Examination Questions

  1. Why do we need the Bible? Because that’s where God reveals for people his plan of salvation.
  2. What are we to do with the Bible? Hear it and read it, study it and learn it, believe it and live it.
  3. The Bible has two main teachings. What are they? Law and Gospel.
  4. What does the Law show us about our selves? That we’re sinful.
  5. And what do sinful people deserve? Eternal punishment and death in hell.
  6. What does the Gospel show us? Our Savior
  7. What is the Gospel? The good news that out of love God sent Jesus, his Son, to take away our sins, and that those who believe in him have forgiveness of sins and life eternal.
  8. So what is the chief purpose of the Bible? To lead all people to know and believe in Jesus as their only hope of salvation.
  9. Now that Jesus has died for our sins, does God still want us to obey his law? Yes.
  10. What is the first commandment? You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love and trust in God above all things.
  11. Luther introduces his explanation to each commandment with the words "We should fear and love God...."
  12. What does it mean to "fear God"? To respect him, to stand in awe of him.
  13. What does it mean to love God? To put him first in our lives.
  14. What are some of the idols people put before God in their lives? Ourselves, family, jobs, money, recreation, guests, luxuries, homes, cars, etc.
  15. What is God’s Name? He has names like Lord, Jesus, and Jehovah. It’s also his who reputation—everything we know about him from the Bible.
  16. How does God want us to use his name? "Call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise and give thanks."
  17. What is God’s will for us today according to the 3rd commandment? He wants all people to eagerly hear and learn his word, since it tells us about Jesus and gives us Jesus’ true spiritual rest.
  18. How are we guilty of despising God’s word? If we don’t hear it, or if we listen to it, but don’t believe it.
  19. How does God want us to use his Word? To hear it and learn it daily. To believe and obey it. To share it with all people.
  20. Many people say today that the 6th commandment is out of date, that homosexuality and living together outside of marriage are all right. Is this true? No, because the 6th commandment is part of God’s moral law. His moral law is valid for all people of all times.
  21. In the 9th and 10th commandments, what kinds of sins does God warn us against especially? Sins of thought and desire.
  22. How does God want us to keep all his commandments? Perfectly, in thought and action.
  23. Why do we have so many sinful desires? By nature we have a heart and mind inclined only toward evil.
  24. What is this called? The Old Adam, sinful nature, sinful flesh.
  25. Why are our hearts and minds evil? Because we’re conceived and born in sin.
  26. Why are Christians able to live, at least in part, according to God’s law? Because God created in us a "New Adam" or new man.
  27. Why are there three articles in the Apostles’ Creed? Because God is Triune—One God with Three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  28. What is the main work of God the Father? He created and preserves us.
  29. What is the Work of God the Son called? Redemption
  30. What does it mean to redeem, and what did Christ redeem us from? It means to buy back.
  31. What did Christ buy us back from? He bought us back from the devil and from eternal death.
  32. What ransom price did he pay? His holy, precious blood.
  33. What two natures does Christ have? He is true God and true man.
  34. Why did Christ have to be true man? To be our substitute. To live a perfect life in our place and to die our death in our place.
  35. Why did Christ have to be true God? So that his blood would be both holy and precious, and so that he could rise again from the dead.
  36. Of what does Christ’s resurrection assure us? That God accepted Jesus’ death as the full ransom price for our sins, and that we’ll rise to eternal life also.
  37. What do we call the work of the Holy Spirit? Sanctification.
  38. What does that mean? He has set us apart for a special purpose.
  39. Can we come to faith on our own? "I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe on Jesus Christ, My Lord or come to him, but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way he calls, gathers and enlightens the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it in the one true faith."
  40. The Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit only works through the means of grace. What are they? The Bible, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
  41. What are the 3 basic characteristics of a Sacrament?
    a) sacred act which Christ instituted for Christians to do
    b) sacred act in which Christ tells us to use earthly elements with God’s word
    c) sacred act in which Christ offers us forgiveness, life and salvation.
  42. What is it that makes sacraments effective? God’s Word
  43. What did God do for you in your baptism? He made me God’s child and washed away all my sins.
  44. What do we receive in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper? Bread and wine, and Christ’s body and blood.
  45. How do we know that? Christ’s words, "This is my body, ... this is my blood..."
  46. What do believers receive through Christ’s body blood in Holy Communion? Forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.
  47. Why don’t we give Holy Communion to just anyone? Because everybody receives Christ’s body and blood in the Sacrament, both believers and unbelievers, and an unbeliever would receive them to his damnation.
  48. What are we saying when we commune together? That we all believe the same true doctrine of the Bible.
  49. How often does Christ want you to receive his assurance of forgiveness in Holy Communion? As often as possible.