Westminster Shorter Catechism — Question 4

November 27th, 2025
by Derek Cozine

WSC Question 4 — The God We Worship

Q. 4. What is God?
A. God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

Q&A 4 is the anchor of the entire catechism. The reason is, before we talk about what God commands of us or provides for us, we first learn who He is. In the Catechism the answer is short, but it carries the whole weight of Christian theology. When children grasp even a little of this, it transforms how they pray, obey, and trust in God.

This question does not describe everything about God, but it identifies the essential perfections that make God truly God. Each word shapes how our families relate to Him. Each of the following attributes mentioned could easily be a post or sermon on its own, but maybe for another time.

1. “God is a Spirit”

God is not made of matter like us. He cannot be touched, measured, or contained in a place (John 4:24) without condescending to our level like He did for the second person of the trinity, Jesus Christ.

This means:

He is not limited like we are.
He is never absent.
He is always near, though unseen.

For children, this truth helps them understand why God hears every prayer and is present in every situation.

2. “Infinite, Eternal, and Unchangeable”

These three attributes form a trinity of sorts describing God’s perfection in relation to space, time, and change.

Infinite — He has no boundaries or limitations (1 Kings 8:27).
Eternal — He has no beginning or end (Psalm 90:2).
Unchangeable — He cannot improve or decline; He is always perfectly Himself (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17).

Children quickly learn that people change, emotions change, circumstances change. Everything within space and time will change, but

Q&A 4 gives them something solid: God does not.

3. God’s Moral Perfections

The catechism highlights seven attributes that express God’s character toward His creatures such as us.

Being — God exists in perfect fullness (Exodus 3:14).
He depends on no one and nothing.

Wisdom — He always knows what is best (Romans 11:33).
Parents can remind children: God never guesses.

Power — He can do all His holy will (Jeremiah 32:17).
Nothing is too hard for Him.

Holiness — God is perfectly pure and set apart (Isaiah 6:3).
His holiness helps children understand why sin is serious and why His grace is so amazing.

Justice — He always does what is right (Deuteronomy 32:4).
Even when we cannot see the outcome, God is never unfair.

Goodness — All His actions are kind and generous (Psalm 145:9).
Children need to know God is not only strong, but that He is good.

Truth — God never lies, changes His word, or deceives (Titus 1:2).
His promises never fail. God always delivers. Even better than Amazon…

Why This Matters for Families

This Q&A shapes how children think about everything: prayer, obedience, assurance, worship, repentance, and trust.

When children fear, we remind them of God’s power.
When they feel unseen, we remind them God is a Spirit and always present.
When they feel discouraged by their sin, we point to God’s goodness and truth in the gospel.
When the world feels unstable, we teach them God is unchangeable.

This is where children learn that the God of Scripture is not a superhuman—He is the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth, worthy of trust and praise… Transcendent far above us, but yet God Immanuel, the God who is always near to us.

Scripture Proofs

Spirit: John 4:24; Luke 24:39
Infinite: 1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 147:5
Eternal: Psalm 90:2; Revelation 1:8
Unchangeable: Malachi 3:6; James 1:17
Being: Exodus 3:14
Wisdom: Romans 11:33
Power: Jeremiah 32:17
Holiness: Isaiah 6:3; 1 Samuel 2:2
Justice: Deuteronomy 32:4
Goodness: Psalm 145:9
Truth: Titus 1:2; John 17:17

Parent Discussion Questions

Ages 3–6 (Foundations)
What does it mean that God is a Spirit?
Can God ever be far away from you? Why not?
Is God always good, even when things are hard?

Ages 7–10 (Understanding)
Which part of God’s character helps you trust Him the most right now?
Why does it matter that God never changes?
How does knowing God is wise help when life feels confusing?

Ages 11–14 (Discernment)
How does God’s holiness help you understand why sin is so serious?
Can you think of a time when believing God was good or just changed how you acted?
Why is God’s infinity and eternity different from anything we experience?

Ages 15+ (Application & Worldview)
How does Q&A 4 shape your view of modern ideas about God being “whatever you want Him to be”?
How do God’s unchanging attributes give stability in seasons of anxiety or uncertainty?
Which of these divine perfections shapes your worship most deeply?

Posted in Confessions of the Faith - WSC