really as we receive with our mouths
the holy signs, so really are we _____________________________________________.
3. Whose
operation must be present if we are to benefit through the Supper? ___________________________________________________________________________________
4. God wants
the church never to forget what His precious Son
accomplished on the cross for us.
a. This is
shown by the words “in _______________________ of me.”
b. We must
continue celebrating the Lord’s Supper until ____________________
____________________________________________________________________________.
Lord’s
Day 30
Name: __________________________
This Lord’s
Day continues to define the Lord’s Supper, especially setting forth what it is not, and who properly may partake. It also begins to speak of discipline.
A. Question and Answer 80 is
sometimes criticized for speaking so sharply against the
1. What church has the Mass? _______________________ It would be interesting if you could find out when
the Mass originated. _______________________________________________________________
2. We do well to get the Mass
clearly before our minds. There are really two
parts to the Mass, the Mass proper and communion. The
Roman Catholic Church teaches that the Mass is a visible sacrifice which continues the
sacrifice of Christ on the cross until the end of time.
Pope Pius IV said, “I profess that in the Mass is offered to God a
true, proper, propitiatory sacrifice for the living and the dead.” The Council of Trent declared: “The sacrifice in the Mass is identical with
the sacrifice of the Cross.” A Roman
Catholic has written, “The Mass with its colorful vestments and vivid ceremonies is a
dramatic re-enactment in an unbloody manner of the sacrifice of Christ on
3. Show how the Mass is an accursed idolatry. ______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
4. We must see what a dreadful
perversion the Mass is. The answer compares
the Lord’s Supper with the Mass on three points.
a. The Lord’s Supper
testifies to us that we have a full pardon for all of our sins by the one sacrifice of
Christ which He has once accomplished; the Mass teaches ______________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________.
b. The Lord’s Supper
teaches us that we, by the Holy Ghost, are ingrafted into Christ, who, according to His
human nature, is not now on earth but in heaven; the Mass teaches that
_______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________.
c. The Holy Supper teaches us
that Christ will be worshiped in heaven at the right hand of the Father; the Mass teaches
that _______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________.
B. Question and Answer 81 deals with
the matter of proper partakers of Communion.
1. Key words in this answer are
sorrowful, trust, and desire. Give
three statements from Answer 81, showing who is a proper partaker:
a. _________________________________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________________________________
2. What is a hypocrite? ___________________________________________________________________
3. How does one who “turns
not to God with sincere heart” differ from a hypocrite?
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
4. What is the result for those
who partake, but ought not partake? __________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
5. In our churches, preparatory
sermons are preached before each celebration of Communion.
a. Why? ___________________________________________________________________________
b. According
to the Lord’s Supper Form, true examination consists of:
1) ____________________________________________________________________________
2) ____________________________________________________________________________
3) ____________________________________________________________________________
c. Quote
I Corinthians 11:28:
“______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________”
C. Question and Answer 82 has to do
with keeping some people away from the table of the Lord.
1. Who are kept away? Those who declare themselves to be
_________________________ and _____________________________.
2. Would a person who refuses
to confess his faith publicly be “declaring that he is an unbeliever?” _________________
3. What are the two results of
having open Communion, or allowing anyone to come to the table?
a. _________________________________________________________________________________
b. _________________________________________________________________________________
4. It is the duty of the
Christian church to exclude improper partakers.
a. Who, in the church, would be
called upon to bar someone from the table of the Lord?
______________________________________________________________________________________
b. By what authority may they do this? _______________________________________________ c. Until what time is this exclusion
or barring in effect? ___________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Lord’s
Day 31
Name: __________________________
The
written part of this lesson is quite short since there is considerable reading for you to
do in connection with the subject of the keys of the kingdom. Be sure to read carefully every reference from the
back of the Psalter as they come up under “B.”
A. The keys of the
kingdom in general.
1. The
kingdom of heaven is likened to a city which has a wall about it, and in the wall there is
a gate which has a lock. The keys of the
kingdom open and close this gate. Which are
the keys of the kingdom?
a.
_____________________________________________________________________________
b.
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. The
preaching of the Gospel is the most important key because it is constantly exercised, and
because it spells out the steps in discipline.
a. What
twofold effect does the preaching have upon those who hear it? ___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________ b. What words in Answer 84 give us this
twofold effect of the preaching?
1) When it is
declared and publicly testified to all and every believer
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________ 2) When it is declared and testified to all
unbelievers _______________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Read
Matthew
4. According
to Answer 85, Christian discipline is exercised upon those who, under the name of
Christians, maintain __________________ or ________________ not consistent with the
Christian faith.
a. Discipline
is not begun until after ____________________________________________. b. Who are
those appointed by the church to deal with such matters as discipline? ___________________________________________________________________________________
c. The purpose of discipline is not
to get rid of a person, but to _____________________
___________________________________________________________________________________. d. Thus, the rule in all discipline matters is
patience and love!
B. Specific points
about discipline.
1. Read the
Belgic Confession, Art. 29.
a. This
article states that the marks of a true church are:
1)
_________________________________, 2) ________________________________,
and 3) _________________________________.
b. If there
is a lack of discipline in the church, will the preaching remain pure? _________ Explain: _________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Read from
the Church Order, Art. 74-77. Especially in
Articles 76 and 77 do we find the three steps of Christian discipline:
a. If a
person does not repent, he is suspended or barred from ______________________
____________________________.
b. Then, this
impenitence is _________________ to the congregation three times.
1) The first
time, the name of the sinner ______________________________.
2) The second
time, with the advice of _________________, the name shall be mentioned.
3) The third
time, the _____________________ is informed that unless he ________________ he shall be
___________________________________.
c. The third
step is the actual reading of the Form for Excommunication.
3. Turn to
this form as found in the back of the Psalter. Do you have any questions about this form? If so, write them down here. _________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
4. From the
above, it is clear that the one sin for which a person is excommunicated from the church
is really _______________________. By refusing
to repent, the sinner shows he is outside the kingdom.
5. The power
of the church is key power. The power of the state is sword power. By
using the example of a man who has committed murder or robbery, explain the difference. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
6. According
to the Questions for Profession of Faith, Number 3, what does a person promise to do if he
becomes delinquent? ____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Lord’s
Day 32
NAME: ____________________________
With this Lord’s
Day we begin the third major section of the Catechism, Of Thankfulness.
This section includes a detailed explanation of the Ten Commandments and the
Lord’s Prayer. In other words, we are to
look at the keeping of the Law, prayer, and all good works, as means of expressing our
gratitude to God for that great deliverance He has given us in Christ!
A. The place of
good works in salvation.
1. Question
86 explains that good works do not gain salvation for us.
What three short phrases make clear how we are delivered?
a. ____________________,
______________________, and _______________________.
b. Read
Ephesians 2:8-10
carefully.
1) God’s
chosen people are saved by ___________ through _____________. 2)
Faith is not of
us, but God’s _______________________.
3) If
salvation were of works, man would certainly ___________________. 4)
Verse 10 states
that we are created in Christ Jesus unto good
works. This means that good works are the
(basis, purpose) of our salvation. (Circle
one.)
5) The last
part of verse 10 tells us that the good works we perform were actually
_____________________ by God in eternity.
2. Yet, good
works are an important part of salvation. Christ
has redeemed and delivered us by His blood. But
He also ____________________________ us by His Holy Spirit.
a. By the
Spirit, we are renewed after Christ’s _____________.
What phrases in the following verses teach the same truth?
1)
Romans 8:29:
___________________________________________________
2)
I John 3:2:
______________________________________________________
b. In the
remainder of Answer 86, find three reasons why we must do good works:
1) ________________________________________________________________
2)
________________________________________________________________
3)
________________________________________________________________
B. Salvation
impossible without conversion to God.
1. According
to Question 87, the opposite of a life of good works is ___________________
___________________________________________________________________________________.
2. If
unchaste persons, idolaters, etc., are to be saved, what must be true of them? ____________________________________________________________________________________
3. The
Catechism speaks of inheriting the kingdom, a very beautiful truth.
a. In natural
life, someone must die before a person inherits some property.
Hebrews 9:15, 16
teaches us that believers inherit
the
b. Does a
person inherit something due to something he has done, or is it a gift? ___________________________
c. Why is the
C. Follow
directions carefully:
1 Behind
each sin, place the number of the commandment which forbids it.
Unchaste
person ____, idolater ____, adulterer ____, thief ____,
covetous
man ____, drunkard ____, slanderer ____, robber ____.
2. True or
False:
____ a.
God saves us because of our good
works.
____ b.
God saves us so that we perform
good works.