Two Short Catetchisms

Q. 1. By what means do we become actual members of this church of God? A. By a lively justifying faith,74 whereby we are united unto Christ, 486the head thereof. Acts ii. 47, xiii. 48; Heb. xi. 6, xii. 22, 23, iv. 2; Rom. v. 1, 2; Eph. ii. 13, 14. Q. 2. What is a justifying faith? A. A agracious resting upon75 the free promises of God in Jesus Christ for mercy, bwith a firm persuasion of heart that God is a reconciled Father unto us in the Son of his love. a1 Tim. i. 16; Job xiii. 15, xix. 25; Rom. iv. 5. bHeb. iv. 16; Rom. viii. 38, 39; Gal. ii. 20; 2 Cor. v. 20, 21. Q. 3. Have all this faith? A. None but the elect of God. Tit. i. 1; John x. 26; Matt. xiii. 11; Acts xiii. 48; Rom. viii. 30. Q. 4. Do not, then, others believe that make profession? A. Yes; with, first, historical faith, or a persuasion that the things written in the Word are true, James ii. 19; secondly, temporary faith, which hath some joy of the affections, upon unspiritual grounds, in the things believed. Matt. xiii. 20; Mark vi. 20; John ii. 23, 24; Acts viii. 13.