Puritan / Baptist · 1675
Bunyan's Catechism (Modernized)
A modernized English rendering of John Bunyan's 1675 catechism "Instruction for the Ignorant." Updated for contemporary readability while preserving the Puritan Baptist doctrinal content and inline scripture proofs.
How many gods are there?
For Christians, there is only one God, the Father, from whom all things come and to whom we belong.
Why isn't the God of the Christians also the God of those who aren't Christians?
He is their maker and sustainer, but they have not chosen Him as their God.
Are there other gods besides the God of the Christians?
There is no other true God but Him. But because those outside the faith lack the grace given to Christians, they do not choose Him. Instead, they choose gods that accommodate and validate their desires.
What gods are these, that accommodate the desires of wicked people?
The devil, who is the god of this world; the belly, which is the god of gluttons, drunkards, and those who live recklessly; and idle pleasures and vanities, which are, for the most part, the gods of the young.
Who is a Christian?
Someone who has been born again, made a new creature; someone who sits at Jesus' feet to hear His word; someone whose heart has been purified and set apart by faith in Christ.
How do you distinguish the God of the Christians from the gods of other people?
He is a Spirit.
Is there no other spirit but the true God?
There are, in fact, many spirits.
What spirits are they?
The good angels are spirits; the evil angels are spirits; and the souls of human beings are spirits.
How, then, is the true God distinguished from all other spirits?
In this way: no spirit is eternal but He; no spirit is almighty but He; no spirit is beyond comprehension and beyond searching out but He. He is also supremely merciful, supremely just, and supremely holy.
Is this God, being a Spirit, able to be known?
Yes, and He can be known through His works of creation, through His providences, through the judgments He carries out, and through His word.
Can we understand Him through the works of creation?
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork". "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".
Do His works of providence also reveal Him?
They certainly do, since through His providence the whole creation is held together in such harmony as we see, and this in spite of sin and devils. Consider also that from an angel to a sparrow, nothing falls to the ground apart from the providence of our heavenly Father.
Is He known through His judgments?
"The Lord is known by the judgments He executes; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands".
Is He known through His word?
Yes, most clearly: for through His word He reveals His attributes, His decrees, His promises, His way of worship, and how He is to be pleased by us.
Out of what did God make the world?
"Things which are seen were not made of things which do appear".
How long did it take Him to make the world?
"In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them". "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made".
Out of what did God make man?
"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".
Why does it say that God breathed into him the breath of life? Does this mean that man's soul shares in the very nature of the Godhead?
This does not teach that the soul shares the nature of the Godhead; rather, it shows that the soul is not made of the same material as the body, which is dust.
Is the soul, then, of the same nature as the Godhead?
No, because God cannot sin, but the soul can; God cannot be destroyed in hell, but the souls of the unrepentant will be.
How did God make man at the time of his first creation?
God made man upright. "In the image of God created he him".
When God made man, did He leave him without any rule to live by?
No: He gave man a law written in his nature and also placed a specific command on him, but man violated both and broke them.
What did that sin deserve?
Spiritual death on the very day it was committed, physical death afterward, and eternal death at the last.
What does it mean to be spiritually dead?
It means being cut off from God and living without Him in the world, driven by the ignorance within human nature and by the power of sin.
How does this separation from God show itself?
It shows in the love people have for their sins, in their reluctance to come to God, in the hollow excuses they make for their wrongdoing, and in their ignorance of the profound mysteries of His blessed gospel.
What is physical death?
It is the separation of body and soul: the body returning to the dust from which it came, and the spirit returning to God who gave it.
What is eternal death?
It is the permanent separation of body and soul from God, and their being cast into hell fire.
Do people go body and soul to hell as soon as they die?
The body remains in the grave until the sound of the last trumpet. But if a person dies in wickedness, the soul goes immediately away from the presence of God into hell, as into a prison, where it is held until the day of judgment.
Do we come into the world as morally upright as our first parent did?
No. Adam came into the world without sin, having been made that way by God Almighty. We, however, come into the world as sinners, made so by the corruption he passed down to us.
How can we demonstrate that we come into the world already corrupted?
We are the fruit of something unclean, defiled from the very moment of our conception, and by nature we are children of wrath.
Can you offer further proof of this?
Yes. Scripture tells us that through one man, sin, death, judgment, and condemnation came upon all people.
So we enter the world already as sinners?
Yes. We are transgressors from the womb, going astray from the moment we are born, speaking lies.
But just as Adam fell with us in him, did he not also rise by faith with us in him? After all, he had no children until after he received the promise.
He fell as a representative of all humanity, but he believed the promise as a single individual. Adam's faith did not save the world, even though Adam's sin destroyed it.
But don't some people argue that we are sinners only by imitation, not by nature?
Yes, and in doing so they deceive themselves. God's word is clear: we are children of wrath by nature, meaning by birth and by generation.
Can you bring further proof of this?
Yes. On the very day we were born, we were already corrupted in our own blood, cast out as something loathsome. Furthermore, children in ancient times who were dedicated to the Lord required a sacrifice to be offered on their behalf at one month old, which was well before they could have sinned by…
Can you demonstrate this from experience?
Yes: the first things that bloom and emerge in children reveal their ignorance of God, their disobedience to parents, and their innate hostility toward a holy life. Their inclinations naturally run toward vanity. Beyond this, small children die, which could not happen if God did not count them as…
What is sin?
Sin is a violation of the law.
A violation of what law?
Of the law written into our nature, and of the law of the Ten Commandments as recorded in the holy scriptures.
When does someone sin against the law of nature?
When you do anything that your conscience tells you is a wrong against God or another person.
When do we sin against the law as written in the Ten Commandments?
When you do anything they forbid, even if you were unaware that they forbid it.
How many ways are there to sin against this law?
Three: through sinful thoughts, through sinful words, and through sinful actions.
What if we sin against only one of the Ten Commandments?
Whoever keeps the whole law and yet fails at a single point is guilty of breaking all of it: "For he who said, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not kill.' Now if you do not commit adultery but you do kill, you have still become a transgressor of the law".
Where will God punish sinners for their sins?
Both in this present world and in the world to come.
How are people punished in this world for sin?
God uses many methods to punish sinners in this life: sickness, loss, hardship, and disappointment, among others. Sometimes He also gives them over to their own sinful desires, to darkened minds and hardened hearts, and sometimes even to powerful delusions so that they believe lies and are…
How are sinners punished in the world to come?
With a worm that never dies and a fire that will never be put out.
Where do sinners go to receive this punishment?
"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God".
What is hell?
It is both a place and a condition of the most terrible kind.
Why do you call it a place?
Because in hell all the condemned will be confined as in a prison, held in their chains of darkness forever.
What kind of place is hell?
It is a dark, bottomless, burning lake of fire, vast enough to hold every soul that perishes.
What do you mean when you say it is a fearful condition?
I mean that those who are cast into it will be tormented in the most terrible way imaginable, specifically through wrath and fiery indignation.
In what parts of themselves will they suffer this torment?
In both body and soul, for the fires of hell will consume both beyond anything we can currently imagine.
How long will they remain in this condition?
"These shall go away into everlasting punishment". "And the smoke of their torment ascends up forever, and they have no rest day or night". For they "shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power".
But why couldn't the ungodly simply be punished in this world, so that we could see it and believe?
If the ungodly were punished in this world, it would in all likelihood have destroyed the entire order that God has established among humanity. Who could have endured watching flames of fire, hearing the groans, and perhaps seeing the tears of condemned loved ones, whether parents or children? This…
Are there degrees of torment in hell?
Yes, because God will reward everyone according to their works. "Woe to the wicked, it shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him".
Who is likely to be punished most severely there, adults or children?
The punishment in hell is not assigned according to age, but according to sin. Whether the person is an adult or a child, the greater the sin, the greater the punishment: "For there is no respect of persons with God".
How do you distinguish between greater sins and lesser ones?
By their nature, and by the circumstances surrounding them.
What do you mean by their nature?
I mean when sins are deeply serious in themselves.
What kinds of sins are the greatest?
Adultery, fornication, murder, theft, swearing, lying, covetousness, witchcraft, sedition, and heresy, along with anything similar.
What do you mean by the circumstances that surround a sin?
I mean things like spiritual light, knowledge, the preaching of God's Word, godly companions, and timely warnings.
Do these circumstances actually change the nature of a sin?
Yes. When these things are present in a sinner's life, they can turn small sins into great ones, even greater than far more serious sins committed in the deepest ignorance.
How do you prove that?
Sodom and Gomorrah wallowed in all, or nearly all, of those gross sins listed above. They were described as exceedingly wicked, living in sins too shameful to name without blushing. And yet God swore that Israel, His own church, had done worse than they had. The Lord Jesus confirmed this in His…
And was this the reason, namely, that Israel had circumstances surrounding them that Sodom did not?
Yes, as will become clear if you read the three chapters referenced above.
When am I sinning against light and knowledge?
When you sin against the convictions of your own conscience, when you sin against a law of God you know well, and when you sin despite the counsel and warnings of friends, you are sinning against light and knowledge.
When am I sinning against the preaching of the Word?
When you refuse to hear God's ministers, or when you hear them and still refuse to follow their sound teaching.
When else am I sinning against the preaching of the Word?
When you mock, despise, or slander ministers, when you spread lies about them or willingly receive the lies others spread, when you persecute those who preach God's Word or feel a secret satisfaction watching them suffer, you are sinning against the preaching of that Word.
How will godly acquaintance make my sin greater?
When you sin against the counsel, warnings, and appeals of godly people, and when their very lives serve as a rebuke to you and yet you sin on regardless, your guilt deepens. This is exactly how Ishmael, Esau, Eli's sons, Absalom, and Judas all sinned. Each of them had good company, sound counsel,…
Are sins made worse in this way given any special name?
Yes. They are called rebellion and compared to the sin of witchcraft. They are called willful sins. They are called briars and thorns, and those who produce them are near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
Are there other things that can turn small sins into great ones?
Yes, as when you sin in the face of God's judgments. For example, when you see God's judgment fall on others for their wrongs and you press on in the same sins anyway, or when you sin against God's patience, His long-suffering, and His forbearance toward you, even small sins become great ones.
Has God ever punished small children for sin against Him?
Yes; when the flood came, He drowned all the little children in the old world. He also burned up all the little children in Sodom. And when the children at Bethel once mocked the prophet as he was going to worship God, God released two female bears on them, which tore forty-two of them to pieces.
Alas! What should we little children do?
Either go on in your sins, or remember your Creator now, in the days of your youth, before the evil days come.
Why do you mock us by telling us to go on in our sins? You should be praying for us, asking God to save us.
I'm not mocking you. I'm doing what the wise man does. And besides, I do pray for you and sincerely want your salvation.
How does the wise man mock us?
Like this: "Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment".
What kind of mocking is that?
The kind that is mixed with the deepest seriousness. It's as if he's saying: Go ahead, sinners, go on in your sins if you dare. Live in your vanities if you choose, but God will have His time to judge you for every one of them.
Isn't this just like when my father tells me to misbehave if I want, but then punishes me when I do?
Yes, exactly. Or consider what Joshua said: "If it seems wrong to you to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve." Serve your sins, but do so at your own peril.
Isn't it best for me, then, to serve God?
Yes, because those who serve the devil must end up where he is, and those who serve God and Christ must be where they are.
But when is the best time for me to begin serving God?
Right now. Remember your Creator NOW, while the gospel is before you, while your heart is still tender and most easily broken.
But if I follow my play and sports a little longer, may I not come to God in time?
I cannot promise you that, for there are little graves in the churchyard, and who can say whether your young life will be long? And even if you do live, perhaps your day of grace may be as short as Ishmael's was in the old days. Read also Prov 1:24-26.
But if I wait a little longer before I turn to God, won't I have more wisdom to serve Him than I do now?
If you wait longer, you will have more sin, and perhaps less wisdom, not more. The greater the sinner, the greater the fool.
What if I serve God sometimes, and follow my sin at other times?
"No man can serve two masters." You cannot serve God and your sins at the same time. God says, "My son, give me your heart". Your soul and body belong to Him as well. And the double-minded man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Do you find many young children like me who serve God?
Not many, yet some do. Samuel served Him as a child. When Josiah was young, he began to seek after the God of his father David. And how warmly did our Lord Jesus receive it when the little children came running before Him, crying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!".
Then if I begin to serve God this young, I'm not likely to have many companions, am I?
"Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there are who find it". Yet you will have some companions. David counted himself a companion of all who love God's testimonies. All the godly, even the grey-headed among them, will be your companions. And you will have one or…
But won't the other children look down on me and despise me if I begin to serve God so young?
If children are rude enough to mock the prophets and ministers of God, it's no surprise that they will mock you too. But any heaven worth having is surely worth enduring worse things than mockery in the pursuit of it.
But how should I serve God? I don't know how to worship Him.
True worshippers worship God in spirit and in truth.
What does it mean to worship Him in spirit?
It means to worship Him through both God's Spirit and my own; that is, to worship Him with a heart that has been genuinely moved by the Holy Spirit to a sincere embrace of God's will.
What does it mean to worship Him in truth?
It means doing everything in our worship according to His word, since His word is truth, and doing it without pretense or hypocrisy. You can sum it up this way: you worship God rightly when your heart and your life both align with His word.
How do I go about worshipping Him with my spirit and heart?
You must first come to a genuine knowledge of Him. David said to his son, "Know the God of your father, Solomon, and serve Him with a whole heart". Notice the order: he first says know Him, and then serve Him with a whole heart.
Is it easy to gain a true knowledge of God?
No. You must cry out for knowledge and raise your voice for understanding. "If you seek her as silver, and search for her as hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God".
Why is it so difficult to arrive at a true knowledge of God?
Because of the pride and ignorance within us, and also because of our sinful ways.
But doesn't everyone claim to know God?
Yes, but people's supposed knowledge of Him varies just as much as their faces and personalities. Some think He is one thing, others think He is something else entirely.
Can you show me a little of how their views differ?
Yes. Some regard Him as a kind of indifferent God, one who will neither do evil nor good. Some regard Him as a kind of ignorant and blind God, one who can neither know nor see through the clouds. Others regard Him as a God not worth pursuing, if following Him means giving up the world and their…
Are there any other false views of God?
Yes. There are three more: 1\. Some think He is all mercy and no justice, and therefore conclude they can live however they please. 2\. Others think He is all justice and no mercy, and therefore reason that they might as well keep sinning and face damnation, since turning from sin won't do them any…
How will I know when I have a true knowledge of God?
When your understanding of Him agrees with what the holy Scriptures say.
The Scriptures! Don't all these false views of Him come from the Scriptures?
Not at all. It's true that people blame the Scriptures for their errors, but in reality those errors flow from the ignorance of their own hearts.
But what if I don't understand the Bible? Does that mean I must go without a true knowledge of God?
God's name is revealed through His Word: the Scriptures are what testify of Him. And they are able to make the person of God complete in all things, and wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
But what must someone who doesn't know God do in order to gain that knowledge?
Let him apply his heart to the Scriptures, treating them as a light shining in a dark place, even this world, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in his heart.
But how will I know when the Scriptures have led me to a true knowledge of God?
When you have also arrived at a true knowledge of yourself.
What does it mean to truly know myself?
You know yourself when you see yourself, in your own eyes, as a loathsome, polluted, wretched, and miserable sinner, and when you recognize that nothing you can do will reconcile God to you.
You have shown me that if I truly want to worship God, I must first know Him rightly. So now, to the matter at hand: how exactly must I worship Him?
By confessing to Him.
What must I confess?
You must confess your sins to the Lord.
Was this the practice of the godly in earlier times?
Yes. Nehemiah confessed his sins. David confessed his sins. Daniel confessed his sins. And those who were baptized by John in the Jordan confessed their sins.
What sins must I confess to God?
All sins, without exception, because "he who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will find mercy".
But what if I neither know nor remember all my sins?
Then you must search and examine your ways by the holy Word of God.
But what if I fail to make this search for my sins?
If you don't search out and confess your sins, God will. He will search them out, charge them against you, and tear you apart because of them.
Where should I begin when confessing my sins?
Begin where God begins in showing them to you. Pay attention to where God starts convicting you of sin, and start your confession there. That is how David began to confess, and how Daniel began to confess.
When God has shown me a particular sin, what must I do to confess it properly?
You must follow that conviction all the way back to its source and root, which is your own heart.
Is my heart really the source and root of sin?
Yes. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man".
When a person sees this, what will he think of himself?
He will not merely think but conclude that he is an unclean thing, that his heart has deceived him, that it is utterly desperate and wicked, that it cannot be trusted under any circumstances, and that every natural thought and impulse of his heart is only evil, and that continually.
You have given a very damning description of the heart, but how can I know it is really as bad as you say?
Both by Scripture and by experience.
What do you mean by experience?
Keep your eyes on your heart and on God's word at the same time, and you will see with your own eyes the desperate wickedness that lives in your heart. You come to know sin through the law, which commands one thing while your heart pulls you toward another.
Can I really come to know my heart this way?
Yes, that is part of it, especially the carnality of your mind: "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be".
Can you name a few specific ways in which the wickedness of the human heart reveals itself?
Yes; by its secret craving for sin even when the Word forbids it; by its tendency to put off repentance; by its weariness with holy duties; by its readiness to forget God; by its efforts to minimize and conceal sin; by its pretending to be better than it is; by its delight in sinning when no one is…
Is there anything else required for a genuine confession of sin?
Yes: Let this truth sink deep into your heart, that God sees far more wickedness in you than you can ever see in yourself. "If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things"; and beyond that, He has set your secret sins in the full light of His presence.
Is there anything else that belongs to a true confession of sin?
Yes; in your confessions you must take your sin seriously and acknowledge the full weight of it, considering every honest circumstance that makes it worse.
How do I do that?
By reflecting on how much light and mercy you sinned against; how much patience and forbearance you sinned against; what warnings and judgments you sinned against; and how many of your own vows, promises, and commitments you have broken. These things reveal the true weight of sin.
But why should I confess my sins to God when He already knows them?
Confession of sin is necessary for many reasons.
Will you show me some of those reasons?
Yes; one reason is that through a sincere and heartfelt confession of sin, you acknowledge God as your Sovereign Lord and recognize His right to impose His law on you.
Can you show me another reason?
Yes; by confessing your sin, you affirm His righteous judgments that have been pronounced against it.
Can you show me another reason?
Yes; by confessing your sin, you demonstrate how little you deserve even the smallest mercy from God.
Do you have yet another reason why I should confess my sins?
Yes; by doing so, you reveal whether your heart loves sin or hates it. The person who confesses sin wholeheartedly is like someone who, finding a thief or a traitor hiding in their house, brings him out to face the punishment he deserves. But the person who refuses to confess is like someone who…
Give me one more reason why I should confess my sins to God.
The person who confesses their sin throws themselves at the feet of God's mercy, utterly condemns and casts aside their own righteousness, and concludes that there is no way to stand justified and acquitted before God except through the righteousness of another. This is where God intends to bring…
What state of heart should I be in when I confess my sins?
Do it WHOLEHEARTEDLY, and as thoroughly as you possibly can. To feign confession is abominable; to do it halfway is wickedness; to do it without any genuine sense of sin cannot be acceptable to God. And to confess sin with your mouth while loving it in your heart is to lie to God and to provoke the…
What do you mean by feigning and pretending in this work?
This happens when people confess sin yet have no real understanding of what it is; or when they think they understand it but don't truly reckon it as bad as it is; or when they ask God for pardon without any real sense of their need for it. A person in that condition cannot help but be a pretender.
What do you mean by doing it by the halves?
When men confess some sins but not all they are convicted of; or when they confess everything but work to minimize what they've done in the telling. Or when their confession doesn't lead them to turn from all sin toward God, but only from one sin to another. "They turned, but not to the Most High;…
What does it mean to confess sin without any genuine sense of it?
It means doing so out of habit or tradition, when there is no real guilt weighing on the conscience. This kind of confession cannot be acceptable to God.
What does it mean to confess sin with your mouth while loving it in your heart?
It means condemning sin in your words while refusing to let it go; when "with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their covetousness".
But I asked you what state of heart I should be in when I confess my sins.
I've shown you what you should not be. Now I will show you what state of heart is fitting for your confessions of sin. Work by every means to develop a genuine sense of the evil that is in sin.
What evil is there in sin?
No tongue can fully express what the heart may feel about the evil of sin; but know this: it dishonors God, it provokes Him to wrath, and it damns the soul.
What else would you advise me toward in this important work?
When we confess sin, tears, shame, and a broken heart are fitting responses.
What else is fitting in my confessions of sin?
A deep hatred of sin, along with sincere sighs and groans that show you are confessing from the heart.
Is that all?
No; tremble at the word of God. Tremble at every judgment, lest it overtake you. Tremble at every promise, lest you miss what it offers. For God says, "To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word".
What if I cannot confess my sins in this way?
Grieve over the hardness of your heart. Stay close to the best preachers. Remember that you hang over hell by the thin, fragile thread of an uncertain life. And know this: God considers it a serious evil not to be ashamed of sin, not to blush at it.
Are there no thanks to be given to God in confession?
Oh, yes. Thank Him that He has allowed you to see your sins. Thank Him that He has given you time to acknowledge them, because you could right now be confessing in hell. Thank Him also that He has condescended so far as to hear the self-mourning sinner, and that He has promised surely to have mercy…
I am glad you have instructed me in this part of the worship of God. Please tell me, how else should I worship Him?
You must believe His word.
Is that worshipping God?
Yes. "After the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets".
Why should believing be counted a part of God's worship?
Because without faith it is impossible to please Him.
Why is it not possible to please Him without believing?
Because in all true worship, a person "must believe that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Beyond that, whoever worships God must also believe His word, or they cannot worship with the reverence and fear that is fitting. Without that faith, worship becomes…
But don't all people believe as you have described?
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit". And again, "the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed".
What do you mean by that?
You must be born twice before you can truly believe even once.
How do you prove that?
Because believing is a Christian act, and no one is a true Christian except those who have been born again. I am speaking here of believing unto salvation.
Can you prove this?
Yes. Those who believe in the name of Christ are people born "not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God".
What is believing?
It is the act of a grace-filled soul that reaches out and takes hold of God's mercy through Christ.
Why do you call it an act of a grace-filled soul?
Because their minds have been turned in that direction by "the power of the Holy Spirit".
If someone as poor and sinful as I am wants to be saved from the wrath to come, how must I believe?
Your first question should be: on whom must I believe?.
On whom, then, must I believe?
On the Lord Jesus Christ.
Who is Jesus Christ, that I might believe in Him?
He is the only begotten Son of God.
Why must I believe in Him?
Because He is the Savior of the world.
How is He the Savior of the world?
By the Father's design and sending: "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved".
How did He come into the world?
In man's flesh, in which flesh He fulfilled the law, died for our sins, conquered the devil and death, and obtained eternal redemption for us.
But is there no other way to be saved except by believing in Jesus Christ?
"There is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved"; and therefore "he that believeth not, shall be damned".
What does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ?
It means receiving Him, along with everything He offers, as God's gift to you as a sinner.
What is there in Jesus Christ that should encourage me to receive Him?
Infinite righteousness to justify you, and the Spirit without measure to sanctify you.
Does this become mine when I receive Christ?
Yes, if you receive Him as God offers Him to you.
How does God offer Him to me?
Just as a wealthy man freely offers charity to a beggar, and that is how you must receive Him.
Has He truly made amends for sin, and does He genuinely want me to accept what He has done?
That He has made amends for sin is clear, because God forgives you for Christ's sake. And it is equally clear that He wants you to accept it, because He offers it to you freely and has sworn to give you the greatest possible benefit, namely eternal life, if you receive it. He has also warned you of…
But what qualifications must I have before I can dare to believe in Christ?
Come to Him aware of your sins and of the wrath of God they deserve, for that is exactly how you are invited to come.
Has anyone ever come to Christ in that way?
David came to God this way; Paul and the Philippian jailer came this way; and so did Christ's murderers.
But doesn't it seem more reasonable that we should first improve ourselves and become good?
"The whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick"; Christ came "not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance".
But isn't it better, if one can, to improve first?
This is exactly like a sick man saying, "Shouldn't I get well before I go to the doctor?" or a wounded man saying, "Once I'm healed, I'll apply the bandage."
But when a poor soul sees its own wickedness, isn't it afraid to come to Christ?
Yes, but without any good reason, for He has said, "Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not"; and "to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word".
What encouragement can be given to come to Him this way?
The prodigal son came this way, and his father received him, fell on his neck, and kissed him. God received the Colossians in the same way, and by extension, all who are saved.
Will you give me one more encouragement?
The promises are worded in such a way that even those who are scarlet sinners, crimson sinners, and blasphemers have every reason to come to Him with hope of life.
Will everyone who believes be saved?
If they believe as the Scriptures describe, and if the Scriptures are fulfilled in their believing.
What do you mean by that?
When the faith a person claims to have proves itself to be genuine through its actual effects and workings in the soul of a sinner.
Are there many kinds of faith?
Yes. There is a faith that can coexist with a heart as hard as stone: a shallow, short-lived faith that lasts for a while, then collapses when temptation arrives.
Is there any other kind of faith?
Yes. There is a faith with no more life in it than a corpse.
Is there yet another of these useless faiths?
Yes. There is a faith that originates in ourselves, not in the special grace of God.
Tell me, is there yet another?
There is a faith that rests on human wisdom rather than on the power of God.
Is that all?
No. There is a faith that appears holy but ultimately fails, because it is not the truest and most holy faith.
If there are so many kinds of faith that cannot save, how easy must it be for me to be deceived?
Very easy indeed, which is precisely why the Holy Spirit warns us so repeatedly: "Be not deceived", "Let no man deceive you", and "If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself".
But is there no way to tell true faith apart from false faith?
Yes, and the distinction lies in how faith arrives and how it works.
What do you mean by how it arrives?
That question actually contains two separate questions: what does it mean for faith to come, and in what manner does it come?
Very well then, what does it mean for faith to come?
The phrase "faith comes" assumes that you were once without it, that you did not go out and retrieve it on your own, and that it has a particular way of arriving.
You suggested earlier that I was once without faith, but must I simply accept that without any proof?
Let me offer a couple of proofs: "God has bound everyone over to disobedience". And again, "faith comes from hearing". And again, the Holy Spirit implies that our condition is dreadful "before faith came".
But what is the state of people before faith arrives?
Without faith, or before faith comes, it is impossible to please God. Whether a person's actions are civil or religious, they sin in everything they do. "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination," and "the plowing of the wicked is sin".
Is that not a deeply troubling condition?
It is; but that is not the whole picture. Their present unbelief binds them over to wrath by locking them under the law. It also draws them away from God and will drag them into everlasting damnation, unless the grace of God intervenes.
What if a person came to see themselves in this condition?
Many people do see themselves in this condition.
How do they come to see it?
Through the preaching and hearing of the Word of God.
And what do such people think of themselves?
They don't merely think it; they know that in this condition they are "without Christ, without hope, and without God in the world".
Are those who don't see themselves in this condition not better off?
Only if they have already seen themselves delivered from it through a genuine work of faith in their souls. Otherwise, no.
What do you mean by that?
I mean that true happiness comes only to those who have seen themselves delivered from this state by being grafted, through the Word and Spirit of God, into faith in Christ.
Are those who are never troubled by this painful awareness of their condition not better off for it?
They are no happier than a man who lies sound asleep in his house while it burns down around him. Can a man be happy while he remains ignorant that he is without God, without Christ, and without hope? Can a man be happy while he remains ignorant that he is hanging over hell by the thin, fragile…
But can't faith come to a man without him first seeing himself to be in this condition?
It is God's ordinary way to convict men of their desperate condition before He reveals to them the righteousness of faith, or works faith in them to lay hold of that righteousness.
What then do you make of those who have never seen themselves shut up by unbelief under sin and the curse of God?
I will not judge them regarding the future, since God may yet convert them before they die; but their present state is miserable. Because they are shut up and held prisoner by the law, by their own desires, by the devil, and by unbelief, they cannot so much as sincerely desire in their hearts that…
Do you then consider it better for a man to see his condition by nature than to remain ignorant of it?
A thousand times better to see it in this world than to see it in hell fire, for he must see it in one place or the other. If he sees it here, this is the place of prayer; here is the preaching of the Word, which is God's appointed means to produce faith. Beyond that, here God applies promises of…
I am convinced that I was once without faith, and also that I cannot produce it myself, but please tell me how it comes?
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
How does it come by hearing?
God mixes it with the Word when He has determined absolutely to save a sinner.
How do people hear when faith is mixed with the Word?
They hear the Word "not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe".
Tell me now how faith actually arrives.
It comes through difficulty, and it comes gradually.
What difficulties stand in its way when it comes?
A sense of unworthiness, a guilty conscience, natural reason, unbelief, and arguments forged in hell and whispered by the devil into the heart against it.
How does faith come gradually?
At first it may be no more than a mustard seed, small and weak.
Can you explain that further?
In its earliest stage, faith may consist only in seeing where justification and salvation can be found. After that, it may rise a degree higher and manage to say, "Perhaps, or who knows, I might obtain this salvation?" Then it may climb yet another step and arrive at some brief and fleeting…
Does faith come only through hearing?
It is usually born through the preached Word, but once it is born, it grows in several ways. It grows through prayer. It grows through fellowship with other Christians. It grows through reading. It grows through meditation. It grows through remembering past experiences of God's faithfulness.
What do these things teach us?
They teach us that the people of this world are deeply ignorant of faith and have little desire for it. They neither hear, nor pray, nor fellowship, nor read, nor meditate with faith in view.
But you said just now that this faith is distinguished from the kind that doesn't lead to salvation, both by how it comes and by how it works. So what exactly does it do?
It causes the soul to see, by its own light, that there is no righteousness anywhere in this world capable of saving a sinner.
How does faith give the soul this understanding?
By helping the person grasp what the law truly demands, and how completely unable they are to meet that demand.
And does it always show the soul where justifying righteousness can actually be found?
Yes. It shows that justifying righteousness is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ, in what He did and suffered in the flesh.
How does faith find this righteousness in Christ?
Through the Word, which is called the word of faith precisely because faith, by means of it, discovers in Christ a righteousness that is fully sufficient.
How else does it work in the soul?
It applies this righteousness to the sinner and also helps that person embrace it.
How else does it work?
Through this application of Christ, the soul is brought to life, made spiritual, and lifted toward heaven. True faith quickens the soul to spiritual life, purifies and sanctifies the heart, and gradually shapes the person who possesses it into the image of Jesus Christ.
How else does it work?
It gives the soul peace with God through Jesus Christ.
Surely Christ must be held in the highest regard by those who have this faith in Him?
Yes, absolutely. To those who believe, He is precious beyond measure: precious in His person, precious in what He undertook on their behalf, precious in His Word.
Can people who have this faith, then, bear to hear Christ spoken against?
Not at all. Such words are like a sword in their bones, a burden they simply cannot carry.
Does it hurt them when they see His ways and His people treated with contempt?
Yes; and they would rather be despised and persecuted alongside His people than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
Do they pray often for His second coming?
Yes, yes; they long to see Him on this side of the clouds of heaven. Their "citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ".
And do they live in this world as though He could return at any moment?
Yes; for His coming will be both glorious and terrible, filled with mercy and judgment. "The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great roar, and the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be laid…
Well, I am glad you have shown me that I must worship God through confession of sin and faith in Jesus Christ. Is there anything else that belongs to true worship?
Yes, several things; I will mention only two more for now.
What are they?
Prayer and self-denial.
Is prayer, then, a part of worshiping God?
Yes; a significant part of it.
How do you prove that?
"Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker".
Is there another passage that proves it?
Yes; "Then she came and knelt before him, saying, 'Lord, help me'".
What is prayer?
A sincere, heartfelt, and deeply felt pouring out of the soul to God in the name of Christ, asking for what God has promised.
Doesn't everyone pray?
No; "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts".
What will become of those who do not pray?
They do not worship God, and He will destroy them: "Pour out your fury upon the heathen, and upon the families that call not on your name".
But since God already knows what we need, why doesn't He simply give it to us without requiring prayer?
His wisdom and counsel lead Him otherwise: "Thus says the Lord God, I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them".
Why does God require us to pray?
Because He wants you to acknowledge that He is above you, and so He calls you to come before Him as the humble come before the powerful. This is exactly how Abraham approached Him.
Is there another reason why I should pray?
Yes. Through prayer, you acknowledge that help is not within your own power.
What other reason do you have for why I should pray?
Through prayer, you confess that help comes from Him alone.
What other reason do you have?
Through prayer, you confess that you cannot live without His grace and mercy.
Are all who pray heard by the Lord?
No; "They looked," that is, they prayed, "but there was none to save; even unto the Lord, but he answered them not".
To what does God compare the prayers He refuses to answer?
He compares them to the howling of a dog.
Who are the people whose prayers God will not answer?
Those who think they will be heard because of their many words and empty repetition.
Is there anyone else whose prayer God refuses?
Yes; there are those who ask and do not receive, because what they ask for they would spend on their own desires.
Is there anyone else whose prayer God refuses?
Yes; "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me".
Is cherishing sin in our hearts such a deadly obstacle to prayer?
"Son of man," God says, "these men have set up their idols in their hearts and placed the stumbling block of their sin before their faces. Should I let them inquire of Me at all? I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a byword. And I will cut him off from among My people".
Whose prayers will God hear?
The prayers of the poor and needy.
What do you mean by "the poor"?
Those who are poor in spirit.
Who are the poor in spirit?
Those who are deeply aware of their lack and need for all the things of God that prepare a person for the kingdom of heaven.
What things are those?
Faith, hope, love, joy, peace, a new heart, the Holy Spirit, and sanctification. See Jas 2:5; 2 Thess 2:16; Ezek 36:26-27.
What do you mean by "the needy"?
Those whose souls long for these blessings and cannot be satisfied without them.
Will God hear the prayers of such people?
Yes; "For he satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness".
How can I know that I am one of those to whom God will give these things?
If you see a beauty in them that surpasses the beauty of everything else.
How else can I know that He hears me?
If you desire these things for their own beauty's sake.
How else can I know I will receive them?
When your longing for them goes beyond what words can express.
How else can I know, and so find encouragement to pray?
When you pursue God earnestly through all His appointed means in order to obtain them.
How else can I know?
When you make good use of the little you already have.
Are those all the good signs that my prayers will be heard?
No; there is one more, without which you will never obtain what you seek.
What is that?
You must plead with God through the name and merits of Jesus Christ, for whose sake alone God grants you these things. If we ask anything in His name, He hears us, and as Christ Himself said, "Whatever you ask the Father in my name, I will do it".
Does God always answer right away?
Sometimes He does, and sometimes He does not.
Is God's delay a sign of His anger?
Sometimes it is, and sometimes it is not.
When is it not a sign of His anger?
When we have not wickedly turned from Him through our sins.
When is it a sign of His anger?
When we have fallen away, and when we have not repented of some earlier failure.
Why does God delay in hearing the prayers of those who have not wickedly turned from Him?
He loves to hear their voice, to test their faith, to see their persistence, and to observe how they will wrestle with Him for a blessing.
But isn't God's delay in answering prayer a serious discouragement to praying?
Though it can feel that way, because of our unbelief, it should not discourage us, because God is faithful. This is why "men ought always to pray, and not to faint".
I am glad you have granted my request this far; but you mentioned earlier that there was another part of God's worship. Would you repeat what that was?
It is self-denial.
Now I remember it well. How do you prove that self-denial is called a part of God's worship?
We're told that when Abraham went to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering, which was an act of profound self-denial, he described what he was doing as worship.
Would you read the relevant text?
Certainly: "And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship," and so on. This was said as he was on his way to slay Isaac.
What is self-denial?
It is when a person gives up everything for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Can you support that with a scripture or two?
Yes: "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple".
That's a strong passage. Can you give me one more?
Yes: "What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ," and so on.
Those two passages together answer my question well. But could you now give me some specific examples of self-denial from those who have followed Christ in the past?
Certainly. Abel denied himself to the point of losing his life. Abraham denied himself by leaving his country and his father's household. Moses gave up a crown and a kingdom, along with all the comfort and security that came with them. Joseph denied himself by refusing the temptation of fleshly…
But each of these men only gave up certain things, didn't they?
Consider that Abel lost everything, including his life. Abraham risked his life when he left his country. Moses did the same when he walked away from the crown and kingdom. And Joseph put everything at risk when he refused his master's wife.
Would you speak a little more specifically about self-denial?
With great pleasure.
First, then, in what spirit must this self-denial be performed?
It must be done in the spirit of faith, love, and a sound mind. Otherwise, even if a man were to sell everything he owns and give it to the poor, and even offer his body to be burned, it would profit him nothing.
Who is likely to fail here?
Those whose motives for self-denial don't align with what the gospel actually calls for.
Who are they?
Those who suffer out of rivalry and vanity; that is, those who seek, through their suffering, the praise of other people rather than the glory of Christ and the good of their neighbor.
Who else is likely to fail here?
Those who, like Ziba, use their supposed self-denial as a scheme to win the affections of the godly and enrich themselves in the process.
Are there others likely to fail here?
Yes. Those who, by denying themselves, think as the Pharisee did: that they are making themselves appear more righteous before God than everyone else.
Who else is in danger of failing here?
Those who have grown weary in their efforts, those whose self-denial has ultimately been overtaken by self-love.
Shall I raise a few more questions?
Please do.
What, then, of a man who promises to deny himself later but not now? Is that not at least a step toward this kind of worship?
Not at all. The reason this man refuses to deny himself now is that his heart is currently more attached to his desires and the world than it is to God and Christ.
Can you give me a scriptural example to illustrate this?
Yes. Esau never intended to give up the blessing permanently; he planned to claim it later. But God treated his failure to choose it in the present moment as a contempt for it, a sign that he preferred his appetites over his inheritance. And so, when Esau finally wanted it, God would not grant it,…
What if a man says he is willing to deny himself in many things, even if he cannot deny himself in all things? Is that not at least one step in this part of worshiping God?
No, not at all. This man does exactly what Saul did: he will destroy part and keep part alive. The kingdom will be taken from him as well.
What if a man is willing to lose everything except his life?
"He who will save his life shall lose it," but "he who will lose his life for my sake," says Christ, "shall keep it unto life eternal".
What if a man was once willing to lose everything he had, but is no longer willing now? Will God not accept his past willingness, even though his heart has changed?
No, because the true disciple must deny himself daily, take up his cross daily, and follow Jesus Christ.
But what if a man conducts himself well outwardly, so that he does not dishonor the gospel before others? Can that not count as self-denial?
No, not if his heart is not right. Though man looks at outward appearances, God looks at the heart.
But what if I fear that my heart may deceive me in this great work, especially if hard times come upon me later? Is there any way to find out whether it will deceive me then or not?
I will give you a few answers to this question, and will show you first whose heart is likely to deceive him in this work.
Will you help me with that?
Yes. 1\. The man who does not make a daily practice of self-denial is very unlikely to remain a disciple when difficult times come. Judas did not deny himself daily, and so he fell when the temptation arrived.
Will you give me another sign?
Yes. The man who quietly indulges any one secret sin beneath a profession of faith is not likely to deny himself in all things for Christ.
Who are those that indulge their sins?
They who make provision for their sinful desires, whether through clothing, food, or other indulgences, are among those who indulge their lusts.
Who else does this?
Those who make excuses for their sins and keep them hidden so they won't be confronted, as Saul did.
Who else are those who indulge their lusts?
Those who surround themselves with teachers who accommodate their sinful desires.
Who else indulges their sins?
Those who choose to live by the imperfect examples of other believers rather than by the holy Word of God. In other words, those who use the failures of good men as an excuse to avoid the demands of self-denial are, in effect, feeding on the sins of God's people the way others eat bread.
Will you now show me who is likely to practice this part of God's worship acceptably?
Yes; the person whose heart is genuinely set against sin as sin is likely to practice self-denial acceptably.
Who else?
The person who carries in his heart a real sense and experience of the forgiveness of sins.
Who else is likely to practice self-denial well?
The person whose affections are fixed on things above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God.
Who else is likely to deny himself well for Christ?
The person who sees greater treasure in self-denial than in self-seeking.
Are there no other signs of someone likely to practice this part of God's worship acceptably?
Yes; the person who takes up his cross daily and makes Christ's teaching his pattern for living.
But how do you recognize such a person?
He guards his heart with great diligence; he would rather die than sin; the poor conduct of other believers breaks his heart; and nothing is more precious to him than the glory of Christ.
Please, can you give me some motivation toward self-denial?
Yes, the Lord Jesus denied Himself for you. What do you say to that?
In what ways did Christ deny Himself for me?
He left His heaven for you. He chose, for your sake, to have less of this world than a fox or a bird. And He shed His precious blood for you.
Can you give another reason to practice self-denial?
Yes: "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?".
But why does God require self-denial of those who want to be saved?
God does not require self-denial as the means of obtaining salvation. Rather, He has established it as proof of the sincerity of a person's love for God and Christ.
How is self-denial proof of the sincerity of a person's love for God?
It is proven by the fact that, for the sake of serving God, a person leaves behind all the comforts this world offers. This is how God tested Abraham's love, how He tested Peter's love, and how He tested the love of those you read about in the Gospel.
What other reason can you give for why God requires self-denial?
Self-denial is one of the distinguishing marks that separates true Christians from false ones. Those who are false flatter God with their words while their hearts are set on themselves. But the sincere believer, out of genuine love for Christ, gives up everything for His sake.
Is there yet another reason why God requires self-denial of those who claim His name?
Yes. Through self-denial, the power and goodness of God's truth are made visible to a skeptical world. It is only through the self-denial of God's people that unbelievers can see the power, glory, goodness, and beauty that truly exist in God's truth.
Do you have another reason why God requires self-denial?
Yes; because self-denial prepares a person, not for the forgiveness of sin, but for that far greater and eternal weight of glory that is reserved only for those who give up everything for the Lord Jesus, His name, and His cause in this world.
Before you conclude, will you give me a few examples of how severely God dealt with certain believers who refused to deny themselves when He called them to do so?
Yes, gladly. Lot's wife, simply for looking back toward Sodom when God was leading her away from it, was struck down from heaven and turned into a pillar of salt. This is why we are told to remember Lot's wife.
Can you give me another example?
Yes. Esau, because he would not deny himself a single meal, was denied his share in the blessing and could never recover it afterward, though he sought it desperately with tears.
Do you have another example ready?
Yes. Judas, because he would not deny himself, lost Christ, his soul, and heaven, and remains to this day the supreme object of God's wrath among all the damned.
Will you give me one more example, and then conclude?
Yes. Ananias and Sapphira his wife, through their failure of self-denial, brought upon themselves such divine wrath that God struck them both dead while they stood before the apostles.