Faith of Our Fathers

Transcription

1 Life in Christ Faith of Our Fathers Studies in the Belgic Confession Bradd L. Nymeyer and Al Bezuyen

2 Life in Christ Faith of Our Fathers Studies in the Belgic Confession Rev. Bradd L. Nymeyer and Rev. Al Bezuyen

3 Faith of our Fathers: Studies in the Belgic Confession Published by First United Reformed Church, 6159 Riverside Drive, Chino, California Distributed by Reformed Fellowship, Inc., 3363 Hickory Ridge Ct. SW, Grandville, MI Phone: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means for example: electronic, photocopy, recording without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews. Requests for permission to quote from this book or to translate it into other languages should be directed to: Clerk of Council, First United Reformed Church, 6159 Riverside Drive, Chino, CA, Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the Holy Bible, New King James Version. NKJV. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Quotations of the Christian Creeds and Reformed Confessions are from the Psalter Hymnal, Copyright 1976, Board of Publications of the Christian Reformed Church, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI. Quotations of The Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms are from The Confession of Faith and Catechisms, Copyright 2005, The Committee on Christian Education of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Willow Grove, PA. Book design by Jeff Steenholdt /Erika De Vries. ISBN Printed in the United States of America 2

4 General Editor s Acknowledgements Many people have contributed to the writing and preparation of this series of books, Life In Christ. I want to thank the council of the First United Reformed Church, Chino, California for their vision, love for the truth, and commitment to prepare these instructional materials for young people in accord with the glorious truths of God s Word and the Reformed confessions. The council and congregation have graciously granted me time away from many of my regular pastoral duties to work on this project over the past five years, and have prayed for and contributed significantly towards its completion. We thank the many congregations in the United Reformed federation who have made this curriculum possible by their faithful prayer and financial support, as well as their evaluations. I am grateful to each of the authors for diligently preparing these lessons written out of their experiences as pastors, teachers, and parents who show their deep love for the Word of God, our confessions, and young people and others who will benefit from their insights. I deeply appreciate the careful attention to details demonstrated by our editors, including Rev. Doug and Grace Barnes, Laura Darnell, Annette Gysen, Glenda Mathes, Dr. Scott Swanson, and Marcia Vander Pol who each had a part in editing various aspects of the curriculum. The input and leadership of the members of the Committee of Oversight have been very valuable. Members have included Dan Dundon, Mike Meeks, John Rietkerk, Stacy Soerens, Geoff Vanden Heuvel, Larry Vanden Berge, and Wilma Van Dyk. Joan Dundon, our church secretary, has graciously contributed in far too many ways to list. Special thanks goes to Jeff Steenholt and his staff, as well as Henry Gysen, for the wise counsel they have offered and the professional work they have accorded this project. Above all others I am profoundly indebted to my loving wife, Faye, my constant companion and encourager, best friend, most valuable critic, and insightful editor, without whose help these volumes would not have been completed, and my children who also greatly encouraged me. I am especially grateful to my son, Timothy, who provided the original concept for the logo and contributed to the basic design of the covers. And most of all I thank our gracious God who gave me eternal life, though totally undeserving, this privilege to write and edit Life In Christ, a love for His Word and the confessions, and a deep interest in the history of God s people. Rev. Ronald Scheuers January 2011 Authors Acknowledgements Working on this project has been a wonderful challenge for me. I want to thank my father-inlaw, Rev. Andrew Cammenga, for suggesting my name to the editorial committee to undertake this work. I am also very thankful for Rev. Ronald Scheuers, General Editor, for his patience and pastoral firmness in helping me to stay on track to complete my work on time. This task would have been much more difficult, were it not for the excellent work done in the initial draft of this material by my colleague, Rev. Al Bezuyen. His thoroughness and attention to detail made my work light. I appreciate the Council of the Phoenix United Reformed Church and their timely purchase of a scanner, which greatly increased my ability to complete this project. I am very grateful to my wife, Mary, who continues to know just when to encourage me to take a break, and when to remind me there is work that needs to be done. Thank you, my dear, for your constant support. I pray that this material might be used by God for His glory, to train our children in the glorious biblical truths of the Reformation. In His Service, Rev. Bradd L. Nymeyer To my father and mother, Jakob and Berendina Bezuyen, for their instruction in the faith. Rev. Al Bezuyen 3

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6 CONTENTS Lesson 1 An Introduction to the Confession 7 Lesson 2 One God with Many Attributes (Article 1) 13 Lesson 3 God Reveals Himself (Article 2) 19 Lesson 4 God s Written Revelation (Articles 3 4) 27 Lesson 5 The Perfections of Scripture (Articles 5 7) 35 Lesson 6 The Trinity (Articles 8 11) 41 Lesson 7 The Creation of All Things (Article 12) 49 Lesson 8 The Providence of God (Article 13) 57 Lesson 9 The Creation and Fall of Man (Articles 14 15) 63 Lesson 10 Eternal Election (Article 16) 71 Lesson 11 The Incarnation (Articles 17 18) 79 Lesson 12 Christ our Mediator (Articles 19 21) 87 Lesson 13 Justification by Faith Alone (Articles 22 23) 95 Lesson 14 Sanctification and Good Works (Article 24) 103 Lesson 15 Christ Fulfills the Old Testament (Articles 25 26) 111 Lesson 16 The Catholic Church and Her Members (Articles 27 28) 121 Lesson 17 The Defining Marks of the True Church (Article 29) 129 Lesson 18 The Offices and Order of the Church (Article 30) 137 Lesson 19 The Offices of the Church (Article 31) 143 Lesson 20 Church Order and Discipline (Article 32) 151 Lesson 21 The Sacraments (Article 33) 159 Lesson 22 Holy Baptism (Article 34) 167 Lesson 23 The Holy Supper (Article 35) 175 Lesson 24 The Church and the State (Article 36) 183 Lesson 25 The End of Time (Article 37) 191 5

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8 LESSON 1 An Introduction to the Confession The Historical Situation In 1515 Charles V and his wife Isabella became the rulers of Spain and the Holy Roman Empire. With their great desire for power, they built a mighty army and navy to conquer much of Europe, including the Lowlands (which is modern-day Belgium, the Netherlands, and Northern France). Charles was a ruthless ruler who heavily taxed the people for his own gain. Since the Netherlands was experiencing a time of great prosperity, Charles knew he had to keep them under his control in order to continue receiving some of their wealth. As part of his vicious rule, Charles demanded that all the people become members of the Roman Catholic Church. He knew the Church taught that the pope spoke on behalf of God Himself. He also knew that the Church would tell its members to obey the king without question. Because the Church commanded it, they would almost certainly obey Charles. This would make it easier for him to hold on to his control of the people. It was a time of great oppression in the European Lowlands. It was in this time of great discouragement for the people of the Lowlands that the Protestant Reformation began to advance. In 1517 Martin Luther nailed ninety-five theses (statements given to encourage discussion) to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. The people in some areas of the Lowlands were open to Luther s ideas about the need for change or reform in the doctrines and practices of the Church. However, the Lutheran teachings didn t take a strong hold in the Netherlands because of Martin Luther s position regarding the Peasants Revolt in Germany in Luther sided with the king and thought that the peasants did not have the right to revolt against him. They should have listened to the authorities and lived in peace. This position disturbed the Dutch people, who were tired of their oppressive government. Also during this time, the teachings of the Anabaptists were spreading. The Anabaptists stressed the importance of personal piety (holiness in lifestyle) as a way to earn salvation. They also taught that only those who professed their faith should be baptized. Therefore, if a person had been baptized as an infant he needed to be re-baptized. (Anabaptist literally means re-baptized. ) The Anabaptists held a simplistic approach to both the Bible and daily living. They called people away from worldly influences and worldly governments. Anabaptists taught that there was no authority on earth except God Himself. This view was in conflict with the Roman Catholic position and that of Charles V. But it was very popular with the people and led many to reject Catholicism for Anabaptism. 7

9 In spite of the oppression of the Spanish ruler, the people of the Netherlands were able to promote ideas which the king did not approve. This was due primarily to the invention of the printing press. The demand for books was enormous, especially for books that had been banned by the pope. These books contained Anabaptist teachings and Luther s writings about the need for reform in the Church. The writings of John Calvin, a reformer who taught in Geneva, Switzerland, were also being printed, read, and embraced by many. The first edition of his famous Institutes of the Christian Religion was published in Calvin taught that when the Bible is properly read, it alone is the guide for knowing God, ourselves, and how to worship God. Calvin emphasized the Bible s teaching that salvation is by grace alone. It is a gift freely given to the people of God s choosing those who were chosen before the foundation of the world. Based on the Bible, Calvin taught that God sent Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for sin by His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. Therefore, salvation cannot be earned, but is received by faith alone. This teaching clearly contradicted the Roman Catholic teaching that man had to earn his salvation by fulfilling the requirements set by the Church. Calvin and his followers also opposed the teaching of the Anabaptists. for review 1. True or False a. Charles V was a peaceful ruler who cared for his citizens. b. Charles V required all his subjects to become Roman Catholic because of his personal commitment to the Roman Catholic Church. c. Martin Luther s teachings didn t take hold in the Lowlands because of his position on the Peasants Revolt. d. John Calvin taught that salvation is a free gift given by God. 2. Place the following events in chronological order: a. Martin Luther nailed the ninety-five theses on the church door in Wittenberg. b. Charles V became ruler of Spain and the Holy Roman Empire. c. The peasants revolted in Germany. d. John Calvin s writings began to be published. 3. Which of the following views were not held by John Calvin? a. Salvation is by grace alone. b. Jesus came to pay the penalty of sin by His death. 8

10 c. A person baptized as an infant needed to be re-baptized as an adult. d. The Bible is a guide for knowing God and ourselves. e. The pope speaks on behalf of God Himself. 4. List three of the basic beliefs of the Anabaptists. a. b. c. 5. Why was Calvin s teaching of salvation by grace alone a reformation in the Church? The Author Calvinism quickly gained wide acceptance in the Netherlands. One of those who received and believed the teachings of Calvin was a man named Guido de Bres (pronounced Gweedo de Bray). De Bres was born around A.D in Mons, a city in what today is Belgium. He was raised in a Roman Catholic home. Yet at an early age, he embraced the Reformed, biblical teachings of John Calvin. He soon became a leading spokesman in the Reformation, rejecting Roman Catholicism. He and other courageous men brought Calvinism to the Netherlands. King Charles V saw that the Reformation was a threat to the Roman Catholic Church as well as to his own power. He and the pope responded by carrying out what came to be known as the Inquisition. The Inquisition in the Netherlands was a heresy hunt led by a group of Jesuit priests along with other loyal Roman Catholics. They targeted the Anabaptists and the reformers as heretics. When these heretics were caught, they were punished with imprisonment and torture. Charles hoped the Inquisition would break the will of the people so that they would return to the Church of Rome. To further his cause, Charles V passed a law in 1529 to put to death anyone who insulted images, the virgin Mary, or saints. This meant that, for the rest of his life, Guido de Bres was under the sentence of death. At least three times he evaded arrest. Even after his marriage in 1559, he was forced to flee for his life. Once, while hiding in England, de Bres spent time with other refugees who loved God s Word and the Reformed faith. In England much of his thinking was refined, and the content of the Belgic Confession took shape. 9

11 for review 6. Fill in the blank. a. Guido de Bres was born in the year in the country that we now call. b. Although born into a Roman Catholic home, he was soon influenced by the writings of. c. The was a heresy hunt led by Jesuit priests. d. The penalty for anyone who insulted images or saints was. e. After de Bres fled to, the content of the Belgic Confession began to take shape. 7. The Inquisition used torture to get people to return to the Church of Rome. Is physical punishment a useful tool in making a spiritual change? Why or why not? The Confession Itself After returning to the Netherlands, de Bres traveled to a village called Tournai and continued his work. There he wrote pamphlets, articles, and sermons. In 1561 he also wrote the Belgic Confession, which was a defense of the Bible and the Christian faith against the teachings of the Roman Catholics and Anabaptists. The Confession shows the errors of both heresies and promotes the truth of the Reformed Christian faith. De Bres wrote the Confession also to show the state rulers of the Lowlands that the Reformation was based upon biblical teaching. Therefore, he insisted, the Church had no right to persecute faithful, Biblebelieving Christians. This history serves as the context for reading the Belgic Confession. The king at the time was Philip II, who began to rule in 1555 after the death of his father Charles V. As the Holy Roman Emperor, Philip was even more fanatic in his Roman Catholicism than his father. One night in 1561, while escaping persecution, de Bres took a copy of the Belgic Confession along with an explanatory letter and tossed them over the castle wall at Doornik where the king s leading government officials were staying. In his letter to the king, he urged Philip II to end the persecution of Christians. He also included a prayer for the king. Delivering the letter and Confession did not produce the desired results. It did, however, result in the magistrates placing a bounty on de Bres head. The search for him became intense, so once more he fled. His house and library were burned to ashes, which led to another exile lasting six years. Christians from the Lowlands, hungering for the truth of the gospel, called for his return. Later he settled in a town in northern France called Valenciennes. While he was there, a rebellion took place which involved the destruction of icons in cathedrals. 10

12 These icons were images of people in the Bible and Roman Catholic saints. The magistrates declared the entire town guilty of rebellion and laid the blame particularly on the preachers, including de Bres. While trying to escape, de Bres was caught and thrown into prison. There he wrote many letters in an attempt to console his wife, children, and friends. The Inquisitors repeatedly tried to force him to accept Roman Catholicism and admit his error, but de Bres refused. He was hung on May 30, His body was burned, and the ashes were thrown into a river. The Belgic Confession was accepted by the Reformed churches in the Netherlands in After some minor changes, it was adopted by the international Synod of Dortrecht in as one of the Three Forms of Unity, along with the Canons of Dort and the Heidelberg Catechism. The Confession is recognized by the church as a faithful expression of what the Bible teaches. The Confession served as a witness of the Christian faith to the church and the governments of that time. In presenting the basic truths of Scripture, it still serves us well today. It is a witness to the world of what we in the Reformed churches believe. The Confession provides a defense of the faith against heresy and a basis for uniting believers. Since it is rooted firmly in the Bible, it continues to call the church to remain faithful to God s unchanging Word. FOR MEMORY 1 Peter 3:15 16 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. From the Petitioners in the Address to King Philip II They would obey the government in all things lawful, but they would offer their backs to stripes, their tongues to knives, their mouths to gags, and their whole bodies to the fire, rather than deny the truth expressed in this confession. for review 8. Against the views of which two groups was the Belgic Confession written? Why? 11

13 9. To which king did de Bres give the Confession? What were the intended results? What were the actual results? 10. Fill in the blank. a. After fleeing for his life, de Bres was killed in the year. b. He was hung and then his body was. c. The Belgic Confession was adopted as one of the Three Forms of Unity at the Synod of in the years. d. The truth of the confession is not simply the thoughts of a man, but it is rooted in the Word of. 11. The Belgic Confession was written in a certain historical context. If you were writing a confession of faith today, what would you include in it and why? 12 KEY WORDS AND CONCEPTS Anabaptists A group which left the Roman Catholic Church, and stressed the importance of personal piety and the need for believer s baptism. The Inquisition A heresy hunt led by Jesuit priests and other loyal Roman Catholics. The Reformation A movement in the sixteenth century when the church returned to the basic teachings of Scripture, as opposed to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. The Synod of Dort An international meeting of church leaders in the Netherlands in which adopted the Three Forms of Unity. The Three Forms of Unity The Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, and the Canons of Dort.

14 LESSON 2 (Article 1) One God with Many Attributes Various Views of God Psalm 53:1 says, The fool says in his heart, There is no God. One of the lessons this Psalm teaches is that God will make Himself known through His judgments and power. Some people refer to themselves as atheists (those who believe there is no God). There are also some who call themselves agnostics (those who believe that, even if there is a God, we can have no knowledge of Him). Agnostics claim that, if there is a God out there somewhere, He is too powerful and distant for humans to know Him or have a relationship with Him. In both of these views, God is considered to be irrelevant to our lives. But Romans 1:19 20 oppose these views. They say that God s creation tells us about God so clearly that everyone knows God exists; no one can honestly say he doesn t know this. Therefore everyone is without excuse. John Calvin called this knowledge of God the sense of the divine that is in every man. This means that God created us with a sure knowledge of Himself. Everyone either suppresses (that is, stifles or holds down) this knowledge of God or embraces it because of the grace of Christ working in him. Atheism and agnosticism are the products of the sinful thinking of men who know deep down that there is a God but refuse to worship Him. The first words of the Belgic Confession are, We all believe with the heart and confess with the mouth that there is one... God. When we sincerely confess this truth, we set ourselves apart from all people who reject this confession. With Genesis 1, we confess that, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. There are many religions and a variety of gods, so called, but only the Christian confesses God in the way He has revealed Himself in His Word. This description given for us in God s Word is summarized in Article 1 of the Belgic Confession. FOR MEMORY Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God s invisible qualities his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 13

15 for review 1. What is the difference between an atheist and an agnostic? According to Romans 1:19 20, can anyone truly be an agnostic? Why or why not? 2. What is significant about the opening words of the Belgic Confession? One True God God made a unique claim to Israel long ago when He said, Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one (Deuteronomy 6:4). The people of Israel had come out of Egypt, a land where the people worshiped the Nile River because they believed it gave life. The sun was worshiped; so was Pharaoh who was thought to be the son of the sun god. God sent the plagues to demonstrate to the Egyptians and the Israelites that the Egyptian gods had no power at all. Other nations had their idol gods as well. However, God was teaching Israel, and us, that there is only one God, and beside Him there is no other. The Belgic Confession summarizes what God reveals about Himself in His Word. We believe that God is only one spiritual being because the Bible says, The Lord our God is one. God is God alone. We may not be polytheists (those who believe there are many gods). God is not divided into many smaller, inferior gods. Polytheism was the religion of many pagan nations surrounding Israel, and it is still held by many today. The Belgic Confession also warns against pantheism (the belief that all things are god). According to pantheists, the rocks are god, the trees are god, the animals are god, and the waters are god. Today the New Age movement continues to spread this lie by teaching that all is god and god is in all. Every person, as part of god, is thought to be a god together with the whole universe. Christians, however, confess monotheism (the belief that there is one god). This one God, unlike the gods of false religions, made and rules the universe. We also confess that God is spiritual. Because you have a body, you can only be in one place at one time. But God is not physically limited. This means that God has no physical body or any visible form that we can see with our eyes. For this reason, God does not allow us to represent Him by making images... in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below (Exodus 20:4; Deuteronomy 5:8). God, who is present everywhere, does not permit us to limit Him by making pictures or carvings of Him. He also shows us that it is impossible for us to depict Him. When we worship Him we may not reduce the infinite God to a man-made image. We cannot limit the One who is limitless. 14

16 Jesus made this point when He said, God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). FOR MEMORY Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. for review 3. Define the following terms: a. Pantheism b. Polytheism c. Monotheism 4. Which of these three views is taught in the Confession? 5. Name a Bible text that supports this teaching of the Confession. 6. What do we mean when we say that God is spiritual? What does this mean for our worship? The Attributes of God After confessing trust in the God of the Bible, Article 1 of the Confession lists the attributes of God. An attribute is an essential quality of God that He has revealed to us. We say that His attributes are who He is. Therefore, God is not simply described as eternal or immutable, but He is eternal... immutable... almighty... altogether and at all times. To lose sight of even one of these attributes is to diminish God and to diminish our knowledge of Him. God s attributes can be divided into two categories. The first category consists of those called incommunicable attributes. These include those attributes of God that none of His creatures possess. For example, God is eternal. In contrast, every creature on earth dies. 15

17 These incommunicable attributes of God have no equivalent in mankind. Only God is eternal, infinite, and all-powerful. The other category consists of God s communicable attributes. These are His attributes found in some way in mankind, such as wisdom and knowledge. An older man may be wise, but that does not mean he has the perfect wisdom of God. Knowing the attributes of God helps us know, worship, and love God as He reveals Himself in His Word. Article 1 draws our attention to God. By faith, we believe with our hearts and confess with our mouths that there is a God. He tells us exactly who He is. Like Genesis 1:1, the Confession does not begin with proof of God s existence. The church accepts the truth of God s existence on the basis of a faith rooted in God s Word. We could attempt to prove the existence of God. His works are evident everywhere in the creation. Those who, by God s grace (Ephesians 2:8), believe, see His works and give Him praise. But if one does not have the eyes of faith, no amount of evidence will convince him to acknowledge God. The fact that Christians believe and confess this God is a gift from Him. He works in us by His Word and Spirit, enabling us to express our faith in Him. The Belgic Confession is therefore a Christian s confession since only a Christian, by faith, can profess it! For Further Study For more on the attributes of God, see Summary of Christian Doctrine by Louis Berkhof, Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. FOR MEMORY Belgic Confession, Article 1 We all believe with the heart and confess with the mouth that there is one only simple and spiritual Being, which we call God. Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter II, 1 There is but one only, living, and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions. for review 7. Define the following terms: a. Attribute b. Incommunicable attributes 16

18 c. Communicable attributes 8. Classify each of the following attributes of God listed in Article 1 as incommunicable (I) or communicable (C). a. Eternal b. Almighty c. Just d. Invisible e. Good f. Incomprehensible (God cannot be fully understood) g. Perfectly Wise h. Infinite (God is absolutely without limits) i. Immutable (God does not change) 9. Using the letters before the attributes listed in Question 8, tell which attribute each of the following texts describes. a. Psalm 90:2 b. Psalm 104:24 c. Psalm 139:7 10 d. Psalm 145:3 e. Psalm 147:5 f. Isaiah 40:12 g. Isaiah 40:13 14 h. Malachi 3:6 i. Mark 10:18 j. Romans 11:33 k. 1 Timothy 6:16 l. James 1:17 m. Revelation 16:5 17

19 10. We confess by faith that we believe in God. Should we try to prove the existence of God? Why or why not? What would you tell a friend who does not believe the biblical teaching about God s attributes? KEY WORDS AND CONCEPTS Atheism The belief that there is no God (from the Greek: a meaning no, and theos meaning God, therefore, the belief that there is no God). Agnostics Agnostics claim that, if there is a God out there somewhere, we cannot know Him (from the Greek: a meaning no, and gnosis meaning knowledge, therefore, the belief that if there is a God we can have no knowledge of Him). Polytheism The belief that that there are many gods (from the Greek: poly meaning many, and theos meaning God, therefore, the belief that there are many gods). Pantheism The belief that everything is God (from the Greek: pan meaning all, and theos meaning God, therefore, the belief that all things are God). Monotheism The belief that there is one God (from the Greek: mono meaning one, and theos meaning God, therefore, the belief that there is one God). Attribute of God An essential quality of God revealed to man. Incommunicable Attribute An attribute found only in God. Communicable Attribute An attribute found in God and reflected in man. 18

20 LESSON 3 (Article 2) God Reveals Himself The Necessity of Revelation It had been many years since God had spoken to His people Israel during their time in Egypt. It was almost as if He had forgotten them. Certainly it seemed that Israel had forgotten the Lord God of Israel. Moses, having fled from Egypt after murdering an Egyptian, was taking care of his fatherin-law s flocks when he saw something remarkable. There, near Mount Horeb, a bush was on fire, but it was not burned up. God was appearing to Moses in that burning bush. Such an appearance of God is called a theophany. God revealed Himself not only visually in that bush, but also by His Word. He spoke in a special and direct way to Moses. As Moses approached that bush, he heard a voice. From the bush God told Moses that He had not forgotten His people. God told Moses He planned to use him to save the Israelites. From that burning bush God also revealed Himself by the name, I AM. Later, God would appear to Israel in a pillar of smoke and fire, and from smoke and thunder on the mountain. He also would speak through Moses to the people. On tablets of stone He would write the law with His own finger. He would reveal His power in the plagues and in mighty miracles from parting the sea to sending daily bread from heaven. Always we see that it was God who came to man. As we come to Belgic Confession Article 2, it alerts us to the two ways in which God shows Himself to us. He reveals Himself through the creation to mankind in general. And He shows Himself more fully through His special Word to His chosen people. No one can know God or have a relationship with Him unless God first reveals Himself. Adam had lost the way to God, but God communicated with Adam. Noah was not looking to build an ark, but God came and revealed these things to him. Abraham had not gone looking for God, but God had come for him. This was the case with Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph as well. God had worked mightily in the life of Joseph so that Jacob and his family might settle in Egypt and become a large nation. However, as the years passed, the Israelites became slaves in the land and groaned under their heavy burden. God heard the cries of His people and revealed Himself as their Redeemer. He first approached His people by revealing His glory in the burning bush. Then He used Moses and Aaron to reveal His power to both Israel and Egypt. If God had not revealed Himself, Israel and all mankind would have remained under the bondage of sin and ignorance. This ought to make sense to us in light of Article 1 of the Belgic Confession. If God is eternal, incomprehensible, and invisible, how can mankind ever imagine such a God? Therefore, God must come to man in a way that enables a person to understand His great power, and yet reveal Himself in such a way that mankind would not be destroyed by the 19

21 power and glory of the revelation itself. God does just that. In creating Adam and Eve, He sought holy fellowship which included His self-revelation to them. He made them in the image of God, which allowed them to know Him as God. He would come to the garden to be with Adam and Eve. God spoke to Adam about His desire for him to be fruitful, to multiply, and to subdue the earth. God revealed Himself to Adam and Eve and declared His will for them, for only in this way could they come to know and worship Him as God. With Adam s fall into sin, this relationship was broken. God in His mercy revealed the covenant of grace, promising that the seed of the woman would destroy the seed of the serpent. In this covenant, God revealed Himself as a merciful King who would save and provide for His people. Who could have imagined such love and faithfulness? What man could have developed such a plan of salvation? What man can find God, let alone the way back to God? In all of this, we learn and confess that God took the initiative to reveal Himself to Adam and to all mankind. Left to our own devices, we would never find God. for review 1. What is a theophany? 2. Why is it necessary that God take the initiative in revelation? 3. How is this initiative seen in the lives of the following men? a. Adam b. Noah c. Abraham d. Moses 20

22 General Revelation What about the poor native living in a remote part of Africa? How can God hold him responsible for not believing when he has never heard the Word of God? Since unbelief leads to condemnation and hell, doesn t that make God unfair and cruel? In Romans 1:20 we read: For since the creation of the world God s invisible qualities his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. This means that God has not left the world without a testimony of Himself a testimony recognized by every person. God is always just and fair! With Psalm 19, the church sings, The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. Every morning when we look to see the sun rising, or the beautiful colors of the setting sun that light up the evening, or the marvelous array of stars on a clear, cool night, we ought to acknowledge the Creator God. Through His creation, He is calling mankind to bow before Him. But as Romans 1:22 23 tell us about sin-filled man, Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Man in his sin is unwilling to worship the Creator. So instead, he chooses to worship the powers of nature, himself, animals, and other creatures. Just as the Egyptians in the time of Moses worshiped the sun, there are people who do the same today. The creation is called God s general revelation. It is there for all to see and experience. Psalm 139:13 16 express wonder at the beauty of human birth and creation. Every time we see a newborn child, or any other human being, we ought to be amazed at God s handiwork and praise Him for making us so wonderfully. Yet we need to remember that on our own, without God first coming to us, we would never see His glory because of our sin. FOR MEMORY Psalm 19:1 2 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter I,I Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation. 21

23 for review 4. What is general revelation? 5. What do the following texts say about general revelation? a. Psalm 19:1 4 b. Romans 1:20 c. Romans 1: If a friend told you that God was unfair in condemning a native living in Africa because he never heard the Word of God, what would you tell him? special revelation If God had simply led Moses to the burning bush without speaking to him, Moses would not have known God s plan and His name. God had to reveal them in a direct way. We call this type of divine communication this direct speaking special revelation. The Confession says, He makes Himself more clearly and fully known to us by His holy and divine Word. Psalm 19, after telling how the heavens declare the glory of God, draws our attention to God s Word: The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The reformers, including John Calvin and Guido de Bres, taught that no one can know God truly as the almighty Creator and Governor of the universe because of the effect of sin on our minds. Because of sin, the image of God was distorted. The Heidelberg Catechism in 22

24 Lord s Day 3 teaches that the image of God is true righteousness and holiness, given so that man might rightly know God His Creator. After the fall into sin, no one on his own could rightly know God as his Creator. The Confession teaches that God reveals Himself in the creation, leaving man without excuse; yet the Confession doesn t leave us without hope. The special revelation of God s Word is necessary for mankind to more clearly and fully know Him. As David wrote in Psalm 19, it is the law, the Word, which revives the soul not the creation. The law directs man to his sin and his need of salvation, showing him that he is guilty and worthy of eternal death before the judgment seat of God. Man needs a conversion that brings total change, opening his eyes to see God in the creation. This conversion which involves a putting on of the new man in Christ by fleeing sin and running to God in Christ for our salvation is brought about by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Word. To hear God pass in the rustling grass, or to see His power in a thunderstorm, we must have faith. Romans 10:17 says, Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. The creation, then, cannot reveal God s mercy and grace to us. God had to speak directly to Adam, Noah, and Abraham, and in a theophany to Moses in order to reveal this about Himself. He gave His people the Word in the law, the prophets, and the Psalms, first in spoken and then in written form. But God spoke most fully and clearly of His mercy, love, and compassion for His children through Jesus Christ. In Christ s humble birth, in His horrible death, and in the way He became a curse for our sin, we see a God who sent His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. In Christ s resurrection and ascension, we see the great power of God over sin, death, and hell. By the written Word, the covenant of grace was revealed; and by Christ the living Word (John 1:1), the promises were revealed and fulfilled. The creation could not speak of these things. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father s side, has made him known (John 1:18). Later, the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit who moved the apostles to preach and later to inspire them and other men to write down the Word as Scripture. It may help to think of it as John Calvin did: we cannot see the glory of God in the creation until we put on the glasses of faith, and that faith comes only by the hearing and believing of the Word. One of the false ideas circulating at the time that the Belgic Confession was written taught that God reveals Himself to us by means of a mysterious inner light, apart from the creation or the Scripture. To refute this view of the Anabaptists, de Bres showed how Scripture teaches that God reveals Himself by means of both general and special revelation. No inner light is to be sought by believers, because what God has revealed is sufficient for us. The Belgic Confession expresses no more and no less than what the Bible teaches, so that we might defend ourselves from falsehood and promote the truth on the basis of God s Word. You may meet people, called agnostics, who say that we cannot know God for certain. But our confession is that we can know God, because He has revealed Himself to us by His Spirit through His Word. In our sin, without God s gracious gift of faith, we would have 23

25 forever missed His revelation in the beauty of the creation. But through His special revelation, provided for us in the Bible, God brings faith by His Spirit through the hearing of the Word. For in the Word, we meet Jesus Christ and by Him, we are able to see the Father. We must be truly thankful that we can know God. Although He had every right to leave us in our ignorance, He revealed Himself in His Word and came down to earth as a man in Christ Jesus the ultimate theophany. As the One who is the Word, we may see Him in the creation and more fully know Him as the God of our salvation. FOR MEMORY Belgic Confession, Article 2 He makes Himself more clearly and fully known to us by His holy and divine Word, that is to say, as far as is necessary for us to know in this life, to His glory and our salvation. for review 7. What is special revelation? 8. What does the difference between general revelation and special revelation reveal about God? Be specific. 9. In what way did the Anabaptists say that God revealed Himself apart from creation and the Word? In what way is this view still expressed today? 24

26 10. Identify the following texts as referring to general revelation (G) or special revelation (S). a. John 1:1 b. Psalm 8 c. Jeremiah 49:14 d. 1 Corinthians 2:9 10 e. Isaiah 61:1 3 f. Psalm 104 g. Job h. 1 Corinthians 1: In what way is Jesus Christ the ultimate theophany? KEY WORDS AND CONCEPTS Theophany A visual revelation of God to man. General Revelation God s revelation in creation. Special Revelation God s revelation in His Word. Sufficiency The belief that God has given us in creation and the Word all the revelation that we need. 25

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28 LESSON 4 (Articles 3 4) God s Written Revelation the word of god What would you think of a father who never spoke to his children? Or what would you think of a father who spoke to his children in words or commands that they did not understand, and yet demanded obedience? Our heavenly Father is not like that. We have seen that our God who is incomprehensible, infinite, and invisible has decided in His divine mercy to make Himself known both through the creation and more fully through His holy Word. Although many say we cannot know God, let alone know His will, we confess that we can know God, His will, His promises, and His mighty acts. God does not wait for us to find Him on our own. Like a father to a little child, He bends down and speaks clearly and understandably so that we may call upon His name. before the bible was written There was a time when there was no written Word of God. In Paradise, God spoke directly to Adam and Eve, and even after the fall, from time to time He spoke with different people. From the book of Genesis, we get the sense that God s spoken word was passed on verbally from generation to generation. When Noah was born, his father Lamech named him Noah, saying, He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the LORD has cursed (Genesis 5:29). It seems that the words of God concerning the curse of the ground in Genesis 3 were passed on from generation to generation, since Lamech knew of the curse that came from God. Throughout the days of the patriarchs, God spoke directly to Noah and Abraham and through visions to Jacob and Joseph. These revelations were passed on to their children. It was not until God raised up Moses that He began, by His Holy Spirit, to move men to write down His words in order to preserve them (Exodus 17:14; 34:27) so that we can read God s revelation today. The Belgic Confession quotes Exodus 31:18, which says that God Himself wrote the two tables of the law with His own hands. We confess that God wrote this Word to provide the fullest and most sufficient revelation of Himself. The Confession quotes 2 Peter 1:21, that... men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. This is important for us to confess. As Peter makes clear, the apostles did not invent fables (2 Peter 1:16). They brought God s Word about Jesus Christ as they witnessed the events of His life, death, and resurrection. The gospel was rooted in the words they had heard. Moved by the Holy Spirit, they brought this and only this testimony. So we read in 2 Timothy 3:16, All Scripture is God-breathed. It is from this word, God-breathed, or breathed out by God, that we say the Bible is inspired. We confess a God who is trustworthy, faithful, and forever sure, because this is how He reveals Himself in the Bible. If the Bible is only the product of men, and we believe that God is incomprehensible to men, then the Bible must be a cunningly devised fable. But what 27

29 person has the imagination or the cunning to devise such a book? How could it be that so many different writers over some 2,600 years could write a book that is so absolutely consistent? We confess that the only explanation is that God moved men by His Spirit to reveal Himself through the Bible. for review 1. What are some of the ways that God revealed Himself before the writing of the Bible? 2. Read 2 Peter 1: Who does Peter say is the ultimate author of the Bible? FOR MEMORY 2 Peter 1:21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Views of Inspiration There are many views about how the Holy Spirit worked in the formation of the Bible. Some say that His method was mechanical inspiration. This means that the Spirit moved their pens or dictated every word. The implication is that the writers were passive and were nothing more than instruments or secretaries of the Spirit. If this is true, how do we explain the differences in style, the use of language, and the character of the writing? How do we explain that men such as Luke and Paul tell us of their own experiences? Another view is called dynamic inspiration. Dynamic inspiration is the idea that the Holy Spirit created an emotional and spiritual response in the writers, so that in their excitement they wrote religious literature. The problem with this view is that it regards the Bible as no more than the product of sinful men who make mistakes, even though they are writing about the most noble things in a most excited and spiritual state. If this understanding of inspiration is correct, the Bible is not much different than the writing of Buddha, who wrote out of religious excitement. 28

30 The Bible teaches that the Spirit worked in the hearts and minds of men, giving them the words to write but making use of their own personalities, experiences, languages, and styles. We call this organic inspiration. This explains why the Old Testament was written mainly in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek. The Spirit used the writers in the time they lived and through the language they spoke. It also helps explain the differences in style and content among the gospel writers, between Peter and Paul, and between the books of Genesis and Ezra. The Bible also teaches that inspiration was plenary. This means that not just a part of the Bible (for example, God s own spoken words recorded there) but the whole Bible is inspired (2 Timothy 3:16 17). We also believe that each word in the Bible came not by the will of men but by the Spirit through verbal inspiration, which means that every word of the Bible is inspired. The point is this: the Bible can be trusted in all that it teaches and reveals, because the words, the style of literature, the message, and all it reveals are the revelation of God Himself. If God can be trusted, then so can His Word. We confess, then, that the Bible is the holy Word of God. It is set apart from all other writings because it is divinely authored by God Himself. The books that make up the Bible are canonical. Canon comes from the word for a ruler or a straight edge. A ruler is a guide for measuring and making straight lines. The Bible, too, is a guide for keeping our lives straight, by revealing God and His will. Just as a ruler can be used on all kinds of paper of all shades and colors, so God s Word is the straight edge for all time. God worked through men over the centuries to reveal His power, might, goodness, and promises, made and fulfilled in Christ through the Word. In response, He demands that we live in faith and obedience before Him. for review 3. Briefly describe the following views of inspiration: a. Mechanical b. Dynamic c. Organic 4. How does organic inspiration help us to understand why there are four gospels which tell basically the same story? 29

31 5. True or False a. Plenary inspiration means that parts of the Bible are more inspired than others. b. Verbal inspiration means that every word of the Bible is inspired. c. The word canon has reference to the explosive power that the Bible has. 6. Some Bibles print the words of Jesus in red. What would you tell someone who says that these are the most important part of the Bible and all that we really need? 7. Some people would suggest that it is the thoughts or message of the Bible that is inspired rather than the actual words. They would say that even if the words aren t inspired, we can still learn a lesson from them. a. How would you respond to such a statement? b. What effect should it have in our lives when we understand that the Bible was inspired by God? FOR MEMORY 2 Timothy 3:16 17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Belgic Confession, Article III We confess that this Word of God was not sent nor delivered by the will of man, but that men spoke from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit, as the apostle Peter says; and that afterwards God, from a special care which He has for us and our salvation, commanded His servants, the prophets and apostles, to commit His revealed word to writing. 30