Shorter Catechism Questions and Answers
Our faith is faith in Christ (Galatians 2:16). Such faith does not exist in a vacuum, but is based on knowledge (2 Corinthians 4:14, 2 Peter 1:5). This knowledge is found in the inerrant and infallible Word of God. As the Scottish pastor, Thomas Boston, said, “Knowledge is a necessary foundation of faith and holiness; and where ignorance reigns in the mind, there is confusion in the heart and life.”
The aim of the Westminster Shorter and Larger Catechisms is to instruct us in biblical truths so that we are not ignorant. The truths are presented in a question and answer format in the form of summary statements that are based explicitly on Scripture, and are intended for memory. Each statement has accompanying Scriptural proofs, which you can find on the Tools for Bible Study page.
The original purpose of the Shorter Catechism was for instructing children. Those who had advanced in both age and study were instructed in the Larger Catechism. Both catechisms are a rich treasure of biblical knowledge for the people of God. Both are designed for theological instruction, and enable us to develop our ability to “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which we were called, and about which we have made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12)
We encourage you to join with us as we corporately study and learn the Shorter Catechism questions week by week, in our evening worship services (5:30pm).
Question 1: What is man's chief end?
Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.
Question 2: 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.
Question 3: What do the Scriptures principally teach?
The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.
Question 4: What is God?
God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
Question 5: Are there more Gods than one?
There is but one only, the living and true God.
Question 6: 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.
Question 7: 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.
Question 8: How does God execute his decrees?
God executes his decrees in the works of creation and providence.
Question 9: 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.
Question 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.
Question 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.
Question 12: What special act of providence did God exercise towards 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 pain of death.
Question 13: 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.
Question 14: What is sin?
Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.
Question 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.
Question 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.
Question 17: Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?
The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.
Question 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.
Question 19: What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?
All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries of this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever.
Question 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.
Question 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.
Question 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.
Question 23: What offices does Christ execute as our Redeemer?
Christ, as our Redeemer, executes the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation.
Question 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.
Question 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.
Question 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.
Question 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.
Question 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.
Question 29: How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.
Question 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.
Question 31: What is effectual calling?
Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he persuades and enables us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
Question 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, and sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them.
Question 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.
Question 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.
Question 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.
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.
Question 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 in Christ, do rest in their graves, till the resurrection.
Question 38: What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
At the resurrection, believers, being raised up in 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.
Question 39: What is the duty which God requires of man?
The duty which God requires of man, is obedience to his revealed will.
Question 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.
Catechism: Question 32
Q: What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?
A: They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, and sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them.
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