THE WESTMINSTER
CONFESSION OF FAITH
We just don’t periodically repair to the Confession for quarterly Presbytery meetings. Rather, it is the sober intellectual assessment that this reflects the teaching of Scriptures. Further, it is not just an academic exercise, but is confessed ex animo, with animus and heart. Or, to quote one Dutch Elder, "The Confessions and Catechisms are the heart cry from the pew!"
CHAPTER XVI
Of Good Works.
I. Good works are only such as God hath commanded in
his holy Word, and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men
out of blind zeal, or upon any pretense of good intention.
II. These good works, done in obedience to God's
commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith: and by
them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify
their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the
adversaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ
Jesus thereunto, that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end,
eternal life.
III. Their ability to do good works is not at all of
themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ. And that they may be enabled
thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is required an
actual influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will and to do of
his good pleasure; yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were
not bound to perform any duty unless upon a special motion of the Spirit; but
they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.
IV. They, who in their obedience, attain to the
greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to
supererogate and to do more than God requires, that they fall short of much
which in duty they are bound to do.
V. We can not, by our best works, merit pardon of
sin, or eternal life, at the hand of God, because of the great disproportion
that is between them and the glory to come, and the infinite distance that is
between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit, nor satisfy for the
debt of our former sins; but when we have done all we can, we have done but our
duty, and are unprofitable servants: and because, as they are good, they
proceed from his Spirit; and as they are wrought by us, they are defiled and
mixed with so much weakness and imperfection that they can not endure the
severity of God's judgment.
VI. Yet notwithstanding, the persons of believers
being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him, not
as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreprovable in God's
sight; but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and
reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and
imperfections.
VII. Works done by unregenerate men, although for
the matter of them they may be things which God commands, and of good use both
to themselves and others; yet, because they proceed not from a heart purified
by faith; nor are done in a right manner, according to the Word; nor to a right
end, the glory of God; they are therefore sinful and can not please God, or
make a man meet to receive grace from God. And yet their neglect of them is
more sinful, and displeasing unto God.
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