Page 480 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

PRESBYTERIAN

The authority of the holy Scripture, for which it ought goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression,
to be believed and obeyed, dependeth not upon the and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him;
testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God and withal most just and terrible in his judgments;
(who is truth itself), the author thereof; and therefore hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the
it is to be received, because it is the word of God. guilty.
We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Of the Trinity:
Church to an high and reverend esteem of the holy In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of
Scripture, and the heavenliness of the matter, the one substance, power and eternity; God the Father,
efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of
consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole, (which none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is
is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost
of the only way of man’s salvation, the many other eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.
incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection I would also note that the Westminster Confession
thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly
evidence itself to be the word of God; yet, had many statements purposefully refuting Roman
notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of Catholic heresies. It contains a statement denying the
the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is inspiration of the Apocrypha. It also identifies the
from the inward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing Catholic pope with the antichrist. “There is no other
witness by and with the word in our hearts. Head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor can
The whole counsel of God, concerning all things the pope of Rome, in any sense, be head thereof: but is
necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and that antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition,
life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by that exalteth himself in the church, against Christ and
good and necessary consequence may be deduced from all that is called God” (Westminster Confession of Faith,
Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be chapter 25, section 6).
added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or
traditions of men. ... During the period in England’s history in which the
The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native Westminster Confession was being defined, a civil war
language of the people of God of old), and the New was waged against the British crown. Oliver Cromwell,
Testament in Greek (which at the time of the writing of a cavalry commander who led the opposition forces,
it was most generally known to the nations), being ousted the king and attempted to establish a
immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care Commonwealth in England in the late 17th century.
and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore These efforts failed, and the monarchy was eventually
authentical; so as in all controversies of religion, the re-established. Tens of thousands of Presbyterians,
Church is finally to appeal unto them. But because Puritans, and independents fled to America in the
these original tongues are not known to all the people ensuing years in search of religious and political liberty.
of God, who have right unto and interest in the
Scriptures, and are commanded, in the fear of God, to The Westminster Confession reflected John Calvin’s
read and search them, therefore they are to be system of predestinarian theology which has been
translated into the vulgar language of every nation summarized in five points by the acronym of TULIP:
unto which they come, that the word of God dwelling Total depravity of man, meaning man is incapable of
plentifully in all, they may worship him in an responding to the Gospel; Unconditional election,
acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort meaning God chooses which men will be saved and
of the Scriptures, may have hope. which men will be lost; Limited atonement, meaning
The supreme Judge, by which all controversies of Christ died only for those who will be saved; Irresistible
religion are to be determined, and all decrees of grace, meaning the sinner cannot resist God’s call to
councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, salvation; and Perseverance of the saints, meaning those
and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose who are saved will hold out faithful to the end.
sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy
Spirit speaking in the Scriptures. We must hasten to say that the Westminster
Consider the Westminster confession pertaining to Confession’s teaching in these areas is contrary to the
God: plain statements of the Word of God. The Calvinist
There is but one only living and true God, who is wants to have a big God, and I am all for that. I am
thankful for men who want to exalt God in an man-
infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit,
invisible, without body, parts, or passions, immutable, exalted hour. The Bible presents us with a BIG God and
immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most a little man, and I believe in that. I serve and worship a
wise, most holy, most free, most absolute, working all BIG God. He sits as King forever. He does His will, and
things according to the counsel of his own immutable no one can stay Him. No one can question His will; no
and most righteous will, for his own glory; most one can thwart His will. He says, “My counsel shall
loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in

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