What is the Westminster Confession of Faith?

Reformed denominations inside Christianity use and check with the Westminster Confession of Faith. In our modern-day of increased influencer-generated Bible teaching, many individuals have turn into ignorant regarding these ancient documents. Yet the Westminster Confession of Faith has had a fantastic impact on Christian faith through the centuries. 

Within Christianity, a confession of religion formally states and summarizes core biblical beliefs held by a certain church network or denomination. It outlines foundational and essential doctrines about God, salvation, Scripture, and discipleship to offer a scientific understanding of religion. Christian groups often create confessions to determine a unified and shared core of beliefs so churches teach and worship along the identical basic tenets, making a doctrinal unity. 

Many who do know in regards to the Westminster Confession of Faith associate it with Presbyterian denominations. However, it has a wealthy and vital history with vital lessons for all Christians. 

What is the Westminster Confession of Faith? 

The Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF), created within the mid-Seventeenth century, outlines the core beliefs of what we call Reformed Christianity. Composed by the Westminster Assembly in England, it provides a more comprehensive summary of doctrine for the Church of England. 

The WCF begins by affirming the Bible because the inspired Word of God and the guide for faith and life. The confession outlines the character of God and the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—everlasting, unchanging, and all-powerful. From this point, the WCF teaches that every one individuals are born sinners from the sin of Adam. As such, humanity is unable to avoid wasting themselves through their very own efforts. But God offers salvation by grace through faith within the Lord Jesus Christ, who lived an ideal life, died for sinners, and rose again. The confession, subsequently, declares salvation by faith and charm alone, not by works. 

God’s windfall and sovereignty are a most important theme of the confession, a crucial distinction for Reformed believers. The WCF states that God governs all events on the earth based on his will, which is ideal, and nothing happens by likelihood. They imagine God controls all circumstances. 

The confession includes instruction on religious sacraments just like the Lord’s Supper and baptism, that these are signs of God’s New Covenant to construct the church community. The WCF highlights how the church stays the visible witness of Christ, called to worship, serve, and share the Gospel together. In Christian living, the confession teaches the pursuit of holiness, love for others, and obeying God’s commandments. Ultimately, believers should glorify God in every aspect of life. 

What is the History and Development of the Westminster Confession of Faith? 

The Westminster Assembly was a gaggle of theologians and church leaders in England, called by the English Parliament to create a unified theological statement for the Church of England. The Assembly gathered from 1643 to 1649. At that time in history, the young Reformation was still mired in chaos and conflict, political and spiritual, throughout Europe. The Parliament hoped this confession would establish a unified way forward for the state church and the federal government. 

The Assembly formed with 121 ministers added to some lay advisers and government officials. These leaders mostly got here from Puritan and Presbyterian groups, heavily committed to Reformed theology. The Assembly met at Westminster Abbey in London under the direction of Parliament, representing England, Scotland, and Ireland. At first, Parliament told them to revise the 39 Articles of the Church of England, but they quickly expanded the goal to drafting an entire recent confession of religion. The theologians approached the work through debate and refining each point through the years. They first relied upon the Bible but additionally drew from other existing confessions from the Scots and the Irish Articles of Religion. 

As happens with such theological discussions, the debates were often contentious and exhaustive, because the members took the duty seriously to be precise and supply clarity on doctrine. Topics like the character of God, salvation, and the church were discussed in minute detail. Despite many various views on a number of issues, the assembly did reach a consensus. The Westminster Assembly submitted the confession to the English Parliament for approval in 1646. The English Civil War and other political problems delayed the choice. In the meantime, Scotland’s General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (the Scottish have a really independent government inside the UK) accepted the WCF in 1647. The English Parliament later adopted it, as well. 

The Westminster Confession grew to have broad influence as Presbyterian churches adopted it and spread world wide. Some denominations have modified some sections, however the core teachings remain respected inside Reformed denominations. 

How is the Westminster Confession of Faith Used Today? 

The WCF is primarily used inside Presbyterian denominations. Denominations just like the Presbyterian Church in America, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and the Free Church of Scotland recognize it as a normal, not as vital as Scripture but secondarily authoritative for outlining theology. Ministers in these denominations must affirm the confession. 

These Presbyterian churches use the WCF as a tool for catechizing members, especially within the Larger and Shorter Catechisms which go together with the larger confession and were written at the identical time. The WCF offers a structure and framework for preaching and teaching with sound doctrine. In addition, the confession provides points about church discipline and governance. 

Reformed Baptist Churches have also adopted the WCF, although they’ve modified it to align with a number of Baptist doctrines like believer’s baptism. The Second London Baptist Confession of 1689 copies the WCF with a number of adaptations, and Reformed Baptists use it in an analogous way—for teaching, preaching, and governance. 

A number of Evangelical and non-denominational churches that lean toward Reformed theology have also adopted the WCF or portions of it. Others might use it but not require everyone to follow it strictly. Seminaries and other schools also use the WCF. Reformed seminaries include it of their curriculum to coach pastors and theologians. The confession becomes a chance to search out deeper understanding of Reformed theology and its application. 

How Does the Westminster Confession of Faith Compare to Other Confessions? 

While many confessions have common doctrines just like the Trinity, the authority of Scripture, and salvation, the WCF contrasts as a more detailed and extensive presentation of Reformed theology. 

Compared to the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed, each of that are far older, the WCF carries significantly more detail. Those earlier creeds function a more concise summary of essential Christian beliefs, attempting to purposefully simplify as much as possible. The WCF dives deeper into theological issues. For example, the Apostles’ Creed has nothing about sacraments or church governance. The WCF further highlights what it feels is significant—justification, sanctification, God’s sovereignty, and tradition. 

As an extended and more detailed document, the WCF compares with the Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, and Cannons of Dort, all of which also come from the Reformed tradition. These documents share the identical doctrine, often expressed through the Five Points of Calvinism. At the identical time, the Westminster Confession is an extended and more detailed explanation of theology and connects the doctrine of the Sabbath and church politics, which the others don’t do. 

The WCF finds differences with the Catholic Catechism and Lutheran-associated Augsburg Confession. The Catholic Catechism places more doctrinal authority on church leadership and sacraments as a method of grace, while the WCF points to Scripture and salvation by faith alone. The Augsburg Confession accommodates justification by faith alone but doesn’t include the Calvinist teachings on predestination and God’s sovereignty. 

The Westminster Confession of Faith stays some of the detailed and lengthy confessions in history. It is exclusive and influential as a consequence of its distinct Reformed doctrines. 

What Can Christians Today Learn from the Westminster Confession of Faith? 

The partnership between religion and government was common within the 1600s. Countries would declare a certain religious position, whether Catholic or Protestant, a remnant of the centuries when the Catholic Church held sway and power over the politics of Europe. The American mindset and Bill of Rights began to alter this practice, nevertheless. We should likely be skeptical of any attempt the federal government makes (as Parliament did) to have power and direct the church to make such statements. Even if the unique motives are pure, this partnership becomes manipulative and greedy. Hence why the Americans declared a freedom of faith from the state. 

At the identical time, the Westminster Confession of Faith did unify a certain segment of Christianity under a shared understanding of biblical truth. In a world by which we attempt to define our own truths and turn into more divided and fragmented consequently, such clear expression of theology and doctrine could be helpful. We begin at this point, grounding our faith in something tested across time, and a solid confession of religion could be passed all the way down to later generations. The earlier creeds, especially the Apostles’ Creed, were more unifying across all Christianity as a consequence of their simplicity. The WCF distinguishes itself with Reformed theology like predestination, making that belief central. This limits the WCF’s use to a certain sect of believers. 

In addition, the WCF teaches us that some doctrinal differences are allowed. It provides clarity on what it considers essential matters. As exhaustive as it could be, it still leaves room for discussion and adaptation in culture and time. For example, while the confession affirms Reformed theology, it doesn’t take care of every application, allowing for some variation. We should keep in mind that unity on core beliefs doesn’t require agreement on each detail. 

The Westminster Confession encourages us to be humble in our engagement with Scripture. While we’d disagree with among the doctrine, the authors spent years in rigorous discussion and debate, all the time appealing to the Bible as the final word authority. We should all be committed to submitting to the reality of Scripture and appreciative of the leaders who went before. They have much to show us. We can each value their input while staying open to reexamining non-essential doctrines in light of Scripture. 

In a divided world and a fragmented Christianity with hundreds of denominations, the Westminster Confession of Faith reveals the biblical need for a core framework to attach and unify Christians. We may select to make use of the older and simpler Apostles’ or Nicene Creed, but these statements help us find common ground with other believers in what truly matters in living for God. 

Peace. 

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/steve228uk

Britt Mooney lives and tells great stories. As an writer of fiction and non-fiction, he’s enthusiastic about teaching ministries and nonprofits the ability of storytelling to encourage and spread truth. Mooney has a podcast called Kingdom Over Coffee and is a printed writer of We Were Reborn for This: The Jesus Model for Living Heaven on Earth in addition to Say Yes: How God-Sized Dreams Take Flight.