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)
Category: Westminster Confession of Faith
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)
In the Beginning, God: On the Work of Creation (WCF 4.1–4.2)
Having established the eternal decree by which God ordained all things, the Confession now turns to the first outworking of that decree in history: the act of creation. This is where God’s eternal purpose breaks forth into temporal reality. The doctrine of creation is the starting point for the entire biblical narrative and the necessary… Continue reading In the Beginning, God: On the Work of Creation (WCF 4.1–4.2)
The Unfolding Plan: On Predestination and Providence (WCF 3.5–3.8)
In the previous article, we stood at the edge of the precipice, looking down into the deep canyon of God’s eternal decree. We established that God has unchangeably ordained “whatsoever comes to pass” and has specifically predestined a definite number of angels and men to eternal life. But this raises immediate and practical questions: On what… Continue reading The Unfolding Plan: On Predestination and Providence (WCF 3.5–3.8)