[Editor’s Note: In honor of Reformation Day, 31 October 2009, being the one-year anniversary of the web-based Christian Observer, beginning on Wednesday, 4 November 2009, the Christian Observer will publish, D.V., for 107 consecutive Wednesdays, one lesson per week from Dr. Robert LaMay’s book Disciple the Teacher and Student (available in paperback or PDF download from www.lulu.com/observer). We begin today, 31 October 2009, with the Introduction and the Table of Contents.]

Catechizing God’s People

Instructed of God

Luke, the beloved physician, writes to his friend, Theophilus, that he might “know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed” (Luke 1:4). Katecheo [Catechize] means to sound down into the ears, resound, to instruct by word of mouth, to teach orally. Apollos, “an eloquent man, and mighty in Scriptures,” was a man who “was instructed [Katecheo] in the way of the Lord,” speaking boldly of Christ (Acts 18:24–25, 28). Paul would “rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also” (1 Cor. 14:19). Those who are “taught [Katecheo] in the word communicate unto him that teacheth [Katecheo] in all good things” (Gal. 6:6).

Jesus Christ is the Logos or the Word “who was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1-4); i.e., the Logos articulated clearly, intellectually, by a language we could understand, the truth of God, for in Him the fullness of the Godhead dwells. This truth is revealed to us through the written word, or logos, by the Spirit, writing them upon the very being of our souls.

The resurrected Christ came to His disciples saying, “All power is given unto me in heaven and earth” (Matt. 28:18). The Lord our Savior commands His disciples by an authority which cannot be hindered or questioned in any way. His Exousia [power, authority, right] involves His inherent ability and right to command and have that command carried out. Christ has supreme executive power in His Church. The Son of God receives this authority from the Father to give eternal life. Jesus speaks to the Father, saying, “Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee; as thou hast given him power [Exousia] over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him:

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:1-3). Our salvation includes knowledge as revealed to us by the Spirit. Christ’s authority is also seen in his right to bring judgment. Jesus speaks to His disciples, saying, “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man” (John 5:26-27).

Upon this authority [All power (Exousia) has been given unto me]; Christ gives this command to His disciples: “Go ye therefore, and teach [to become a pupil, disciple] all nations … Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matt. 28:19-20). The disciples are to “teach”—to instruct others in such a way that they might also be disciples; “Teaching them …”—instructing them in the truth that they may come to an understanding of the things of Christ. Thus we could say that we are children of God learning and teaching that we may grow in maturity in Christ our Lord. So we preach the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Glorify God

All of God’s creation is to praise Him (Ps. 148). They are to “praise the name of the Lord; for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven” (148:13). The people of God have been particularly set apart to praise and glorify Him. “He exalteth the horn of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord” (14). To praise the ‘name’ of the Lord necessitates knowledge of Him which encourages honoring Him. It is the person of the Lord, as He has revealed Himself in His Scriptures that brings about praise from His children. To glorify our Lord also requires knowledge. To glorify God is to describe Him as He truly is, in all His honor, splendor, and majesty. Zechariah glorifies the Incarnate Son of God by speaking of Him as He was revealed to him, saying, “Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The Branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord; Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon the throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both” (Zech. 6:12-13). The Son bears the glory as He is The Word in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwells. We glorify Him as we learn of Him as Savior and King.

The Scriptures Develop a Moral Foundation

God’s Word, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament have been given to us that we may know the Truth that sets us free from sin and falsehoods, i.e. moral evil;1 delivering us from darkness to Christ Jesus, our Light and Life.2 Not only are we to know the certainty of our salvation in Christ alone, but we are to grow in our moral life in Christ, being enabled to then disciple both brothers and nations in the way of Christ. We have moral end, “To glorify God and enjoy him forever.” The whole of God’s Creation has a moral end: “In fine, if that account of the origin of the universe, which theology gives us, is to be heeded at all, the following appears the most philosophical conception of a creation: that God, in producing a world which His purposes required to pass under the immediate domain of natural laws, would produce it with just the properties which those laws perpetuate and develop. And here appears a consideration which brings theology and cosmogony into unison. What was God’s true end in the creation of a material world? Reason and Scripture answer: To furnish a stage for the existence and action of a moral and rational creature. The earth was made for man to inhabit. As the light would be but darkness, were there no eye to see, so the moral design of the world would be futile without a human mind to comprehend it, and praise its Maker. Now, such being God’s end in creation, it seems much more reasonable to suppose that He would produce at once the world which He needed for His purpose, rather than spend hundreds of thousands of years in growing it” (Robert Dabney).3

Why Questions and Answers?

John Calvin furnished the church of the Reformation with “The Geneva Catechism” in 1541, expanding his work of 1537. It was written in question and answer form to teach children from the ages of ten to fifteen. Calvin introduces his catechism, writing, “It has always been a matter which the Church has held in singular commendation, to see that little children should be instructed in Christian doctrine. That this might be done, not only were schools opened in early times, and people enjoined to teach their families well, but it was also a public practice, to examine children in the churches on articles of faith common to all Christians. That this might be carried out in order, a formulary was used which was called a Catechism. … What we set before you, therefore, is nothing else than the use of things which from ancient times were observed among Christians, and which has never been neglected except when the Church has been wholly corrupted.”

To learn by Questions and Answers is a needed method of teaching. This is a method by which we teach both adults and children the truth as revealed in God’s Scripture. As with any method of teaching, it can be corrupted. However, the corruption comes by asking the wrong questions. We are not saying that there are not other valid methods of teaching, but that whatever method of teaching is used, the principle still stands, in order to come to the right answer we must be able to ask the right question. Thus, the question is not whether evolution is true, but how has God revealed Himself as the Creator. The answer must be consistent to revealed truth.

Christ knew the value of asking the right question. A lawyer stood up to tempt Jesus, saying, “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life” (Luke 10:25-37). If one could inherit eternal life by claiming full obedience to the moral law of God, then the question is valid. Thus Jesus asks of him, “What is written in the law? How readest thou?” The lawyer answers, “Thou shalt love the lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself.” Jesus replies, “Thou hast answered right; this do, and thou shalt live.” The Law of God reveals how we must live if we are to be called children of God. How we get to that stage because of our sins is another question. The lawyer knows he must justify himself, and says, “And who is my neighbor?” Again he seeks to trap Jesus for the scribes sought a righteousness of works which did not include those who they deemed unworthy to be their neighbors. In Christ’s parable of the “Good Samaritan” He draws the lawyer to the right question. For it is not the outward practice of self righteousness that reveals a redeemed soul, but the inward change of the one for whom He has purchased with His own blood. The question is not, who is my neighbor? But, are you a neighbor? Christ asks the right question, “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?” From this question came the right answer, “He that showed mercy on him.” The command is, if you are truly saved, and a good neighbor, “Go, and do thou likewise.”

Using the Catechism

The purpose of the Catechism is to learn the truths or doctrines of Holy Scripture. These doctrines are to be written upon the soul that we might grow in maturity and character in Christ. From this new nature, redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, flows our love for God and one another. It also produces works which glorify God, including, worship, service, and witness, etc.

One method of teaching the Westminster Shorter Catechism is by the use of flip cards. The Catechism directs our study of the Word of God. An elder uses the Catechism [and Confession] to teach Juniors in the Church. A Father uses Q & A as the family gathers around the table for dinner and/or devotions. The church uses the Catechism prepare both children and adults for church membership. It is a good way to search the Scriptures, to find definitions to questions such as, What is justification? Special studies of prayer and the Ten Commandments are a blessing to all.

The use of the Catechism disciplines one to study in a systematic way. It helps us to sit at the feet of Jesus that we might learn of Him. It helps us to be teachers of the Word. It keeps us on the path of truth and righteousness. It helps us to be discerning, not easily led astray by the false doctrines of this world. In our Lord’s Word we praise Him, saying, “Thy testimonies are wonderful; therefore doth my soul keep them. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. I opened my mouth, and panted; for I longed for thy commandments. Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. Order my steps in thy word; and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me from the oppression of man; so will I keep thy precepts. Make thy face to shine upon my servant; and teach me thy statutes. Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law” (Psalm 119:129–136). (Robert L. La May)

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.”   (The Revelation of Jesus Christ 1:5)

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

With much thanksgiving:  This study came to fruition after two years of discipling two men of the church, who made a covenant before the Lord to meet together for as long as it took to finish the study of God’s Word using the Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Confession of Faith. 2. Much appreciation goes to Mrs. Patti Rowe for her unselfish and indefatigable editing of each page of this study.

Some Suggestions

• Pray before and after each session.
• Covenant before the Lord to faithfully attend and finish this course. To make a covenant is stronger than making a commitment. Solomon speaks to us as children of the Word: “I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened [in distress]; and when thou runnest, thou shall not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life” (Prov. 4:11-13).
• Keep in mind that we are discipling for the purpose of growing in faith and practice, of being trained as possible elders or deacons in the Body of Christ, of being able to disciple others “in all nations”.
• Each lesson should be handed out the week before.
• Encourage students to prepare for each class by memorizing the Question and Answer.
• Teacher should be prepared to give a short exposition of each Q & A.
• Discussion of each Q & A should be built upon proper Scripture references.
• Examples of practice in daily living should result from the study of the Bible and the Catechism.
• Quotes from the church fathers should be used to augment the study.

Check List

There are three books which you should have near you as you use this study:

1. Westminster Confession of Faith, Free Presbyterian Publications, Glasgow, 2001; which contains the Westminster Confession, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms; plus worship, church government, etc.
2. The Authorized Version of the Scriptures; i.e. Geneva Bible, King James Bible.
3. The Psalter, which will encourage the singing of God’s Word.

You should have these thoughts as you are discipled, that the opportunity will come for you to disciple others, and that you are being prepared for leadership in the Church as the Spirit so ordains.

References

The following references have been used in this study:

Westminster Confession of Faith, Free Presbyterian Publications, Glasgow, 2001.

Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity, The Ten Commandments, The Lord’s Prayer, The Banner of Truth Trust, London, 1970.

John Calvin’s Commentaries and Institutes of the Christian Religion.

Westminster Shorter Catechism Project: www.shortercatechism.com

Reformed Confessions Harmonized, Joel R. Beeke & Sinclair B. Ferguson, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI, 1999.

Loraine Boettner, Studies in Theology, The Presbyterian and Reformed Pub. Co., 1947.

Matthew Henry Commentaries.

Chuck Baynard, When the Mountain Thundered, Full Bible Publications, Clover, SC, 2006.

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¹ A “society cannot flourish where there is not faith,” wrote R. J. Rushdoony; continuing, “Without faith, men simply ten progressively to reflect their fallen nature, which lives, believes, and prefers a lie. This is why the two ‘tables’ of law are inseparable one from the other. Since moral order rests on theological order, man cannot long maintain a neighborly relationship to his fellow man if his relationship to God is broken. As ever, truth is in order to goodness; truth is the foundation and mainspring of moral character.” (The Institutes of Biblical Law, The Presbyterian and Reformed Pub. Co., page 600.

2 “But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the
Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John
20:31).

3 Robert Dabney, Lectures in Systematic Theology (1878), Zondervan Pub.
House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1972, page 263.

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