Catechism Series The REAL Purpose-Driven Life (Q1-2)

Isaiah 26:1-10, focusing on verse 8 Intro: There is something in man that yearns to know his purpose. He innately knows that he was created and placed on this planet to do something just left to himself though, He will never get to the bottom of it. Tonight we kick off a study of the Shorter Catechism and it begins with the reality of the purpose for which we are created in its first two questions:

Q1: What is the chief end of man? A1: Man's chief end is to glorify God, (Romans 11:36; 1 Cor 10:31) and to enjoy him forever (Psalm 73:24-26) Q2: What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? A2: The word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. (Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31; Galatians 1:8-9; 2 Tim 3:15-17)

To unpack this, there are five questions we need to work through: 1. What is the purpose of man? Immediately I need to re-work that question. The Catechism rightly asks, What is the chief end of man meaning that there are lesser purposes for man as well. Some of these would include: y Exercising dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26) y Replenish and fill the earth (Genesis 1:28) y To do justice and love kindness (Micah 6:8)

Catechism Series The REAL Purpose-Driven Life (Q1-2)

Micah 6:8 is an interesting passage because it introduces us to the heart of man s true purpose [8] He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 ESV) Walking with God is the umbrella under which two things come: 1. Glorifying God manifesting His glory with the lips (Psa 50:23) and with the life (Matt 5:16) (John Flavel, Exposition of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism) 2. Enjoying Him forever a. This happens now as we take delight in who He is and what He has done Psa 73:24-26 b. This will also happen fully in the world to come when we will be satisfied with His eternal glory for ever Speaking on this, Thomas Watson, in his Body of Divinity, writes: If there is enough in God to satisfy the angels, then there sure enough will be enough to satisfy us

2. Why is this his purpose? Well, consider two things with me: y Consider who God is Watson again notes, God is the chief good...he is the fountain good. All other goodness is but second-hand goodness. Remember what the Bible says in Romans 11:36 - For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Catechism Series The REAL Purpose-Driven Life (Q1-2)

y Consider who man is he s a creature, fully dependent on the Almighty for everything. For from Him...are all things 3. How does he fulfil this purpose? y He does not do this by adding something to God that He doesn t already possess (Job 35:7) y Rather he begins to fulfil His purpose through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus. The Pharisees were said to reject the purpose of God by not submitting to baptism (cf. Luke 7:29-30) y We continue to fulfil this purpose by sanctification (cf 1 Thess 4:1-3) y We live out this purpose of glorifying God and enjoying Him forever by living ALL of our lives before the face of God (cf. 1 Cor 10:31, Colossians 3:7, 1 Pet 4:11) Sounds like a grand design, right? Yes it is but with every grand design comes a blueprint. 4. What is the blueprint for fulfilling this purpose? Now this is crucial to understand and the writers of the Catechism knew it so in the second question they deal with it straight up. We re using the Shorter Catechism in the longer edition of the Catechism, there is the initial question of the chief end of man and then FOUR questions on the blueprint for this purpose the Scriptures. Without the Bible, we would know nothing of our purpose. God s blueprint for men involves the Scriptures as we have them in the Old and New Testaments. As we look at this point, let s walk up to this blueprint and as we do, we ll see 2 Timothy 3:16-17 up top and four dimensions noted for our consideration: y y y y Doctrine: What we believe and why we believe it Reproof: Gentle reminders of where we come short Correction: Showing us what is God s way in relation to the false Instruction: Pointing out and putting us on the right way to walk

Catechism Series The REAL Purpose-Driven Life (Q1-2)

Thomas Watson once again has a brilliant deal to say on the place of the Bible: The design of the Word is to be a test whereby our grace is to be tried, a seamark to show us what rocks to be avoided. The Word is to sublimate and quicken our affections; it is to be directory and consolatory; it is to waft us over to the land of promise. Some thoughts about the necessity of the Bible: 1. It is God s speaking to us we call it the Word of God for a reason 2. It is the only sure way of hearing what God has said 2 Peter 1:16-21 3. It is the perfect revelation of what the Lord would have us to know and to do for Him 4. How should we live in light of this? y Be hungry for God Matthew 5:6 y Be hungry for the truth of His Word Job 23:12, 1 Peter 1:22-2:3 In the words of Jesus: If you know these things, blessed (HAPPY) are you if do them! (John 13:17)