WCF 21.3

21.3. Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath-day

Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one special part of religious worship, is by God required of all men: and that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son, by the help of His Spirit, according to His will, with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and, if vocal, in a known tongue.

Proof texts

• Phil. 4:6 — [6] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
• Ps. 65:2 — [2] O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come.
• John 14:13, 14 — [13] Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
• 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.
• Rom. 8:26 — [26] Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
• 1 John 5:14 — [14] And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
• Ps. 47:7 — [7] For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!
• Eccles. 5:1, 2
• Heb. 12:28 — [28] Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
• Gen. 18:27 — [27] Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.
• James 5:16 — [16] Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
• James 1:6, 7 — [6] But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. [7] For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
• Mark 11:24 — [24] Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
• Matt. 6:12, 14, 15 — [12] and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. [14] For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, [15] but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
• Col. 4:2 — [2] Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
• Eph. 6:18 — [18] praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
• 1 Cor. 14:14 — [14] For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Phil. 4:6 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 17 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q90 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WLC Q157 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q90 · WLC Q157 · 1689 22.1 · IAR 6.1 · SHC 4.1 · SHC 4.2 · SD 22.1