Summary of Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 21 (Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day), framed clearly and pastorally, while remaining faithful to the text and its theological weight:
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God Alone Determines How He Is to Be Worshiped
The light of nature testifies that God exists, reigns sovereignly, and is worthy of reverent devotion with our whole being. Yet acceptable worship is not left to human creativity or spiritual impulse; it is instituted by God Himself and bounded by His revealed will in Scripture. True worship rejects human inventions, visible representations, and any practice not prescribed by God’s Word.
Religious worship belongs exclusively to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. No angels, saints, or created beings are to receive worship. Since the fall, worship cannot occur apart from mediation, and Christ alone is the sole and sufficient Mediator between God and humanity.
Prayer, accompanied by thanksgiving, is required of all people. Acceptable prayer is offered in Christ’s name, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and aligned with God’s will. It must be marked by understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance, and when spoken aloud, should be in a language understood by the hearers.
Prayer is to be made for lawful matters and for all sorts of living people, including future generations. Scripture does not authorize prayer for the dead, nor for those who are known to have committed the sin unto death, underscoring that prayer must submit to God’s revealed purposes.
The ordinary elements of worship include reverent reading of Scripture, faithful preaching, attentive and obedient hearing of the Word, singing psalms with heartfelt grace, and the proper administration and reception of the sacraments. In addition, God appoints oaths, vows, fasts, and special thanksgivings for appropriate times, all to be practiced reverently.
Under the gospel, worship is not made more acceptable by any particular location. God is to be worshiped everywhere in spirit and truth—privately, within families, and personally in secret—yet public worship holds special importance and must not be neglected when God calls His people together.
By both natural law and explicit divine command, God has set apart one day in seven for holy rest and worship. Originally observed on the last day of the week, the Sabbath was changed at Christ’s resurrection to the first day—the Lord’s Day—which remains the Christian Sabbath until the end of the world.
The Lord’s Day is sanctified by thoughtful preparation, rest from ordinary work and recreations, and wholehearted engagement in public and private worship. Works of necessity and mercy are not excluded but embraced, reflecting the Sabbath’s purpose as a gift for spiritual renewal and loving obedience. -
Worship Is Due to the Triune God Alone, Through Christ Alone
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Prayer Is Central and Must Be God-Centered and God-Shaped
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Prayer Has God-Given Boundaries
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God Ordains Ordinary Means of Worship
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Worship Is Not Restricted by Place but Is Essential in All Spheres of Life
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God Has Appointed a Perpetual Sabbath
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The Sabbath Is to Be Joyfully and Intentionally Kept Holy
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