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The Westminster Confession of Faith and Larger Catechism
1. Hypocrites and other unregenerate men may deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions about their being in God's favor and about their being saved.[1] Their presumptions will die with them.[2] However, those who truly believe in the Lord Jesus, who honestly love him and try to walk in good conscience before him, may in this life be assured with certainty that they are in a state of grace.[3] They may also rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, and they will never be ashamed of that hope.[4]
[1] Jb 8:13-14, Mi 3:11, Dt 29:19, Jn 8:41.
[3] 1 Jn 2:3, 3:14, 18-19,21,24, 5:13, 2 Tm 1:12.
[4] Rom 5:2, 5; see citations under 3 above; 2 Tm 4:7-8.
2. This certainty is not based on the fallible hope of guesswork or probabilities. Rather, it is the infallible assurance of faith,[5] established on the divine truth of the promises of salvation.[6] There is also the inner evidence of spiritual insight, given to us by God, to which these promises are directed.[7] And there is the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God.[8] This Spirit is the pledge of our inheritance. By him we are sealed until the day of redemption.[9]
[5] Heb 6:11-12,19; see citations under 3 and 4 above.
[7] 2 Pt 1:4-5,10-11, 1 Jn 2:3, 3:14, 2 Cor 1:12.
[9] Eph 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Cor 1:21-22.
3. This infallible assurance is not so essential to faith that a true believer may not have doubts and conflicts about it, possibly wait some time for it, and grow into it.[10] But since the Spirit enables believers to know the things which are freely given to them by God, every believer may come to a full assurance of salvation by the ordinary working of the Spirit without unusual revelation.[11] Therefore it is every believer's duty to establish the certainty of his calling and election[12] so that his heart may be filled with peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, with love and thankfulness to God, and with strength and cheerfulness of obedience. These are the true products of assurance,[13] which is never conducive to an undisciplined life.[14]
[10] 1 Jn 5:13, Is 50:10, Mk 9:24, Ps 88, 77:1-20, 73:
[11] 1 Cor 2:12, 1 Jn 4:13, Heb 6:11-12, Eph 3:17-19, Ps 77:10-20, 73, see citations under Section 2 above.
[13] Rom 5:1-2, 5, 14:17, 15:13, Eph 1:3-4, Ps 4:6-7, 119:32.
[14] 1 Jn 2:1-2, Rom 6:1-2, Ti 2:11-12,14, 2 Cor 7:1, Rom 8:1,12, 1 Jn 3:2-3, Ps 130:4, 1 Jn 1:6-7, 2 Pt 1:10.
4. The assurance true believers have of their salvation may be shaken, lessened, or interrupted for various reasons: from neglecting to preserve it; from committing some particular sin, which wounds the conscience and grieves the Spirit; from some sudden or strong temptation; or from God's withdrawing the sense of his presence and allowing them to walk in darkness.[15] Nevertheless, they are never completely without God's seed, the life of faith, the love of Christ and of other believers, and the sincere heart and obedient conscience, out of which the Spirit may revive this assurance in due time[16] and by which they are in the meantime kept from complete despair.[17]
[15] Sg 5:2-3, 6, Ps 51:8,12,14, Eph 4:30-31, Ps 77:1-10, Mt 26:69-72, Ps 31:22, Ps 88, Is 50:10.
[16] 1 Jn 3:9, Lk 22:32, Jb 13:15, Ps 73:15, Ps 51:8,12, Is 50:10.
[17] Mi 7:7-9, Jer 52:40, Is 54:7-10, Ps 22:1, 88, 2 Cor 4:8-10.
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