Shorter Catechism Q. 12. What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was created? A. 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 … [Read more…]
Shorter Catechism Q. 11. What are God’s works of providence? A. God’s works of providence are his most holy, wise and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions. Commentary: Providence is one of the ways in which God carries out his eternal plan (decree) for the universe, with creation being the other … [Read more…]
Shorter Catechism Q. 10. How did God create man? A. God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness and holiness, with dominion over the creatures. Commentary: When God created man, that is, human beings, he created them male and female. He created the male, Adam, first, and then the female, Eve. … [Read more…]
Shorter Catechism Q. 9. What is the work of creation? A. 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. Commentary: Where did the universe come from? Was it always here? Or did it have a beginning? And … [Read more…]
Shorter Catechism Q. 8. How doth God execute his decrees? A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence. Commentary: God’s decrees refer to his eternal plan for the universe. A plan, however, is just that, a plan. It needs to be executed or carried out if it is to see the light … [Read more…]
Shorter Catechism Q. 7. What are the decrees of God? A. 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. Commentary: The decrees of God pertain to God’s plan (purpose) for the universe. God is not someone who … [Read more…]
Shorter Catechism 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; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. Commentary: The word “godhead” is an older word that the KJV uses in … [Read more…]
Shorter Catechism Q. 5. Are there more Gods than one? A. There is but one only, the living and true God. Commentary: One of the basic truths of the Bible is that there is only one God. Deuteronomy 6:4 says, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one.” This means that God is not … [Read more…]
Shorter Catechism Q. 4. What is God? A. God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth. Commentary: A.A. Hodge said that this is the best definition of God ever written. Although that might be excused as a bit of hyperbole from a biased Confessional Presbyterian who … [Read more…]
Shorter Catechism Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach? A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. Commentary: The puritan Thomas Goodwin said that everything in the Bible may be reduced to two points: Credenda, things to be believed, and Agenda, things to be … [Read more…]