The Bible Alone

The Confessional Beliefs of Grace Chapel

The Scriptures alone are sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary to salvation. It pleased the Lord, to reveal himself and to declare his will to his Church through the written word. Afterwards, to better preserve and propagate the truth, and for a sure establishment and comfort for the Church against both sinful men and the malice of Satan, God committed the Scriptures in writing for us. This makes the holy Scripture to be most necessary for the church. The church, then, through holding to the word of God, confesses the truth of the word in written statements of faith that declare what their understanding of the word means. This is called a confession. Grace Chapel holds to two historic confessional standards that explain what they believe the word of God teaches.

Our Two Confessional Standards

The 1618-19 Canons of the Synod of Dordt

Formally Titled, “The Decision of the Synod of Dordt on the Five Main Points of Doctrine in Dispute in the Netherlands.” This is one of the best orthodox confessions available on the doctrines of grace through Jesus Christ. This translation of the Canons is based on the only extant Latin manuscript among those signed at the Synod of Dordt.

The Canons of the Synod of Dordt

The First Main Point: Salvation and Decree
Rejection of Errors
The Second Main Point: Christ’s Death and Human Redemption
Rejection of Errors
The Third and Fourth Main Points: Sin and Corruption
Rejection of Errors
The Fifth Main Point: Perseverance of the Saints
Rejection of Errors
Conclusion to the Canons

The 1647 Westminster Standards

These documents (complete documents here) come from the original text of 1646, from the manuscript of Cornelius Burgess, Assessor to the Westminster Assembly, with the Assembly’s proof texts, as published in the modern critical edition of 1937 by S. W. Carruthers.

A list of the Members of the Westminster Assembly along with their writings: a bibliography of the Westminster Divines.

The Solemn League & Covenant (1643)
The Shorter Catechism
The Larger Catechism
Directory for Publick Worship
Directory for Private (Family) Worship
Form of Presbyterian Church Government
The Sum of Saving Knowledge
Warrants to Believe

Introduction to the Confession, by Thomas Manton
To the Christian Reader

(1647) Westminster Confession of Faith
Chapter I – Of the Holy Scripture
Chapter II – Of God, and of the Holy Trinity
Chapter III – Of God’s Eternal Decree
Chapter IV – Of Creation
Chapter V – Of Providence
Chapter VI – Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof
Chapter VII – Of God’s Covenant with Man
Chapter VIII – Of Christ the Mediator
Chapter IX – Of Free Will
Chapter X – Of Effectual Calling
Chapter XI – Of Justification
Chapter XII – Of Adoption
Chapter XIII – Of Sanctification
Chapter XIV – Of Saving Faith
Chapter XV – Of Repentance unto Life
Chapter XVI – Of Good Works
Chapter XVII – Of the Perseverance of the Saints
Chapter XVIII – Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
Chapter XIX – Of the Law of God
Chapter XX – Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience
Chapter XXI – Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day
Chapter XXII – Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
Chapter XXIII – Of the Civil Magistrate
Chapter XXIV – Of Marriage and Divorce
Chapter XXV – Of the Church
Chapter XXVI – Of the Communion of Saints
Chapter XXVII – Of the Sacraments
Chapter XXVIII – Of Baptism
Chapter XXIX – Of the Lord’s Supper
Chapter XXX – Of Church Censures
Chapter XXXI – Of Synods and Councils
Chapter XXXII – Of the State of Men after Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead
Chapter XXXIII – Of the Last Judgment

Index to the Westminster Standards