The Westminster Shorter Catechism Quotes

“But it is right for God to do this, for the very same reason that it is wrong for a human person to do so. It is wrong for a human being because it would mean a practical denial of his being what he is (a mere creature). For God not to do so would also be a denial of his being (for he is the only true God, and of infinitely more worth than all that exists besides him). God cannot deny himself. Since he is supreme, he must (to be true to himself) do his own good pleasure always, and seek his own glory above all.”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“It simply means that God does not explain what He does by giving us a reason that "goes beyond himself.”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“For what reason did God make this perfect and all-inclusive plan? The Catechism says it was "for his own glom"!”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“Even the most important choice that a man can ever make-the choice to believe in Christ-is foreordained of God.”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“For the Bible tells tts that every decision made by every man-whether a believer or an unbeliever-is already planned by God from all eternity.”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“But what about man's "free will," it may be asked? Are we to believe that even the choices that amen make-whether for good or evil-are already predetermined by God?”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“God's plan is not like the plans that people make. (1) One of these is that God's plan is eternal. In other words, if we were to ask, When did God work out this great plan of his?, the answer would be this: this plan is something that God has always had!”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“Christ the Son is therefore, beyond any question, called God. But we also discover in the New Testament that Christ possesses the attributes of God. He has life in himself (John 1:4; 5:26)! He is everywhere present (Matt. 28:20). Ile was already existent in the beginning (John 1:1). We also note, in the New 'Testament record, that he performed the works of God. "All things were made by him" (John 1:3). sustains all things (Col. 1:17; lIeb. 1:3). "What things soever lie the Father doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise" (John 5:19). And as we have seen (John 20:28), Ile was even worshipped as God. But, if the Son is thus called God, possesses the attributes of God, does the work of God, and even receives the worship that properly belongs to God, then what can we conclude except that is God?”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“But let us not suppose that this is any argument for them, or against the historic Christian faith. For "my thoughts are not your thoughts," said the Lord, through his prophet Isaiah, "neither are your ways my ways" (55:8). In others words, we must always remember that the doctrine of the Trinity is not something that men have come to believe because it seemed reasonable to them. No, the only reason that we have for believing this doctrine is that Scripture allows no other view.”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“From this change in man himself there conies a change in God's manner of dealing with man. But the change is not really in God, it is only in man. God is always holy. But it is only when man sins against God that he conies under that holy anger which God always has against sin. The reason that God cannot change is that Ile cannot deny himself (see 2 Tim. 2:13). In other words, God is always determined in what he does by his own perfect nature. So, when a good creature becomes evil, God is necessarily grieved. He could not possibly be otherwise in view of his own unchangeable holiness.”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“And we must see that the Catechism not only puts faith first, but also goes on to teach us that this faith is not a genuine saving faith unless it leads to right practice!”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“when a man does actually have a true faith (if he really does believe what God commands him to believe), he must also d0 what God commands. In other words, there is no such thing as true faith unless it also results in right practice.”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“no man can possibly live such a God-centered life until he is converted unto Christ. In order to know how we can glorify God and enjoy him forever, we must learn the way of salvation taught in the Bible. We must learn "what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“But the true view of Christian discipleship is that which sees the whole of life as that which is to be consciously lived unto the honor of God, and in the service of his name!”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“The true view is that when a person seeks to glorify God, he seeks at all times and in all activities alike to do that which is well pleasing in God's sight. Faithful work, and wholesome recreation, are just as much a part of glorifying God as is the worship of God on the Sabbath, or witnessing to an unbeliever.”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“Worship alone, in other words, is not the whole of the Christian life, nor is "witnessing for Christ," or "Christian service," etc. Nor are we to suppose that if a person preaches the gospel he necessarily glorifies God. Many preachers preach false doctrine and do not glorify God. And many Christians do their daily work in the factory or place of business in such a way that they do glorify God!”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“l yen if a person does not want to glorify God-even if a person does not want to serve God willingly-he still remains subject to God.”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“But in the case of men there is this difference: we are invited to do this because we want to do it. The heavens cannot help but declare the glory of God. But we are given the wonderful privilege of doing it because we want to do it. That is what Jesus (lid when he was on earth in service to his Father. "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gayest me to do" (John 17:4). lie did what God wanted him to do. lie (lid it because he wanted to (1o it. In this way Jesus glorified God, and will enjoy him forever!”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“To "glorify God" does not mean "to make God glorious." God already is glorious. Ile has been glorious from all eternity, and nothing
created by God can ever make him more glorious than he already is. 'Io "glorify God" must therefore be understood this way: it means to reflect God's glory.”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“The person who seeks the good of man as his chief end is really seeking his own good, for the simple reason that he too is a man! So, it is only the Christian (the person who truly believes in the Lord Jesus Christ) who can glorify God and enjoy him forever.”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“wonderful God is, lie began to think about himself. He began to think of what it would be like if he (Adam) himself could be great, and of how he could enjoy himself!”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“there is a reason for the existence of human beings. And this reason cannot be found in man himself! This is so because God created man. God created man in his own image. And nman, as originally created, was a true image of God because he was God-centered rather than self-centered. His one thought and desire, before sin ruined everything, was to serve God and to take delight in him.”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“Question 13 Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?
Answer”
― G.I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes

“Question 11 What are God's works of providence?
Answer”
― G. I. Williamson, Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes