THE

NEW  REFORMATION CATECHISM ON

HUMAN  SEXUALITY

by Christopher J. Gordon

A Catechism Based on

the Heidelberg Catechism of  1563

Foreword

“I, with body and soul, both in life and in death, am not my own, but belong to my faithful savior Jesus Christ.” So begins the Heidelberg Catechism. Written by Zacharius Ursinus and published in 1563, The Heidelberg Catechism quickly became a manual for Christian living and religious instruction during the Reformation. A catechism focused on helping Christians lay hold of the deepest truths in the best ways was dearly needed during the tumultuous time of the Reformation.

Today’s revolution in theology is not over the doctrine of justifi ation by faith alone, but over sexual identity. Our post- Freudian world maintains without any substantial pushback that sexual identity is the most important truth about a person. Organized under the banner of LGBTQ+, authentic personhood depends on placing yourself under one of these letters, or joyfully and without reservation applauding people who do. The American Medical Association tells us that mental health depends on practicing what you desire, and enthusiastically supporting others who do what feels right in their own eyes is a suicide-prevention strategy. The biblical creation mandate seems a quaint ancient narrative with no binding force when in the United States today there are hundreds of pediatric gender clinics and testosterone is administered to adolescents by Planned Parenthood on a fi st visit and without parental consent or a therapist’s note.

In contrast to the world’s anthropology, a biblical anthropology understands that after Adam’s transgression (Genesis 3),  we, his posterity, have a sin nature that compels each person to love something that God hates. If nothing checks our will, our sinful desires will plunge us headfi st into all manner of spiritual, moral, and sometimes physical danger. No one is exempt from original sin and its consequence. Neither good nor malicious intentions can rewrite God’s call for men and women.

Scripture is clear that we are responsible for our inborn as well as our actual sins (Psalm 5:5, Romans 1:18, Deuteronomy 27:15, Hebrews 9:27). Taking responsibility for our own sin is hard and necessary, but because of the way that the world, the fl   h,   and the devil conspire, it is diffi ult to know where to start.

And this is where Christopher Gordon’s The New Reformation Catechism offers to the church such a timely and pastoral

guide. I have no doubt that this means of discipleship will give glory to God and be used by the Lord to liberate many who are held captive by sexual sin. Twenty-three years ago, when I was in a lesbian relationship and at the same time reading the

Bible, I would have greatly benefited from The New Reformation Catechism on Human Sexuality. I know that I am not alone in

needing this catechism.

May God bless you richly as you grow in Christian liberty. May this catechism help you hold fast to the truth and better understand how the full counsel of God speaks to the godly priority of human sexuality.

• Rosaria Butterfield

Table of Contents

Foreword Preface

Introduction | Questions 1–2

Part One: Creation | Questions 3–15 Part Two: Fall | Questions 16–22

Part Three: Redemption | Questions 23–26 Part Four: Restoration | Questions 27–41

Preface

The historic creeds and confessions of Protestant churches have served to preserve Christians in the truth of the gospel for centuries. We are deeply indebted to those who took the time to formulate, with great accuracy and clarity, the precious truths of our faith. We are faced with a unique challenge in our times, however, with regard to new movements that are harming the integrity of what we believe.

Of particular interest is how the current sexual revolution has completely overturned what God established at creation as good. Th s is a unique challenge that has been answered by many helpful writers on the topic. The problem is that not

enough Christians are taking the time to read current books that address this issue. Further, few resources are available that are intended to bring families, study groups, and churchgoers together around confessional-like statements that address the challenges of our day.

Creeds and confessions were originally written to provide summary truths of the Christian faith in the face of great theological error. Catechisms in particular provided short, concise summary statements, in question-and-answer format, on some particular doctrine of the Christian faith. These documents are intended to help Christians, especially children and those new to the faith, to have their minds trained in what Scripture teaches on a given point of Christian doctrine. To this day, catechizing is one of the most effective methods of preserving Christians from error.

The culture is daily catechizing us and our children in the ideas they want impressed upon minds. It has been to our own demise that Christians have not taken seriously enough the call to combat this vicious assault on our faith through catechizing God’s people in his truth. The great need of the moment is a robust recovery in training Christians in the truths of what we confess.

Many of our older confessional statements do not address our current challenges with any amount of specifi   ty. Sadly, due to the fear that any new confession or catechism will challenge the integrity of the confessional statements that we already have,   or compromise our present unity, we have avoided the writing of new confessions or catechisms that address current issues.

What is not appreciated, however, is that catechisms in particular were regularly written by Reformed pastors in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Richard Greenham, the great Elizabethan Puritan preacher, second only in influence to William Perkins, wrote a well- known short form of catechizing on the basic principles of the Christian faith. Greenham produced a masterful catechism that helped to provide further clarity on issues that were not specifi d in ecclesiastically approved Reformed creeds and confessions.

Th s is precisely the purpose of the present catechism that is being presented to you. There are offi  al, ecclesiastically approved creeds, confessions, and catechisms of the church, that have offi   al authority and serve the churches in the preservation of the truth. Th s catechism is not an offi  al, ecclesiastical document and does not have the same authority. As a Reformed minister, I have written a pastoral catechism based on the Heidelberg Catechism of 1563 to help Christians have their minds catechized in the truth of biblical human sexuality.

Th s catechism is intended to be used devotionally around the table, providing an opportunity for parents to talk with their children about these issues. Th s catechism is also intended to provide opportunities for Bible studies, Sunday school classes, and sermon series for pastors in addressing the current challenges surrounding human sexuality.

I have submitted this catechism to many well-respected scholars and pastors to receive feedback and correction where needed. In particular, I would like to thank Rosaria Butterfi ld, Christopher Yuan, R. Scott Clark, W. Robert Godfrey, Carl Trueman, David VanDrunen, Michael Brown, Doug Barnes, Wes Bredenhof, Chad Vegas, Mark Stromberg, Jonathan Cruse, and Jon Payne for their excellent help in producing this catechism.

I hope you will receive this, dear reader, as a humble attempt to help Christians enjoy the creational, sexual ethic that God established from the beginning for our good.

• Christopher J. Gordon Escondido, CA

I N TRODUCTION

1. Q. Why is it comforting that we have a new identity in Jesus Christ?

1. I am being remade into the image of Christ, to have a true identity—1

in body and soul,

throughout the whole course of my life, to enjoy God and glorify him forever.2

He redeemed my life with the precious blood of his Son,3

and has delivered me from the lie of Satan in the Garden.4

He also watches over me in such a way

that he might free me from all sexual impurity as the temple of his indwelling;5

in fact, all things must work together

to remake me into the image of his Son.6

Because I have this new identity,7 Christ, by his Holy Spirit,

also assures me of God’s steadfast love,8

and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to enjoy true freedom as a new cre- ation.9

• Q. What must I know about human sexuality and my new identity in Christ?

1. Three things: first, how great my unholy desires and sexual sins are;10

second, how I am set free from bondage to my un- holy desires and sexual sins;11

third, how I am to lead a thankful life of sexual purity in union with Christ.12

PA RT I: CR E ATION

• Q. How many sexes did God make at creation?

1. God made two sexes at creation;

“in the image of God, he created them, male and female, he created them.”13

• Q. What does God require of us in making us in his image?

1. God requires that we love him as he created us, male or female,

with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves.14

• Q. Why did God make us male and female in his own image?

1. That we might use all of the excellent qualities15 with which he made us,16

in true righteousness and holiness,17 in body and soul,18

as male and female, for his glory

as we exercise dominion over the earth.19

• Q. But aren’t we able to make a distinction between biological sex and gender in search of our identity?

1. No. God established a natural order in the creation of male and female, that is good for us

as image bearers of God.20

To introduce gender as a new category of personhood,

separate from the biological category of sex, in pursuit of a different sexual identity,

QA1

1 Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18; Col. 3:10

2 Ps. 146; 1 Cor. 10:31

3 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:2

4 Gen. 3:4-5; John 8:34-36; Heb. 2:14-15; 1 John 3:1-11

5 1 Cor. 3:16; 1 Cor. 6:15-20

6 Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18

7 2 Cor. 5:17

8 Ps. 103:8-10; John 16:25-27

9 John 8:32; Gal. 5:13

QA2

10 Ex. 20:14, 17; 2 Sam. 11:2-4; Gal. 5:16; 1 John 2:16

11 2 Sam. 12:13; Ps. 51; 1 Cor. 6:14-23; Col. 2:13-15

12 1 Cor. 6:15-20

QA3

13 Gen. 1:26-27; 2:18, 21-23; 5:2; Matt. 19:4-5; Mark

10:6-7

QA4

14 Lev. 19:18; Deut. 6:5; Matt. 22:37-40

QA5

15 Ps. 8:3-9

16 Ps. 100:3

17 Eph. 4:23-24

18 1 Thess. 5:23

19 Gen. 1:26-27; Ps. 8:3-9

QA6

20 Gen. 1:26-31; 9:6; Ps. 8:3-8; James 3:9

21 Gen. 1:31; Ps. 100:3; Rom. 1:21-27

is unnatural to the creation order,

and harmful to the purpose for which God made us.21

• Q. But aren’t some people born sexually indeterminate?

1. A small percentage of people

are indeed born sexually indeterminate, but such are, by definition,

anomalies, and in medicine

anomalies never negate objective categories of personhood.

We may not use the existence of anomalies to change or redefine the creational order

that God has established as good.22

• Q. Does God permit us to change our sex?

1. Certainly not.23

To reverse how God created us as male or female, due to fallen, unchosen thoughts and

self-perceptions

would be an act of rebellion,23

and a gross distortion of God’s creative handiwork in specifically forming us for his own glory.25

Further, in the new Jerusalem, any genital mutilation,

or confusion over sexual orientation identity, will be restored in our new resurrection bodies.

Therefore, we should not change our sex since God promises to glorify our bodies, in everlasting happiness,

as he created us male and female, in the final resurrection.26

• Q. When was marriage instituted?

1. The holy bond of marriage was instituted by God

at the very beginning of history in creation.27

1. Q. What is marriage?

1. God created marriage to be a lifelong, monogamous covenantal union between one man and one woman.28

1. Q. Why did God institute marriage?

1. Six reasons:

First, a husband and wife are meant to live together in sincere love and holiness,

helping each other faithfully in all things.29

Second, marriage provides husbands and wives with a proper setting to enjoy each other

with the physical and relational desires God gave to them.30

Third, by marriage the human race  is to be continued and increased through the institution of the family.31

Fourth, a structure is provided that enriches society

and contributes to its orderly function.32

Fifth, by marriage God advances his kingdom through the loving devotion of a husband and wife, as children are nurtured

in the true knowledge and fear of the Lord.33 Sixth, marriage is designed to represent

QA7

22 Gen. 1:26-27

QA8

23 Lev. 18:21-19:28; Deut. 23:1; Ps. 51:3-6

24 Col. 3:5; 1 Thess. 4:5

25 Gen. 2:7, 22; Ps. 100:3

26 Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:35-56; Rev. 21:1-8

QA9

27 Questions 9-13 are adapted from the URCNA State- ment of Affirmations Regarding Marriage: www.urcna. org/file_retrieve/63166; Gen. 2:18

QA10

28 Prov. 2:17; Mark 10:6-9; Eph. 5:25-32

QA11

29 Eph. 2:18; Eph. 5:21-25

30 Gen. 2:23; Heb. 13:4

31 Gen. 1:22, 28; 8:17

32 Gen. 1:26-28

33 Gen. 1:28; Ps. 127:3; Mal. 2:15-16; Eph. 5:22-6:4

the mystery of Christ and the church that he loves.34

1. Q. Does the Lord permit sexual intimacy outside of marriage?

1. No. Scripture teaches that marriage

is the only acceptable context for sexual union.

Further, God calls us to live decent and chaste lives within or outside the holy state of marriage.35

1. Q. What is the Christian position on divorce?

1. Since husbands and wives

are united by the Lord’s hand,

nothing should separate them in this life.36

1. Q. But aren’t there any biblical grounds for divorce?

1. The Scriptures permit divorce

in the irreconcilable circumstances of adultery or abandonment.37

But these are exceptions

to the general rule not to divorce.

1. Q. Does God permit same-sex marriage?

1. Absolutely not.

God ordained marriage

only between a man and a woman for life.38

Governments do not have the authority to change marriage

into something contrary

to what God instituted at creation.39

PA RT I I: FA L L

1. Q. With what lie did Satan tempt our first parents in the garden?

1. Satan lied about the goodness of God’s creation order.

He presented God

as restrictive and oppressive, and our first parents chose to sin

through the desire to become their own gods

and define their own way.40

1. Q. What happened to our desires in the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in paradise?

1. All the desires of the human heart, even though they may be unchosen, have become distorted and fallen

in the sin of our first parents.41

These desires cannot be trusted,42  since we have a natural tendency to be led away by various passions.43

1. Q. But didn’t God create us to be happy in following the desires of our hearts?

1. God made us holy and happy;44 we, however,

accepting the lie of the devil,45

have robbed ourselves of this happiness by obeying sinful desires.46

1. Q. But isn’t there a difference between temptation and the practice of evil desires?

1. God requires that we avoid

QA11

34 Eph. 5:25

QA12

35 Gen. 2:21-24; Ex. 20:14; 1 Cor. 7:1-2; Eph. 5:3-5;

Heb. 13:4

QA13

36 Gen. 2:21-14; Matt. 19:6; Mark 10:7-9

QA14

37 Matt. 19:1-9; 1 Cor. 7:10-17

QA15

38 Gen. 2:24; Lev. 18:22; Matt. 19:5; Mark 7:21; Rom.

1:24-32; 1 Cor. 6:9; Eph. 5:31

39 Acts 5:28-29; Rom. 13:1-2

QA16

40 Gen. 3:1-7; John 8:44; 1 John 2:22

QA17

41 Gen. 3:16; Jer. 17:9; 1 John 2:16

42 Rom. 7:14-25

43 2 Tim. 3:6; Gal. 5:24; Eph. 2:3

QA18

44 Gen. 1:31; Ps. 8:6-9

45 Gen. 3:6

46 Gen. 3:16-19; Ps. 14; Rom. 3:10-18

entering into all forms of temptation.47 Temptation is not sin

when it originates outside of us.48

Temptation becomes sin

when we entertain and welcome

the sinful desires of our hearts and act upon them.49

• Q. Are we able to make a distinction between entertaining a sinful desire and choosing to live in that desire?

1. God condemns desires that are contrary to his law, as well as our actual sins.50

These contrary desires are sinful even if they are unchosen,

since they proceed from a corrupt heart.51

All impure thoughts and desires, prior to the conscious act of the will, are considered sin in God’s eyes.52

• Q. What kinds of sinful desires and deeds does God’s law condemn?

1. Christ teaches us this in summary in Matthew 15:18-20: “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.”

• Q. Will God permit our sinful desires to go unpunished?

1. Certainly not.

He is terribly angry with our sinful desires, as well as our actual sins,

God will punish every idle thought, careless word,

or wicked action

by a just judgment both now and in eternity.53 As the Bible declares,

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”54

PA RT I I I:

R EDEMP TION

• Q. What has Jesus accomplished for me in the gospel with regard to all forms of sexual sin?

1. Through true faith in the promise of God’s Word,55 and wholehearted trust in Christ,56

by the gospel,

God has freely granted—

not only to others but to me also—

the forgiveness of all my sexual trespasses,57 canceling all my guilt58

and meriting for me eternal righteousness and salvation.59

• Q. How does the truth of the gospel set us free with regard to sexual sin?

1. Since I died, was buried, and have been raised with Christ60

through his death and resurrection,

I am set free from slavery to any form of sexual sin.

Christ has broken its dominion over me,61 and I now live with a renewed desire62

to reckon myself dead to my old way of sexual

QA19

47 Matt. 6:13

48 Gen. 39:6-12; Matt. 4:1-10

49 Gen. 3:6; 4:6-8; 2 Kings 5:20-27

QA20

50 Prov. 6:25; 7; Matt. 5:28; 1 Cor. 10:6; Gal. 5:16

51 Matt. 15:19; James 1:15

52 Rom. 2:15-16; 8:5; Eph. 4:17-19; Rev. 2:23

QA21 QA22

53 Matt. 12:35-37; Rom. 1:18-32; 2:16; Rev. 20:11-15 2

54 Cor. 5:10

QA23

55 John 17:3,17; Heb. 11:1-3; James 2:19

56 Rom. 4:18-21; 5:1; 10:10; Heb. 4:14-16

58 Col. 2:14; Heb. 2:14

59 Rom. 1:16-17; Heb. 10:10

QA24

60 Rom. 6:1-4

61 Rom. 6:5-14

62 Heb. 8:10-12; Col. 3:1-5

immorality,63

but alive to God in pursuing a sexually pure life for his glory.64

• Q. Since I am no longer my own but have been bought with the precious blood of Christ, what new iden- tity has Christ achieved for me?

1. By faith I am joined to Christ as a new creature,65 and so I share in his identity.66

In my new identity,

I am satisfied in God’s love as his adopted child;67 I am to think of myself as purchased, accepted, valued, and protected;68

and I am to find it a great delight to be remade in the image of Christ

in true righteousness and holiness.69

• Q. Why are all forms of sexual immorality incompat- ible with my union with Jesus Christ?

1. Since I have become one with Christ in body and spirit,

any form of sexual immorality invites that which is profane

into my holy union with Christ.70

Therefore, I am called to be one with Christ by fleeing all forms of sexual immorality.71

PA RT I V:

R ESTOR ATION

• Q. What does God call us to do when we fall to sexual sin?

1. When I commit any form of sexual sin— even the slightest desire or thought

contrary to any of God’s commandments—

I should confess my sins to him,72 eagerly turn away from all sexual sin,73 and seek to walk in the newness of life.74

• Q. Is God angry with his children who still struggle in their striving to put away sexual immorality?

1. God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger,

and abounding in lovingkindness.75

When we come to God with a broken and contrite heart,76

confessing and turning away from our sins,

God promises to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.77

He has declared,

“a bruised reed he will not break,

and a faintly burning wick he will not quench.”78

• Q. What about believers who fight against same-sex attraction but continue to experience shame and guilt for these desires?

1. God, in the gospel of his Son,

has announced that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.79

Any unholy desire, even if unchosen,

QA24

63 Rom. 6:21; Eph. 5:1-17

64 Rom. 6:11

QA25

65 Eph. 1:7-14

66 Gal. 3:28; Eph. 1-9-11; Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 5:17

67 Rom. 8:16-17; 9:26; Eph. 2:19; 5:1

68 Rom. 8:32; 2 Thess. 2:16; Rev. 1:15

69 Eph. 4:22-24; 1 Pet. 1:8

QA26

70 1 Cor. 6:15-20

71 1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Thess. 4:3

QA27

72 Ps. 1; 32:5; 2 Sam 12:13; 1 John 2:9

73 1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Thess. 4:3

74 Rom. 6:4; 7:6; Col. 3:1-5

QA28

75 Ps. 103:1-14

77 Rom. 4:6-8; 1 John 1:9

78 Isa. 42:3

QA29

79 Rom. 8:1

80 Col. 2:13

81 1 John 1:9

82 Rom. 6:4; Col. 3:1-5

83 2 Sam. 12:1-13; Luke 15:1-2

84 Jude 22; 1 Pet. 3:8

85 Gal. 6:2

such as same-sex attraction,

is covered by the blood of Christ.80

Believers who continue to struggle against same-sex attraction,

should trust in God’s forgiving mercies,81 and with earnest purpose,

by the strength of the Holy Spirit, strive to live in the newness of life.82

Further, the body of Christ should not avoid or shun

those who struggle against any sexual sin.83 Instead, believers, with a spirit of compassion,84 should “bear each other’s burdens,

and so fulfill the law of Christ.”85

• Q. Since we have been delivered from all sexual sin, why should we pursue a life of sexual purity?

1. Five reasons:

First, because our sinful desires do not define us or constitute our identity

as those purchased by the blood of Christ.86

Second, because sexual purity

is the will of God for our sanctification,87 as we are being renewed

by the power of the Holy Spirit into the image of God’s Son.88

Third, by pursuing a life of sexual purity, we show that we are thankful

to God for his salvation.89

Fourth, we also stand as witnesses, that those living in sexual immorality

might see in us the holy purity that God loves.90

Fifth, as we battle against our sinful nature, the Holy Spirit strengthens our Christian walk and we give glory to God.91

• Q. What is pornography?

1. Pornography is a lustful desire of the flesh, activated through the channel of the eye,92 through the looking upon or distributing of naked images of males and females

for the purpose of sexual arousal.93

• Q. Why is pornography so destructive?

1. Because the use of such images

ruins the sexual intimacy intended for marriage,94 supports idolatry in the worship of the creature,95 dehumanizes men and women promoting abuse, especially of women,96

advances other forms of sexual impurity,97

creates idleness in society to the harm of our neigh- bors,98

and degrades the mind into darkness.99

• Q. Can those be saved who do not turn to God from their unholy desires and are unrepentant of their sexual ways?

1. By no means.

Scripture tells us that

no sexually immoral person, no adulterer,

no fornicator, no homosexual,

no abuser of women, or the like

will inherit the kingdom of God.100

QA30

86 1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23; 1 Pet. 1:17-18

87 1 Thess. 4:3

88 Rom. 8:29; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19

89 Rom. 6:13; 12:1-2; 1 Pet. 2:5-10

90 Matt. 5:14-16; Rom. 14:17-19; 1 Pet. 2:12; 3:1-2

91 1 Cor. 10:31; Gal. 5:17

QA31

92 Job 31:1; 1 John 2:16

QA32

94 Eph. 5:25; Heb. 13:4

95 Rom. 1:24-25

96 Gen. 1:26-27

97 Rom. 1:18-27; James 1:14-15; 2 Pet. 2:14

98 2 Thess. 3:6-12

99 Rom. 1:28-32; Eph. 4:18-19

QA33

100 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:1-20; 1 John 3:14

• Q. What is involved in genuine repentance of all sexual sin?

1. Two things:

The dying-away of the old self,

by hating all forms of sexual immorality and fleeing from it;101

And the rising-to-life of the new self,

by finding great joy in leading a sexually pure life and, if married, by properly loving our spouses.102

• Q. How should husbands seek to love and honor their wives?

1. Husbands should demonstrate sincere love to their wives,

in reverence for Christ,103 through the exercise of:

loyalty, kindness, understanding, tenderness, self-control, sexual purity,

by all means avoiding verbal and emotional abuse or controlling behavior,

and by providing godly leadership.104

Men ought to be a good example to their wives of the love that Christ has for his church.105

• Q. How should wives seek to love and honor their husbands?

1. Wives should demonstrate sincere love to their husbands,

in reverence for Christ,106 through the exercise of:

respect, patience, honor, encouragement, self-denial, contentment

and by finding delight in godly submission that pleases the Lord.107

Women ought to be a good example to their husbands

of the responsive love that the church has for Christ.108

• Q. How should singles honor the Lord in the situation that God has called them?

1. Singles who desire marriage

are called to contentment and prayer,109 trusting the Lord in every circumstance110 as he knows best for us,

yet realizing that only Christ makes us fulfilled, and that ultimate joy is found in Christ whether as single or married.111

Singles who do not desire marriage,

are called to holiness in body and spirit,112 in the special opportunities they have

to give “undivided devotion to the Lord,”113

yet, should remain open to God’s will to provide a spouse

and change one’s desire for marriage.

• Q. How should the family be maintained to the glory of God?

1. By making Christ the center of our homes through: love, humility, and patience toward one another;114 godly discipline,115

the regular reading of the Scriptures,116 heartfelt prayer,117

removing all things spiritually harmful from our homes,118

and making Lord’s Day worship a priority together.119

QA34

101 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:5-10; 1 Cor.

6:15-20

102 Ps. 51:8, 12; Isa. 57:15; Rom. 6:1-11; Eph. 5:22-33

QA35

103 Eph. 5:21

104 Gal. 5:22-26; Eph. 5:25-33; Col. 3:19; 1 Pet. 3:7

105 Eph. 5:25; Col. 3:19

QA36

106 Eph. 5:21

107 Prov. 31:10-31; Eph. 5:22-24; Titus 2:1-5; 1 Pet.

3:1-4

108 Eph. 5:28-30

QA37

109 Phil. 4:11

110 Prov. 3:5-7

111 Prov. 18:22

112 1 Cor. 6:6-8

113 1 Cor. 7:34

QA38

114 Eph. 4:25-32

115 Eph. 6:1-4

116 Deut. 6:6-9; Col. 3:16; 1 Tim. 4:13

117 1 Thess. 5:17

118 Josh. 24:15; 2 Kings 23-24; Eph. 4:31

119 Heb. 10:25

• Q. What is God’s will for parents in training children in proper sexuality?

1. Three things:

First, that parents model before their children a loving relationship,

and also hold marriage in honor as it was designed by God.120

Second, that parents speak to their children

appropriately and sufficiently

about biblical sexuality, and proper sexual conduct, as designed for marriage;121

realizing that our children are facing daily misinformation on sexuality.

Third, that parents guard their children from

all forms of sexual immorality and pornography,122 and overseeing the use of technology, social media, and other mediums that promote,

through cultural peer pressure,

a different sexual ethic123

than what God made as good in creation.124

• Q. What is God’s will for young adults in honoring their parents in sexual conduct?

1. Three things:

First, that young adults honor their parents by maintaining sexual purity and chastity.125

Second, that young adults refrain from pushing upon their parents

and adopting the ungodly sexual norms of the culture.126

Third, that young adults take delight in the Lord

and in their identity in Christ as singles, waiting patiently for the spouse

that God prepares for them.127

• Q. How do we love those who live in sexual sin?

1. We should not avoid or shun

those who are mastered by sexual sin.128 Instead, we should speak the truth in love129

about sexual sin, repentance, and faith in Christ; give witness to the deliverance God gave us  from our own sins;130

and perform acts of kindness.131 By our godly living,

we should seek to win over our neighbors to Christ.132

Rev. Christopher Gordon pastors the Escondido United Reformed Church (EscondidoURC.org) is the host of Abounding Grace Radio, a daily half hour, thoroughly Reformed, radio program you can also listen to online, at AGRadio.org. His catechism is reprinted here with the gracious permission of the author and the

Gospel Reformation Network (GospelReformation.net).

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120 Eph. 5:21-25

121 Prov. 5; 7; 22:6, 15

122 Job 31:1

123 1 Thess. 4:3

124 Deut. 6:6-9

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125 Ex. 22:16; 1 Cor. 6:18-20; 7; Heb. 13:4

126 Deut. 21:18-21; Prov. 29:15; 30:17; Col. 3:20; 1 Tim.

3:1-4

127 Gen. 2:22-23; Prov. 18:22

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128 Luke 15:1-2; Matt. 9:13

129 Eph. 4:15

130 Mark 5:19; 1 Pet. 3:15

131 Matt. 5:34-46; Luke 14:12-14; Rom. 12:13; Heb

13:16; 1 Pet. 4:9

132 Matt. 5:14-16; Rom. 14:17-19; 1 Pet. 2:12; 3:1-2