What We Teach
Our Teaching Confession
Our teaching confession is based largely upon the Second London Baptist Confession (1689), yet also contains certain modifications that reflect our identity and convictions as an independent evangelical “Bible” church. It is the confession of faith to which all of our elders subscribe to and it provides the theological boundaries for all biblical teaching that goes on in our church.
If you are interested in learning more about the teaching of our church, you can either scroll through this confession, or click the links to jump down to a specific area of interest.
Chapter 1: The Holy Scriptures
The Holy Scriptures are the only sufficient, certain, and infallible standard of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.1 The light of nature and the works of creation and providence so clearly demonstrate the goodness, wisdom, and power of God that people are left without excuse for their refusal to worship him as he deserves; however, these demonstrations are not sufficient to give the knowledge of God and his will that is necessary for salvation.2 Therefore, the Lord was pleased at different times and in various ways to reveal himself and to declare his will to his people.3 To preserve and propagate the truth better, and to establish and comfort the church with greater certainty against the corruption of the flesh and the malice of Satan and the world, the Lord put this revelation completely in writing. Therefore, the Holy Scriptures are absolutely necessary, because God’s former ways of revealing his will to his people have now ceased.4
(12 Timothy 3:15–17; Isaiah 8:16-22; Luke 16:29-31; Ephesians 2:20. 2Romans 1:19–21; Romans 2:14-15; Psalms 19:1–3. 3Hebrews 1:1. 42 Peter 1:19-20; Hebrews 1:1-3; Romans 15:4.)
The Holy Scriptures, or the Word of God written, consist of all the books of the Old and New Testaments. These are:
THE OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
THE NEW TESTAMENT: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation.
All of these are given by the inspiration of God to be the standard of faith and life.5
(52 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21.)
The books commonly called the Apocrypha were not given by divine inspiration and so are not part of the canon or standard of the Scriptures. Therefore, they have no authority for the church of God and are not to be recognized or used in any way different from other human writings.6
(6Luke 24:27, 44; Romans 3:2.)
The authority of the Holy Scriptures obligates belief in them. This authority does not depend on the testimony of any person or church but on God the author alone, who is truth itself. Therefore, the Scriptures are to be received because they are the Word of God.7
(72 Peter 1:19–21; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 John 5:9.)
The testimony of the church of God ought to stir and persuade his people to adopt a high and reverent respect for the Holy Scriptures. Moreover, the heavenliness of the contents, the power of the system of truth, the majesty of the style, the harmony of all the parts, the central focus on giving all glory to God, the full revelation of the only way of salvation, and many other incomparable qualities and complete perfections, all provide abundant evidence that the Scriptures are the Word of God. Even so, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority of the Scriptures comes from the internal work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.8
(8John 16:13-14; 1 Corinthians 2:10–12; 1 John 2:20, 27.)
The whole counsel of God concerning everything essential for his own glory and man’s salvation, faith, and life is either explicitly stated or by necessary inference contained in the Holy Scriptures. Nothing is ever to be added to the Scriptures, either by alleged revelation of the Spirit or by human traditions.9 Nevertheless, we acknowledge that the inward illumination of the Spirit of God is necessary for a saving understanding of what is revealed in the Word.10 We recognize that some circumstances concerning the worship of God and government of the church are common to human actions and organizations and are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian wisdom, following the general rules of the Word, which must always be observed.11
(92 Timothy 3:15–17; Galatians 1:8-9. 10John 6:44-45; 1 Corinthians 2:9–12. 111 Corinthians 14:26, 40.)
Some things in Scripture are clearer than others, and some people understand the teachings more clearly than others.12 However, the things that must be known, believed, and obeyed for salvation are so clearly set forth and explained in one part of Scripture or another that both the educated and uneducated may achieve a sufficient understanding of them by properly using ordinary measures.13
(122 Peter 3:16. 13Psalms 19:7; Psalms 119:130.)
The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, the native language of the ancient people of God.14 The New Testament was written in Greek, which at the time it was written was most widely known within the Roman Empire. These Testaments were inspired directly by God, are therefore without error in the original writings, and were kept pure down through the ages by his unique care and providence. They are therefore true and authoritative, so that in all religious controversies the church must make their ultimate appeal to them.15 All God’s people have a right to and a claim on the Scriptures and are commanded in the fear of God to read and search them.16 Not all of God’s people know these original languages, so the Scriptures are to be translated into the common language of every nation to which they come.17 In this way the Word of God may dwell richly in all, so that they may worship him in an acceptable manner and through patience and the comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.18
(14Romans 3:2. 15Isaiah 8:20; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Acts 15:15-21. 16Acts 15:14-18; 17:11. 171 Corinthians 14:6, 9, 11-12, 24, 28; Matthew 28:18-20. 18Colossians 3:16.)
The infallible rule for interpreting Scripture is the Scripture itself. Therefore, when there is a question about the true and full meaning of any part of Scripture (and each passage has only one meaning, not many), it must be understood in light of other passages that speak more clearly.19
(192 Peter 1:20-21; Acts 15:15.)
The supreme judge for deciding all religious controversies and for evaluating all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, human teachings, and individual interpretations, and in whose judgment we are to rest, is nothing but the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit. In this Scripture our faith finds its final word.20
(20Matthew 22:29-32; Ephesians 2:20; Acts 28:23.)
Chapter 2: God the Holy Trinity
The Lord our God is one, the only living and true God.1 He is self-existent2 and infinite in being and perfection. His essence cannot be understood by anyone but him.3 He is a perfectly pure spirit.4 He is invisible and has no body, parts, or changeable emotions.a He alone has immortality, dwelling in light that no one can approach.5 He is unchangeable,6 immense,b,7 eternal,8 incomprehensible, almighty,9 in every way infinite, absolutely holy,10 perfectly wise, wholly free, completely absolute. He works all things according to the counsel of his own unchangeable and completely righteous will11 for his own glory.12 He is most loving, gracious, merciful, and patient. He overflows with goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. He rewards those who seek him diligently.13 At the same time, he is perfectly just and terrifying in his judgments.14 He hates all sin15 and will certainly not clear the guilty.16
apassions btranscends all space
(11 Corinthians 8:4, 6; Deuteronomy 6:4. 2Jeremiah 10:10; Isaiah 48:12. 3Exodus 3:14. 4John 4:24. 51 Timothy 1:17; Deuteronomy 4:15-16. 6Malachi 3:6. 71 Kings 8:27; Jeremiah 23:23. 8Psalms 90:2. 9Genesis 17:1. 10Isaiah 6:3. 11Psalms 115:3; Isaiah 46:10. 12Proverbs 16:4; Romans 11:36. 13Exodus 34:6-7; Hebrews 11:6. 14Nehemiah 9:32-33. 15Psalms 5:5-6. 16Exodus 34:7; Nahum 1:2-3.)
God has all life,17 glory,18 goodness,19 and blessedness in and of himself; he alone is all-sufficient in himself. He does not need any creature he has made nor does he derive any glory from them.20 Instead, he demonstrates his own glory in them, by them, to them, and upon them. He alone is the source of all being, and everything is from him, through him, and to him.21 He has absolute sovereign rule over all creatures, to act through them, for them, or upon them as he pleases.22 In his sight everything is open and visible.23 His knowledge is infinite and infallible. It does not depend upon any creature, so for him nothing is contingent or uncertain.24 He is absolutely holy in all his plans, in all his works,25 and in all his commands. Angels and human beings owe to him all the worship,26 service, or obedience that creatures owe to the Creator and whatever else he is pleased to require of them.
(17John 5:26. 18Psalms 148:13. 19Psalms 119:68. 20Job 22:2-3. 21Romans 11:34–36. 22Daniel 4:25, 34-35. 23Hebrews 4:13. 24Ezekiel 11:5; Acts 15:18. 25Psalms 145:17; Isaiah 57:15. 26Revelation 5:12–14.)
This divine and infinite Being consists of three real persons:c the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.27 These three have the same substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence without this essence being divided.28 Yet these three are distinguished by their eternal relations of origin. The Father is not derived from anyone, neither begotten nor proceeding. The Son is eternally begotten of the Father.29 The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.30 All three are infinite and without beginning and are therefore only one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being. This truth of the Trinity is the foundation of all of our fellowship with God and of our comforting dependence on him.
csubsistences, or individual instances of a given essence
(27Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14. 28Exodus 3:14; John 14:11; 1 Corinthians 8:6. 29John 1:1-2, 14, 18; Colossians 1:15a. 30John 15:26; Galatians 4:6.)
Chapter 3: God the Father
God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity, is truly and eternally God. He orders and disposes all things according to his own purpose and grace1 and is the Creator of all things.2 As the only absolute and omnipotent Ruler in the universe, he is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption.3 As it concerns his deity, his fatherhood consists in eternally begetting the Son, and in eternally breathing forth his blessed Spirit with the Son. Relating to his relationship with mankind, his fatherhood consists in the creation and gracious redemption of man. As Creator he is Father to all men,4 but he is the spiritual Father only of believers in Christ.5 The Father has decreed for his own glory all things that come to pass.6 He continually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and events.7 The Father has graciously chosen from eternity past those whom he would have as his own;8 He saves from sin all who come to Him through Jesus Christ; he adopts as his own all those who come to Him; and he becomes, upon adoption, Father to them forever.9 Even so, God the Father never acts independently from the Son or Spirit, but acts in all things through the agency of the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit.10
(1Psalm 145:8-9; 1 Corinthians 8:6. 2Genesis 1:1-31; Ephesians 3:9. 3Psalm 103:19; Romans 11:33-36. 4Ephesians 4:6. 5Galatians 4:6-7; Romans 8:14; 2 Corinthians 6:18. 6Ephesians 1:11; 71 Chronicles 29:11; Daniel 4:34-35. 8Ephesians 1:4-6. 9John 1:12; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:4-7; Hebrews 12:5-9. 10Genesis 1:26-27; John 1:1-3; Ephesians 1:3-14; 5:18-20; John 16:15; 5:19-20; 14:10.)
Chapter 4: God’s Decree
From all eternity God decreed everything that occurs, without reference to anything outside himself.1 He did this by the perfectly wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably. Yet God did this in such a way that he is neither the author of sin nor has fellowship with any in their sin.2 This decree does not violate the will of the creature or take away the free working or contingency of secondary causes. On the contrary, these are established by God’s decree.3 In this decree God’s wisdom is displayed in directing all things, and his power and faithfulness are demonstrated in accomplishing his decree.4
(1Isaiah 46:10; Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 6:17; Romans 9:15, 18. 2James 1:13; 1 John 1:5. 3Acts 4:27-28; John 19:11. 4Numbers 23:19; Ephesians 1:3–5.)
God knows everything that could happen under any given conditions.5 However, his decree of anything is not based on foreseeing it in the future or foreseeing that it would occur under such conditions.6
(5Acts 15:18. 6Romans 9:11, 13, 16, 18.)
By God’s decree, and for the demonstration of his glory, some people are predestined (or foreordained) to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace.7 Others are left to live in their sin, leading to their just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice.8 God has also elected a certain number of angels for himself, setting them apart to serve and worship him forever.9
(7Matthew 25:34; Ephesians 1:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 5:9. 8Romans 9:22-23; Jude 4. 91 Timothy 5:21; Revelation 14:10.)
These predestined and foreordained angels and people are individually and unchangeably designated, and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or decreased.10
(102 Timothy 2:19; John 13:18; Revelation 13:8.)
Those people who are predestined to life were chosen by God before the foundation of the world, according to his eternal and unchangeable purpose and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will. He chose them in Christ for eternal glory, purely as a result of his free grace and love,11 without anything else about them serving as a condition or cause moving him to do so.12
(11Ephesians 1:4, 9, 11; Romans 8:30; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9. 12Romans 9:13, 16; Ephesians 2:5, 12.)
Just as God has appointed the elect to glory, so he has by the eternal and completely free purpose of his will foreordained all the means.13 Therefore, those who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ14 and effectually called to faith in Christ by his Spirit working at the appropriate time. They are justified, adopted, sanctified,15 and kept by his power through faith to salvation.16 No one but the elect are redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved.17
(131 Peter 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13. 141 Thessalonians 5:9-10. 15Romans 8:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13. 161 Peter 1:5. 17John 10:26; 17:9; 6:64.)
The doctrine of the high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care so that those heeding the will of God revealed in his Word and obeying him may be assured of their eternal election by the certainty of their effectual calling.18 In this way this doctrine will give reasons for praise,19 reverence, and admiration of God, as well as humility,20 diligence and rich comfort to all who sincerely obey the gospel.21
(181 Thessalonians 1:4-5; 2 Peter 1:10. 19Ephesians 1:6; Romans 11:33. 20Romans 11:5-6, 20. 21Luke 10:20.)
Chapter 5: Creation
In the beginning God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit1 was pleased to create or make the world and all things in it, both visible and invisible, in a six-day period, and all very good.2 He did this to manifest the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness.3
(1Genesis 1:1-2; John 1:2-3; Hebrews 1:2; Job 26:13. 2Colossians 1:16; Genesis 1:31. 3Romans 1:20.)
After God had made all the other creatures, he created humanity. He made them male and female,4 with rational and immortal souls,5 thereby making them suited to that life lived unto God for which they were created. They were made in the image of God, and tasked with the responsibility of exercising dominion over creation in obedience to God and for the glory of God.6 They knew what God required of them7 and had the power to fulfill it. Even so, they could still transgress the law, because they were left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change.8
(4Genesis 1:27. 5Genesis 2:7. 6Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 1:26. 7Romans 2:14-15. 8Genesis 3:6.)
In addition to the knowledge of what God required of them generally, they received a command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.9 As long as they obeyed this command, they were happy in their communion with God and had dominion over the creatures.10
(9Genesis 2:17; 10Genesis 1:26, 28.)
Chapter 6: Divine Providence
God the good Creator of all things, in his infinite power and wisdom, upholds, directs, arranges, and governs all creatures and things,1 from the greatest to the least,2 by his perfectly wise and holy providence, to the purpose for which they were created. He governs according to his infallible foreknowledge and the free and unchangeable counsel of his own will. His providence leads to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.3
(1Hebrews 1:3; Job 38:11-12; Isaiah 46:10, 11; Psalms 135:6. 2Matthew 10:29–31. 3Ephesians 1:11.)
All things come to pass unchangeably and certainly in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God,4 who is the first cause. Thus, nothing happens to anyone by chance or outside of God’s providence.5 Yet, by the same providence, God arranges all things to occur according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or in response to other causes.6
(4Acts 2:23. 5Proverbs 16:33. 6Genesis 8:22.)
In his ordinary providence, God makes use of means,7 though he is free to work apart from them,8 beyond them,9 and contrary to them10 at his pleasure.
(7Acts 27:31, 44; Isaiah 55:10, 11. 8Hosea 1:7. 9Romans 4:19–21. 10Daniel 3:27.)
The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God are so thoroughly demonstrated in his providence, that his sovereign plan includes even the first fall and every other sinful action both of angels and humans.11 God’s providence over sinful actions does not occur by simple permission. Instead, God most wisely and powerfully limits and in other ways arranges and governs sinful actions.12 Through a complex arrangement of methods he governs sinful actions to accomplish his perfectly holy purposes.13 Yet he does this in such a way that the sinfulness of their acts arises only from the creatures and not from God. Because God is altogether holy and righteous, he can neither originate nor approve of sin.14
(11Romans 11:32–34; 2 Samuel 24:1; 1 Chronicles 21:1. 122 Kings 19:28; Psalms 76:10. 13Genesis 50:20; Isaiah 10:6-7, 12. 14Psalms 50:21; 1 John 2:16.)
The perfectly wise, righteous, and gracious God often allows his own children for a time to experience a variety of temptations and the sinfulness of their own hearts. He does this to chastise them for their former sins or to make them aware of the hidden strength of the corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts so that they may be humbled. He also does this to lead them to a closer and more constant dependence on him to sustain them, to make them more cautious about all future circumstances that may lead to sin, and for other just and holy purposes.15 So whatever happens to any of his elect happens by his appointment, for his glory, and for their good.16
(152 Chronicles 32:25-26, 31; 2 Corinthians 12:7–9. 16Romans 8:28.)
God, as the righteous judge, sometimes blinds and hardens wicked and ungodly people because of their sins.17 He withholds his grace from them, by which they could have been enlightened in their understanding and had their hearts renewed.18 Moreover, he gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan,19 so that they harden themselves in response to the same influences that God uses to soften others.20
17Romans 1:24–26, 28; Romans 11:7-8. 18Deuteronomy 29:4. 19Psalms 81:11-12; 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12. 20Exodus 8:15, 32; Isaiah 6:9-10; 1 Peter 2:7-8.
The providence of God in a general way includes all creatures, but in a special way it takes care of his church and arranges all things to its good.23
(23Psalms 104:10-30; 1 Timothy 4:10; Isaiah 43:3–5; Matthew 6:25-33.)
Chapter 7: The Fall of Mankind, and Sin and Its Punishment
God created humanity upright and perfect. He gave them a righteous law that would have led to life if they had kept it but threatened death if they broke it.1 Yet they did not remain for long in this position of honor. Satan craftily seduced Eve, who then shared in sin with Adam. Adam acted without any outside compulsion and deliberately transgressed the law of their creation and the command given to them by eating the forbidden fruit.2 God was pleased, in keeping with his wise and holy counsel, to permit this act, because he had purposed to direct it for his own glory.3
(1Genesis 2:16-17. 2Genesis 3:12-13; 2 Corinthians 11:3. 31 Peter 1:20.)
By this sin, our first parents fell from their original righteousness and communion with God. We fell in them, and through this, death came upon all.4 All became dead in sin5 and completely defiled in all the capabilities and parts of soul and body.6
(4Romans 3:23. 5Romans 5:12ff. 6Titus 1:15; Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10–19.)
By God’s appointment, Adam served as the representative of the whole human race. Because of this, the guilt of their sin was accounted, and their corrupt nature passed on, to all their offspring who descended from them by ordinary procreation.7 Their descendants are now conceived in sin8 and are by nature children of wrath,9 the servants of sin, and partakers of death10 and all other miseries—spiritual, temporal, and eternal—unless the Lord Jesus sets them free.11
(7Romans 5:12–19; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 45, 49. 8Psalms 51:5; Job 14:4. 9Ephesians 2:3. 10Romans 6:20; 5:12. 11Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 Thessalonians 1:10.)
All actual transgressions arise from this first corruption.12 By it we are thoroughly biased against, disabled, and antagonistic toward all that is truly good, and we are thoroughly inclined toward all that is evil.13 While all people still possess great worth and dignity as creatures made in the image of God, all are yet sinners in need of a Savior.14
(12James 1:14-15; Matthew 15:19. 13Romans 8:7; Colossians 1:21. 14Genesis 1:26-27; James 3:9; Romans 3:23.)
During this life, this corruption of nature remains in those who are regenerated. 15Even though it is pardoned and put to death through Christ, yet both this corruption of nature and all actions arising from it are truly and actually sin.16
(15Romans 7:18, 23; Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8. 16Romans 7:23–25; Galatians 5:17.)
Chapter 8: God’s Purpose of Redemption
Though rational creatures are responsible to obey God as their Creator, the distance between God and these creatures is so great that they could never have attained the reward of life except by God’s voluntary condescension. He has been pleased to express this through a covenant framework.1
(1Genesis 6:18; 15:7-20; 2 Samuel 7:8-17; Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 8:13.)
Since humanity brought itself under the curse of the law by its fall, it pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace.2 In this covenant he freely offers to sinners life and salvation through Jesus Christ. On their part he requires faith in him, that they may be saved,3 and promises to give his Holy Spirit to all who are ordained to eternal life, to make them willing and able to believe.4
(2Genesis 2:17; Galatians 3:10; Romans 3:20-21; Genesis 3:15; Jeremiah 31:31-32ff; Hebrews 8:6ff. 3Romans 8:3; Romans 10:9; Acts 10:43; John 3:16. 4Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 6:44-45.)
This covenant is revealed in the gospel and is brought about in the New Covenant. It was foreshadowed first of all to Adam in the promise of salvation through the seed of the woman.5 After that, it was revealed step by step until the full revelation of it was completed in the New Testament.6 This covenant is based on the eternal shared purpose between the Father, Son, and Spirit concerning the redemption of the elect.7 Only through the grace of this covenant have those saved from among the descendants of fallen Adam obtained life and blessed immortality. Humanity is now utterly incapable of being accepted by God on the same terms on which Adam was accepted in his state of innocence.8
(5Genesis 3:15. 6Hebrews 1:1-2. 72 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2; 8Hebrews 11:6, 13; Romans 4:1-8; Acts 4:12.)
Chapter 9: Christ the Mediator
God was pleased, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the mediator between God and humanity.1 God chose him to be prophet,2 priest,3 and king,4 and to be head and savior of the church,5 the heir of all things,6 and judge of the world.7 From all eternity, God gave to the Son a people to be his offspring. In time, these people would be redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified by him.8
(1Isaiah 42:1; 1 Peter 1:19-20. 2Acts 3:22. 3Hebrews 5:5-6. 4Psalms 2:6-8; Luke 1:33. 5Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18. 6Hebrews 1:2. 7Acts 17:31. 8Isaiah 53:10; John 17:6; Romans 8:30.)
The Son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity, is truly and eternally God. He is the brightness of the Father’s glory, the same in substance and equal with him. He made the world and sustains and governs everything he has made.9 When the fullness of time came, he took upon himself human nature, with all the essential properties and common weaknesses of it10 but without sin.11 He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Thus, he was born of a woman from the tribe of Judah, a descendant of Abraham and David in fulfillment of the Scriptures.12 Two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without converting one into the other or mixing them together to produce a different or blended nature.13 This person is truly God and truly man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and humanity.14
(9John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15-19; 10John 1:14; Galatians 4;4. 11Romans 8:3; Hebrews 2:14-17; Hebrews 4:15. 12Matthew 1:22-23; Luke 1:27, 31, 35. 13Colossians 2:9; 14Romans 9:5; 1 Timothy 2:5.)
The Lord Jesus, in his human nature united in this way to the divine in the person of the Son, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit beyond measure.15 He had in himself all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.16 The Father was pleased to make all the fullness of God dwell in him17 so that—being holy, harmless, undefiled,18 and full of grace and truth19 — he was thoroughly qualified to carry out the office of mediator and guarantor.20 He did not take this office upon himself but was called to it by his Father,21 who put all power and judgment in his hand and commanded him to carry them out.22
(15Acts 10:38; John 3:34. 16Colossians 2:3. 17Colossians 1:19. 18Hebrews 7:26. 19John 1:14. 20Hebrews 7:22. 21Hebrews 5:5. 22John 5:22, 27; Matthew 28:18; Acts 2:36.)
The Lord Jesus most willingly undertook this office.23 To execute it, he was born under the law24 and perfectly fulfilled it. He also experienced the punishment that we deserved and that we should have endured and suffered.25 He was made sin and a curse for us.26 He endured extremely heavy sorrows in his soul and extremely painful sufferings in his body.27 He was crucified and died and remained in a state of death, yet his body did not decay.28 On the third day he arose from the dead29 with the same body in which he suffered.30 In this body he also ascended into heaven,31 where he sits at the right hand of his Father, interceding.32 He will return to judge men and angels at the end of the age.33
(23Psalms 40:7, 8; Hebrews 10:5–10; John 10:18. 24Galatians 4:4; Matthew 3:15. 25Galatians 3:13; Isaiah 53:6; 1 Peter 3:18. 262 Corinthians 5:21. 27Matthew 26:37-38; Luke 22:44; Matthew 27:46. 28Acts 13:37. 291 Corinthians 15:3-4. 30John 20:25-27. 31Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9–11. 32Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25, 9:24. 33Acts 10:42; Romans 14:9-10; Acts 1:11; 2 Peter 2:4.)
The Lord Jesus has fully satisfied the justice of God, obtained reconciliation, and purchased an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven for all those given to him by the Father.34 He has accomplished these things by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he once for all offered up to God through the eternal Spirit.35
(34John 17:2; Hebrews 9:15. 35Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:14; Romans 3:25-26.)
The price of redemption was not actually paid by Christ till after his incarnation. Yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefit of it was imparted to the elect in every age since the beginning of the world, through faith in him. Prior to his incarnation, Christ was proclaimed in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices that revealed him and pointed to him as the seed that would bruise the serpent’s head36 and as the Servant of the Lord who would suffer in the place of sinners.37 Following his incarnation, he is proclaimed clearly in the Gospel and the New Testament Scriptures. He is the same yesterday and today and forever.38
(36Hebrews 4:2; 1 Peter 1:10-11. 37Isaiah 53:4-6. 38Hebrews 13:8.)
In his work of mediation, Christ acts according to both natures, by each nature doing what is appropriate to itself. Even so, because of the unity of the person, that which is appropriate to one nature is sometimes in Scripture attributed to the person under the designation of the other nature.39
(39John 3:13; Acts 20:28.)
To all those for whom Christ has obtained eternal redemption, he certainly and effectually applies and imparts it. He intercedes for them,40 unites them to himself by his Spirit, and reveals to them in and by his Word the mystery of salvation. He persuades them to believe and obey41 and governs their hearts by his Word and Spirit,42 and will overcome all their enemies in the end.43 All these things are by free and absolute grace, apart from any condition for obtaining it that is foreseen in them.44
(40John 6:37; John 10:15-16; John 17:9; Romans 5:10. 41John 17:6; Ephesians 1:9; 1 John 5:20. 42Romans 8:9, 14. 431 Corinthians 15:25-26. 44John 3:8; Ephesians 1:8.)
This office of mediator between God and humanity is appropriate for Christ alone, who is the prophet, priest, and king of the church of God. This office may not be transferred from him to anyone else, either in whole or in part.45
(451 Timothy 2:5; John 14:6; Acts 4:12.)
The number and character of these offices is essential. Because we are ignorant, we need his prophetic office.46 Because we are alienated from God and imperfect in the best of our service, we need his priestly office to reconcile us and present us to God as acceptable.47 Because we are hostile and utterly unable to return to God, and so that we can be rescued and made secure from our spiritual enemies, we need his kingly office to convince, subdue, draw, sustain, deliver, and preserve us for his heavenly kingdom.48
(46John 1:18. 47Colossians 1:21; Galatians 5:17. 48Psalms 110:3; Luke 1:74-75.)
Chapter 10: Free Will
God has endowed human will with natural liberty and power to act on choices so that it is neither forced nor inherently bound by nature to do specific acts of good or evil.1
(1Matthew 17:12; James 1:14; Deuteronomy 30:19.)
Humanity in the state of innocence had freedom and power to will and to do what was good and well-pleasing to God.2 Yet this condition was unstable, so that humanity could fall from it.3
(2Ecclesiastes 7:29. 3Genesis 3:6.)
Humanity, by falling into a state of sin, has completely lost all ability to choose any spiritual good that accompanies salvation.4 Thus, people in their natural unregenerate state are absolutely opposed to spiritual good and dead in sin,5 so that they cannot convert themselves by their own strength or prepare themselves for conversion.6
(4Romans 5:6; Romans 8:7. 5Ephesians 2:1, 5. 6Titus 3:3–5; John 6:44.)
When God converts sinners and transforms them into the state of grace, he frees them from their natural bondage to sin7 and by his grace alone enables them to will and to do freely what is spiritually good.8 Yet because of their remaining corruption, they do not perfectly nor exclusively will what is good but also will what is evil.9
(7Colossians 1:13; John 8:36. 8Philippians 2:13. 9Romans 7:15-23.)
Only in the state of glory is the will made perfectly and unchangeably free toward good alone.10
(10Ephesians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 15:35-56; Romans 8:20-21.)
Chapter 11: God the Holy Spirit
The salvation Christ secured through his mediatorial work on behalf of his people is applied to them by the Holy Spirit, who is himself truly and eternally God, coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Son, the eternal power and might proceeding from the Father and the Son.1 Sent by the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ and is present with and in all true believers.2 He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.3 He graciously regenerates spiritually dead sinners,4 awakening them to faith and repentance, and baptizes them into union with the Lord Jesus,5 so that God will dwell with them forever. By the Spirit’s agency, believers in Christ are spiritually strengthened,6 adopted into God’s family,7 and sanctified.8
(1Genesis 1:2; Acts 5:3-4; Hebrews 3:7-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; John 15:26. 2John 16:14; 14:17. 3John 16:8. 4John 3:5-8. 51 Corinthians 12:12-13; Galatians 3:27. 6Ephesians 3:16. 7Romans 8:15. 8Galatians 5:16-23; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Peter 1:2.)
Chapter 12: Effectual Calling
In God’s appointed and acceptable time, he is pleased to call effectually,1 by his Word and Spirit, those he has predestined to life. He calls them out of their natural state of sin and death to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ.2 He enlightens their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God.3 He takes away their heart of stone and gives them a heart of flesh.4 He renews their wills and by his almighty power turns them to good and effectually draws them to Jesus Christ.5 Yet he does all this in such a way that they come completely freely, since they are made willing by his grace.6
(1Romans 8:30; Romans 11:7; Ephesians 1:10, 11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14. 2Ephesians 2:1–6. 3Acts 26:18; Ephesians 1:17, 18. 4Ezekiel 36:26. 5Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 36:27; Ephesians 1:19. 6Psalms 110:3)
This effectual call flows from God’s free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in those called. Neither does the call arise from any power or action on their part;7 they are totally passive in it. They are dead in sins and trespasses until they are made alive and renewed by the Holy Spirit.8 By this they are enabled to answer this call and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it. This response is enabled by a power that is no less than that which raised Christ from the dead.9
(72 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 2:8. 81 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:5; John 5:25. 9Ephesians 1:19-20.)
Those who are not elected will not and cannot truly come to Christ and therefore cannot be saved, because they are not effectually drawn by the Father.12 They may even be called by the ministry of the Word and may receive some ordinary working of the Spirit without being saved.13 Much less can any be saved who do not receive the Christian religion, no matter how diligently they live their lives according to the light of nature and the teachings of the religion they profess.14
(12John 6:44-45, 65. 13Matthew 22:14; Matthew 13:20-21; Hebrews 6:4-5. 14Acts 4:12; John 4:22; John 17:3.)
Chapter 13: Justification
Those God effectually calls he also freely justifies.1 He does this, not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins and accounting and accepting them as righteous.2 He does this for Christ’s sake alone and not for anything produced in them or done by them.3 He does not impute faith itself, the act of believing, or any other gospel obedience to them as their righteousness. Instead, he imputes Christ’s active obedience to the whole law and passive obedience in his death as their whole and only righteousness by faith.4 This faith is not self-generated; it is the gift of God.5
(1Romans 3:24; 8:30. 2Romans 4:5–8; Ephesians 1:7. 31 Corinthians 1:30-31; Romans 5:17–19. 4Philippians 3:8-9; Ephesians 2:8–10. 5John 1:12; Romans 5:17.)
Faith that receives and rests on Christ and his righteousness is the only instrument of justification.6 Yet it does not occur by itself in the person justified, but it is always accompanied by other fruits of God’s saving grace. It is not a dead faith but works through love.7
(6Romans 3:28. 7Galatians 5:6; James 2:17, 22, 26.)
By his obedience and death, Christ fully paid the debt of all those who are justified. He endured in their place the penalty they deserved. By this sacrifice of himself in his bloodshed on the cross, he legitimately, really, and fully satisfied God’s justice on their behalf.8 Yet their justification is based entirely on free grace, because he was given by the Father for them, and his obedience and satisfaction were accepted in their place. These things were done freely, not because of anything in them,9 so that both the exact justice and the rich grace of God would be glorified in the justification of sinners.10
(8Hebrews 10:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Isaiah 53:5-6. 9Romans 8:32; 2 Corinthians 5:21. 10Romans 3:26; Ephesians 1:6-7; 2:7.)
From all eternity God decreed to justify all the elect,11 and in the fullness of time Christ died for their sins and rose again for their justification.12 Nevertheless, they are not justified personally until the Holy Spirit actually applies Christ to them at the proper time.13
(11Galatians 3:8; 1 Peter 1:1-2. 12Romans 4:25. 13Colossians 1:21-22; Titus 3:4–7.)
God continues to forgive the sins of those who are justified.14 Even though they can never fall from a state of justification,15 they may fall under God’s fatherly displeasure because of their sins.16 In that condition they should not expect to have close fellowship with God restored to them until they humble themselves, confess their sins, plead for pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.17
(14Matthew 6:12; 1 John 1:7, 9. 15John 10:28. 16Psalms 89:31–33; Hebrews 12:7-11. 17Psalms 32:5; Psalms 51; Matthew 26:75.)
In all these ways, the justification of believers under the Old Testament was the same as the justification of believers under the New Testament.18
(18Galatians 3:9; Romans 4:22–24; Genesis 15:6; John 8:56.)
Chapter 14: Adoption
God has granted that all those who are justified would receive the grace of adoption, in and for the sake of his only Son Jesus Christ.1 By this they are counted among the children of God and enjoy the freedom and privileges of that relationship.2 They inherit his name,3 receive the spirit of adoption,4 have access to the throne of grace with boldness, and are enabled to cry “Abba, Father!”5 They are given compassion,6 protected,7 provided for,8 and chastened by him as a father.9 Yet they are never cast off10 but are sealed for the day of redemption11 and inherit the promises as heirs of everlasting salvation.12
(1Ephesians 1:5; Galatians 4:4-5. 2John 1:12; Romans 8:17. 32 Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 3:12. 4Romans 8:15. 5Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 2:18. 6Psalms 103:13. 7Proverbs 14:26. 81 Peter 5:7. 9Hebrews 12:6. 10Isaiah 54:8-9; Lamentations 3:31. 11Ephesians 4:30. 12Hebrews 1:14; 6:12.)
Chapter 15: Sanctification
Those who are united to Christ and effectually called and regenerated have a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the power of Christ’s death and resurrection. They are also further sanctified, really and personally,1 through the same power, by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them.2 The dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed,3 and the various evil desires that arise from it are more and more weakened and put to death.4 At the same time, those called and regenerated are more and more enlivened and strengthened by God’s power so that they practice true holiness,5 without which no one will see the Lord.6
(1Acts 20:32; Romans 6:5, 6. 2John 17:17; Ephesians 3:16–19; 1 Thessalonians 5:21–23; 2 Corinthians 3:28. 3Romans 6:6, 14. 4Galatians 5:24. 5Colossians 1:11. 62 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14.)
This sanctification extends throughout the whole person,7 though it is never completed in this life. Some corruption remains in every part.8 From this arises a continual and irreconcilable war, with the desires of the flesh against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh.9
(71 Thessalonians 5:23. 8Romans 7:18, 23. 9Galatians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:11.)
In this war, the remaining corruption may greatly prevail for a time.10 Yet through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ and the Word of God, the regenerate part overcomes.11 So the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. They pursue a godly life, in gospel obedience to all the commands that Christ as Head and King has given them in his Word.12
(10Romans 7:23. 11Romans 6:14. 12Ephesians 4:15-16; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 7:1.)
Chapter 16: Saving Faith
The grace of faith, by which the elect are enabled to believe so that their souls are saved, is the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts.1 Faith is ordinarily produced by the Holy Spirit through the ministry of the Word.2 By this same ministry and by the administration of baptism and the Lord’s supper, prayer, and other means appointed by God, faith is increased and strengthened.3
(12 Corinthians 4:13; Ephesians 2:8. 2Romans 10:14, 17. 31 Peter 2:2; Acts 20:32; Ephesians 4:11-16.)
By this faith Christians believe to be true everything revealed in the Word, recognizing it as the authority of God himself.4 They also perceive that the Word is more excellent than every other writing and everything else in the world,5 because it displays the glory of God in his attributes, the excellence of Christ in his nature and offices, and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit in his activities and operations. So they are enabled to entrust their souls to the truth believed.6 They respond differently according to the content of each particular passage—obeying the commands,7 trembling at the threatenings,8 and embracing the promises of God for this life and the one to come.9 But the principal acts of saving faith focus directly on Christ—accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the New Covenant.10
(41 Thessalonians 2:13; Acts 24:13-14. 5Psalms 119:103; Psalms 119:72. 62 Timothy 1:12. 7John 14:15. 8Isaiah 66:2. 9Hebrews 11:13. 10John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Galatians 2:20; Acts 15:11.)
This faith may exist in varying degrees so that it may be either weak or strong.11 Yet even in its weakest form, it is different in kind or nature from that of temporary professors.12 Therefore, faith may often be attacked and weakened, but it gains the victory.13 It matures in many to the point that they attain full assurance through Christ,14 who is both the founder and perfecter of our faith.15
(11Hebrews 5:13-14; Matthew 6:30; Romans 4:19, 20. 12Mark 4:13-19; 2 Peter 1:1. 13Ephesians 6:16; 1 John 5:4, 5. 14Hebrews 6:11-12; Colossians 2:2. 15Hebrews 12:2.)
Chapter 17: Repentance to Life and Salvation
Some of the elect are converted after their early years, having lived in an unregenerate state for a time and served various evil desires and pleasures. God gives these repentance to life as part of their effectual calling.1
(1Titus 3:3–5.)
There is no one who does good and does not sin.2 Even the best may fall into great sins and offenses, through the power and deceitfulness of the corruption in them, along with the strength of temptation. Therefore, God has mercifully promised and ensured in the New Covenant that believers who sin and fall will be renewed through repentance and perseverance in the faith.3
(2Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23. 3Luke 22:31-32.)
This saving repentance is a gospel grace4 in which those who are made aware by the Holy Spirit of the many evils of their sin, by faith in Christ humble themselves for it with godly sorrow, hatred of it, and self-loathing.5 They pray for pardon and strength of grace and determine and endeavor by provisions from the Spirit to live before God in a well-pleasing way in everything.6
(4Zechariah 12:10; Acts 11:18. 5Ezekiel 36:31; 2 Corinthians 7:10-11. 6Psalms 119:6, 128; 86:11-12.)
Repentance must continue throughout our lives, because of the body of death and its activities. So it is everyone’s duty to repent of each known sin specifically.7
(7Luke 19:8; 1 Timothy 1:13, 15.)
God has made full provision through Christ in the New Covenant to preserve believers in their salvation. Thus, although there is no sin so small that it is undeserving of damnation,8 yet there is no sin so great that it will bring damnation on those who repent.9 This makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.
(8Romans 6:23. 9Isaiah 1:16–18; 55:7; Romans 8:1.)
Chapter 18: Good Works
Good works are only those works that God has commanded in his holy Word.1 Works that do not have this warrant are invented by people out of blind zeal or on a pretense of good intentions and are not truly good.2
(1Micah 6:8; Psalms 19:7-11; Hebrews 13:21. 2Matthew 15:9; Isaiah 29:13.)
These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruit and evidence of a true and living faith.3 Through good works believers express their thankfulness,4 strengthen their assurance,5 build up their brothers and sisters, adorn the profession of the gospel,6 stop the mouths of opponents, and glorify God.7 Believers are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,8 so that they bear fruit leading to holiness and have the outcome, eternal life.9
(3James 2:18, 22. 4Psalms 116:12-13. 51 John 2:3-5; 2 Peter 1:5–11. 6Matthew 5:16; Titus 2:10 . 71 Timothy 6:1; 1 Peter 2:15; Philippians 1:11. 8Ephesians 2:10. 9Romans 6:22.)
Their ability to do good works does not arise at all from themselves but entirely from the Spirit of Christ.10 To enable them to do good works, they need—in addition to the graces they have already received—an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will and to do his good pleasure.11 Yet this is no reason for them to grow negligent, as if they were not required to perform any duty without a special motion of the Spirit. Instead, they should be diligent to stir up the grace of God that is in them.12
(10John 15:4, 5. 112 Corinthians 3:5; Philippians 2:13 12Philippians 2:12; Hebrews 6:11-12; Isaiah 64:7.)
Those who attain the greatest heights of obedience possible in this life are far from being able to merit reward by going beyond duty or to do more than God requires. Instead, they fall short of much that is their duty to do.13
(13Job 9:2, 3; Galatians 5:17; Luke 17:10.)
We cannot, even by our best works, merit pardon of sin or eternal life from God’s hand, due to the huge disproportion between our works and the holiness of God, and the infinite distance between us and God. By these works we can neither benefit God nor satisfy him for the debt of our former sins.14 When we have done all we can, we have only done our duty and are unprofitable servants. Since our good works are good, they must proceed from his Spirit;15 and since they are performed by us, they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection that they cannot withstand the severity of God’s punishment.16
(14Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Romans 4:6. 15Galatians 5:22-23. 16Isaiah 64:6; Psalms 143:2.)
Nevertheless, believers are accepted through Christ, and thus their good works are also accepted in him.17 This acceptance does not mean our good works are completely blameless and irreproachable in God’s sight. Instead, God views them in his Son, and so he is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, even though it is accompanied by many weaknesses and imperfections.18
(17Ephesians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5. 18Matthew 25:21, 23; Hebrews 6:10.)
Works done by unregenerate people may in themselves be commanded by God and useful to themselves and others.19 Yet they do not come from a heart purified by faith20 and are not done in a right manner according to the Word21 nor with a right goal—the glory of God.22 Therefore, they are corrupted by sin and cannot please God. They cannot qualify anyone to receive grace from God,23 and yet their neglect is sinful and displeasing to God.24
(192 Kings 10:30; 1 Kings 21:27, 29. 20Genesis 4:5; Hebrews 11:4, 6. 211 Corinthians 13:1. 22Matthew 6:2, 5. 23Amos 5:21, 22; Romans 9:16; Titus 3:5. 24Job 21:14-15; Matthew 25:41–43.)
Chapter 19: The Perseverance of the Saints
Those God has accepted in Christ, effectually called and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect can neither totally nor finally fall from a state of grace. They will certainly persevere in grace to the end and be eternally saved, because the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable. Therefore, he still brings about and nourishes in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit that lead to eternal life.1 Even though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet these things will never be able to move the elect from the foundation and rock to which they are anchored by faith. The felt sight of the light and love of God may be clouded and obscured from them for a time through their unbelief and the temptations of Satan.2 Yet God is still the same; they will certainly be kept by the power of God for salvation, where they will enjoy their purchased possession. For they are engraved on the palms of his hands, and their names have been written in the book of life from all eternity.3
(1John 10:28, 29; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 John 2:19. 2Psalms 89:31-32; 1 Corinthians 11:32. 3Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 21:27; Philippians 4:3; Malachi 3:6; Romans 8:37-39; 1 Peter 1:5.)
This perseverance of the saints does not depend on their own free will but on the unchangeableness of the decree of election,4 which flows from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father. It is based on the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him,5 the oath of God,6 the abiding of his Spirit, the seed of God within them,7 and the nature of the New Covenant.8 The certainty and infallibility of their perseverance is based on all these things.
(4Romans 8:30; 9:11, 16. 5Romans 5:9-10; 6:5; John 14:19. 6Hebrews 6:17-18. 71 John 3:9. 8Jeremiah 32:40.)
They may fall into grievous sins and continue in them for a time, due to the temptation of Satan and the world, the strength of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation.9 In so doing, they incur God’s displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit;10 their graces and comforts become impaired;11 their hearts are hardened and their consciences wounded;12 they hurt and scandalize others and bring God’s discipline on themselves.13 Nevertheless, they will renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.14
(9Matthew 26:70, 72, 74. 10Isaiah 64:5, 9; Ephesians 4:30. 11Psalms 51:10, 12. 12Psalms 32:3-4. 132 Samuel 12:14. 14Luke 22:32, 61-62.)
Chapter 20: Assurance of Grace and Salvation
Temporary professors and other unregenerate people may deceive themselves in vain with false hopes and fleshly presumptions that they have God’s favor and salvation, but their hope will perish.1 Yet those who truly believe in the Lord Jesus and love him sincerely, endeavoring to walk in all good conscience before him, may be certainly assured in this life that they are in a state of grace. They may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God,2 and this hope will never make them ashamed.3
(1Job 8:13, 14; Matthew 7:22, 23. 21 John 2:3; 3:14, 18, 19, 21, 24; 5:13. 3Romans 5:2, 5.)
This certainty is not merely an inconclusive or likely persuasion based on a fallible hope. It is an infallible assurance of faith4 founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel.5 It is also built on the inward evidence of the transformation of the Spirit about which promises are made.6 It is further based on the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God.7 As a fruit of this assurance, our hearts are kept both humble and holy.8
(4Hebrews 6:11, 19. 5Hebrews 6:17-20. 62 Peter 1:4-11. 7Romans 8:15-16. 81 John 3:1–3.)
This infallible assurance is not such an essential part of faith that it is always fully experienced alongside faith, but true believers may wait a long time and struggle with many difficulties before obtaining it.9 Yet with the enabling of the Spirit to know the things freely given to them by God, they may attain this assurance using ordinary means appropriately without any extraordinary revelation.10 Therefore, it is the duty of all to be as diligent as possible to make their calling and election sure. In this way their hearts may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience. These effects are the natural fruits of this assurance.11 Thus, it does not at all encourage believers to be negligent.12
(9Isaiah 50:10; Psalms 88; 77:1–12. 101 John 4:13; Hebrews 6:11, 12. 11Romans 5:1-5; 14:17; Psalms 119:32. 12Romans 6:1-2; Titus 2:11-14.)
True believers may in various ways have the assurance of their salvation shaken, decreased, or temporarily lost. This may happen because they neglect to preserve it13 or fall into some specific sin that wounds their conscience and grieves the Spirit.14 It may happen through some unexpected or forceful temptation15 or when God withdraws the light of his face and allows even those who fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light.16 Yet they are never completely lacking the seed of God,17 the life of faith,18 the love of Christ and the brethren, sincerity of heart, or conscience concerning their duty. Out of these graces, through the work of the Spirit, this assurance may at the proper time be revived.19 In the meantime, they are kept from utter despair through these things.20
(132 Peter 2:10. 14Psalms 51:8, 12, 14; 32:3-4. 15Psalms 116:11; 77:7, 8; 31:22; 16Psalms 13:1-6; 30:7. 171 John 3:9. 18Luke 22:32. 19Psalms 42:5, 11. 20Lamentations 3:26–31.)
Chapter 21: The Law of God
God gave Adam a law of obedience written in his heart and a specific precept not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.1 By these God obligated him and all his descendants to personal, total, exact, and perpetual obedience.2 God promised life if Adam fulfilled it and threatened death if he broke it, and he gave Adam the power and ability to keep it.3
(1Genesis 1:27; 2:17; Ecclesiastes 7:29. 2Romans 10:5. 3Genesis 2:15-17; 3:22.)
The same law that was first written in the human heart continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness after the fall.4 It was summarized by God on Mount Sinai and applied to the nation of Israel in ten commandments which were written on two tablets. The first four commandments contain our duty to God and the other six our duty to humanity.5 This law is most basically summarized as the command to love God supremely and exclusively, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, which is required of all God’s people in every age.6
(4Romans 2:14-15. 5Deuteronomy 10:4; Exodus 20:1-17. 6Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Leviticus 19:18; Mark 12:28-31)
In addition to this law— often called the moral law—God was pleased to give the people of Israel ceremonial laws, containing several typological ordinances. In some ways these concerned worship, by prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits.7 In other ways they revealed various instructions about moral duties.8 Since all of these ceremonial laws were appointed only until the New Covenant arrived, they are now abolished and taken away by Jesus Christ. As the true Messiah, Mediator of the New Covenant, and the only law-giver, he was empowered by the Father to do this.9
(7Hebrews 10:1; Colossians 2:17. 81 Corinthians 5:7. 9Hebrews 8:6-7, 13; Colossians 2:14-17; Ephesians 2:14-16.)
To Israel he also gave various judicial laws, which ceased at the same time their nation ended. These laws no longer obligate anyone as part of that institution. Only their general principles of justice continue to have moral value.10
(101 Corinthians 9:8–10; 1 Timothy 5:18-19; 2 Corinthians 13:1.)
The moral law forever requires obedience of everyone, both those who are justified as well as others.11 This obligation arises not only because of its content but also because of the authority of God the Creator who gave it.12 Nor does God in any way dissolve this obligation under the New Covenant; instead he greatly strengthens it.13
(11Romans 13:8–10; James 2:8, 10–12. 12James 2:10-11; 4:12. 13Matthew 5:17–19; Romans 3:31.)
True believers are not under the law, so as to be justified or condemned by it.14 Yet it is very useful to them and to others as a rule of life that reveals the character of God and informs them of their duty to obey him. It directs and obligates them to live according to his precepts. It also exposes the sinful corruptions of their natures, hearts, and lives. As they examine themselves in light of the law, they come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred of sin,15 along with a clearer view of their need for Christ and the perfection of his obedience. The law is also useful to the regenerate to restrain their corruptions because it forbids sin. The punishment threatened by the law shows them what even their sins deserve apart from Christ and what troubles they may expect in this life due to their sin, even though they are freed from the curse and undiminished severity of it. The promises of the law likewise show them God’s approval of obedience, even though blessing is not owed to them by the law as wages for obedience. If Christians do good and refrain from evil because the law encourages good and discourages evil, that does not indicate that they are under the law and not under grace.16
(14Romans 6:14; Galatians 2:16; Romans 8:1; 10:4. 15Romans 3:20; 7:7; 16Romans 6:12–14; 1 Peter 3:8–13.)
These uses of the law are not contrary to the grace of the Gospel but are in sweet harmony with it,17 for the Spirit of Christ subdues and enables the human will to do freely and cheerfully what the will of God as revealed in the law requires.18
(17Galatians 3:21. 18Ezekiel 36:27.)
Chapter 22: The Gospel and the Extent of Its Grace
Because the promise of God to Adam in the Garden to give life and blessedness in reward for obedience (which some refer to as ‘the covenant of works’) was broken by sin and was unable to confer life, God was pleased to proclaim the promise of Christ, the seed of the woman, as the means of calling the elect and producing in them faith and repentance by the Holy Spirit.1 In this promise the gospel in its substance was revealed for the conversion and salvation of sinners.2
(1Genesis 3:15. 2Revelation 13:8.)
This promise of Christ and of salvation through him is revealed in the Word of God alone.3 The works of creation and providence, when assisted only by the light of nature, do not reveal Christ or grace through him, even in a general or obscure way.4 Much less are those without the revelation of him in the promise or gospel enabled to attain saving faith or repentance by seeing these works of God.5
(3Romans 1:1-2, 17; Luke 24:25-27, 45-47. 4Romans 10:14-17. 5Romans 1:19-20.)
The gospel has been revealed to sinners in various times and in different places, along with the promises and precepts describing the obedience it requires. Those who are granted this revelation are chosen solely according to the sovereign will and good pleasure of God.6 This choice does not depend on any promise to those who demonstrate good stewardship of their natural abilities based on common light received apart from the gospel. No one has ever done this nor can anyone do so.7 Therefore, in every age the preaching of the gospel to individuals and nations has been granted in widely varying degrees of expansion and contraction, according to the counsel of the will of God.
(6Psalms 147:20; Acts 16:7. 7Romans 1:18–32.)
The gospel is the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace, and it is abundantly sufficient for that purpose. Yet to be born again, brought to life or regenerated, those who are dead in trespasses also must have an effectual, irresistible work of the Holy Spirit in every part of their souls to produce in them a new spiritual life.8 Without this no other means will bring about their conversion to God.9
(8Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 3:3-8; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Titus 3:5. 9John 6:44; 2 Corinthians 4:4, 6.)
Chapter 23: The Church
The universal church may be called invisible with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace. It consists of the full number of the elect who have been or will be gathered into one body under Christ, particularly since his death and resurrection. The church is the spouse, the body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.1
(1Hebrews 12:23; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:10, 22-23; Ephesians 5:23, 27, 32.)
All people throughout the world who profess the faith of the gospel and obedience to God through Christ in keeping with the gospel are and may be called visible saints,2 as long as they do not destroy their own profession by any foundational errors or unholy living. All local congregations ought to be made up of these.3
(21 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 9:13, 32; Philippians 1:1. 3Romans 1:7; Colossians 1:2.)
The purest churches under heaven are subject to mixture and error.4 Some have degenerated so much that they have ceased to be true churches of Christ and have become heralds of false gospels and demonic deception.5 Nevertheless, Christ always has had and will have in this world to the very end a kingdom of those who believe in him and profess his name.6
(41 Corinthians 5; Revelation 2; Revelation 3. 52 Timothy 4:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12. 6Matthew 16:18.)
The Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the church, both universal and local. By the Father’s appointment, all authority is conferred on him alone in a supreme and sovereign manner to call, institute, order and govern the church.7
(7Colossians 1:18; Matthew 28:18–20; Ephesians 4:11-12.)
In exercising the authority entrusted to him, the Lord Jesus, through the ministry of his Word, by his Spirit, calls to himself out of the world those who are given to him by his Father.9 They are called so that they will live before him in all the ways of obedience that he prescribes for them in his Word.10 Those who are called he commands to live together in local societies, or churches, for their mutual edification and the fitting conduct of public worship that he requires of them while they are in the world.11
(9John 10:16; John 6:37. 10Matthew 28:20; Titus 2:11-14. 11Matthew 18:15–20; Hebrews 10:24-25.)
The members of these churches are saints by calling, visibly displaying and demonstrating in and by their profession and life their obedience to the call of Christ.12 They willingly agree to live together according to Christ’s instructions, giving themselves to the Lord and to one another by the will of God, with the shared purpose of carrying out Christ’s command to make disciples throughout the world until he returns.13
(12Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 5:13-14; 2 Corinthians 9:13. 13Ephesians 4:12-16; Acts 2:41-42; Matthew 28:18-20.)
To every church gathered in this way, conforming to Christ’s mind as declared in his Word, he has given all power and authority that is in any way necessary to conduct the form of worship and discipline that he has instituted for them to observe. He has also given them commands and rules to use and carry out that power rightly and properly.14
(14Matthew 18:17-18; 1 Corinthians 5:4-5, 13; 2 Corinthians 2:6–8.)
A local church, gathered and organized according to the mind of Christ, must have duly appointed and biblically qualified officers. The officers specified by Christ are overseers or elders or pastors, and deacons. They are to be appointed for the distinctive purpose of shepherding the flock of God, equipping the saints for the work of ministry, administering ordinances, caring for needy members, and for carrying out any other power or duty that would build up the church and help the church faithfully obey the commands of Christ. This pattern is to be continued to the end of the age.15
(15Acts 20:17, 28; Philippians 1:1.)
The work of pastors is to give constant attention to the service of Christ in his churches in the ministry of the word and prayer. These men are to watch over the souls of church members as those who must give an account to Christ.16 The churches to whom these men minister must not only give them all due respect but also must aim to share with them from all their good things according to their ability, in order to support them in their ministry and better enable them to serve others more freely.17 This support should also be given to the extent that it enables at least some of their pastors to devote themselves vocationally to the ministry of the Word and prayer, and to the spiritual oversight of the church.18 Churches that are unable to do this at a particular time should make it their goal and strive to eventually support one or some of their pastors in this manner.
(16Acts 6:4; Hebrews 13:17. 171 Timothy 5:17-18; Galatians 6:6-7. 181 Timothy 5:17-18.)
Although overseers or pastors of churches must be engaged in preaching and teaching the word as a function of their office, the work of preaching and teaching the word is not totally restricted to them. Other men who are also gifted and prepared by the Holy Spirit for it and approved and called by the church may and should preach and teach.19
(19Acts 11:19–21; 1 Peter 4:10-11.)
In the Word of God, both the office of overseer or elder or pastor, and the tasks of giving authoritative doctrinal instruction in the church and exercising spiritual leadership over the church, are explicitly and exclusively reserved for godly, spiritually mature men.20
(201 Timothy 2:12-14, 3:1-2; 1 Corinthians 14:34.)The work of deacons is to promote the unity and well-being of the local church by providing loving, servant leadership to various ministries in the church, by caring for the physical needs of the members of the church, by enabling the elders of the church to focus most intently on matters of pastoral concern, and by supporting the elders in exercising God-glorifying oversight over Christ’s church.21
(21Acts 6:1-7; 1 Timothy 3:8-13.)
All believers are obligated to join themselves to local churches when and where they have the opportunity. Likewise, all who are admitted to the privileges of a church are also subject to the discipline and government of it, according to the rule of Christ.22
(22Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5:5, 9-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15.)
Since the close of the Apostolic age all revelatory gifts of the Spirit (such as the gift of tongues) have ceased, along with those miraculous spiritual gifts that were given to confirm the authenticity of the Apostle’s teaching (such as healings and miracles). The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and this foundation was laid once and for all in the few decades following the resurrection of Christ in the first century.23 This in no way denies the presence of miracles in the world today, however. At all times, God remains perfectly free to demonstrate his sovereign power and mercy in any way he pleases.24
(23Ephesians 2:20; Revelation 16:18; Matthew 16:18; Hebrews 2:3-4. 24James 5:13-16; Psalm 115:3.)
Although spiritual gifts of divine revelation and miracles have ceased, to enable the members of the church for the work of discipleship and the ministry of mutual love, the Holy Spirit continues to sovereignly and graciously distribute spiritual gifts to each of them to employ humbly in ministry to and with one another.25 These gifts are given for the purpose of glorifying God, edifying the saints, and advancing the Gospel.26 Through this ministry of the Spirit, Christ works to build his church on the earth.27
(251 Corinthians 12:4-7; Romans 12:3-8. 261 Peter 4:10-11; 1 Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 4:6-7, 11-16. 27Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7.)
Every church and all its members should pray faithfully for the good and prosperity of all churches of Christ in every place.28 They must also—at every opportunity within the limits of their stations and callings—exercise their gifts and graces to benefit every church. Also, when churches are raised up by the providence of God, insofar as they enjoy opportunity and favorable circumstances for it, they should have fellowship among themselves for their peace, growth in love, and mutual edification.29
(28Ephesians 6:18; Psalms 122:6. 29Romans 16:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10; 3 John 8–10.)
Chapter 24: The Fellowship of Christians
All saints are united to Jesus Christ by his Spirit and by faith, although this does not make them one person with him. They have fellowship in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory.1 Since they are united to one another in Christ, they have fellowship in each other’s gifts and graces2 and are obligated to love one another according to God’s commands, to promote their mutual good.3
(11 John 1:3; John 1:16; Philippians 3:10; Romans 6:5-6. 2Ephesians 4:15-16; 1 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Corinthians 3:21–23. 31 Thessalonians 5:11, 14; Romans 1:12; 1 John 3:17-18; Galatians 6:10.)
Saints by profession are obligated to maintain a holy fellowship and communion in worshiping God and in performing other spiritual services that promote their mutual edification.4 They are also to aid each other in material things according to their various abilities and needs.5 This generosity and ministry should also extend, as God provides opportunity, to the whole household of faith, to all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus. Nevertheless, their communion with one another as saints does not take away or infringe on the title or individual ownership that people have in their goods and possessions.6
(4Hebrews 10:24-25; Hebrews 3:12-13; 1 Corinthians 12:14–27. 5Acts 11:29-30. 6Acts 5:4; Ephesians 4:28.)
Chapter 25: Corporate Worship and the Lord’s Day
The light of nature demonstrates that there is a God who has lordship and sovereignty over all. He is just and good and does good to everyone. Therefore, he should be feared, loved, praised, called on, trusted in, and served—with all the heart and all the soul and all the strength.1 But the acceptable way to worship the true God is instituted by him,2 and it is defined by his own revealed will. Thus, he may not be worshiped according to human imagination or inventions or the suggestions of Satan, nor through any visible representations, nor in any other way that is not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.3
(1Jeremiah 10:7; Mark 12:33. 2Deuteronomy 12:32. 3Exodus 20:4–6; Leviticus 10:1-2.)
Worship is to be given to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and to him alone4 — not to angels, saints, or any other creatures.5 Since the fall of man into sin, worship is not to be given without a mediator6 nor through any mediation other than of Christ alone.7
(4Matthew 4:9-10; John 5:23; Matthew 28:19. 5Romans 1:25; Colossians 2:18; Revelation 19:10. 6John 14:6. 71 Timothy 2:5.)
Prayer with thanksgiving is an element of worship.8 But to be acceptable, it must be made in the name of the Son,9 by the help of the Spirit,10 according to God’s revealed will in Scripture.11 It must be accompanied by understanding, reverence, humility, fervor, faith, love, and perseverance. Prayer with others must be in a language that is understood.12
(8Psalms 95:1–7; 65:2. 9John 14:13-14. 10Romans 8:26. 111 John 5:14. 121 Corinthians 14:16-17.)
The activities of corporate worship of God which God has commanded include reading the Scriptures,16 preaching and hearing the Word of God,17 teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord,18 prayer, as well as the administration of baptism19 and the Lord’s supper.20 They must be performed out of obedience to him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear. Purposeful acts of corporate humbling with fasting21 and times of thanksgiving can also be observed on special occasions, as the church deems necessary.22
(161 Timothy 4:13. 172 Timothy 4:2; Nehemiah 8:1-3, 8. 18Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19. 19Matthew 28:19-20. 201 Corinthians 11:26. 21Esther 4:16; Joel 2:12; Matthew 6:16-18. 22Exodus 15:1–19, Psalms 107.)
Under the gospel, neither prayer nor any other part of worship is now restricted to or made more acceptable by the place where it is done or toward which it is directed. Instead, God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit and in truth23 — daily24 in each family25 and privately by each individual.26 Also, more formal and solemn worship is to be performed in public assemblies, and these must not be carelessly or deliberately neglected or forsaken, when God by his word or providence calls us to them.27
(23John 4:21-24; Malachi 1:11; 1 Timothy 2:8. 24Matthew 6:11; Psalms 55:17. 25Acts 10:2. 26Matthew 6:6. 27Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:42.)
Since the resurrection of Christ, the first day of the week has rightly been regarded as the Lord’s Day; a day for Christians to gather together for the worship of God, for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ, for edifying fellowship with one another, and for the strengthening of their common faith in the Lord Jesus.28 The Lord’s Day is designed for the blessing of the church and should be received and enjoyed with humble gratitude.29
(281 Corinthians 16:1-2; Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10; Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 2:42-47. 29Mark 2:27.)
Chapter 26: Christian Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances of positive and sovereign institution. They are appointed by the Lord Jesus and are to be continued in his church to the end of the age.1
(1Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:26.)
Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ. To those baptized it is a sign of their fellowship with him in his death and resurrection, of their being grafted into him,2 of remission of sins,3 and of submitting themselves to God through Jesus Christ to live and walk in newness of life.4
(2Romans 6:3–5; Colossians 2:12; Galatians 3:27. 3Mark 1:4; Acts 22:16. 4Romans 6:4.)
Those who personally profess repentance toward God and faith in and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ are the only proper subjects of this ordinance.5
(5Mark 16:16; Acts 8:36-37; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 18:8.)
The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, in which the individual is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.6
(6Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:38.)
Immersion, or dipping of the person in water, is necessary for this ordinance to be administered properly.7
(7Matthew 3:16; John 3:23.)
The supper of the Lord Jesus was instituted by him the same night he was betrayed. It is to be observed in his churches to the end of the age as a perpetual remembrance and display of the sacrifice of himself in his death.8 It is given for the confirmation of the faith of believers in all the benefits of Christ’s death, their spiritual nourishment and growth in him, and their further engagement in and to all the duties they owe him. The supper is to be a bond and pledge of their communion with Christ and each other.9
(81 Corinthians 11:23–26. 91 Corinthians 10:16-17, 21.)
In this ordinance Christ is not offered up to his Father, nor is any real sacrifice made at all for remission of sin of the living or the dead. It is only a memorial of the one offering Christ made of himself on the cross once for all.10 It is also a spiritual offering of thanksgiving and praise to God for that sacrifice.11 Thus, the Roman Catholic sacrifice of the mass (as they call it) is utterly detestable and detracts from Christ’s own sacrifice, which is the only propitiation for all the sins of the elect.
(10Hebrews 9:25-26, 28. 111 Corinthians 11:24; Matthew 26:26-27.)
Denying the cup to the people, worshiping the elements, lifting them up or carrying them around for adoration, or reserving them for some pretended religious use are all contrary to the nature of this ordinance and to the institution of Christ.12
(12Matthew 26:26–28; 15:9; Exodus 20:4, 5.)
The outward elements in this ordinance, properly set apart for the use ordained by Christ, have such a relationship to Christ crucified that they are sometimes called—truly though figuratively—by the names of the things they represent, that is, the body and blood of Christ.13 However, in substance and nature they still remain truly and only bread and wine, as they were before.14
(131 Corinthians 11:27. 141 Corinthians 11:26–28.)
The doctrine commonly called transubstantiation teaches that the substance of bread and wine is changed into the substance of Christ’s body and blood by the consecration of a priest or some other way. This doctrine is hostile not only to Scripture15 but also to common sense and reason. It destroys the nature of the ordinance and has been and is the cause of many kinds of superstitions and of gross idolatries.16
(15Acts 3:21; Luke 24:6, 39. 161 Corinthians 11:24-25.)
Worthy recipients who outwardly partake of the visible elements in this ordinance also by faith inwardly receive and feed on Christ crucified and all the benefits of his death. They do so really and truly, yet not physically and bodily but spiritually. The body and blood of Christ are not present bodily or physically in the ordinance but spiritually to the faith of believers, just as the elements themselves are present to their outward senses.17
(171 Corinthians 10:16; 11:23–26.)
All unbelieving people are unfit to enjoy communion with Christ and are thus unworthy of the Lord’s table. As long as they remain in this condition, they cannot partake of the Lord’s table, without committing a great sin against Christ.18
(182 Corinthians 6:14-15; Ephesians 2:1-4, 12.)
Chapter 27: Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
The liberty Christ has purchased for believers under the gospel is found in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, and the severity and curse of the law.1 It also includes their deliverance from this present evil age,2 bondage to Satan,3 the dominion of sin,4 the fear and sting of death, the victory of the grave,5 and everlasting damnation.6 In addition, it includes their free access to God and their obedience to him, not from slavish fear7 but from a childlike love and willing mind.8
(1Galatians 3:13; Romans 8:1. 2Galatians 1:4. 3Acts 26:18; 2 Timothy 2:26; Hebrews 2:14-15. 4Romans 6:14-19. 51 Corinthians 15:54–57. 62 Thessalonians 1:10; Galatians 1:4; Revelation 20:14-21:8. 7Romans 8:15. 8Luke 1:73–75; 1 John 4:18; Romans 6:17.)
God alone is Lord of the conscience,9 and he has left it free from human doctrines and commandments that are in any way contrary to his word or not contained in it.10 So, believing such doctrines, or obeying such commands out of conscience, is a betrayal of true liberty of conscience.11 Requiring blind obedience destroys liberty of conscience and reason as well.12
(9James 4:12; Romans 14:4. 10Acts 4:19, 29; 5:29; 1 Corinthians 7:23; Matthew 15:9. 11Colossians 2:20-23. 121 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 1:24.)
Those who use Christian liberty as an excuse to practice any sin or nurture any sinful desire pervert the main objective of the grace of the gospel to their own harm,13 and they completely destroy the purpose of Christian liberty. This purpose is that we, having been delivered from sin, judgment, and the deception of the devil, may serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our lives, and that we might serve one another in love.14
(13Romans 6:1-2. 14Galatians 5:13.)
Chapter 28: Marriage, Singleness, and Divorce
Marriage is a covenantal commitment made between one man and one woman before God and man to provide exclusive, faithful, and gracious companionship to one another until death. A man must not have more than one wife nor a woman more than one husband at the same time.1
(1Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:15; Matthew 19:5-6.)
Marriage is a gift of God to mankind, given for the purpose of providing intimate companionship to men and women,2 a beneficial channel for sexual expression and pleasure,3 the means for procreation of the human race,4 and a living picture of the loving union between Christ and his church.5
(2Genesis 2:18. 31 Corinthians 7:2, 9. 4Genesis 1:28; 5Ephesians 5:31-32.)
Every adult who is able to give rational consent may marry.6 Yet Christians are to marry in the Lord.7 Therefore, those who profess faith in Christ should not marry unbelievers. Nor should the godly be unequally yoked by marrying those who lead evil lives or hold to heretical teaching.8
(6Hebrews 13:4; 1 Timothy 4:3. 71 Corinthians 7:39. 8Nehemiah 13:25–27.)
Marriage should not occur within the degrees of blood relationship or kinship that are forbidden in the Word.9 These incestuous marriages can never be made lawful, so that the individuals may live together as husband and wife, by any human law or consent of the parties involved.10
(9Leviticus 18. 10Mark 6:18; 1 Corinthians 5:1.)
A life of celibacy and singleness is a good, honorable, and wholly legitimate course for any Christian who does not experience overwhelming sexual desires and who is committed to a life of devoted service to Christ, or has yet to find a suitable spouse.11 Marriage, while it is a good gift from God, is by no means necessary to live a fruitful, God-honoring, sanctified life as a Christian.12
(111 Corinthians 7:1-9. 121 Corinthians 7:6-7; Matthew 19:12.)
In the case of adultery, or the willful desertion of one marriage partner, it is wholly lawful, though by no means required, for the innocent party to pursue the dissolution of the marriage through divorce, and, after the divorce, to marry another, as if the offending party were dead.13 In the case of a lawful divorce, a public and orderly course of proceeding is to be observed; and the persons concerned in it not left to their own wills, and discretion, in their own case.14
(13Matthew 5:31-32; Matthew 19:9; Romans 7:2-3; 1 Corinthians 7:15. 14Matthew 5:31-32; Deuteronomy 24:1-4.)
Chapter 29: Civil Government
God, the supreme Lord and King of the whole world, has ordained civil authorities to be under him and over the people, for his own glory and the public good. For this purpose he has armed them with the power of the sword, to defend and encourage those who do good and to punish evildoers.1
(1Romans 13:1–4.)
Christians may lawfully accept and carry out the duties of public office when called to do so. In performing their office they must especially maintain justice and peace,2 according to the wholesome laws of their nation.
(22 Samuel 23:3-4; Psalms 82:3-4.)
Because civil authorities are established by God for the purposes stated, we should submit in the Lord to them in everything lawful that they require. We should submit not only for fear of punishment but also for the sake of conscience.3 We ought to make requests and prayers for kings and everyone in authority, so that under their rule we may live a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and dignity.4
(3Romans 13:5–7; 1 Peter 2:17. 41 Timothy 2:1-2.)
Unqualified obedience to any civil authority is sinful and idolatrous. In situations where civil authorities command what God forbids, forbid what God commands, assume to themselves the administration of the Word and ordinances of the church, or seek to prevent the church from fulfilling her God-ordained duties as the church of Christ, civil disobedience is the proper Christian response. While obedience to God will normally require submission to governing authorities, in those cases where a choice must be made between obedience to God and obedience to a civil authority, the people of God must obey God rather than men.5
(5Colossians 1:18; Acts 4:18-20, 5:29; Daniel 3:1-30; Exodus 20:3.)
Chapter 30: The Progress of History and the End of the Present Age
Christ has promised to build his church and that all the powers of hell will not keep him from doing so.1 Even so, the present age is nevertheless spoken of in Holy Scripture as an age that will be characterized by ever-increasing wickedness until Christ comes again.2 Although the church must faithfully proclaim the Gospel to sinners all throughout the world, and Christians ought to be concerned for the welfare of their fellow man, no hope is held out in Scripture for the reformation of the kingdoms of men, and no mandate is ever placed upon the church to bring about this reformation, either through spiritual or political means.3
(1Matthew 16:18. 2Mark 13:3-25; Revelation 6:1-18:24. 3Revelation 18:1-24.)
Concerning the future of ethnic Israelites, God gives assurance in his Word that by the end of the present age, great numbers of them will be brought to faith in the Messiah, saved from divine judgment by grace, and made a part of God's spiritual family in Christ. Though a partial hardening has come upon the Jewish people as a result of their rejection of Christ, because of God’s irrevocable promises to them and to their forefathers, he will again have mercy upon them and will save many of them through faith in Christ before he returns to the world for judgment.4
(4Romans 11:25-29; Zechariah 12:10.)
Specific matters such as the political and national future of Israel, the Tribulation, and the millennial reign of Christ are important, biblically complex, theologically consequential, and yet non-essential to Christian unity. While every Christian should engage seriously and honestly with the teaching of the Bible and the historic teaching of the Church on these matters in order to be sincerely convinced in his or her own mind concerning the precise teaching of Scripture on these subjects; grace should also be shown and freedom should be given among Christians in the same local church to hold and lovingly defend differing views on these matters with one another, insofar as agreement is held between them in the other matters laid out in this confession. A spirit of unity around the Gospel, love for the brethren, and fidelity to Scripture should always be exercised and preserved in the church in those matters upon which we disagree.5
(5Romans 14:1-12; Ephesians 4:1-6.)
Chapter 31: The State of Humanity After Death and the Resurrection of the Dead
The bodies of those who have died return to dust and undergo destruction.1 But their souls neither die nor sleep, because they have an immortal character, and immediately return to God who gave them.2 The souls of believers are then made perfect in holiness and are received into paradise. There they are with Christ and behold the face of God in light and glory while they wait for the full redemption of their bodies.3 The souls of the unrepentant wicked are thrown into hell, where they remain in torment and utter darkness, reserved for the final judgment.4 The Scripture recognizes no place other than these two for souls separated from their bodies.
(1Genesis 3:19; Acts 13:36. 2Ecclesiastes 12:7. 3Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6, 8; Philippians 1:23; Hebrews 12:23. 4Jude 6-7; 1 Peter 3:19; Luke 16:23-24.)
At the return of Christ to the world, those saints who are found alive will not sleep but will be changed.5 All the dead will be raised up with the very same bodies, not different ones,6 though they will have different qualities. Their bodies will be united again to their souls forever.7
(51 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:17. 6John 5:29; Job 19:26-27; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53. 71 Corinthians 15:42-43.)
The bodies of the unjust will be raised by the power of Christ to dishonor. By his Spirit the bodies of the just will be raised to honor and will be made like Christ’s own glorious body.8
(8Acts 24:15; John 5:28-29; Philippians 3:21.)
Chapter 32: The Final Judgment
God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ,1 to whom all power and judgment is given by the Father. In that day, the apostate angels will be judged.2 So also, all people who have lived on the earth will appear before the judgment seat of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds and to receive a reckoning according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.3
(1Acts 17:31; John 5:22, 27. 22 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 20:10. 32 Corinthians 5:10; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36; Romans 14:10-12; Matthew 25:32–46.)
God’s purpose for appointing this day is to manifest the glory of his mercy in the eternal salvation of the elect, and of his justice in the eternal damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient.4 For at that time believers will go into everlasting life and receive fullness of joy and glory with everlasting rewards in the presence of the Lord. But the wicked, who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, will be thrown into everlasting torments5 and punished with everlasting wrath, away from the loving presence of the Lord and from the satisfying glory of his power.6
(4Romans 9:22-23; Ephesians 2:7. 5Matthew 25:21, 30, 34; 2 Timothy 4:8. 6Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10.)
Christ desires that we be firmly convinced that a day of judgment will come, both to deter everyone from sin7 and to comfort the godly more fully in their adversity.8 For this reason, he has determined to keep the day secret, to encourage people to shake off any fleshly security and always to be watchful, because they do not know the hour when the Lord will come9 and so that they may always be prepared to say, “Come Lord Jesus; come quickly. Amen.”10
(72 Corinthians 5:10-11; 1 John 3:2-3; 2 Peter 3:10-13. 82 Thessalonians 1:5–7. 9Mark 13:35–37; Luke 12:35-36. 10Revelation 22:20; 1 Corinthians 16:22.)