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 4, point 6, point 7. 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 distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience unto Him as their Creator, yet they could never have any fruition of Him as their blessedness and reward, but by some voluntary condescension on God’s part, which He hath been pleased to express by way of covenant.
Scripture proofs: Isa. 40:13-17; Job 9:32-33; 1 Sam. 2:25; Ps. 113:5-6; Ps. 100:2-3; Job 22:2-3; Job 35:7-8; Luke 17:10; Acts 17:24-25.
2. The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works, wherein life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience.
Scripture proofs: Gal. 3:12; Rom. 10:5; Rom. 5:12-20; Gen. 2:17; Gal. 3:10.
3. Man by his fall, having made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second, commonly called the covenant of grace; wherein He freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in Him that they may be saved, and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto life His Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe.
Scripture proofs: Gal. 3:21; Rom. 8:3; Rom. 3:20-21; Gen. 3:15; Isa. 42:6; Mark 16:15-16; John 3: 16; Rom. 10:6, 9; Gal. 3:11; Ezek. 36: 26-27; John 6:44-45.
4. This covenant of grace is frequently set forth in Scripture by the name of a Testament, in reference to the death of Jesus Christ the Testator, and to the everlasting inheritance, with all things belonging to it, therein bequeathed.
Scripture proofs: Heb. 9:15-17; Heb. 7:22; Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25.
5. This covenant was differently administered in the time of the law, and in the time of the gospel: under the law, it was administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal lamb, and other types and ordinances delivered to the people of the Jews, all fore-signifying Christ to come: which were, for that time, sufficient and efficacious, through the operation of the Spirit, to instruct and build up the elect in faith in the promised Messiah, by whom they had full remission of sins, and eternal salvation; and is called, the Old Testament.
Scripture proofs: 2 Cor. 3:6-9; Heb. 8––10; Rom. 4:11; Col. 2:11-12; 1 Cor. 5:7; 1 Cor. 10:1-4; Heb. 11:13; John 8:56; Gal. 3:7-9, 14.
6. Under the gospel, when Christ, the substance, was exhibited, the ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed are the preaching of the Word, and the administration of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper: which, though fewer in number, and administered with more simplicity, and less outward glory; yet, in them, it is held forth in more fulness, evidence, and spiritual efficacy, to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles; and is called the New Testament. There are not therefore two covenants of grace, differing in substance, but one and the same, under various dispensations.
Scripture proofs: Col. 2:17; Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23- 25; Heb. 12:22-28; Jer. 31:33-34; Matt. 28:19; Eph. 2:15-19; Luke 22:20; Gal. 3:14, 16; Rom. 3:21-23, 30; Ps. 32:1 with Rom. 4:3, 6, 16-17, 23-24; Heb. 13:8; Acts 15:11.
Words to know
- Covenant
- A solemn relationship established by God, with promises and obligations.
- Grace
- God’s kindness and favor that we do not earn or deserve.
- Administration
- The way God gives his people a covenant’s promises, signs, and practices in a particular age.
WCF 7.1 · God comes near by covenant
God is far greater than his creatures. We owe him obedience, but could never require him to give us fellowship and blessing as a reward. He freely comes near and establishes a covenant relationship with us. This is his kindness, not something we can demand.
Isaiah 40:13-17; Job 9:32-33; 1 Samuel 2:25.
Why is friendship with God a gift?
WCF 7.2 · The covenant of works
In the first covenant, God promised life to Adam and those he represented if he obeyed perfectly and personally. Adam had to keep God’s commands completely. His disobedience broke this covenant, with consequences for his descendants.
Galatians 3:12; Romans 10:5; Romans 5:12-20.
What kind of obedience did the first covenant require?
WCF 7.3 · The covenant of grace
After the fall, we could not gain life by our own perfect obedience. God established the covenant of grace, freely offering sinners salvation through Jesus Christ. He calls us to trust Jesus. He also gives his Spirit to those appointed to life, making them willing and able to believe.
Galatians 3:21; Romans 8:3; Romans 3:20-21.
Is faith earning salvation, or receiving God’s gift in Christ?
WCF 7.4 · An inheritance secured by Christ
Scripture also calls this covenant a testament, a word connected with an inheritance given through a death. Christ’s death secures everlasting life and its blessings for his people. We receive what he has obtained for us.
Hebrews 9:15-17; Hebrews 7:22; Luke 22:20.
Whose death secures our inheritance?
WCF 7.5 · God’s promise before Jesus came
Before Jesus came, God taught his people through promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, Passover, and other signs pointing to Christ. The Spirit used these to build their faith in the promised Savior. They received real forgiveness and salvation through him. These belonged to the Old Testament administration of the covenant of grace.
2 Corinthians 3:6-9; Romans 4:11; Colossians 2:11-12.
Were believers before Jesus saved by a different Savior?
WCF 7.6 · The same covenant, more clearly revealed
Now Christ has come. God gives his covenant blessings through preaching, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. These are simpler outwardly than the older ceremonies, but show salvation more fully and extend to all nations. Old and New Testament believers share one covenant of grace, with different ways of administering it.
Colossians 2:17; Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25.
What changed when Jesus came, and what stayed the same?
1. We reject the teaching that Adam was not a covenant head and representative of all his descendants. We reject the view that Adam’s headship involves any injustice.
2. By this principle of covenant headship the guilt and penalty of sin come upon all men by Adam’s one sin; and by the obedience of Christ, the second covenant head, righteousness and life come upon all men who believe. Rom. 5:12-21.
3. The Covenant of Works has not been revoked. All men remain under its requirement of perfect obedience and will have to give account according to it at the last judgment. In the Covenant of Grace Jesus Christ has fulfilled the requirements of the Covenant of Works for His people. By His death Christ secured the delay of the full penalty of death for sin (the second death, Rev. 20:14-15) for all men. They therefore may enjoy the creation and have some fruitful toil in it for God’s glory, even though they be rebellious against Him. This is usually called common grace. Heb. 12:14; 2 Cor. 5:10, 21; Col. 1:16-20; 1 Cor. 8:6; Gen. 4:20-24; Ps. 76:10.
4. We reject the concept that God extends grace to any man apart from the atoning work of Christ. Isa. 45:1-4 with Rom. 3:21-26; Acts 17:30-31.
5. By the Covenant of Grace, God brings the elect into fellowship with Himself. This fellowship begins in this life when man repents and believes in Jesus Christ; it is a fuller fellowship when at death men depart to be with Christ; and it will be made perfect when believers shall be raised up in glory. 1 Thess. 4:16-17; 1 Cor. 15:52.
6. We reject the teaching that God will reinstate the temple and its rites and ceremonies. Heb. 9:1-10, 28.
7. We reject the teaching that salvation is or has been available in any way other than by the grace offered and confirmed in Christ. Rom. 3:20-26; Acts 4:12.
Words to know
- Covenant
- A solemn relationship established by God, with promises and obligations.
- Grace
- God’s kindness and favor that we do not earn or deserve.
- Administration
- The way God gives his people a covenant’s promises, signs, and practices in a particular age.
- Rejects
- Says that a teaching is wrong and must not be accepted.
- Atoning
- Making peace with God by dealing with sin through Christ’s sacrifice.
- Resurrection
- Being raised bodily from the dead.
Testimony 7.1
Adam acted as the representative of the human family in God’s covenant. The Testimony rejects denying this or calling God unfair for arranging it.
Read original point 1 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 7.2
Adam’s disobedience brings guilt and death to those he represents; Christ’s obedience brings righteousness and life to those who believe in him.
Read original point 2 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 7.3
God still requires perfect obedience. Christ fulfills that requirement for his people, and his death also secures a delay of final judgment and benefits in this life for humanity generally.
Read original point 3 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 7.4
The Testimony rejects separating any of God’s grace to people from Christ’s atoning work.
Read original point 4 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 7.5
God brings his chosen people into fellowship with himself through Christ. That fellowship begins now, deepens after death, and becomes complete at the resurrection.
Read original point 5 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 7.6
The Testimony rejects the teaching that God will restore the temple’s sacrificial rites and ceremonies after Christ has fulfilled them.
Read original point 6 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 7.7
The Testimony rejects any past or present way of salvation apart from God’s grace in Christ.
Read original point 7 and its Scripture proofs →Source: The Constitution of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, updated 2026, A-28, A-29, A-30.