Westminster Larger Catechism
Memorise this catechismThe Westminster Larger Catechism, composed in 1648, contains 196 questions and answers providing a more comprehensive treatment of Christian doctrine than the Shorter Catechism.
Date: 1647
Authorship: Prepared by the Westminster Assembly as the companion catechism for more mature instruction.
The Larger Catechism develops the Assembly’s teaching at greater length, especially on Christ, the covenant of grace, the Ten Commandments, the sacraments, and prayer.
It is especially useful for adult classes, officers, teachers, and readers who want more precision than the Shorter Catechism can provide.
- Use the sidebar to stay inside a doctrinal section and read several related answers together.
- Compare answers with the Shorter Catechism to see what the Larger Catechism expands.
- Pay special attention to the commandments and Lord’s Prayer sections for practical theology.
The Scriptures as the Word of God and the rule of faith and life
The being, attributes, and persons of the Godhead
God's eternal decrees, creation, and providence
The covenant of works, the fall, and the estate of sin and misery
The covenant of grace, the person and offices of Christ the Mediator
The application of redemption: calling, justification, adoption, sanctification, and glory
The moral law, its uses, and the sum of the Ten Commandments
The duties required and sins forbidden in each commandment
The Word, sacraments, and prayer as means of grace
The nature, administration, and right use of the sacraments
The duty of prayer and the petitions of the Lord's Prayer
Q60. Can they who have never heard the gospel, and so know not Jesus Christ, nor believe in him, be saved by their living according to the light of nature?
A. They who, having never heard the gospel, know not Jesus Christ, and believe not in him, cannot be saved, be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, or the laws of that religion which they profess; neither is there salvation in any other, but in Christ alone, who is the Savior only of his body the church.
Read More →