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WCF 1.1
Although the light of nature, and
the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom,
and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable;1 yet are they not
sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of His will, which is necessary
unto salvation:2 therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and
in divers manners, to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His
Church;3 and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating
of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church
against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world,
to commit the same wholly unto writing;4 which maketh the Holy
Scripture to be most necessary;5 those former ways of God's
revealing His will unto His people being now ceased.6
1 Rom. 2:14, 15; Rom. 1:19, 20; Ps. 19:1,
2, 3; Rom. 1:32; Rom. 2:1.
2 1 Cor. 1:21; 1 Cor. 2:13, 14
3 Heb. 1:1
4 Prov. 22:19, 20, 21;Luke 1:3, 4; Rom.
15:4; Matt. 4:4, 7, 10; Isa. 8:19, 20.
5 2 Tim. 3:15; 2 Pet. 1:19
6 Heb. 1:1, 2
WCF 1.2 Under the name of Holy Scripture,
or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New
Testament, which are these:
Of
the Old Testament:
Genesis Exodus Leviticus
Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth I Samuel II Samuel I Kings II Kings I
Chronicles II Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes
The Song of Songs Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos
Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi
Of
the New Testament:
The Gospels according to
Matthew Mark Luke John The Acts of the Apostles Paul's Epistles to the Romans
Corinthians I Corinthians II Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians
Thessalonians I Thessalonians II To Timothy I To Timothy II To Titus To
Philemon The Epistle to the Hebrews The Epistle of James The first and second
Epistles of Peter The first, second, and third Epistles of John The Epistle of
Jude The Revelation
All
which are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life.1
1 Luke 16:29, 31; Eph. 2:20; Rev. 22:18,
19; 2 Tim. 3:16.
WCF 1.3 The books commonly called
Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of the
Scripture; and therefore are of no authority in the Church of God, nor to be
any otherwise approved, or made use of, than other human writings.1
1 Luke 24:27, 44; Rom. 3:2; 2 Pet. 1:21.
WCF 1.4 The authority of the Holy
Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, dependeth not upon
the testimony of any man, or Church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself)
the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word
of God.1
1 2 Pet. 1:19, 21; 2 Tim. 3:16; 1 John
5:9; 1 Thess. 2:13.
WCF 1.5 We may be moved and induced by the
testimony of the Church to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scripture,1
and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the
majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole,
(which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only
way of man's salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire
perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to
be the Word of God; yet, notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of
the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of
the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by and with the word in our hearts.2
1 1 Tim. 3:15
2 1 John 2:20, 27; John 16:13, 14; 1 Cor.
2:10, 11, 12; Isa. 59:21.
WCF 1.6 The whole counsel of God,
concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith and
life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence
may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added,
whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men.1 Nevertheless,
we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for
the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the word;2 and
that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government
of the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered
by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, according to the general rules
of the word, which are always to be observed.3
1 2 Tim. 3:15, 16, 17; Gal. 1:8, 9; 2
Thess. 2:2.
2 John 6:45; 1 Cor. 2:9, 10, 11, 12.
3 1 Cor. 11:13, 14; 1 Cor. 14:26, 40.
WCF 1.7 All things in Scripture are not
alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all;1 yet those
things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation,
are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that
not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means,
may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.2
1 2 Pet. 3:16.
2 Ps. 119:105, 130.
WCF 1.8 The Old Testament in Hebrew (which
was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in
Greek (which, at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the
nations), being immediately inspired by God, and, by His singular care and providence,
kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical;1 so as, in all
controversies of religion, the Church is finally to appeal unto them.2 But,
because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have
right unto and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded, in the fear of
God, to read and search them,3 therefore they are to be translated
into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come,4 that
the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship Him in an acceptable
manner;5 and, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, may
have hope.6
1 Matt. 5:18.
2 Isa. 8:20; Acts 15:15; John 5:39, 46.
3 John 5:39.
4 1 Cor. 14:6, 9, 11, 12, 24, 27, 28.
5 Col. 3:16.
6 Rom. 15:4.
WCF 1.9 The infallible rule of
interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself: and therefore, when there
is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not
manifold, but one), it must be searched and known by other places that speak
more clearly.1
1 2 Pet. 1:20, 21; Acts 15:15, 16.
WCF 1.10 The supreme Judge, by which all
controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions
of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined,
and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit
speaking in the Scripture.1
1 Matt. 22:29, 31; Eph. 2:20; Acts 28:25.
WCF 2.1 There is but one only1 living and true God,2
who is infinite in being and perfection,3 a most pure spirit,4
invisible,5 without body, parts,6 or passions;7
immutable,8 immense,9 eternal,10
incomprehensible,11 almighty,12 most wise,13
most holy,14 most free,15 most absolute,16
working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most
righteous will,17 for His own glory;18 most loving,19
gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving
iniquity, transgression, and sin,20 the rewarder of them that
diligently seek Him;21 and withal, most just, and terrible in His
judgments;22 hating all sin,23 and who will by no means
clear the guilty.24
1 Deut. 6:4; 1 Cor. 8:4, 6.
2 1 Thess. 1:9; Jer. 10:10.
3 Job 11:7, 8, 9; Job 26:14.
4 John 4:24.
5 1 Tim. 1:17.
6 Deut. 4:15, 16; John 4:24; Luke 24:39.
7 Acts 14:11, 15.
8 James 1:17; Mal. 3:6.
9 1 Kings 8:27; Jer. 23:23, 24.
10 Ps. 90:2;1 Tim. 1:17.
11 Ps. 145:3.
12 Gen. 17:1; Rev. 4:8.
13 Rom. 16:27.
14 Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8.
15 Ps. 15:3.
16 Exod. 3:14.
17 Eph. 1:11.
18 Prov. 16:4; Rom. 11:36.
19 1 John 4:8, 16.
20 Exod. 34:6, 7.
21 Heb. 11:6.
22 Neh. 9:32, 33.
23 Ps. 5:5, 6.
24 Nah. 1:2, 3; Exod. 34:7.
WCF 2.2 God hath all life,1 glory,2 goodness,3
blessedness,4 in and of Himself; and is alone in and unto Himself
all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which He hath made,5
not deriving any glory from them,6 but only manifesting His own
glory in, by, unto, and upon them: He is the alone fountain of all being, of
whom, through whom, and to whom are all things,7 and hath most
sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever
Himself pleaseth.8 In His sight all things are open and manifest;9
His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature,10
so as nothing is to Him contingent, or uncertain.11 He is most holy
in all His counsels, in all His works, and in all His commands.12 To
Him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship,
service, or obedience He is pleased to require of them.13
1 John 5:26.
2 Acts 7:2.
3 Ps. 119:68.
4 1 Tim. 6:15; Rom. 9:5.
5 Acts 17:24, 25.
6 Job 22:2, 3.
7 Rom. 11:36.
8 Rev. 4:11; 1 Tim. 6:15; Dan. 4:25, 35.
9 Heb. 4:13.
10 Rom. 11:33, 34; Ps. 147:5.
11 Acts 15:18; Ezek. 11:5.
12 Ps. 145:17 ; Rom. 7:12.
13 Rev. 5:12, 13, 14.
WCF 2.3 In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one
substance, power, and eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy
Ghost.1 The Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding; the
Son is eternally begotten of the Father;2 the Holy Ghost eternally
proceeding from the Father and the Son.3
1 1 John 5:7; Matt. 3:16, 17; Matt. 8:19;
2 Cor. 13:14.
2 John 1:14, 18.
3 John 15:26; Gal. 4:6.
WCF 3.1 God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of
His own will freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass:1
yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin,2 nor is
violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or
contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.3
1 Eph. 1:11; Rom. 11:33; Heb. 6:17; Rom.
9:15, 18.
2 James 1:13, 17; 1 John 1:5.
3 Acts 2:23; Matt. 17:12; Acts 4:27, 28;
John 19:11; Prov. 16:33.
WCF 3.2 Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed
conditions,1 yet hath He not decreed anything because He foresaw it
as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.2
1 Acts 15:18; 1 Sam. 23:11, 12; Matt.
11:21, 23.
2 Rom. 9:11, 13, 16, 18.
WCF 3.3 By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some
men and angels1 are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others
foreordained to everlasting death.2
1 1 Tim. 5:21; Matt. 25:41.
2 Rom. 9:22, 23; Eph. 1:5, 6; Prov. 16:4.
WCF 3.4 These angels and men, thus predestinated and foreordained, are
particularly and unchangeably designed; and their number so certain and
definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.1
1 2 Tim. 2:19; John 13:18.
WCF 3.5 Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before
the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable
purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen in
Christ unto everlasting glory,1 out of His mere free grace and love,
without any foresight of faith or good works, or perserverance in either of
them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him
thereunto;2 and all to the praise of His glorious grace.3
1 Eph. 1:4, 9, 11; Rom. 8:30; 2 Tim. 1:9;
1 Thess. 5:9.
2 Rom. 9:11, 13, 16; Eph. 1:4, 9.
3 Eph. 1:6, 12.
WCF 3.6 As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so hath He, by the
eternal and most free purpose of His will, foreordained all the means
thereunto.1 Wherefore, they who are elected being fallen in Adam,
are redeemed by Christ;2 are effectually called unto faith in Christ
by His Spirit working in due season; are justified, adopted, sanctified,3
and kept by His power, through faith, unto salvation.4 Neither are
any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted,
sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.5
1 1 Pet. 1:2; Eph. 1:4, 5; Eph. 2:10; 2
Thess. 2:13.
2 1 Thess. 5:9, 10; Tit. 2:14.
3 Rom. 8:30; Eph. 1:5; 2 Thess. 2:13.
4 1 Pet. 1:5.
5 John 17:9;Rom. 8:28; John 6:64, 65;
John 10:26; John 8:47; 1 John 2:19.
WCF 3.7 The rest of mankind, God was pleased, according to the
unsearchable counsel of His own will, whereby He extendeth or withholdeth
mercy, as He pleaseth, for the glory of His sovereign power over His creatures,
to pass by, and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath for their sin, to the
praise of His glorious justice.1
1 Matt. 11:25, 26; Rom. 9:17, 18, 21, 22;
2 Tim. 2:19, 20; Jude 1:4; 1 Pet. 2:8.
WCF 3.8 The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be
handled with special prudence and care,1 that men, attending the
will of God revealed in His Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from
the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal
election.2 So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise,
reverence, and admiration of God,3 and of humility, diligence, and
abundant consolation, to all that sincerely obey the Gospel.4
1 Rom. 9:20; Rom. 11:33; Deut. 29:29.
2 2 Pet. 1:10.
3 Eph. 1:6; Rom. 11:33.
4 Rom. 11:5, 6, 20; 2 Pet. 1:10; Rom.
8:33; Luke 10:20.
WCF 4.1 It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,1 for
the manifestation of the glory of His eternal power, wisdom, and goodness,2
in the beginning, to create, or make of nothing, the world, and all things
therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very
good.3
1 Heb. 1:2; John 1:2, 3; Gen. 1:2; Job
26:13; Job 33:4.
2 Rom. 1:20; Jer. 10:12; Ps. 104:24; Ps.
33:5, 6.
3 Heb. 11:3; Col. 1:16; Acts 17:24.
WCF 4.2 After God had made all other creatures, He created man, male and
female,1 with reasonable and immortal souls,2 endued with
knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after His own image,3
having the law of God written in their hearts,4 and power to fulfill
it;5 and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the
liberty of their own will, which was subject unto change.6 Beside
this law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the
tree of knowledge of good and evil;7 which while they kept, they
were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.8
1 Gen. 1:27.
2 Gen. 2:7; Eccl. 12:7; Luke 23:43; Matt.
10:28.
3 Gen. 1:26; Col. 3:10; Eph. 4:24.
4 Rom. 2:14, 15.
5 Eccl. 7:29.
6 Gen. 3:6; Eccl. 7:29.
7 Gen. 2:17; Gen. 3:8, 9, 10, 11, 23.
8 Gen. 1:26, 28.
WCF 5.1 God the great Creator of all things doth uphold,1
direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things,2
from the greatest even to the least,3 by His most wise and holy
providence,4 according to His infallible foreknowledge,5
and the free and immutable counsel of His own will,6 to the praise
of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.7
1 Heb. 1:3.
2 Dan. 4:34, 35; Ps. 135:6; Acts 17:25,
26, 28; Job 38:1-41, 39:1-30, 40:1-24, 41:1-34.
3 Matt. 10:29, 30, 31.
4 Prov. 15:3; Ps. 104:24; Ps. 145:17.
5 Acts 15:8; Ps. 94:8, 9, 10, 11.
6 Eph. 1:11; Ps. 33:10, 11.
7 Isa. 63:14; Eph. 3:10; Rom. 9:17; Gen.
45:7, Ps. 145:7.
WCF 5.2 Although, in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the
first cause, all things come to pass immutably, and infallibly;1
yet, by the same providence, He ordereth them to fall out according to the
nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.2
1 Acts 2:23.
2 Gen. 8:22; Jer. 31:35; Exod. 21:13;
Deut. 19:5; 1 Kings 22:28, 34; Isa. 10:6, 7.
WCF 5.3 God, in His ordinary providence, maketh use of means,1
yet is free to work without,2 above,3 and against them,4
at His pleasure.
1 Acts 27:31, 44; Isa. 55:10, 11; Hos.
2:21, 22.
2 Hos. 1:7; Matt. 4:4; Job 34:10.
3 Rom. 4:19, 20, 21.
4 2 Kings 6:6; Dan. 3:27.
WCF 5.4 The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of
God so far manifest themselves in His providence, that it extendeth itself even
to the first fall, and all other sins of angels and men,1 and that
not by a bare permission,2 but such as hath joined with it a most
wise and powerful bounding,3 and otherwise ordering and governing of
them, in a manifold dispensation, to His own holy ends;4 yet so, as
the sinfulness thereof proceedeth only from the creature, and not from God;
who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or
approver of sin.5
1 Rom. 11:32, 33, 34; 2 Sam. 24:1; 1
Chron. 21:1; 1 Kings 22:22, 23; 1 Chron. 10:4, 13, 14; 2 Sam. 16:10; Acts 2:23;
Acts 4:27, 28.
2 Acts 14:16.
3 Ps. 76:10; 2 Kings 19:28.
4 Gen. 1:20; Isa. 10:6, 7, 12.
5 James 1:13, 14, 17; 1 John 2:16; Ps.
1:21.
WCF 5.5 The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave,
for a season, His own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of
their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto
them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that
they may be humbled;1 and, to raise them to a more close and
constant dependence for their support upon Himself, and to make them more
watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and
holy ends.2
1 2 Chron. 32:25, 26, 31; 2 Sam. 24:1.
2 2 Cor. 12:7, 8, 9; Ps. 73:1-28; Ps. 77:1,
10, 12; Mark 14:66-72; John 21:15, 16, 17.
WCF 5.6 As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as a righteous
judge, for former sins, doth blind and harden,1 from them He not
only withholdeth His grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their
understandings, and wrought upon in their hearts;2 but sometimes
also withdraweth the gifts which they had,3 and exposeth them to
such objects as their corruption makes occasions of sin;4 and,
withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and
the power of Satan,5 whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves,
even under those means which God useth for the softening of others.6
1 Rom. 1:24, 26, 28; Rom. 11:7, 8.
2 Deut. 29:4.
3 Matt. 13:12; Matt. 25:29.
4 Deut. 2:30; 2 Kings 8:12, 13.
5 Ps. 81:11, 12; 2 Thess. 2:10, 11.
6 Exod. 7:3; Exod. 8:15, 32; 2 Cor.
2:15, 16; Isa. 8:14; 1 Pet. 2:7, 8; Isa. 6:9, 10; Acts 28:26, 27.
WCF 5.7 As the providence of God doth, in general, reach to all
creatures; so after a most special manner, it taketh care of His Church, and
disposeth all things to the good thereof.1
1 1 Tim. 4:10; Amos 9:8, 9; Rom. 8:28;
Isa. 43:3, 4, 5, 14.
WCF 6.1 Our first parents, being seduced by the subtilty and temptation
of Satan, sinned in eating the forbidden fruit.1 This their sin, God
was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed
to order it to His own glory.2
1 Gen. 3:13; 2 Cor. 11:3.
2 Rom. 11:32.
WCF 6.2 By this sin, they fell from their original righteousness and
communion with God,1 and so became dead in sin,2 and
wholly defiled in all the parts and faculties of soul and body.3
1 Gen. 3:6, 7, 8; Eccl. 7:29; Rom. 3:23.
2 Gen. 2:17; Eph. 2:1.
3 Tit. 1:15; Gen. 6:5; Jer. 17:9; Rom.
3:10-18.
WCF 6.3 They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was
imputed,1 and the same death in sin and corrupted nature conveyed to
all their posterity, descending from them by ordinary generation.2
1 Gen. 1:27, 28; Gen. 2:16, 17; Acts
17:26; Rom. 5:12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19; 1 Cor. 15:21, 22, 45, 49.
2 Ps. 51:5; Gen. 5:3; Job 14:4; Job
15:14.
WCF 6.4 From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed,
disabled, and made opposite to all good,1 and wholly inclined to all
evil,2 do proceed all actual transgressions.3
1 Rom. 5:6; Rom. 8:7; Rom. 7:18; Col.
1:21.
2 Gen. 6:5; Gen. 8:21 ; Rom. 3:10, 11,
12.
3 James 1:14, 15; Eph. 2:2, 3; Matt.
15:19.
WCF 6.5 This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those
that are regenerated;1 and although it be through Christ pardoned
and mortified, yet both itself, and all the motions thereof, are truly and
properly sin.2
1 1 John 1:8, 10; Rom. 7:14, 17, 18, 23;
James 3:2; Prov. 20:9; Eccl. 7:20.
2 Rom. 7:5, 7, 8, 25; Gal. 5:17.
WCF 6.6 Every sin, both original and actual, being a transgression of the
righteous law of God, and contrary thereunto,1 doth, in its own
nature, bring guilt upon the sinner,2 whereby he is bound over to
the wrath of God,3 and curse of the law,4 and so made
subject to death,5 with all miseries spiritual,6
temporal,7 and eternal.8
1 1 John 3:4.
2 Rom. 2:15; Rom. 3:9, 19.
3 Eph. 2:3.
4 Gal. 3:10.
5 Rom. 6:23.
6 Eph. 4:18.
7 Rom. 8:20; Lam. 3:39.
8 Matt. 25:41; 2 Thess. 1:9.
WCF 7.1 The distance between God and the creature is so 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 hath been pleased to
express by way of covenant.1
1 Isa. 40:13-17; Job 9:32, 33; 1 Sam.
2:25; Ps. 113:5, 6; Ps. 100:2, 3; Job 22:2, 3; Job 35:7, 8; Luke 17:10; Acts
17:24, 25.
WCF 7.2 The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works,1
wherein life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity,2
upon condition of perfect and personal obedience.3
1 Gal. 3:12.
2 Rom. 10:5; Rom. 5:12-20.
3 Gen. 2:17; Gal. 3:10.
WCF 7.3 Man, by his fall, having made himself uncapable of life by that
covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second,1 commonly called
the Covenant of Grace, whereby He freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation
by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in Him, that they may be saved;2
and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life His
Holy Spirit, to make them willing, and able to believe.3
1 Gal. 3:21; Rom. 8:3; Rom. 3:20, 21;
Gen. 3:15; Isa. 42:6.
2 Mark 16:15, 16; John 3:16; Rom. 10:6,
9; Gal. 3:11.
3 Ezek. 36:26, 27; John 6:44, 45.
WCF 7.4 This covenant of grace is frequently set forth in the Scripture
by the name of a Testament, in reference to the death of Jesus Christ the
testator, and to the everlasting inheritance, with all things belonging to it,
therein bequeathed.1
1 Heb. 9:15, 16, 17; Heb. 7:22; Luke
22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25.
WCF 7.5 This covenant was differently administered in the time of the
law, and in the time of the gospel;1 under the law it was
administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal
lamb, and other types and ordinances delivered to the people of the Jews, all
foresignifying Christ to come,2 which were for that time sufficient
and efficacious, through the operation of the Spirit, to instruct and build up
the elect in faith in the promised Messiah,3 by whom they had full
remission of sins, and eternal salvation; and is called the Old Testament.4
1 2 Cor. 3:6, 7, 8, 9.
2 Heb. 8:1-13, 9:1-28, 10:1-39; Rom. 4:11; Col.
2:11, 12; 1 Cor. 5:7.
3 1 Cor. 10:1, 2, 3, 4; Heb. 11:13; John
8:56.
4 Gal. 3:7, 8, 9, 14.
WCF 7.6 Under the gospel, when Christ the substance1 was
exhibited, the ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed are the preaching
of the Word, and the administration of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's
Supper,2 which, though fewer in number, and administered with more
simplicity and less outward glory, yet in them it is held forth in more
fulness, evidence, and spiritual efficacy,3 to all nations, both
Jews and Gentiles;4 and is called the New Testament.5
There are not therefore two covenants of grace differing in substance, but one
and the same under various dispensations.6
1 Col. 2:17.
2 Matt. 28:19, 20; 1 Cor. 11:23, 24, 25.
3 Heb. 12:22-27; Jer. 31:33, 34.
4 Matt. 28:19; Eph. 2:15-19.
5 Luke 22:20.
6 Gal. 3:14, 16; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:21,
22, 23, 30; Ps. 32:1; Rom. 4:3, 6, 16, 17, 23, 24; Heb. 13:8.
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 man;1
the Prophet,2 Priest,3 and King;4 the Head and
Saviour of His Church;5 the Heir of all things;6 and
Judge of the world;7 unto whom He did from all eternity give a
people, to be His seed,8 and to be by Him in time redeemed, called,
justified, sanctified, and glorified.9
1 Isa. 42:1; 1 Pet. 1:19, 20; John 3:16;
1 Tim. 2:5.
2 Acts 3:22.
3 Heb. 5:5, 6.
4 Ps. 2:6; Luke 1:33.
5 Eph. 5:23.
6 Heb. 1:2.
7 Acts 17:31.
8 John 17:6; Ps. 22:30; Isa. 53:10.
9 1 Tim. 2:6; Isa. 55:4, 5; 1 Cor. 1:30.
WCF 8.2 The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and
eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father, did, when the fulness
of time was come, take upon Him man's nature,1 with all the essential
properties and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin;2 being
conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, of
her substance.3 So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures,
the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person,
without conversion, composition, or confusion.4 Which person is very
God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man.5
1 John 1:1, 14; 1 John 5:20; Phil. 2:6;
Gal. 4:4.
2 Heb. 2:14, 16, 17; Heb. 4:15.
3 Luke 1:27, 31, 35; Gal. 4:4.
4 Luke 1:35; Col. 2:9; Rom. 9:5; 1 Pet.
3:18; 1 Tim. 3:16.
5 Rom. 1:3, 4; 1 Tim. 2:5.
WCF 8.3 The Lord Jesus, in His human nature thus united to the divine,
was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit above measure;1
having in Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge;2 in whom it
pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell:3 to the end, that
being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth,4 He
might be thoroughly furnished to execute the office of a Mediator and Surety.5
Which office He took not unto Himself, but was thereunto called by His Father;6
who put all power and judgment into His hand, and gave Him commandment to
execute the same.7
1 Ps. 45:7; John 3:34.
2 Col. 2:3.
3 Col. 1:19.
4 Heb. 7:26; John 1:14.
5 Acts 10:38; Heb. 12:24; Heb. 7:22.
6 Heb. 5:4, 5.
7 John 5:22, 27; Matt. 28:18; Acts 2:36.
WCF 8.4 This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake,1
which that He may discharge, He was made under the law,2 and did
perfectly fulfil it;3 endured most grievous torments immediately in
His soul,4 and most painful sufferings in His body;5 was
crucified, and died;6 was buried, and remained under the power of
death, yet saw no corruption.7 On the third day He arose from the
dead,8 with the same body in which He suffered;9 with
which also He ascended into heaven, and there sitteth at the right hand of His
Father,10 making intercession;11 and shall return to
judge men and angels at the end of the age.12 [Original reads: world,
BP reads: age]
1 Ps. 40:7, 8; Heb. 10:5-10;John 10:18;
Phil. 2:8.
2 Gal. 4:4.
3 Matt. 3:15; Matt. 5:17.
4 Matt. 26:37, 38; Luke 22:44; Matt.
27:46.
5 Matt. 26:1-75; Matt. 27:1-66.
6 Phil. 2:8.
7 Acts 2:23, 24, 27; Acts 13:37; Rom.
6:9.
8 1 Cor. 15:3, 4, 5.
9 John 20:25, 27.
10 Mark 16:19.
11 Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; Heb. 7:25.
12 Rom. 14:9, 10; Acts 1:11; Acts 10:42;
Matt. 13:40, 41, 42; Jude 1:6; 2 Pet. 2:4
WCF 8.5 The Lord Jesus, by His perfect obedience and sacrifice of
Himself, which He, through the eternal Spirit, once offered up unto God, hath
fully satisfied the justice of His Father;1 and purchased, not only
reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for
all those whom the Father hath given unto Him.2
1 Rom. 5:19; Heb. 9:14, 16; Heb. 10:14;
Eph. 5:2; Rom. 3:25, 26.
2 Dan. 9:24, 26; Col. 1:19, 20; Eph.
1:11, 14; John 17:2; Heb. 9:12, 15.
WCF 8.6 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, and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world
being yesterday and today the same, and for ever.1
1 Gal. 4:4, 5; Gen. 3:15; Rev. 13:8; Heb.
13:8.
WCF 8.7 Christ, in the work of mediation, acteth according to both
natures, by each nature doing that which is proper to itself:1 yet,
by reason of the unity of the person, that which is proper to one nature is
sometimes in Scripture attributed to the person denominated by the other
nature.2
1 Heb. 9:14; 1 Pet. 3:18.
2 Acts 20:28; John 3:13; 1 John 3:16.
WCF 8.8 To all those for whom Christ hath purchased redemption, He doth
certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same;1 making
intercession for them;2 and revealing unto them, in and by the Word,
the mysteries of salvation;3 effectually persuading them by His
Spirit to believe and obey; and governing their hearts by His Word and Spirit;4
overcoming all their enemies by His almighty power and wisdom, in such manner
and ways as are most consonant to His wonderful and unsearchable dispensation.5
1 John 6:37, 39; John 10:15, 16.
2 1 John 2:1, 2; Rom. 8:34.
3 John 15:13, 15; Eph. 1:7, 8, 9; John
17:6.
4 John 14:16; Heb. 12:2; 2 Cor. 4:13;
Rom. 8:9, 14; Rom. 15:18, 19; John 17:17.
5 Ps. 110:1; 1 Cor. 15:25, 26; Mal. 4:2,
3; Cor. 2:15.
WCF 9.1 God hath endued the will of man with that
natural liberty, that it is neither forced, nor by any absolute necessity of nature
determined, to good or evil.1
1 Matt. 17:12; James 1:14; Deut. 30:19.
WCF 9.2 Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and
to do that which was good and well-pleasing to God;1 but yet,
mutably, so that he might fall from it.2
1 Eccl. 7:29; Gen. 1:26.
2 Gen. 2:16, 17; Gen. 3:6.
WCF 9.3 Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all
ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation;1 so
as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good,2 and dead
in sin,3 is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to
prepare himself thereunto.4
1 Rom. 5:6; Rom. 8:7; John 15:5.
2 Rom. 3:10, 12.
3 Eph. 2:1, 5; Col. 2:13.
4 John 6:44, 65; Eph. 2:2, 3, 4, 5; 1
Cor. 2:14; Tit. 3:3, 4, 5.
WCF 9.4 When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of
grace, He freeth him from his natural bondage under sin,1 and by His
grace alone, enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually
good;2 yet so as that, by reason of his remaining corruption, he
doth not perfectly nor only will that which is good, but doth also will that
which is evil.3
1 Col. 1:13; John 8:34, 36.
2 Phil. 2:13; Rom. 6:18, 22.
3 Gal. 5:17; Rom. 7:15, 18, 19, 21, 23.
WCF 9.5 The will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to do good
alone in the state of glory only.1
1 Eph. 4:13; Heb. 12:23; 1 John 3:2; Jude
1:24.
WCF 10.1 All those whom God hath predestinated unto
life, and those only, He is pleased, in His appointed and accepted time, effectually
to call,1 by His Word and Spirit,2 out of that state of
sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus
Christ;3 enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to
understand the things of God;4 taking away their heart of stone, and
giving unto them a heart of flesh;5 renewing their wills, and, by
His almighty power determining them to that which is good;6 and
effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ;7 yet so as they come most
freely, being made willing by His grace.8
1 Rom. 8:30; Rom. 11:7; Eph. 1:10, 11.
2 2 Thess. 2:13, 14; 2 Cor. 3:3, 6.
3 Rom. 8:2; Eph. 2:1-5; 2 Tim. 1:9, 10.
4 Acts 26:18; 1 Cor. 2:10, 12; Eph. 1:17,
18.
5 Ezek. 36:26.
6 Ezek. 11:19; Phil. 2:13; Deut. 30:6;
Ezek. 37:27.
7 Eph. 1:19; John 6:44, 45.
8 Cant. 1:4; Ps. 110:3; John 6:37; Rom.
6:16, 17, 18.
WCF 10.2 This effectual call is of God's free and
special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man;1 who
is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy
Spirit,2 he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace
the grace offered and conveyed in it.3
1 2 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 3:4, 5; Eph. 2:4, 5,
8, 9; Rom. 9:11.
2 1 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 8:7; Eph. 2:5.
3 John 6:37; Ezek. 36:27; John 5:25.
WCF 10.3 Elect infants, dying in infancy, are
regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit,1 who worketh
when, and where, and how He pleaseth.2 So also are all other elect
persons, who are uncapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the
Word.3
1 Luke 18:15, 16; Acts 2:38, 39; John
3:3, 5; 1 John 5:12; Rom. 8:9.
2 John 3:8.
3 1 John 5:12; Acts 4:12.
WCF 10.4 Others not elected, although they may be
called by the ministry of the Word,1 and may have some common operations
of the Spirit,2 yet they never truly come unto Christ, and therefore
cannot be saved:3 much less can men, not professing the Christian
religion be saved in any other way whatsoever, be they never so diligent to
frame their lives according to the light of nature, and the laws of that religion
they do profess;4 and, to assert and maintain that they may, is very
pernicious, and to be detested.5
1 Matt. 22:14.
2 Matt. 7:22; Matt. 13:20, 21; Heb. 6:4,
5.
3 John 6:64, 65, 66; John 8:24.
4 Acts 4:12; John 14:6; Eph. 2:12; John
4:22; John 17:3.
5 2 John 1:9, 10, 11; 1 Cor. 16:22; Gal.
1:6, 7, 8.
WCF 11.1 Those whom God effectually calleth He also
freely justifieth;1 not by infusing righteousness into them, but by
pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as
righteous: not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's
sake alone: nor by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other
evangelical obedience, to them as their righteousness; but by imputing the
obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them,2 they receiving and
resting on Him and His righteousness, by faith: which faith they have not of
themselves; it is the gift of God.3
1 Rom. 8:30; Rom. 3:24.
2 Rom. 4:5-8; 2 Cor. 5:19, 21; Rom. 3:22,
24, 25, 27, 28; Tit. 3:5, 7; Eph. 1:7; Jer. 23:6; 1 Cor. 1:30, 31; Rom. 5:17,
18, 19.
3 Acts 10:44; Gal. 2:16; Phil. 3:9; Acts
13:38, 39; Eph. 2:7, 8.
WCF 11.2 Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ
and His righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification;1
yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all
other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.2
1 John 1:12; Rom. 3:28; Rom. 5:1.
2 James 2:17, 22, 26; Gal. 5:6.
WCF 11.3 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.1
Yet, inasmuch as He was given by the Father for them,2 and His
obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead,3 and both,
freely, not for anything in them, their justification is only of free grace;4
that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the
justification of sinners.5
1 Rom. 5:8, 9, 10, 19; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6;
Heb. 10:10, 14; Dan. 9:24, 26; Isa. 53:4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12.
2 Rom. 8:32.
3 2 Cor. 5:21; Matt. 3:17; Eph. 5:2.
4 Rom. 3:24; Eph. 1:7.
5 Rom. 3:26; Eph. 2:7.
WCF 11.4 God did, from all eternity, decree to
justify all the elect;1 and Christ did, in the fulness of time, die
for their sins, and rise again for their justification:2
nevertheless, they are not justified, until the Holy Spirit doth, in due time,
actually apply Christ unto them.3
1 Gal. 3:8; 1 Pet. 1:2, 19, 20; Rom.
8:30.
2 Gal. 4:4; Rom. 4:25.
3 Col. 1:21, 22; Gal. 2:16; Tit. 3:4-7.
WCF 11.5 God doth continue to forgive the sins of
those that are justified;1 and, although they can never fall from
the state of justification,2 yet they may, by their sins, fall under
God's fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of His countenance restored
unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and
renew their faith and repentance.3
1 Matt. 6:12; 1 John 1:7, 9; 1 John 2:1,
2.
2 Luke 22:32; John 10:28; Heb. 10:14.
3 Ps. 89:31, 32, 33; Ps. 51:7-12; Ps.
32:5; Matt. 26:75; 1 Cor. 11:30, 32; Luke 1:20.
WCF 11.6 The justification of believers under the Old
Testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification
of believers under the New Testament.1
1 Gal. 3:9, 13, 14; Rom. 4:22, 23, 24;
Heb. 13:8.
WCF 12.1 All those that are justified, God
vouchsafeth, in and for His only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the
grace of adoption:1 by which they are taken into the number, and
enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God;2 have His
name put upon them,3 receive the Spirit of adoption;4
have access to the throne of grace with boldness;5 are enabled to
cry, Abba, Father;6 are pitied,7 protected,8
provided for,9 and chastened by Him as by a Father;10 yet
never cast off,11 but sealed to the day of redemption,12
and inherit the promises,13 as heirs of everlasting salvation.14
1 Eph. 1:5; Gal. 4:4, 5.
2 Rom. 8:17; John 1:12.
3 Jer. 14:9; 2 Cor. 6:18; Rev. 3:12.
4 Rom. 8:15.
5 Eph. 3:12; Rom. 5:2.
6 Gal. 4:6.
7 Ps. 103:13.
8 Prov. 14:26.
9 Matt. 6:30, 32; 1 Pet. 5:7.
10 Heb. 12:6.
11 Lam. 3:31.
12 Eph. 4:30.
13 1 Pet. 1:3, 4; Heb. 1:14.
WCF 13.1 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,1 by His Word and Spirit dwelling in them;2
the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed,3 and the several
lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified,4 and they
more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces,5 to
the practice of true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.6
1 1 Cor. 6:11; Acts 20:32; Phil. 3:10;
Rom. 6:5, 6.
2 John 17:17; Eph. 5:26; 1 Thess. 2:13.
3 Rom. 6:6, 14.
4 Gal. 5:24; Rom. 8:13.
5 Col. 1:11; Eph. 3:16-19.
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