WCF 16.7 WSC 94 (Of Good Works)

Works done by people who have not been spiritually reborn may be the same as those commanded by God and may be of good use to them and to others.23 However, since they do not proceed from a heart purified by faith, 24 are not done in the right way, i.e., in response to God’s word,25 and are not done for the right purpose, the glory of God,26 they are therefore sinful and cannot please God or make a person fit to receive grace from God.27 Nevertheless, it is more sinful and displeasing to God not to do such works than to do them.28

Works done by unregenerate men(spiritually dead and not born of the Holy Spirit), although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands(think 10 commandments); and of good use(not equal to actual good as defined by God) both to themselves and others:[23]

This admits that those without true faith can and actually do perform outward conformity to God’s laws by civic duties.

Even King Ahab of Israel, which OT attests to have have committed more evil than all the wicked kings before him, humbled himself and acted out in repentance.

However, God does not simply look at outward works of men in and of themselves, even though those works may actually align with what God commands (even in the church).

Philippians 1:15–16 “Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.”

yet, because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith(bullet#1);[24]

1 Meaning a heart transformed and renewed by the gift of faith in the promised Messiah.

Since God judges the intentions and motives of the heart, which if not driven by faith in Christ(by renewed spirit), but rather by lack of trust in Christ and trust in something/someone else (ie., man-made Messiah).

Difference between Abel’s sacrifice who gave His first and best by faith (heart of trust and obedience in God and promised Messiah) vs Cain who did not have faith and so God

nor are done in a right manner(bullet#1), according to the Word(bullet#2);[25] nor to a right end, the glory of God(Bullet#3),[26]

1 Manner: motive, standard, purpose/goal… right manner (motive should be God, Standard is God’s, purpose is for the love of God)...

2 According to the Word of God, by which He has expressed Himself, and that is where you learn what God wants you to do. which the unregenerate do not have because that ONLY comes from the Holy Spirit.

3 On the contrary, the unregenerate are haters of God with no genuine respect for God’s Word whether they admit it or not

The fact is that those persons’ most important life is for themselves… not for God. So they never have any intention of seeking the glory of God, but themselves.

they(those works) are therefore sinful and cannot please God(bullet#1), or make a man meet to receive grace from God:[27]

1 that is why those works even though they are outwardly what God commands can never please God.

The unregenerate lack the love of God in their hearts, the direction and conduct towards the Word of God. Whatever advancements they intend to make is not for God but are faithless.

Therefore, you can go through all the motions that the Bible “prescribes”, yet prove that you are not of God, under His saving grace, if you are resting in your own works and there is no true faith in Christ and His perfect, righteous work for all of your sins and lackings according to the Word of God.

and yet, their neglect of them() is more sinful and displeasing unto God().[28]

Meaning just because you are unregenerate does not mean that God’s law does not apply to you for all will be judged. 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

Q 94. What is baptism?

The sacrament of baptism is a washing with water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, which is a sign and seal that we are joined to Christ, that we receive the benefits of the covenant of grace, and that we are engaged to be the Lord’s.

a. Baptism is a sacrament(Bullet#1) wherein the washing with water(bullet#2),

1 sacred command of Christ (Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”) as He also commanded the church to be established in Matthew 16:18 (“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”)

2 symbol of cleansing since Exodus 30:17–21 where God instructed Moses to do for the priests everytime before entering the Tabernacle.

b. in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, doth signify and seal our engrafting into Christ,

the definite article, ‘the’ which precedes each noun in Father, Son, and Holy Ghost signifies each unique and absolute person of the God-head that we profess in Athanasian creed.

Because it is only under the authority of God Himself by which the spiritual baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place, which the water baptism represents externally.

Engrafting: cut off from old branch/sinful flesh nature and joined/enslaved to Christ where He abides in Christ and He in us (John 15:4) Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

c. and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.

Adoption into God’s family to everlasting life by nothing you have done but purely by His grace, so that punishment for our sins are imputed to Christ and His righteous unto us.

Result: … Romans 6:4 “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

The church age is the engagement as we await His return for the wedding banquet: Revelation 19:7–9 “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.””