Category: Netherlands Confession (Long Lessons)

I. Church government. A. As such. 1. The church is “governed by that spiritual polity” of Christ given in the Bible. a. The church is not an ungovernable and ungoverned body. b. But its government is based upon the Word of God. 2. Specifically, this spiritual polity includes: a. Christ as the King and Head…

I. The officebearcrs chosen: A. How these are chosen. 1. The article implies opposition to the Hierarchical system of Rome. a. Romish church rules from top down with the pope as supreme authority. b. Then officebearers are appointed by higher authority and imposed upon congregations. 2. The Confession suggests what is the proper and Reformed…

I. Church Ordinances. A. Those given in Scripture. 1. These involve many spiritual relationships. a. Concerning the means of grace: preaching and sacranents. b. Concerning officebearers: who they can be; requirements for then. c. Concerning discipline: Matt. 16:19; 18:18. d. Concerning proper conversation and walk. 2. But Scripture does not present all the details of…

I. The sacraments: A. As such. 1. These are “means of grace.” a. Means are things taken from the world about us and used to serve a definite end. b. Here: Physical things are appropriately chosen to reveal spiritual reality. 1) These physical means are necessary for the life of the Christian. 2) But: these…

Introduction: there have been various views of the Lord’s Supper. A. The Roman Catholic view: Transubstantiation. 1. This teaches that the bread and wine change into the body and blood of Christ when the priest speaks the word of consecration. 2. It is based upon John 6 and the words of institution: “This is my…