THE BAPTIST CATECHISM
A Brief Instruction in the Principles of the Christian Religion:
Agreeable to the Confession of Faith
The Revelation of God in Holy Scripture
Quest. 1. Who is the first and chiefest being?
Ans. God is the first and chiefest being. (a)
a. Is. 44:6; 48:12; Ps. 97:9
Q. 2. Ought every one to believe there is a God?
A. Everyone ought to believe there is a God; (b) and it is their great sin and folly who do not. (c)
b. Heb. 11:6 c. Ps. 14:1
Q. 3. How may we know there is a God?
A. The light of nature in man and the works of God plainly declare there is a God; (d) but his Word and Spirit only do it fully and effectually for the salvation of sinners. (e)
d. Rom. 1:19,20; Ps. 19:1, 2, 3; Acts 17:24 e. 1 Cor. 2:10; 2 Tim. 3:15, 16
Q. 4. What is the Word of God?
A. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the Word of God, and the only certain rule of faith and obedience. (f)
f. 2 Tim. 3:16; Eph. 2:20
Q. 5. May all men make use of the Holy Scriptures?
A. All men are not only permitted, but commanded and exhorted to read, hear, and understand the Holy Scriptures. (g)
g. John 5:38; 17:17,18; Rev. 1:3; Acts 8:30
Q. 6. What things are chiefly contained in the Holy Scriptures?
A. The Holy Scriptures chiefly contain what man ought to believe concerning God, and what duty God requireth of man. (h)
h. 2 Tim. 1:13; 3:15,16
God’s Nature, Decrees, and Works
Q. 7. What is God?
A. God is a Spirit, (i) infinite, (j) eternal, (k) and unchangeable (l) in his being, (m) wisdom, (n) power, (o) holiness, (p) justice, goodness, and truth. (q)
i John 4:24 j Job 11:7, 8, 9 k Ps. 110:2 l Jas. 1:17 m Ex. 3:14 n Ps. 147:5 o Rev. 4:8 p Rev. 15:4 q Ex. 34:6
Q. 8. Are there more gods than one?
A. There is but one only, the living and true God. (r)
r Deut. 6:4; Jer 10:10
Q. 9. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
A. There are three persons in the godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory. (s)
s 1 John 5:7; Mt. 28:19
Q. 10. 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. (t)
t Eph. 1:4, 11; Rom. 9:22,23; Is. 46:10; Lam. 3:37
Q. 11. How doth God execute his decrees?
A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.
Q. 12. 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. (u)
u Gen. 1 throughout; Heb. 11:3
Q. 13. 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. (v)
v Gen. 1:26, 27, 28; Col. 3:10, Eph. 4:24
Q. 14. What are God’s works of providence?
A. God’s works of providence are his most holy, (w) wise, (x) and powerful preserving (y) and governing all his creatures, and all their actions. (z)
w Ps. 145:17 x Is. 28:29, Ps. 104:24 y Heb. 1:3 z Ps. 103:19; Mt. 10:29, 30, 31
Q. 15. What special act of providence did God exercise towards 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 pain of death. (a)
a Gal. 3:12; Gen. 2:17
The Fall of Man
Q. 16. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?
A. Our first parents being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God. (b)
b Gen. 3:6, 7, 8, 13; Eccl. 7:29
Q. 17. What is sin?
A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God. (c)
c 1 John 3:4
Q. 18. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?
A. The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit. (d)
d Gen. 3:6, 12, 16, 17
Q. 19. Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first trans