The Westminster Confession: A Statement Of Faith

what is the westminster confession of faith

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards. It was designed as a doctrinal compass to keep the scriptural bearings of the Church of England true, and to unify the various Christian sects in England at the time. The document is considered subordinate to the Bible and has been influential within Presbyterian churches worldwide. It is a systematic exposition of Calvinist theology, influenced by Puritan and covenant theology, and includes doctrines common to most of Christianity, such as the Trinity and Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection, as well as doctrines specific to Protestantism, such as sola scriptura and sola fide.

Characteristics Values
Standard of doctrine Church of Scotland and many Presbyterian churches throughout the world
Systematic exposition of Calvinism
Written from a Puritan viewpoint
Designed as a Doctrinal compass
Subordinate to The Word of God
Consists of 33 chapters
Addresses doctrines The Trinity, the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus, sola scriptura, and sola fide
Adopted by The Church of Scotland
Various American and English Presbyterian bodies
Some Congregationalists and Baptists

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The Holy Scripture

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. It was drawn up in the 1640s by an assembly of 151 theologians (mostly Presbyterians and Puritans) at Westminster Abbey. It is considered the standard of doctrine for the Church of Scotland and many Presbyterian churches worldwide.

The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, depends wholly upon God, who is truth itself, the Author thereof; and therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God. The inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts gives us full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority of the Holy Scripture. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His glory, man's salvation, faith, and life is either expressly set down in Scripture or may be deduced from Scripture by good and necessary consequence. Nothing is at any time to be added to Scripture, whether by new revelations of the Spirit or traditions of men. Nevertheless, the inward illumination of the Spirit of God is necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word.

All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves or alike clear to all, yet those things that are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or another that not only the learned but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain a sufficient understanding of them. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture, it may be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly. The Supreme Judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture.

The Old Testament in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek, being immediately inspired by God, and by His singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic. So, in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal unto them. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God who have a right unto and interest in the Scriptures and are commanded, in the fear of God, to read and search them, they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, so that the Word of God may dwell plentifully in all, that they may worship Him in an acceptable manner and, through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures, may have hope.

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The Trinity

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a statement of systematic theology from a Puritan viewpoint. It was drawn up in the 1640s by 151 theologians, mostly Presbyterians and Puritans, at Westminster Abbey. It is considered the standard of doctrine for the Church of Scotland and many Presbyterian churches worldwide.

The Confession of Faith endorses the traditional doctrine of the Trinity, which holds that the one and only God exists as three persons, "of one substance, power, and eternity", namely, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; and the Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son.

The Confession states that the Holy Scripture, which includes the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired, written Word of God and is considered "the rule of faith and life". It is said to possess infallible truth and divine authority, containing "all things necessary for [God's] own glory, man's salvation, faith, and life".

> "There is but one only, living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute, working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will, for His own glory, most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him; and withal most just and terrible in His judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty."

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Predestination

The Confession states that from eternity, God did "freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass". By God's decree, "some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death". Those predestined to life are chosen by God "before the foundation of the world", out of his "free grace and love alone", and not because he foresaw any faith or good works in them.

The Confession describes predestination as belonging to the "secret things of God". God's election is described as "according to his eternal and immutable purpose and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will". It emphasises that God's decree to save lay behind all that he did, and that creation was an act for the glory of God in the salvation of sinners.

The Confession also states that predestination fixes the ultimate salvation point on "everlasting glory". It is not based on conversion, justification, or adoption, but on the glory of being made into the image of Jesus Christ. It flows from "free grace and love" and is not earned, merited, worked at, or asked for.

The doctrine of predestination is to be handled with "special prudence and care", so that men, by yielding obedience to God's will, may be assured of their eternal election.

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Christ's mediation

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, drawn up in the 1640s by an assembly of 151 theologians (mostly Presbyterians and Puritans) at Westminster Abbey. It is the standard of doctrine for the Church of Scotland and many Presbyterian churches throughout the world.

The document addresses the doctrine of Christ's mediation, declaring that Jesus Christ, the second person in the Trinity, was chosen by God the Father to be the mediator between God and man, and to hold the threefold office of prophet, priest, and king.

Jesus Christ, in his human nature, was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and is both God and man, with two distinct natures united in one person. He was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit, and in Him dwells all the fullness of God.

Christ willingly undertook the office of Mediator, fulfilling the law, enduring torments and suffering, being crucified and buried, and rising again on the third day. By His perfect obedience and sacrifice, Christ satisfied the justice of God the Father and purchased reconciliation and an everlasting inheritance in heaven for all whom the Father has given to Him.

The work of redemption was wrought by Christ after His incarnation, but the benefits of it were communicated to the elect in all ages, through promises, types, and sacrifices. In the work of mediation, Christ acts according to both His divine and human natures, and He certainly and effectually applies and communicates redemption to those for whom He has purchased it. He makes intercession for them, reveals the mysteries of salvation, persuades them to believe and obey, and governs their hearts by His Word and Spirit.

Through His almighty power and wisdom, Christ overcomes all enemies in a manner that is consonant with His wonderful and unsearchable dispensation.

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Christian liberty

God alone is Lord of the conscience and has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men that are contrary to His Word or beside it in matters of faith or worship. To believe such doctrines or obey such commandments out of conscience is to betray true liberty of conscience. The requiring of an implicit faith and an absolute and blind obedience is to destroy liberty of conscience and reason.

Those who, upon the pretense of Christian liberty, practice any sin or cherish any lust, destroy the end of Christian liberty, which is that being delivered from our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. Christian liberty, including liberty of conscience, stands in harmony with humble and cheerful submission to both church and civil governance as they pursue the peace and order of their respective spheres.

Frequently asked questions

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. It was drawn up in the 1640s by an assembly of 151 theologians (mostly Presbyterians and Puritans) at Westminster Abbey, to be a confession of the Church of England. It became and remains the "subordinate standard" of doctrine in the Church of Scotland and has been influential within Presbyterian churches worldwide.

The Confession was originally drafted to reform the Church of England and to unify the various Christian sects in England at the time. It was also designed as a doctrinal compass to keep the scriptural bearings of the church true, even when tossed by error and division.

Thesection titled "On the Scripture" is the document’s first and longest chapter. Here, Scripture is declared the inspired, infallible, sufficient, understandable, and the supreme judge of all disputes. The Confession also addresses doctrines such as the Trinity, the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus, sola scriptura, and sola fide.

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