If you ask the average evangelical Christian today what baptism is, you will likely hear some variation of this: “It is an outward expression of an inward reality. It is my public testimony to the church and the world that I have decided to follow Jesus.” While there is an element of truth to that… Continue reading A Seal of the Covenant: On the Sacrament of Baptism (WCF 28.1–28.7)
Category: Westminster Confession of Faith
Signs and Seals: On the Nature of the Sacraments (WCF 27.1–27.5)
Human beings are physical creatures. We do not just think with our minds; we see, hear, taste, and touch. Because God created us this way, He does not only speak His Gospel to us in invisible, abstract ideas. In His immense kindness, He has also given us a Gospel we can see, feel, and taste.… Continue reading Signs and Seals: On the Nature of the Sacraments (WCF 27.1–27.5)
United in One Spirit: On the Communion of Saints (WCF 26.1–26.3)
Millions of Christians gather every Sunday and recite the Apostles’ Creed, declaring, “I believe in… the communion of saints.” But what exactly does that mean? For many, the phrase conjures up vague ideas about believers who have died and gone to heaven. However, the Reformed understanding of this doctrine is far more grounded, practical, and… Continue reading United in One Spirit: On the Communion of Saints (WCF 26.1–26.3)
The Body of Christ: On the Nature of the Church (WCF 25.1–25.6)
In our modern, hyper-individualized culture, it is common to hear people say, “I love Jesus, but I don’t need the church.” Many view the church as a helpful, but ultimately optional, voluntary association of like-minded religious consumers. The Westminster Confession utterly shatters this low view of the church. In Chapter 25, the divines present a… Continue reading The Body of Christ: On the Nature of the Church (WCF 25.1–25.6)
One Flesh: On Marriage and Divorce (WCF 24.1–24.6)
Few institutions in the modern world have been as fiercely debated, redefined, and fractured as marriage. Contemporary culture increasingly views marriage as a fluid social contract based on personal fulfillment, to be entered and exited at will. Against this cultural confusion, the Westminster Confession offers a profoundly stabilizing, biblical theology of the family. In Chapter… Continue reading One Flesh: On Marriage and Divorce (WCF 24.1–24.6)
The American Revision: Church, State, and Religious Liberty
In our previous article on the Civil Magistrate (WCF 23), we explored the original 1646 text of the Westminster Confession. While it correctly established that government is ordained by God, its third paragraph contained a glaring issue for modern readers: it granted the civil government the power to suppress heresies, reform worship, and call church… Continue reading The American Revision: Church, State, and Religious Liberty
God’s Minister for Good: On the Civil Magistrate (WCF 23.1–23.4)
How should a Christian view the government? Throughout history, believers have often swung between two dangerous extremes: either idolizing the state (treating politics as the ultimate savior) or completely withdrawing from it (viewing all government as inherently demonic). In Chapter 23, the Westminster Confession charts a biblical middle course. Drawing heavily on Romans 13, the… Continue reading God’s Minister for Good: On the Civil Magistrate (WCF 23.1–23.4)
A Solemn Promise: On Lawful Oaths and Vows (WCF 22.1–22.7)
In a modern culture where words are cheap, contracts are routinely broken, and truth is often treated as relative, the biblical doctrine of oaths and vows might seem like an archaic relic. Yet, the Westminster Confession dedicates an entire chapter to this topic, elevating truth-telling and promise-keeping to profound theological acts. When a witness places… Continue reading A Solemn Promise: On Lawful Oaths and Vows (WCF 22.1–22.7)
A Perpetual Rest: On the Sabbath Day (WCF 21.7–21.8)
In the first half of Chapter 21, we learned how we are to worship God (according to His Word alone). In the second half of the chapter, the Confession turns to the question of when we are to worship Him. While Christians are called to worship God every day in private and with their families, God has also claimed… Continue reading A Perpetual Rest: On the Sabbath Day (WCF 21.7–21.8)
In Spirit and in Truth: On Religious Worship (WCF 21.1–21.6)
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)