Public Confirmation Examination Answer Sheet

Part One:
1. What book presents to us the teachings of the Christian religion? The Bible.
2. Name the two divisions of the Bible: Old Testament and New Testament.
3. How many books are in the first part?39 The second part? 27Total? 66.
4. The first part was originally written in Hebrew.
5. The second part was originally written in Greek.
6. The men who wrote the first part were called prophets
7. What is a “prophet”? One who speaks for God.
8. The men who wrote the second part were called Apostles.
9. What does the word “apostle” mean? One who is sent out by God.
10. Who is the real author of the Bible? God.
11. What do we call the process by which God gave His word to these men? Inspiration.
12. The main purpose of the Bible is to show us how to be saved.
13. Who moved the original people to speak/write the Word of God? The Holy Spirit.
12. The two main teachings of the Bible are Law and Gospel.
13. What does the Law do? Shows Our Sin (“SOS”)
14. What does the Gospel do? Shows Our Savior (“SOS”)
15. What are the six chief parts of Luther’s Catechism? Ten Commandments, Apostles’Creed, Lord’s Prayer, Office of the Keys
and Confession, Baptism, Lord’s Supper

Part Two: The Ten Commandments

16. Briefly name and state the main purpose for each of the Ten Commandments.
First-To revere and worship God exclusively
Second-To revere and honor God’s Name
Third— To revere and honor God’s Day (worship)
Fourth— To revere and honor authorities (Parents et al.)
Fifth— To revere God’s gift of life (murder, abortion, euthanasia, hatred, anger)
Sixth— To revere one’s body as God’s temple (chastity, marriage, etc).
Seventh— To revere and respect other’s property
Eighth— To revere other’s reputation
Ninth/Tenth— To avoid unholy desires for other’s possessions.
17. The first three commandments tell us our duty toward God.
18. The last seven commandments tell us our duty toward our neighbor.

Law And Gospel

19. What is “sin?” It is “missing the mark” or “trespassing over the line” against God’s holy will for us.
20. What are the two kinds of sin? Original sin and actual sin. What is the difference? Original Sin is from Adam and Eve;
Actual
sin is the sin we actually commit.
21. Does God forgive every sin? Yes… except for the sin against the Holy Spirit (i.e. not believing Jesus Christ)
22. What are the three uses of the Law?
a) Curb— prevents us from harm, helps establish order in society
b) Mirror— shows us our sins so that we seek Jesus’forgiveness
c) Guide— shows us how to live godly, Christian lives.

Part Three: The Creeds

23. The word “creed” means “I believe.”
24. What are the three major creeds of Christianity?
a) Apostles’Creed b)Nicene Creed c) Athanasian Creed
25. The “Apostles’Creed” is so named because it expresses the faith of the Apostles’.

The First Article

26. The FIRST ARTICLE talks about God the Father and creation.
27. Why is God called “Father” in the First Article? Because He is Father of all, our Father and Jesus’Father.
28. Who are the highest of God’s INVISIBLE creation? Angels.
 2
29. Name one activity of these invisible creatures: Watch over us, God’s servants
30. Who is the highest of God’s VISIBLE creatures? Human Beings
31. Why makes this visible creature unique? Man was made in the image of God.

The Second Article

32. The name “Jesus” means Savior. The name “Christ” means Anointed One.
33. The Second Article talks about Jesus.
34. The Old Testament name for Jesus is “Messiah.”
35. What are the two natures of Jesus? Divine (God) and Human (Man).
36. According to the Apostles’Creed, what are the steps of Jesus’Humiliation?
a) Conceived by Holy Spirit d) Crucified
b) Born of Virgin Mary e) Died
c) Suffered under Pontius Pilate f ) Buried
37. According to the Apostles’Creed, what are the steps of Jesus’Exaltation?
a) Descended Into Hell d) Sits on the Right Hand of God
b) Rose Again From Death e) Judge the World
c) Ascended Into Heaven
38. Why was it necessary for Jesus to be “true God”? Only God can forgive sins
39. Why was it necessary for Jesus to be “true man”? To be our substitute
40. Why did Jesus descend into hell? To proclaim His victory over Sin, Death and the Devil.
41. When you die, will Jesus let you into heaven? Why? Yes, Because He has forgiven all my sins by His sacrifice of grace.

The Third Article

42. The subject of the THIRD ARTICLE of the Apostles’Creed is the Holy Spirit
43. What are the two main activities of the Holy Spirit? Conversion (Bringing us to faith) and Sanctification (Keeping us in
faith)
44. How did you become a believer? By the Holy Spirit’s work in the means of Grace— Holy Baptism and God’s Word (Bible).
45. How will you remain a believer? By continuing in the use of the means of Grace— God’s Word and the Lord’s Supper.

Part Four: Prayer/Lord’s Prayer

46. What is “Prayer”? It is an act of worship in which we talk with God.
47. What four things can we include in our prayers based on the “A.C.T.S.” Acronym?
Adoration— Praise God
Confession— Seek God’s forgiveness
Thanksgiving— Thank God for His gifts and blessings
Supplication— Asking God for our needs and wants

Part Five: The Office Of The Keys And Confession

48. What is “excommunication”? Excluding an unrepentant sinner from communion and the fellowship of the Church.
49. What should be the attitude of the individual Christian (and the congregation) when a person repents of his/her sin? Receive
them
back with joy.

Part Six: The Sacraments

50. What three things does the Lutheran Church teach are needed for a sacrament?
a) Must have been instituted/commanded by God
b) Must have a visible element
 3
c) Must have the promise of forgiveness attached

51. According to the above definition,

a) how many Sacraments are there in the Lutheran Church? Two
b) What are they? Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

The Sacrament of Baptism

52. Why do we baptize? Because Jesus commanded it as necessary for salvation.
53. What things are necessary for a proper Christian Baptism? Water and God’s Word.
54. In what ways can water be applied in Baptism? Sprinkling, applying, immersing… any way is permissible.
55. Why does the Lutheran Church baptize infants? Because they are part of “all nations”
56. What are the blessings or benefits of Baptism? Gives forgiveness of sin, delivers from death and the Devil, and gives
eternal
salvation to all who believe.
57. True or False: In an emergency situation, any Christian may baptize. True
58. How should one perform an emergency baptism? Use water and Jesus’words, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
59. What is the role of sponsors and god-parents at baptism? To make public confession of the baptized’s faith until their
confession is affirmed at their confirmation.

The Sacrament At The Altar

60. What are some other names for the “Sacrament at the Altar”? Holy Eucharist, Holy Communion, Lord’s Table
61. Why is the Sacrament at the Altar a “sacrament”? Commanded by God, visible means, gives forgiveness.
62. What are the visible elements in the Sacrament of the Altar? Bread and wine.
63. What are the invisible elements in the Sacrament of the Altar? Body of Christ and Blood of Christ.
64. What does the Roman Catholic church teach happens to the bread and wine during communion? They teach that the bread
and
wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ. This is called “transubstantiation.”
65. What do other churches (except Lutherans) belief happens to the bread and wine during communion? Nothing. The bread and
wine are merely there to help us remember Jesus.
66. Why do Lutherans teach that Jesus’body and blood are really present in the bread and wine? Because Jesus said, “This is my
body… This is my blood.”
67. What are some benefits/blessings of Holy Communion:
a) Forgive sin b) Strengthen faith c) Give joy
68. How should you prepare for receiving Holy Communion? Prayer, confession of sin, reflecting on the Sacrament (see
“Christian Questions and Their Answers” in Luther’s Small Catechism)
69. Should you go to communion with your non-Lutheran friends? Why or why not? No, because they do not share the correct
view of the Lord’s Supper. Since they do not recognize Jesus’Real Presence, they eat and drink the supper to their
judgment.
70. What is “close” Communion? The practice of communing only those who share the same Lutheran belief we do.
71. Why should Christians practice “Close” Communion? To avoid eating and drinking God’s judgment (I Cor. 11:29)
72, How often should we receive the Lord’s Supper? As often as it is offered.
 4
73. What does confirmation mean to you? It’s an affirmation of God’s call of grace to make me His child in Baptism so that I
might joyfully serve Him for the rest of my life.