Studies in the Westminster Shorter Catechism
Pathfinders, September 18, 2011
Introduction
The Westminster Shorter Catechism is taken from the Westminster Confession of Faith (1649).
Together with the confession and the “Longer Catechism” it occupies pages 117-243 of the
PC(USA) Book of Confessions. Download at: http://www.pcusa.org/resource/book-of-confessions.
A good study guide is “The Westminster Shorter Catechism for Study Classes” by G. I. Williamson,
available new for $10.87 at Amazon.com.
We are reviewing the first 44 questions of the Shorter Catechism. Last week, in questions 8-19, we
dealt in detail with “Total Depravity,” the “T” in “TULIP,” which resulted from the fall of man. As
we cover questions 20-31 (plus 86-87) today, you will notice that we are following this famous
acrostic of the Reformed theology of grace – “Unmerited Election,” “Limited Atonement” and
“Irresistible Grace” (ULI). We’ll get to “P” (“Perseverance”) next week.
Questions 20-31 (plus 86-87): On Christ and our call to faith.
Q. 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?
A. God, having out of His mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life,(1)
did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring
them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer.(2)
(1) Rom. 8:30. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those
He justified, He also glorified. Acts 13:48. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and
glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Eph. 1:4-5, 11.
For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In
love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His
pleasure and will….In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of
Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will. 2 Thess. 2:13-14. But we
are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath
from the beginning chose you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Whereunto He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(2) Romans 3:21-22. But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to
which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to
all who believe. Titus 3:4-7. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved
us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the
washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through
Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having
the hope of eternal life.
Comment: Williamson: “It is of God’s mercy or grace alone that there is a way of escape for sinful
men. It is also by God’s power alone that sinful men are enabled to make escape from the estate of
sin and misery. Thus we come to what Reformed Christians usually call the doctrine of God’s
unconditional (or unmerited) election. This doctrine teaches (1) that God has chosen out of the total
number of lost men, a certain portion (or, number) to be saved; (2) that God does not choose these
persons because of anything good in them. God’s election is unconditional because he does not find
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Studies in the Westminster Shorter Catechism
Pathfinders, September 18, 2011
some condition in the elect that He does not find in the non-elect; (3) that God has chosen these
people to be saved through Jesus Christ alone. They cannot be saved, in other words, except by
being – in due time – brought to Christ, justified, adopted, etc.; (4) and that this unconditional
election was made from all eternity. In other words, it always was God’s purpose to save these
persons – even before they were born, yes, even before the world itself was created.”
Note: The Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 3, Section 8, says “The doctrine of this high
mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care…So shall this doctrine
afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God; and of humility, diligence, and abundant
consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.”
In his study guide, Williamson goes on to treat supporting passages and common objections. For indepth study, see “The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination” (1932) by Loraine Boettner (new on
Amazon.com for $10.94); and “The Sovereignty of Grace” (1979) by Arthur C. Custance (used on
Amazon.com for $47.89). However, you can read both books in their entirety for free on-line. The
links below will take you straight to the respective chapters on “Unconditional Election:”
 Boettner: http://www.bloomingtonrpchurch.org/refdocpre/11.htm
 Custance: http://www.custance.org/old/grace/ch7.html
Q. 21. Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect?
A. The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ,(1) who, being the eternal Son of God,
became man,(2) and so was, and continueth to be, God and man, in two distinct natures, and One
Person(3) forever.(4)
(1) 1 Timothy 2:5. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man
Christ Jesus.
(2) John 1:14. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory,
the glory of the one and only Son, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(3) Romans 9:5. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the
Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
(4) Hebrews 7:24. But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.
Q. 22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?
A. Christ, the Song of God, became man, by taking to Himself a true body(1) and a reasonable soul,(2)
being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her,(3)
yet without sin.(4)
(1) Hebrews 2:14. Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity.
(2) Matthew 26:38. Then He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of
death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”
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Studies in the Westminster Shorter Catechism
Pathfinders, September 18, 2011
(3) Luke 1:31. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus. Luke 1:35.
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will
overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.”
(4) Hebrews 4:15. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our
weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet He did not
sin. Hebrews 7:26. Such a high priest truly meets our need – One who is holy, blameless, pure, set
apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
Q. 23. What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer?
A. Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet,(1) of a priest,(2) and of a king,(3) both in
His estate of humiliation and exaltation.
(1) Acts 3:22. For Moses said, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from
among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.”
(2) Hebrews 5:6. And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of
Melchizedek.”
(3) Psalm 2:6. “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” Revelation 19:16. On His
robe and on His thigh He has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Q. 24. How doth Christ execute the office a prophet?
A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet in revealing to us,(1) by His Word and Spirit,(2) the will of
God for our salvation.(3)
(1) John 1:18. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is in
closest relationship with the Father, has made Him known.
(2) John 15:15. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.
Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known
to you. 1 Corinthians 2:13. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in
words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
(3) 2 Timothy 3:15. And how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to
make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Q. 25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
A. Christ executeth the office of a priest in His once offering up of Himself a sacrifice to satisfy
divine justice,(1) and reconcile us to God,(2) and in making continual intercession for us.(3)
(1) Hebrews 8:1. Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest,
who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven. Hebrews 9:28. So Christ was
sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but
to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.
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Studies in the Westminster Shorter Catechism
Pathfinders, September 18, 2011
(2) Hebrews 2:17. For this reason He had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order
that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make
atonement for the sins of the people.
(3) Hebrews 7:25. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him,
because He always lives to intercede for them.
Comment: Adel Malek: “Limited atonement is a bad term for good theology.”
Williamson: “In order to grasp this distinctive teaching of the Reformed faith, it is necessary to see
clearly that the atonement (or, sacrifice) of Jesus Christ is limited – not in its value, but in its
design….This simply means that Jesus Christ offered Himself as a substitute for certain particular
people. This was the plan of the Father. He sent His Son to completely save some men (rather than
to partly save all men). Just as the high priest, in the Old Testament, wore upon his breast ‘the names
of the children of Israel,’ (Ex. 28:21) when he made the atonement in the Tabernacle, so Jesus Christ
represented, not all men, but only His elect people. This is like a great bridge that spans the whole
river. It is not designed to carry all men part way across the raging torrent, but is designed to carry
some men all the way across. This is why the Bible calls Jesus the author, as well as the finisher, of
our faith (Heb. 12:2). He not only paid the full debt of sin for His people, but also sent His Holy
Spirit to regenerate their hearts so that they could repent and believe.”
Q. 26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
A. Christ executeth the office of a king in subduing us to Himself,(1) in ruling and defending us,(2)
and in restraining and conquering all His and our enemies.(3)
(1) Psalm 110:3. Your troops will be willing on Your day of battle.
(2) Isaiah 32:1-2. See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each one
will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert
and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.
(3) 1 Corinthians 15:25. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
Q. 27. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?
A. Christ’s humiliation consisted in His being born, and that in a low condition,(1) made under the
law,(2) undergoing the miseries of this life,(3) the wrath of God,(4) and the cursed death of the cross;(5)
in being buried,(6) and continuing under the power of death for a time.(7)
(1) Luke 2:7. And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him
in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 2 Corinthians 8:9. For you know
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so
that you through His poverty might become rich.
(2) Galatians 4:4. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born
under the law.
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Studies in the Westminster Shorter Catechism
Pathfinders, September 18, 2011
(3) Isaiah 53:3. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with
pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
(4) Matthew 27:46. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema
sabachthani?” (which means “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”).
(5) Philippians 2:8. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming
obedient to death – even death on a cross! Galatians 3:13. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the
law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
(6) 1 Corinthians 15:4. That He was buried,…
(7) 1 Corinthians 15:4. …that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
Q. 28. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation?
A. Christ’s exaltation consisteth in His rising again from the dead on the third day,(1) in ascending up
into heaven,(2) in sitting at the right hand of God the Father,(3) and in coming to judge the world at
the last day.(4)
(1) 1 Corinthians 15:4. That He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the
Scriptures.
(2) Acts 1:9. After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from
their sight.
(3) Ephesians 1:20. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with
pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem.
(4) Acts 1:11. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same
Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen
Him go into heaven.” Acts 17:31. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by
the man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
Q. 29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ by the effectual application of it to
us(1) by His Holy Spirit.(2)
(1) John 1:12. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right
to become children of God.
(2) Titus 3:5. He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Q. 30. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ(1) by working faith in us,(2) and
thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.(3)
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Studies in the Westminster Shorter Catechism
Pathfinders, September 18, 2011
(1) John 6:63. The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.
(2) Ephesians 2:8. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God.
(3) 1 Corinthians 1:9. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ
our Lord. John 15:5. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will
bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. 1 Corinthians 6:17. But whoever is united with
the Lord is one with Him in spirit. 1 Peter 5:10. And the God of all grace, who called you to His
eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you
strong, firm and steadfast.
Q. 31. What is effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit,(1) whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery,(2)
enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ,(3) and renewing our wills,(4) He doth persuade
and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.(5)
(1) 2 Timothy 1:8-9. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me His prisoner.
Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us
to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace.
This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.
(2) Acts 2:37. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other
apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
(3) Acts 26:18. To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of
Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are
sanctified by faith in Me.
(4) Ezekiel 11:19. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove
from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
(5) Deuteronomy 30:6. The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your
descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. John
6:44. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at
the last day. Philippians 2:13. For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill
His good purpose. Ephesians 2:5. Made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in
transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.
Comment: Adel Malek: “The Spirit cannot be defeated.”
Williamson: “God has decided to bring sinners to salvation through the preaching of the gospel. ‘It
pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe,’ says the Apostle (1 Cor.
1:21). It is for this reason that Christ gave His church the task of going into all the world to preach
the gospel to every man (Matt. 28:19-20, etc.)
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Studies in the Westminster Shorter Catechism
Pathfinders, September 18, 2011
“‘The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for neither can he know them’ (1
Cor. 2:14). The simple truth is, then, that if God were to leave men to their own power, and to their
own natural desire, no man on earth would ever accept the gospel.
“And yet, as we know, some men do accept the gospel offer! So we ask the question: Why? The
answer is that some are effectually called. And they are effectually called because they not only hear
the gospel preached, but also are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. This process we may outline as
follows: (1) The gospel is preached to a group of persons. All who hear the gospel are dead in sin.
They cannot believe it because they consider it to be foolish. (2) Then, in the case of some, the Holy
Spirit performs a mighty work. It is called ‘quickening’ (Eph. 2:5), ‘creating’ (2:10), ‘being born
again’ (John 3:4, 7), and being ‘raised up from the dead’ (Eph. 2:6). It is a miracle which restores
man spiritually, as much as the miracles of Christ during His earthly ministry restored physical
ability to the blind, deaf, lame, etc. (3) In such cases, the result of this regenerating work of the Holy
Spirit is this: the gospel has a powerful effect. What before seemed foolish now pricks the heart
(Acts 2:37). And what before seemed only as the word of men is now received ‘as it is the truth, the
word of God, which effectually worketh’ in them ‘that believe’ (1 Thess. 2:13).”
Q. 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ?
A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace,(1) whereby we receive and rest upon Him alone for
salvation, as He is offered to us in the gospel.(2)
(1) Ephesians 2:8. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God.
(2) John 1:12. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right
to become children of God. Galatians 2:16. Know that a person is not justified by the works of the
law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be
justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one
will be justified.
Q. 87. What is repentance unto life?
A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace,(1) whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and
apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ,(2) doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto
God,(3) with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience.(4)
(1) Acts 11:18. When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So
then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
(2) Acts 2:37-38. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the
other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of
you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit.”
(3) Ezekiel 36:31. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe
yourselves for your sins and detestable practices.
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Studies in the Westminster Shorter Catechism
Pathfinders, September 18, 2011
(4) 2 Corinthians 7:11. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what
eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what
readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this
matter. Psalm 119:59. I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to Your statutes.
Comment: Williamson: “Conversion is a complete revolution in the mind (or heart, or soul) of man,
whereby a sinner turns from all self-esteem and confidence to trust in Christ alone for salvation.
“First, conversion is the act of man. It is not God who repents and believes; it is the sinner. And it is
just as important to stress this fact, as it is to stress the fact that it is God alone who effectually calls
(or calls and regenerates) in the first place. It is for this reason that those who preach the gospel are
to make it clear to all that they must be converted – that they must repent and believe – in order to be
saved. Secondly, we note that because conversion follows effectual calling, there is no place for any
praise to the sinner. It is indeed the sinner who repents and believes. But why does he do so? It is
only because God has given him a new nature (by regeneration) which can no longer resist the
power of the gospel. How can a man resist what he knows to be true?”
October 2: Questions 32-44: The benefits and responsibilities of following Christ.
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