Pastor's Corner — Providence Presbyterian Church

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.

The Morning Devotional: WCF 31.4

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

devotional, confessions, Westminster ConfessionWilliam HillOctober 11, 2023synods, councils, Luke 12, John 18, Matthew 22

The Morning Devotional: WCF 31.3

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

devotional, confessions, Westminster ConfessionWilliam HillOctober 10, 2023synods, councils, Ephesians 2, Acts 17

The Morning Devotional: WCF 31.2

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.

devotional, confessions, Westminster ConfessionWilliam HillOctober 9, 2023synods, councils, Acts 15

Intensive Bible Reading Plan

Most Christians have some Bible reading plan that they follow. There are many good plans available. The important part is that you are reading God’s Word daily. A Bible reading plan is a tool, nothing more and nothing less. I have found that reading the Bible in large chunks is very helpful

bible readingWilliam HillOctober 7, 2023bible, reading

The Morning Devotional: WCF 31.1

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.

devotional, confessions, Westminster ConfessionWilliam HillOctober 6, 2023church, synods, councils, Acts 15

The Morning Devotional: WCF 30.4

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

The Morning Devotional: WCF 30.3

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

The Morning Devotional: WCF 30.2

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

devotional, confessions, Westminster ConfessionWilliam HillOctober 3, 2023censures, church, Matthew 16, Matthew 18

The Morning Devotional: WCF 30.1

The Morning Devotional for October 2, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 30.1

I. The Lord Jesus, as king and head of his Church, hath therein appointed a government in the hand of Church officers, distinct from the civil magistrate.a

devotional, confessions, Westminster ConfessionWilliam HillOctober 2, 2023church, censures, Isaiah 9, 1 Timothy 5, Ephesians 4

The Morning Devotional: WCF 29.8

The Morning Devotional for September 27, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 29.8

VIII. Although ignorant and wicked men receive the outward elements in this sacrament, yet they receive not the thing signified thereby; but by their unworthy coming thereunto are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, to their own damnation. Wherefore all ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with him, so are they unworthy of the Lord’s table, and can not, without great sin against Christ, while they remain such, partake of these holy mysteries,a or be admitted thereunto.b

The Morning Devotional: WCF 29.7

The Morning Devotional for September 26, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 29.7

VII. Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements in this sacrament,a do then also inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spiritually, receive and feed upon Christ crucified, and all benefits of his death: the body and blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally in, with, or under the bread and wine; yet as really, but spiritually, present to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are, to their outward senses.b

The Pastor’s Corner

The blog of Pastor William F. Hill, Jr.