An Exposition of the Assembly's
Shorter Catechism
by
John Flavel
Q10. How did God create Man?
A. God created Man, Male and Female, after his own Image, in Knowledge, Righteousness, and Holiness, with Dominion over the Creatures.
Q. 1. How did God create man?
A. God created Man in his own Image. Genesis 1:27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them.
Q. 2. What is meant by the Image of God?
A. Not a resemblance of God in any bodily shape or figure, but in holiness. Ephesians 4:24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Q. 3. In what Graces did man resemble God?
A. In such a knowledge of God himself, and the Creatures, which made him happy. Colossians 3:10. And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him.
Q. 4. In what other Graces did this image consist?
A. In Righteousness as well as Holiness. Ephesians 4:24. And that ye jput on the new man, which after God was created in righteousness and true holiness.
Q. 5. What is the first Inference from hence?
A. The deplorable misery of the Fall. Romans 5:12. Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
Q. 6. What is the second Instruction hence?
A. The beauty of Holiness, which is the Image of God, and the Excellency of man. Psalm 16:3. But to the Saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight.
Q. 7. What is the third Instruction from hence?
A. We have infinite cause to bless God for Christ, who repairs this lost Image in his people. Ephesians 4:23. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
Q. 8. What is the fourth Instruction from hence?
A. That the despisers of Holiness are the despisers of God; for Holiness is God's Image.
Q. 9. What's the fifth Instruction from hence?
A. The excellency of Sanctification, which defaces the Image of Satan, and draws the Image of God upon the Soul of Man.