Plain-language reading guide
READING HELP
Read this chapter alongside the Confession chapter on the same subject. The Testimony states what the church teaches, applies that teaching, and identifies views it rejects. Read each statement with its Scripture proofs and the surrounding paragraphs.
To find explicit rejections in this chapter, go to point 11. Read each full point to see exactly which teaching is rejected.
This reading guide is separate from the official text below.
Read the official text, or choose a simpler explanation to explore together.
Westminster Confession
1. The light of nature showeth that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all, is good, and doth good unto all, and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the might. But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by Himself, and so limited by His own revealed will, that He may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the holy Scripture.
Scripture proofs: Rom. 1:20; Acts 17:24; Ps. 119:68; Jer. 10:7; Ps. 31:23; Ps. 18:3; Rom. 10:12; Ps. 62:8; Josh. 24:14; Mark 12:33; Deut. 12: 32; Matt. 15:9; Acts 17:25; Matt. 4:9-10; Deut. 4:15-20; Ex. 20:4-6; Col. 2:23.
2. Religious worship is to be given to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and to Him alone; not to angels, saints, or any other creature: and since the fall, not without a Mediator; nor in the mediation of any other but of Christ alone.
Scripture proofs: Matt. 4:10 with John 5:23 and 2 Cor. 13:14; Col. 2:18; Rev. 19:10; Rom. 1: 25; John 14:6; 1 Tim. 2:5; Eph. 2:18; Col. 3:17.
3. 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.
Scripture proofs: Phil. 4:6; Ps. 65:2; John 14:13-14; 1 Pet. 2:5; Rom. 8:26; 1 John 5:14; Ps. 47:7; Eccl. 5:1-2; Heb. 12:28; Gen. 18: 27; Jas. 5:16; Jas. 1:6-7; Mark 11:24; Matt. 6:12, 14-15; Col. 4:2; Eph. 6:18; 1 Cor. 14:14.
4. Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter: but not for the dead, nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.
Scripture proofs: 1 John 5:14; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; John 17: 20; 2 Sam. 7:29; Ruth 4:12; 2 Sam. 12: 21-23 with Luke 16:25-26; Rev. 14:13; 1 John 5:16.
5. The reading of the Scriptures with godly fear; the sound preaching and conscionable hearing of the Word, in obedience unto God, with understanding, faith, reverence; singing of psalms with grace in the heart; as also, the due administration and worthy receiving of the sacraments instituted by Christ; are all parts of the ordinary religious worship of God: beside religious oaths, vows, solemn fastings, and thanksgivings, upon special occasions, which are, in their several times and seasons, to be used in a holy and religious manner.
Scripture proofs: Acts 15:21; Rev. 1:3; 2 Tim. 4:2; Jas. 1: 22; Acts 10:33; Matt. 13:19; Heb. 4:2; Isa. 66:2; Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19; Jas. 5: 13; Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:23-29; Acts 2:42; Deut. 6:13 with Neh. 10:29; Isa. 19:21 with Eccl. 5:4-5; Joel 2:12; Esther 4:16; Matt. 9:15; 1 Cor. 7:5; Ps. 107; Esther 9:22; Heb. 12:28.
6. Neither prayer, nor any other part of religious worship, is now under the Gospel either tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed: but God is to be worshipped everywhere, in spirit and truth; as in private families daily, and in secret each one by himself; so, more solemnly, in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly or wilfully to be neglected, or forsaken, when God, by His Word or providence, calleth thereunto.
Scripture proofs: John 4:21; Mal. 1:11; 1 Tim. 2:8; John 4:23-24; Jer. 10:25; Deut. 6:6-7; Job 1: 5; 2 Sam. 6:18, 20; 1 Pet. 3:7; Acts 10:2; Matt. 6:11; Matt. 6:6; Eph. 6:18; Isa. 56:6-7; Heb. 10:25; Prov. 1:20-21, 24; Prov. 8:34; Acts 13:42; Luke 4:16; Acts 2:42.
7. As it is the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in His Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages, He hath particularly appointed one day in seven, for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto Him: which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and, from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week, which, in Scripture, is called the Lord’s Day, and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath.
Scripture proofs: Ex. 20:8, 10-11; Isa. 56:2, 4, 6-7; Gen. 2:2-3; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Acts 20:7; Rev. 1: 10; Ex. 20:8, 10 with Matt. 5:17-18.
8. This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest, all the day, from their own works, words, and thoughts about their worldly employments, and recreations, but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of His worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.
Scripture proofs: Ex. 20:8; Ex. 16:23, 25-26, 29-30; Ex. 31:15-17; Isa. 58:13; Neh. 13:15-19, 21-22; Isa. 58:13; Matt. 12:1-13.
Words to know
- Worship
- Giving God the honor, love, praise, and service he requires.
- Sabbath
- A day set apart to God for holy rest, worship, and duties of necessity and mercy.
- Fasting
- Voluntarily going without food for a time while seeking God in prayer and repentance.
WCF 21.1 · God directs our worship
Because God is our good and sovereign Lord, we should love, trust, praise, and serve him wholeheartedly. He tells us how to worship in Scripture. We must not invent worship from our imaginations, follow Satan’s suggestions, or worship God through visible representations. Acceptable worship follows his revealed will.
Romans 1:20; Acts 17:24; Psalm 119:68.
Who should decide how God is worshipped?
WCF 21.2 · Worship God alone
Worship belongs only to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We must not worship angels, departed believers, or any created thing. Since the fall, we approach God through a mediator, and that mediator is Jesus Christ alone.
Matthew 4:10; John 5:23; 2 Corinthians 13:14.
Why do we pray through Christ rather than through an angel or saint?
WCF 21.3 · Pray with understanding and trust
God requires prayer with thanksgiving. We pray in Jesus’ name, with the Spirit’s help, according to God’s will. Prayer should be thoughtful, respectful, humble, earnest, trusting, loving, and persistent. Spoken prayer should use language people understand. These are attitudes of dependence, not a formula that earns an answer.
Philippians 4:6; Psalm 65:2; John 14:13-14.
What does praying in Jesus’ name mean about our access to God?
WCF 21.4 · Who and what should we pray for?
We should ask for things consistent with God’s will and pray for all kinds of living people and future generations. We do not pray for the dead. The Confession also excludes those known to have committed the sin unto death, a serious final rejection of God’s saving testimony. It does not ask us to guess at hidden hearts.
1 John 5:14; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; John 17:20.
Why should we pray for many kinds of people?
WCF 21.5 · What belongs in worship?
Regular worship includes reading Scripture, preaching and listening faithfully, singing psalms from the heart, and rightly administering and receiving the sacraments. Special occasions may also include religious oaths, vows, fasting, and thanksgiving. All should be done reverently and according to God’s Word.
Acts 15:21; Revelation 1:3; 2 Timothy 4:2.
How can listening to a sermon be an act of worship?
WCF 21.6 · Worship in every place
No location makes prayer automatically more acceptable. God should be worshipped everywhere in spirit and truth: privately, daily with our families, and together in public worship. We must not carelessly or deliberately neglect church gatherings when God calls us to them. Meeting together matters even though God hears us anywhere.
John 4:21; Malachi 1:11; 1 Timothy 2:8.
Why gather for worship if God hears prayer everywhere?
WCF 21.7 · The Lord’s Day
God requires people in every age to set apart one day in seven for him. From creation until Christ’s resurrection it was the last day of the week. Since the resurrection it is the first day, Sunday, called the Lord’s Day. This is the Christian Sabbath until the end of the world.
Exodus 20:8; Isaiah 56:2; Genesis 2:2-3.
Why does the church set apart Sunday?
WCF 21.8 · A day for worship, rest, and mercy
We should prepare ahead for the Lord’s Day and rest from ordinary work and worldly recreation, including thoughts and conversation about them. The day is for public and private worship, along with necessary tasks and acts of mercy. Helping someone in real need fits the day’s purpose. It is not merely an empty day with nothing to do.
Exodus 20:8; Exodus 16:23; Exodus 31:15-17.
How can preparing on Saturday help your Sunday worship?
1. All people are required to worship the true God, in a scriptural manner, with sincerity of heart. Sincerity cannot make unscriptural worship acceptable to God. Proper worship is to be conducted in an orderly manner. The tendency to emphasize ritual, liturgy and ceremony is contrary to the Scriptures. Acts 24:16; John 16:2; Isa. 1:11-15; John 4:24; Heb. 10:19-22.
2. Worship is to be offered only in accordance with God’s appointment, and in harmony with the scriptural principle that whatever is not commanded in the worship of God, by precept or example, is forbidden. Lev. 10:1-3; 2 Sam. 6:1-11; Matt. 15: 8-9.
3. The use of pictures or images of Jesus in worship, or as aids to devotion, is unscriptural. The Scriptures do not provide a sufficient description of His physical appearance to picture Him. The work of artists should not be received as accurate representations of His Person. Ex. 20:4-5.
4. Public prayer is to accompany the reading and preaching of the Word. Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 14:13-19.
5. Singing God’s praise is part of public worship in which the whole congregation should join. The Book of Psalms, consisting of inspired psalms, hymns and songs, is the divinely authorized manual of praise. The use of other songs in worship is not authorized in the Scriptures. The Greek words in the New Testament which are translated “psalm,” “hymn” and “song” all appear in the Septuagint (Greek) version of the Book of Psalms. Ps. 95:2; Ps. 40:3, (4); Ps. 96:1; Col. 3: 16; Eph. 5:19; Mark 14:26; 1 Cor 14: 26; Jas. 5:13.
6. The Psalms are to be sung without the accompaniment of instruments, which are not part of the New Testament pattern of worship. Musical instruments were commanded for use with the offering of sacrifices in the Old Testament temple worship. The death of Christ being the perfect and final sacrifice brought an end to this way of worship. There is neither command for nor example of the use of musical instruments in the words or practice of Christ and the apostles. The command of the New Testament is to offer the sacrifice of praise—the fruit of our lips. Num. 10:10; 2 Chron. 29:25-30; Heb. 9:12; Heb. 13:15.
7. Religious fasting is an ordinance of God in which the believer voluntarily abstains from food for a season for the purpose of seeking the will of God, strength for service or deeper spirituality. It should be accompanied by meditation, self-examination, humiliation before God, confession of sin, repentance and renewed dedication to a life of obedience. Ex. 34:28; 1 Kings 19:8; Dan. 10:2-3; Joel 1:14; Joel 2:12-13, 15; Matt. 4:2; Matt. 6:16-18; Mark 9:29; Acts 13:2-3.
8. The presentation of tithes and offerings is warranted as part of worship. 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Mal. 3:10; 1 Chron. 29: 6-13; Ex. 23:15.
9. Heads of families are responsible for leadership in family worship. Gen. 18:19; Eph. 6:4.
10. Worship in small groups is also encouraged by the Scripture. Acts 5:42; Acts 12:12.
11. We reject the teaching that the Fourth Commandment is no longer binding under the New Testament.
12. God promises rich blessings for keeping the Lord’s Day holy. Isa. 56:2-7; Isa. 58:13-14; Mark 2:27.
Words to know
- Worship
- Giving God the honor, love, praise, and service he requires.
- Sabbath
- A day set apart to God for holy rest, worship, and duties of necessity and mercy.
- Fasting
- Voluntarily going without food for a time while seeking God in prayer and repentance.
- Rejects
- Says that a teaching is wrong and must not be accepted.
- Tithe
- A tenth; the share God’s people were commanded to give under the Old Testament law.
- Repentance
- Turning from sin to God with sorrow for sin and a desire to obey him.
Testimony 21.1
Worship should be sincere, orderly, and consistent with Scripture. Sincerity does not justify unbiblical practices or an excessive emphasis on ritual.
Read original point 1 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 21.2
In worship, we should include only what God authorizes by biblical command or example. This explains the rule often called the regulative principle of worship.
Read original point 2 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 21.3
The Testimony rejects using pictures of Jesus in worship or as devotional aids. Scripture gives no adequate description from which to make an accurate portrait of him.
Read original point 3 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 21.4
Public prayer should accompany Scripture reading and preaching.
Read original point 4 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 21.5
The whole congregation should sing God’s praise from the Book of Psalms. The Testimony says other songs are not authorized for worship.
Read original point 5 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 21.6
Psalms should be sung without instruments. The Testimony connects the temple’s instrumental worship with sacrifices fulfilled by Christ, and finds no New Testament authorization to continue it.
Read original point 6 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 21.7
Fasting means voluntarily going without food for a time to seek God, together with prayerful reflection, repentance, and renewed obedience.
Read original point 7 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 21.8
Giving tithes and offerings is an authorized part of worship.
Read original point 8 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 21.9
Heads of households should lead their families in worship.
Read original point 9 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 21.10
Scripture also encourages believers to worship together in small groups.
Read original point 10 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 21.11
The Testimony rejects the idea that the Fourth Commandment no longer applies under the New Testament.
Read original point 11 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 21.12
God promises blessing to those who keep the Lord’s Day holy.
Read original point 12 and its Scripture proofs →Source: The Constitution of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, updated 2026, A-61, A-62, A-63, A-64, A-65.