The Morning Devotional for October 3, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 30.2
II. To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed, by virtue whereof they have power respectively to retain and remit sins, to shut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the Word and censures; and to open it unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of the gospel, and by absolution from censures, as occasion shall require.a
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for August 28, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 25.5-6
V. The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error;a and some have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan.b Nevertheless, there shall be always a Church on earth to worship God according to his will.c
VI. There is no other Head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ:a nor can the Pope of Rome, in any sense be head thereof.
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for August 9, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 23.3 (Part One)
III. Civil magistrates may not assume to themselves the administration of the Word and sacraments; or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven; or, in the least, interfere in matters of faith. Yet, as nursing fathers, it is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the church of our common Lord, without giving the preference to any denomination of Christians above the rest, in such a manner that all ecclesiastical persons whatever shall enjoy the full, free, and unquestioned liberty of discharging every part of their sacred functions, without violence or danger.
Read MoreRead: Matthew 16
The critical section of Matthew 16 is when Peter confesses Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. In this section, we are reminded of the church's ongoing mission. Jesus tells Peter that the gates of hell will never prevail against the church (16:18). So often, that verse is read defensively in that the fury of the evil one will not overrun the church
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for March 13, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 8.2 (Part Two)
II. The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance, and equal with the Father, did, when the fulness of time was come, take upon him man’s nature,a with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin:b being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary, of her substance.c So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion.d Which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man.e
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for February 20, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 5.7
VII. As the providence of God doth, in general, reach to all creatures, so, after a most special manner, it taketh care of his Church, and disposeth all things to the good thereof.a
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