Shekinah Church – Our 54th Year

We are a community of Christian believers, who are in association with John Knox Presbyterian Church. We are committed to:

  • The Bible as our only rule of faith and practice. It is inerrant, infallible, inspired by God in its original autographs, and preserved by Him for His people throughout the ages.
  • The Westminster Standards, which include the doctrines of grace, which are known by the acronym T.U.L.I.P
  • The preaching of The Word, the exercise of Church discipline, and the right celebration of the sacraments.

 

WESTMINSTER LARGER CATECHISM QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, with the assistance of commissioners  from the Church of Scotland, as a part of the covenanted uniformity in religion between the Churches of Christ in the kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland and approved Anno 1648, by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, to be a directory for catechising such as have made some proficiency in the knowledge of the grounds of religion, with The Proofs from the Scripture.  Assembly at Edinburgh, July 2, 1648. Sess. 10. Act approving the Larger Catechism.

Question 27
What misery did the fall bring upon mankind?
The fall brought upon mankind the loss of communion with God, (Gen. 3:8,10,24) his displeasure and curse; so as we are by nature children of wrath, (Eph. 2:2–3) bond slaves to Satan, (2 Tim. 2:26) and justly liable to all punishments in this world, and that which is to come. (Gen. 2:17Lam. 3:39Rom. 6:23Matt. 25:41,46Jude 7)

Question 28
What are the punishments of sin in this world?
The punishments of sin in this world are either inward, as blindness of mind, (Eph. 4:18) a reprobate sense, (Rom. 1:28) strong delusions, (2 Thess. 2:11) hardness of heart, (Rom. 2:5) horror of conscience, (Isa. 33:14Gen. 4:13Matt. 27:4) and vile affections; (Rom. 1:26) or outward, as the curse of God upon the creatures of our sakes, (Gen. 3:17) and all other evils that befall us in our bodies, names, estates, relations, and employments; (Deut. 28:15–18) together with death itself. (Rom. 6:21,23)

Question 29
What are the punishments of sin in the world to come?
The punishments of sin in the world to come, are everlasting separation from the comfortable presence of God, and most grievous torments in soul and body, without intermission, in hell-fire for ever. (2 Thess. 1:9Mark 9:43–44,46,48Luke 16:24)

Question 30
Doth God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?
God doth not leave all men to perish in the estate of sin and misery, (1 Thess. 5:9) into which they fell by the breach of the first covenant, commonly called the Covenant of Works; (Gal. 3:10,12) but of his mere love and mercy delivereth his elect out of it, and bringeth them into an estate of salvation by the second covenant, commonly called the Covenant of Grace. (Tit. 3:4–7Gal. 3:21Rom. 3:20,8–9)

The Apostles’ Creed

The basic creed of Reformed churches, as most familiarly known, is called the Apostles’ Creed. It has received this title because of its great antiquity; it dates from very early times in the Church, a half century or so from the last writings of the New Testament

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;

He descended into hell. [See Calvin]

The third day He arose again from the dead;

He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.

Amen.