Articles

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 ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 14 Of Saving Faith (Part  1) This section of the Confession covers the matter of salvation, from the effectual call of God through the matter of our initial and life-long sanctification. This particular chapter deals with something that has been assumed up to this point and that is saving faith. Thus far, no definition has been given for saving faith, although these chapters, of course, presuppose the operation of saving faith. In ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 13 Of Sanctification (Part  2) II. This sanctification is throughout, in the whole man; yet imperfect in this life, there abiding still some remnants of corruption in every part; whence arises a continual and irreconcilable war, the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. Throughout the history of the Church, there have been those who taught what has come to be known as “perfectionism.” Generally speaking, this is ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 13 Of Sanctification (Part  1) I. They, who are once effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart, and a new spirit created in them, are further sanctified, really and personally, through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection, by His Word and Spirit dwelling in them: the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified; and they more ...

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 12 Of Adoption I. All those that are justified, God vouchsafes, in and for His only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption, by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God, have His name put upon them, receive the spirit of adoption, have access to the throne of grace with boldness, are enabled to cry, Abba, Father, ...

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 ...