Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: Westminster Larger Catechism and Children’s Catechism on God

Westminster Larger Catechism

Q. 6. What do the Scriptures make known of God?
A. The Scriptures make known what God is,^[14] the persons in the Godhead,^[15] his decrees,^[16] and the execution of his decrees.^[17]


Q. 7. What is God?
A. God is a Spirit,^[18] in and of himself infinite in being,^[19] glory,^[20] blessedness,^[21] and perfection;^[22] all-sufficient,^[23] eternal,^[24] unchangeable,^[25] incomprehensible,^[26] every where present,^[27] almighty,^[28] knowing all things,^[29] most wise,^[30] most holy,^[31] most just,^[32] most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.^[33]


Q. 8. Are there more Gods than one?
A. There is but one only, the living and true God.^[34]


Q. 9. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
A. There be three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one true, eternal God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory; although distinguished by their personal properties.^[35]


Q. 10. What are the personal properties of the three persons in the Godhead?
A. It is proper to the Father to beget the Son,^[36] and to the Son to be begotten of the Father,^[37] and to the Holy Ghost to proceed from the Father and the Son from all eternity.^[38]


Q. 11. How doth it appear that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father?
A. The Scriptures manifest that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father, ascribing unto them such names,^[39] attributes,^[40] works,^[41] and worship,^[42] as are proper to God only.

Children's Catechism

Q. 9. What is God?
A. God is a Spirit, and has not a body like men.


Q. 10. Where is God?
A. God is everywhere.


Q. 11. Can you see God?
A. No; I cannot see God, but he always sees me.


Q. 12. Does God know all things?
A. Yes; nothing can be hid from God.


Q. 13. Can God do all things?
A. Yes; God can do all his holy will.

Creeds, Confessions and Catechisms (3C) - Westminster Shorter Catechism (WSC)

 Q. 4. What is God?

A. God is a Spirit,[7] infinite,[8] eternal,[9] and unchangeable,[10] in his being,[11] wisdom,[12] power,[13] holiness,[14] justice,[15] goodness,[16] and truth.[17]

Q. 5. Are there more Gods than one?

A. There is but one only,[18] the living and true God.[19]

Q. 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead?

A. There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost;[20] and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.[21]

Creeds, Confessions, Catechisms (3C): Heidelberg and Children's Catechisms

Heidelberg Catechism



2. Lord's Day

Q. 3. Whence knowest thou thy misery?

A. Out of the law of God. [a]



Q. 4. What does the law of God require of us?

A. Christ teaches us that briefly, Matt. 22:37-40, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first and the great commandment; and the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." [a]



Q. 5. Canst thou keep all these things perfectly?

A. In no wise; [a] for I am prone by nature to hate God and my neighbour.[b]



Westminster Children's Catechism

Q. 6. Are there more gods than one?

A. There is only one God.

Q. 7. In how many persons does this one God exist?

A. In three persons.

Q. 8. What are they?

A. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms (3C)

Canons of Dort 2



The First Head of Doctrine: Divine Election and Reprobation

Article 3: The Preaching of the Gospel

In order that people may be brought to faith, God mercifully sends proclaimers of this very joyful message to the people he wishes and at the time he wishes. By this ministry people are called to repentance and faith in Christ crucified. For how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without someone preaching? And how shall they preach unless they have been sent? (Rom. 10:14-15).

Article 4: A Twofold Response to the Gospel

God's anger remains on those who do not believe this gospel. But those who do accept it and embrace Jesus the Savior with a true and living faith are delivered through him from God's anger and from destruction, and receive the gift of eternal life.



Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF)



Chapter 1: Of the Holy Scripture (cont.)

4: The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, depends not upon the testimony of any man, or Church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God.[9]



5: We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scripture.[10] And the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is, to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it does abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God: yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.[11]



6: The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men.[12] Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word:[13] and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.[14]



7: All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all:[15] yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.[16]

Creeds, Confessions and Catechisms (3C)

Westminster Shorter Catechism (WSC)



Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man's chief end is to glorify God,[1] and to enjoy him forever.[2]



Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?

A. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments,[3] is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.[4]



Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?

A. The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God,[5] and what duty God requires of man.[6]

Children's Catechism (CC)



Q. 1. Who made you?

A. God.



Q. 2. What else did God make?

A. God made all things.



Q. 3. Why did God make you and all things ?

A. For his own glory.



Q. 4. How can you glorify God?

A. By loving him and doing what he commands.



Q. 5. Why ought you to glorify God?

A. Because he made me and takes care of me.

Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms (3C)

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 1

1. Lord's Day

Q. 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?

A. That I with body and soul, both in life and death, [a] am not my own, [b] but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; [c] who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, [d] and delivered me from all the power of the devil; [e] and so preserves me [f] that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; [g] yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, [h] and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, [i] and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. [j]



Q. 2. How many things are necessary for thee to know, that thou, enjoying this comfort, mayest live and die happily?

A. Three; [a] the first, how great my sins and miseries are; [b] the second, how I may be delivered from all my sins and miseries; [c] the third, how I shall express my gratitude to God for such deliverance. [d]



(If you click on the blue letters you will taken to backing verses)



Note from Keith: I have to admit it, I love the Heidelberg! While other confessions, creeds and catechisms start with very philosophical arguments (compare the above to the Westminster Shorter Catechism (Q. What is the chief end of man? A. To glorify God and enjoy Him forever) the Heidelberg starts with a very practical concern. How to do I find comfort in this world of pain, suffering and chaos?



The answer is quite freeing and reveals some amazing truths. The first comfort is that I am not my own, which means that I am not on my own. We are also reminded that we are saved, delivered, preserved to such an extent that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of God. We are promised that all things must be work towards the enriching and deepening of my salvation. We are promised the Holy Spirit who will not only give us comfort, knowing that we have eternal life, but also provides the desire and ability to live for God.



The second question is equally relevant – what do I need to know that I may live and die in this comfort – the answer is 3 things, in reformed theology shorthand we simply talk about the 3 G's – guilt, grace, and gratitude.

Creeds, Confessions, Catechisms (3C) - Westminster Confession of Faith on the Bible

Westminster Confession, week 1



Chapter 1: Of the Holy Scripture


1: Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable;[1] yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of His will, which is necessary unto salvation.[2] Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His Church;[3] and afterwards for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing;[4] which makes the Holy Scripture to be most necessary;[5] those former ways of God's revealing His will unto His people being now ceased.[6]



2: Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testament, which are these:

• 
  
  
  

  Of the Old Testament:
  
  
  
  
  
  

[Pentateuch]	[Historical Books]	[Wisdom]	[Major Prophets]	[Minor Prophets]
Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy	Joshua Judges Ruth I Samuel II Samuel I Kings II Kings I Chronicles II Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther	Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes The Song of Songs	Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel	Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

• 
  
  
  

  Of the New Testament:
  
  
  
  
  
  

[Historical]	[Paul's Epistles to the]	[General Epistles]	[Prophesy]
The Gospels according to Matthew Mark Luke John The Acts of the Apostles	Romans Corinthians I Corinthians II Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians I Thessalonians II To Timothy I To Timothy II To Titus To Philemon	-The Epistle to the Hebrews -The Epistle of James -The first and second Epistles of Peter -The first, second, and third Epistles of John -The Epistle of Jude	The Revelation of John

All which are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life.[7]

Confessions, Creeds, and Catechisms (3C)

Canons of Dordt, week 1

The First Head of Doctrine: Divine Election and Reprobation

The Judgment Concerning Divine Predestination Which the Synod Declares to Be in Agreement with the Word of God and Accepted Till Now in the Reformed Churches, Set Forth in Several Articles

Article 1: God’s Right to Condemn All People

Since all people have sinned in Adam and have come under the sentence of the curse and eternal death, God would have done no one an injustice if it had been his will to leave the entire human race in sin and under the curse, and to condemn them on account of their sin. As the apostle says: The whole world is liable to the condemnation of God (Rom. 3:19), All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), and The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23).

Article 2: The Manifestation of God’s Love

But this is how God showed his love: he sent his only begotten Son into the world, so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.