What is the Westminster Confession of Faith?

In this video, I take a quick summary look at the Westminster Confession of Faith.

[angramp]

I'm 39 years old and became a Christian at 20.. I've always gone to a Baptist church. However, I have never had a clear understanding of scripture until about march of this year. The reason was because I happened upon reformed teaching and the confessions and catechisms. I used to constantly wonder of I was a real Christian. Now I have full assurance. The gospel and scripture now make sense. I still go to a Baptist church. But they glean from reformed teachers and are solid on the sovereignty of God. I'm so thankful for the confessions of faith. I finally can understand the bible. I'm still learning and still excited to learn!

[SophieHamilton-de]

Eastern Orthodox Christian here 👋 This was a good, clear and concise explanation. Thank you

[RosewoodGoode]

THIS was verY informative to someone who’s been curious but has never been able to find someone to explain it so simple until now, thus it makes me appreciate creeds and such, and to put them in their proper place. Thank you for this video and I hope our Lord will continue to bless you with love, knowledge, wisdom, grace and understanding.

[joshuahoward]

You sir are a spring of knowledge I love these videos and the confessions and creeds.

[exek]

i bought your book on this & it's part of my studying during the week. Thank you!

[bar]

You're awesome. That was in depth enough to cover questions raised regarding history etc. But brief enough to not rant and get to the point. I wish more videos could find a balance such as this when answering questions.

[jerem]

I went through the apostles creed at my ordination service during my sermon. I’m a Southern Baptist Ordained minister and it was a beautiful addition to my ordination service. I like your hourglass in the background too!

[richardglady]

Wow…that was amazing. I loved the historical overview and the discussion of the Confession itself. Three pages of notes. Thank you.

[mdkutzler]

I will be joining (hopefully but my reservations may be suited better for email form) a PCA church in Greenville, SC when I semi retire in 2026. I am using the time to inform myself about the Reform movement and the PCA in general. I am Lutheran by birth (ELCA) and choice (WELS) so, I really enjoy the content of your videos and have subscribed to the channel and yes, using your link above, I have purchased the Westminster Confession and Hold Fast the Faith. Oh, the church I really want to join in Greenville is Second Presbyterian, pastored by Dr. Richard Phillips so, I will need a good base of knowledge before entering the lions den.

[sandygiacobbe]

I recently attended an OPC Church that stated that it holds to the beliefs that are documented in the Westminster Confession of Faith . At the Sermon I listened too, it was about the Antichrist and the Pastor went on to discuss a single powerful future Antichrist . Yet upon reading the Westminster Confession of faith it is clearly states in chapter 25.6 That the Pope of Rome is the Antichrist and is the man of sin, and son of perdition. Why is this teaching no longer taught ?

[thomasc]

For clarification purposes, you should mention that most US based Presbyterian denominations use various American revisions of WCF. Even PCUSA claims to be faithful to WCF, but it is a modified version of the original. Even OPC doesn't use the original but revised 1788 version. PCA (my denomination) used to be 1788, but not sure if it still does. It no longer states anywhere which revision PCA uses (PCA website needs some serious maintenance).

To be forthright, we should stop referring to American revisions as WCF considering reformed baptist's London Baptist Confession of Faith and Congregationalist's Savoy Declaration are nearly identical with only few verbal alterations. But the changes were significant enough that they changed to a different name to avoid confusions.

Considering that the original WCF was supposed to replace the 39 Articles as the standard confession for the Church of England, it is fitting that American revisions should be called Philadelphia Confession of Faith to be more accurate.

[wemuk]

Matt, he probably ripped it off because no one explained to him that holy ‘catholic’ church means the holy global ‘universal’ church of true believers. And not the ‘holy Catholic’ Church! That catholic is an adjective that means universal. People’s level of competence in English cannot be assumed. The pastor has had to explain that term in a brief one-liner just before each time it is recited altogether. So in some churches in London, they have now replaced the word ‘catholic’ in the creed with - universal.

[GickBert]

Hey Pastor Matt - I am a candidate for licensure/ordination in a PCA presbytery down in Maryland. Growing up, I had little to no exposure to reformed theology or confessions and creeds. I decided to throw caution to the wind and searched for "Westminster Confession of Faith Overview" and your video popped up. I am really grateful for your videos. I am currently studying for my doctrine exam and have been pouring over the WCF/LC/SC. I was thinking of downloading your book on Kindle to help with my studying. Do you have any tips or suggestions for how to prepare for this exam? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[sergiopabon]

Hi. I'm so late to this video. I was raised in a Pentecostal denomination, my grandfather was a pastor. But I've always been critical of the lacking of word teaching, then I noticed it was so shallow. I've been learning a lot and like others here, understanding the Bible better. I have not found a reformed church here is south Florida where I live. Still looking. God bless 🙌

[rosbyduhart]

I have just started doing a study on the confessions. I am also using your book to begin my studies.I would also like to find a source that talks about the history of the people who wrote the confessions. If you know of a more detailed account of the who wrote it that would be helpful to me. Once again your posts are helpful and well thought out. Thank you.

[ChristianTrinity]

Very good. You just earned a new subscriber!

[kennethmacgregor]

Thank you so much for this video. I am new to the Presbyterian faith and this video is helpful. How many versions (revisions) of the Apostles Creed are there? What is the reason some creeds say that Christ went to hell?

[dansecor]

I'm from Boston and ended up for the last about 18 years in Seoul, South Korea (long story). I'm now in the States again and returned to my second childhood home of Daytona Beach, Florida. Over here on International Speedway Boulevard is a Korean Presbyterian Church and I was thinking of attending. I was baptized as a baby in Mass and consider myself a Christian (although not an example of one). I greatly respect the teachings of Christ, but I'm not overly well-versed.

Here's the rub: I seem to want to go there to enlighten myself but also to maintain my Korean language skills. I have zero Korean ancestry but got to know the people there very, VERY well. For the most part they are awesome, although jerks do exist as in any society. Anyway, I mainly get along well with them.

So, Is that selfish for me to attend the church? I'm guessing basically yes, but just being honest. Any thoughts? Also Korean food is really good and I haven't had any in months and maybe they will share some with me. Thanks for your thoughts and I have subscribed (just so you know:)

[richardstalker]

Our Church of Scotland doesn't even affirm the Westminster Confession of Faith anymore... :(

[robwagnon]

Why when it comes to biblical theology is it was like a canvas do so many Christians paint with fine brushes theology such as end time studies dispensationalism indoor speaking in tongues. It was like they would use a fine beautiful brush and make a perfect picture of that theology. However if we are described how salvation is put on Church canvas it is usually put on the course paint roller!