1689 Confession of Faith

Chapter 7 begins by addressing a profound reality: though God created man with reason and law, the infinite gap between Creator and creature makes a relationship of blessedness and life impossible apart from a covenant. God is not obligated to reward obedience or offer eternal life. If man is to enjoy communion with God, it must be on terms that God Himself initiates.

Paragraph 6 contrasts how corruption affects the unregenerate and the regenerate. For the unregenerate, sin rules completely—they are spiritually dead and unable to please God. Their wills are enslaved to evil, and they can do nothing to turn themselves to Christ. In contrast, regenerate persons are given a new heart and set free from sin’s dominion. Though the war with sin remains, the power of grace prevails.

Paragraph 5 acknowledges that although regeneration transforms the believer, the corruption of nature is not entirely removed. The war between flesh and Spirit continues in this life. Believers are renewed and empowered to walk in obedience, yet remnants of sin still dwell within them. This internal conflict can cause real falls, yet never results in total or final ruin. For the Christian, this truth is sobering but hopeful.

Paragraph 4 teaches that from our inherited corruption flows actual sin. We are not only guilty in Adam but also act according to that fallen nature. Sin is not just a condition—it produces evil thoughts, words, and deeds. We transgress God’s law because our hearts are inclined away from Him. This explains why every person sins—not by random choice, but by nature. For believers, this doctrine brings clarity and humility. It reminds us that we need a new heart, not just better

“They being the root, and by God’s appointment, standing in the room and stead of all mankind…” Adam and Eve were not merely the first...

Paragraph 2 teaches that Adam’s sin did not affect him alone—it spread to all his descendants. By God’s appointment, Adam stood as the representative head of the human race. When he sinned, we sinned in him, and his guilt was imputed to us. Thus, every person is born spiritually dead, corrupted in nature, and inclined to evil. This doctrine, called original sin, explains humanity’s universal need for salvation.

Paragraph 1 teaches that God created Adam and Eve in a state of holiness, upright and innocent, yet with the freedom to obey or disobey. Tempted by Satan, they voluntarily chose sin, falling from their original righteousness. This fall was not forced but deliberate, and it brought immediate spiritual death and separation from God. The rebellion of our first parents marked the beginning of humanity’s misery.

Paragraph 7 teaches that God's providence reveals the variety, wisdom, and justice of His purposes. His dealings with people differ—some are hardened, others are softened, yet all serve to display His glory. The elect experience mercy, restoration, and sanctification through providence, while the reprobate may be restrained for a time before judgment. God’s providence is not uniform but purposeful. Each circumstance, whether blessing or affliction, unfolds exactly as He inten

Paragraph 6 affirms that God exercises providence over the wicked just as He does over His people. While He restrains and governs their actions, He does not sanctify their hearts or renew their wills. Their sin proceeds from their own corrupt nature, yet even their rebellion is used to fulfill God’s purposes. God may withhold His restraints for judgment or allow them to fall deeper into sin. For believers, this truth strengthens our trust in God’s justice. The wicked are not

Paragraph 5 teaches that God’s providence sometimes allows His elect to experience discipline and hardship due to their sins. This is not rejection but fatherly correction. God uses affliction to humble, refine, and restore His children. Even when He hides the light of His face, He never removes His covenant love. His providence includes both comfort and chastening, working always for our sanctification. For the believer, this brings assurance: suffering is never wasted.

Paragraph 4 teaches that even the sinful actions of creatures occur under God’s providential rule. He permits them, limits them, and directs them for His holy purposes—yet without authoring or approving of sin. God’s sovereignty never violates the creature’s responsibility, and His holiness is never compromised. He uses evil to fulfill His purposes (e.g., Joseph’s betrayal, Christ’s crucifixion), yet remains untouched by guilt.

Paragraph 3 explains that God usually works through ordinary means—natural laws, human decisions, and everyday events—to accomplish His providence. However, He is also free to work without, above, or against those means when it pleases Him. Whether by quiet preservation or miraculous intervention, God is always in control. Scripture shows examples of both patterns. For the believer, this brings comfort: God is always at work, whether visibly or invisibly.

Paragraph 2 teaches that God's providence is not limited to believers or major events—it extends to all creation and every action. From the greatest angel to the smallest insect, everything is ordered, preserved, and governed by God’s will. He works through both ordinary and extraordinary means, displaying His care, power, and wisdom in all things. Nothing in the universe escapes His hand. This truth assures believers that the world is not spinning out of control.

Paragraph 1 teaches that God, in His infinite power and wisdom, upholds, directs, and governs all His creatures and all their actions by His providence. Nothing happens by chance. Every moment is under the sovereign control of the same God who created the world. Yet He does this in such a way that His holiness is never compromised and His purposes always prevail. For the believer, this truth is a source of profound comfort: no matter what unfolds, we are not at the mercy of f

Paragraph 2 teaches that God created man—male and female—in His own image, with reason, righteousness, and freedom of will. Adam and Eve were not primitive or morally neutral; they were upright, holy, and able to obey God's law. As image-bearers, they were appointed to steward creation and live in fellowship with God. This truth anchors human dignity, the reality of moral responsibility, and the original goodness of God's design.

Paragraph 1 of Chapter 4 proclaims that God created the world out of nothing in six days and all very good. This affirms God's absolute power, wisdom, and goodness in bringing all things into existence for His own glory. God did not shape pre-existing material; He spoke, and the universe obeyed. He created everything visible and invisible—heaven, earth, angels, and mankind. Creation is not random or meaningless; it is purposeful and sustained by its Creator.

Paragraph 7 affirms that God's sovereign decree does not violate the will of His creatures or remove the reality of secondary causes, such as human choices and natural events. Instead, His decree upholds and establishes the freedom and responsibility of His creatures. God ordains all things, yet He does so in a way that does not force or coerce. This truth protects both divine sovereignty and human accountability.

Paragraph 6 confronts the sobering truth that not all are elected to salvation. Some are sovereignly passed over, left in their sin, and condemned for it. This is not injustice, but a display of God’s righteous judgment and power. These are not victims of divine cruelty but recipients of justice, which all sinners deserve. In contrast, the elect receive mercy. This truth humbles us, silences complaint, and reminds us that salvation is always a matter of grace.

Paragraph 5 of Chapter 3 explains that God not only decrees who will be saved, but also ordains the means by which His decree is carried out. Those whom He has predestined to life are redeemed by Christ and brought to faith through the gospel by the effectual work of the Spirit. God’s plan is never random or disconnected—He uses appointed means, including preaching, prayer, and providence, to fulfill His eternal purpose. This truth encourages believers to pursue obedience and

Paragraphs 3–4 teach that God has chosen a definite number of individuals for eternal life—not because of anything they would do, but solely according to His sovereign will and grace. This election is unconditional, eternal, and unchangeable. The rest of humanity is passed over, not unjustly, but according to God's righteous purpose. These truths reveal God’s mercy and justice, and they establish the certainty of salvation for the elect.