Westminster Larger Catechism
In 1643 when the Long Parliament of England called the Westminster Assembly to produce the Westminster Confession, it also asked for a committee to write an associated Catechism. In January 1647 the Assembly gave up writing one catechism and split it into two. The Westminster Shorter Catechism was to be more basic and short for beginners, and the Larger Catechism was to be more exact and comprehensive. The Catechism was completed in 1647, then adopted by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1648 and by the Presbyterian Synod of New York and Philadelphia in 1788.
Navigation Note: The "Topics" portion is not part of the original document. We have added these categories for ease of navigation. Topic Contents are repeated on each page.
Page 8 (Sin & Grace) [Main Page]
- God (Q1-20)
- Man & Sin (Q21-36)
- Christ (Q37-57)
- Salvation (Q58-90)
- The Law (Q91-110)
- The Law (Q111-130)
- The Law (Q131-151)
- Sin and Grace (Q152-160)
- The Sacraments (Q161-177)
- Prayer (Q178-196)
Sin and Grace
Question 152: What does every sin deserve at the hands of God?
Answer: Every sin, even the least, being against the sovereignty1, goodness2, and holiness of God3, and against his righteous law4, deserves his wrath and curse5, both in this life6, and that which is to come7; and cannot be expiated but by the blood of Christ8.
1. James 2:10-11
2. Exod. 20:1-2
3. Hab. 1:13; Lev. 10:3; 11:44-45
4. 1John 3:4; Rom. 7:12
5. Eph. 5:6; Gal. 3:10
6. Lam. 3:39; Deut. 28:15-68
7. Matt. 25:41
8. Heb. 9:22; 1Peter 1:18-19
Question 153: What does God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us by reason of the transgression of the law?
Answer: That we may escape the wrath and curse of God due to us by reason of the transgression of the law, he requires of us repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ1, and the diligent use of the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation2.
1. Acts 16:30-31; 20:21;
Matt. 3:7-8; Luke 13:3, 5; John 3:16, 18
2. Prov. 2:1-5; 8:33-36
Question 154: What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation?
Answer: The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to his church the benefits of his mediation, are all his ordinances; especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for their salvation.
Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:42, 46-47
Question 155: How is the Word made effectual to salvation?
Answer: The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of enlightening1, convincing, and humbling sinners2; of driving them out of themselves, and drawing them unto Christ3; of conforming them to his image4, and subduing them to his will5; of strengthening them against temptations and corruptions6; of building them up in grace7, and establishing their hearts in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation8.
1. Neh. 8:8; Acts 26:18;
Ps. 19:8
2. 1Cor. 14:24-25; 2Chr. 34:18-19, 26-28
3. Acts 2:37, 41; 8:27-39
4. 2Cor. 3:18
5. 2Cor. 10:4-6; Rom. 6:17
6. Matt. 4:4, 7, 10; Eph. 6:16-17; Ps. 19:11; 1Cor. 10:11
7. Acts 20:32; 2Tim. 3:15-17
8. Rom. 1:16; 10:13-17; 15:4; 16:25; 1Thess. 3:2, 10-11, 13
Question 156: Is the Word of God to be read by all?
Answer: Although all are not to be permitted to read the Word publicly to the congregation1, yet all sorts of people are bound to read it apart by themselves2, and with their families3: to which end, the holy Scriptures are to be translated out of the original into vulgar languages4.
1. Deut. 31:9, 11-13; Neh.
8:2-3; 9:3-5
2. Deut. 17:19; Rev. 1:3; John 5:39; Isa. 34:16
3. Deut. 6:6-9; Gen. 18:17, 19; Ps. 78:5-7
4. 1Cor. 14:6, 9, 11-12, 15-16, 24, 27-28
Question 157: How is the Word of God to be read?
Answer: The holy Scriptures are to be read with an high and reverent esteem of them1; with a firm persuasion that they are the very Word of God2, and that he only can enable us to understand them3; with desire to know, believe, and obey the will of God revealed in them4; with diligence5, and attention to the matter and scope of them6; with meditation7, application8, self-denial9, and prayer10.
1. Ps. 19:10; Neh. 8:3-10;
Exod. 24:7; 2Chr. 34:27; Isa. 66:2
2. 2Peter 1:19-21
3. Luke 24:45; 2Cor. 3:13-16
4. Deut. 17:10, 20
5. Acts 17:11
6. Acts 8:30, 34; Luke 10:26-28
7. Ps. 1:2, 119:97
8. 2Chr. 24:21
9. Prov. 3:5; Deut 33:3
10. Prov. 2:1-6; Ps. 119:18; Neh. 7:6, 8
Question 158: By whom is the Word of God to be preached?
Answer: The Word of God is to be preached only by such as are sufficiently gifted1, and also duly approved and called to that office2.
1. 1Tim. 3:2, 6; Eph.
4:8-11; Hosea 4:6; Mal. 2:7; 2Cor. 3:6
2. Jer. 14:15; Rom. 10:15; Heb. 5:4; 1Cor. 12:28-29; 1Tim. 3:10;
4:14; 5:22
Question 159: How is the Word of God to be preached by those that are called thereunto?
Answer: They that are called to labor in the ministry of the Word, are to preach sound doctrine1, diligently2, in season and out of season3; plainly4, not in the enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power5; faithfully6, making known the whole counsel of God7; wisely8, applying themselves to the necessities and capacities of the hearers9; zealously10, with fervent love to God11 and the souls of his people12; sincerely13, aiming at his glory14, and their conversion15, edification16, and salvation17.
1. Titus 2:1, 8
2. Acts 18:25
3. 2Tim. 4:2
4. 1Cor. 14:19
5. 1Cor. 2:4
6. Jer. 23:28; 1Cor. 4:1-2
7. Acts 20:27
8. Col. 1:28; 2Tim. 2:15
9. 1Cor. 3:2; Heb. 5:12-14; Luke 12:42
10. Acts 18:25
11. 2Cor. 5:13-14; Phil. 1:15-17
12. Col. 4:12; 2Cor. 12:15
13. 2Cor. 2:17; 4:2
14. 1Thess. 2:4-6; John 7:18
15. 1Cor. 9:19-22
16. 2Cor. 12:19; Eph. 4:12
17. 1Tim. 4:16; Acts 26:16-18
Question 160: What is required of those that hear the Word preached?
Answer: It is required of those that hear the Word preached, that they attend upon it with diligence1, preparation2, and prayer3; examine what they hear by the Scriptures4; receive the truth with faith5, love6, meekness7, and readiness of mind8, as the Word of God9; meditate10, and confer of it1; hide it in their hearts12, and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives13.
1. Prov. 8:34
2. 1Peter 2:1-2; Luke 8:18
3. Ps. 119:18; Eph. 6:18-19
4. Acts 17:11
5. Heb. 4:2
6. 2Thess 2:10
7. James 1:21
8. Acts 17:11
9. 1Thess 2:13
10. Luke 9:44; Heb. 2:1
11. Luke 24:14; Deut 6:6-7
12. Prov. 2:1; Ps. 119:11
13. Luke 8:15; James 1:25