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This paragraph acknowledges the sober reality that true believers may fall into serious sin. Yet, while their falls may bring spiritual damage and divine discipline, they do not lead to final ruin. Because of God’s unchanging love and Christ’s intercession, believers will ultimately be restored. The confession emphasizes both the possibility of spiritual decline and the certainty of God’s preserving grace.

Among the many voices that prepared the way for the Reformation, few are as remarkable—and as overlooked—as Johann Wessel of Groningen. A Dutch theologian born in the early fifteenth century, Wessel anticipated many of the central truths that would later define Protestant theology. For this reason, Martin Luther himself called him “a forerunner of the gospel.”

This paragraph of the Confession asserts that true believers will persevere in faith until the end, not because of their strength, but because of God’s unchanging love and preserving grace. Those who are truly converted can never finally fall away from salvation. Though they may stumble, the power of God keeps them, the intercession of Christ secures them, and the Spirit within guarantees their perseverance. This truth comforts believers in seasons of doubt or temptation.

God the Father: Knowing the First Person of the Trinity The Ultimate Purpose: The Father’s Glory Ephesians 3:21: “To Him be glory in the...

Not every pre-Reformation figure was a fiery reformer or a martyr. Some, like Thomas à Kempis, prepared the way for renewal by pointing Christians back to the heart of personal devotion. His famous book, The Imitation of Christ, became one of the most widely read devotional works in history, shaping believers for centuries. While Thomas did not challenge the doctrinal errors of his age as boldly as Wycliffe or Hus, he reminded the church that true Christianity is not empty ri

God the Father: Knowing the First Person of the Trinity The End Is Already Planned Romans 8:30 outlines the golden chain of salvation:...

Paragraph 6 declares that unregenerate people may do things that are morally commendable and outwardly beneficial. These acts may reflect God’s moral law and provide social good, but because they do not proceed from a heart renewed by grace, they are not spiritually good. Such works cannot please God or bring the soul any closer to salvation. The Confession distinguishes between civil good and spiritual good, showing that without faith, all deeds—however noble—fall short of G

If Jan Hus was the fiery voice of reform in Bohemia, his close friend Jerome of Prague was the steady companion who stood beside him in both ministry and martyrdom. Jerome’s story reminds us not only of the cost of faithfulness but also of God’s grace to restore faltering courage and enable His people to finish well.

The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force but the loving gift of the Father to His children. This post explores how the Father sends the Spirit to indwell, empower, and assure believers, making the presence of God personal, the work of Christ effective, and the Christian life possible.

“We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin or eternal life at the hand of God…” This section continues to affirm the insufficiency...

In the early fifteenth century, the Lord raised up a powerful preacher in Bohemia whose courage and convictions carried forward the torch lit by John Wycliffe. His name was Jan Hus. Though he ministered more than a century before the Reformation, Hus proclaimed the supremacy of Scripture, the corruption of the papacy, and the necessity of faith in Christ. His boldness would cost him his life, but his witness would inspire generations.

God the Father: Knowing the First Person of the Trinity God’s Mission Is Global Genesis 12:3: “In you all the families of the earth shall...

This paragraph brings balance and comfort to the doctrine of good works. While believers' good works are sincere, they are also imperfect—tainted by remaining sin and human weakness. Yet God, in His mercy, accepts them through Christ. The works of believers are not accepted because of their merit, but because of the person who performs them in faith and union with Christ. God looks upon the heart, not the blemishes.

When John Wycliffe died in 1384, many believed his influence would vanish with him. But the Lord had already kindled a movement that would not be extinguished. His followers, known as the Lollards, became torchbearers of truth in medieval England. They carried the Scriptures in their own language, preached in marketplaces, and endured fierce persecution—all for the sake of Christ and His Word.

God the Father: Knowing the First Person of the Trinity The Church Is a Holy People The New Testament calls the church “saints”—those set...

This paragraph addresses a critical distinction: while unbelievers can do things that appear outwardly good, their works are not truly good in God’s sight. Why? Because they do not flow from faith in Christ, are not done with the right motive (to glorify God), and are not done according to God’s revealed will. Such works may benefit society and even receive human praise, but they do not merit God’s favor or bring the doer any closer to salvation.

Long before Luther took his stand at Wittenberg, the Lord raised up a voice in England that pierced the darkness of the medieval church. That voice belonged to John Wycliffe, a scholar and preacher who believed that the Bible must be placed in the hands of ordinary people. Because of his courage, he is often called the Morning Star of the Reformation.

Doctrine is the lifeblood of the church. Paul calls the church “the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). Where truth is loved, the church is strong; where truth is despised, decline follows. Calvin said doctrine and life are inseparable. Sproul reminded us that everyone is a theologian—either good or bad. The health of the church depends on cherishing sound doctrine.

Good works are not the root of our salvation, but they are its fruit. This paragraph teaches that good works, while not meritorious, serve vital purposes in the Christian life. They are expressions of gratitude to God, evidences of true faith, tools for strengthening assurance, means of building up fellow believers, and lights to the watching world. Good works glorify God by displaying His grace at work in us.

God the Father: Knowing the First Person of the Trinity The Father Is a Rewarder Hebrews 11:6 says: “Whoever would draw near to God must...