The Morning Devotional for October 19, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith
Conclusion
The final edition of Season Eight of the Morning Devotional will summarize each chapter of the Confession.
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The Morning Devotional for October 18, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 33.3
III. As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity:aso will he have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come; and may be ever prepared to say, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen.b
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The Morning Devotional for October 17, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 33.2
II. The end of God’s appointing this day, is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy in the eternal salvation of the elect;a and of his justice in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient.b For then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and refreshing which shall come from the presence of the Lord:c but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.d
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The Morning Devotional for October 16, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 33.1
I. God hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ,ato whom all power and judgment is given of the Father.b In which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged,c but likewise all persons, that have lived upon earth, shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds; and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.d
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The Morning Devotional for October 13, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 32.3
III. The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonor; the bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto honor, and be made conformable to his own glorious body.a
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The Morning Devotional for October 12, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 32.1-2
I. The bodies of men, after death, return to dust, and see corruption;a but their souls (which neither die nor sleep), having an immortal subsistence,b immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies:c and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day.d Besides these two places for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none.
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The Morning Devotional for October 11, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 31.4
V. Synods and councils are to handle or conclude nothing but that which is ecclesiastical: and are not to intermeddle with civil affairs which concern the commonwealth, unless by way of humble petition in cases extraordinary; or by way of advice, for satisfaction of conscience, if they be thereunto required by the civil magistrate.a
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The Morning Devotional for October 10, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 31.3
III. All synods or councils since the apostles’ times, whether general or particular, may err, and many have erred; therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith or practice, but to be used as a help in both.a
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The Morning Devotional for October 6, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 31.1
II. It belongeth to synods and councils, ministerially to determine controversies of faith, and cases of conscience; to set down rules and directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God, and government of his church; to receive complaints in cases of maladministration, and authoritatively to determine the same: which decrees and determinations, if consonant to the Word of God, are to be received with reverence and submission; not only for their agreement with the Word, but also for the power whereby they are made, as being an ordinance of God appointed thereunto in his Word.
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The Morning Devotional for October 6, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 31.1
I. For the better government, and further edification of the church, there ought to be such assemblies as are commonly called synods or councils: and it belongeth to the overseers and other rulers of the particular churches, by virtue of their office, and the power which Christ hath given them for edification and not for destruction, to appoint such assemblies; and to convene together in them, as often as they shall judge it expedient for the good of the church.
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The Morning Devotional for October 5, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 30.4
IV. For the better attaining of these ends, the officers of the Church are to proceed by admonition, suspension from the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper for a season, and by excommunication from the Church, according to the nature of the crime and demerit of the person.a
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The Morning Devotional for October 4, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 30.3
III. Church censures are necessary for the reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren; for deterring of others from the like offenses; for purging out of that leaven which might infect the whole lump; for vindicating the honor of Christ, and the holy profession of the gospel; and for preventing the wrath of God, which might justly fall upon the Church, if they should suffer his covenant, and the seals thereof, to be profaned by notorious and obstinate offenders.a
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