Westminter Larger Catechism, Questions 14-17,
Westminster Confesssion of Faith, Chapter 4
Q. 14. How doth God execute his decrees?
A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will.[z]
[z] Ephesians 1:11. 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.
Q. 15. What is the work of creation?
A. The work of creation is that wherein God did in the beginning, by the word of his power, make of nothing the world, and all things therein, for himself, within the space of six days, and all very good.[a]
[a] Genesis 1 (entire).
Hebrews 11:3. 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.
Proverbs 16:4. The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Chapter IV
Of Creation
I. It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,[a] for the manifestation of the glory of His eternal power, wisdom, and goodness,[b] in the beginning, to create, or make of nothing, the world, and all things therein whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days; and all very good.[c]
a Hebrews 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God. ver.3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Job 26:13 By his Spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
b Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.
Jeremiah 10:12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
Psalm 104:24 O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
Psalm 33:5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. ver.6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
c All of Genesis 1;
Hebrews 11:3 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.
Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.
Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.
Q. 16. How did God create angels?
A. God created all the angels[b] spirits,[c] immortal,[d] holy,[e] excelling in knowledge,[f] mighty in power,[g] to execute his commandments, and to praise his name,[h] yet subject to change.[i]
[b] Colossians 1:16. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.
[c] Psalm 104:4. Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire.
[d] Matthew 22:30. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
[e] Matthew 25:31. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.
[f] 2 Samuel 14:17. Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.
Matthew 24:36. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
[g] 2 Thessalonians 1:7. And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.
[h] Psalm 103:20-21. Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
[i] 2 Peter 2:4. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.
Q. 17. How did God create man?
A. After God had made all other creatures, he created man male and female;[k] formed the body of the man of the dust of the ground,[l] and the woman of the rib of the man,[m] endued them with living, reasonable, and immortal souls;[n] made them after his own image,[o] in knowledge,[p] righteousness, and holiness;[q] having the law of God written in their hearts,[r] and power to fulfill it,[s] and dominion over the creatures;[t] yet subject to fall.[v]
[k] Genesis 1:27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
[l] Genesis 2:7. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
[m] Genesis 2:22. And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
[n] Genesis 2:7. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
compared with Job 35:11. Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?
and with Ecclesiastes 12:7. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
and with Matthew 10:28. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
and with Luke 23:43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
[o] Genesis 1:27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
[p] Colossians 3:10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.
[q] Ephesians 4:24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
[r] Romans 2:14-15. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another.
[s] Ecclesiastes 7:29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
[t] Genesis 1:28. 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.
[v] Genesis 3:6. 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.
Ecclesiastes 7:29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
Westminster Confession, chapter 4
II. After God had made all other creatures, He created man, male and female,[d] with reasonable and immortal souls,[e] endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after His own image;[f] having the law of God written in their hearts,[g] and power to fulfil it;[h] and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject unto change.[i] Beside this law written in their hearts, they received a command, not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil;[k] which while they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.[l]
d Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
e Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
f Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.
Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
g Romans 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: ver.15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another.
h Ecclesiastes 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
i Genesis 3:6 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.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
k Genesis 2:17 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 3:8 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. ver.9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? ver.10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. ver.11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? ver.23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
l Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ver.28 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.
End Lesson, Day 12
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