Why do some Christians use the Westminster Confession while others use the Three Forms of Unity?

While the Reformers were united in their commitment to Scripture, their application of the Bible’s theology took on different forms. From one of our Ask Ligonier events, Stephen Nichols surveys the unity and diversity seen in the Reformed confessions of faith.

[aaronhall]

Thank you for your live channel. I'm trying to keep up. Learning so much from RC. He just had a way that makes things stick. Not as formally educated. Even the comments have me googling words. I do appreciate your gentleness brother and would love to be a student at your University if I was 20 years younger.

[ehudsdagger]

Quick clarification on the Baptists and the London Confession. It is true that the Baptists differ on church polity and the sacraments, but their differences arise out of their fundamental difference with respect to the covenant. Chapter 7 of the 2LBC, while sharing much in common with the WCF, differs at a fundamental level, particularly in paragraph 3. Long story short, the Baptists understood covenant theology differently than the Presbyterians, which in turn affected their view of church polity and the sacraments.

[hilarioushen]

I think I’ll stick to the Westminster confession of faith & the shorter & larger catechism. I’ve been taught these great gospel truths contained therein scene I was a child. But I still agree with the three forms of unity as well.

[reformedcatholic]

Those who reject the creeds and confessions go by their own opinions and ideas which soon may lead to heresy.

[AmericanShia]

My favorite Catechism is the Heidelberg and its Particular Baptist revision. However The Westminster Standards and their Particular Baptist equivalent are in my opinion the best Reformed documents. I never used the Savoy Declaration, but from what I know of it, its probably in the same league as the Westminster Standards.

I also love the Augsburg Confession and its apology, as well as the Large and Small Lutheran Catechisms. I'll put the Smalcald Articles in that group as well.

The 39 Articles gets and honorable mention, but the real genius of Cranmer is revising the Daily Office so that the believer in the pew could read the Psalms in a month if they chose, and read through the Bible on the same schedule as the rest of the congregation.

These Ligonier Ministries videos always give edifying information and make one think on the things of God.

[greginfla_]

I wish there was a video explaining what these confessions were…..

[Elconbrioso]

The book - A Body Of Divinity - Contained in sermons upon the Westminster assembly's catechism by Thomas Watson - is brilliant. Being full of Bible texts, it totally lifts the reader while, at the same time, illustrating and informing.

[JohnMoog-ugbk]

Interesting - Dr. Sproul talked a lot more about Luther than about Calvin - did he ever address specifically why he chose Calvinism over Lutheranism?

[denonjoka]

Thanks Stephen Nichols *4 This Powerful, Blessed Definition 4 I Agree That The Presbyterian Form of Confession Is The Best Where The Word of Our Great Almighty God Which Is The Bible Is Very Clear When It Says That "Whoever Confesses The Name of The Lord Will Be Saved" In Romans **10:13* & Be Blessed Stephen Nichols & Lingoiner Ministries So Very Much.🙏🙏🙌🙌🙌🙌🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊

[HouseofChains]

I find it rather funny that those who are against creeds and confessions are the first to tell you why it's wrong... using their own creed and confessions, though they deny it to be so. In order to make sense of anything you need to gather ideas together and form a system of thought to make sense of it - Just like creeds and confessions do.
I was a dispensational Baptist and was taught according to their system of thought. Many modern Evangelicals adhere to many of the same things... Almost like it's a unformed creed that they all believe. Case in point is Dispensationalism; it was created by J Darby in the 1830's and can be argued it's a "manmade" system yet many in the church follow it and call it biblical. What exactly is the difference between me following a creed and you following dispensationalism? I'm not saying both are true, because they cannot be. What I'm saying is that everyone has a creed.

The 3 forms of unity organise biblical truth and keep a person from forming their own "truth" and treating God like a smorgasbord - taking what you want from him. The Belgic Confession itself states it is not above the Bible:

Article 7:
We believe that this Holy Scripture fully contains the will of God and that all that man must believe in order to be saved is sufficiently taught therein.1 The whole manner of worship which God requires of us is written in it at length. It is therefore unlawful for any one, even for an apostle, to teach otherwise than we are now taught in Holy Scripture:2 yes, even if it be an angel from heaven, as the apostle Paul says (Gal 1:8). Since it is forbidden to add to or take away anything from the Word of God (Deut 12:32), 3 it is evident that the doctrine thereof is most perfect and complete in all respects.4

We may not consider any writings of men, however holy these men may have been, of equal value with the divine Scriptures; nor ought we to consider custom, or the great multitude, or antiquity, or succession of times and persons, or councils, decrees or statutes, as of equal value with the truth of God, since the truth is above all;5 for all men are of themselves liars, and are lighter than a breath (Ps 62:9). We therefore reject with all our heart whatever does not agree with this infallible rule, 6 as the apostles have taught us: Test the spirits to see whether they are from God (1 Jn 4:1). Likewise: If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting (2 Jn 1:10).

1 2 Tim 3:16, 17; 1 Pet 1:10-12. 2 1 Cor 15:2; 1 Tim 1:3.
3 Deut 4:2; Prov 30:6; Acts 26:22; 1 Cor 4:6; Rev 22:18, 19. 4 Ps 19:7; Jn 15:15; Acts 18:28; 20:27; Rom 15:4. 5 Mk 7:7-9; Acts 4:19; Col 2:8; 1 Jn 2:19.
6 Deut 4:5, 6; Is 8:20; 1 Cor 3:11; Eph 4:4-6; 2 Thess 2:2; 2 Tim 3:14, 15.

So for those who against creeds and confessions show their hypocrisy and lack of understanding of what a confession and creed is meant to do.

[SpotterVideo]

Why is the term "new covenant" not found in the Westminster Confession of Faith?

New Covenant Whole Gospel:

Let us now share the Old Testament Gospel found below with the whole world. On the road to Emmaus He said the Old Testament is about Him.
He is the very Word of God in John 1:1, 14.
Awaken Church to this truth.

Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Is the most important genealogy in the Bible found in Matthew 1:1 (Gal. 3:16)? Is God's Son the ultimate fulfillment of Israel (John 1:49)? Why has the modern Church done a pitiful job of sharing the Gospel with modern Orthodox Jews? Why would someone tell them they are God's chosen people and then fail to share the Gospel with them? Who is the seed of the woman promised in Genesis 3:15? Who is the "son" in Psalm 2? Who is the "suffering servant" of Isaiah 53? Who would fulfill the New Covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34? Who would fulfill the timeline of Daniel chapter 9 before the second temple was destroyed? Why have we not heard this simple Old Testament Gospel preached on Christian television in the United States on a regular basis?

Once a person comes to understand the New Covenant promised to Israel and Judah in Jeremiah 31:31-34, which is found fulfilled by Christ during the first century in Hebrews 8:6-13, and Hebrews 10:16-18, and specifically applied to the Church in 2 Corinthians 3:6-8, and Hebrews 12:22-24, man-made Bible doctrines fall apart.

Let us now learn to preach the whole Gospel until He comes back. The King of Israel is risen from the dead! (Acts 2:36)

Watch the YouTube video “The New Covenant” by Bob George.

[justinfragoso]

England Ireland Scotland came together to develop one opinion of what scripture is saying. Void of Romanish influence, building off the three forms of unity. Qu: why didn't these unified thoughts of biblical teachings not propagate further in the Protestant world?

[vusimngomezulu]

Which people are preaching the good news of the kingdom around the world to all nations like Jesus christ Mathew 4:23, 24:14, 28:19-20, mark 13:10?i

[Psalm.]

He forgot the 39 Articles of Religion.

[robertvasquez]

Please “when explaining religious Christian History and mans Fallenness, can you please show more Historic clarity.Amen

[garybarnes]

Genuine question - do these documents matter? And if so, why? I have no idea what they are (and - to be honest) have no interest in finding out.

[Packardphaeton]

... What about the "Second Helvetic Confession", possibly written by Heinrich Bullinger, son-in-law of Zwingli. Said confession was highly accepted in Europe. .. I firmly believe that it was Zwingli that had the correct interpretation of the Lord's supper --- not Luther.

[oterosocram]

When you have too much control by men, without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit this is what you get. a ball of mess, that a person seating in the pew in 2023 becomes a church member and then has no clue how it is affecting them.

[christopherskipp]

Confessions are not the Biblical text.

[StarAccount-kmrt]

Calvinism's perverted doctrine of "Predestination" is striking similar if not identical to the Islamic doctrine of Fatalism?
1) The Islamic Surah Ibrahim 14:4 - "And We did not send any messenger except [speaking] in the language of his people to state clearly for them, and ALLAH SENDS ASTRAY(THEREBY) WHOM HE WILLS AND GUIDES WHOM HE WILLS. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise."

2) The Islamic Surah 2:6-7 states, "It is the same to them whether you warn them or do not warn them, they will not believe. ALLAH HAS SET A SEAL ON THEIR HEARTS AND ON THEIR HEARING. AND ON THEIR EYES IS A VEIL; GREAT IS THE CHASTISEMENT THEY INCUR."

3) John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 21, section 5 - "SOME ARE PREORDAINED TO ETERNAL LIFE, OTHERS TO ETERNAL DAMNATION, and accordingly, as each has been created for one or other of those ends, we say that he has been predestined to life or death."

4) "That owing to one man all pass into condemnation who are born of Adam unless they are born again in Christ, even as He has appointed them to be regenerated, before they die in the body, whom He PREDESTINATED TO EVERLASTING LIFE, as the most merciful bestower of grace; while to those whom He HAS PREDESTINATED TO ETERNAL DEATH, He is also the most righteous awarder of punishment not only on account of the sins which they add in the indulgence of their own will, but also because of their original sin, even if, as in the case of infants, they add nothing thereto. Now this is my definite view on that question, so that the hidden things of God may keep their secret, without impairing my own faith." - Augustine, City of God, On the Soul and its Origin, Book 4, Chapter 16.

5) In Islam, in the 2nd stage of "Taqdeer" (fate), it states that "Allah made a divine decree after the creation of Adam. Allah took out all of the progeny of Adam (i.e. all of the humans from the beginning of time until the end of time), and asked them "Am I not your Lord?" and all of the humans responded "We testify that You are our Lord!" THEN ALLAH DECREED TO THEM WHO SHALL GO TO PARADISE AND WHO SHALL GO TO HELL."

6) In Islam, Allah is exalted and pleased as he sends people to hell: this is the fatalistic claim of Islam. Fatalism is a belief that events are fixed in advance for all time in such a manner that human beings are powerless to change them. In this case, Allah will send to heaven whomever he pleases, and send to hell whomever he pleases. ("Unveiling Islam: An Insider’s Look at Muslim Life and Beliefs" pages 31-32, by authors Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2002.)


That is why Satan has raised up such gifted false teachers in our day, that have the power to blind un suspecting Christians. The lazy Christian. The Christian that does not go to the Word and does not "ASK" the Holy Spirit for guidance.
So these wolves in sheep's clothing like, John Piper, John MacArthur, Paul Washer, Lawson, James White, Voddie Baucham, RC Sproul are ravaging the sheep. They are not brothers, they are Satan's finest false teachers.


Truth in Love