The Shorter Catechism Made Simple

Top Highlights

“It’s very striking that the catechism speaks of one purpose (it says purpose, not purposes) and yet says we are to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. This is because, as John Piper points out in his book Desiring God, glorifying God and enjoying Him go very much hand in hand.³ We exist to please God both by directly praising Him and by consciously honoring Him in all that we think, say, and do. This absolutely self-sacrificing worship ultimately proves to be our deepest joy. Our joy is not found in self-indulgence but in self-surrender to God.” (source)

“Two things are very clear in this question and answer. First, Adam and Eve sinned by their own free choice. God allowed them to do it, but it was their decision and not God’s fault in any sense whatsoever. Second, this choice had some devastating consequences. The following questions unfold that a little.” (source)

“As the following section will show, the ‘moral law’ is more or less the Ten Commandments. The vital importance of this question and answer, though, is that it shows that the moral law didn’t just begin when God spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. The moral law is eternal, because it flows from the nature of God Himself. God revealed the moral law to Adam and Eve through their consciences. Today our consciences still reveal the moral law to us although, because of the fall, they do so imperfectly.” (source)

“While they have different origins and slightly different meanings, it’s safe enough to think of the word ‘salvation’ as meaning the same as redemption—both should hopefully become clearer as the catechism progresses.” (source)