Stevens Family Catechism

Question 1

Who is God?

Answer 1

1. God is the creator and sustainer of everyone and everything. (Genesis 1:1)
2. He is a spiritual and personal being who thinks, feels, speaks, and acts. (John 4:24)
3. He is eternal, infinite, and unchangeable in his power and perfection, goodness and glory, wisdom, justice, love, and truth. (Psalm 34:8, 86:8-10, 15; Isaiah 40:10)

Question 2

Are there multiple Gods?

Answer 2

1. No. There is one God.
2. He is a union of three persons known as the “Trinity.”
3. The three persons of the Trinity are: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

(Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 1:9-11; 2 Cor. 13:14)

Question 3

What is the relationship among the 3 persons of the Trinity?

Answer 3

1. They love one another. (John 14:31; 17:26; Galatians 5:22)
2. They have different roles, but they are equal in power and glory. (Matthew 28:18-20).

Question 4

What is the role of the Father?

Answer 4

1. The Father providentially cares for the world and all who are in it. (Matthew 6:26)
2. He reveals Jesus to people (Matthew 16:17) and draws them to Him (John 6:44).
3. He forgives sins. (Matthew 6:14)
4. He listens to and answers prayers. (Matthew 6:9-13)
5. He sends the Holy Spirit to mankind. (John 14:26)
6. He keeps believers from the devil. (John 10:29)
7. He sends believers out in His service. (John 20:21)

Question 5

What is the role of the Son?

Answer 5

The Son redeems sin-ridden human beings and creation, (John 3:16; Romans 8:21), and is the ultimate judge of mankind (John 5:22).

Question 6

What is the role of the Holy Spirit?

Answer 6

1. The Holy Spirit convicts people of Sin and convinces them of the truth of Jesus. (John 16:8)
2. When we trust in Jesus, the Spirit regenerates our inner being and lives within us. (Romans 8:9)
3. The Spirit sanctifies us, comforts us, guides us, and enlightens us. (Eph. 3:16, 2 Cor. 3:18, Phil. 2:12-13).
4. He gives us spiritual gifts and a growing desire to please God. (Galatians 5)
5. He does our praying in and for us. (Romans 8:26)
6. We can quench Him, but cannot revoke Him (John 4:14).

Question 7

How do we know about God?

Answer 7

1. We know God through the wonders of creation (Psalm 19:1-4; Romans 1:20),
2. through His image, in which we are made, (Genesis 1:27),
3. through Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16) and, especially,
4. through the Son, Jesus Christ (John 1:18).

Question 8

What are the Scriptures?

Answer 8

1. The Scriptures are God’s divine revelation to mankind comprised in “the Bible.”
2. The Bible contains 66 different books of Scripture — 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.
3. All of Scripture is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16) and, therefore, without error; meaning, whatever it claims as true, is true, and whatever it claims as false, is false (John 17:17).
4. Sometimes the Bible’s truth claims are made in absolute and literal statements, but other times they are conveyed via figurative statements, relative statements, and general statements.

Question 9

Who wrote the Scriptures?

Answer 9

Humans, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21)

Question 10

How and why did God create us?

Answer 10

By enjoying Him, loving Him, trusting Him, and obeying His will, commands, and law. (Deuteronomy 11:1)