To lose this basic context and methodology is to lose something of the richness of the theology itself.  Today we are indebted to those who are calling us back to the roots of our Confession of Faith, which Warfield so aptly described as the “ablest and ripest product of that Great Reformation, which was so fruitful in symbolic literature.”[4]  May we continue to delight ourselves in the Confession of Faith, which is indeed the ripest of Reformation fruit.

Have you ever wondered about the topical and logical order of the Westminster Confession of Faith?  Not all of it; just the ordo salutis.  After chapter nine lays out man’s fourfold state chapter ten begins with what we might think of as a typical ordering of those blessings which accompany a Spirit wrought faith union with Christ.  Chapter ten spells out God’s effectual call which leads to chapter eleven and an admirably described doctrine of justification.  This is followed by adoption in chapter twelve, which is that other legal benefit, with sanctification coming on its heels in chapter thirteen.  But even one with rudimentary theological skills and a good knowledge of the Bible’s basic content will be brought up short by the placement of chapters fourteen and fifteen.  These cover faith and repentance or what is typically called conversion.

Do you see the problem?  One fine and well used commentary on the Confession expresses the difficulty in his comments on chapters fourteen and fifteen,

At this point we depart from the order of the Confession of Faith so that we may discuss conversion in its logical relationship to effectual calling.  Calling becomes effectual when conversion ensues.  Only as conversion takes place is there effected justification, adoption, sanction and perseverance.[1]

This commentator is not looking to find fault with the Confession but instead considers the order of salvation from a logical perspective.  Thus, his method requires him to “move” chapters fourteen and fifteen so that he can deal with their content between chapters ten and eleven.

Read More