Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 195
Question 195
What do we pray for in the sixth petition?
In the sixth petition (which is, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,) acknowledging, that the most wise, righteous, and gracious God, for divers holy and just ends, may so order things, that we may be assaulted, foiled, and for a time led captive by temptations; that Satan, the world, and the flesh, are ready powerfully to draw us aside, and ensnare us; and that we, even after the pardon of our sins, by reason of our corruption, weakness, and want of watchfulness, are not only subject to be tempted, and forward to expose ourselves unto temptations, but also of ourselves unable and unwilling to resist them, to recover out of them, and to improve them; and worthy to be left under the power of them: we pray, that God would so overrule the world and all in it, subdue the flesh, and restrain Satan, order all things, bestow and bless all means of grace, and quicken us to watchfulness in the use of them, that we and all his people may by his providence be kept from being tempted to sin; or, if tempted, that by his Spirit we may be powerfully supported and enabled to stand in the hour of temptation; or when fallen, raised again and recovered out of it, and have a sanctified use and improvement thereof: that our sanctification and salvation may be perfected, Satan trodden under our feet, and we fully freed from sin, temptation, and all evil, forever.
Scripture references for paragraph 1
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Matthew 6:1313And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
2 Chronicles 32:3131And so when ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone to test him, that He might know all that was in Hezekiah’s heart.
1 Chronicles 21:11Then Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.
Luke 21:3434But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.
Mark 4:1919but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
James 1:1414But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.
Galatians 5:1717For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.
Matthew 26:4141“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Matthew 26:69-7269Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said.
70But he denied it before them all: “I do not know what you are talking about.”
71When Peter had gone out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man!”
Galatians 2:11-1411When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood to be condemned.
12For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group.
13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
14When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
2 Chronicles 18:33Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat replied, “I am like you, and my people are your people; we will join you in the war.”
2 Chronicles 19:22Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.
Romans 7:23-2423But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me.
24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
1 Chronicles 21:1-41Then Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.
2So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan and bring me a report, so that I may know their number.”
3But Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply His troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all servants of my lord? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”
4Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and traveled throughout Israel, and then he returned to Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 16:7-107At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa of Judah and told him, “Because you have relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand.
8Were not the Cushites and Libyans a vast army with many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand.
9For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”
10Asa was angry with the seer and became so enraged over this matter that he put the man in prison. And at the same time Asa oppressed some of the people.
Psalms 81:11-1211But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.
12So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.
John 17:1515I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.
Psalms 51:1010Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalms 119:133133Order my steps in Your word; let no sin rule over me.
2 Corinthians 12:7-87or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
1 Corinthians 10:12-1312So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.
13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.
Hebrews 13:20-2120Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
21equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Psalms 19:1313Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.
Ephesians 3:14-1714... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
16I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,
1 Thessalonians 3:1313so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.
Jude 1:2424Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—
Psalms 51:1212Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.
1 Peter 5:8-108Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
9Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.
10And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.
2 Corinthians 13:77Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed.
2 Corinthians 13:99In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.
Romans 16:2020The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Zechariah 3:22And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”
Luke 22:31-3231Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.
32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
1 Thessalonians 5:2323Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Source and edition
Westminster Larger Catechism. NonlinearFruit/Creeds.json, Unlicense. Creeds.json, English transcription
Unlicense. Source transcription.
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