Primitive Methodist Church CATECHISM For use in Young People's Societies Sunday Schools and Family Prayers With Scripture References ----------- by Rev. S. T. Nicholls ----------- Authorized by the Book and Publishing Committee of the Primitive Methodist Church ----------- Enoch L. George General Conference Publisher
5. What doctrines are held and taught by the Primitive Methodists? We take the Bible to be the only true rule of faith and practice, as being the inspired Word of God, and hold its declarations final, and that it teaches the following doctrines: (1) The existence of one triune God--Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (2) The Deity of Jesus Christ. (3) The Deity and personality of the Holy Spirit. (4) The innocence of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. (5) The fall of man. (6) The redemption of the race by thme Lord Jesus Christ. (7) The necessity of repentance, including godly sorrow for sin and reformation of life. (8) The justification by faith of all who repent. (9) Regeneration, witnessed by the Holy Spirit. (10) Sanctification by the Holy Spirit, producing holiness of heart and life. (11) The resurrection of the dead, and the conscious future existence of all men. (12) The general judgment, and eternal rewards and punishments. The Catechism, Page 16 THE CATECHISM ---------- Note to the Instructor The object is to furnish the student with Bible answers to all the questions rather than teach dogmatically. See that each pupil is provided with a Bible. ---------- CHAPTER I. God Father - Son - Holy Spirit 1. Who is God? God is the creator, preserver, and governor of all things--the heavens and the earth and all that live in them. Gen. 1. 2. How many Gods are there? There is but one God. Deu. 4:39. I Cor. 8:4. 3. How many persons are there in the Godhead? Three. The Father--Son--and Holy Spirit. I John 5:7. 4. Had God a beginning? No. He always existed, and will live forever. He is eternal. Psa. 90:1,2. 5. Where is God? God is everywhere. He is omnipresent. Jer. 23:24. 6. What is God's character? God is love. I John 4:8. God is holy. Lev. 19:2. God is just. Rev. 15:3. God is good. Psa. 145:9. God is merciful. Ex. 34:6,7. The Catechism, Page 1
7. What is our duty to God? We should love, trust, obey and serve Him. CHAPTER II. The Angels 1. What are the angels? They are spiritual beings, intelligent and immortal. Heb. 1:7. 2. Are the angels holy? Some of the angels are holy. Matt. 25:31. 3. Are there many holy angels? There are thousands of holy angels. Rev. 5:11. 4. What is the employment of the holy angels? They celebrate God's praise. They study God's works. They minister to God's people. They watch over God's people. Heb. 1:14. Psa. 91:11. 5. What became of the angels who sinned? They were cast out of heaven. II Peter 2:4. 6. What are the angels who were casgt out of heaven called? Devils and evil spirits. James 2:19. 7. What do the evil spirits do? They tempt us to disobey God and to do wrong. Matt. 4:1. John 13:2. 8. Will the unholy angels be judged for their conduct? They are reserved unto the judgment of the great day. Jude 6. II Peter 2:4. The Catechism, Page 2 General Principles and Doctrines of the Primitive Methodist Church ---------- 1. What is the Primitive Methodist Church? The Primitive Methodist Church is a community of Protestant Christians, united for mutual helpin the perfecting of Christian character for promoting vital Christianity in the earth, and aiding in extending the kingdom of Christ throughout the world. 2. What does it acknowledge? We acknowledge the right of Christian people to associate themselves in denominations, and formulate such policy for their government as they deem agreeable to the Word of God. 3. What does it recognize? We recognize in our church but one order of ministry--elders; the mutual rights of the ministry and laity; and equal representation to the Annual and General Conferences. 4. What rights are accorded the people? All persons have the right of private judgment in matters of religion, and an equal right to express their opinions in any way which does not infringe upon the rights of other persons, and none of our preachers or members are allowed to teach doctrines contrary to those named below. The Catechism, Page 15
Morning Prayer Heavenly Father, I thank thee for thy watchful care over me during the night. Keep and bless me this day, and make me a blessing. Give me grace to hate every evil way, and to love all that is good. Help me to love thee with all my heart. Grant unto me thy Holy Spirit to lead me into all the ways of truth and right. Grant these blessings through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. Evening Prayer Heavenly Father, I thank thee for the blessings of this day and for the presence of thy Holy Spirit with me. Pardon all thou hast seen wrong in my life this day and give me a clean heart. Thou canst protect from all harm, so keep me from evil while I sleep. Bless all my relations and friends and enemies. If it is thy holy will that I should die before I awake, take me to thyself in glory. These blessings I ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer Before Meals Heavenly Father, we thank thee for this food and for the kind hands which hae provided it. May we be nourished and strengthened by it to do service for thee and for each other. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. The Catechism, Page 14 CHAPTER III. Man His Creation and Sin 1. Who was the first man and who was the first woman? Adam and Eve. 2. How did God make Adam? Gen. 2:7. 3. How did God make Eve? Gen. 2:21, 22. 4. How is man's soul different from his body? The body is material and will return to dust. The soul is spiritual and never dies. Eccl. 12:7. 5. Where did our first parents live? In the garden of Eden. Gen. 2:8. 6. Were Adam and Eve created holy? God created them holy. Gen. 1:27. 7. How did Adam and Eve sin? By yielding to Satan and disobeying God. Gen. 3:3,6. 8. Who tempted them to sin? The serpent who is the devil. Gen. 3:13. 9. How did Adam and Eve act after they had sinned? They were afraid and hid themselves. Gen. 3:10. 10. What happened to Adam and Eve because of their sin? They entered upon a life of suffering. Gen. 3:17. They were put out of the garden. Gen. 3:24. The Catechism, Page 3
11. Will all people who sin suffer? Yes. Sin brings suffering in this life and in the life to come. Psa. 9:17. CHAPTER IV. Man His Redemption 1. Did God leave man to suffer the full consequences of his sin? No. God redeemed man. Luke 1:68. 2. How did God redeem man? By giving His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, as ransom. John 3:16. 3. What is a ransom? The price paid for our redemption. 4. What price did our Lord Jesus pay to redeem us? He left heaven and became man. Phil. 2:7, 8. 5. What else did he do? He suffered and died on the cross. Isa. 53:4. 6. What next did he do? He arose from the dead. Luke 24:5, 6. 7. What next did he do? He ascended into heaven. Luke 24:51. 8. What is he now doing? Making intercession for us. Heb. 7:25. Preparing a place for us. John 14:1, 2. 9. What has he promised to do for us? To come and receive us to heaven. John 14:3. The Catechism, Page 4 Beatitudes What are the Beatitudes? Jesus' declaration of blessedness in the sermon on the mount. Matt. 5:3-11. And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain; and when he was set his disciples came unto him. And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. The Catechism, Page 13
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservent, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's. 2. What is the new commandment which Jesus gave? The commandment of love. John 13:34. CHAPTER XV. The Apostle's Creed 1. What is the Apostles' creed? The confession of faith most widely accepted by Christians. 2. When was it formulated? As early as A. D. 500. 3. Repeat it. I believe in God the Father Almighty, 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; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at 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. CHAPTER V. Repentance 1. Since Jesus has died for us, what should we do to be saved? We should receive him as our Saviour. John 1:12. 2. What other thing should we do? We should repent of our sins. Luke 13:3. 3. What is repentance? It is sorrow for and turning away from sin. Ez. 14:6. 4. What other thing should we do to be saved? Make a public confession of Jesus. Rom. 10:9. 5. What will become of those who refuse to repent? They will be turned into hell. Psa. 9:17. Matt. 25:41. CHAPTER VI. Justification -- Regeneration -- Sanctification 1. What is justification? It is that Act of God by which he frees the sinner from the guilt of his sin and accepts him as righteous because of Christ's death. II Cor. 5:21. 2. How is justification obtained? By faith in Jesus. Rom. 5:1. 3. What is the state of one who is justified? He is very happy. Psa. 32:1, 2. The Catechism, Page 12 The Catechism, Page 5
4. When should we seek justification? Immediately. Isa. 1:18. 5. What is regeneration? It is the new birth of the soul by the Holy Spirit. John 3:8. 6. What does regeneration do for us? It saves us from the love of sin and enables us to keep God's commandments. Ez. 36:25-27. 7. What is adoption? It is that act of God by which we are made members of his kingdom. Rom. 8:15, 16. 8. What are the benefits of adoption? Adoption gives us a title to all the blessings of God's children. Rom. 8:17. 9. What is sanctification? It is holiness of heart and life. Eph. 1:4. 10. Can we be sanctified wholly? Yes. I Thes. 5:23. 11. Are we to seek for holiness? Yes. II Cor. 7:1. CHAPTER VII. Prayer 1. What is prayer? It is making known our desires to God by thought or word through our Lord Jesus Christ. John 16:23, 24. 2. Has God promised to answer prayer? Yes. Luke 11:13. Matt. 18:19. 3. Where should prayer be offered? Both in public and in private. I Tim. 2:8. Matt. 6:6. The Catechism, Page 6 earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear salse witness against thy neighbor. The Catechism, Page 11
5. What will make us fearless in the judgment? Love to God now. I Jon 4:17. CHAPTER XIII. Heaven and Hell 1. What are some names by which heaven is known? The Father's house. John 14:2. Paradise. II Cor. 12:2, 4. A heavenly country. Heb. 11:16. 2. What kind of a place is heaven? It is a place of perfect enjoyment. Rev. 21:4. 3. Who are excluded from heaven? The wicked. Gal. 5:21; Rev. 22:15. 4. What sort of a place is hell? Hell is a place of torment and great misery. Luke 13:28. 5. Should we warn people against going to hell? We should do all we can to persuade people to flee to Jesus Christ and escape the place of torment. Jude 23. CHAPTER XIV. The Commandments 1. What are the ten commandments? Ex. 20:3-17. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the The Catechism, Page 10 4. Say the Lord's Prayer. Matt. 6:9-13. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever. Amen. CHAPTER VIII. The Holy Scriptures 1. What is the Bible or Holy Scriptures? It is the book in which God makes known his will concerning mankind, and in which we learn our duty to both God and man. 2. Who wrote the Holy Scriptures? Good men who were appointed by God. II Tim. 3:16. 3. What is the Old Testament? It is that part of the Bible which was written before the birth of Christ. 4. What is the New Testament? It is that part of the Bible which was written after the birth of Christ. 5. Is the Bible all true? Yes. The Bible is all true, because it was given to us by God. 6. How can the Bible be understood? The Holy Spirit will explain it if we ask him. John 16:13. The Catechism, Page 7
CHAPTER IX. The Church 1. Who is the head of the church? Christ is the head of the church. Col. 1:18. 2. Who are the members of the church? They who have been pardoned and accepted of God. I Cor. 1:2. 3. Should not all persons seek pardon and unite with the church? All persons should seek at once the forgiveness of sin and entrance into the church as members of the body of Christ. John 17:21. CHAPTER X. The Sacraments 1. What is a sacrament? It is a sign and seal of the covenant of grace given by our Lord. 2. How many sacraments are there? Two. Baptism and the Lord's Supper. 3. What is baptism a symbol of? It is a symbol of inward and spiritual cleansing. Ez. 36:25. Acts 10:47, 48. 4. What is the Lord's Supper a symbol of? It is a symbol of the Lord's death. I Cor. 11:26. 5. Are baptism and the Lord's Supper seals as well as symbols? They are seals by which God announces to us his purpose of fulfilling his promises, and by which we enter into obligation to keep his commandments. The Catechism, Page 8 CHAPTER XI. The Resurrection 1. What is meant by the resurrection? It means that our bodies shall rise again from the dead. John 5:28, 29. 2. Did Jesus rise from the dead? Yes, aftr he had been dead three days. Mark 16:6. 3. Is Christ's resurrection a pledge of ours? Yes, because he has risen from the dead, we shall rise. I Cor. 15:20. 4. What kind of bodies will believers have in the resurrection? Glorious, I Cor. 15:43; Powerful, I Cor. 15:43; Spiritual, I Cor. 15:44; Immortal, I Cor. 15:53. 5. Who will all the dead bodies out of their graves? Our Lord. John 5:28, 29. CHAPTER XII. The Judgment 1. Will the people be judged by the Lord? All will appear before him for judgment. II Cor. 5:10. 2. Of what will people be judged? Of all they have thought, said, and done. Matt. 12:36, 37; Eccl. 12:14. 3. What will our Lord say to the righteous? Matt. 25:34. 4. What will our Lord say to the wicked? Matt. 25:41. The Catechism, Page 9