Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 8 Article 6

How much are the stories of witchcraft real?

The sermon explores the theological continuity of salvation across time, affirming that the redemptive benefits of Christ's work were spiritually available to believers in every age through faith in God's promises, types, and sacrifices, even before His incarnation. It emphasizes that faith—not chronological proximity to Christ—unites believers across history, grounding salvation in God's unchanging character and covenant faithfulness. The second part examines 1 Samuel 28, where King Saul, in desperation, consults a medium to summon the dead prophet Samuel, revealing the real and active presence of demonic forces in the world, which the Bible portrays as deceptive, dangerous, and contrary to God's will. The passage warns against seeking spiritual power through occultic means, contrasting the counterfeit power of demons with the true, ordinary means of grace—Scripture, prayer, and obedience—through which God reveals His truth and sustains His people. Ultimately, the sermon calls believers to trust in God's revealed Word, reject the allure of spiritual shortcuts, and remain vigilant against the pervasive, deceptive work of evil, knowing that God's power is supreme and sufficient.