Westminster Shorter Catechism Essentials

#1 Chief end of man

Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

#4 What is God?

God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

#5 More than one God?

There is but one only, the living and true God.

#6 Persons in the Godhead

There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

#7 Decrees of God

God's decrees are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

#9 Work of creation

The work of creation is God's making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.

#11 Providence

God's works of providence are his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures and all their actions.

#14 Sin

Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.

#33 Justification

Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.

#34 Adoption

Adoption is an act of God's free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.

#35 Sanctification

Sanctification is a work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.

#86 Faith in Jesus Christ

Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.

#87 Repentance unto life

Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavour after, new obedience.

#96 Lord's Supper

A sacrament showing forth Christ's death; worthy receivers spiritually feed on Christ and receive the benefits of his death.

#98 Prayer

Offering up our desires to God for things agreeable to his will, in Christ's name, with confession of sins and thankful acknowledgment of mercies.