The Belgic Confession Week 5.
Belgic Confession, SS/Catechism • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 3 viewsNotes
Transcript
Review:
Article 1.
THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD.
Article 2.
BY WHAT MEANS GOD IS MADE KNOWN UNTO US.
Article 3.
THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD.
Article 4.
CANONICAL BOOKS OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURE.
Article 5.
WHENCE THE HOLY SCRIPTURES DERIVE THEIR DIGNITY AND AUTHORITY.
Article 6.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CANONICAL AND APOCRYPHAL BOOKS.
Article 7.
THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES TO BE THE ONLY RULE OF FAITH.
Article 8.
Article 8.
GOD IS ONE IN ESSENCE, YET DISTINGUISHED IN THREE PERSONS
According to this truth and this Word of God, we believe in one only God, who is the one single essence, in which are three Persons, really, truly, and eternally distinct according to their incommunicable properties; namely, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father is the cause, origin, and beginning of all things visible and invisible; the Son is the word, wisdom, and the image of the Father; the Holy Spirit is the eternal power and might, proceeding from the Father and the Son. Nevertheless, God is not by this distinction divided into three, since the Holy Scriptures teach us that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit have each His personality, distinguished by Their properties; but in such wise that these three Persons are but one only God. Hence, then, it is evident that the Father is not the Son, nor the Son the Father, and likewise the Holy Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son. Nevertheless, these Persons thus distinguished are not divided, nor intermixed; for the Father has not assumed the flesh, nor has the Holy Spirit, but the Son only. The Father has never been without His Son, or without His Holy Spirit. For They are all three co-eternal and co- essential. There is neither first nor last; for They are all three one, in truth, in power, in goodness, and in mercy.
On the surface our confession may seem confusing but it is really a fantastic definition of the Trinity. And it is perfectly orthodox. As we begin, I would like to just read a small section from one author on this article.
“Although the doctrine of the triune nature of God distinguishes the Christian view of God from all other religions and belief systems, when we as Reformed churches make this confession we express our catholicity with Christ’s church in all times and places. Catholicity is expressed in no better way than in the confession of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. One of the purposes of the Belgic Confession was to express that the Reformed faith was nothing less than the faith of the ancient Christian church... He labored in his ministry to show that the Reformed churches were catholic and ancient churches, not novel and new. Furthermore, in doing this, de Brès showed in his writing to the Roman Catholic authorities that the members of the Reformed churches were not Anabaptists, who not only rejected the government but rejected essential catholic doctrines such as the Trinity. In the truest sense of the word, then, the Reformed churches are catholic churches.”
Daniel R. Hyde. With Heart and Mouth: An Exposition of the Belgic Confession (pp. 93-94). Reformed Fellowship, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
We must remember that de Bres was aiming at unity here. And this surprisingly is a point of complete unity between the reformers and the Roman Catholics. There were some during the reformation, like the Anabaptists who did deny the Trinity, but they were condemned as heretics by the reformed and the Catholics alike.
And this is a point worth noting. We are still, to this day united on this with the Catholics. We worship the Triune God. Now, we would say that they worship in a manner God forbids, but it is false worship to the one true God, not worship to a false god. And even though to our utter sadness, unity was not achieved with Rome on all points during the reformation, de Bres was aiming at that. And because of this, he almost directly quotes from the Nicene Creed. Page 13. This was a huge step in trying to demonstrate that the protestant church was hearkening back to the Word of God and the ancient church fathers. It was not attempting to be schismatic but reforming.
The Nicene Creed.
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
If we break down our article one line at a time, I believe it will be much clearer to us and we will even see the beauty of this article.
Note: Most of the inclusion of Scripture reference is in the next article. This article is aiming at a definition of the Trinity, Then in the next article de Bres defends the definition from Scripture.
According to this truth and this Word of God, we believe in one only God, who is the one single essence,
According to this truth and this Word of God, we believe in one only God, who is the one single essence,
Deuteronomy 6:4–5“4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
Isaiah 44:6 “6 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.”
in which are three Persons,
in which are three Persons,
One God. Three Persons. This is the easiest formula for the Trinity.
really, truly, and eternally distinct according to their incommunicable properties;
really, truly, and eternally distinct according to their incommunicable properties;
One God. Three Persons. The Persons are truly distinct. And they possess what are called incommunicable properties. That means they have unique properties. The Three Persons are one God. But the three Persons possess unique properties.
namely, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
namely, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
One God. Three distinct Persons. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Bible refers to each of these persons as God. They each have the divine name of God attached to them in Scripture.
Before getting into each of the persons a good verse to reference here is 1 Peter 1:2 “2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”
This verse is speaking about salvation. The Father’s plan and foreknowledge. The Son’s blood and sacrifice. The Spirit’s power in applying sanctification to us. Three Persons. Distinction in properties. One God.
The Father is the cause, origin, and beginning of all things visible and invisible;
The Father is the cause, origin, and beginning of all things visible and invisible;
Again, God the Father is the origin. Relating this back to salvation, it was the Father’s foreknowledge. The Father’s plan. All things are the Father’s plan.
the Son is the word, wisdom, and the image of the Father;
the Son is the word, wisdom, and the image of the Father;
De Bres is referencing several passages here directly. John 1:1 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
1 Corinthians 1:24“24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
Colossians 1:15“15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”
We will study the divinity and humanity of Christ later in our confession. But notice that John calls Jesus God clearly in John 1:1. Yet we see the distinct properties of the Son.
Creation was the Father’s Plan and Christ was the Word of God through whom all was made according to the rest of John 1.
the Holy Spirit is the eternal power and might, proceeding from the Father and the Son.
the Holy Spirit is the eternal power and might, proceeding from the Father and the Son.
We do not have enough time to get into all of the ins and outs of this. But the Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father and Son. John 14:26 “26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” From the Father, in the name of the Son.
We continue.
Nevertheless, God is not by this distinction divided into three, since the Holy Scriptures teach us that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit have each His personality, distinguished by Their properties; but in such wise that these three Persons are but one only God.
Nevertheless, God is not by this distinction divided into three, since the Holy Scriptures teach us that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit have each His personality, distinguished by Their properties; but in such wise that these three Persons are but one only God.
One God, Three Distinct Persons. NOT THREE GODS. Each Divine Person has His own personality or personhood. But there are not three gods but one God.
We see de Bres flesh this out further...
Hence, then, it is evident that the Father is not the Son, nor the Son the Father, and likewise the Holy Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son.
Hence, then, it is evident that the Father is not the Son, nor the Son the Father, and likewise the Holy Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son.
NOTE: Possibly show the image that fleshes this out. Maybe use a white board?
Nevertheless, these Persons thus distinguished are not divided, nor intermixed; for the Father has not assumed the flesh, nor has the Holy Spirit, but the Son only.
Nevertheless, these Persons thus distinguished are not divided, nor intermixed; for the Father has not assumed the flesh, nor has the Holy Spirit, but the Son only.
We do not divide them or intermix them. The Father did not take on flesh. The Spirit did not take on flesh. The Father nor the Spirit died on the Cross. When the Father and Christ sent the Spirit at Pentecost, it was not Christ returning. We also do not divide them. They are still one God.
The Father has never been without His Son, or without His Holy Spirit. For They are all three co-eternal and co- essential. There is neither first nor last; for They are all three one, in truth, in power, in goodness, and in mercy.
The Father has never been without His Son, or without His Holy Spirit. For They are all three co-eternal and co- essential. There is neither first nor last; for They are all three one, in truth, in power, in goodness, and in mercy.
All three Persons are of the same substance. This means they are all truly God. They are all divine. They are all uncreated. Without beginning or end. The are all of them Alpha and Omega. They are all co-essential. This means they do not exist independently of one another.
One God. Three Persons. Distinct. We do not divide or intermix them. Co equal, and co eternal, and co essential.
Article 9.
Article 9.
THE PROOF OF THE FOREGOING ARTICLE OF THE TRINITY OF PERSONS IN ONE GOD
All this we know as well from the testimonies of Holy Writ as from their 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 them out with discretion and judgment.
In Genesis 1:26–27, God says: Let Us make man in our image, according to Our likeness, etc. So God created man in His own image, male and female He created them. And Genesis 3:22, Behold, the man has become like one of Us. From this saying, Let Us make man in our image, it appears that there are more persons than one in the Godhead; and when He says, God created, He signifies the unity. It is true, He does not say how many persons there are, but that which appears to us somewhat obscure in the Old Testament is very plain in the New.
There are some who debate the use of Us in these Genesis passages, but the reformers and the church fathers were very unified on this and the confession is accurate. The Old Testament teaches that there is more than one Person in the Godhead but is obscure on who all the Persons are. Here are a few more passages.
In Genesis 1:1–3 God makes the heavens and the earth, the Spirit of God hovers over the creation, and God by his word speaks everything into existence (cf. John 1).
In Psalm 33:6 it is by the word and breath of the LORD that the heavens were made.
In Isaiah 6:3 the seraphim cry out three times “Holy, Holy, Holy.”
In Isaiah 61:1 we hear the voice of the Servant of the LORD of the Spirit of the LORD being upon him.
In Isaiah 63:7–14 we read that it was the LORD, the angel of his presence, and the Holy Spirit that redeemed Israel from Egypt.
Finally, in the Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6:24–26, the priests blessed the people with the name of the LORD three times.
Hyde, Daniel R.. With Heart and Mouth: An Exposition of the Belgic Confession (pp. 107-108). Reformed Fellowship, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
The confession continues.
For when our Lord was baptized in Jordan, the voice of the Father was heard, saying, This is My beloved Son (Matt. 3:17); the Son was seen in the water, and the Holy Spirit appeared in the shape of a dove. This form is also instituted by Christ in the baptism of all believers: Make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19). In the Gospel of Luke the angel Gabriel thus addressed Mary, the mother of our Lord: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore also that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God (Lk. 1:35). Likewise: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all (2 Cor. 13:14). And: There are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one (1 Jn. 5:7).
The New Testament puts names to the Persons of the Godhead. The Father, the Son, and the Spirit. And in the New Testament we learn that all the things of the previous article are clearly taught in Scripture.
In all these places we are fully taught that there are three Persons in one only divine essence. And although this doctrine far surpasses all human understanding, nevertheless we now believe it by means of the Word of God, but expect hereafter to enjoy the perfect knowledge and benefit thereof in heaven.
Just because it confuses us, does not mean it is not true. Countless people have been deceived by various heretics by claiming God would never call us to believe what we cannot understand. But this is false. Who here can fathom the eternality of God? Who can fathom the all powerful nature of God? God does not fit in our heads. This makes sense.
But perhaps what is most confusing to us is that we are one person in one being. I am a human. I am one person. I am one being. God is one God but three Persons. This is hard for us to understand. But it is clearly taught in Scripture. We accept it by faith and trust that when we get to heaven all will be made clear then. Until then, we live by faith.
Moreover, we must observe the particular offices and operations of these three Persons towards us. The Father is called our Creator, by His power; the Son is our Savior and Redeemer, by His blood; the Holy Spirit is our Sanctifier, by His dwelling in our hearts.
De Bres is clearly referencing 1 Peter 1:2 “2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”
De Bres then ends by stating the orthodox nature of the doctrine of the Trinity. I will attempt to briefly break down each of these.
This doctrine of the Holy Trinity has always been affirmed and maintained by the true Church since the time of the apostles to this very day against the Jews, Mohammedans, and some false Christians and heretics, as Marcion, Manes, Praxeas, Sabellius, Samosatenus, Arius,
De Bres begins with two false religions.
Jews: After Christ and the Apostles, Judaism completely fell away. I must stress this. Judaism is not the religion of the Old Testament. The Jews formed their religion off the the teachings of the Pharisees into what is called the Talmud. And the Talmud is one of the most wicked books ever produced. It was produced in pure hatred of Christ. They wanted to denounce Jesus as the Messiah in the most extreme ways possible. Which is why in the Talmud you will find reference to their belief that Jesus is burning in hell lying in feces.
They are mentioned here because they are anti trinitarian. In Jewish belief God is One Person. They utterly reject Christ and the Spirit. Therefore, we can never claim to be of the same religion. The religion of Judaism and Christianity are opposite. Remember, the Trinity cannot be separated. Any who claim to worship one Member while denying Another are not worshipping the one True God.
We should pray that they turn to the one true God.
Mohammedans: Mohamed taught Jesus was a prophet of Allah but was not God. I think we are fairly familiar with this. They honor Christ as merely a human prophet. This is a false Christ. They are a different religion. Just as with the Jews, we worship a different God. They deny Christ. And anyone who denies Christ cannot be said to worship the same God.
We should pray that they turn to the one true God.
Some false Christians and heretics: (It is heresy to deny the Trinity)
Marcion: 144 AD. Believed the God of the Old Testament was evil and that Jesus was the Son of the New Testament God. (Denial of the Father)
Manes: Taught Jesus was semi-divine. (Denial of the Son)
Praxeas: Taught God was one Person who revealed Himself in three forms or modes. (Modalism) (Denial of the distinct persons of the Godhead.)
Sabellius: Also taught Modalism.
Samosatenus: Taught Adoptionism. Jesus was not eternally God but was a man who was adopted by the Father.
Arius: Taught that the Son was a Created being and was lesser than God.
Modern day Trinitarian heretics.
Oneness Pentecostals: Modalists. TD Jakes, Steven Furtick.
Mormonism: Jesus and The Father are separate beings. Jesus is the product of the Father and one of His spirit wives.
Jehovah’s Witnesses: Jesus is not God but is a lesser being. Jesus is a created being.
and such like, who have been justly condemned by the orthodox fathers. Therefore, in this point, we do willingly receive the three creeds, namely, that of the Apostles, of Nicea, and of Athanasius; likewise that which, conformable thereunto, is agreed upon by the ancient fathers.
We must embrace the doctrine of the Trinity. God is One. Three persons. Distinct traits. We cannot blend them now separate them.
Let me close by reading a brief section of the Athanasius Creed.
And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.
This is the catholic faith, which unless a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved. Amen