Category: Netherlands Confession (Outline)

A. History. The great Christological controversies were fought in the early church. 1. There were first of all the Docetists who appeared in the church and denied the human nature of Christ. They said that Christ possessed no real human nature, but only appeared in a human nature for a time. 2. The Arians under…

A. This article, especially in distinction from Article XXI speaks of the atonement of Christ from the point of view of God and His justice and mercy. The following article speaks of this atonement from the viewpoint of Christ and the satisfaction He made. 1. There is first of all the general statement, “God… sent…

A. The main thought of this article is that Christ made satisfaction for the sins of His people as their High Priest. 1. Christ was a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Cf. Heb. 7. a. Melchizedek’s office was unique even in distinction from the office of Aaron. Christ was not a High Priest…

A. Introduction: 1. With this article, the Confession begins to speak of what is usually called “Soteriology”, or “The doctrine of the application of the blessings of salvation”. This subject is treated in Arts. XXII-XXVI. 2. The usual order which we follow is not followed in this Confession. a. Our order is usually Regeneration, Faith,…

A. The relation between this article and the preceding. 1. The heading of the article is somewhat misleading, for the doctrine of justification has already been treated rather extensively in Article XXII. 2. But in Article XXII, the Confession emphasized that this justification could only be appropriated by faith; while in this article, our Fathers…

A. Introduction: 1. The relation between this article and the preceding two articles is to be found in the fact that in the days when this Confession was written, there were questions raised as to the relation between justification and good works. The age old charge that justification by faith resulted in profane Christians was…

A. Introduction. 1. The title of this article is not quite correct. It speaks of the fact that the ceremonial law has been abolished; while the article speaks not only of the ceremonial law, but of the entire law. And, the article does not teach that it has been abolished, but rather that the use…

A. Introduction. 1. This is a rather lengthy article written here as a conclusion of the work of Jesus Christ in salvation. 2. It is primarily directed against the evil practice of Roman Catholocism in praying to saints. 3. It really contains two subjects: a. Christ’s work of intercession as our Mediator. b. Our prayers…

A. Introduction. 1. This article begins a lengthy discussion of that part of dogmatics which is commonly known as Ecclesiology. It extends through Article 36. 2. It is important to note that the doctrine of the church is also an article of faith. This article also emphasizes the fact that we do not discuss the…

A. The main idea of this article is that it is the duty of every one to join himself to the true church. 1. It ought to be noticed first of all that the article speaks of the church as institute. a. This is denied by some who hold that the reference is to the…