Swanny's
Swaggy's
Charles Spurgeon's Catechism
Questions with answers and scriptual references
Questions
1 to 20
"What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
Web Site Contents
Swanny's Swaggy     Entry page and introduction to this Web Site.
We Tell A Tale     Background information about Australian swagmen and the like.
Bogatzky's Devotions     A classic daily devotional by Henry Bogatzky
Faith's Cheque Book     Dependable guarantees from the Word of God. .
Some Basic Texts     Some important and useful bible texts to understand and remember.
One Hundred Texts     Texts of evangelical and reformed importance arranged by the Irish Church Mission.
M'Cheyne's Bible Readings     Read the KJV Old Testament once and the New Testament and Psalms twice in a year.
Boys' and Girl's Catechism     Learning Basic Christian Beliefs Early in Life.
Comments and Reflections     Thoughts upon various topical issues from a Christian perspective..
Proposed Sections     Science and faith, and revival and other things.

Question Index
Questions 1-20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Questions 21-40 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
Questions 41-60 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
Questions 61-82 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82
Imtroduction Scripture Index Subject Index



The Catechism Questions - 1 to 20.

  1. What is the chief end of man?
  2. What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify him?
  3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?
  4. What is God?
  5. Are there more Gods than one?
  6. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
  7. What are the decrees of God?
  8. How does God execute his decrees?
  9. What is the work of creation?
  10. How did God create man?

  11. What are God's works of providence?
  12. What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the state wherein he was created?
  13. Did our parents continue in the state wherein they were created?
  14. What is sin?
  15. Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression?
  16. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?
  17. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that state whereinto man fell?
  18. What is the misery of that state whereinto man fell?
  19. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the state of sin and misery?
  20. Who is the Redeemer of God's elect?

See the full list of Questions

Catechism Questions and Answers.

Question 1: What is the chief end of man?
Answer: Man's chief end is to glorify God, (1) and to enjoy him for ever(2).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
 1 Corinthians 10:31
(2) Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Psalms:73:25, 26
Question 2: What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him?
Answer: The Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments
(1, 2) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify God and enjoy him (3).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; Ephesians 2:20
(2) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Timothy 3:16
(3) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3
Return to Question Numbers
Question 3: What do the Scriptures principally teach?

Answer: The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man (1,2).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:13
(2) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes:12:13:
Question 4: What is God?

Answer: God is Spirit (1), infinite (2), eternal (3), and unchangeable (4), in his being, (5), wisdom, power (6), holiness (7), justice, goodness and truth(8).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John:4:24
(2) Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? Job 11:7
(3) Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Psalms 90:2:
(3a)Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17
(4) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17:
(5) And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. Exodus 3:14
(6) Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. Psalms 147:5
(7) Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. Revelations 4:8
(8) The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. Exodus 34:6,7
Return to Question Numbers
Question 5: Are there more Gods than one?

Answer: There is but one only (1), the living and true God (2).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: Deuteronomy 6:4
(2) But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Jeremiah 10:10
Question 6: How many persons are there in the Godhead?

Answer: 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 (1,2).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7
(2) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 28:19
(3) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the communion of teh Holy Ghost , be with you all. Amen. 2 Corithians 13; 14
Return to Question Numbers
Question 7: What are the decrees of God?

Answer: The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of His own will, whereby for His own glory H2e has foreordained whatever comes to pass (1).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. Ephesians 1:11, 12
Question 8: How does God execute his decrees?

Answer: God executes his decrees in the works of creation (1), and providence(2).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelations 4:11
(2) And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest thou? Daniel 4:25
Return to Question Numbers
Question 9: What is the work of creation?

Answer: The work of creation is God's making all things (1) of nothing, by the Word of His power (2), in six normal consecutive days (3),and all very good (4).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1
(2) Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Hebrews 11:3
(3) 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. Exodus 20:11
(4) And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Genesis 1:31
Question 10: How did God create man?

Answer: God created man, male and female, after his own image(1), in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness (2,3) with dominion over the creatures(4).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:27
(2) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Colosians 3:10
(3) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Ephesians 4:24
(4) And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Genesis 1:28
Return to Question Numbers
Question 11: What are God's works of providence?

Answer: God's works of providence are his most holy (1), wise (2), and powerful (3) preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions (4, 5).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. Psalms 145:17
(2) This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.
Isaiah 28:29
(3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Hebrews 1:3
(4) The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Psalms 103:19
(5) Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. Mathew 10:29
Question 12: What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the state wherein he was created?

Answer: When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience (1), forbidding him to eat of the treeof the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of death (2).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Galatians 3:12
(2) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis 2:17
Return to Question Numbers
Question 13: Did our first parents continue in the state wherein they were created?

Answer: Our first parents being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the state wherein they were created, by sinning against God (1) by eating the forbidden fruit (2).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Ecclesiastes l7:29
(2) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:6-8
Question 14: What is sin?

Answer: Sin is any want of conformity to, or transgression of the law of God (1).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 1John 3:4
Return to Question Numbers
Question 15: Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression?

Answer: The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first
transgression (1, 2).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:22
(2) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Romans 5:12.
Question 16: Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?

Answer: The fall brought mankind into a state of sin and misery (1).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. Romans 5:18
Return to Question Numbers
Question 17: Wherein consists the sinfulness of that state whereinto man fell?

Answer: The sinfulness of that state whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam's first sin (1), the want of original righteousness (2), and the corruption of his whole nature,which is commonly called original sin (3, 4), together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it (5).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Romans 5:19
(2) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans 3:10
(3) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;Ephesians 2:1
(4) Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Psalm 51:5
(5) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: Matthew 15:19
Question 18: What is the misery of that state whereinto man fell?

Answer: All mankind, by their fall, lost communion with God (1), are under his wrath and curse (2, 3), and so made liable to all the miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever (4, 5).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. Genesis 3:24
(2) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Ephesians 2:3
(3) For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Galatians 3:10
(4) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
(5) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: Matthew 25:41
Return to Question Numbers
Question 19: Did God leave all mankind to perish in the state of sin and misery?

Answer: God having, out of his good pleasure from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life (1) did enter into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of the state of sin and misery, and to bring them into a state of salvation by a Redeemer (2).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
2 Thessalonians 2:13
(2) That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21:
Question 20: Who is the Redeemer of God's elect?

Answer: The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ (1), who being the eternal the Son of God, became man (2) and so was and continues to be God and man, in two distinct natures and one person for ever (3, 4).



Supporting Scripture:
(1) There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2: 5
(2) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14
(3) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
1 Timothy 3:16:
(4) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Colosians 2:9



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