The Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF)
WCF 5.2-3
2. In relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and unerringly; yet, by the same providence, he orders them to come about according to the nature of secondary causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently. 3. God, in his ordinary providence, makes use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against, them, at his pleasure. (WCF 5.2-3) Read more
2. In relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and unerringly; yet, by the same providence, he orders them to come about according to the nature of secondary causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently. 3. God, in his ordinary providence, makes use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against, them, at his pleasure. (WCF 5.2-3) Read more
WCF 5.1
God the great Creator of all things upholds, directs, disposes, and governs all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, according to his certain foreknowledge and the free and immutable counsel of his own will, to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy. (WCF 5.1) Over the last few months we have been exploring the Westminster Confession of Faith together. Read more
God the great Creator of all things upholds, directs, disposes, and governs all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, according to his certain foreknowledge and the free and immutable counsel of his own will, to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy. (WCF 5.1) Over the last few months we have been exploring the Westminster Confession of Faith together. Read more
WCF 4.2
2. After God had made all other creatures, he created mankind, male and female, with immortal souls that could reason, endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after his own image. They had the law of God written in their hearts and power to fulfil it, but with the possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject unto change. Beside this law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Read more
2. After God had made all other creatures, he created mankind, male and female, with immortal souls that could reason, endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after his own image. They had the law of God written in their hearts and power to fulfil it, but with the possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject unto change. Beside this law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Read more
WCF 4.1
1. It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, to create, or make of nothing, the world and all things in it, whether visible or invisible, in the beginning in the space of six days; all of this was very good. (WCF 4.1) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall nd; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh ndeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Read more
1. It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, to create, or make of nothing, the world and all things in it, whether visible or invisible, in the beginning in the space of six days; all of this was very good. (WCF 4.1) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall nd; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh ndeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Read more
WCF 3.7-8
7. God decided, according to the unsearchable counsel of his own will, by which he extends or withholds mercy as he pleases, for the glory of his sovereign power over his creatures, to pass by the rest of mankind and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath for their sin, to the praise of his glorious justice. 8. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, so that people, giving attention to the will of God revealed in his Word and yielding their obedience to it, may be assured of their eternal selection based on the certainty of their effectual calling. Read more
7. God decided, according to the unsearchable counsel of his own will, by which he extends or withholds mercy as he pleases, for the glory of his sovereign power over his creatures, to pass by the rest of mankind and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath for their sin, to the praise of his glorious justice. 8. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, so that people, giving attention to the will of God revealed in his Word and yielding their obedience to it, may be assured of their eternal selection based on the certainty of their effectual calling. Read more
WCF 3.5-6
5. Before the foundation of the world was laid, God chose in Christ those of mankind who are predestined to life for everlasting glory, according to his eternal and immutable purpose and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will. He did this out of his mere free grace and love, without any foreseeing of their faith, their good works, their perseverance in either of these, or any other thing in the creature that might act as conditions or causes moving him to it. Read more
5. Before the foundation of the world was laid, God chose in Christ those of mankind who are predestined to life for everlasting glory, according to his eternal and immutable purpose and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will. He did this out of his mere free grace and love, without any foreseeing of their faith, their good works, their perseverance in either of these, or any other thing in the creature that might act as conditions or causes moving him to it. Read more
WCF 3.3-4
3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some people and angels are predestined to everlasting life and others are foreordained to everlasting death. 4. These angels and people thus predestined and foreordained are particularly and unchangeably intended, and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or decreased. (WCF 3.3-4) Someone once explained salvation by way of illustration in that God was like a man who walked past a well in the middle of nowhere and heard a whole bunch of His enemies at the bottom of it crying out for help. Read more
3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some people and angels are predestined to everlasting life and others are foreordained to everlasting death. 4. These angels and people thus predestined and foreordained are particularly and unchangeably intended, and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or decreased. (WCF 3.3-4) Someone once explained salvation by way of illustration in that God was like a man who walked past a well in the middle of nowhere and heard a whole bunch of His enemies at the bottom of it crying out for help. Read more
WCF 3.1-2
1. God, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordained everything that ever happens, yet in such a way that God is not the author of sin nor is violence done to the will of the creatures, nor is the power or possibility of secondary causes taken away, but rather established. 2. Although God knows everything that may or can come to pass based on all possible conditions, yet he has not decreed anything just because he foresaw it as future, or as what would happen because of such conditions. Read more
1. God, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordained everything that ever happens, yet in such a way that God is not the author of sin nor is violence done to the will of the creatures, nor is the power or possibility of secondary causes taken away, but rather established. 2. Although God knows everything that may or can come to pass based on all possible conditions, yet he has not decreed anything just because he foresaw it as future, or as what would happen because of such conditions. Read more
WCF 2.3
3. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity: 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. (WCF 2.3) For the past few weeks we have been looking at the glorious and wonderful nature of our God. Read more
3. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity: 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. (WCF 2.3) For the past few weeks we have been looking at the glorious and wonderful nature of our God. Read more
WCF 2.2
2. God has all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself; he alone is in and to himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he has made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, to, and upon them. He is the only fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things, and he has complete sovereign dominion over them, to do through them, for them, or upon them whatever pleases him. Read more
2. God has all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself; he alone is in and to himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he has made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, to, and upon them. He is the only fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things, and he has complete sovereign dominion over them, to do through them, for them, or upon them whatever pleases him. Read more