======================================================================== WESTMINSTER SHORTER CATECHISM by Westminster Assembly ======================================================================== The Westminster Shorter Catechism presenting Reformed doctrine in concise question-and-answer form, establishing Scripture as the only rule for glorifying and enjoying God. Chapters: 108 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TABLE OF CONTENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0. Westminster Shorter Catechism 1. 1. What is the chief end of man? 2. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? 3. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach? 4. 4. What is God? 5. 5. Are there more Gods than one? 6. 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead? 7. 7. What are the decrees of God? 8. 8. How doth God execute his decrees? 9. 9. What is the work of creation? 10. 10. How did God create man? 11. 11. What are God’s works of providence? 12. 12. What special act of providence did God exercise towards man in the estate wherein he was created 13. 13. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created? 14. 14. What is sin? 15. 15. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created? 16. 16. Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression? 17. 17. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind? 18. 18. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell? 19. 19. What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell? 20. 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery? 21. 21. Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect? 22. 22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? 23. 23. What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer? 24. 24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? 25. 25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest? 26. 26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king? 27. 27. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist? 28. 28. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation? 29. 29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ? 30. 30. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? 31. 31. What is effectual calling? 32. 32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life? 33. 33. What is justification? 34. 34. What is adoption? 35. 35. What is sanctification? 36. 36. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and 37. 37. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death? 38. 38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection? 39. 39. What is the duty which God requireth of man? 40. 40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience? 41. 41. Wherein is the moral law summarily comprehended? 42. 42. What is the sum of the ten commandments? 43. 43. What is the preface to the ten commandments? 44. 44. What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us? 45. 45. Which is the first commandment? 46. 46. What is required in the first commandment? 47. 47. What is forbidden in the first commandment? 48. 48. What are we specially taught by these words before me in the first commandment? 49. 49. Which is the second commandment? 50. 50. What is required in the second commandment? 51. 51. What is forbidden in the second commandment? 52. 52. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment? 53. 53. Which is the third commandment? 54. 54. What is required in the third commandment? 55. 55. What is forbidden in the third commandment? 56. 56. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment? 57. 57. Which is the fourth commandment? 58. 58. What is required in the fourth commandment? 59. 59. Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly sabbath? 60. 60. How is the sabbath to be sanctified? 61. 61. What is forbidden in the fourth commandment? 62. 62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment? 63. 63. Which is the fifth commandment? 64. 64. What is required in the fifth commandment? 65. 65. What is forbidden in the fifth commandment? 66. 66. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment? 67. 67. Which is the sixth commandment? 68. 68. What is required in the sixth commandment? 69. 69. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment? 70. 70. Which is the seventh commandment? 71. 71. What is required in the seventh commandment? 72. 72. What is forbidden in the seventh commandment? 73. 73. Which is the eighth commandment? 74. 74. What is required in the eighth commandment? 75. 75. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment? 76. 76. Which is the ninth commandment? 77. 77. What is required in the ninth commandment? 78. 78. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment? 79. 79. Which is the tenth commandment? 80. 80. What is required in the tenth commandment? 81. 81. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment? 82. 82. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God? 83. 83. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous? 84. 84. What doth every sin deserve? 85. 85. What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse, due to us for sin? 86. 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ? 87. 87. What is repentance unto life? 88. 88. What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redem 89. 89. How is the Word made effectual to salvation? 90. 90. How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation? 91. 91. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation? 92. 92. What is a sacrament? 93. 93. Which are the sacraments of the New Testament? 94. 94. What is baptism? 95. 95. To whom is Baptism to be administered? 96. 96. What is the Lord’s Supper? 97. 97. What is required for the worthy receiving of the Lord’s Supper? 98. 98. What is prayer? 99. 99. What rule hath God given for our direction in prayer? 100. 100. What doth the preface of the Lord’s Prayer teach us? 101. 101. What do we pray for in the first petition? 102. 102. What do we pray for in the second petition? 103. 103. What do we pray for in the third petition? 104. 104. What do we pray for in the fourth petition? 105. 105. What do we pray for in the fifth petition? 106. 106. What do we pray for in the sixth petition? 107. 107. What doth the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer teach us? ======================================================================== CHAPTER 0: WESTMINSTER SHORTER CATECHISM ======================================================================== ======================================================================== CHAPTER 1: 1. WHAT IS THE CHIEF END OF MAN? ======================================================================== The Westminster Shorter Catechism. Question number one. What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 2: 2. WHAT RULE HATH GOD GIVEN TO DIRECT US HOW WE MAY GLORIFY AND ENJOY HIM? ======================================================================== Question number two. What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him? The Word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 3: 3. WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES PRINCIPALLY TEACH? ======================================================================== Question number three, what do the scriptures principally teach? The scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God and what duty God requires of man. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 4: 4. WHAT IS GOD? ======================================================================== Question number four, what is God? God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 5: 5. ARE THERE MORE GODS THAN ONE? ======================================================================== Question number five, are there more gods than one? There is but one only, the living and true God. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 6: 6. HOW MANY PERSONS ARE THERE IN THE GODHEAD? ======================================================================== Question number six. How many persons are there in the Godhead? There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 7: 7. WHAT ARE THE DECREES OF GOD? ======================================================================== Question number seven, what are the decrees of God? The decrees of God are His eternal purpose according to the counsel of His will, whereby for His own glory He hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 8: 8. HOW DOTH GOD EXECUTE HIS DECREES? ======================================================================== Question number eight. How does God execute his decrees? God executes his decrees in the works of creation and providence. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 9: 9. WHAT IS THE WORK OF CREATION? ======================================================================== Question number nine. What is the work of creation? The work of creation is God's making all things of nothing by the word of his power in the space of six days and all very good. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 10: 10. HOW DID GOD CREATE MAN? ======================================================================== Question number 10. How did God create man? God created man, male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 11: 11. WHAT ARE GOD’S WORKS OF PROVIDENCE? ======================================================================== Question number 11. What are God's works of providence? God's works of providence are his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures and all their actions. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 12: 12. WHAT SPECIAL ACT OF PROVIDENCE DID GOD EXERCISE TOWARDS MAN IN THE ESTATE WHEREIN HE WAS CREATED ======================================================================== Question number 12. What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was created? When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him upon condition of perfect obedience, forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil upon the pain of death. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 13: 13. DID OUR FIRST PARENTS CONTINUE IN THE ESTATE WHEREIN THEY WERE CREATED? ======================================================================== Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created? Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created by sinning against God. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 14: 14. WHAT IS SIN? ======================================================================== Question number 14. What is sin? Sin is any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 15: 15. WHAT WAS THE SIN WHEREBY OUR FIRST PARENTS FELL FROM THE ESTATE WHEREIN THEY WERE CREATED? ======================================================================== Question number 15. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created? The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created was their eating the forbidden fruit. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 16: 16. DID ALL MANKIND FALL IN ADAM’S FIRST TRANSGRESSION? ======================================================================== Question number 16. Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression? The covenant being made with Adam not only for himself but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation sinned in him and fell with him in his first transgression. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 17: 17. INTO WHAT ESTATE DID THE FALL BRING MANKIND? ======================================================================== Question number 17. Into what a state did the fall bring mankind? The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 18: 18. WHEREIN CONSISTS THE SINFULNESS OF THAT ESTATE WHEREINTO MAN FELL? ======================================================================== Question number 18. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell? The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell consists in the guilt of Adam's first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin, together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 19: 19. WHAT IS THE MISERY OF THAT ESTATE WHEREINTO MAN FELL? ======================================================================== Question number 19. What is the misery of that estate wherein to man fell? All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 20: 20. DID GOD LEAVE ALL MANKIND TO PERISH IN THE ESTATE OF SIN AND MISERY? ======================================================================== Question number 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery? God, having out of his mere good pleasure from all eternity elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a redeemer. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 21: 21. WHO IS THE REDEEMER OF GOD’S ELECT? ======================================================================== Question number 21. Who is the Redeemer of God's elect? The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ who, being the eternal Son of God, became man. And so was and continues to be God and man in two distinct natures and one person forever. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 22: 22. HOW DID CHRIST, BEING THE SON OF GOD, BECOME MAN? ======================================================================== Question number 22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? Christ, the Son of God, became man by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her yet without sin. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 23: 23. WHAT OFFICES DOTH CHRIST EXECUTE AS OUR REDEEMER? ======================================================================== Question number 23. What offices does Christ execute as our Redeemer? Christ, as our Redeemer, executes the office of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his state of humiliation and exaltation. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 24: 24. HOW DOTH CHRIST EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF A PROPHET? ======================================================================== Question number 24, how does Christ execute the office of a prophet? Christ executes the office of a prophet in revealing to us by his word and spirit the will of God for our salvation. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 25: 25. HOW DOTH CHRIST EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF A PRIEST? ======================================================================== Question number 25. How does Christ execute the office of a priest? Christ executes the office of a priest in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice and reconcile us to God and in making continual intercession for us. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 26: 26. HOW DOTH CHRIST EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF A KING? ======================================================================== Question number 26. How does Christ execute the office of a king? Christ executes the office of a king in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 27: 27. WHEREIN DID CHRIST’S HUMILIATION CONSIST? ======================================================================== Question number 27. Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist? Christ's humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross, in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 28: 28. WHEREIN CONSISTETH CHRIST’S EXALTATION? ======================================================================== Question number 28, wherein consists Christ's exaltation? Christ's exaltation consists in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 29: 29. HOW ARE WE MADE PARTAKERS OF THE REDEMPTION PURCHASED BY CHRIST? ======================================================================== Question number 29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ? We're made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ by the effectual application of it to us by His Holy Spirit. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 30: 30. HOW DOTH THE SPIRIT APPLY TO US THE REDEMPTION PURCHASED BY CHRIST? ======================================================================== Question number 30, how does the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? The Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ by working faith in us and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 31: 31. WHAT IS EFFECTUAL CALLING? ======================================================================== Question number 31. What is effectual calling? Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit wherein convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he does persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 32: 32. WHAT BENEFITS DO THEY THAT ARE EFFECTUALLY CALLED PARTAKE OF IN THIS LIFE? ======================================================================== Question number 32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life? They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 33: 33. WHAT IS JUSTIFICATION? ======================================================================== Question number 33, what is justification? Justification is an act of God's free grace wherein he pardons all our sins and accepts us as righteous in his sight only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us and received by faith alone. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 34: 34. WHAT IS ADOPTION? ======================================================================== Question number 34. What is adoption? Adoption is an act of God's free grace whereby we are received into the number and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 35: 35. WHAT IS SANCTIFICATION? ======================================================================== Question number 35, what is sanctification? Sanctification is the work of God's free grace whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 36: 36. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS WHICH IN THIS LIFE DO ACCOMPANY OR FLOW FROM JUSTIFICATION, ADOPTION, AND ======================================================================== Question 36. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification? The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification are assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 37: 37. WHAT BENEFITS DO BELIEVERS RECEIVE FROM CHRIST AT DEATH? ======================================================================== Question number 37. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death? The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness and do immediately pass into glory and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves until the resurrection. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 38: 38. WHAT BENEFITS DO BELIEVERS RECEIVE FROM CHRIST AT THE RESURRECTION? ======================================================================== Question number 38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the Resurrection? At the Resurrection, believers being raised up to glory shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the Day of Judgment and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 39: 39. WHAT IS THE DUTY WHICH GOD REQUIRETH OF MAN? ======================================================================== Question number 39. What is the duty which God requires of man? The duty which God requires of man is obedience to his revealed will. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 40: 40. WHAT DID GOD AT FIRST REVEAL TO MAN FOR THE RULE OF HIS OBEDIENCE? ======================================================================== Question number 40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience? The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience was the moral law. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 41: 41. WHEREIN IS THE MORAL LAW SUMMARILY COMPREHENDED? ======================================================================== Question number 41. Where is the moral law summarily comprehended? The moral law is summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 42: 42. WHAT IS THE SUM OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS? ======================================================================== Question number 42. What is the sum of the Ten Commandments? The sum of the Ten Commandments is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind and our neighbor as ourselves. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 43: 43. WHAT IS THE PREFACE TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS? ======================================================================== Question number 43, what is the preface to the Ten Commandments? The preface to the Ten Commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which hath brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 44: 44. WHAT DOTH THE PREFACE TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS TEACH US? ======================================================================== Question number 44. What does the preface to the Ten Commandments teach us? The preface to the Ten Commandments teaches us that because God is the Lord and our God and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all His commandments. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 45: 45. WHICH IS THE FIRST COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 45, which is the first commandment? The first commandment is, you shall have no other gods before me. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 46: 46. WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE FIRST COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question 46. What is required in the First Commandment? The First Commandment requires us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God and our God and to worship and glorify Him accordingly. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 47: 47. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE FIRST COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 47, what is forbidden in the first commandment? The first commandment forbids the denying or not worshiping and glorifying the true God as God and our God and the giving of that worship and glory to any other which is due to him alone. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 48: 48. WHAT ARE WE SPECIALLY TAUGHT BY THESE WORDS BEFORE ME IN THE FIRST COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 48, what are we specially taught by these words before me in the first commandment? These words before me in the first commandment teach us that God who sees all things takes notice of and is much displeased with the sin of having any other God. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 49: 49. WHICH IS THE SECOND COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 49. Which is the second commandment? The second commandment is, you shall not make unto yourself any graven image or any likeness of anything that's in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down yourself to them nor serve them for I the Lord your God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of those that hate me but showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 50: 50. WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE SECOND COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question 50. What is required in the second commandment? The second commandment requires the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire all such religious worship and ordinances as God has appointed in his word. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 51: 51. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE SECOND COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question 51. What is forbidden in the Second Commandment? The Second Commandment forbids the worshiping of God by images or any other way not appointed in His Word. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 52: 52. WHAT ARE THE REASONS ANNEXED TO THE SECOND COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 52. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment? The reasons annexed to the second commandment are God's sovereignty over us, His propriety in us, and the zeal He has to His own worship. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 53: 53. WHICH IS THE THIRD COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question 53, which is the third commandment? The third commandment is, you shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 54: 54. WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE THIRD COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 54. What is required in the Third Commandment? The Third Commandment requires the holy and reverent use of God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, word, and works. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 55: 55. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE THIRD COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 55. What is forbidden in the third commandment? The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of anything whereby God makes himself known. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 56: 56. WHAT IS THE REASON ANNEXED TO THE THIRD COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 56, what is the reason annexed to the third commandment? The reason annexed to the third commandment is that however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape His righteous judgment. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 57: 57. WHICH IS THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 57. Which is the fourth commandment? The fourth commandment is, remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your manservant, your maidservant, your cattle, or the stranger that is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that's in them, and he rested the seventh day. Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 58: 58. WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 58. What is required in the fourth commandment? The fourth commandment requires the keeping holy to God such set times as he has appointed in his word expressly one whole day in seven to be a holy sabbath to himself. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 59: 59. WHICH DAY OF THE SEVEN HATH GOD APPOINTED TO BE THE WEEKLY SABBATH? ======================================================================== Question 59. Which day of the seven has God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath? From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath, and the first day of the week ever since to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian Sabbath. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 60: 60. HOW IS THE SABBATH TO BE SANCTIFIED? ======================================================================== Question number 60. How is the Sabbath to be sanctified? The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days, and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God's worship except so much as to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 61: 61. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 61. What is forbidden in the fourth commandment? The fourth commandment forbids the omission or careless performance of the duties required and the profaning the day by idleness or doing that which is in itself sinful or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or works about our worldly employments or recreations. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 62: 62. WHAT ARE THE REASONS ANNEXED TO THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment? The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are God's allowing us six days of the week for our own employments, His challenging a special propriety in the seventh, His own example, and His blessing the Sabbath day. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 63: 63. WHICH IS THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 63. What is the fifth commandment? The fifth commandment is, honor your father and your mother that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God gives you. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 64: 64. WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 64, what is required in the Fifth Commandment? The Fifth Commandment requires the preserving of the honor and the performing of the duties belonging to everyone in their several places and relations as superiors, inferiors, or equals. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 65: 65. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 65, what is forbidden in the Fifth Commandment? The Fifth Commandment forbids the neglecting of or doing anything against the honor and duty which belong to everyone in their several places and relations. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 66: 66. WHAT IS THE REASON ANNEXED TO THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 66, what is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment? The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity as far as it shall serve for God's glory and their own good to all such as keep this commandment. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 67: 67. WHICH IS THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 67. Which is the sixth commandment? The sixth commandment is you shall not kill. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 68: 68. WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 68. What is required in the Sixth Commandment? The Sixth Commandment requires all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life and the life of others. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 69: 69. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 69, what is forbidden in the sixth commandment? The sixth commandment forbids the taking away of our own life or the life of our neighbor unjustly or whatsoever tends thereunto. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 70: 70. WHICH IS THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 70. What is the seventh commandment? The seventh commandment is you shall not commit adultery. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 71: 71. WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 71, what is required in the Seventh Commandment? The Seventh Commandment requires the preservation of our own and our neighbor's chastity in heart, speech, and behavior. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 72: 72. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 72, what is forbidden in the seventh commandment? The seventh commandment forbids all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 73: 73. WHICH IS THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 73, which is the eighth commandment? The eighth commandment is, you shall not steal. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 74: 74. WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 74. What is required in the eighth commandment? The eighth commandment requires the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 75: 75. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 75, what is forbidden in the eighth commandment? The eighth commandment forbids whatsoever does or may unjustly hinder our own or our neighbor's wealth or outward estate. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 76: 76. WHICH IS THE NINTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 76. Which is the ninth commandment? The ninth commandment is, you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 77: 77. WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE NINTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 77, what is required in the ninth commandment? The ninth commandment requires the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man and of our own and our neighbor's good name especially in witness-bearing. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 78: 78. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE NINTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 78. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment? The ninth commandment forbids whatsoever is prejudicial to truth or injurious to our own or our neighbor's good name. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 79: 79. WHICH IS THE TENTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 79, what is the 10th commandment? The 10th commandment is, you shall not covet your neighbor's house, you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 80: 80. WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE TENTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== 80. What is required in the Tenth Commandment? The Tenth Commandment requires full contentment with our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbor and all that's his. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 81: 81. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE TENTH COMMANDMENT? ======================================================================== Question number 81. What is forbidden in the Tenth Commandment? The Tenth Commandment forbids all discontentment with our own estate, envying or grieving at the good of our neighbor, and all inordinate motions and affections to anything that's his. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 82: 82. IS ANY MAN ABLE PERFECTLY TO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD? ======================================================================== 82. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God? No mere man, since the Fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but does daily break them in thought, word, and deed. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 83: 83. ARE ALL TRANSGRESSIONS OF THE LAW EQUALLY HEINOUS? ======================================================================== Question number 83. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous? Some sins in themselves and by reason of several aggravations are more heinous in the sight of God than others. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 84: 84. WHAT DOTH EVERY SIN DESERVE? ======================================================================== Question number 84. What does every sin deserve? Every sin deserves God's wrath and curse, both in this life and in that which is to come. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 85: 85. WHAT DOTH GOD REQUIRE OF US, THAT WE MAY ESCAPE HIS WRATH AND CURSE, DUE TO US FOR SIN? ======================================================================== Question number 85. What does God require of us that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us for sin? To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, God requires of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 86: 86. WHAT IS FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST? ======================================================================== Question number 86, what is faith in Jesus Christ? Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 87: 87. WHAT IS REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE? ======================================================================== Question number 87, what is repentance unto life? Repentance unto life is a saving grace whereby a sinner out of a true sense of his sin and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ does with grief and hatred of his own sin turn from it to God with full purpose of an endeavor after a new obedience. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 88: 88. WHAT ARE THE OUTWARD AND ORDINARY MEANS WHEREBY CHRIST COMMUNICATETH TO US THE BENEFITS OF REDEM ======================================================================== Question 88. What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption? The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption are His ordinances, especially the word, sacraments, and prayer, all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 89: 89. HOW IS THE WORD MADE EFFECTUAL TO SALVATION? ======================================================================== Question number 89. How is the Word made effectual to salvation? The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 90: 90. HOW IS THE WORD TO BE READ AND HEARD, THAT IT MAY BECOME EFFECTUAL TO SALVATION? ======================================================================== Question number 90. How is the word to be read and heard that it may become effectual to salvation? That the word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer, receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 91: 91. HOW DO THE SACRAMENTS BECOME EFFECTUAL MEANS OF SALVATION? ======================================================================== Question number 91. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation? The sacraments become effectual means of salvation not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them, but only by the blessing of Christ and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 92: 92. WHAT IS A SACRAMENT? ======================================================================== 92. What is a sacrament? A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ wherein, by sensible signs, Christ and the benefits of the new covenant are represented, sealed, and applied to believers. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 93: 93. WHICH ARE THE SACRAMENTS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT? ======================================================================== Question 93. Which are the sacraments of the New Testament? The sacraments of the New Testament are baptism and the Lord's Supper. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 94: 94. WHAT IS BAPTISM? ======================================================================== Question number 94, what is baptism? Baptism is a sacrament wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost does signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace and our engagement to be the Lord's. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 95: 95. TO WHOM IS BAPTISM TO BE ADMINISTERED? ======================================================================== Question 95. To whom is baptism to be administered? Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church till they profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him, but the infants of such, as our members of the visible church, are to be baptized. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 96: 96. WHAT IS THE LORD’S SUPPER? ======================================================================== Question 96. What is the Lord's Supper? The Lord's Supper is a sacrament wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine according to Christ's appointment, His death is showed forth, and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith made partakers of His body and blood with all His benefits to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace. Thank you. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 97: 97. WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE WORTHY RECEIVING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER? ======================================================================== Question number 97. What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord's Supper? It's required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord's Supper that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord's body, of their faith to feed unto him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience, lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 98: 98. WHAT IS PRAYER? ======================================================================== Question 98. What is prayer? Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to His will in the name of Christ with confession of our sins and thankful acknowledgement of His mercies. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 99: 99. WHAT RULE HATH GOD GIVEN FOR OUR DIRECTION IN PRAYER? ======================================================================== Question number 99. What rule has God given us for our direction in prayer? The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer, but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which Christ taught his disciples, commonly called the Lord's Prayer. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 100: 100. WHAT DOTH THE PREFACE OF THE LORD’S PRAYER TEACH US? ======================================================================== Question 100. What does the preface of the Lord's Prayer teach us? The preface of the Lord's Prayer, which is, Our Father, who art in heaven, teaches us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence as children to a Father, able and ready to help us, and that we should pray with and for others. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 101: 101. WHAT DO WE PRAY FOR IN THE FIRST PETITION? ======================================================================== Question 101, what do we pray for in the first petition? In the first petition, which is, Hallowed be thy name, we pray that God would enable us and others to glorify him in all that whereby he makes himself known and that he would dispose all things to his own glory. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 102: 102. WHAT DO WE PRAY FOR IN THE SECOND PETITION? ======================================================================== Question 102. What do we pray for in the second petition? In the second petition, which is, Thy kingdom come, we pray that Satan's kingdom might be destroyed and that the kingdom of grace might be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it and kept in it, and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 103: 103. WHAT DO WE PRAY FOR IN THE THIRD PETITION? ======================================================================== Question 103. What do we pray for in the third petition? In the third petition, which is, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, we pray that God, by His grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to His will in all things as the angels do in heaven. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 104: 104. WHAT DO WE PRAY FOR IN THE FOURTH PETITION? ======================================================================== Question 104. What do we pray for in the fourth petition? In the fourth petition, which is give us this day our daily bread, we pray that of God's free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life and enjoy his blessing with them. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 105: 105. WHAT DO WE PRAY FOR IN THE FIFTH PETITION? ======================================================================== Question 105. What do we pray for in the fifth petition? In the fifth petition, which is, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, we pray that God, for Christ's sake, would freely pardon all our sins, which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 106: 106. WHAT DO WE PRAY FOR IN THE SIXTH PETITION? ======================================================================== Question 106. What do we pray for in the sixth petition? In the sixth petition, which is, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, we pray that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin or support and deliver us when we are tempted. ======================================================================== CHAPTER 107: 107. WHAT DOTH THE CONCLUSION OF THE LORD’S PRAYER TEACH US? ======================================================================== Question number 107. What does the conclusion of the Lord's Prayer teach us? The conclusion of the Lord's Prayer, which is, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, amen, teaches us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him, and in testimony of our desire and assurance to be heard, we say, amen. ======================================================================== Source: https://sermonindex.net/books/westminster-shorter-catechism/ ========================================================================