Category Archives: Theology

Children’s Catechism (Part 2)

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A Catechism for Girls and Boys

Part II

Questions about The Ten Commandments

34.Q. How many commandments did God give on Mt. Sinai?
A. Ten commandments (Ex 20:1-17; Deut 5:1-22).

35.Q. What are the ten commandments sometimes called?
A. God’s moral law (Lk 20:25-28; Rm 2:14, 15; 10:5).

36.Q. What do the first four commandments teach?
A. Our duty to God (Deut 6:5, 6; 10:12, 13).

37.Q. What do the last six commandments teach?
A. Our duty to our fellow men (Deut 10:19; Mic 6:8; cf. Gal. 6:10).

38.Q. What is the sum of the ten commandments?
A. To love God with all my heart, and my neighbor as myself (Deut 6:1-15; 11:1; Mt 22:35-40; lames 2:8).

39.Q. Who is your neighbor?
A. All my fellow men are my neighbors (Lk 10:25-37; 6:35).

40.Q. Is God pleased with those who love and obey him?
A. Yes. He says, ‘I love them that love me’ (Pr 8:17; Ex 20:6; 1 In 4:7-16).

41.Q. Is God pleased with those who do not love and obey him?
A. No. ‘God is angry with the wicked every day’ (Ps 7:11; Mal 2:17; Pr 6:16-19; 1 Cor 16:22).

42.Q. What is the first commandment?
A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me (Ex 20:3; Deut 5:7).

43.Q. What does the first commandment teach us?
A. To worship God only (Is 45:5, 6; Mt 4:10; Rv 22:8, 9).

44.Q. What is the second commandment?
A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them: for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments (Ex 20:4-6; Deut 5:8-10).

45.Q. What does the second commandment teach us?
A. To worship God in the right way, and to avoid idolatry (Is 44:9-20; 46:5-9; In 4:23, 24; Acts 17:29).

46.Q. What is the third commandment?
A. The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain (Ex 20:7; Deut 5:11).

47.Q. What does the third commandment teach us?
A. To reverence God’s name, word, and works (Is 8:13; Ps 29:2; 138:2; Rv 15:3, 4).

48.Q. What is the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment is, Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it (Ex 20:8-11; 23:12; Deut 5:12-15).

49.Q. What does the fourth commandment teach us?
A. To keep the Sabbath holy (Lv 19:20; 23:3; Is 58:13, 14).

50.Q. What day of the week is the Christian Sabbath?
A. The first day of the week, called the Lord’s Day (Acts 20:7; Rv 1:10).

51.Q. Why is it called the Lord’s Day?
A. Because on that day Christ rose from the dead (Mt 28:1; Mk 16:9; Lk 24:1-6; In 20:1).

52.Q. How should the Sabbath be kept?
A. In prayer and praise, in hearing and reading God’s Word, and in doing good to our fellow men (Is 58:13, 14; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2; Lk 4:16; Mt 12:10-13).

53.Q. What is the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment is, Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee (Ex 20:12; Deut 5:16).

54.Q. What does the fifth commandment teach us?
A. To love and obey our parents (Mt 15:3-6; Ep 6:1-3; Co 3:20).

55.Q. What is the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill (Ex 20:13; Deut 5:17)

56.Q. What does the sixth commandment teach us?
A. To avoid hatred, all that leads to it, and all that follows from it. (Mt 5:21-24; 1 In 3:15; Jm 4:1-3).

57.Q. What is the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery (Ex 20:14; Deut 5:18).

58.Q. What does the seventh commandment teach us?
A. To be pure in heart, language and conduct (Mt 5:27, 28; Ep 5:3-5; Ph 4:8, 9).

59.Q. What is the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal (Ex 20:15; Deut 5:19).

60.Q. What does the eighth commandment teach us?
A. To be honest and not to take the things of others (Ex 23:4; Pr 21:6, 7; Ep 4:28).

61.Q. What is the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor (Ex 20:16; Deut 5:20).

62.Q. What does the ninth commandment teach us?
A. To tell the truth and not to speak evil of others (Ps 15:1-3; Zech 8:16; 1 Cor 13:6; James 4:11).

63.Q. What is the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s (Ex 20:17; Deut 5:21; Rm 7:7).

64.Q. What does the tenth commandment teach us?
A. To be content with what we have (Phil 4:11; 1 Tim 6:6-8; Hb 13:5).

65.Q. Can any man keep these ten commandments?
A. No mere man, since the fall of Adam, ever did or can keep the ten commandments perfectly (Pr 20:9; Ec 7:20; Rm 3:19, 20; James 2:10; 1 Jn 1:8, 10).

66.Q. Of what use are the ten commandments to us?
A. They teach us our duty, make clear our condemnation, and show us our need of a Saviour (1 Tim 1:8-11; Rm 3:20; Gal 3:24).

67.Q. Does God condemn all men?
A. No. Though he could justly have done so he has graciously entered into a covenant to save many (Rm 3:19, 20, 23-25; Jn 17:11, 12; Is 53:11).

From the book, “Teaching Truth, Training Hearts” by Dr. Tom J. Nettles. ISBN# 1-879737-38-0

Children’s Catechism (Part I)

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A Catechism for Girls and Boys

Part I

Questions about God, Man, and Sin

1.Q. Who made you?
A. God made me (Gn 1:26, 27; 2:7; Ec 12:1; Acts 17:24-29).

2.Q. What else did God make?
A. God made all things (Gn 1, esp. verses 1, 31; Acts 14:15; Rm 11:36; Col 1:16).

3.Q. Why did God make you and all things?
A. For his own glory (Ps 19:1; Jer 9:23, 24; Rv 4:11; 4:15).

4.Q. How can you glorify God?
A. By loving him and doing what he commands (Ec 12:13; Mk 12:29-31; In 15:8-10; 1 Cor 10:31).

5.Q. Why ought you to glorify God?
A. Because he made me and takes care of me (Rm 11:36; Rv 4:11; cf. Dan 4:39).

6.Q. Are there more gods than one?
A. There is only one God (Deut 6:4; Jer 10:10; Mk 12:29; Acts 17:22-31).

7.Q. In how many persons does this one God exist?
A. In three persons (Mt 3:16, 17; Jn 5:23; 10:30; 14:9, 10; 15:26; 16:13-15; 1 In 5:20, 2 In 9; Rv 1:4, 5).

8.Q. Who are they?
A. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Mt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 Pet 1:2; Jude 20, 21).

9.Q. Who is God?
A. God is a Spirit, and does not have a body like men (Jn 4:24; 2 Cor 3:17; 1 Tim 1:17).

10.Q. Where is God?
A. God is everywhere (Ps 139:7-12; Jer 23:23,24; Acts 17:27,28).

11.Q. Can you see God?
A. No. I cannot see God, but he always sees me (Ex 33:20; Jn 1:18; 1 Tim 6:16; Ps 139 esp. vv. 1-5: Pr 5:21; Hb 4:12, 13).

12.Q. Does God know all things?
A. Yes. Nothing can be hidden from God (1 Chron 28:9; 2 Chron 16:9; Lk 12:6, 7; Rm 2:16).

13.Q. Can God do all things?
A. Yes. God can do all his holy will (Ps 147:5; Jer 32:17; Dan 4:34, 35; Eph 1:11).

14.Q. Where do you learn how to love and obey God?
A. In the Bible alone (Job 11:7; Ps 119:104; Is 8:20; Mt 22:29; 2 Tim 3:15-17).

15.Q. Who wrote the Bible?
A. Holy men who were taught by the Holy Spirit (1 Pet 1:20, 21; Acts 1:16; 2 Tim 3:16; 1 Pet 1:10, 11).

16.Q. Who were our first parents?
A. Adam and Eve (Gn 2:18-25; 3:20; 5:1, 2; Acts 17:26; 1 Tim 2:13).

17.Q. Of what were our first parents made?
A. God made the body of Adam out of the ground, and formed Eve from the body of Adam (Gn 2:7; 21-23; 3:19; Ps 103:14).

18.Q. What did God give Adam and Eve besides bodies?
A. He gave them souls that could never die (1 Cor 15:45: Eccl 12:7; Zech 12:1).

19.Q. Have you a soul as well as a body?
A. Yes. I have a soul that can never die (Mt 10:28; Mk 8:34- 38; 12:30).

20.Q. How do you know that you have a soul?
A. Because the Bible tells me so (Mt 10:28; Mk 8:34-38; 12:30).

21.Q. What is your soul?
A. My soul includes all of me that should know and love God (Mk 8:34-38; Ep 3:16-19).

22.Q. In what condition did God make Adam and Eve?
A. He made them holy and happy (Gn 1:26-28; Ps 8:4-8).

23.Q. Did Adam and Eve stay holy and happy?
A. No. They sinned against God (Gn 3:1-7; Eccl 7:29; Hos 6:7 where “men~~ = Adam). 24.

24.Q. What was the sin of our first parents?
A. Eating the forbidden fruit (Gn 2:16, 17; 3:6).

25.Q. Why did they eat the forbidden fruit?
A. Because they did not believe what God had said (Gn 3:1-6; cf. Hb 11:6).

26.Q. Who tempted them to this sin?
A. The devil tempted Eve, and she gave the fruit to Adam (Gn 3:1-13; 2 Cor 11:3; 1 Tim 2:13, 14; cf. Rv 12:9).

27.Q. What happened to our first parents when they had sinned?
A. Instead of being holy and happy, they became sinful and miserable (Gn 3:14-24; 4:1-24; Jm 1:14, 15).

28.Q. What effect did the sin of Adam have on all mankind?
A. All mankind is born in a state of sin and misery (Ps. 5 1:5; Rm 5:12, 18, 19; 1 Cor 15:21, 22; 1 In 5:19).

29.Q. What do we inherit from Adam as a result of this original sin?
A. A sinful nature (1 Kings 8:46; Ps 14:2, 3; 58:3; Eccl 9:3; Mt 15:18-20; In 2:24, 25; Rm 8:7).

30.Q. What is sin?
A. Sin is any transgression of the law of God (1 In 3:4; Rm
3:20; lames 2:9-11).

31.Q. What is meant by transgression?
A. Doing what God forbids (1 Sam 13:8-14; 15:22, 23; Hos 6:7; Rm 1:21-32).

32.Q. What does every sin deserve?
A. The anger and judgment of God (Deut 27:26; Rm 1:18; 2:2; Gal 3:10; Eph 5:6).

33.Q. Do we know what God requires of us?
A. Yes, he has given us his law both in our hearts and in writing (Rm 2:14-15).

From the book, “Teaching Truth, Training Hearts” by Dr. Tom J. Nettles. ISBN# 1-879737-38-0

Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 22, Section 1

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Chapter 22 deals with Legal Oaths and Vows.

When we look throughout Scripture we see God’s faithfulness in keeping the covenant he made with the people of Israel. We see him fulfilling his promises. What then should our response be?

James says, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.
— James 5:12

So should we then make oaths? If we are, how should we do it? Scripture tells us not to make oaths by heaven or earth or by any other name except by the name of God.

DEU 10:20 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

Lawful oaths is made in the name of God. The confession calls it a part of religious worship because it is an act where we call upon the name of God as our witness to judge us according to our truthfulness of our promises.

Have you used the Lord’s name in vain? Have you made promises but failed to keep them?

As we read today’s confession, let us be mindful of the vows and oaths we have made before God recognizing that we will be judged for the promises we make.

Chapter 22 Section 1

1. A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, in which—on an appropriate occasion—the person taking the oath solemnly calls upon God to witness what he asserts or promises and to judge him according to the truth or falsehood of what he swears.

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 21, Section 6

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We learn today that religious worship and prayer is not limited to any one place. We are taught by Jesus in John 4:24 that God is spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.

The regular worship of God is to be conducted in three ways: publicly, as in our Church worship service today; as a family; and privately. What we do publicly in a Church worship service helps us to understand how worship is to be conducted as a family, and privately.

Worship doesn’t happen only on Sunday mornings, but it is a part of our every day lives. The confession says God should be worshiped daily in families and privately by individuals. It warns us not to neglect or forsake worship.

So as we read today’s confession, let us affirm God’s call for us to worship him publicly, in our families, and privately.

6. Under the gospel, neither prayer nor any other part of religious worship is now limited to—or made more acceptable by—any particular place where it is performed or toward which it is directed. On the contrary, God is to be worshiped everywhere in spirit and truth. He should be worshiped daily in families, and privately by individuals, and with greater solemnity in public worship services. Such worship services are not to be carelessly or willfully neglected or forsaken when God by his Word or his providence calls people to them.

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 21, Section 5

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So what do we look for in a public worship service? Today’s confession gives us some of the elements of a worship service including: reading, preaching, and hearing of the Word of God; prayer, singing of psalms and spiritual songs; and the administration of the sacraments as commanded by our Lord.

In the reading of and proper preaching of the Word of God, God speaks to us. We worship God, by receiving that word, by hearing with reverence, paying careful attention, applying the scriptures in our lives in obedience to God.

When we pray and sing to our Lord God, we worship God through our holy affections and feelings, along with holy desires and thanksgivings as inspired in us through the Holy Spirit.

In the sacraments, God actually communes with us in an intimate and even physical way as the physical elements of each sacrament point us to the spiritual reality of God’s presence and work in our lives. Also in the sacraments God enters into covenant with our souls, and likewise we commune with God and enter into a covenant with God.

In all these elements, our hearts are looking towards Christ, we respond with faith and repentance… if you notice the words used in the confession: reverence, grace, holy and devout… there is an attitude we have when we worship our God.

As we say today’s confession, let us also examine our hearts and attitude concerning worship:

5. The various elements of the ordinary religious worship of God are the reading of the Scriptures with reverence; the sound preaching and conscientious hearing of the Word in obedience to God, with understanding, faith, and reverence; the singing of psalms with grace in the heart; and the proper administration and worthy receiving of the sacraments instituted by Christ. Also, on special occasions and at appropriate times, there are other elements of worship, namely, religious oaths, vows, solemn fasts, and thanksgivings. These are to be used in a holy and devout manner.

Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 21 Section 3

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Today’s confession looks at a special part of worship that is required by God:
Prayer with Thanksgiving. As Christians we are instructed to go to God for all
things but how is that connected to worship?

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your
bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper
worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will
is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

There is an intimate relationship between our hearts and minds with worship. We
recognize in these two verses that unless our hearts and minds are renewed by
Christ, guarded in Christ, conformed to Christ, our worship is not true or proper.
So how do we get our minds and hearts right? Prayer with thanksgiving.

We recognize the Trinitarian nature of prayer where we pray in Jesus name,
where we are helped by the Holy Spirit and we pray according to the will of the
Father. When our hearts and mind recognize the finished work of Christ and our
new standing as sons, when we trust God in all situations; when we know we are
loved by God; when we are empowered to believe Him and to walk in faith with
him… that is our life of worship… and that is why praying with thanksgiving is so
necessary.

As we confess today’s confession, we recognize it is our hearts and minds that
God wants to conform to Christ. Let us then humbly pray with thanksgiving in all
situations.

Read with me today’s confession:

3. Prayer with thanksgiving is a special part of religious worship and is required
by God of all men. In order that prayer may be accepted, it is to be made in the
name of the Son, by the help of his Spirit, and according to his will. Prayer is to
be offered with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and
perseverance. If vocal, it must be offered in a language that is understood.

Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 20 Section 3

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As we continue on the topic of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience, we see today that it
speaks directly to our personal desires.

When the bible says Christ has set us free, that he has forgiven our sins and offered us new life,
does that mean we can now do whatever we want?

Two verses that describe how we should exercise our liberties.

1 Cor 10:23 Everything is permissible but not all things are beneficial. Everything is
permissible—but not everything is constructive.

1 Corinthians 8:9 Be careful however that the exercise of your freedom does not become a
stumbling block to the weak.

An example of this:
The only prohibition in the bible against alcohol is that we should not get drunk. However, the
bible does say to not be a stumbling block to the weak. If I had a brother who struggled with
alcoholism, my exercise of freedom would not be loving or beneficial to him. So I forgo my beer
in order to serve my Lord by loving my brother. Just because we could do something, doesn’t
mean we have to do it so that we may love God.

Because Jesus Christ has set us free, we now subject our motives to serving God and our brother
in love. We look not at “what can we get away with,” but how can I most glorify God in my
freedom, [which also means that we should not cherish any sin].

So, look at your own life, do you freely do things without thinking about either God or your
brother in Christ? Then you actually going against Christ. Instead we should look not to our own
interests but to the interest of others, we should be careful in the exercise of our freedom and be
charitable to others.

Those who, on the pretext of Christian liberty, practice any sin or cherish any evil desire destroy
the purpose of Christian liberty. This purpose is that, having been delivered out of the hand of our
enemies, we may serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the
days of our life.
–WCF 20.3 – Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience (MESV)

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 20 Section 1

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Concerning Christian Liberty

When we think about freedom we usually think about doing whatever we want. High schoolers
think that once they go off to college they would not be under the watchful eye of their parents
and do whatever they want.

BUT, the bible has a very different view of FREEDOM than the world’s. 1It is for freedom that
Christ has set us free (Galatians 5:1) and that 36 if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed
(John 8:36).

What is this freedom that we as Christians have?

Where the world views freedom from the self, what can I do to make ME happy, Christian liberty
starts from Christ who gave up his privileges in heaven, suffering and dying on the cross, and
being raised on the third day… so that we may have life abundant. From this, our lives have been
purchased so that we may freely worship, freely serve, freely give…Because Jesus saves us from
the penalty of the law and adopts us into the family of God as sons, we have freedom to go to our
heavenly father at anytime in Jesus name, we have been given the Holy Spirit to freely use our
spiritual gifts to serve and build up the family of God, the body of Christ, the church..

Our freedom starts with Christ and continually leads us back to Christ who freely gave his life for
you and for me..

1. The liberty which Christ purchased for believers under the gospel consists in their freedom
from the guilt of sin, from the condemning wrath of God, and from the curse of the moral law.
Furthermore, it consists in their being delivered from this present evil age, from bondage to Satan
and the dominion of sin, from the evil of afflictions, from the sting of death, from the victory
of the grave, and from everlasting damnation. It consists also in their free access to God and in
yielding obedience to him, not out of slavish fear, but out of a childlike love and willing mind. All
of these things were common to believers also under the law. Under the new testament, however,
the liberty of Christians is further enlarged: they are free from the yoke of the ceremonial law
to which the Jewish church was subjected; they have greater boldness of access to the throne of
grace; and they experience in greater measure the gifts of God’s free Spirit than believers under
the law ordinarily partook of.

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 19, Section 4

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In the previous sections of Chapter 19 we looked at 2 types of laws. The first type is described as the moral law, which was given to the people of Israel in the form of the Ten Commandments. They could be summarized as the two great commandments, love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself.

Last week we talked about the second type of law, ceremonial laws. We said because of Christ they are no longer binding on us.

Today we will look at a third type of law. The confession calls them “Judicial Laws” or civil laws.

These laws include various capital crimes, with its procedures and punishments as well as a number of regulations and restrictions, including issues involving land, economics, etc. Are these laws still binding today?

When we look at them we see that they were given to the Nation of Israel for a specific time at a specific place. With the coming of Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of the law, we know that Jesus came not only for the people of Israel but also people from every tongue and tribe and nation. The salvation of God is coming through a spiritual kingdom and not a temporal nation.

Even though civil laws applied only to the Nation of Israel and have been superseded by the Gospel in view of the Kingdom of God, they do offer general principles of justice and is useful for study and understanding God.

Let’s read confess our faith concerning civil laws.

4. To the people of Israel, as a civil entity, he also gave various judicial laws
which expired at the time their State expired. Therefore, these judicial laws place no obligation upon anyone now, except as they embody general principles of justice.

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 19, Section 3

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In looking at the LAW of GOD, we saw that God gave us the moral law that could be summarized as love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself.

God also gave us ceremonial laws. These included the sacrificial system, the dietary regulations… we learn that these were temporary, and that they served the purpose of pointing us to Christ. In the Old Testament, we learn about Christ’s suffering, sacrifice, God’s love and grace through these laws.

But we also learn that when Christ came he fulfilled these laws and as a result we no longer practice them. Today’s confession uses the term abrogate meaning the laws have been fulfilled by Christ and are no longer binding to us.

One example can be seen with the Apostle Peter in Acts 10. Jewish customs forbade eating unclean animals. But God gives Peter a vision to kill and eat. Thus abrogating this restriction. It symbolically showed how God allowed both Jew and Gentile to come to him through faith in Jesus Christ.

Another example comes from Hebrews 9 in which it is explained that Christ is the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, he did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption…

So if someone asks you: why don’t you have to sacrifice goats and calves? you can safely tell them that the sacrificial system of the Old Testament pointed to Christ who is the greater and more perfect sacrifice. His blood is the greater and more perfect offering, as a result we no longer need to offer up goats and calves
and bulls and sheep.

Let’s read today’s confession together and praise Jesus for being our righteousness..

3. In addition to this law, commonly called the moral law, God was pleased to give the people of Israel—as the church under age—ceremonial laws, which contained several typological ordinances. These ordinances consisted partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits, and partly of various instructions of moral duties. All these ceremonial laws are now abrogated under the new testament.