Category: Netherlands Confession (Long Lessons)

I. The idea of creeds: A. A definition: Creeds are officially adopted declarations or confessions of a church or group of churches which set forth what such a church believes to be the truth of the Word of God. 1. We speak of these as creeds (from the Latin: credo) to express that this is…

I. A personal confession. A. The Creed presents the Scriptural truths objectively. B. Yet, it remains a personal confession. 1. The emphasis is upon what we all believe (that is, the Church). 2. And: it is set forth as a sincere belief: a. Not mere outward confession. b. But it is both from the mouth…

I. The knowledge of God. A. This article emphasizes the knowledge of God. 1. Belief implies knowledge. 2. Knowledge is to be distinguished from comprehension. a. Comprehension suggests that the mind of man can fully grasp God within the understanding. But: the finite can never comprehend the Infinite. b. Knowledge is the understanding of God…

I. The Revelation through God’s Word. A. By tradition. 1. God revealed Himself in many ways. a. Directly; through dreams, visions, trances; by angels; in signs and wonders. b. Through His Son, Jesus Christ. 2. Nor was all of this revelation recorded. a. More was revealed than was recorded (Jn. 20:30, 31; 21:25). b. Revelation…

I. The canonical books called Scripture. A. As such. 1. Names given to these: a. Holy Scripture (Often: Holy Writ); Scripture means literally: writings; Holy in the sense of Sacred or separate from all other writings. b. Bible–from the Greek and meaning; books. c. Testament (or, covenant): the revelation of the will of God for…

I. The Bible: A. We receive the books of the Bible as truth. 1. Not as a matter of conviction through human reasoning. 2. But this is also by faith. B. We receive ALL these books AND THESE ONLY. 1. This emphasis distinguishes us from others–particularly Rome. a. Rome has accepted as Scripture some of…

I. The Apocryphal Books as such. A. Today we know little about them. 1. Originally were printed in the Bible in smaller print; some pulpit Bibles yet do this. 2. But the contents are rather unknown. B. Meaning of the term: 1. “Apocryphal” means “hidden” or “obscure”. 2. This could be understood in various ways:…

I. The sufficiency of Scripture. A. What this is: 1. Completeness; that which “fully contains the will of God.” a. Reveals not simply the “ethical will” of God–that which speaks of good and evil. b. But God’s “will” in the sense of His Counsel. 1) All that God would have us to Know–particularly about salvation–is…

I. The, “Unity” of the Trinity. A. The term: Trinity. 1. It is not to be found as such in Scripture. 2. It was coined, as far as we know, by Tertullian who died in 220 A.D. 3. The subject was one which was disputed and settled early in the history of the church in…

I. Scriptural proof: A. In the Old Testament. 1. Genesis 1:26, 27 and Genesis 3:22. a. God here speaks to Himself. b. God speaks as One (God said–the word “God” is “Elohim”, a plural word; but the verb is in the singular). c. Yet the pronouns are plural–indicating more than one person. 2. (Not mentioned…