CATECHISM · 1765 AD · REFORMED (PRESBYTERIAN)
The Assembly's Shorter Catechism Explained
WRITTEN
1765 AD
TRADITION
Reformed (Presbyterian)
QUESTIONS
3,938
QUOTED IN THE BEREAN TEXT
448
448 quotations in this document are given in the Berean Standard Bible. 912 more are left in the document's own older wording, each marked where it stands.
CONTENTS
QUESTION 1
What is the chief end of man?
Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
QUESTION 1
What is meant by man's chief end?
That which ought to be man's chief aim and design; and that which he should seek after as his chief happiness.
QUESTION 2
What ought to be man's chief aim and design?
The glory of God. 1 Chron. 16:28, 29 - "Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. due unto his name."
Scripture quoted here is given in the Berean Standard Bible: 1 Chronicles 16:28.
QUESTION 3
What should he seek after as his chief happiness?
The enjoyment of God. Isaiah 26:8 - "The desire of our soul is to thy name, and the remembrance of thee."
QUESTION 4
What connexion is there between the glorifying God, and the enjoyment of him?
The: are connected by rich and sovereign grace, persuading and enabling the sinner to embrace Jesus Christ as the only way to God and glory. Eph. 2:8 - "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God." John 14:6 - "I," says Christ, "am the way; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Scripture quoted here is given in the Berean Standard Bible: Ephesians 2:8.
QUESTION 5
Does the chief end exclude subordinate ends?
No; for, in aiming principally at the glory of God, men may use the supports of natural life for refreshing their bodies. 1 Cor. 10:31; and be diligent in their particular callings, that they may provide for themselves and their families, 1 Thess. 4:11, 12; 1 Tim. 5:8.
QUESTION 6
Why ought the glory of God to be the chief end and design of man?
Because it is God's chief end in man's creation, preservation, redemption, and regeneration. Proverbs 16:4 - "The Lord hath made all things for himself;" and therefore it ought to be man's chief end likewise. 1 Cor. 6:19, 20 - "Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
QUESTION 7
How manifold is the glory of God?
Twofold; his essential and his declarative glory.
QUESTION 8
What is God's essential glory?
It is what he is absolutely in himself. Exod. 3:14 - "I Am That I Am."
QUESTION 9
What is his declarative glory?
His showing, or making known his glory, to, in, and by his creatures, Isaiah 44:23; 2 Thess. 1:10.
QUESTION 10
Can any creature whatsoever add anything to God's essential glory?
No; for his essential glory is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, Job 35:7.
QUESTION 11
Do not the heavens and the earth, and all inferior creatures, glorify God?
Yes; in a passive way, all his works praise him. Psalm 19:1, and 145:10.
QUESTION 12
How ought man to glorify God?
Man:being endued with a reasonable soul, ought to glorify God in an active way, Psalm 63:4, by declaring his praise, Psalm 103:1, 2; and essaying to give him the glory due to his name, Psalm 96:7, 8.
QUESTION 13
How was man to glorify God in a state of innocence?
By a perfect, personal, and perpetual obedience to his law, Gen. 1:27; and by giving him the glory of all his works, chap. 2:19.
QUESTION 14
Has man answered his chief end?
No; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Rom. 3:23.
Scripture quoted here is given in the Berean Standard Bible: Romans 3:23.
QUESTION 15
Has God then lost his end in making man?
No; for God will glorify his justice and power upon some, and his grace and mercy upon others of Adam's family, Rom. 9:22, 23.
QUESTION 16
Was ever God glorified by a perfect obedience since Adam's fall?
Never, until CHRIST, the second Adam, appeared as a new covenant head, Isaiah 42:21, and 49:3.
QUESTION 17
How did Christ, the second Adam, glorify God, as our surety and representative on earth?
By finishing the work the Father gave him to do. John 17:4.
QUESTION 18
What was the work the Father gave him to do?
It was to assume a holy human nature, Luke 1:35; to yield a perfect sinless obedience to the whole law, Mat. 3:15; and to give a complete satisfaction to justice, for man's sin, by his meritorious sufferings and death, Luke 24:26.
QUESTION 19
How does Christ glorify God in heaven?
By appearing in the presence of God, Heb. 9:24, and applying, by the power of his Spirit, that redemption which he purchased by the price of his blood on earth, Titus 3:5, 6.
Scripture quoted here is given in the Berean Standard Bible: Hebrews 9:24.
QUESTION 20
When is it that a sinner begins uprightly to aim at the glory of God?
When, through a faith of God's operation, he believes in Christ: Acts 8:37, 39. - "The eunuch answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God. - And he went on his way rejoicing."
QUESTION 21
Can no man glorify God acceptably, unless he first believe in Christ?
No; for, "without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him." Heb. 11:6; and, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin," Rom. 14:23.
Scripture quoted here is given in the Berean Standard Bible: Hebrews 11:6.
QUESTION 22
How is it that faith in Christ glorifies God?
As it sets its seal to the record of God, John 3:33; and unites us to Christ, from whom only our fruit is found, Hos. 14:8.
QUESTION 23
Is not God glorified by the good works of believers?
Yes; "This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit," John 15:8.
Scripture quoted here is given in the Berean Standard Bible: John 15:8.
QUESTION 24
What are these fruits brought forth by believers, by which God is glorified?
They may be summed up in faith working by love, Gal. 5:6; or, their aiming, in the strength of Christ, at universal obedience to the law, as the rule of duty. Phil. 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."
Scripture quoted here is given in the Berean Standard Bible: Philippians 4:13.
QUESTION 25
How should we glorify God in eating and drinking?
By taking a right to the supports of natural life, through the second Adam, the heir of all things, who has purchased a covenant right to temporal, as well as spiritual mercies, for his people, 1 Cor. 3:21-23; and thankfully acknowledging God for the same, 1 Tim. 4:4, 5.
QUESTION 26
How must we glorify God in our religious worship, and other acts of obedience?
By doing all that we do in the name of the Lord Jesus, Col. 3:17; worshipping God in the Spirit, rejoicing in Christ Jesus, and having no confidence in the flesh, Phil. 3:3.
QUESTION 27
What is it, next to the glory of God, we should aim at?
Next to God's glory, we should aim at the enjoyment of him, Psalm 73:25, 26.
QUESTION 28
Why should we aim at the enjoyment of God?
Because he is the chief good of the rational creature, Psalm 116:7; and nothing else besides him, is either suitable to the nature, or satisfying to the desires of the immortal soul, Psalm 144:15.
QUESTION 29
How may a finite creature enjoy an infinite God?
By taking and rejoicing in him, as its everlasting and upmaking portion, Psalm 16:5, 6, and 48:14.
QUESTION 30
Did our first parents, in a state of innocence, enjoy God?
Yes; there was perfect friendship and fellowship between God and them; for, "God made man upright," Eccl. 7:29.
QUESTION 31
What broke that blessed friendship and fellowship?
Sin: our iniquities have separated between us and our God, and our sins have hid his face from us, Isaiah 59:2.
QUESTION 32
Can a sinner, in a natural state, enjoy God, or have any fellowship with him?
No; for, "What communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial?" 2 Cor. 6:14, 15.
QUESTION 33
How may a lost sinner recover the enjoyment of God, and fellowship with him?
As we lost it by our fall in the first Adam, so it can only be recovered by union with a second Adam, Rom. 5:18-19; for there is no coming to God but by him, John 14:6.
QUESTION 34
When is it that a sinner begins to enjoy God?
When, having received Christ by faith, he rests upon him, and upon God in him, for righteousness and strength, Isaiah 45:24; and out of his fulness receives, and grace for grace, John 1:16
QUESTION 35
What are the external means by, or in which, we are to seek after the enjoyment of God?
In all the ordinances of his worship, public, private and secret; such as the word read and heard, the sacraments, prayer, meditation, fasting, thanksgiving, and the like.
QUESTION 36
Are the saints of God admitted to enjoy him in these?
Yes; they are the trysting-places2 where his name is recorded, and to which he has promised to come and bless them, Ex. 20:24 - "In all places where I record my name, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee."
QUESTION 37
What scripture-evidence have we, of their enjoying God in the duties and ordinances of his appointment?
We find them much employed in religious duties, Song 3:1-3; and expressing the utmost regard for the ordinances of his grace, Psalm 84:1, 2.
QUESTION 38
What satisfaction has the soul in the enjoyment of God?
Unspeakably more gladness than when corn, wine, and all earthly comforts, do most abound, Psalm 4:7
QUESTION 39
Is there any difference between the enjoyment of God in this life, and that which the saints shall obtain in the life to come?
Not an essential, but a gradual difference, as to the manner and measure of it.
QUESTION 40
What is the difference as to the manner of the enjoyment here and hereafter?
Here, the enjoyment is mediate, by the intervention of means; hereafter, it will be immediate, without any use of these means: "Now we see through a glass darkly; but then FACE TO FACE," 1 Cor. 13:12.
QUESTION 41
What is the difference as to the measure of the enjoyment, in this life, and that which is to come?
In this life the enjoyment is only partial; in that which is to come, it will be full and complete, 1 John 3:2 - here, the enjoyment is only in the seed, or first fruits; there it will be in the full harvest, Psalm 126:5, 6.
QUESTION 42
Is the partial enjoyment of God in grace here, a sure pledge of the full enjoyment of him in glory hereafter?
It is both the pledge and earnest of it, Eph. 1:13, 14; Psalm 84:11.
QUESTION 43
Does the gracious soul, in that state, fully receive its chief end?
Yes; in regard that then it shall be brimful of God, and celebrate his praises with high and uninterrupted Hallelujahs through all eternity, Psalm 16:11; Isaiah 35:10.
QUESTION 44
Why is the glorifying God made the leading part of man's chief end, and set before the enjoyment of him?
Because, as God's design in glorifying himself was the reason and foundation of his design in making man happy in the enjoyment of him, Rom. 11:26; so he has made our aiming at his glory, as our chief end, to be the very way and means of our attaining to that enjoyment, Psalm 50:23.
QUESTION 45
Is our happiness, in the enjoyment of God, to be our chief end?
No; but the glory of God itself, Isaiah 42:8; in our aiming at which chiefly, we cannot miss the enjoyment of him, Psalm 91:14, 15.
QUESTION 46
Is not our delighting in the glory of God, to be reckoned our chief end?
No; we must set the glory of God above our delight therein, otherwise, our delight is not chiefly in God, but in ourselves, Isaiah 2:11. Our subjective delighting in the glory of God belongs to the enjoyment of him, whose glory is above the heavens, and infinitely above our delight therein, Psalm 113:4.
QUESTION 47
Whom does God dignify with the enjoyment of himself, in time and for ever?
Those whom he helps actively to glorify and honour him; for he has said, "Them that honour me, I will honour," 1 Sam. 2:30.
QUESTION 48
Does any thing so much secure our happy enjoyment of God, as the concern that the glory of God has in it?
No; for as God cannot but reach the great end of his own glory, so, when he has promised us eternal life, in Christ, before the world began, Titus 1:2, we cannot come short of it; because it stands upon the honour of his faithfulness to make it good, Heb. 10:23 - "He is faithful that promised."
QUESTION 49
How does it appear, that the enjoyment of God, which is connected with the glorifying of him, shall be for ever?
Because he who is the object enjoyed, is the everlasting God, Isaiah 40:28; and the enjoyment of him is not transitory, like the passing enjoyments of time, but the eternal enjoyment of the eternal God, Psalm 48:14.
THIS TEXT AND ITS SOURCES
- Berean Standard Bible Public domain
The document's own wording is unchanged apart from the quoted verses described above. Its proof-text references were resolved against this site's own copy of the Berean Standard Bible; the references it does not carry would be shown as references with no verse words.
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