Catechism Question 8
What does God demand of you?
God demands that I be perfect in holiness, love, and integrity.
Focus and Purpose of this Question
In this question we are making the link between God’s character as defined in question 16 and what He demands of us as creatures made in His image. Since God is perfect in holiness, love, and integrity, He demands the same of us. This is seen in His law, as we will show over the next several questions.
In essence, this question is meant to show us that what God requires of us is to be like Him in character. Note that we are not like Him in His Being – Eternal, Infinite, and Sovereign. We are creatures – not the Creator – and so we can not be like God in His Being. Yet, we were created with the capacity to be like Him in His character. This is what He demands of us.
Additional Questions:
What does God command you to be like?
What do you owe God as your Creator?
Scripture References:
Matthew 5:48
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Deuteronomy 18:13
You shall be blameless before the LORD your God.
Leviticus 19:2
Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.’
1 Peter 1:15-16
But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Luke 6:36
Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Ephesians 5:1-2
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Leviticus 19:11
You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.
Psalm 101:7
No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.
Micah 6:8
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?
Questions for Further Discussion:
Why does God have a right to demand anything of us?
Why is it that we must be holy, loving, and full of integrity? Who are we being commanded to be like?
How does this demand relate to our being created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever?
If we are to be like God in His character (holy, loving, full of integrity), why are we not also to be like Him in His Being – eternal and infinite? Can we be eternal or infinite? Is it wrong for us to be finite and bound by time?
What does it mean to be holy? How does holiness look in a persons life?
What does it mean to be loving? What does love look like in a persons life?
What does it mean to be full of integrity? What does it look like in a persons life? (Note that integrity has two parts – truthfulness and faithfulness/consistency of action).
Additional Information:
This question is based on question 39 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism and question 7 of the New City Catechism. Any resources you find on the Westminster Shorter or New City Catechisms will have a good discussion on this question.
For additional information, see the teaching “What Does God Demand of You?” (October 7, 2019), and “What God Demands – And Gives” (September 19, 2010).
Suggested Worship Song:
He Has Shown Thee (based on Micah 6:8)
He has shown thee, O man
What is good and what the LORD requires of thee. (2x)
But to do justly,
And to love mercy,
And to walk humbly with thy God.