St. John the Apostle Before the Latin Gate

Baltimore track

Baltimore Catechism No. 3

Lesson 11 — On the Church

Q. 484.How was the true religion preserved from Adam till the coming of Christ?

A.The true religion was preserved from Adam till the coming of Christ by the patriarchs, prophets and other holy men whom God appointed and inspired to teach His Will and Revelations to the people, and to remind them of the promised Redeemer.

Q. 485.Who were the prophets, and what was their chief duty?

A.The prophets were men to whom God gave a knowledge of future events connected with religion, that they might foretell them to His people and thus give proof that the message came from God. Their chief duty was to foretell the time, place and circumstances of Our Saviour's coming into the world, that men might know when and where to look for Him, and might recognize Him when He came.

Q. 486.How could they be saved who lived before Christ became man?

A.They who lived before Christ became man could be saved by belief in the Redeemer to come and by keeping the Commandments of God.

Q. 487.Was the true religion universal before the coming of Christ?

A.The true religion was not universal before the coming of Christ. It was confined to one people--the descendants of Abraham. All other nations worshipped false gods.