Rev. Gise Van Baren

Category: Netherlands Confession (Outline)

  • Article XXIX – Of the marks of the true Church, and wherein she differs from the false Church

    A. Introduction. 1. This article follows quite naturally from Article XXVIII. If it is the duty of all men to join themselves to the true church, they must be able to distinguish clearly the true church from the false church. This article tells how this may be done. 2. Presupposed in this article is the…

  • Article XXX – Concerning the Government of, and Offices in the Church

    A. Introduction. 1. Articles XXX through XXXII speak of the government of the church before the general subject of the sacraments is treated. 2. Consequently, these articles speak of the institute of the church in distinction from the church as organism, following the emphasis of Articles XXVIII and XXIX. B. The church must be governed…

  • Article XXXI – Of The Ministers, Elders, and Deacons

    A. The election of officebearers. 1. Whether of ministers or elders or deacons, this election must take place by the Consistory with the approval of the congregation. a. This is based upon the fact, in the first place, that the Consistory is the ruling body in the church. b. Christ appoints a man to his…

  • Article XXXII –  Of the Order and Discipline of the Church

    c. Final excommunication. 3. Often times in our day, people leave the church before excommunication can be applied. Yet, by this meanss they do not escape the censure of Christ. Nevertheless, it is an interosting question whether or not the Consistory should proceed unto excommunication regardless of whether an individual asks for his papers. 4.…

  • Article XXXIII –  Of the Sacraments

    b. The outward sign of the sacrament is applied inwardly to the heart through the operation of the Holy Spirit. He causes us to see, through the signs, the cross of Christ. He applies that cross in such a way that we know it is for us. E. The result of the sacraments. 1. The…

  • Article XXXIV – Of Holy Baptism

    A. Introduction: 1. Article XXXIII treated of the sacraments in general; this article discusses the sacrament of baptism. 2. The subject of baptism has always been an important subject in the church. As important as it was at the time when this article was written, it has not decreased in importance today. In fact the…

  • Article XXXV – Of the Holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ

    A. Introduction: 1. Since with Baptism, the Lord’s Supper is the sacrament God has instituted in His Church, it follows that a discussion of the Lord’s Supper will come in connection with baptism. a. Baptism is first since it is a sign and seal of our entrance into God’s Covenant, into the spiritual family of…

  • Article XXXVI – Of Magistrates

    A. Introduction: 1. The article was written overagainst the error of the Anabaptists. a. The Anabaptists refused to recognize the temporal power of the magistrate and attempted to establish the kingdom of Christ in this world establishing their own kingdom within the state and communion of goods. b. This article, it must not be forgotten,…

  • Article XXXVII – Of the Last Judgment

    A. Introduction: 1. It is remarkable that the Confession devotes only one article to the doctrine of the last things. Most probably, if the Confession were written in our day, when there is much emphasis on eschatology, more articles would be written on this subject. Yet all the important elements are briefly mentioned. 2. The…

  • Article IX – The Proof of the Foregoing Article of the Trinity of Persons in One God (2)

    “All this we know from the testimonies of holy writ, as from the operations, and chiefly by those we feel in ourselves. The testimonies of the Holy Scriptures, that teach us to believe this Holy Trinity are written in many places of the Old Testament, which are not so necessary to enumerate, as to choose…