=I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.=
_That is_,
I believe that God has made me and all other creatures; that He has
given me body and soul, eyes, ears, and all other members, my reason,
and all my senses.
I also believe that He preserves all He has made, and that He daily
provides me with all I need; giving me clothing and food, home and
family, and every good thing.
I further believe that He protects me from all danger, and keeps me
from all evil; not because I have deserved it, but because He is a
loving and merciful Father.
For all these blessings it is my duty to serve Him thankfully and
obediently all the days of my life.
All this is certainly true.
_123. What do you mean when you say, "I believe in God the
Father"?_
I believe that God is the Father of Jesus Christ, and my Father; and I
surrender myself to Him, trusting with all my heart in His grace and
love.
_124. Why do we call God the Maker of heaven and earth?_
Because He has made heaven and earth to come forth by His almighty Word.
=Ps. 33:9. He spoke, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood
fast.=
_125. Does God yet care for what He has made?_
Yes; by His watchful care He preserves and governs all things.
_126. How does God preserve all things?_
He lets all things continue as long as He thinks well, and He cares
like a father for all His creatures.
=Gen. 8:22. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and
cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall
not cease.=
=Acts 17:25. He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.=
=Ps. 104:27. These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them
their meat in due season.=
_127. For whom does God care most?_
For man; and especially for His believing children.
=Matt. 6:26, 27, 28, 30. Behold the fowls of the air: for they
sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your
heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?=
=Which of you by taking thought, can add one cubit to his stature?=
=And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the
field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin.=
=Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day
is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more
clothe you, O ye of little faith?=
_128. How does God govern men with regard to their sins?_
He suffers them to sin, sets limits to their sinning, and so guides
the result that everything will be for their good who love Him.
=Gen. 50:20. [R. V.] Ye meant evil against me; but God meant it
for good.=
_129. Do we always understand the ways of God's providence?_
No; His ways are often hidden from our eyes; but even then they are
the kindest and best.
=Isa. 55:8, 9. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are
your ways my ways, saith the Lord.=
=For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.=
_130. In whose care may you therefore safely leave yourself?_
In God's care, who protects me from all danger, and keeps me from all
evil.
=1 Pet. 5:7. Casting all your care upon him: for he careth for
you.=
_131. Have you deserved all this?_
Not in the least; He does all this, not because I have deserved it,
but because He is a loving and merciful Father.
=Gen. 32:10. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and
of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant.=
_132. What do you owe God for all his goodness?_
It is my duty to serve Him thankfully and obediently all the days of
my life.
=Ps. 103:2. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his
benefits.=
_133. Which are the most excellent of the heavenly creatures?_
The holy angels.
_134. What is the work of the holy angels?_
They praise God, and serve him, especially by ministering to His
children.
=Heb. 1:14. Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to
minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.=
_135. Are there not also evil angels?_
Yes; there are evil angels who have fallen away from God through pride
and disobedience, and are forever excluded from fellowship with Him.
The devil is their king.
_136. Which is the most excellent of the earthly creatures?_
Man, to whom God gave power to rule over the earth.
_137. What was the character of man as he was made by God?_
Adam and Eve were innocent, without sin, and like God.
=Gen. 1:27. [R. V.] God made man in his own image, in the image
of God made he him: male and female made he them.=
_138. In what did the image of God in man consist?_
In true wisdom, righteousness and holiness, peace and joy.
=Eph. 4:24. Put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and holiness.=
_139. What benefit did the human body have from the image of God?_
Perfect health, immortality, and a life free from care in Paradise.
_140. Did our first parents remain innocent and without sin?_
No; they sinned and lost the image of God, and thus sin and death
entered into the world.
=Gen. 2:17. In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely
die.=
=Rom. 6:23. The wages of sin is death.=
_141. In what did their sin consist?_
It consisted especially in the unbelief of their hearts and in their
selfishness and disobedience.
_142. Who led them astray?_
They permitted the devil to lead them astray.
=Gen. 3:1-5.=
=John 8:44. The devil was a murderer from the beginning, and
abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. For he
is a liar, and the father of it.=
_143. How has sin injured the human soul?_