The Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q85. What doth God require of us,
that we may escape His wrath and curse due to us for sin?
A. To escape the wrath and
curse of God due to us for sin, God requireth of us
faith in Jesus Christ,—repentance unto life,[1]—with the
diligent use of all the
outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of
Redemption.[2]
[1] Acts 20:21; [2] Proverbs 2:1–5; 8:33–36; Isaiah 55:3.
The Scripture is clear that nothing that we do can merit salvation since “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isa 64:6); and, “by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Gal 2:16). Why then does the answer teach us that God requires of us, faith, repentance, and a diligent use of all the outward means in order to escape the wrath and curse of God, due to us for sin? Are these not all our own deeds: our believing or exercise of faith, our turning away from sin and our making use of the means? Is our catechism teaching us salvation by works?
Certainly not! In the first place, we must not think that the pronoun “us” in
the catechism is referring to unregenerate persons exclusively. Rather it
refers to elect of God, but especially the regenerate, i.e., those who are
conscious of the fact that their redemption has been purchased by Christ. In
the second place, these duties are appointed and required by God of us, both as
means of conveying and improving the
salvation purchased, and as evidences
of our interest in it, when conveyed. We may say that these duties are
essentially instrumental, but not meritorious, causes of our salvation. In
fact, faith and repentance are gifts of God (Eph 2:8; Acts 11:18), and the
means are appointed of God (1 Cor 1:21) who also works in us both to will and
to do His good pleasure (Phil 2:13). They are gifts by which grace may be
received by us.
However, as the exercise of these gifts must be effected by us, acting
consciously, God commands us to perform them, that we may receive the benefits
of redemption. This command is also given to the reprobate as the revealed will
of God. But the reprobate will not comply.
By faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are united with Christ and demonstrate
our reliance upon Him, His righteousness, and His propitiation on our behalf.
Once a soul is regenerate, faith will never be completely quenched (Mt 12:20),
yet the child of God must constantly be reminded of and renew his trust in
Christ. True repentance, similarly, is required of God for the forgiveness of
sin for it is not to His honour to pardon anyone who is still clinging on to
his sin (Acts 3:19; 20:21). Again, the true child of God will not fail to
repent, but since repentance is a conscious act of the soul, it is commanded of
God for our conscious obedience. In the same way, God requires of us the
diligent use of all outward means for our perseverance in the faith, for
although He could save without means, yet it is His will to appoint means; and
therefore we cannot expect the benefits of redemption and salvation to be
communicated to us any other way (1 Cor 1:21).