Understanding the Westminister Confession of Faith

Introduction

The Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) of 1647 is the best orthodox Confession ever produced. It is thoroughly Biblical, and thoroughly Calvinistic, and it’s a Standard to which Sembawang and Moriah subscribe and adhere to as our statement of faith. Beginning this week, I would like to write some articles on this Confession, when I can; starting here with an introduction and a summary look at Chapter One and working our way over time through to the last chapter (33).

In his introduction to the Confession, Thomas Manton, in his “Epistle to the Reader” expresses great grief at “the great distractions, corruptions, and divisions that are in the Church” that in his time and in some ways led to the documenting of the WCF. He then proceeds to propose the cause and cure. According to him, the principal cause of these “mischiefs” is the great and common neglect “of the discharge of that duty which they owe to God for the souls that are under their charge, especially in teaching them the doctrine of Christianity.”

Manton then proposes, toward the end of his Epistle to the Reader, that the work of God would go on “sweetly and successfully” if we would but “all join together in our several places to promote it.” That is, to promote the teaching of the doctrine of Christianity.

Chapter One of the Confession, rightly begins with Holy Scripture – the Word of God. It highlights the fact that while “nature, and the works of creation and providence” do show off the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, such as to leave men “inexcusable” for not knowing God; yet in and of themselves, they are “not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation.”

Because of that, God in His graciousness and out of His mercy, chooses “to reveal himself, and to declare this will unto his Church” through His written word. This is what we call the Bible – the Holy Scriptures, the sixty-six books in our (Protestant) Bible today – from Genesis to Malachi in the Old Testament to Matthew to Revelation in the New. Accordingly, the Confession states that the “former ways of God’s revealing his will unto his people” is “now ceased”.

The Confession affirms that this written revelation is the better for “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” and it is “most necessary” for salvation.

Since the written Word is of such great importance, and most necessary for salvation, the Confession ends Chapter One with guidelines on how it should be read and interpreted. It states that the “infallible rule of interpretation” of Scripture is the Scripture itself. This means “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.” That is, Scripture should be used to interpret Scripture. And, The Supreme Judge - the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture, is to be the final and absolute arbiter for all matters related to faith and religion.

So, children of God, let “the Word of God dwell plentifully” in you, so that you “may worship him in an acceptable manner, and, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, may have hope.”

~ Rev Robert Chew ~