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. 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 hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty, that it is neither forced, nor by any absolute necessity of nature determined to good or evil.
Scripture proofs: Matt. 17:12; Jas. 1:14; Deut. 30:19.
2. Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do that which was good, and well pleasing to God; but yet mutably, so that he might fall from it.
Scripture proofs: Eccl. 7:29; Gen. 1:26; Gen. 2:16-17; Gen. 3:6.
3. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation: so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.
Scripture proofs: Rom. 5:6; Rom. 8:7; John 15:5; Rom. 3:10, 12; Eph. 2:1, 5; Col. 2:13; John 6:44, 65; Eph. 2:2-5; 1 Cor. 2:14; Titus 3:3-5.
4. When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, He freeth him from his natural bondage under sin; and, by His grace alone, enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so, as that by reason of his remaining corruption, he doth not perfectly, nor only, will that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil.
Scripture proofs: Col. 1:13; John 8:34, 36; Phil. 2:13; Rom. 6:18, 22; Gal. 5:17; Rom. 7:15, 18-19, 21, 23.
5. The will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to good alone, in the state of glory only.
Scripture proofs: Eph. 4:13; Heb. 12:23; 1 John 3:2; Jude 24.
Words to know
- Will
- Our ability to desire and choose.
- Conversion
- God’s turning a sinner to himself in repentance and faith.
WCF 9.1 · We make willing choices
God created people with wills that make real choices. We are not forced against our wills, and being human does not by itself mean we must choose good or evil. The condition of our hearts matters, as the following paragraphs explain.
Matthew 17:12; James 1:14; Deuteronomy 30:19.
Why are we responsible for choices we willingly make?
WCF 9.2 · Adam could obey
Before the fall, Adam was free and able to choose what pleased God. He was not yet fixed forever in goodness, however, and could turn away. He chose disobedience.
Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:16-17.
How was Adam’s condition different from ours after the fall?
WCF 9.3 · We cannot save ourselves
After the fall, sinners cannot turn themselves to God or prepare their own hearts for salvation by their own strength. Spiritually dead hearts resist him. This does not remove our responsibility; it shows why we need his life-giving grace.
Romans 5:6; Romans 8:7; John 15:5.
Why is salvation more than trying harder?
WCF 9.4 · Grace sets us free to obey
When God converts someone, he frees them from sin’s rule and enables them to choose and do spiritual good. They obey willingly because of his grace. Sin still remains during this life, so Christians also make wrong choices and need continuing help.
Colossians 1:13; John 8:34; Philippians 2:13.
Why can Christians truly obey and still need repentance?
WCF 9.5 · Perfect freedom in glory
Only in glory will God’s people be perfectly and permanently willing to do good alone. They will no longer want to sin. Their freedom will be complete, rather than a never-ending struggle with evil.
Ephesians 4:13; Hebrews 12:23; 1 John 3:2.
What will be different about our desires in glory?
1. We reject the teaching that the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration is dependent upon the exercise of man’s free will.
Words to know
- Will
- Our ability to desire and choose.
- Conversion
- God’s turning a sinner to himself in repentance and faith.
- Rejects
- Says that a teaching is wrong and must not be accepted.
Testimony 9.1
The Testimony rejects making the Spirit’s work of giving new spiritual life depend on a person first choosing it by free will.
Read original point 1 and its Scripture proofs →Source: The Constitution of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, updated 2026, A-35.