The Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF)
WCF 8.5
The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he offered up to God once, through the eternal Spirit, has fully satisfied the justice of his Father and has purchased not only reconciliation but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven for all those whom the Father has given to him. (WCF 8.5) Statistically things are grim, one in every one of us will die. Now much of the thinking of the western world is that like with anything that dies it just ceases to exist. Read more
The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he offered up to God once, through the eternal Spirit, has fully satisfied the justice of his Father and has purchased not only reconciliation but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven for all those whom the Father has given to him. (WCF 8.5) Statistically things are grim, one in every one of us will die. Now much of the thinking of the western world is that like with anything that dies it just ceases to exist. Read more
WCF 8.4
The Lord Jesus undertook this office completely willingly. So that that he might carry it out, he was made to be under the Law, and he perfectly fulfilled it. He endured grievous torments directly in his soul, and very painful sufferings in his body; he was crucified, died, was buried, and remained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption. On the third day he rose from the dead, with the same body in which he suffered, with which also he ascended to heaven, and sits there now at the right hand of his Father, making intercession; he shall return to judge people and angels at the end of the world. Read more
The Lord Jesus undertook this office completely willingly. So that that he might carry it out, he was made to be under the Law, and he perfectly fulfilled it. He endured grievous torments directly in his soul, and very painful sufferings in his body; he was crucified, died, was buried, and remained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption. On the third day he rose from the dead, with the same body in which he suffered, with which also he ascended to heaven, and sits there now at the right hand of his Father, making intercession; he shall return to judge people and angels at the end of the world. Read more
WCF 8.3
The Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit beyond measure, having in him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. It pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell in him, for the purpose that, being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, he might be thoroughly equipped to carry out the office of a mediator, and a payment for them. Read more
The Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit beyond measure, having in him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. It pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell in him, for the purpose that, being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, he might be thoroughly equipped to carry out the office of a mediator, and a payment for them. Read more
WCF 8.2
The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being truly and eternally God, of one substance and equal with the Father, when the fullness of time came, took upon himself mankind’s nature, with all the essential properties and common infirmities of it, yet without sin, being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary, and of her substance. Thus two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. Read more
The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being truly and eternally God, of one substance and equal with the Father, when the fullness of time came, took upon himself mankind’s nature, with all the essential properties and common infirmities of it, yet without sin, being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary, and of her substance. Thus two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. Read more
WCF 8.1
It pleased God, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the mediator between God and mankind - the prophet, priest, and king, the head and saviour of his Church, the heir of all things, and the judge of the world. From all eternity he gave to the Lord Jesus a people to be his seed and eventually to be redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified by him. Read more
It pleased God, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the mediator between God and mankind - the prophet, priest, and king, the head and saviour of his Church, the heir of all things, and the judge of the world. From all eternity he gave to the Lord Jesus a people to be his seed and eventually to be redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified by him. Read more
WCF 7.5-6
5. This covenant was differently administered in the time of the Law and in the time of the Gospel. Under the Law, it was administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the Passover lamb, and other types and ordinances delivered to the Jewish people, all signifying in advance the Christ to come. These were sufficient and effective for that time, through the operation of the Spirit, to instruct and build up the elect in faith in the promised Messiah, by whom they had full remission of sins and eternal salvation. Read more
5. This covenant was differently administered in the time of the Law and in the time of the Gospel. Under the Law, it was administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the Passover lamb, and other types and ordinances delivered to the Jewish people, all signifying in advance the Christ to come. These were sufficient and effective for that time, through the operation of the Spirit, to instruct and build up the elect in faith in the promised Messiah, by whom they had full remission of sins and eternal salvation. Read more
WCF 7.4
4. This covenant of grace is frequently set forth in Scripture by the name of a testament, in reference to the death of Jesus Christ, the testator, and to the everlasting inheritance bequeathed by it, with all the things belonging to it. (WCF 7.4) For the past few weeks we have been looking at the nature of the covenants that God made with humanity. First there was “the covenant of works” that was set forth in Eden with our first parents. Read more
4. This covenant of grace is frequently set forth in Scripture by the name of a testament, in reference to the death of Jesus Christ, the testator, and to the everlasting inheritance bequeathed by it, with all the things belonging to it. (WCF 7.4) For the past few weeks we have been looking at the nature of the covenants that God made with humanity. First there was “the covenant of works” that was set forth in Eden with our first parents. Read more
WCF 7.3
3. Because the man, by his fall, made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second covenant, commonly called the covenant of grace, in which he freely offers to sinners life and salvation through Jesus Christ, requiring them to have faith in him so that they may be saved, and promises to give to all those that are ordained to eternal life his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe. Read more
3. Because the man, by his fall, made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second covenant, commonly called the covenant of grace, in which he freely offers to sinners life and salvation through Jesus Christ, requiring them to have faith in him so that they may be saved, and promises to give to all those that are ordained to eternal life his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe. Read more
WCF 7.2
2. The first covenant made with mankind was a covenant of works, in which life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity, on condition of perfect and personal obedience. (WCF 7.2) Inherent to the human condition is a “pull” to do the right thing. Many have argued throughout human history that this internal “pull” is nothing more than the evolutionary process of people learning through their mistakes and thus by “nurture” have seen our right from wrongs. Read more
2. The first covenant made with mankind was a covenant of works, in which life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity, on condition of perfect and personal obedience. (WCF 7.2) Inherent to the human condition is a “pull” to do the right thing. Many have argued throughout human history that this internal “pull” is nothing more than the evolutionary process of people learning through their mistakes and thus by “nurture” have seen our right from wrongs. Read more
WCF 7.1
1. The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasoning creatures owe obedience to him as their creator, yet they could never have any fruition of him as their blessedness and reward, except by some voluntary condescension on God’s part, which he has been pleased to express by way of covenant. (WCF 7.1) Over the past few weeks in chapter 6 of the confession, we have been looking at how the sin of our first parents (original sin) and our own personal sin (actual sin) has severed us from the blessed presence of God. Read more
1. The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasoning creatures owe obedience to him as their creator, yet they could never have any fruition of him as their blessedness and reward, except by some voluntary condescension on God’s part, which he has been pleased to express by way of covenant. (WCF 7.1) Over the past few weeks in chapter 6 of the confession, we have been looking at how the sin of our first parents (original sin) and our own personal sin (actual sin) has severed us from the blessed presence of God. Read more