gression?
A. The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression. (e)
e Gen. 2:16, 17; Rom. 5:12; 1 Cor. 15:21, 22
Q. 20. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?
A. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery. (f)
f Rom. 5:12
Q. 21. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?
A. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it. (g)
g Rom. 5:12, to the end; Eph. 2:1, 2, 3; James 1:14, 15; Mt. 15:19
Q. 22. What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?
A. All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, (h) are under his wrath and curse, (i) and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever. (j)
h Gen. 3:8, 10, 24 i Eph. 2:2, 3; Gal. 3:10 j Lam. 3:39; Rom. 6:23; Mt. 25:41, 46
Redemption Accomplished by Jesus Christ
Q. 23. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?
A. God having out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, (k) did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer. (l)
k Eph. 1:4, 5 l Rom. 3:20-22; Gal. 3:21, 22
Q. 24. Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect?
A. The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ; (m) who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, (n) and so was and continueth to be God and man in two distinct natures, and one person for ever. (o)
m 1 Tim. 2:5, 6 n John 1:14; Gal. 4:4 o Rom. 9:5; Luke. 1:35; Col. 2:9; Heb. 7:24, 25
Q. 25. How did Christ, being the Son of God become man?
A. Christ the Son of God became man by taking to himself a true body, (p) and a reasonable soul; (q) being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, (r) yet without sin. (s)
p Heb. 2:14, 17; 10:5 q Mt. 26:38 r Luke 1:27, 31, 34, 35, 42; Gal. 4:4 s Heb. 4:15; 7:26
Q. 26. What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer?
A. Christ as our Redeemer executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation. (t)
t Acts 3:22; Heb. 12:25; 2 Cor. 13:3; Heb. 5:5, 6, 7; 7:25; Ps. 2:6; Is. 9:6, 7; Mt. 21:5; Ps. 2:8-11
Q. 27. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
A. Christ executeth the office of prophet in revealing to us, by his Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. (u)
u John 1:18; 1 Pet.1:10,11, 12; John 15:15; and 20:31
Q. 28. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
A. Christ executeth the office of priest in his once offering up himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice (v) and reconcile us to God, (w) and in making continual intercession for us. (x)
v Heb. 9:14, 28 w Heb. 2:17 x Heb.7:24, 25
Q. 29. How doth Christ execute the office of king?
A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, (y) in ruling, (z) and defending us, (a) and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies. (b)
y Acts 15:14, 15, 16 z Is. 33:22 a Is. 32:1, 2 b 1 Cor. 15:25; Ps. 110 throughout
Q. 30. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?
A. Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, (c) made under the law, (d) undergoing the miseries of this life, (e) the wrath of God, (f) and the cursed death of the cross; (g) in being buried, (h) and continuing under the power of death for a time. (i)
c Luke 2:7 d Gal. 4:4 e Heb. 12:2, 3; Is. 53:2, 3 f Luke 22:44; Mt. 27:46 g Phil. 2:8 h 1 Cor. 15:3,4 i Acts 2:24, 25, 26, 27, 31; Mt. 12:40
Q. 31. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation?
A. Christ’s exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, (j) in ascending up into heaven, (k) in sitting at the right hand of God t