In the previous chapters, we have witnessed the legal wonder of Justification (where God declares us righteous) and the relational warmth of Adoption (where God makes us sons). But a critical question remains: Does God simply hand us a ticket to heaven and leave us in our filth? Does He change our status without changing… Continue reading Made Holy: On the Process of Sanctification (WCF 13.1–13.3)
Category: Confessional Standards
Heirs of God: On the Grace of Adoption (WCF 12.1)
In Chapter 11, we stood in the divine courtroom. We saw the Judge bang the gavel and declare the guilty sinner “Righteous” based on the work of Christ. That is the glory of Justification—it settles our legal status. But God does not merely release us from the dock and tell us to go live our… Continue reading Heirs of God: On the Grace of Adoption (WCF 12.1)
Counted Righteous: On the Doctrine of Justification (WCF 11.1–11.6)
In Chapter 10, we witnessed the miracle of the New Birth. God, by His sovereign grace, drags the corpse from the grave, giving a new heart and a renewed will. But a question remains: The sinner is now alive, but is he righteous? He may have a new heart, but he still has a criminal record.… Continue reading Counted Righteous: On the Doctrine of Justification (WCF 11.1–11.6)
Drawn by the Father: On Effectual Calling (WCF 10.1–10.4)
In Chapter 9, we faced the grim reality of the human condition: fallen man possesses a “natural liberty,” but is in moral bondage, “dead in sin” and “altogether averse” to spiritual good. This leaves us with a desperate question: How can a corpse walk? How can a will bound by sin ever choose a holy… Continue reading Drawn by the Father: On Effectual Calling (WCF 10.1–10.4)
A Will in Bondage: On the Nature of Human Freedom (WCF 9.1–9.5)
We have traversed the high peaks of Christology in Chapter 8, beholding the Person and Work of the Mediator. Now, the Confession turns its gaze inward to the human condition. If Christ has purchased redemption, how do we receive it? Can we simply choose to follow Him by our own natural power? The subject of… Continue reading A Will in Bondage: On the Nature of Human Freedom (WCF 9.1–9.5)
The Work of Redemption: On the Office of Christ the Mediator (WCF 8.5–8.8)
In the first half of Chapter 8, we beheld the person of Christ: the God-Man, divinely appointed and equipped for the work of mediation. But a mediator is not appointed merely to be something, but to do something. Who is He, and what did He accomplish? Having established His identity, the Westminster divines now turn to the efficacy, scope,… Continue reading The Work of Redemption: On the Office of Christ the Mediator (WCF 8.5–8.8)
The God-Man: On the Person of Christ the Mediator (WCF 8.1–8.4)
In Chapter 7, we discovered the glorious Covenant of Grace, God’s answer to the tragedy of the Fall. But a covenant requires a representative, and a broken relationship requires a bridge. Who is capable of spanning the infinite chasm between a holy God and sinful man? We now arrive at the very heart of the… Continue reading The God-Man: On the Person of Christ the Mediator (WCF 8.1–8.4)
A Pact of Life: On God’s Covenant with Man (WCF 7.1–7.6)
In the previous article, we faced the grim reality of the Fall. We saw humanity dead in sin, wholly defiled, and bound over to the wrath of God. If that were the end of the story, we would be without hope. But God, who is rich in mercy, did not leave us in that estate.… Continue reading A Pact of Life: On God’s Covenant with Man (WCF 7.1–7.6)
Wherein All Have Sinned: On the Fall and Original Sin (WCF 6.1–6.6)
We have stood on the mountain peaks of God’s eternal decree and witnessed the pristine beauty of creation in the Garden. But now, the narrative takes a catastrophic turn. To understand the world as we see it today—broken, violent, and groaning—and to understand our own hearts, we must descend into the valley of the shadow… Continue reading Wherein All Have Sinned: On the Fall and Original Sin (WCF 6.1–6.6)
His Hand and Counsel: On the Providence of God (WCF 5.1–5.7)
Having contemplated the eternal decree in Chapter 3 and the work of creation in Chapter 4, we now turn to God’s work in history. It is one thing to believe in a Creator who made the world; it is another to believe in the God of the Bible who governs it. Many are content with… Continue reading His Hand and Counsel: On the Providence of God (WCF 5.1–5.7)