Westminster Confession on Natural / general revelation
Objectively clear and sufficient to leave everyone without excuse; the failure is moral suppression, not insufficient evidence — though it cannot itself save
Although the light of nature and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and of His will, which is necessary unto salvation.
THE POSITION
The Confession opens on this question rather than on Scripture, and gives both halves of the stance in one sentence: creation and providence manifest God far enough to leave men inexcusable, and not far enough to save. WCF 21.1 repeats the positive half - 'The light of nature showeth that there is a God' - and WCF 10.4 closes the inclusivist door explicitly, calling it 'very pernicious, and to be detested' to hold that men may be saved by framing their lives according to the light of nature.
19 For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
8 OTHERS HOLD THIS
ABOUT THIS FIGURE
The confessional standard of English-speaking Presbyterianism, completed by the Westminster Assembly in 1646 and adopted with its Scripture proofs. This entry rests on the 1646 text from the manuscript of Cornelius Burges as edited by S. W. Carruthers (1937) for chapters 1-24, and on the 1647 text for chapters 25-33; the Assembly's own proof texts attached to each paragraph supply every reference below.
Cite this page
"Westminster Confession on Natural / general revelation", Examined Doctrine, July 2026 edition, https://examineddoctrine.com/position/westminster/natural-revelation (archived at https://examineddoctrine.com/editions/2026-07/position/westminster/natural-revelation).