Westminster Shorter Catechism

1. Q. Who made you? A. God Ref. Psalm 100:3; Genesis 1:27

2. Q. What else did God make? A. God made all things. Ref. Acts 17:25; John 6:29;
Psalm 33:6-7

3. Q. Why did God make you and all things? A. For His own glory. Ref. Acts 17:26-27;
Revelation 4:11; Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 43:7

4. Q. How can you glorify God? A. By loving Him and doing what He commands. Ref.
John 6:29; Matthew 5:16

5. Q. Why ought you to glorify God? A. Because He made me and takes care of me.
Ref. Psalm 23; Psalm 139:13-16

6. Q. Are there more gods than one? A. There is only one God. Ref. Deuteronomy 6:4;
Ephesians 4:5-6

7. Q. In how many persons does this one God exist? A. In three persons. Ref. I John 5:7

8. Q. What are they? A. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Ref. Matthew 28:19; I
John 5:7

9. Q. What is God? A. God is a spirit, and has not a body like men. Ref. John 4:24

10. Q. Where is God? A. God is everywhere. Ref. Psalm 139:7-12

11. Q. Can you see God? A. No; I cannot see God, but He always sees me. Ref.
Hebrews 4:13; John 2:25; Proverbs 15:3

12. Q. Does God know all things? A. Yes; nothing can be hid from God. Ref. Psalm 139;
Acts 15:18; Hebrews 4:13

13. Q. Can God do all things? A. Yes; God can do all His holy will. Ref. Ephesians 1:11;
Hebrews 6:18; Phillippians 2:13

14. Q. Where do you learn how to love and obey God? A. In the Bible alone. Ref.
Galatians 1:8-9; II Timothy 3:16; John 17:17

15. Q. Who wrote the Bible? A. Chosen men who wrote by the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit. Ref. II Peter 1:21; II Timothy 3:16

16. Q. Who were our first parents? A. Adam and Eve. Ref. Genesis 3:20; Acts 17:26

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. Ref. Genesis 2:7; Genesis 2:21-23;
Genesis 3:19; Psalm 103:14

18. Q. What did God give Adam and Eve besides bodies? A. He gave them souls that
could never die. Ref. Genesis 2:7

19. Q. Have you a soul as well as a body? A. Yes; I have a soul that can never die. Ref.
Genesis 2:7

20. Q. How do you know that you have a soul? A. Because I can think about God and
the world to come. Ref. Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6ff; Acts 17:22-23; Romans 1:19-20; 13:1-4

21. Q. In what condition did God make Adam and Eve? A. He made them holy and
happy. Ref. Genesis 1:27, 31; 2:25; Ephesians 4:24

22. Q. What is a covenant? A. An agreement between two or more persons. Ref.

23. Q. What covenant did God make with Adam? A. The covenant of works. Ref.
Genesis 2:16-17

24. Q. What was Adam bound to do by the covenant of works? A. To obey God
perfectly. Ref. Genesis 2:16-17

25. Q. What did God promise in the covenant of works? A. To reward Adam with life if
he obeyed Him. Ref. Genesis 2:16; Genesis 3:22-24

26. Q. What did God threaten in the covenant of works? A. To punish Adam with death if
he disobeyed. Ref. Genesis 2:17

27. Q. Did Adam keep the covenant of works? A. No; he sinned against God. Ref.
Genesis 3:6

28. Q. What is sin? A. Any thought, word or deed that breaks God’s law by omission or
commission. Ref. James 4:17; I John 3:4

29. Q. What is a sin of omission? A. Not being or doing what God requires. Ref. James
4:17

30. Q. What is a sin of commission? A. Doing what God forbids. Ref. I John 3:4

31. Q. What was the sin of our first parents? A. Eating the forbidden fruit. Ref. Genesis
2:17; Genesis 3:1-6

32. Q. Who tempted them to this sin? A. The devil tempted Eve, and she gave the fruit to
Adam. Ref. Genesis 3:1-6; I Timothy 2:14

33. Q. What befell our first parents when they had sinned? A. Instead of being holy and
happy, they became sinful and miserable. Ref. Genesis 3:16-19, 24
34. Q. Did Adam act for himself alone in the covenant of works? A. No, he represented
the whole human race. Ref. Romans 5:12; I Corinthians 15:22

35. Q. What effect had the sin of Adam on all mankind? A. All mankind are born in a
state of sin and misery. Ref. Romans 5:12, 19; Galatians 3:10

36. Q. What is that sinful nature which we inherit from Adam called? A. Original sin. Ref.
Romans 5:12, 14-19

37. Q. What does every sin deserve? A. The wrath and curse of God. Ref. John 3:36;
Romans 6:23; Galatians 3:10

38. Q. Can anyone go to heaven with this sinful nature? A. No; our hearts must be
changed before we can be fit for Heaven. Ref. John 1:12-13; 3:3

39. Q. What is a change of heart called? A. Regeneration. Ref. Titus 3:5

40. Q. Who can change a sinner’s heart? A. The Holy Spirit alone. Ref. Matthew 19:25-26;
I Corinthians 12:3; I John 3:24; I John 4:13

41. Q. Can anyone be saved through the covenant of works? A. None can be saved
through the covenant of works. Ref. Romans 5:12-16; Galatians 4:24-26

42. Q. Why can none be saved through the covenant of works? A. Because all have
broken it, and are condemned by it. Ref. Psalm 14:1; Romans 3:10-12; Romans 3:23

43. Q. With whom did God the Father make the covenant of grace? A. With Christ, His
eternal Son. Ref. Matthew 26:39, 42, 44; John 17:4-5, 12; I Corinthians 15:22

44. Q. Whom did Christ represent in the covenant of grace? A. His elect people. Ref.
John 6:37, 44; John 15:16; John 17:2, 6, 9, 11, 14

45. Q. How did Jesus fulfill the covenant of grace? A. He kept the whole law for His
people, and then was punished for all of their sins. Ref. Matthew 26:28; Romans 5:19

46. Q. Did our Lord Jesus Christ ever commit the least sin? A. No, He lived a sinless life.
Ref. II Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; I Peter 2:22, John 3:5

47. Q. How could the Son of God suffer? A. Christ, the Son of God, became man that He
might obey and suffer in our nature. Ref. Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 9: 22

48. Q. What is meant by the atonement? A. Christ’ s satisfying divine justice, by His
sufferings and death, in the place of sinners. Ref. Romans 5:10; I Corinthians 15:3; II
Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 3:18

49. Q. What did God the Father undertake in the covenant of grace? A. To justify and
sanctify those for whom Christ should die. Ref. Romans 8:30; I Corinthians 1:30

50. Q. What is justification? A. It is God’ s forgiving sinners and treating them as if they
had never sinned. Ref. Romans 5:1, Titus 3:4-7

51. Q. What is sanctification? A. It is God’ s making sinners holy in heart and conduct.
Ref. Ephesians 1:4; II Theselonians 2:13

52. Q. For whom did Christ obey and suffer? A. For those whom the Father had given
Him. Ref. John 6:37; 10:26-28; 15:16; 17:9, 11, 12

53. Q. What kind of life did Christ live on earth? A. A life of poverty and suffering. Ref.
Leviticus 5:7; Leviticus 12:1-8; Matthew 8:20; Luke 2:24, 25, 51

54. Q. What kind of death did Christ die? A. The painful and shameful death of the cross.
Ref. Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 19; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 12:2

55. Q. Who will be saved? A. Only those who repent of sin, believe in Christ, and lead
holy lives. Ref. Acts 16:31; James 2:17

56. Q. What is it to repent? A. To be sorry for sin, and to hate and forsake it, because it is
displeasing to God. Ref. Job 42:6; Psalm 5:5; Psalm 97:10; Isaiah 55:7; Revelation 2:15-16

57. Q. What is it to believe or have faith in Christ? A. To trust in Christ alone for salvation.
Ref. John 3:16; John 10:9; John 14:6

58. Q. Can you repent and believe in Christ by your own power? A. No; I can do nothing
good without the help of God’ s Holy Spirit. Ref. John 3:3-5; John 3:27; John 6:65; John
15:5; Acts 16:14; I Corinthians 12:3

59. Q. How can you get the help of the Holy Spirit? A. God has told us that we must pray
to Him for the Holy Spirit. Ref. Luke 11:13

60. Q. How long ago is it since Christ died? A. About two thousand years. Ref. The
Calendar!

61. Q. How were people saved before the coming of Christ? A. By believing in a Savior
to come. Ref. Galatians 3:7-9; Hebrews 11:3

62. Q. How did they show their faith? A. By offering sacrifices on God’ s altar. Ref.
Hebrews 10:1

63. Q. What did these sacrifices represent? A. Christ, the Lamb of God, who was to die
for sinners. Ref. I Peter 1:9; John 1:29, 36 Christmas (Christ, the Lamb of God, born in a
stable)

64. Q. What offices has Christ? A. Christ has three offices. Ref. Jeremiah 10:10; John
18:37; Acts 3:22-23; Hebrews 4:15; Revelation 19:16

65. Q. What are they? A. The offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king. Ref.
Jeremiah 10:10; John 18:37; Acts 3:22-23; Hebrews 4:15; Revelation 19:16
66. Q. How is Christ a prophet? A. Because He teaches us the will of God. Ref. John 1:4;
John 14:26; John 15:15

67. Q. How is Christ a priest? A. Because He died for our sins and pleads with God for us.
Ref. Romans 8:26-27; Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 9:28, Hebrews 10:1-12

68. Q. How is Christ a king? A. Because He rules over us and defends us. Ref. Proverbs
20:22; Isaiah 33:22; Acts 18:10; I Corinthians 15:25; II Corinthians 12:9-10

69. Q. Why do you need Christ as a prophet? A. Because I am ignorant. Ref. Psalm
73:22- 24; John 20:31; II Peter 1:21

70. Q. Why do you need Christ as a priest? A. Because I am guilty. Ref. Romans 3:23;
Romans 12:10; James 2:10

71. Q. Why do you need Christ as a king? A. Because I am weak and helpless. Ref.
Exodus 14:14; Romans 7:15; II Corinthians 12:10

72. Q. How many commandments did God give on Mount Sinai? A. Ten
commandments. Ref. Exodus 19 & 20; Deuteronomy 10:4

73. Q. What are the ten commandments called? A. The Decalogue. Ref. Exodus 31:18;
Exodus 32:15-16; Exodus 34:1

74. Q. What do the first four commandments teach? A. Our duty to God. Ref.
Deuteronomy 6:5; Mark 12:29-30

75. Q. What do the last six commandments teach? A. Our duty to our fellow men. Ref.
Deuteronomy 6:5; Deuteronomy 10:1-4; Leviticus 19:18; Romans 13:9-10

76. Q. What is the sum of the ten commandments? A. To love God with all my heart and
my neighbor as myself. Ref. Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37-40; Mark 12:30-31;
Romans 13:9- 10; Ephesians 5:10; I Thessalonians 4:9

77. Q. Who is your neighbor? A. All my fellow men are my neighbors. Ref. Luke 10:30-37

78. Q. Is God pleased with those who love and obey Him? A. Yes; He says “I love them
that love me.” Ref. Proverbs 8:17; John 16:27; Romans 8:28

79. Q. Is God displeased with those who do not love and obey Him? A. Yes; “God is
angry with the wicked every day.” Ref. Psalm 7:11

80. Q. What is the first commandment? A. The first commandment is, “Thou shalt have
no other gods before me.” Ref. Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7

81. Q. What does the first commandment teach us? A. To worship God alone. Ref.
Exodus 34:14; Psalm 29:2; Matthew 4:10; Matthew 6:33

82. Q. What is the second commandment? A. The second commandment is, “Thou shalt
not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything 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, nor serve 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.” Ref. Exodus 20:4-6; Exodus 34:14; Deuteronomy 5:8-10

83. Q. What does the second commandment teach us? A. To worship God only as he
commands, and to avoid idolatry. Ref. Exodus 34:14; Deuteronomy 4:15-19; I John 5:21

84. 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.” Ref. Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12; Deuteronomy 5:11; Isaiah 6:3;
Matthew 6:9

85. Q. What does the third commandment teach us? A. To reverence God’s name,
word, and works. Ref. Ezekiel 36:20-23; Matthew 5:33-37

86. Q. What is the fourth commandment? A. The fourth commandment is, “Remember
the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor 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 manservant, 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.” Ref. Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15

87. Q. What does the fourth commandment teach us? A. To work six days and to keep
the Sabbath holy. Ref. Leviticus 19:30l Leviticus 23-3; Isaiah 58:13-14

88. Q. What day of the week is the Christian Sabbath? A. The first day of the week,
called the Lord’s day. Ref. Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:2

89. Q. Why is it called the Lord’s day? A. Because on that day Christ rose from the dead.
Ref. John 20:1. 19

90. Q. How should the Sabbath be spent? A. In prayer and praise, in hearing and
reading God’s Word, and in doing good to our fellow men. Ref. Isaiah 58:13; Matthew
12:12; Luke 4:16

91. 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." Ref. Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16

92. Q. What does the fifth commandment teach us? A. To love and obey our parents
and teachers. Ref. Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16

93. Q. What is the sixth commandment? A. The sixth commandment is, “Thou shalt not
kill.” Ref. Exodus 20:13; Leviticus 24:17; Deuteronomy 5:17; Romans 13:9
94. Q. What does the sixth commandment teach us? A. Not to take anyone’s life unjustly
and to avoid angry passions. Ref. Genesis 9:5-6; Leviticus 19:17-18; Matthew 5:21-26;
Matthew 26-52

95. Q. What is the seventh commandment? A. The seventh commandment is, “Thou
shalt not commit adultery.” Ref. Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18; Matthew 15:19;
Matthew 19:1-12, 18; Mark 19: 2-12; Luke 16:18; 18:20; Romans 12:9

96. Q. What does the seventh commandment teach us? A. To be pure in heart,
language, and conduct. Ref. Matthew 15:19; 19:1-12; Philippians 4:8

97. Q. What is the eighth commandment? A. The eighth commandment is, “Thou shalt
not steal.” Ref. Exodus 20:15; Deuteronomy 5:19

98. Q. What does the eighth commandment teach us? A. To be honest and industrious.
Ref. Exodus 20:15; Leviticus 19:11, 13; Deuteronomy 5:19; Romans 13:9; Ephesians 4:28

99. Q. What is the ninth commandment? A. The ninth commandment is “Thou shalt not
bear false witness against thy neighbor.” Ref. Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 5:20; Romans
13:9; I Timothy 5:13

100. Q. What does the ninth commandment teach us? A. To tell the truth. Ref. Leviticus
19:11; Proverbs 21:6; I Corinthians 2:2; Ephesians 4:25

101. 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 anything that is thy neighbor’
s.” Ref. Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21

102. Q. What does the tenth commandment teach us? A. To be content with whatever
God chooses to give us. Ref. Proverbs 17:5; 24:17-19; Philippians 4:11-13

103. Q. Can any man keep these ten commandments perfectly? A. No mere man, since
the fall of Adam, ever did or can keep the ten commandments perfectly. Ref.
Deuteronomy 27:26; I Kings 8:46; Galatians 3:10; James 2:10

104. Q. Of what use are the ten commandments to us? A. They teach us our duty, and
show our need of a Savior. Ref. Deuteronomy 27:27; Romans 3:20; Galatians 5:24

105. Q. What is prayer? A. Prayer is asking God for things which He has promised to give.
Ref. John 15:7; Philippians 4:6; I John 3:22; 5:14-15

106. Q. In whose name should we pray? A. Only in the name of Christ. Ref. John 14:13-
14; 15:16; 16-24

107. Q. What has Christ given us to teach us how to pray? A. The Lord’s Prayer. Ref.
Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4; I John 5:14

108. Q. Repeat the Lord’s Prayer. A. “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy
name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day
our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and
the glory, forever, Amen.” Ref. Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4

109. Q. How many petitions are there in the Lord’s Prayer? A. Six.

110. Q. What is the first petition? A. “Hallowed be Thy name.” Ref. Deuteronomy 5:11;
Ezekiel 20:7; 39:7, 25; Matthew 6:9; Luke 11:2

111. Q. What do we pray for in the first petition? A. That God’ s name may be honored
by us and all men. Ref. Psalm 67:3; Psalm 145; Romans 11:36; II Thessalonians 3:1

112. Q. What is the second petition? A. Thy kingdom come. Ref. Matthew 6:10; Like 11:2

113. Q. What do we pray for in the second petition? A. That the Gospel may be
preached in all the world, and believed and obeyed by us and all men. Ref. Psalm
51:18; Romans 10:1; Colossians 1:28; II Thessalonians 3:1; II Peter 3:11-13

114. Q. What is the third petition? A. “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Ref.
Matthew 6:10; Luke 11:2

115. Q. What do we pray for in the third petition? A. That men on earth may serve God
as the angels do in heaven. Ref. Psalm 103:20-22; Psalm 110:34-36; Acts 21:14

116. Q. What is the fourth petition? A. “Give us this day our daily bread.” Ref. Matthew
6:11; Luke 11:3

117. Q. What do we pray for in the fourth petition? A. That God would give us all things
needful for our bodies and souls. Ref. Proverbs 10:22; 30:8; Matthew 6:25-33; Luke 12:22-
31; Philippians 4:19; I Timothy 4:4-5

118. Q. What is the fifth petition? A. “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors.” Ref. Psalm 51:1; Matthew 6:12, 14-15; Luke 11:4; Revelation 3:24-25

119. Q. What do we pray for in the fifth petition? A. That God would pardon our sins for
Christ’ s sake, and enable us to forgive those who have injured us. Ref. Psalm 51:1;
Romans 3:24-25

120. Q. What is the sixth petition? A. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil.” Ref. Matthew 6:13; Luke 11:4

121. Q. What do we pray for in the sixth petition? A. That God would keep us from sin.
Ref. Psalm 19:13; Psalm 51:10; Matthew 26:41; I Corinthians 10:13

122. Q. How many sacraments are there? A. Two. Ref. I Corinthians 11:23-29 123. Q.
What are they? A. Baptism and the Lord’ s supper. Ref. I Corinthians 11:23-29

124. Q. Who appointed these sacraments? A. The Lord Jesus Christ. Ref. Matthew 28:18-
20; I Corinthians 11:24-26

125. Q. Why did Christ appoint these sacraments? A. To distinguish His disciples from the
world, and to comfort and strengthen them. Ref. Romans 9:8; I Corinthians 10:16-17, 21; I
Corinthians 11:27-29; Galatians 3:27, 29; Galatians 6:15

126. Q. What sign is used in baptism? A. The washing with water. Ref. John 3:5;
Ephesians 5:26

127. Q. What does this signify? A. That we are cleansed from sin by the blood of Christ.
Ref. I Corinthians 6:11; Colossians 2:11-12; Titus 3:5

128. Q. In whose name are we baptized? A. In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Ref. Matthew 28:19-20

129. Q. Who are to be baptized? A. Believers. Ref. Mark 16:16; Acts 8:36, 37; Acts 2:41;
Acts 8:12; Acts 18:8
(*Modified to reflect the 1689 Baptist Confession as The Way believes in Believer's
baptism)

130. Q. Why should believers be baptized? A. To be identified with Christ and in

131. Q. Does Christ care for little children? A. Yes; for He says, “Suffer the little children to
come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.” Ref. Matthew
19:13- 14; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-16

132. Q. To what does your baptism bind you? A. To be a true follower of Christ. Ref.
Romans 6:4; Galatians 3:26-27

133. Q. What is the Lord’s supper? A. The eating of bread and drinking of wine in
remembrance of the sufferings and death of Christ. Ref. I Corinthians 11:26

134. Q. What does the bread represent? A. The body of Christ, broken for our sins. Ref. I
Corinthians 11:24-26

135. Q. What does the wine represent? A. The blood of Christ, shed for our salvation. Ref.
I Corinthians 11:25

136. Q. Who should partake of the Lord’s supper? A. Only those who repent of their sins,
believe in Christ for salvation, and love their fellow men. Ref. I Corinthians 11:26-34

137. Q. Did Christ remain in the tomb after His crucifixion? A. No; He rose from the tomb
on the third day after His death. Ref. Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 27:63-64; Mark 8:31

138. Q. Where is Christ now? A. In heaven, interceding for sinners. Ref. Romans 8:34;
Hebrews 4:14-16

139. Q. Will He come again? A. Yes; at the last day Christ will come to judge the world.
Ref. Acts 17:31; Romans 2:16; Revelation 20:12

140. Q. What becomes of men at death? A. The body returns to dust, and the soul goes
forever to heaven or hell. Ref. Psalm 90:5-6

141. Q. Will the bodies of the dead be raised to life again? A. Yes; the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised. Ref. I Thessalonians 4:16

142. Q. What will become of the wicked in the day of judgment? A. They shall be cast
into hell. Ref. Revelation 20:15; 21:8, 27

143. Q. What is hell? A. A place of dreadful and endless torment. Ref. Matthew 3:12;
5:22; 10:28; 18:9; Mark 9:43; 47-48; Luke 16:23; II Peter 2:4

144. Q. What will become of the righteous? A. They shall be taken to heaven. Ref. John
14:2- 3; I Thessalonians 4:17; I Peter 1:4; Revelation 21:27

145. Q. What is heaven? A. A glorious and happy place, where the righteous shall be
forever with the LORD. Ref. John 14;2-3; Revelation 21:1-4, 18-25

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