At the heart of the 16th-century Reformation is the doctrine of justification by faith alone. It is commonly referred to as the material cause of the Reformation. With Reformation Day having been last week on October 31st, it is fitting that we address the topic of justification. The core of this doctrine is how a person is made right with God. By faith alone, Sola Fide, means that we bring nothing to our salvation. Our works cannot add to our salvation in any way. But that leaves us with the...

In our last devotional, we explored the profound doctrine of effectual calling, where God irresistibly draws His elect into fellowship with Christ. This divine summons sets the stage for Question 69 of the Westminster Larger Catechism, which shifts our focus to believers' intimate relationship with their Savior. To set the stage, we need to recall the catechism's definition of the invisible church from Question 64: “The invisible church is the whole number of the elect, that have been, are,...

At Weaver Baptist Church, our journey through the Westminster Larger Catechism continues to reveal the depths of God's sovereign grace in salvation. In our previous devotional, we delved into Question 67, unpacking the essence of effectual calling as God's almighty work of salvation, drawing sinners to Christ through His Word and Spirit, enlightening minds, renewing wills, and enabling a free response to His grace. All of this is rooted in His free love for the elect. Now, building directly...