In Chapter 20, we learned that God alone is Lord of the conscience, freeing the Christian from the man-made traditions and commandments of church leaders. This powerful principle naturally leads to a crucial question: If we are free from the traditions of men, how then should we worship God? Can we worship God however we… Continue reading In Spirit and in Truth: On Religious Worship (WCF 21.1–21.6)
Category: Westminster Confession of Faith
Free from Men: On Christian Liberty and Conscience (WCF 20.1–20.4)
In Chapter 19, we learned that the Moral Law of God remains a permanent rule of life for the believer. But this immediately raises a tension: didn’t the Apostle Paul declare, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1)? If we… Continue reading Free from Men: On Christian Liberty and Conscience (WCF 20.1–20.4)
The Use of the Law: On the Abiding Validity of God’s Law (WCF 19.5–19.7)
In our previous article, we saw how the Westminster Confession divides the Old Testament law into three categories: Ceremonial (which is abolished), Judicial (which expired with the nation of Israel), and Moral (which remains forever). But this raises a profound question: If Christians are saved entirely by grace, and if Paul explicitly states that we… Continue reading The Use of the Law: On the Abiding Validity of God’s Law (WCF 19.5–19.7)
A Rule for Life: On the Law of God (WCF 19.1–19.4)
If we are justified entirely by God’s grace through faith in Christ, and if our good works cannot merit salvation, what do we do with the Old Testament Law? Are Christians completely free from the Ten Commandments? Should modern nations enforce the civil codes of ancient Israel? Do we still need to observe Jewish dietary… Continue reading A Rule for Life: On the Law of God (WCF 19.1–19.4)
A Certain Hope: On the Assurance of Salvation (WCF 18.1–18.4)
In Chapter 17, we established the objective fact of the Perseverance of the Saints: if you are in Christ, you are safe forever. But there is a massive difference between being safe and feeling safe. A passenger on a sturdy ship may be perfectly secure, yet terrified that the ship is sinking. This brings us to Chapter 18 and… Continue reading A Certain Hope: On the Assurance of Salvation (WCF 18.1–18.4)
The Fruit of Faith: On the Nature of Good Works (WCF 16.1–16.7)
We have established that we are justified by faith alone (Chapter 11) and that we cannot even turn to God without His enabling grace (Chapters 10 & 14). This leads to an inevitable objection, one that Paul faced in Rome and Luther faced in Germany: “If I am saved entirely by what Christ did, does… Continue reading The Fruit of Faith: On the Nature of Good Works (WCF 16.1–16.7)
A Godly Sorrow: On Repentance Unto Life (WCF 15.1–15.6)
In the previous chapter, we examined Saving Faith—the hand that reaches out to rest on Christ alone. But the Bible rarely speaks of faith in isolation. Jesus began His ministry with a dual command: “Repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Faith and repentance are the twin graces of conversion. You cannot turn toward Christ without… Continue reading A Godly Sorrow: On Repentance Unto Life (WCF 15.1–15.6)
The Instrument of Salvation: On the Nature of Saving Faith (WCF 14.1–14.3)
In the logical chain of salvation, we have seen God call the sinner from death to life (Effectual Calling), declare him righteous in His sight (Justification), adopt him into His family (Adoption), and renew him in holiness (Sanctification). But how do we personally connect to this salvation? What is the hand that receives these gifts? The answer is Faith. However,… Continue reading The Instrument of Salvation: On the Nature of Saving Faith (WCF 14.1–14.3)
Made Holy: On the Process of Sanctification (WCF 13.1–13.3)
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)
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)