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Matthew Henry’s Westminster Shorter Catechism Commentary on Question 20

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Might not God justly have left all mankind to perish in their fallen state? Yes: for in his sight shall no man living be justified,
Ps. 143:2
. Would God have been a loser by it, if they had been left to perish? No: for, can a man be profitable to God?
Job 22:2
. But did he leave them to perish? No: for the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appears,
Titus 3:4
. Was the case of fallen angels helpless and desperate? Yes: for God spared not them,
2 Pet. 2:4
. But is the case of fallen man so? No: for he is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish,
2 Pet. 3:9
. Is God’s patience a token for good? Yes: the long suffering of our Lord is salvation,
2 Pet. 3:15
. Does it appear that God has a good will to man’s salvation? Yes: As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that he turn and live,
Ezek. 33:11
. Is this an encouragement to us all to hope in his mercy? Yes: for if the Lord had been pleased to kill us, he would not have showed us such things as these,
Judg. 13:23
.
Could man help himself out of his state of sin and misery? No: for while we were without strength, Christ died for the ungodly,
Rom. 5:6
. Could any creature help us? No: for none of them can by any means redeem his brother,
Ps. 49:7
. Could God himself only help us? Yes: 0 Israel thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thy help,
Hos. 13:9
. Did God contrive a way for man’s recovery? Yes: he hath devised means that his banished may not be expelled from him,
2 Sam. 14:14
. Was it the contrivance of infinite wisdom? Yes: it is the wisdom of God in a mystery, ordained before the world for our glory,
1 Cor. 2:7
. Has he provided a way for our recovery? Yes: I have found a ransom,
Job 33:24
.
Did God particularly design the salvation of a remnant of mankind? Yes there is a remnant according to the election of grace,
Rom. 11:5
. Are there some whom God has chosen? Yes: God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit,
2 Thess. 2:13
. Is there a certain number of such? Yes: for their names are in the book of life,
Phil. 4:3
,
Rev. 13:8
. Were they chosen from eternity? Yes: he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
Eph. 1:4
. Were they chosen for the sake of any thing in themselves? No: ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,
John 15:16
. But of his mere good pleasure? Yes: he hath predestinated us according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph. 1:5
. Were they chosen to salvation, as the end? Yes: God had appointed us to obtain salvation,
1 Thess. 5:9
. And to sanctification as the means? Yes: he has chosen us that we should be holy,
Eph. 1:4
. Was it for the glory of God? Yes: that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy,
Rom. 9:23
.
Shall the election obtain? Yes: the purpose of God according to election shall stand,
Rom. 9:11
. Does our salvation begin there? Yes: we love him, because he first loved us, 1
John 4:19
. Are others passed by? Yes: when the election hath obtained, the rest are blinded,
Rom. 11:7
. Does God know certainly whom he has chosen? Yes: the Lord knows them that are his,
2 Tim. 2:19
. Do we know it? No: for secret things belong not to us,
Deut. 29:29
Can we know our own election otherwise than by our being sanctified? No: we must make our calling, and so make our election, sure,
2 Pet. 1:10
.
Were the elect given to Christ? Yes: thine they were, and thou gavest them me,
John 17:6
. Did he undertake their salvation? Yes: for this is the Father’s will, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing,
John 6:39
. Was it promised him that he should effect it? Yes: he shall see his seed, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand,
Isa. 53:10
. And was he himself assured of it? Yes: all that the Father giveth me, shall come to me,
John 6:37
. And does it always prove so? Yes: as many as were ordained to eternal life believed,
Acts 13:48
. And shall any of them miscarry? No: for it is said of seducers, they shall deceive, if it were possible, the very elect,
Matt. 24:24
.
Has God entered into a new covenant, pursuant hereto? Yes: for we are not under the law, but under grace,
Rom. 6:14
. Does he insist upon the terms of the first covenant? No: he hath not dealt with us after our sins,
Ps. 103:10
. Is he willing to deal with us upon new terms? Yes: I will make a new covenant with them,
Jer. 31:31
. Is he willing to be ours in covenant? Yes: I will be to them a God,
Heb. 8:10
. Will he accept us as his? Yes: they shall be to me a people. And will he be at peace with us? Yes: God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,
2 Cor. 5:19
.
Is this wrought out by a Redeemer? Yes: for there is not salvation in any other,
Acts 4:12
. Was that Redeemer of God’s own providing? Yes: God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
John 3:16
. Is the new covenant made with us in Christ? Yes for he is the Mediator of the better covenant,
Heb. 8:6
. Is it a covenant much for our advantage? Yes: for it is well ordered in all things and sure,
2 Sam. 23:5
. Is perfect obedience the condition of it? No: for if by grace, then it is no more of works,
Rom. 11:6
. Is faith the condition of it? Yes: for, by grace ye are saved through faith,
Eph. 2:8
. Is sincerity accepted as our gospel perfection? Yes: walk before me, and be thou perfect,
Gen. 17:1
. Is that which is required in the covenant promised in the covenant? Yes: I will cause you to walk in my statutes,
Ezek. 36:27
. Does every transgression in the covenant cast us out of the covenant? No: I will visit their transgression with a rod, but my lovingkindness will I not utterly take away,
Ps. 89:32–33
.
Will this covenant deliver us out of a state of sin and misery? Yes: Whosoever believes in Christ shall not perish
John 3:16
. Will it bring us into a state of salvation? Yes: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life,
John 3:36
. And can we desire any more? No: It is all my salvation, and all my desire,
2 Sam. 23:5
.
Was there intimation given to Adam of this way of salvation by a Redeemer? Yes: for it was said to him, That the seed of the woman should break the serpent’s head,
Gen. 3:15
. Was it made known to the Old Testament saints? Yes: for of this salvation have the prophets inquired, and searched diligently,
1 Pet. 1:10
. But is it brought to a clearer light in the New Testament? Yes: Go preach the gospel to every creature; he that believes shall be saved, and he that believes not shall be damned,
Mark 16:15–16
. Is this good news to fallen man? Yes: Glory be to God in the highest, on earth peace, good-will towards men,
Luke 11:14
. Does this covenant exclude any that do not exclude themselves? No: Whosoever will, let him come, and take of the water of life freely,
Rev. 22:17
.
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