To Be a Christian: The Anglican Catechism in a Year

Today is day 364 and we are studying the section on Justification and Sanctification: Living in Forgiveness and Healing. 367. For what does sanctification prepare you? Sanctification enables me to serve and bear witness to Christ in this life, and prepares me for the glory of God in the world to come. There I will be completely freed from sin and conformed to the likeness of my Lord, whom I will s...

Today is day 363 and we are studying the Section on Justification and Sanctification: Living in Forgiveness and Healing. 365. How does the Church assist in your sanctification? The Church’s joyful worship, faithful teaching, grace-filled sacraments, Gospel-shaped calendar, compassionate ministry, loving discipline, and caring fellowship all assist my growth in Christ and are channels of God’s abun...

Today is day 362 and we are studying the section on Justification and Sanctification: Living in Forgiveness and Healing. 364. What is this healing called? This healing is called “sanctification,” which means to be made whole and holy. By the work of the Holy Spirit, my mind, will, and desires are increasingly transformed and conformed to the character of Jesus Christ. (Proverbs 2; John 17:15–17; R...

Today is day 361 and we are studying the section on Justification and Sanctification: Living in Forgiveness and Healing. 363. How does Jesus heal you? Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, as I continue in repentance and faith, Jesus mends my disordered soul from the effects of sin in my mind, will, and desires. (2 Chronicles 7:12–14; Psalms 25:4–11; 41:4; 103:1–5; 2 Corinthians 3:17–18) We will co...

Today is day 360 and we are studying the section on Justification and Sanctification: Living in Forgiveness and Healing. 362. Are you still affected by your sin, despite God’s forgiveness? Yes. My sinful actions can harm my relationship with God, do lasting damage to others, and leave me conflicted within myself. I live in constant need of Christ’s healing grace. (2 Samuel 12:1–23; Psalm 32:1–5; M...

Today is day 359 and we are studying the section on Justification and Sanctification: Living in Forgiveness and Healing. 361. Does God’s forgiveness excuse you from personal obedience? No. God has reconciled me to himself and freed me from bondage to sin in order to conform me to the image of his Son. As I live each day in gratitude for God’s forgiveness, I seek to turn from sin and follow Christ...

Today is day 358 and we are studying the Section on Justification and Sanctification: Living in Forgiveness and Healing. 359. What do you receive through Christ’s sacrifice? I receive the unmerited gift of God’s grace. If I confess my sins, God grants me forgiveness and pardon through Christ’s blood shed for me. (Psalm 32:1–2; Isaiah 53:10–11; John 3:16–18; 2 Corinthians 5:19–21; Hebrews 9:11–15;...

Today is day 357 and we are studying the Section on Justification and Sanctification: Living in Forgiveness and Healing. 357. Is it possible for you to keep these commandments? No. I fail to keep them perfectly, however hard I try. They show me my inability to obey God’s Law and my need for God’s grace in Christ Jesus. (1 Kings 8:46; Psalms 53:2–3; 130:3; Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3...

Today is day 356 and we are studying The Tenth Commandment. 356. How can you keep this commandment? I can keep this commandment by learning contentment: seeking first the kingdom of God, meditating on God’s provision in creation and in my life, cultivating gratitude for what I have and simplicity in what I want, and practicing joyful generosity toward others. (Exodus 35:20–29; 36:2–5; Psalms 104;...

Today is day 355 and we are studying The Tenth Commandment. 355. What did Jesus teach about this commandment? Jesus taught us not to seek anxiously after possessions, but to put our trust in God; and he showed us how to live by taking the form of a servant, and loving and trusting his Father in all things. (Matthew 6:19–34; Acts 8:9–24; Philippians 2:3–11) We will conclude today by praying Proper...

Today is day 354 and we are studying The Tenth Commandment. 354. How can covetousness lead to other sins? Covetousness begins with discontent and, as it grows in the heart, can lead to sins such as idolatry, adultery, and theft. (2 Samuel 11; 1 Kings 21:1–19; Proverbs 1:8–19; James 1:14–15) We will conclude today by praying the Collect for the Third Sunday in Lent found on page 606 of the Book of...

Today is day 353 and we are studying The Tenth Commandment. 353. Why do you covet? I covet because I do not trust God to provide what I need, and I do not remain content with what I have; rather, I persist in envy and desire. (Proverbs 14:30; 23:17–18; Luke 12:13–21; Galatians 5:17–21) We will conclude today by praying the Collect for the Seventh Sunday of Epiphany found on page 603 of the Book of...

Today is day 352 and we are studying The Tenth Commandment. 352. Why does God forbid coveting? God forbids coveting because it breeds enmity with my neighbor, makes me captive to ungodly desire, and leads me into further sins. (Deuteronomy 7:25; Proverbs 12:12; Ephesians 5:5; James 4:2) We will conclude today by praying the Taw Stanza of Psalm 119 which is verses 169-176 found on page 439 of the B...

Today is day 351 and we are studying The Tenth Commandment. 351. What does the tenth commandment forbid you to covet? It forbids me to covet my neighbor’s property, possessions, relationships, or status, or anything else that is my neighbor’s. (Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21; Job 31:7–12, 24–28) We will conclude today by praying the He Stanza of Psalm 119 which is verses 33-40 found on page 429 of...

Today is day 350 and we are studying The Tenth Commandment. 350. What does it mean to covet? Coveting is the disordered desire for what belongs to another or what I am unable to have by law, by gift, or by right. (Joshua 7:1, 10–26) We will conclude today by praying the Collect for Saint Matthew found on page 632 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Chr...

Today is day 349 and we are studying The Tenth Commandment. 349. What is the tenth commandment? The tenth commandment is “You shall not covet . . . anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21) We will conclude today by praying the Decalogue found on page 100 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.ne...

Today is day 348 and we are studying The Ninth Commandment. 348. How does keeping this commandment help you to become like Christ? By practicing love and truthfulness in speech, I grow in self-restraint, kindness, and honesty, so that I may know God with a mind free of deception, praise him with an undefiled tongue, and more truly love my neighbor. (Proverbs 8:1–17; Matthew 15:10–20; Ephesians 5:1...

Today is day 347 and we are studying The Ninth Commandment.347. Must you always speak the whole truth? To keep a confidence or to protect the innocent, I may at times need to withhold the whole truth; and I should always exercise discretion, that my candor may not needlessly cause harm. (Exodus 1:15–21; Joshua 2:1–14; Proverbs 11:13)We will conclude today by praying the Collect for Saint Matthias...

Today is day 346 and we are studying The Ninth Commandment. 346. When is it right to speak of your neighbor’s sins? I am forbidden to gossip or slander, but I must speak the truth in love, reporting crime, speaking against injustice, and advocating for the helpless. (Leviticus 19:17–18; Proverbs 28:23; 31:8–9; Matthew 18:15–17; Ephesians 4:15–16; James 5:19–20) We will conclude today by praying Th...

Today is day 345 and we are studying The Ninth Commandment. 345. What sort of speech should you practice instead? I should speak at all times with love, wisdom, and truth, so that my words may honor God, and comfort and encourage my neighbor. (Psalm 32:2; Proverbs 12:17–20; 14:25; 15:1–4; Zechariah 8:16–17; Matthew 5:33–37; Ephesians 4:25) We will conclude today by praying The Invititory in the Da...

Today is day 344 and we are studying The Ninth Commandment. 344. What other acts are forbidden by this commandment? This commandment forbids all lying, slander, or gossip; all manipulative, deceitful, or insulting speech; and testifying falsely about myself for personal gain. (Leviticus 19:15–17; Psalm 12:2–3; Proverbs 10:18; 11:12; 16:28; Matthew 5:21–22; Romans 16:17–18; 1 Peter 2:1) We will con...

Today is day 343 and we are studying The Ninth Commandment. 343. How is false witness given in respect to the teaching of the Church? All false or misleading teaching concerning the Christian faith bears false witness against the truth of God’s Word and abuses the authority given by Christ to his Body. (Deuteronomy 13; Matthew 24:3–14; 2 Peter 2:1–3; 1 John 2:18–27)) We will conclude today by pray...

Today is day 342 and we are studying The Ninth Commandment. 342. How is false witness given in public life? Any willful misrepresentation of the truth in legal, civic, or business affairs bears false witness, rebels against God’s will, and subverts God’s justice. (Exodus 23:1–3; Leviticus 6:1–7; Proverbs 11:1; 24:23–26, 28–29; Acts 6:8–15) We will conclude today by praying The Collect for the Rene...

Today is day 341 and we are studying The Ninth Commandment. 341. Why does God forbid such false witness? Because it defames and wounds my neighbor, erodes my love of truth, disobeys my Lord Jesus, and aligns me with Satan, the father of lies. (Psalm 52:1–5; Proverbs 25:18; Jeremiah 9:3–9; John 8:42–47) We will conclude today by praying Prayer 87.For Participation in the Peace of God found on page...

Today is day 340 and we are studying The Ninth Commandment. 340. What is bearing false witness against your neighbor? It is to willfully communicate a falsehood about my neighbor, either in legal or in other matters, in order to misrepresent them. (Deuteronomy 19:16–19; Psalm 109; Proverbs 12:17; Matthew 26:57–61) We will conclude today by praying The Qoph Stanza of Psalm 119 which is verses 145-1...