WCF 7.4
Westminster Confession of Faith
7.4. Of God’s Covenant with Man
This covenant of grace is frequently set forth in Scripture by the name of a Testament, in reference to the death of Jesus Christ the Testator, and to the everlasting inheritance, with all things belonging to it, therein bequeathed.
Proof texts
- Heb. 9:15, 16, 17 — [15] Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. [16] For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. [17] For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.
- Heb. 7:22 — [22] This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
- Luke 22:20 — [20] And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
- 1 Cor. 11:25 — [25] In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Heb. 9:15, 16, 17 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 4 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WSC Q20 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- WLC Q32 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
WSC Q20 · WLC Q32 · WLC Q34 · WLC Q30 · BC 5.2 · BC 5.3 · BC 5.4 · BC 5.5 · BC 5.6 · HC Q29 · 1689 7.1 · 1689 7.2 · 1689 7.3 · SD 7.1 · SD 7.2 · SD 7.3 · SD 7.4 · SD 7.5 · IAR 4.5 · SC60 2.2 · SHC 2.3 · SHC 2.4 · IAR 5.1 · IAR 5.2 · IAR 5.3 · IAR 5.4 · IAR 5.5 · SC60 3.1 · SHC 3.2
Leader's notes
A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): these Sections teaches how that same covenant is administered by Christ to his people. The doctrine of our Standards and of Scripture may be stated in the following propositions : 1st. At the basis of human redemption there is an eternal covenant or personal counsel between the Father, representing the entire Godhead, and the Son, who is to assume in the fulness of time a human element into his peTBon, and to represent all his elect as their Mediator and Surety. The Scriptures make it very plain that the Father and Son had a definite understanding (a) as to who were to be saved, (6) as to what Christ must do in order to save them, (c) as to how…
An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): In the authorised English version of the New Testament, the covenant of grace is frequently designated a testament; and it is generally admitted, that the original word signifies both a covenant and a testament. There is, at least, one passage in which it is most properly rendered testament, namely, Heb. ix. 16, 17. Some learned critics, indeed, have stienuously contended against the use of that term even in * Confession, ch. xi., 2. t The Larger Cateciiism, Quest. 73. this passage ; but the great majority allow that the common translation is unexceptionable.*