I believe I completed this for in seminary in 2013. May it be profitable to others.
Westminster Confession
of Faith Outline (With Parallels from Calvin’s Institutes).
CHAPTER 1: OF THE
HOLY SCRIPTURE
1) The Holy Scriptures as
Revelation
a)
Natural Revelation
i)
Manifests God’s goodness,
wisdom and power
(1)
Through God’s work of
Creation
(2)
Through Providence
ii)
Does not give man saving
knowledge of God
b)
Special Revelation
i)
God reveals Himself at
various times and in various ways
ii)
God has preserved His
revelations fully in writing of the Holy Scriptures
(1)
To declare His will to the
church
(2)
To preserve and spread His
truth
(3)
To establish the church
(4)
To defend the church from
the flesh, the devil, and the world
iii)
The former ways of God
revealing Himself are now ceased, thus making the Holy Scriptures utterly
necessary
2) The Contents of Holy
Scripture
a)
The Old and New Testaments
i)
Inspired by God to be our
rule of faith and life
b)
Apocrypha
i)
Not divinely inspired
ii)
Thus has no authority
iii)
Regarded as any other
merely human writing
3) Scripture’s Authority
a)
Depends on God wholly.
i)
He is truth itself
ii)
As God is the author,
Scripture is therefore true
b)
Internal support for
Scripture’s authority
i)
The testimony of the church
ii)
Its efficacious teaching
and wonderful style
iii)
The unity of the whole of
Scripture: to give God glory in all things
iv)
The detailing of the only
way of man’s salvation
c)
The Holy Spirit persuades
and assures of the inspiration and infallibility of Scripture
i)
Working by and with the
Word in our hearts
4) The Completeness of
Scripture
a)
All that is needed for
faithful living is deduced from Scripture
b)
Nothing should be added to
Scripture
c)
The Holy Spirit illumines
our minds to understand Scripture
d)
Reason has a role in
ordering church government, patterned after Scripture
5) The Perspicuity of
Scripture
a)
Some passages more clear
than others
b)
Way of salvation so clear
that anyone can understand it sufficiently
6) The Right Use of
Scripture
a)
The church is to appeal to
the OT Hebrew and NT Greek
i)
They were inspired by God
ii)
They were preserved by
God’s providence through the ages
iii)
They are to be appealed to
in all religious controversies as final authority
b)
They should be translated
in the common language
i)
Greek and Hebrew are not
common today
ii)
Translation is necessary so
other nations can come to know God and worship Him aright
c)
Scripture interprets itself
i)
The clearer passages of Scripture
are to shed light on the less clear passages
ii)
Scripture has only one
meaning, not multiple meanings
d)
The Holy Spirit speaking in
the Scripture is the final authority and judge of all religious controversies,
councils, and writings of men
Chapter 2: OF GOD, AND OF THE HOLY
TRINITY
1) The One True God
a)
Is living, infinite in
being and perfection
b)
A most pure spirit,
invisible without body, parts, or passions
c)
Immutable, immense,
eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, wise, and holy
d)
Free, absolute, and works
all things according to His unchanging will for His own glory
e)
God is also loving,
gracious, and merciful
i)
He forgives iniquities and
sin
ii)
He rewards those who seek
Him
f)
God is just and will judge
the world in righteousness
i)
He hates sin
ii)
He will not clear the
guilty
2) The Self-sufficiency of
God
a)
God has all life, glory,
goodness, and blessedness in and of Himself
i)
He needs no glory from His
creatures (man cannot add glory to God)
ii)
He manifests His glory into
and upon His creatures
b)
God is the fountain of all
being
i)
All things are of Him,
through Him, and to Him
ii)
God has sovereignty over
all things, and can do whatever He pleases to and for His creatures
3) God is Omniscient
a)
His knowledge being
infinite, infallible, and independent
b)
Nothing to Him is contingent
or uncertain
c)
All His counsels, works,
and commands are holy and pure
d)
God deserves all praise and
adoration He desires from both angels and men
4) The Holy Trinity
a)
There are three persons of
one substance, power, and eternity in the Godhead
i)
God the Father
(1)
Neither begotten nor
proceeding
ii)
God the Son
(1)
Eternally begotten of the
Father
iii)
God the Holy Ghost
(1)
Eternally proceeding from
the Father and the Son (Eastern church took exception to Spirit proceeding from
the Son as well).
Chapter 3 Outline: OF GOD’S ETERNAL DECREE
1. The Nature of God’s
Decrees
a.
They are established from
all eternity
b.
They are made in light of
God’s wisdom and holiness
c.
God’s decrees are of His
own will and unchangeably bring about all that occurs.
i.
Doesn’t violate man’s will
ii.
Second causes established
(God ordains by working through means)
d.
God’s decrees are never
based on things He foresees or because of contingencies, but His decrees are
based on His mere good pleasure alone.
2. Predestination to Life
and Death by God’s Decrees
a.
God predestinates men and
angels to everlasting life and foreordains others to everlasting death to
manifest His glory
i.
As predestined and
foreordained, the number of elect and reprobate are so set that the number
cannot be increased or decreased
b.
Those predestined to life
are chosen in Christ to everlasting glory
1.
Done according to God’s
eternal and immutable purpose
2.
For His glory and grace,
and by His good pleasure
3.
Done freely by God out of
His love and grace
4.
Not done because of
anything found within man, but of God’s grace alone
ii.
God also predestines the means by which the
elect are predestined to glory
1.
Those fallen in Adam are
redeemed in Christ
2.
Effectually Called by the
Holy Spirit
3.
Justified, adopted,
sanctified, kept by faith unto salvation
c.
Those predestined to death
are passed over by God
i.
This done for the glory of
His justice
ii.
God does this according to
His will alone and to demonstrate His sovereignty
iii.
Those predestined to death
face God’s wrath
3. The Necessity of Handling
The Doctrine of Predestination With Care
a.
Those elected to salvation
have assurance through this doctrine
i.
This produces praise,
reverence, and adoration unto God
ii.
Also humility, diligence,
and abundant consolation to the elect
CHAPTER 4: OF CREATION
1. Creation a Trinitarian
Act
a.
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
create to manifest God’s power, wisdom, and goodness
b.
Creation accomplished in
six days, and all very good
2. Creation of Man
a.
Created male and female
with immortal souls; made in the image of God
b.
Have law of God written on
heart and are able to keep it
c.
Yet capable of
transgression of the law according to the liberty of their will
d.
Commanded not to eat the
forbidden fruit, which while they obeyed, were happy in communion with God and
exercised dominion over other creatures.
CHAPTER 5: OF PROVIDENCE
1.
God Upholds All Things
a.
By His wise and holy
providence
b.
According to His
foreknowledge
c.
According to His immutable
will
d.
All done to magnify His
wisdom, justice, power, goodness, and mercy
2.
Decree of God Is the First Cause
a.
God does use secondary causes,
either necessarily, freely, or contingently
b.
God ordinarily works
through means, but is not constrained to do so and can work against them at His
pleasure
3.
The Extent of Providence
a.
Includes the fall and all
sin of men and angels
i.
Not by a bare permission
but by a most wise and powerful bounding to His holy ends
ii.
Yet so in a way that the
sinfulness proceeds to the creature alone and not Himself
iii.
God is neither the author
nor approver of sin
4.
Chastisement of God’s People
a.
God does chastise His children
i.
By leaving them to manifold
temptations for disciplining for their former sins
ii.
Or to expose the remaining
sin and corruption of the heart to humble them
iii.
To lead them to a greater
dependence on Him
iv.
To make them watch
carefully for their sins
v.
Many other reasons
5.
Judgment of the Wicked
a.
God hardens ungodly men
because of their sins
i.
Through withholding grace
ii.
By withdrawing gifts which
they had
iii.
Gives them over to their
own lusts and Satan
iv.
Through these means ungodly
men also harden themselves
6.
God’s Providence Especially Takes Care of His Church
CHAPTER VI: OF THE FALL OFMAN, OF SIN, AND THE PUNISHMENT THEREOF
1. God Purposes The Fall For
His Glory
a.
First parents tempted by
Satan to eat forbidden fruit
b.
God purposed to permit Fall
for His own glory
2. Consequences of Fall
a.
Man falls from original
righteousness and communion with God
b.
Dead in sin and wholly
defiled
c.
Guilt of sin imputed to all
posterity
d.
Mankind now inclined to all
evil
e.
This corruption remains
even in the regenerate though pardoned and mortified in Christ
f.
Original and actual sin
brings guilt upon the sinner and places one under the wrath of God and curse of
the law
i.
Thus man made subject to
death with all spiritual miseries, temporal and eternal
CHAPTER VII: OF GOD’S COVENANT WITH MAN
1. Man Reconciled to God
Only Through Covenant
a.
This because of the depth
of man’s depravity
2. Covenant of Works
a.
First covenant, which
offered life to Adam and his posterity conditioned upon perfect obedience
3. Covenant of Grace
a.
Offered because man fell
and failed the covenant of works
b.
Life in Christ freely
offered
c.
Faith required to be saved
d.
Holy Spirit promised to all
who are ordained to eternal life, in order to be made willing and able to
believe
e.
Set forth in Scripture as a
testament, the death of Jesus Christ the testator
4. Covenant Administered
Differently in Different Dispensations
a.
In the time of the law
i.
Administered by promises,
prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal lamb, and other ordinances to
the Jews
1.
These all foresignified
Christ
2.
Were at the time sufficient
and efficacious through the Spirit to build up elect in faith of the coming
Messiah by whom they had full remission of sins and eternal salvation
ii.
This called the Old
Testament
b.
In the time of the Gospel
i.
After Christ, administered
through preaching of the Word, the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper
1.
These fewer in number
2.
Administered with more
simplicity and less outward glory
3.
Yet held forth in more
fullness, evidence, and spiritual efficacy to Jew and Gentile
4.
Called the New Testament
c.
There is Only One Covenant
of Grace, but Administered Differently Under Various Dispensations
CHAPTER 8: OF CHRIST THE MEDIATOR
1. God Chose His Son to be
Mediator Between God and Man
a.
Christ Prophet, Priest, and
King
b.
Head and Savior of His Church
i.
Given a people from
eternity past to be redeemed in time
ii.
Redemption includes
calling, justification, sanctification, and glorification
c.
Judge of the World
2. 2nd Person of
Trinity Becomes Man
a.
One substance and equal
with the Father
b.
Took upon human nature yet
without sin
c.
Conceived by the Holy Ghost
of the virgin Mary
d.
Two perfect natures joined
in one person
i.
Without mixture or
confusion
ii.
Fully God and fully man,
yet one Christ who is mediator between God and man
3. The Lord Jesus as
Mediator
a.
Sanctified and anointed
with the Spirit to be wise.
b.
Holy, harmless, full of
truth in order to fulfill office of mediator
i.
Called to be mediator by
the Father
ii.
Power commands and gives
power to Son to be mediator
4. Lord Jesus Takes Role
Willingly
a.
Made under law to fulfill
it
b.
Endured pain and suffering
in soul and body
c.
Crucified, died, and was
buried, yet saw no corruption
d.
Rose again on the 3rd
day.
e.
Ascended to the Father and
makes intercession for His people
f.
He will return to judge men
and angels at end of world
5. Christ’s sacrifice and
life offered to God
a.
Fully satisfies justice of
the Father
b.
Purchased not only
reconciliation but inheritance in kingdom of heaven for His people
6. Communication of
Redemption to the Elect
a.
Work of redemption not
wrought until after incarnation
b.
Yet virtue, efficacy, and
benefits communicated to elect in all times through types and shadows.
7. Christ in Both Natures
a.
Acts according to what is
proper of each nature.
b.
Yet what is proper in one
nature, due to the unity of the person, is sometimes ascribed to the other
nature in Scripture.
8. Application of Redemption
a.
Elect are certainly
redeemed.
i.
They know their salvation
through the Word
ii.
Heart’s governed by Spirit
and Word.
b.
Christ’s overcomes all His
people’s enemies by His power and wisdom.
CHAPTER 9: OF FREE WILL
1. Man Has Free Will Prior
to the Fall
a.
Will neither forced or
determined by nature toward good or evil
b.
Man had freedom and power
to do what was God to please God or disobey Him.
2. Man’s Will Enslaved After
Fall
a.
Lost all spiritual good to salvation
b.
Not able to convert himself
or prepare himself for conversion
3. The Will After Conversion
a.
Freed from bondage under
sin
b.
By grace man enabled to
will and do spiritual good
i.
Yet this is not done so
perfectly due to remaining sin in believer
ii.
Will of man is made perfect
and immutable only in the state of glory
CHAPTER 10: OF EFFECTUAL CALLING
1.
Those Predestined to Life Effectually Called
a. Called by Word and Spirit in His timing
i.
Out of sin and death, into
grace and salvation
ii.
Enlightens mind spiritually
and savingly to understand God
iii.
Renews wills and determines
them to do good
b.
Effectually drawn to
Christ, yet man comes freely, made willing by His grace
2.
Effectual Call of God’s grace alone
a.
Not due to anything forseen
in man.
b.
Man is passive until
enabled by God to receive grace
3.
Elect Infants as well as all Others Unable to Heed Outward Call Saved
a.
By Grace
b.
Through the Spirit
4.
Non-elect
a.
May be called by ministry
of the Word
b.
Have some operations of the
Spirit
c.
Yet never truly come to
Christ
i.
Those of other religions
cannot be saved
ii.
No other way to salvation
but through Christ
CHAPTER 11: OF JUSTIFICATION
1.
The Effectually Called Are Justified
a.
Not by infused
righteousness but by pardon of sin and acceptance as righteous
i.
Not their own
righteousness, but Christ’s
ii.
Not their faith, but only
the obedience and satisfaction of Christ
b.
Faith is a gift of God
2.
Saving faith
a.
Rests in Christ’s
righteousness and is instrument of justification
b.
Is accompanied by works and
is not a dead faith
3.
Christ Justifies
a.
By his obedience and death
b.
Made satisfaction of
Father’s justice on behalf of His people
c.
This justification
glorifies God through His grace
4.
God decreed to justify the elect in Christ from eternity past, yet
elect are not justified until Christ is applied to them
5.
Forgiveness of the Justified
a.
God continues to forgive
their sins
b.
Justification cannot be
lost, but Father’s displeasure can be received until they repent afresh
6.
Justification of saints in the OT the same as those in the NT
CHAPTER 12: OF ADOPTION
1.
Those justified enjoy the liberties of the children of God.
a.
They have His name upon Him
b.
Receive His Spirit
c.
Have access to the throne
of grace
d.
Can cry Abba, Father
e.
Never cast off and receive
all the promises as heirs of everlasting salvation
CHAPTER 13: OF SANCTIFICATION
1.
The Effectually Called Are Sanctified
a.
Through Christ
b.
By His Word and Spirit
dwelling in them
2.
The dominion of sin broken in the whole person
a.
Lusts are increasingly
weakened and mortified
b.
Increase in saving graces
unto true holiness
3.
Sanctification lasts through life
a.
Yet corruption remains in
every part of man
b.
This leads to a constant
war between the flesh and the Spirit
i.
The regenerate part of man
overcomes the flesh
ii.
The saints those grow in
grace and holiness in the fear of God
CHAPTER 14: OF SAVING FAITH
1.
Saving faith a work of the Spirit of Christ on man’s heart
a.
Ordinarily wrought by
preaching of the Word.
b.
Strengthened through
administration of sacraments and prayer
2.
Saving faith produces a belief that the Bible is God’s Word wholly and
wholly true.
a.
This produces a submissive
and obedient nature to all of Scripture
b.
Principal part of saving
faith is resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and
eternal life.
3.
Saving faith comes in degrees
a.
Some have a stronger faith
than others
b.
Faith can often be weakened
c.
But faith will always grow
because Christ is author and finisher of faith
CHAPTER 15: OF REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE
1.
Repentance a grace of God which should be preached by all ministers as
faith is to be preached
a.
In repentance a sinner sees
the filth of his sin and the goodness of Christ and turns from all his sin to
God in order to walk with Him in all His commandments.
b.
None may be pardoned of sin
apart from repentance
c.
All sin deserves damnation,
but no sin is so great that one who repents cannot be forgiven.
d.
Particular sins should be
repented of particularly
e.
Public sins should be
repented of publically or privately to those sinned against
CHAPTER 16: OF GOOD WORKS
1.
Good works defined by God, not man
a.
Good works are fruit of and
evidences for a true faith
i.
Manifest thankfulness,
strengthen assurance, edify the brethren, adorn the profession, stop
adversaries, and glorify God
ii.
The fruit of holiness leads
to eternal life in Christ
b.
Ability to do good works
from Spirit of Christ, not of man
i.
The Spirit works within to
will and do God’s pleasure
ii.
But believers are to be
diligent in stirring up the grace of God in them
c.
Even the most sanctified of
men cannot earn above what is required of them, but rather still fall short of
what is required of them
2.
Good works cannot pardon sin
a.
Good works cannot cover
past sins or make up for them
b.
Perfect obedience is
required, therefore good works is simply the required duty of a faithful
servant
c.
Even our good works are
tainted with remaining sin, and thus could not stand up under God’s judgment
i.
Nonetheless, God accepts
the good works of His people through Christ
ii.
Through Christ God accepts
what is sincere in good works, despite accompanied with weakness and
imperfection
3.
The works of unregenerate men can never please God because they are not
done from a heart of faith
CHAPTER 17: OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
1.
The Elect can never totally
fall away from a state of grace
a.
They shall persevere to the
end and be saved eternally
b.
This perseverance depends
upon the covenant of grace and not on man’s free will.
c.
The free and unchangeable
love of God the Father, the merit and efficacy of the intercession of Christ,
the abiding of the Spirit, all certify that one will never fall from grace
d.
Nevertheless, the elect can
fall into grievous sin for a season, due to temptations of the world, flesh,
and the devil.
i.
This brings temporal
judgment
ii.
This is met with God’s
displeasure
iii.
This grieves the Spirit and
hardens the heart
iv.
This deprives the Christian
of some graces and comforts
CHAPTER 18: OF THE ASSURANCE OF GRACE AND SALVATION
1.
Hypocrites and other
unregenerate men may deceive themselves into thinking they are saved
2.
Those truly converted can
be assured of their salvation
a.
Certainty is not a bare
conjecture built on a fallible hope, but rather a faith founded on the divine
truth of promises of salvation
i.
Inward grace testifies to salvation
ii.
The testimony of the Spirit
of adoption witnessing with ours that we are children of God and seals us for
day of inheritance
b.
This assurance of faith is
not necessary to be saved, but may attain assurance without extra revelation
i.
It is therefore the duty of
every Christian to strive unto an assurance of faith
ii.
This enlarges peace and joy
in the Holy Spirit, love and thankfulness to God, strength and cheerfulness in
the duties of obedience, rather than inclining toward looseness
c.
True believers can have
their assurance shaken in divers manners
i.
By negligence of
perseverance
ii.
By falling into some
special sin which grieves the Holy Spirit
iii.
By vehement temptation
iv.
By the withdrawal of God’s
countenance
d.
Nevertheless, true
believers are never totally devoid of the seed of God or the ability to recover
assurance
CHAPTER 19: OF THE LAW OF GOD
1.
The Covenant of Works
a.
Adam was required to obey
the law of God perfectly, and as reward would receive eternal life, but would
face eternal death if he disobeyed
i.
This Adam would keep for
him and all his posterity
ii.
After the fall, this law
continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness
b.
The law was embodied in the
two tablets of the ten commandments
i.
First four commandments
contain duties toward God
ii.
Last six commandments
duties toward man
c.
The ten commandments are
moral laws, but ceremonial laws were also given to Israel
i.
Ceremonial laws contained
ordinances of worship which prefigured Christ
ii.
They also held detailed
instructions of moral duties
iii.
All these ceremonial laws
are now abrogated under the new testament
d.
Israel was also given
particular judicial laws which are not required or valid for anyone now
2.
The Moral Law binds all people for all ages
a.
This binds man, believer
and unbeliever, not just to the law, but to give obedience for the author of it
b.
Christ strengthens, rather
than dissolves, this obligation
3.
Use of Moral Law for Christians
a.
Law does not justify or
condemn
b.
Does direct and bind man to
walk accordingly
c.
Law discovers sin in the
heart of believers
d.
Restrains corruption of
regenerate
e.
Threats show what
punishment sin deserves
f.
Promises of law also show
what the believer may expect in heaven
4.
The law and grace are not contrary to one another, but rather the
Spirit of Christ leads believers to comply to the law cheerfully
CHAPTER 20: OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY, AND LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE
1.
Christian liberty purchased for believers in the gospel
a.
Consists of freedom from
guilt of sin, wrath of God, curse of moral law, from bondage to Satan and
dominion of sin
b.
Also freed from the evil of
afflictions, sting of death, and damnation
c.
Able to serve God not in
fear but in love as a child to a father
d.
Under new covenant, greater
experiences of the Spirit and freedom from the ceremonial law
2.
God alone is Lord of conscience
a.
Commandments of men cannot
guide conscience
b.
To submit to man’s commands
out of conscience betrays true Christian liberty
c.
Those who practice sin
under pretense of Christian liberty destroy Christian liberty
3.
Those who use Christian liberty to disobey civil or magisterial
government resist the ordinance of God
a.
This goes for things said
or written as well.
b.
Those who do so may be
lawfully called to account by the church
CHAPTER 21: OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, AND THE SABBATH DAY
1.
Nature reveals that there is a God
a.
This God is Lord and
sovereign over all
b.
He is good and should be
loved and praised by all
c.
The way to worship God is
only by that which is prescribed in Scripture
i.
Not by imagination of man
ii.
Not by suggestions of Satan
iii.
Not by visible
representations
2.
Religious worship Given to Triune God
a.
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
b.
To Him alone, and not
angels, saints, or other creatures
c.
Since the fall, not without
a mediator, and only through the mediation of Christ
d.
Prayer ids required by all
men
i.
Must be made in name of the
Son, with the help of the Spirit, and according to His will in a known tongue
ii.
Prayer made for all things
lawful and all sorts of men, but not the dead
3.
Contents of Religious worship
a.
Reading of Scripture
b.
Preaching and hearing of
Word
c.
Singing Psalms
d.
Administration and
reception of sacraments
e.
On special occasions,
oaths, vows, fasts, and thanksgivings as appropriate
4.
Under Christ in the gospel, prayer and all other religious practices
are to be practiced everywhere, as no one location makes it more acceptable
a.
Public assembling of the
brethren not to be forsaken
b.
Assemblies to be more
solemn
5.
God has appointed one day in seven for a Sabbath
a.
This was from beginning of
world till resurrection of Christ last day of week
b.
Now it is 1st
day of week, bound to the resurrection of Christ
i.
It is called the Christian
Sabbath, or Lord’s Day
ii.
To be continued to the end
of the world
6.
The Sabbath
a.
Men observe a holy rest
from all worldly endeavors, words, and thoughts
b.
Also consume themselves
with public and private exercises of worship, and duties of necessity and mercy
CHAPTER 22: OF LAWFUL OATHS AND VOWS
1.
Oaths
a.
Are part of worship to God
b.
God is called upon to judge
the man who makes the oath to the truth or falsehood of what he swears
c.
Men ought only to swear by
the name of God, and only in fear and reverence
d.
It is abhorrent to swear
insincerely or by any other name than God
e.
The weightiness of the oath
ought to be considered and one should be persuaded that the oath is true
f.
The oath should not be
violated but binds a man to it
2.
Vows
a.
Of like nature with a
promissory oath, and to be taken with the same care
b.
Should be made to God alone
c.
No man may vow to do
anything forbidden by God’s Word
d.
Thus vows of singleness,
poverty, and the like are no higher means of holiness but are superstitious and
sinful snares
e.
Vows are promises to God to
do things we ought to do more rigorously
CHAPTER 23: OF THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE
1.
God has ordained civil magistrates to be under Him and over the people
a.
For his glory and the
public good
b.
He has armed civil
magistrates with power of the sword
i.
For defense and
encouragement of them that are good
ii.
For the punishment of
evildoers
c.
Christians may be
magistrates
i.
To uphold goodness
ii.
To wage just wars when
necessary
2.
Civil magistrates may not administer the Word and sacraments
a.
Or power of the kings of
the kingdom
b.
They may not interfere in
the least in the matters of faith
c.
It is duty of civil
magistrates to protect the church of our common Lord
i.
Without giving preference
to any denomination
ii.
Should not interfere with
various denominations personal professions or beliefs
iii.
They should ensure that all
religious and ecclesiastical assemblies are held without disturbance or
molestation
3.
Believers should pray for their civil magistrates
a.
They should honor their
persons and pay homage to them
b.
Obey their lawful commands
c.
Be subject to their
authority
d.
Infidelity or difference of
religion does not void the magistrate’s authority or free the people from
obedience
e.
The pope cannot exercise
authority over them because he thinks they are heretics
CHAPTER 24: OF MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE
1.
Definition of Marriage
a.
One man and one woman
b.
Only one spouse at a time
2.
Purpose of Marriage
a.
Mutual help of husband and
wife
b.
Procreation and holy seed
c.
To prevent uncleanness
3.
Christians should marry only in the Lord
a.
Should not marry with
infidels, papists, or idolaters
b.
Should not marry those who
have known wickedness and damnable heresies
c.
Should not be any
incestuous marriages
4.
Divorce
a.
Adultery or fornication
prior to the marriage gives the innocent party right to dissolve contract
b.
Adultery found after
marriage gives innocent party right to divorce and remarry as if offending
party were dead
c.
Divorce should be only in
the case of adultery or desertion, and should be overseen by public and orderly
course of proceeding
CHAPTER 25: OF THE CHURCH
1.
Universal church
a.
Is invisible and consists
of the whole number of elect
b.
Christ is head of church
c.
Church is spouse of Christ
2.
The visible church
a.
Also catholic and universal
under the gospel
b.
Consists of all throughout
the world who profess Christ, and their children
c.
Is the kingdom of the Lord
Jesus Christ, the house and family of God
i.
Given ministry, oracles,
and ordinances of God
ii.
Spirit makes promises
effectual
3.
Catholic/universal church has been more and less visible at different
times
a.
Particular churches more or
less pure
b.
According to the ordinances
and gospel proclaimed
c.
The purest churches are
still subject to error
i.
Some churches have
degenerated to not being a church
ii.
Yet there will always be a
church on earth that worships according to God’s will
iii.
Only Christ is head of
church, not the pope
CHAPTER 26: OF THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
1.
All Saints have fellowship with Christ
a.
In His sufferings, graces,
death, and resurrection, and glory
b.
Have communion with gifts
and graces and are to perform duties for mutual good in inward and outward man
2.
Saints to maintain communion and fellowship with God
a.
Through worship
b.
Spiritual services
c.
Commune with Christ and all
saints and help take care of those in need
3.
Communion with Christ
a.
Does not make man partakers
of the substance of the Godhead
b.
Nor equal with Christ in
any respect
c.
Communion with other saints
does not mean that each has the other’s goods and property
CHAPTER 27: OF THE SACRAMENTS
1.
Sacraments are holy signs and seals of covenant of grace
a.
Instituted by God to
represent Christ and His benefits
b.
Also shows difference
between those of the church and those of the world
c.
Engages saints in service
to God in Christ
2.
Sacramental union between sign and thing signified
a.
Sacraments do not confer
grace by any power in them
b.
Efficacy of sacrament
depends not on one who administers it
c.
Depends on the Spirit and
word of institution which contains promise to worthy receivers
3.
Only Two sacraments: Baptism and Lord’s Supper
a.
These dispensed by minister
of the Word only
b.
Sacraments of OT same in
substance and thing signified with those of the NT
CHAPTER 28: OF BAPTISM
1.
Baptism is sacrament of NT
a.
Ordained by Christ
b.
For solemn admission of
party baptized into visible church and sign and seal of covenant of grace
c.
Indicates ingrafting into
Christ, regeneration, and remission of sins
2.
Water used in baptism
a.
Baptized with water
b.
In the name of Father, Son,
and Spirit by a minister of the gospel
c.
Dipping in water is not
necessary; right application is sprinkling or pouring water on person
d.
Infants of at least one
believing parent are to be baptized
3.
One can be saved without being baptized
a.
Yet baptism is required and
it is a great sin to neglect it
b.
All that are baptized are
not necessarily regenerate
4.
Efficacy of baptism
a.
Not tied to moment when it
is administered
b.
Yet right use of ordinance
actually confers and exhibits the grace promised by the Holy Ghost at God’s
appointed time to recipient
c.
Baptism to be administered
only once to any given person
CHAPTER 29: OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
1.
Lord Jesus instituted Lord’s Supper
a.
To be observed in His
church until end of world
b.
Symbol of His body and
blood
c.
Remembrance of the
sacrifice of Himself
d.
Symbol of bond with Him and
each other as members of His mystical body
2.
In Sacrament Christ is not offered up to Father
a.
No sacrifice is made at all
b.
It is a commemoration of
the offering up of Christ upon the cross once for all
c.
Thus the popish sacrifice
of mass is a grievous sin and undermines the once for all propitiation of
Christ for the elect
3.
Christ has given ministers to administer this ordinance to present
members of the congregation
a.
Private administration is
forbidden
b.
Worshiping elements
forbidden as well
c.
Sometimes elements are
called body and blood of Christ, but only as a symbol of the body and blood,
sacramentally
d.
Transubstantiation is a
repugnant doctrine contrary to reason and is superstitious
4.
Worthy recipients inwardly by faith, spiritually feed on Christ
crucified and benefits of His death
a.
Body and blood not
physically present
b.
But really, spiritually
present in the faith of believers as the elements themselves are to their
outward senses
c.
Unworthy men do not receive
the benefits of the sign but rather gain the guilt of the body and blood of
Christ to their own damnation
CHAPTER 30: OF CHURCH CENSURES
1.
Jesus has appointed a church government distinct from civil magistrates
a.
These officers receive keys
of the kingdom
b.
They have power to retain
and remit sins and to shut kingdom against impenitent
c.
Can also give gospel to
penitent sinners
2.
Church censures are necessary
a.
For reclaiming and gaining
offended brethren
b.
For deterring others from
like offenses
c.
For purging leaven which
infects the lump
d.
To protect the faithful
from God’s wrath within the church by the wickedness of others
3.
Church censures to proceed by admonition
a.
May also suspend Lord’s
Supper for a season
b.
Also may excommunicate from
the church when appropriate crime is committed
CHAPTER 31: OF SYNODS AND COUNCILS
1.
Synods and councils necessary
a.
For edification of church
b.
Overseers and rulers to
appoint such assemblies
c.
Should convene as often as
it is judged necessary for good of church
2.
Duties of Synods and Councils
a.
Ministerially to determine
controversies of faith
b.
To set down rules for
better ordering of public worship of God
c.
To order government of
church
d.
To receive and determine
cases of maladministration
3.
All synods and councils may err
a.
Many have erred
b.
Are not to be made rule of
faith or practice but are used as help for both
c.
Synods to handle only
ecclesiastical matters
i.
Only speak to civil affairs
in extraordinary circumstances
ii.
Can offer advice if called
upon by civil magistrate
CHAPTER 32: OF THE STATE OF MEN AFTER DEATH, AND OF THE RESURRECTION OF
THE DEAD
1.
Bodies of men return to dust and see corruption
a.
But their souls neither
sleep nor die and return immediately to God
b.
Souls of righteous are made
perfect in holiness and go to heaven and behold the face of God, waiting for
the redemption of their bodies
c.
Souls of wicked cast into
hell and remain in darkness till day of great judgment
2.
Those alive at the last day
a.
Their bodies do not die but
are changed
b.
All the dead are raised up
with the same bodies though with different qualities which are united to their
souls forever
c.
The bodies of unjust by
power of Christ raised to dishonor
d.
Bodies of just, by His
Spirit, raised to honor and made conformable to His own glorious body
CHAPTER 33: OF THE LAST JUDGMENT
1.
God will judge the world on the last day in righteousness by Jesus
Christ
a.
Christ has been given all
power and judgment by the Father
b.
Apostate angels as well as
all persons of earth will appear before Christ
c.
All will give account for
their thoughts, words, and deeds and will receive according to their body
whether good or evil
2.
God appointed this day of judgment for manifestation of His glory and
mercy
a.
In the eternal salvation of
elect
b.
In damnation of the
reprobate
3.
Last Day not revealed to man
a.
This to ensure a constant
watchfulness for God and to pursue holiness
b.
This deters believers from
sin and gives them consolation in their adversity and leads them to say come,
Lord, quickly
Comments
Post a Comment