Articles

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 11 Of Justification (Part  2) III. Christ, by His obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are thus justified, and did make a proper, real and full satisfaction to His Father’s justice in their behalf. Yet, in as much as He was given by the Father for them; and His obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead; and both, freely, not for any thing in them; their ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 11 Of Justification (Part  1) This chapter concerns that doctrine which was the cornerstone of the Protestant Reformation and continues to be the distinguishing doctrinal characteristic of Reformed theology: Justification by faith alone. If we were to pick the one issue that divided the Reformers from the Romanists, it would be the doctrine of justification. Every significant statement in this chapter is a refutation of some aspect of Rome’s teaching. When we ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 10 Of Effectual Calling (Part  2) III. Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated, and saved by Christ, through the Spirit, who works when, and where, and how He pleases: so also are all other elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word. Inevitably, when discussing the topics of election and regeneration, a question arises regarding the circumstance of infants and those who are unable ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 10 Of Effectual Calling (Part  1) This chapter marks the beginning of the Confession’s presentation of an ordo salutis, an order of salvation. In the next few chapters, the writers explain the conversion experience in terms of its various elements and their logical relation to each other. The first item in the ordo salutis is the effectual call. This term refers to the initial operation of God in the heart of a ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 9 Of Free Will (Part  2) III. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, has wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation: so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto. The third paragraph deals with the effect of the fall on man’s will. ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 9 Of Free Will (Part  1) Many have a knowledge of Reformed theology that is based on hearsay. One of the issues that is raised routinely by non-Reformed Christians when speaking with a Reformed Christian is the matter of the freedom of the human will. Non-Reformed Christians have “heard” that Reformed theology has no place for man’s free will; they have “heard” that Reformed theology denies freedom of choice to man and ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 8 Of Christ the Mediator (Part  3) VI. Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after His incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefits thereof were communicated unto the elect, in all ages successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices, wherein He was revealed, and signified to be the seed of the woman which should bruise the serpent’s head; ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 8 Of Christ the Mediator (Part  2) III. The Lord Jesus, in His human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified, and anointed with the Holy Spirit, above measure, having in Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell; to the end that, being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, He might be thoroughly furnished to execute ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 8 Of Christ the Mediator (Part  1) Between the chapter that tells us about God’s covenantal contact with man and chapters nine and following, which deal with the doctrine of salvation, comes this chapter covering the mediatorial ministry of Jesus Christ. Chapter VII introduced the covenant of grace whereby God saves His elect and, as just noted, chapters IX-XV deal with the conversion experience. It is natural, therefore, that this particular subject ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 7 Of God's Covenant with Man I. The distance between God and the creature is go great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience unto Him as their Creator, yet they could never have any fruition of Him as their blessedness and reward, but by some voluntary condescension on God’s part, which He has been pleased to express by way of covenant. This opening paragraph states an important observation that establishes the ...