WCF 16.6
Westminster Confession of Faith
16.6. Of Good Works
Yet notwithstanding, the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in Him, not as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreproveable in God’s sight; but that He, looking upon them in His Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.
Proof texts
- Eph. 1:6 — [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
- 1 Pet. 2:5 — [5] you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- Exod. 28:38 — [38] It shall be on Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall bear any guilt from the holy things that the people of Israel consecrate as their holy gifts. It shall regularly be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.
- Gen. 4:4 with Heb. 11:4
- Job. 9:20 — [20] Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.
- Ps. 143:2 — [2] Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.
- Heb. 13:20, 21 — [20] Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, [21] equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
- 2 Cor. 8:12 — [12] For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
- Heb. 6:10 — [10] For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
- Matt. 25:21, 23 — [21] His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ [23] His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Eph. 1:6 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 10 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WSC Q85 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- WSC Q86 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
WSC Q85 · WSC Q86 · WSC Q87 · WLC Q91 · HC Q86 · BC 6.3 · BC 6.4 · BC 6.5 · 1689 16.1 · SC60 5.1 · SC60 5.2 · SC60 5.3 · SC60 5.4 · IAR 5.6 · SHC 5.1 · SHC 5.2 · SHC 5.3 · SD 16.1
Leader's notes
A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): These Sections teach — 1st. That works of supererogation are so far from being possible, even for the most eminent saint, that in this life it is not possible for the most thoroughly sanctified one fully to discharge all his positive obligations. 2d. That, for several reasons assigned, the best works of believers, so far from meriting either the pardon of sin or eternal life at the hands of God, cannot even endure the scrutiny of his holy judgment. 3d. That, nevertheless, the works of sincere believers are, like their persons, in spite of their imperfections, accepted because of their union with Christ Jesus, and rewarded for his sake. 1st. The phrase "supererogation" means "more than is demanded." Works of…
An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): This section is again levelled against the errors of the Church of Rome. The writers of that Church hold that the actions of men in an unregenerate state can be so pure as to be free from all sin, and to merit at God's hand by what they call the merit of congruity. We have formerly made a distinction respecting good works, which claims attention here. An action may be materially, and yet not formally, good. Prayer, reading and hearing the Word of God, distributing to the poor, are actions materially good ; but unless these actions are done by persons who are " accepted in the Beloved," and " created anew in Christ Jesus" — unless they flow from…