WSC: Q1
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What is a catechism?
A catechism is a set of questions and answers that explain the basic doctrines of the Christian faith. It’s like a map that helps a person become familiar with what Scripture says.
The Westminster Shorter Catechism, which we used earlier, was written by an assembly of gospel ministers in 1647–1648, along with the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Westminster Larger Catechism.
And the Shorter Catechism is made of 107 questions, covering the purpose of humanity, the doctrine of God’s Word, God’s nature, God’s plans and actions, what is sin, the life of Christ, the saving work of Christ, the Ten Commandments and the Law, and finally the Lord’s Prayer.
And starting from today, we’ll be covering and discussing the Shorter Catechism. So I don’t want to be the only one speaking. I do want us to think deeply on these doctrines and how they apply to us.
So let’s come to the first question.
Q1: What is the chief end of man?
A: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.
Now, can someone tell us what this means?
Chief end
What is a “chief end”? It is the overarching purpose and goal of one’s life. It means that you can and should have other goals, but all those goals should be aligned with your chief end.
For example, if someone’s chief end is to represent their country in the Olympics, their whole lives would revolve around that goal. They wouldn’t set a goal that runs contrary to their chief end, like being able to eat 20 big macs or whatever.
So your chief end is your purpose in life.
Do you remember the story of Martha and Mary? When Jesus came to their house, Martha ran here and there preparing the food, and she got upset with Mary, who was sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to His teaching. So Martha complains about it. But what did Jesus say?
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
We all know 1 Corinthians 13. The chapter of love. But what’s before that? In chapter 12, it’s the chapter of spiritual gifts.
Gifts of healing, of knowledge, of speaking in tongues, and so on. But Paul says this.
But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
And then he talks about love.
Glorify God
So what is our chief end? The Bible says that our chief end is to glorify God.
everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Now, the word glorify means to make something heavy. Not physically, but in terms of meaning and significance. So to glorify God’s name means to fulfill the third commandment. To make His name heavy to the point that people learn to respect it.
Jesus put it another way when He taught us to pray the Lord’s Prayer.
Hallowed be Thy name. Make Your name holy and set apart from all other names.
Some people hear this, and they think, “Isn’t God being a narcissist?” Why does He only care about His glory?
First, God indeed would be selfish if He were not triune. But Scripture reveals that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is one God in three persons. This implies that if the Father receives glory, the entire Godhead receives glory.
So whether it’s to the Father, the Son, or the Spirit, when one receives glory, all three are glorified. And that’s what we see in Scripture.
Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge.
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,
When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.
But more than that, God seeks His glory because God shares that glory with His saints.
The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
How do we glorify God?
First, we have to know and believe in Him. That’s through the Word of God.
Second, we glorify God with our salvation.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Third, we have to experience what life is like if we obey Him.
That’s when we taste and see that the Lord is good. When we make a firm determination to obey God, and actually do it, we discover the richness of life that He designed for us.
When the serpent deceived Eve, he did so by challenging her understanding of God’s Word. She kind of knew the command, but she didn’t know the heart of God behind the command. She knew what to obey, and she had been obedient so far, but she didn’t stay loyal to God. Why? Because she didn’t know how her obedience to God’s Word was benefitting her.
Reading the Ten Commandments positively.
You shall not steal = You shall discover a joy that ceases all greed.
You shall not commit adultery = You shall have an amazing and beautiful marriage, or an amazing and beautiful celibacy.
And finally, we glorify God when we share of our own experiences and our testimonies with others.
One thing also to consider. All mankind will glorify God in the end. All will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The only thing is where they will do it.
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Only those who make it their chief end to glorify God will be able to enjoy Him for eternity.
How do we enjoy God?
We enjoy God by doing life together with Him, and experiencing the truthfulness of His Word and His promises to us. It all begins by having a God-consciousness that doesn’t go away. There’s a term in Latin called Coram Deo, which means to live before the face of God. It means to learn to enjoy being in His presence, and remaining in it moment by moment, day by day.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Finally, glorifying God and enjoying Him are not two separate things.
In fact, unless we enjoy God, we cannot glorify Him.
Many times, it’s easier to obey God than to love Him. I’ll come to church early, I’ll serve in the praise team, choir, cleaning, all different kinds of work. But to spend two hours with the Lord? I can’t do it.
