Shorter Catechism

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March 31 : WSC Q. 21 – The Only Redeemer of God’s Elect!

31 March, 2012 in March 2012 by davidtmyers | 1 comment

This Day in Presbyterian History:  Only Christ

One can sum up the Reformed faith by listing five “only’s” — only Scripture, only Christ, only grace, only faith, and only to the glory of God.   We look today at the second “only” in “Only Christ.”  The apostle Paul would remind us in 1 Timothy 2:5 that “there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (ESV)

With another date of only localized Presbyterian topics, we return on this last day of  March 31, to the Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Standards.  In question and answer 21, we read the words “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.”

We speak first about “the only Redeemer of God’s elect.”  The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Redeemer to  those whom the Father has given to the Son, as that phrase is continuously found in the high priestly prayer of Jesus in John chapter 17, or “the elect.”    Peter clearly preached in Acts 4:12, when declaring the good news of eternal life in the days following the Ascension of Christ, that “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (ESV)

See the repetitive statements!  Despite what the Bahai religion states, despite what other religions claim, despite what your unbelieving neighbor believes, there is no one else!  There is no other name under heaven!  There is no other name given among men!    It is ONLY CHRIST.

We need to echo the testimony of the apostle Paul when he wrote, “For although there may be so-called gods in heaven and on earth — as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’ — yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.”  (1 Corinthians 8:5, 6 ESV)

Last, our Confessional fathers remind us that the Lord Jesus Christ is both God and man, in two distinct natures as eternal deity and  true humanity, yet only one person, forever.   Our finite minds may not be able to fully understand it.  But God’s Word, the Bible declares it, and on that Scriptural teaching we rest, firmly committed to it.

Words to Live By: Only Christ!  That is our watchword.  Only Christ! That is our confession.  Only Christ!  He is our hope.  Only Christ!  He is our sole foundation for faith and life.

Through the Scriptures:  1 Samuel 17 – 20

Through the Standards:  Proof Texts of Christ the Redeemer

John 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (ESV);

John 1:14
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (ESV);

Galatians 4:6
“But when the fulness of time had  come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (ESV);

1 Corinthians 15;3, 4
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” (ESV)

Hebrews 13:8
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (ESV).

Read also Philippians 2:5 – 11.

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March 16 : WSC Q. 10

16 March, 2012 in March 2012 by davidtmyers | No comments

This Day in Presbyterian History: 

God’s Crowning Work in creation

With scant information available for this day, March 16, we return to another exposition of the Shorter Catechism. Question number 10 asks and answers, “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.”

We already had a question and answer on the general subject of creation.  That was the theme of February 27 in these historical devotionals.  Our Confessional Fathers gave us another catechetical answer on God’s crowning work in creation, namely, the creation of man.

Man’s nature is distinguished in Genesis chapters 1 and 2.  In Genesis chapter 1, we have the description of man as being “male and female.”  In the summary of creation in Genesis chapter 2, we have the reference to his soul and body.    How contrary to this divinely stated truth is that of humanistic  evolution.  How we need to pray and work for a return in our culture of the majestic truth of special creation.

Notice especially the original character of our created parents as being “after the image of God.” There, of course, is no truth to the popular idea that this image created was some sort of physical resemblance to God.  God is a Spirit and doesn’t have a body like man. Our confession fathers immediately define what they mean by God’s image, by stating that the image consists in “knowledge, righteousness, and holiness.”  Our first parents had a conformity to the moral perfections of God.

Adam had knowledge in his understanding of God’s revelation of His creation.  That was proved when he gave names to all of God’s creatures in Genesis 2:19 and verse 20. Second, Adam possessed righteousness in his will.  Righteousness simply means obedience to God.  Man was capable of this, though also capable of disobedience, as we sadly see in the fall into sin. Last, Adam was holy in his affections.   He could love God and His creation, and especially his soon to be created wife, Eve.

It is true that sin marred that image deeply.  Yet in Christ, that image can be restored by the grace of God.  Paul in Ephesians 4:24 speaks of our new creation in Christ which we have “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (ESV)  And the same apostle wrote in Colossians 3:10, “and put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of God.” (ESV)   Knowledge, righteousness, and holiness is being restored in the life of the believer.  One day, in our glorification, it will be restored perfectly.

Last, man’s dignity is seen in the fact that he was given “dominion over the creatures.” Since he was God’s crowning creation, he was given the authority over the world of nature, not just animals.  Here is the basis for the cultural mandate, or the view that the Christian  has a mandate from God to bring all spheres of life under conformity to God’s Word.

Words to Live By: “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”  Psalm 8:9 (ESV)  Do you praise God for creation all around you?

Through the Scriptures: Joshua 16 – 18

Through the Standards: Christ Executes the Office of a King

WLC 45 — “How does Christ execute the office of a king?
A. Christ executes the office of a king, in calling out of the world a people to himself, and giving them officers, laws, and censures, by which he visibly governs them; in bestowing saving grace upon his elect, rewarding their obedience, and correcting them for their sins, preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings, restraining and overcoming all their enemies, and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory, and their good; and also taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God, and obey not the gospel.”

WSC 26 — “How does Christ execute the office of a king?
A. 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.”

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February 11: WSC Q. 4

11 February, 2012 in February 2012 by davidtmyers | 1 comment

This Day in Presbyterian History:

A Prayer becomes a Catechism Answer

It was a traditional story brought down through the ages that a Scotch delegate to the Westminster Assembly had joined the other divines in a day of Bible study and prayer when they had arrived at the definition of God. In this action, they readily acknowledged that they needed the divine help of God. As the traditional story states, George Gillespie, one of only a few Scottish divines, stood up to pray and uttered that “God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.” Thus, when they came to the Catechism section, the court reporter had these memorable words to answer the question, “What is God?”

Whether the story if true or not, we know that God is a Spirit, and has not a body like man. The first four words of this sentence come directly from the lips of the Lord Jesus as He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well. He said that God being a Spirit, we need to worship Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24) The last seven words come from the Children’s Catechism, and in simple childlike concepts, helps us to understand the person of God.

Then we are reminded from Scripture of His incommunicable attributes, or those descriptions which only describe Him and no one else. He is “infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.” None of these have been given to mankind. They are uniquely belonging to God. Study these three attributes from Scripture, such as Psalm 90:2 and Malachi 2:6, and you will have much to adore your God in praise and prayer.

Then the communicable attributes of God are stated in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. Study these attributes of God from Scripture, such as Exodus 3:14 and Psalm 147:5 and Revelation 4;8 and Revelation 15:4; and Exodus 24:6, 7, and you will have much to adore your God and Father in praise and prayer. And yet, we have called these attributes communicable. That is because God shares these descriptions with us. We are to be like Him in our being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

The young man stood before the door with a typical questionnaire to open the door of the heart to questions about the woman’s soul. He didn’t know however that answering that door that afternoon was a Presbyterian pastor’s wife and one who had been brought up in the Shorter Catechism. When he came to the question, “what is God to you?”, she answered with the words of this catechism by memory. He was overwhelmed with her answer and kept interrupting her so that he could write down the words. When she finished, he literally ran from the door, not finishing his questionnaire, because of the majestic nature of her answer. As Charles Hodge said, “this is the best definition of God penned by man.” And so it is.

Setting aside for the moment any discussion of worthwhile Presbyterian figures or events for this February 11th day, we can think of no better topic than these catechism words.

Words to Live By: Ministers in their pastoral prayer have this answer a perfect one to begin their public prayers. Individual Christians can take one of these words and thoughts to adore when they intercede with the Lord God Almighty. We have a great and glorious Father.

Through the Scriptures: Leviticus 8 – 10

Through the Standards: Punitive providence

WCF 5:6
“As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as a righteous God, for former sins, doth blind and harden, from them He not only withholdeth His grace whereby they might have been enlightened in their understandings, and wrought upon in their hearts; but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had, and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption make occasion of sin; and, withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan, whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, even under those means which God useth for the softening of others.”

Image sources : “Westminster Abbey in 1647” – frontispiece plate for The Grounds and Principles of Religion contained in a Shorter Catechism according to the advice of The Assembly of Divines at Westminster, edited by William Carruthers. London, 1913 ; Covers of Catechism for Young Children. Philadelphia, n.d. and The Westminster Larger Catechism. Richmond, 1939. All digital scans by the staff of the PCA Historical Center.

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