Westminster Shorter Catechism

Pastor John continues to look at the Westminster Shorter Catechism: Quest. 42. What is the sum of the ten commandments? Ans. 42. The sum of the ten commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbor as ourselves.(1) (1) Matt. 22:37-40. Quest. 43. What is the preface to the ten commandments? Ans. 43. The preface to the ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.(1) (1) Exod. 20:2. Quest. 44. What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us? Ans. 44. The preface to the ten commandments teaches us, That because God is the Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments.(1) (1) Luke 1:74-75; I Pet. 1:15-19.

Pastor John continues looking at the Westminster Confession. This week he tackles three questions: Quest. 39. What is the duty which God requireth of man? Ans. 39. The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will.(1) (1) Micah 6:8; I Sam. 15:22. Quest. 40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience? Ans. 40. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the moral law.(1) (1) Rom. 2:14-15; 10:5. Quest. 41. Where is the moral law summarily comprehended? Ans. 41. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments.(1) (1) Deut. 10:4. Quest. 42. What is the sum of the ten commandments? Ans. 42. The sum of the ten commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbor as ourselves.(1) (1) Matt. 22:37-40.

Pastor John continues his study of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Q37. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death? A: The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness,(1) and do immediately pass into glory;(2) and their bodies, being still united to Christ,(3) do rest in their graves(4) till the resurrection.(5) (1) Heb. 12:23. (2) II Cor. 5:1, 6, 8; Phil. 1:23; Luke 23:43. (3) I Thess. 4:14. (4) Isa. 57:2. (5) Job 19:26-27.

Pastor Canales unpacks the Q23 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. 36. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification? The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God's love, peace of conscience,84 joy in the Holy Ghost,85 increase of grace,86 and perseverance therein to the end.87 ^ 84. Rom. 5:1-2, 5 ^ 85. Rom. 14:17 ^ 86. Prov. 4:18 ^ 87. I John 5:13; I Pet. 1:5

Today, Pastor John Canales expounds on Q35 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. 35. What is sanctification? Sanctification is the work of God's free grace,81 whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God,82 and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.83 ^ 81. II Thess. 2:13 ^ 82. Eph. 4:23-24 ^ 83. Rom. 6:4, 6

Pastor John Canales continues his study of the Westminster Shorter Confession. Today he looks at question 34. Q. 34. What is adoption? A. Adoption is an act of God's free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God. 1 John 3:1; John 1:12; Rom. 8:17.

Pastor John continues to teach through the Shorter Confession. Q. 32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life? A. They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, sanctification, and the several benefits which, in this life, do either accompany or flow from them. Rom. 8:30; Eph. 1:5; 1 Cor. 1:26, 30. Q. 33. What is justification? A. Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone. Rom. 3:24-25; Rom. 4:6-8; 2 Cor. 5:19, 21; Rom. 5:17-19; Gal. 2:16; Phil. 3:9.

Pastor John continues looking at the Shorter confession of Faith. This week he jumps ahead and looks at faith and repentance. (Or as Pastor John likes to call it, "The Texas two step". Q. 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ? A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel. Heb. 10:39; John 1:12; Isa. 26:3-4; Phil. 3:9; Gal. 2:16. Q. 87. What is repentance unto life? A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience. Acts 11:18; Acts 2:37-38; Joel 2:12; Jer. 3:22; Jer. 31:18-19; Ezek. 36:31; 2 Cor. 7:11; Isa. 1:16-17.

Pastor John continues our study on the Westminster Shorter Catechism. 30. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us,65 and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.66 ^ 65. Eph. 1:13-14; John 6:37, 39; Eph. 2:8 ^ 66. Eph. 3:17, I Cor. 1:9 31. What is effectual calling? Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit,67 whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery,68 enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ,69 and renewing our wills,70 he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.71 ^ 67. II Tim. 1:9; II Thess. 2:13-14 ^ 68. Acts 2:37 ^ 69. Acts 26:18 ^ 70. Ezek. 36:26-27 ^ 71. John 6:44-45; Phil. 2:13

After a summer break, we continue in our study of the Westminster Shorter Confession, taking up Q28. 28. Wherein consisteth Christ's exaltation? Christ's exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day,59 in ascending up into heaven,60 in sitting at the right hand of God the Father,61 and in coming to judge the world at the last day.62 ^ 59. I Cor. 15:4 ^ 60. Mark 16:19 ^ 61. Eph. 1:20 ^ 62. Acts 1:11, 17:31 29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ? We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us63 by his Holy Spirit.64 ^ 63. John 1:11-12 ^ 64. Titus 3:5-6