Baltimore Catechism No. 4 (of 4) - An Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism of Christian Doctrine by Thomas L. Kinkead
page 64 of 443 (14%)
page 64 of 443 (14%)
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"Heaven," where God is and will always be. It means, too, everything we see in the sky above us. "Earth," the globe on which we live. *33 Q. How did God create Heaven and earth? A. God created Heaven and earth from nothing, by His word only; that is, by a single act of His all-powerful will. 34 Q. Which are the chief creatures of God? A. The chief creatures of God are angels and men. 35 Q. What are angels? A. Angels are pure spirits without a body, created to adore and enjoy God in Heaven. "Angels" are not the same as saints. Saints are those who at one time lived upon the earth as we do, and who on account of their very good lives are now in Heaven. They had bodies as we have. The angels, on the contrary, never lived visibly upon the earth. In the beginning God was alone. We take great pleasure in looking at beautiful things. God, seeing His own beauty, and knowing that others would have very great pleasure and happiness in seeing Him, determined to create some beings who could enjoy this happiness; and thus He wished to share with them the happiness which He Himself derived from seeing His own beauty. Therefore He created angels who were to be in Heaven with Him, singing His praises and worshipping before His throne. The angels are not all equal in dignity, but are divided into nine classes, or choirs, according to their rank or office, and, as theologians tell us, arranged from the lowest to the highest and named |
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