Westminster Larger Catechism (Q 179-181)

Dear Church Family,

This past Sunday, in our weekly Sunday school lessons in the Westminster Larger Catechism (WLC), we studied and discussed questions 179-181. Here is a brief review.

We are in the final sections of the Larger Catechism in which we have been learning about the ordinary means of grace: the ministry of the Word, the sacraments, and prayer. Having studied the questions regarding the ministry of the Word (WLC 155-160), sacraments (161-177), we began our study of prayer in WLC 178 and the definition of prayer.

WLC 179  Are we to pray unto God only?
A. God only being able to search the hearts, hear the requests, pardon the sins, and fulfil the desire of all; and only to be believed in, and worshipped with religious worship; prayer, which is a special part thereof, is to be made by all to him alone, and to none other.

In systematic theology, it is common to speak of the three Persons of the trinity in terms of their ontology and economy. The ontological Trinity refers to the character or being of the three Persons of the Godhead; the economic Trinity refers to their activity. Here, in WLC 179, we have similar categories in providing the reasons for which we ought to pray only to God and to no other.

First, economically speaking, God has certain unique abilities for which we ought to pray only to Him. He is the only being able to: search the hearts of all men (Romans 8:26-27); hear the requests of all men (Psalm 65:1-2); pardon the sins of all men (Micah 7:18); and fulfill the desire of all men (Psalm 145:18). Interestingly, when Jesus heals the paralytic who was let down through the roof by his four friends (Mark 2:1-12), Jesus shows that He is able to do all four of these things, proving that He is divine.

Second, ontologically speaking, God has certain unique characteristics for which we ought to pray only to Him. He is the only being who is worthy to be believed in (1 Timothy 2:5-6) and worthy to be worshipped with religious worship (Matthew 4:10). Again, the New Testament testifies to Jesus’ divinity by speaking of His worthiness in these same terms (John 6:67-69; Revelation 5:11-14).

WLC 180  What is it to pray in the name of Christ?
A. To pray in the name of Christ is, in obedience to his command, and in confidence on his promises, to ask mercy for his sake; not by bare mentioning of his name, but by drawing our encouragement to pray, and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in prayer, from Christ and his mediation.

To pray in the name of Christ is not a bare mentioning of His name as some sort of magical incantation (Matthew 7:21). Rather, to pray in the name of Christ is, in obedience and confidence, to ask mercy for His sake. Simply put, praying in the name of Christ means that we make His glory and reputation the ultimate goal of our prayers. There are some wonderful examples in Scripture of praying in Christ’s name, asking mercy for His sake. While in exile in Babylon, Daniel confesses the sins of the people praying that the Lord would have mercy on the people who bear His name in order that His name would be glorified (Daniel 9:16-19). When God communicated to Moses His intention to destroy the people of Israel, Moses interceded on their behalf (Exodus 32:9-14). Part of Moses’ argument was to pray that the LORD would relent and change His mind so that His reputation among the nations would not be tarnished. We will examine this latter example in more detail in the sermon this Sunday.

To pray in the name of Christ also is means that we draw encouragement, boldness, strength and hope from the mediation of Christ. As the only mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5), Christ Jesus is our great high priest who, in His incarnation was tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. His mediation is a sympathetic one in which we may find confidence to draw near to the throne of grace and find mercy (Hebrews 4:14-16).

WLC 181  Why are we to pray in the name of Christ?
A. The sinfulness of man, and his distance from God by reason thereof, being so great, as that we can have no access into his presence without a mediator; and there being none in heaven or earth appointed to, or fit for, that glorious work but Christ alone, we are to pray in no other name but his only.

There are two main reasons for which we ought to pray in the name of Christ. First, the distance between God and man due to our own sin is so great that we require a mediator; as the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father in heaven except through Christ (John 14:6).

Second, in the covenant of grace, Christ is the only one appointed by the Father who is fit for the glorious work of mediation. As eternal God, Jesus continues forever and holds His priesthood permanently. He is holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike earthly priests, He does not need to make sacrifice for His own sins and then for the people; His sacrificial work was completed when He offered Himself up for our sins (Hebrews 7:23-28).

Join us in our continuing study of the Westminster Larger Catechism on Sunday mornings as we learn more about how God’s Word directs and helps us to pray!

The Lord be with you!
Pastor Peter M. Dietsch