Category: Netherlands Confession (Outline)

“We believe and profess, one catholic or universal church, …” 1. This article speaks of the church as an object of faith: a. It is not the church as we see her in the world, for then she appears divided, separated, often unholy and apostate. b. But the church as we believe she is and…

“We believe, since this holy congregation is an assembly of those who are saved….” 1. The subject of this article: a. Everyone is bound to join himself to the true church: 1) What is meant is not that one makes himself a member of the true spiritual body of Christ. 2) But that one is…

“We believe, that we ought diligently and circumspectly to discern from the Word of God which is the true Church, since all sects which are in the world assume to themselves the name of the Church. But we speak not here of hypocrites, who are mixed in the Church with the good, yet are not…

“We believe, that this true Church must be governed by that spiritual policy…” 1. Articles 30-32 deal with the church as an institute: a. We can distinguish the church as church visible and invisible, militant and triumphant, organism and institute. b. In these articles the Confession deals with the church as an institute. Hence, in…

“We believe, that the ministers of God’s Word, and the elders and deacons, ought to be chosen to their respective offices by a lawful election by the church….” This article speaks of four things: the election, the calling, the authority, and the worthiness of esteem of the officebearers in the church: 1. The election of…

“In the meantime we believe, though it is useful and beneficial that those, who are rulers of the Church, institute and establish certain ordinances among themselves….” 1. This article deals with the order and discipline of the church: a. When it speaks of ordinances which rulers may establish among themselves, it does not refer to…

“We believe, that our gracious God, on account of our weakness and infirmities hath ordained the sacraments for us,…” 1. The name sacraments: a. It is not a Scriptural name, but one adopted from the Latin world. b. In the Roman world it signified an oath of allegiance to the flag or standard of the…

“We believe and confess that Jesus Christ, who is the end of the law, hath made an end, by the shedding of his blood, of all other sheddings of blood which men could or would make as a propitiation or satisfaction for sin:…” 1. The article first states that Christ instituted baptism in the place…

“We believe and confess, that our Savior Jesus Christ did ordain and institute the sacrament of the Holy Supper,…” This article contains: 1. A general statement concerning the institution of the Lord’s Supper: a. The Lord Jesus Christ ordained and instituted it. b. To nourish and support those that are already regenerated and have been…

“We believe that our gracious God, because of the depravity of mankind, hath appointed kings, princes and magistrates, willing that the world should be governed by certain laws and policies; to the end that the dissoluteness of men might be restrained, and all things carried on among them with good order and decency. For this…