Category: Netherlands Confession (Short Lessons)

The last article of the Confession treats of the last judgment. It reminds of the time of the end of the age. No man knows the day nor the hour of Christ’s return. However, the signs of that return, as presented in Scripture, show clearly when that end is at hand. And the signs seen…

This has been a rather controversial article treating of the relationships between government and the church. This is evident from the note appended to this article as found in the Psalter. It was adopted by the Christian Reformed Church in its Synod of 1910 and presumably was taken over also by our churches when we…

The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ at the time of the celebration of the last Passover-and it replaced that Old Testament rite. There were differing views concerning the effect of the sacrament on believers. The Roman Catholic church taught transubstantiation, that is, the bread and wine changed into the literal body and blood of…

The article calls attention to the fact that Christ’s shedding of His blood puts an end to the need of shedding of blood-including that of circumcision. Now we have baptism in its place. Remember that Jesus commanded baptism in Matt. 28:19. The word “baptism” indicates “a washing”. By baptism we are “received into the church…

Article 32 speaks of the Church Order and discipline. By the time of the Reformation, there was a vast and burdensome “canon law”. Our fathers rejected all of this and rather adopted a brief “Church Order” in 1619 at the Synod of Dordt. Our Church Order has 84 articles: (1) Arts. 2-28 treat the “offices”;…

Article 30 speaks of the government and offices in the church. Christ rules the church directly by His Spirit and Word-but indirectly through officebearers whom He appoints. The government of the church is spiritual and is exercised in Christ’s Name. The authority of the officebearers is delegated to them of Christ. The “keys of the…

Article 28 is concerned with our duty to join ourselves to the church. The Roman Catholic church claimed that the church saved people-and therefore we must belong to be saved. The Reformed church that out of the church there is no salvation. There is a difference in teaching here. The church, we believe, does not…

Article 27 speaks of the “one, catholic or universal church”. The word “church” is usually our translation of the Greek, ecclesia, or, “called out ones”. It consists of those “called out” of the world to serve God. This church has been described as “triumphant” (the church in glory), “militant” (the fighting church on earth), and…

Article 25 speaks of the abolishing of the ceremonial laws. These laws treat of four things: holy persons, holy places, holy things, and holy seasons. These are typical: pointing to the work of Christ-and cease at His coming. The Roman Catholic church places considerable emphasis still on their priests, altars, vestments, holy days, etc. What…