Publisher's Foreword

Preface

Part 1: God Revealed as Creator

Chapter 1: Revelation: Scripture Is the Word of God

Chapter 2: Interpretation: Christians Can Understand the Word of God

Chapter 3: General Revelation: God’s Reality Is Known to All

Chapter 4: Guilt: The Effect of General Revelation

Chapter 5: Inward Witness: Scripture Is Authenticated by the Holy Spirit

Chapter 6: Authority: God Governs His People through Scripture

Chapter 7: Knowledge: True Knowledge of God Comes through Faith

Chapter 8: Creation: God Is the Creator

Chapter 9: Self-Disclosure: This Is My Name

Chapter 10: Self-Existence: God Has Always Been

Chapter 11: Transcendence: God’s Nature Is Spiritual

Chapter 12: Omniscience: God Sees and Knows

Chapter 13: Sovereignty: God Reigns

Chapter 14: Almightiness: God Is Omnipresent and Omnipotent

Chapter 15: Predestination: God Has a Purpose

Chapter 16: Trinity: God Is One and Three

Chapter 17: Holiness: God Is Light

Chapter 18: Goodness: God Is Love

Chapter 19: Wisdom: God’s Twofold Will Is One

Chapter 20: Mystery: God Is Surpassingly Great

Chapter 21: Providence: God Governs This World

Chapter 22: Miracles: God Shows His Presence and Power

Chapter 23: Glory: God’s Glory-Showing Requires Glory-Giving

Chapter 24: Idolatry: God Demands Total Allegiance

Chapter 25: Angels: God Employs Supernatural Agents

Chapter 26: Demons: God Has Supernatural Opponents

Chapter 27: Satan: Fallen Angels Have a Leader

Chapter 28: Humanness: God Made Human Beings in His Image

Chapter 29: Humankind: Humans Are Body and Soul, in Two Genders

Part 2: God Revealed as Redeemer

Chapter 30: The Fall: The First Human Couple Sinned

Chapter 31: Original Sin: Depravity Infects Everyone

Chapter 32: Inability: Fallen Human Beings Are Both Free and Enslaved

Chapter 33: Covenant: God Takes Sinful Humans into a Covenant of Grace

Chapter 34: Law: God Legislates, and Demands Obedience

Chapter 35: Law in Action: God’s Moral Law Has Three Purposes

Chapter 36: Conscience: God Teaches and Cleanses the Heart

Chapter 37: Worship: God Gives a Liturgical Pattern

Chapter 38: Prophets: God Sent Messengers to Declare His Will

Chapter 39: Incarnation: God Sent His Son to Save Us

Chapter 40: Two Natures: Jesus Christ Is Fully Human

Chapter 41: Virgin Birth: Jesus Christ Was Born by Miracle

Chapter 42: Teacher: Jesus Christ Proclaimed God’s Kingdom and Family

Chapter 43: Sinlessness: Jesus Christ Was Entirely Free from Sin

Chapter 44: Obedience: Jesus Christ Fulfilled His Father’s Redemptive Will

Chapter 45: Vocation: Jesus Christ’s Mission Was Revealed at His Baptism

Chapter 46: Transfiguration: How Jesus Christ’s Glory Was Revealed

Chapter 47: Resurrection: Jesus Christ Was Raised from the Dead

Chapter 48: Ascension: Jesus Christ Was Taken Up into Heaven

Chapter 49: Session: Jesus Reigns in Heaven

Chapter 50: Mediation: Jesus Christ Is the Mediator between God and Man

Chapter 51: Sacrifice: Jesus Christ Made Atonement for Sin

Chapter 52: Definite Redemption: Jesus Christ Died for God’s Elect

Part 3: God Revealed as Lord of Grace

Chapter 53: Paraclete: The Holy Spirit Ministers to Believers

Chapter 54: Salvation: Jesus Rescues His People from Sin

Chapter 55: Election: God Chooses His Own

Chapter 56: Effectual Calling: God Draws His People to Himself

Chapter 57: Illumination: The Holy Spirit Gives Spiritual Understanding

Chapter 58: Regeneration: The Christian Is Born Again

Chapter 59: Works: Good Works Are an Expression of Faith

Chapter 60: Repentance: A Christian Changes Radically

Chapter 61: Justification: Salvation Is by Grace through Faith

Chapter 62: Adoption: God Makes His People His Children

Chapter 63: Sanctification: The Christian Grows in Grace

Chapter 64: Liberty: Salvation Brings Freedom

Chapter 65: Legalism: Working for God’s Favor Forfeits It

Chapter 66: Antinomianism: We Are Not Set Free to Sin

Chapter 67: Love: Loving Is Basic to Christian Behavior

Chapter 68: Hope: Hoping Is Basic to the Christian Outlook

Chapter 69: Enterprise: A Christian Lives to Please God

Chapter 70: Prayer: Christians Practice Fellowship with God

Chapter 71: Oaths and Vows: Christians Must Be Truthful

Chapter 72: The Kingdom of God: Christians Must Manifest Kingdom Life

Chapter 73: Apostles: Jesus’s Representatives Exercised His Authority

Chapter 74: Church: God Plants His People in a New Community

Chapter 75: Word and Sacrament: How a Genuine Church Is Identified

Chapter 76: Elders: Pastors Must Care for the Church

Chapter 77: Sacraments: Christ Instituted Two Seals of God’s Covenant

Chapter 78: Baptism: This Rite Exhibits Union with Christ

Chapter 79: The Lord’s Supper: This Rite Exhibits Communion with Christ

Chapter 80: Discipline: The Church Must Uphold Christian Standards

Chapter 81: Mission: Christ Sends the Church into the World

Chapter 82: Spiritual Gifts: The Holy Spirit Equips the Church

Chapter 83: Marriage: Matrimony Is Meant to Be a Permanent Covenant Relationship

Chapter 84: The Family: The Christian Household Is a Spiritual Unit

Chapter 85: The World: Christians Are in Society to Serve and Transform It

Chapter 86: The State: Christians Must Respect Civil Government

Part 4: God Revealed as Lord of Destiny

Chapter 87: Perseverance: God Keeps His People Safe

Chapter 88: Unpardonable Sin: Only Impenitence Cannot Be Forgiven

Chapter 89: Mortality: Christians Need Not Fear Death

Chapter 90: Second Coming: Jesus Christ Will Return to the Earth in Glory

Chapter 91: General Resurrection: The Dead in Christ Will Rise in Glory

Chapter 92: Judgment Seat: God Will Judge All Mankind

Chapter 93: Hell: The Wicked Will Be Banished into Endless Misery

Chapter 94: Heaven: God Will Welcome His People into Everlasting Joy

General Index

Scripture Index