To Be a Christian: The Anglican Catechism in a Year

Today is day 44 and we are on the section on the First Article of the Apostles' Creed on God the Father Almighty. Today we are on the third line: “Creator of Heaven and Earth” and studying question 44. 44. What does it mean that God created both heaven and earth? It means that all things, whether visible or invisible, physical or spiritual, were brought into being out of nothing by the Word of the...

Today is day 43 and we are on the section on the First Article of the Apostles' Creed on God the Father Almighty. Today we are on the third line: “Creator of Heaven and Earth” and studying question 43. 43. How does recognizing God as Creator inform your understanding of his creation? I acknowledge that God created for his own glory everything that exists. He created human beings, male and female,...

Today is day 42 and we are on the section on the First Article of the Apostles' Creed on God the Father Almighty. Today we are on the third line: “Creator of Heaven and Earth” and studying question 42. 42. Why do you call God the Father “Creator”? I call God the Father “Creator” because he made all things. He creates and sustains all things through his Word, and gives life to all creatures through...

Today is day 41 and we are on the section on the First Article of the Apostles' Creed on God the Father Almighty. Today we are on the second line: “The Father Almighty” and studying question 41. 41. Why do you call God the Father “Almighty”? I call the Father “Almighty” because he has power over everything and accomplishes everything he wills. Together with his Son and Holy Spirit, the Father is a...

Today is day 40 and we are on the section on the First Article of the Apostles' Creed on God the Father Almighty. Today we are on the second line: “The Father Almighty” and studying question 40. 40. What do you mean when you call God “Father”? When I call God “Father,” I declare that I was created for relationship with him, that I trust in God as my Protector and Provider, and that I put my hope i...

Today is day 39 and we are on the section on the First Article of the Apostles' Creed on God the Father Almighty. Today we are on the second line: “The Father Almighty” and studying question 39. 39. Why do you call the first of the three divine Persons “Father”? Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only divine Son of the Father. He called God “Father” and taught his disciples to do the same. God gives bel...

Today is day 38 and we are on the section on the First Article of the Apostles' Creed on God the Father Almighty. Today we are on the second line: “The Father Almighty” and studying question 38. 38. Who is God the Father? God the Father is the first Person of the Holy Trinity, from whom the Son is eternally begotten and the Holy Spirit eternally proceeds. (Psalm 104; John 1:1, 14; 15:26; 1 Corinth...

Today is day 37 and we are on the section on the First Article of the Apostles' Creed on God the Father Almighty. Today we are on the first line: “I Believe in God” and studying question 37. 37. What does Holy Scripture tell us about the character of God? God is both loving and holy. God mercifully redeems fallen creation, while righteously opposing all sin and evil. The Lord Jesus Christ is the f...

Today is day 36 and we are beginning the section on the First Article of the Apostles' Creed on God the Father Almighty. Today we are on the first line: “I Believe in God” and studying question 36. 36. Who is God? God is one divine Being eternally existing in three divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is the Holy Trinity. (Deuteronomy 6:4–7; Psalm 86:8–10; Isaiah 44:6–8;...

Today is day 25 and we are concluding the section Concerning Holy Scripture with question 35. 35. What is the Apocrypha? The fourteen books of the Apocrypha, historically acknowledged by this church, are pre-Christian Jewish writings that provide background for the New Testament and are included in many editions of the Bible. They may be read as examples of faithful living but “not to establish an...

Today is day 34 and we are in the section Concerning Holy Scripture on question 34. 34. How does the Holy Spirit use Holy Scripture in your life? Through Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit will teach, rebuke, correct, and train me in the righteousness that God desires. The prayerful study of Scripture forms me for life in Christ and the service of God and my neighbor. (Psalm 119:105; John 14:26; 2 Ti...

Today is day 33 and we are in the section Concerning Holy Scripture on question 33. 33. How should Holy Scripture be understood? Because Holy Scripture was given by God to the Church, it should always be understood in ways that are faithful to its own plain meaning, to its entire teaching, and to the Church’s historic interpretation. It should be translated, read, taught, and obeyed accordingly. (...

Today is day 32 and we are in the section Concerning Holy Scripture on question 32. 32. Why is Jesus Christ called the Word of God? The fullness of God’s revelation is found in Jesus Christ, who not only fulfills the Scriptures, but is himself God’s Word, the living expression of God’s mind. The Scriptures testify about him, “In the beginning was the Word,” and “The Word became flesh and dwelt amo...

Today is day 31 and we are in the section Concerning Holy Scripture on question 31. 31. What does it mean that Holy Scripture is the Word of God? The Old and New Testaments are inspired by the Holy Spirit and are therefore the Word of God written. God is revealed in his mighty works and in the incarnation of our Lord, which are made known through the inspired writings of the biblical authors. God...

Today is day 30 and we are in the section Concerning Holy Scripture on question 30. 30. What does it mean that Holy Scripture is inspired? Holy Scripture is “God-breathed,” for the biblical authors wrote under the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit to record God’s Word. (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:19–21) Our prayer today is the Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent fou...

Today is day 29 and we are in the section Concerning Holy Scripture on question 29. 29. How are the Old and New Testaments related to each other? The Old Testament is to be read in the light of Christ, and the New Testament is to be read in light of God’s revelation to Israel. Thus the two form one Holy Scripture, which reveals the Person of Jesus Christ and his mighty works. As Saint Augustine sa...

Today is day 28 and we are in the section Concerning Holy Scripture on question 28. 28. What is the New Testament? The New Testament proclaims Jesus Christ’s birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension; the Church’s early ministry; the teaching of the apostles; the revelation of Christ’s eternal kingdom; and the promise of his return. (Luke 24:45–49; Acts 1:1–11; Philippians 2:5–11)...

Today is day 27 and we are in the section Concerning Holy Scripture on question 27. 27. What is the Old Testament? The Old Testament proclaims God’s creation of all things; mankind’s original disobedience; God’s calling of Israel to be his people; his Law, wisdom, and saving deeds; and the teaching of his prophets. The Old Testament bears witness to Christ, revealing God’s intention to redeem and...

Today is day 26 and we are in the section Concerning Holy Scripture on question 26. 26. What books are contained in Holy Scripture? The thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament together form the whole of Holy Scripture. (Articles of Religion, 6) Our prayer today is the Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent found on page 598 of the Book of Common Pray...

Today is day 25 and we are beginning the section Concerning Holy Scripture with question 25. 25. What is Holy Scripture? Holy Scripture is “God’s Word written” (Articles of Religion, 20), given by the Holy Spirit through prophets and apostles as the revelation of God and his acts in human history, and is therefore the Church’s final authority in all matters of faith and practice. (Psalm 19:7–11; J...

Today is day 24 and we are concluding the section Concerning the Creeds with question 24. 24. What is the Apostles' Creed? The Apostles’ Creed says: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buri...

Today is day 23 and we are in the section Concerning the Creeds on question 23. 23. Why should you know these creeds? I should know these creeds because they state the essential beliefs of the Christian faith. (Deuteronomy 11:18–19; 1 Timothy 6:20–21; 2 Timothy 1:13–14) Our prayer today is the Seventh Proper Collect found on page 615 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or...

Today is day 22 and we are in the section Concerning the Creeds on question 22. 22. Why do you receive and believe these creeds? I receive and believe these creeds with the Church because they are grounded in Holy Scripture and are faithful expressions of its teaching. (Proverbs 13:14; 1 Corinthians 15:3–11; Philippians 2:5–11) Our prayer today is the Seventh Proper Collect found on page 615 of th...

Today is day 21 and we are in the section Concerning the Creeds on question 21. Since today's question does not include scripture references, we will be reading two of the three creeds received by the ACNA - the Nicene Creed and Athanasian Creed. The third, The Apostles' Creed, will be read on day 24. 21. Which creeds has this church received? This church believes the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene C...

Today is day 20 and we are in the section Concerning the Creeds on question 20. 20. What does belief in the creeds signify? Belief in the creeds signifies acceptance of God’s revealed truth and the intention to live by it. To reject any element of the creeds signifies a departure from the Christian faith. (Matthew 16:13–20; 2 Timothy 3:14–15; 4:1–5; James 2:10–26)Our prayer today is The Collect fo...