Study the Westminster Confession

[Irishcat922]

Anyone interested in studying "The Confession"?

The Westminster Confession of Faith

Chapter I
Of the Holy Scripture

1. Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable;(1) yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of His will, which is necessary unto salvation.(2) Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His Church;(3) and afterwards for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing;(4) which makes the Holy Scripture to be most necessary;(5) those former ways of God's revealing His will unto His people being now ceased.(6)

 

[Sola Gratia]

The Divines were holy men that spent more time in prayer than actual work .

It is a theological work as opposed to the Belgian Confession which has a more prayerful approach .

This is a good idea

Thanks

 

[Irishcat922]

First Question, can man be saved without the Scriptures?

Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of His will, which is necessary unto salvation.

 

[johnny_redeemed]

First Question, can man be saved without the Scriptures?

Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of His will, which is necessary unto salvation.

I think you need the Bible or the preached word from the Bible in order to be saved. In other words you need special revilation to be saved.

 

[Irishcat922]

What about all the testimonies you hear of people from Hindu or Muslim lands who attribute their salvation to some sort of vision or revelation of Jesus. I bring this up because I heard a testimony yesterday of a Hindu man who claimed to have a vision of Angels and Jesus and said that is why he is now a Christian.
I don't agree with those type of things just interested in some input. I personally don't think the Scriptures nor the confessions back these kind of experiences.

 

[rmwilliamsll]

First Question, can man be saved without the Scriptures?

Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of His will, which is necessary unto salvation.

I think the most fruitful metaphor on this is the two books of God: Scripture the spoken Word and Creation the book of works.

the field that looks at the universe/creation as demonstrative of God's attributes is natural theology. NT has a bad rap in the reformed churches, partly as a reaction to the RCC NT, but mostly (imho) as a way to hold to the absolute necessity of Scripture for the basis of salvation.

what seems to drive NT is the question "are the heathen saved?"

 

[johnny_redeemed]

In Romans 1 Paul tells us that people know God exists based on creation, but that they always, without fail, suppress that true in unrighteousness. So, NT, as you call it (Natural Theology) is enough information to damn a person, but not to save them.