What is the Westminster Confession of Faith?

In this video, I take a quick summary look at the Westminster Confession of Faith.
Westminster in Hardcover: amzn.to/2QaF1Lk
Hold Fast the Faith: amzn.to/2YeBXlK

[@angramp3430]

I'm 39 years old and became a Christian at 20.. I've always gone to a Baptist church. However, I have never had a clear understanding of scripture until about march of this year. The reason was because I happened upon reformed teaching and the confessions and catechisms. I used to constantly wonder of I was a real Christian. Now I have full assurance. The gospel and scripture now make sense. I still go to a Baptist church. But they glean from reformed teachers and are solid on the sovereignty of God. I'm so thankful for the confessions of faith. I finally can understand the bible. I'm still learning and still excited to learn!

[@Realitycentral2024]

I don't really understand why you would need these "confessions" to understand the word of God? I am also a believer and the gospel message is very clear. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Find a version that is written in today's understandable language and you should be able to get it's message. I use the NIV Application Bible and that helps clarify those verses that may be difficult.

[@angramp3430]

@@Realitycentral2024 good for you.

[@captainmarvel76927]

A heretical committee that meet to ultimately codify doctrines for the Church of England that was founded by a man who founded his own church because the Bishop of Rome refused to grant him an annulment to divorce his lawfully wedded wife of over 20 years and treated her in the most anti christ spirit. Absolutely 💯 no authority to this Chruch of England - Presbyterian - Calvinst committee, they cannot justify their actions to meet through scripture, and they are in rebellion againt the Church.

[@wemuk5170]

Hi Ang Ram, the Baptists have the London Baptist Confession 1689 which doctrinal substance is the same as the Westminster Confession. I grew up in a Baptist Church & was taught to & did read the whole entire Bible from Gen-Rev repeatedly. But the Confessions are still, I find, most instructive.

[@captainmarvel76927]

@@wemuk5170 the irony is that the WMCF and the LBCF are hybrid calvinist and armenian doctument that also has some Church of England aspects to it. And how basically its a dogma, aka, decree aka doctrine that u have to adhere to. Considering the baptist and calvinist un-god fathers of Luther, Calvin, Zwinglie, and Henry VIII and their oppisition to the OHCA Church, why u would neeed to hold an imporperly ordered council of men to "interpret" the faith when "scripture alone is sufficient". Why not give credit to all councils and reveiw them all. After all the Council of Nicea 325 AD defeated the Arian Hersey, and the Council of Rome 382 and Carthage 397 AD defined the authorized canon. But we would wager u except the 1611 KJV that is a calvinst book, and included the deutocanonical books up to the 1820s when the British Bible society independently decided to remove them.

[@user-li2bo1qt1b]

Eastern Orthodox Christian here 👋 This was a good, clear and concise explanation. Thank you

[@MatthewEverhard]

Thanks!

[@RosewoodGoode]

THIS was verY informative to someone who’s been curious but has never been able to find someone to explain it so simple until now, thus it makes me appreciate creeds and such, and to put them in their proper place. Thank you for this video and I hope our Lord will continue to bless you with love, knowledge, wisdom, grace and understanding.

[@joshuahoward7567]

You sir are a spring of knowledge I love these videos and the confessions and creeds.

[@exek337]

i bought your book on this & it's part of my studying during the week. Thank you!

[@jerem0621]

I went through the apostles creed at my ordination service during my sermon. I’m a Southern Baptist Ordained minister and it was a beautiful addition to my ordination service. I like your hourglass in the background too!

[@bar8665]

You're awesome. That was in depth enough to cover questions raised regarding history etc. But brief enough to not rant and get to the point. I wish more videos could find a balance such as this when answering questions.

[@richardglady3009]

Wow…that was amazing. I loved the historical overview and the discussion of the Confession itself. Three pages of notes. Thank you.

[@MatthewEverhard]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nathanieltitus399]

Excellent overview of the history!

[@mdkutzler8495]

I will be joining (hopefully but my reservations may be suited better for email form) a PCA church in Greenville, SC when I semi retire in 2026. I am using the time to inform myself about the Reform movement and the PCA in general. I am Lutheran by birth (ELCA) and choice (WELS) so, I really enjoy the content of your videos and have subscribed to the channel and yes, using your link above, I have purchased the Westminster Confession and Hold Fast the Faith. Oh, the church I really want to join in Greenville is Second Presbyterian, pastored by Dr. Richard Phillips so, I will need a good base of knowledge before entering the lions den.

[@thomasc9036]

For clarification purposes, you should mention that most US based Presbyterian denominations use various American revisions of WCF. Even PCUSA claims to be faithful to WCF, but it is a modified version of the original. Even OPC doesn't use the original but revised 1788 version. PCA (my denomination) used to be 1788, but not sure if it still does. It no longer states anywhere which revision PCA uses (PCA website needs some serious maintenance). To be forthright, we should stop referring to American revisions as WCF considering reformed baptist's London Baptist Confession of Faith and Congregationalist's Savoy Declaration are nearly identical with only few verbal alterations. But the changes were significant enough that they changed to a different name to avoid confusions. Considering that the original WCF was supposed to replace the 39 Articles as the standard confession for the Church of England, it is fitting that American revisions should be called Philadelphia Confession of Faith to be more accurate.

[@RyanGill86]

The Baptists already snagged the title of Philadelphia Confession of Faith in 1742. Still, I wonder if there are fewer differences between the Philly Confession and the 1689 than the different versions of the WCF.

[@sandygiacobbe3675]

I recently attended an OPC Church that stated that it holds to the beliefs that are documented in the Westminster Confession of Faith . At the Sermon I listened too, it was about the Antichrist and the Pastor went on to discuss a single powerful future Antichrist . Yet upon reading the Westminster Confession of faith it is clearly states in chapter 25.6 That the Pope of Rome is the Antichrist and is the man of sin , and son of perdition. Why is this teaching no longer taught ?

[@delbert372]

Very good. You just earned a new subscriber!

[@kennethmacgregor6427]

Thank you so much for this video. I am new to the Presbyterian faith and this video is helpful. How many versions (revisions) of the Apostles Creed are there? What is the reason some creeds say that Christ went to hell?

[@GickBert9]

Hey Pastor Matt - I am a candidate for licensure/ordination in a PCA presbytery down in Maryland. Growing up, I had little to no exposure to reformed theology or confessions and creeds. I decided to throw caution to the wind and searched for "Westminster Confession of Faith Overview" and your video popped up. I am really grateful for your videos. I am currently studying for my doctrine exam and have been pouring over the WCF/LC/SC. I was thinking of downloading your book on Kindle to help with my studying. Do you have any tips or suggestions for how to prepare for this exam? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[@sergiopabon3071]

Hi. I'm so late to this video. I was raised in a Pentecostal denomination, my grandfather was a pastor. But I've always been critical of the lacking of word teaching, then I noticed it was so shallow. I've been learning a lot and like others here, understanding the Bible better. I have not found a reformed church here is south Florida where I live. Still looking. God bless 🙌

[@rosbyduhart5884]

I have just started doing a study on the confessions. I am also using your book to begin my studies.I would also like to find a source that talks about the history of the people who wrote the confessions. If you know of a more detailed account of the who wrote it that would be helpful to me. Once again your posts are helpful and well thought out. Thank you.

[@Tom_Theodore]

Despite its many pitfalls, Wikipedia is a good place to start. You can at least get some references and names that you can then look up with other resources like Amazon or Encyclopedia Britannica. This page alone may be a good starting place: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformed_confessions_of_faith

[@dansecor8753]

I'm from Boston and ended up for the last about 18 years in Seoul, South Korea (long story). I'm now in the States again and returned to my second childhood home of Daytona Beach, Florida. Over here on International Speedway Boulevard is a Korean Presbyterian Church and I was thinking of attending. I was baptized as a baby in Mass and consider myself a Christian (although not an example of one). I greatly respect the teachings of Christ, but I'm not overly well-versed. Here's the rub: I seem to want to go there to enlighten myself but also to maintain my Korean language skills. I have zero Korean ancestry but got to know the people there very, VERY well. For the most part they are awesome, although jerks do exist as in any society. Anyway, I mainly get along well with them. So, Is that selfish for me to attend the church? I'm guessing basically yes, but just being honest. Any thoughts? Also Korean food is really good and I haven't had any in months and maybe they will share some with me. Thanks for your thoughts and I have subscribed (just so you know:)

[@lucasdacosta8865]

Hey man, I think you should just go there. They will be delighted to have you!

[@dansecor8753]

@@lucasdacosta8865 Cheers - I haven't attended yet due to work but it is planned and I'll let you know how it went. I don't think there's a large Asian community here in my city but I could be wrong.

[@richardstalker4769]

Our Church of Scotland doesn't even affirm the Westminster Confession of Faith anymore... :(

[@MatthewEverhard]

What? Really?

[@richardstalker4769]

@@MatthewEverhard kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3jFmHefitSNmas Most of the minsters at the time who voted on this issue didn't even read it before making decisions on it.

[@user-li2bo1qt1b]

The SNP wouldnt like anything Scottish using something Westminsterish

[@fadihajjhassan6492]

Thank you

[@wemuk5170]

Matt, he probably ripped it off because no one explained to him that holy ‘catholic’ church means the holy global ‘universal’ church of true believers. And not the ‘holy Catholic’ Church! That catholic is an adjective that means universal. People’s level of competence in English cannot be assumed. The pastor has had to explain that term in a brief one-liner just before each time it is recited altogether. So in some churches in London, they have now replaced the word ‘catholic’ in the creed with - universal.

[@CMIKAEL1172]

As an Adventist we have the Principles of Faith. We too hold to the doctrine of Sola Scriptura.

[@tombrown7654]

We use The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith

[@cloaker2829]

You should do a video with Redeemed Zoomer.

[@CMIKAEL1172]

Interesting

[@ESDDRAAS]

The one 'dislike' is the person who ripped the Apostle's Creed off the hymnals.

[@Tax_Buster]

Esdras García Barocio Nice one! Hahaha!

[@samsdad110]

Hey, don’t take people away from Ray Heiple’s church on the west side of town.

[@sharamadsen3080]

Do you believe the confessions need to be updated to prevent woke culture from seeping in?

[@RyanGill86]

What is it? It's the rough draft of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. 😂😁😉😎

[@robertmcleod1088]

...that’s funny, Ryan.

[@batuhanaca2214]

More like plagiarism?

[@delbert372]

It’s a beautiful document except for the notion that God’s choice of one and not another is arbitrary (and to a lesser degree, the literal 6 day creation). I really struggle with election and predestination being arbitrary, and I don’t know how to get past this…

[@breannawilliamson9787]

I don't like where it says "he descended into hell." He did not. He descended into paradise.

[@rev.stephena.cakouros948]

Those who deny us the right to summarize the main teachings of the Bible when writing creeds will as often as not insert into the vacuum created by not having a creed. a creed of their own;. Case in point the most anti creedal preacher of the 19th century Alex. Campbell, whose book The Christian System is a creed if ever there was one.

[@thejerichoconnection3473]

A critique to the Westminster Confession of Faith: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6aZhXykd9itp9E Does Scripture interpret Scripture (article IX of the WCF)? No, it does not.

[@iacoponefurio1915]

😂😂😂🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@iacoponefurio1915]

Obviously it does. False liar.

[@iacoponefurio1915]

You are not a Christian and have no idea what it is.

[@thejerichoconnection3473]

@@iacoponefurio1915 not sure why you need to insult. Did you watch the video? Do you have any objections to what I say? If you do, more than glad to answer them.

[@toddbu-WK7L]

While I appreciate the sincerity of the comments regarding the WCF being subordinate to Scripture, in practice I have found this to be the exact opposite. When I asked the Elders of my OPC church about why they hold dear certain beliefs that appear to be in conflict with the Bible, they turn to the WCF for explanation. While the WCF provides proof texts for its statements, they are taken out of context and don’t always make sense. Yet the Elders are unable to examine Scripture directly, so they place their faith in the WCF instead of the Bible.

[@itlupe]

The ONLY confession one needs is laid out in Rom 10:9-13 "...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Calvies are BIG on Sola Scriptura then yoke them with "confessions". Many I spoken with believe they MUST believe in some confession/creed. SMH

[@iacoponefurio1915]

Without acknowledging Gods ultimate authority over His creation past, present and future you can never accept a savior or be a real Christian.

[@Jason-fm4hy]

no no no bad bad no confession no no no

[@captainmarvel76927]

1-3) All Christians subject themselves to one of four authority traditions under the Son of the Living God: Catholic/Eastern Orthodox, High Protestantism (Anglican/Lutheran, etc.,) American Christianity (Reformed, Non-Denominational, Evangelical), or their own private Opinion. Of all these "churches," only the Catholic Church has the spiritual and historical commission back to the Apostles and Jesus Christ. Private Opinion is condemned in 2nd Peter, and thus as an Athiest would say, you are a product of your religious environment. 2) The Bible and Infallible Judgement. It is a historical fact the official closed canon of Scripture came in the second half of the 4th Century (Councils of Hippo, Carthage, Rome.) If you grant Scripture is "the infallible" word of God, you must give the Church Bishops "infallible judgment" by the Holy Spirit that picked the specific books of the canon. You cannot have one without the other. If you reject the 73 book closed canon based upon the argument of Martin Luther, then you are rejecting a closed canon of nearly 1100 years. If you accept any non-Catholic translation such as the King James Version, you still must grand the men who compiled that translation infallible judgment, which directly refutes the Protestant Position. Secondly, what Bible translation do you use, and is it a good translation? An excellent argument for an English translation is the King James Version (but not 1611); however, the Douay Rheims is a better version translated over 41-42 years. Thus what version do you give authority to, and why, and do you grant "infallible" judgment to the translators. If you don't, then your translation is not safe. 3) The 60-second Position of the Church for Salvation is a confession of belief and baptism, then love the Lord Jesus and keep his commandments: (Acts 8: "Then Philip, opening his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached unto him, Jesus. [36] And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water; and the eunuch said: See, here is water: what doth hinder me from being baptized? [37] And Philip said: If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answering, said: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. [38] And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch: and he baptized him. [39] And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more." "If you love me, keep my commandments."

[@kM-ij2ly]

It is unbiblical nonsense

[@iacoponefurio1915]

You have no idea what the bible says charlatan.

[@toolegittoquit_001]

Since each tenet can be found in Scripture, the Bible would have to disagree

[@zippo563]

For a reform Calvinist weirdo, that was actually an excellent and watchable video.

[@elenabarskaya7127]

Oh cut the bull! Why does Kings (including Charles-III) has to sign BIBLE? Because it's a covenant/contract for him/her to protect. Even if he doesn't want to, he still put on a sourpuss and signs it, or he can't be a king (can't have the authority to be one)! Why does Charles-III has to sign Westminster Confession of Faith? A secondary governing instrument? Just so a little Church of yours can oversee sin (pardon) debt creation. So this world's financial system can run the way it does. That's why Charles-III have to come up with public announcement about "Climate waRning"? And by "climate" we don't mean snow patterns, but a prevailing condition or set of attitudes in human affairs.