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 1, point 3. 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. God from all eternity did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass: yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.
Scripture proofs: Eph. 1:11; Rom. 11:33; Heb. 6:17; Rom. 9:15, 18; Jas. 1:13, 17; 1 John 1:5; Acts 2:23; Matt. 17:12; Acts 4:27-28; John 19:11; Prov. 16:33.
2. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions, yet hath He not decreed anything because He foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.
Scripture proofs: Acts 15:18; 1 Sam. 23:11-12; Matt. 11: 21, 23; Rom. 9:11, 13, 16, 18.
3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others fore-ordained to everlasting death.
Scripture proofs: 1 Tim. 5:21; Matt. 25:41; Rom. 9:22-23; Eph. 1:5-6; Prov. 16:4.
4. These angels and men, thus predestinated and fore-ordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number is so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.
Scripture proofs: 2 Tim. 2:19; John 13:18.
5. Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen, in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him thereunto: and all to the praise of His glorious grace.
Scripture proofs: Eph. 1:4, 9, 11; Rom. 8:30; 2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Thess. 5:9; Rom. 9:11, 13, 16; Eph. 1:4, 9; Eph. 1:6, 12.
6. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so hath He, by the eternal and most free purpose of His will, foreordained all the means thereunto. Wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ by His Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by His power through faith unto salvation. Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
Scripture proofs: 1 Pet. 1:2; Eph. 1:4-5; Eph. 2:10; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Thess. 5:9-10; Titus 2:14; Rom. 8:30; Eph. 1:5; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:5; John 17:9; Rom. 8:28-39; John 6:64-65; John 10:26; John 8:47; 1 John 2:19.
7. The rest of mankind God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of His own will, whereby He extendeth or withholdeth mercy, as He pleaseth, for the glory of His sovereign power over His creatures, to pass by; and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath, for their sin, to the praise of His glorious justice.
Scripture proofs: Matt. 11:25-26; Rom. 9:17-18, 21-22; 2 Tim. 2:19-20; Jude 1:4; 1 Pet. 2:8.
8. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men attending the will of God revealed in His Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election. So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the Gospel.
Scripture proofs: Rom. 9:20; Rom. 11:33; Deut. 29:29; 2 Pet. 1:10; Eph. 1:6; Rom. 11:33; Rom. 11:5-6, 20; 2 Pet. 1:10; Rom. 8:33; Luke 10:20.
Words to know
- Decree
- God’s wise, settled plan for what happens.
- Election
- God’s gracious choice of people to save in Christ.
- Predestination
- God’s appointing a person’s final destiny beforehand.
WCF 3.1 · God’s plan includes everything
Before anything existed, God wisely and freely planned all that happens. His plan never changes. This does not make him the source of sin, force people against their wills, or remove real causes and choices. People act willingly and remain responsible. God’s rule and our real decisions belong together, even when we cannot fully explain how.
Ephesians 1:11; Romans 11:33; Hebrews 6:17.
Does God’s plan remove our responsibility for our choices?
WCF 3.2 · More than looking into the future
God knows everything that could happen. But he did not make his plan by looking ahead to see what people would do and then following their lead. What happens rests on his wise purpose.
Acts 15:18; 1 Samuel 23:11-12; Matthew 11:21.
Does God’s plan depend on our giving him information?
WCF 3.3 · God’s eternal purpose
God’s plan includes the eternal destiny of people and angels. Some are appointed to everlasting life, while others are appointed to everlasting judgment. This displays both his grace and his justice. These are serious truths that we should learn with humility.
1 Timothy 5:21; Matthew 25:41; Romans 9:22-23.
What does salvation show about God, and what does judgment show?
WCF 3.4 · God knows his people
God has chosen particular people and angels, rather than an uncertain group. His purpose is settled: the number he has appointed does not grow or shrink. He knows exactly who belongs to him.
2 Timothy 2:19; John 13:18.
Why can God’s people trust that he knows them?
WCF 3.5 · Chosen by grace
Before the world began, God chose his people in Christ because of his free love and grace. He did not choose them because he foresaw that they would believe, do good works, or remain faithful. Their salvation gives the praise to him.
Ephesians 1:4; Romans 8:30; 2 Timothy 1:9.
Why does being chosen by grace leave no room for boasting?
WCF 3.6 · God plans the way as well as the end
God’s plan includes how his chosen people come to salvation. Christ redeems them; the Spirit brings them to faith; God forgives, adopts, and makes them holy. He keeps them until glory. These saving gifts belong to his chosen people. Election does not make faith or the gospel unnecessary: God uses them to carry out his plan.
1 Peter 1:2; Ephesians 1:4-5; Ephesians 2:10.
If God plans salvation, why still preach the gospel?
WCF 3.7 · God’s judgment is just
God is free to give mercy according to his wise purpose. He passes over others and appoints them to judgment for their sins. No one is punished for being innocent. We cannot fully search out his decisions, but his judgment is righteous.
Matthew 11:25-26; Romans 9:17-18; 2 Timothy 2:19-20.
What is the reason sinners deserve judgment?
WCF 3.8 · Learn this with humility
God’s choice of his people is a deep mystery, so we should teach it carefully. We should listen to Scripture, obey the gospel, and find assurance as God’s saving work becomes clear in our lives. This teaching should lead to praise, humility, careful obedience, and comfort, rather than pride or guessing about God’s hidden plans.
Romans 9:20; Romans 11:33; Deuteronomy 29:29.
What attitudes should this teaching produce in us?
1. We reject any teaching which asserts that God has not planned all that comes to pass.
2. It is God’s decree which by itself completely determines the course of history; it is never the course of history which in any way determines or modifies God’s decree.
3. We reject the teaching that God is unjust in choosing some sinners to salvation and leaving others to suffer merited condemnation.
Words to know
- Decree
- God’s wise, settled plan for what happens.
- Election
- God’s gracious choice of people to save in Christ.
- Predestination
- God’s appointing a person’s final destiny beforehand.
- Rejects
- Says that a teaching is wrong and must not be accepted.
Testimony 3.1
The Testimony rejects the idea that anything happens outside God’s plan.
Read original point 1 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 3.2
God’s plan determines history. Events do not force him to revise that plan.
Read original point 2 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 3.3
The Testimony rejects calling God unjust for saving some sinners by grace while leaving others to receive the judgment their sins deserve.
Read original point 3 and its Scripture proofs →Source: The Constitution of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, updated 2026, A-16, A-17, A-18.