Member Reviews

Beloved Christian teacher, R. C. Sproul, is well known for biblical commentary on Reformed theology. In this tome, he expounds on the Westminster Confession of Faith. It is reader friendly and vital to the understanding of Scripture. Highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?

Sproul’s commentary on the Westminster Confession of Faith included in this book is a great posthumous read. I appreciated the detailed explanation of each concept. A great read.

Was this review helpful?

I grew up in church, have read the Bible countless times but have also encountered times when my beliefs were challenged and it left me wondering if what I believe is right and confuse me as to what I believe. This book is inspirational in helping you find your way through those times and help you define and defend what you believe.

Was this review helpful?

As anyone who has read Sproul knows, there is so much depth to his writing. This is not a sit down and plow through type of book by any means. One requires a great deal of time to digest and contemplate before moving on. This is a long read, but well worth the time and intellectual effort.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in return for a fair review.

Was this review helpful?

In line with Sproul traditions covers the subject fully and informstionally; already purchase a copy for my shelf and for two others!

Was this review helpful?

A helpful work from the late RC Sproul for anyone seeking to interact with the Westminster Confession of Faith.

There are a number of these works available by a number of reliable authors at this present time.

This work like others provides a the text of the Confession along with commentary on the text. This particular work has a very thorough line by line commentary on the Confession.

Given that the work is published by a Reformed printing house and from a reliable and well-known Reformed teacher of the Church, this will certainly make it a stand out resource to have.

Was this review helpful?

In this book, the late R.C. Sproul expounds on the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Since this is about the finest distillation of the Reformed faith ever written, Sproul has basically written a new systematic theology from the writings and understandings of the Westminster divines. Sproul is unsurpassed as a writer and teacher that can take quite complicated concepts and make them understandable and practical. Highly recommended!

Was this review helpful?

We have a copy of my husband's grandfather's old catechism. It is written in German. I have only a very cursory ability in the language of our heritage.

Yet, we have kept it.

It sits on our bookcase, alongside others. It seems like a keepsake, an heirloom sorts.

Our grandparents' generation was required to memorize the catechism in order to be baptized. In contrast, I had no memorization or catechism lessons as I was baptized. Now, in my thirties, I find myself wishing that I had a better foundation for what I believe.

I guess that's why I am glad for books...and a love of reading.

The Westminster Confession of Faith was written in 1646 to guide the church, and teach believers the concepts of the Gospel. There is the very full version, and an adapted "shorter catechism" that is basic and simple. As I have been teaching my kids at home, we work through the questions and it is always amazing to see how much they can remember and understand.

In this book by R.C. Sproul, "Truths We Confess," he is essentially writing a commentary on the confession, looking at the different theological truths that we can glean from a Reformed perspective.

As challenging as it can be to read theology, I have found this to be really excellent. Although he was an academic, Sproul has a great ability to relate difficult truths to simple illustrations, which is beneficial especially for me as a regular person. His pastoral voice comes through in his teaching. There are many times that the concepts overlap, so I found the repetition helpful for me, as I visited the topics again.

This is a long read. It may be best to take in chunks. Maybe you want to read it as you study a specific topic throughout Scripture.

However you would best want to use it, there's no doubt that as believers, we are called to continue learning and growing in what we believe about our faith. Theology is a big word that we often want to throw out onto the pastors, leaders or missionaries. Yet, Sproul would say that we are all theologians, and that some are good ones and some are not.

We won't grasp every truth right away, I know I sure haven't! But over time, as we keep learning and studying, these concepts become familiar to us and give us a firm foundation on which we stand.

I think that Grandpa's catechism stays on my shelf to remind me of our heritage of faith, and to remind me to keep building my foundation, and the heritage I am passing on.

How are you building your foundation?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book, and the opportunity to post an honest review.

#TruthsWeConfess #Netgalley #bookreview #bibliophile

Was this review helpful?

Sproul makes Westminster Confession of Faith accessible and easy to understand. This teacher has a way of taking the deeper truths of our faith and explaining them in a way that makes you nod your head. I defintely recommend this resource!

Was this review helpful?

What an excellent resource for every Christian to own and refer to. R.C Sproul is an excellent teacher who clearly teaches the truth of the word of God. Theologically rich and one to own and pass on to future generations.

Was this review helpful?

Truths We Confess: A Systematic Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith is a great volume of rich explanation of the doctrine held for centuries. In the profound way that the gifted R.C. Sproul brought with all of his teachings, the deep truths are presented in an accessible way to the reader, without giving way to simplicity or a watering-down of more complex understandings. R.C. Sproul knew that the mind must be stimulated with the glory of God to be renewed in holiness. This volume will stretch the mind of many, while also edifying the soul of all.

Was this review helpful?

As a homeschooling family who is new to reformed theology and the Westminister confession of faith this book “Truths we Confess” has been a wonderful resource. R.C. Sproul is an amazing teacher who explains things in a way even my children can understand.

Was this review helpful?

The late theologian, R. C. Sprout had the great gift of taking deep theological concepts and presenting them in ways that assist laymen in gaining a clearer understanding. Many topics within the Christian faith have come under discussion over the years. This book takes the 400-year old Westminster Confession, which has been presented as the most precise and accurate summary of Biblical Christianity content, and works to clarify it for the reader. However, this book is not one to be read through quickly. Instead, the reader should take time to digest the concepts presented for each subject. The benefit of developing a better understanding may prove to be life-changing.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by the publisher and Net Galley. However, the thoughts expressed are totally my own.

Was this review helpful?

We homeschool and I am learning the Westminster Shorter Catechism with my children. I did not grow up learning it. This book gave me so much more detail on the Confession of Faith in a way that was so easy to understand. Sproul was one of t he very best at this!

Was this review helpful?

There are many confessions of faith that Christians have held on to for generations. We have the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, and the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. One popular confession which those in the Presbyterian church hold on to the Westminster Confession of faith. There are some Baptists that have loved this confession but disagree with some of it. Probably the biggest disagreement in this confession for Baptists is on the area of Baptism.

R.C. Sproul wrote a book a few years ago that does an exposition of the Westminster Confession to help his readers understand what this confession teaches through the lens of Scripture. The book is titled, Truths We Confess, which was originally three volumes but has been revised into one single volumes. Sproul grows through each chapter and paragraph of the confession to show the reader why we believe what we believe the confession states. The confession addresses Scripture, Creation, the Trinity, Justification, and many more doctrinal beliefs.

As a Baptist, I know where I stand on the issue of Baptism which Sproul does address in this book because that is what the confession addresses. The Confession states that children of believers are to be baptized. Of course Baptists are not going to agree on this issue. While this book is good for Presbyterians and any believer that holds to this Westminster, it is also good for Baptists to read to understand more about the faith we believe.

Was this review helpful?

This huge book (Amazon lists it at 720 pages) comprises R C Sproul's line by line exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith. It's effectively a Systematic Theology and in line with many of Sproul's other books renders sometimes complex theological topics understandable whether you're a seasoned academic or a theological beginner so to speak. It is deep but doesn't make you feel like you're sinking in quicksand and Sproul's passion and enthusiasm for theology shines through. Personally it's the kind of book I'd dip into for reference rather than aim to read through more systematically but whichever way you read it you will benefit. For anyone interested in Reformed Theology this may well become a must have book. R C Sproul entered heaven in December 2014 and his friend and colleague Sinclair Ferguson's Foreward is worth reading itself. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley & Reformed Trust Publishing for ARC.

Was this review helpful?