Articles

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 18 Of Assurance of Grace and Salvation (Part 1) I. Although hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God, and estate of salvation (which hope of theirs shall perish): yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love Him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before Him, may, in this life, be certainly ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 17 Of the Perseverance of the Saints (Part  3) III. Nevertheless, they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins; and, for a time, continue therein: whereby they incur God's displeasure, and grieve His Holy Spirit, come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts, have their ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 17 Of the Perseverance of the Saints (Part  2) II. This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father; upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ, the abiding of the Spirit, and of the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 17 Of the Perseverance of the Saints (Part  1) This chapter on the perseverance of the saints falls between chapters dealing with the order of salvation and chapters concerned with living the Christian life. In summary, we can say that this chapter teaches that the elect, due to the immutability of God's decree, will persevere, or be preserved in a state of grace, to the end of their lives and be eternally ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 16 Of Good Works (Part  2) V. We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin, or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come; and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom, by them, we can neither profit, nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins, but when we have done all ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 16 Of Good Works (Part  1) I. Good works are only such as God has commanded in His holy Word, and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal, or upon any pretense of good intention. This subject naturally follows the previous topic of repentance. Genuine repentance must result in “good works.” The first point made here is that only God can define “good works,” ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 15 Of Repentance Unto Life I. Repentance unto life is an evangelical grace, the doctrine whereof is to be preached by every minister of the Gospel, as well as that of faith in Christ. Repentance is that initial turning from sin to God which occurs in connection with regeneration. It is described here as “an evangelical grace” meaning that it is the work of God. This phrasing reflects the Scripture’s teaching concerning ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 14 Of Saving Faith (Part  2) II. By this faith, a Christian believes to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God Himself speaking therein; and acts differently upon that which each particular passage thereof contains; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life, and that which is to come. But the principal acts of saving faith ...