MOPC Adult SS – The Westminster Shorter Catechism Winter 2009
Lesson 4
Q&A #4: What is God? God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom power holiness justice, goodness, and truth
Key texts: God is a Spirit (John 4:24), eternal (Ps. 90:2), unchangeable (Mal. 3:6), in his being (Ex 3-14) wisdom (Ps 147:5), power (Rev. 4:8), holiness (Rev. 15:4), justice, goodness, and truth (Ex. 34:6- 7)
• Does it matter if we say "God is a Spirit" or "God is spirit"?
• What is a "spirit"? Can you see a spirit? Does God have any material substance?
• As man is made in the image of God, what attributes of God does man share? To what degree do we share them? What attributes do we not share?
• How does God's attributes benefit believers?
o Being
o Wisdom-
o Power-
o Holiness-
o Justice-
o Goodness-
o Truth-
• If God is a Spirit, why does the Bible speak of him as having hands, feet, etc?
Q&A #5: Are there more Gods than one? There is but one living and true God.
Q&A #6: How many persons are there in the Godhead? There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.
Key texts: One God (I Cor. 8:4-6,1 Kings 8:60, Is. 44:6), three persons (Matt. 28:19, II Cor. 13:14)
• No truth is more emphatically or persistently taught in the Scripture than this- that there is but one God who really exists (I Kings 8:60)
• The Father is God, but so also the Son and the Holy Spirit
o Jesus is called God: Is. 9:6 (Messianic reference), John 1 (Word is God), John 20:28 (Thomas' declaration)
o Jesus possesses the attributes of God: life himself (John 1:4, 5:26), everywhere present (Matt 28-20) existing in the beginning (John 1:1)
o Jesus performs the works of God (John 5:19); creating (John 1:3), sustaining (Col. 1:17 Heb 1 -3)
o Jesus is worshipped as God (John 20:28)
o Holy Spirit is called God (Acts 5:3-4)
o Holy Spirit has the attributes of God (I Cor. 2:10)
o Holy Spirit does the work of God (John 6:63)
o Holy Spirit is reverenced as God (Matt. 12:31)
• Name a scripture that would refute those who believe in Modalism (that the one God appears in different “modes" at different times, but that the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit are not distinct persons)
• If the Trinity is "equal in power and glory", how do you explain Jesus' words in John 14:28?
• The doctrine of the Trinity underscores the divine nature of Jesus. Why is this so important?