Credo
Credo Paper
By
Rev. James G Peck Jr.
Sharon Reformed Church
May 09, 2020
Chapter 1
Revelation and Scripture
Introduction-
In this Credo paper I would like to paint you a picture of my theological beliefs. It is important to give you a background of my denomination’s history and beliefs. Our denomination was birthed in New Amsterdam presently known as New York City. Fifty people gathered around a crude table in an old mill and celebrated the Lord’s Supper. This group founded the Collegiate Reformed Church in New York City. Collegiate Reformed is the oldest evangelical church in North America with a continuous ministry. Our Reformed branch of Protestantism is rooted in the Reformation of the 1500’s. John Calvin was the leader of the Reformed movement in Geneva Switzerland. His teachings spread to Scotland, where it became the Presbyterian Church and to the Netherlands where it became the Dutch Reformed Church. Throughout the 1600-1700’s the Dutch Reformed Church in America spread out and expanded. The Church was incorporated as the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in 1819 and changed its name in 1867 to the present name the Reformed Church in America.[1]
The Reformed Church in America is a confessional church there are three creeds that shape and form our beliefs these creeds are; The Apostle’s Creed, The Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed. In addition to these creeds we have a standard of unity or confessions that we affirm as true. These confessions are; the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort and the Confession of Belhar. [2] It is important to point out these creeds and confessions because as an active member of the Reformed Church in America I will reference these creeds and confessions throughout this paper when describing my theological stance on different topics.
Revelation-
The Greek apokalupsis which means disclosure or an unveiling. All knowledge of God comes to us by the way of revelation. Our human knowledge of God is one that is revealed to us. This is a process of God making Himself known to His people. Biblical faith affirms that revelation is real because God has chosen to let His human creation know him. The Bible gives us two types of revelation that allows us to know God. The two types of revelation are general and special revelation. Biblical emphasis points us to Christ as God’s final revelation. God has provided us a glimpse of Himself and His Son through the Bible.
traditions. The Lord’s Supper points us to the forgiveness of sin’s that we receive from the blood shed by Christ. The New Covenant replaces the Old and frees us from the Law. We were never able to keep the Law. No amount of animal sacrifice could wash away our sin’s. Only the blood of our sinless Savior can wash away our sin’s. If you have faith in Jesus Christ then you can receive the blessing of the New Covenant.[3]
General Revelation-
General revelation God and his creation are distinct. God reveals himself through nature. Not like human nature where we can tell things about someone by their facial expressions or gestures that we can physically see. God reveals himself through nature through events in the physical world[4] The apostle Paul gives a fine definition of general revelation in the book of Romans.
Paul says “Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So, they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20 {NRSV})
Special Revelation-
Special revelation is when God is in contrast to general revelation. General revelation is available to all people, and special revelation is available to specific people at and at specific times and places.[5] Let’s use scripture to paint the picture of special revelation in the book of Genesis we are told “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.(Genesis 12:1-3) In this particular scripture we see God specifically reveal himself to the Hebrew people through Abraham. God assures Abraham that He will make a great nation of Abraham’s people and bless their families. The ultimate special revelation we see is in Jesus Christ in the New Testament. The book of John Chapter 1 tells us “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”(John 1:1) Further on in the chapter we are told “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. Jesus was made flesh so that the image and the gestures and the power of God was mad visible to all those who belive in him.
Scripture
Scripture is the written will of God. This is stated in the Belgic Confession in Article 3 which quotes 2 Peter “because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21) The second part of Article 3 tells us that it was with great care for our salvation that God commanded the prophets and Apostles to commit the Word to writing. In fact, the first two tables of the law were written with God’s own figure. This is why scripture is considered holy and divine. Article 4 list the canonical order of the books that make up the Old and New Testament and affirms that there can be no fighting over these books of scripture. Article 5 tells us that only the above 66 books of the bible are holy and that they are the foundation at which we build our faith. The Holy Spirit testifies within our hearts that these canonical books are God’s breathed word. Article 6 defines the difference between the canonical and the Apocryphal books. The apocryphal books are alright to study and learn from as long as they don’t take away from the canonical books. The stories in the apocryphal books do not carry the same power and virtue that the canonical ones do. Article 7 is the culmination of the doctrine of scripture it lays out the sufficiency of scripture. This article affirms that Holy Scripture is the will of God. Scripture contains all that man and woman need to know and acknowledge to be saved. Scripture is to be taught perfectly and should not be added to or have things taken away from it. As humans we have been born with the sin nature and no matter how holy one is there is always the tendency to lie. Therefore, human writings can never be equal to the divine writings of God[6]
The one thing that I wrestle with when it comes to scripture is the many different translations of the Bible. In our church we use the NRSV and it uses male and female inclusiveness not found in many of the other translations. I have always held that when true that when a bible say’s mankind it means man and woman. So, sometimes to me it seems as though as we translate bibles over time things are added and words tend to change as newer words replace older words. So, I appreciate that the doctrine of scripture serves as a human guide line of the left and right limits that one should take scripture. Scripture should be read and taught as perfectly as it can to God’s breathed Word. I have several different versions of bibles in my office at home. I like to compare the different translations and interpretations. God’s wisdom is greater than human wisdom and when it comes to scripture, we must hold scripture to be the supreme authority over any man-made writings. of Christianity fits their cultural identity
Conclusion
As I move forward in the writing of this paper. It is my firm belief in my church history and denominational beliefs that have shaped me throughout my years. I strongly hold true the teachings of John Calvin and the creeds and confessions of the Reformed Church in America. They have greatly shaped my understanding of revelation and scripture. As we move on to the next chapters of this paper, I aim to show this in my writing.
Chapter 2
God’s Trinity, God’s Attributes, and also creation and providence
Introduction
In this chapter I would like to define who God is and dissect and wrestle with God’s intentions for this world. We will look at God as the Trinity. We will also examine God’s attributes, creation, and providence. It is through God’s creation that we can truly see his attributes and providence for human kind.
Who is God?
One way to first jump into the understanding of who God is can be accomplished by looking at his attributes. One scripture that comes to mind is found in the book of Exodus. God proclaims to Moses “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty,
but visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”(Exodus 34:6-7 {NRSV}) This Scripture points us to the forgiveness of our depravity. As humans we are born of the Sin nature. We do not have to try to do bad things or sin it comes to us naturally. In this scripture God declares his undying love and faithfulness for us. God provides a way to forgive our sin’s and all that we have done wrong.
The Belgic Confession written in 1561 gives great insight into knowing God. Particularly if you look at Articles 2-8. To summarize these articles, we know God by many means. God is the creator of all things. God communicates to us through His Holy and divine Word. This Word of God was brought to us not by human will. The word of God was brought to us by men and woman that were moved by the Holy Spirit. All 66 canonical books of the Protestant Bible where written by this means. The Apocryphal Books were not written in the same manner and are not included in the Protestant Bible. Human writings can never live up the light of the Holy Scriptures. We believe in one God that is of one essence, in which there are three persons Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This doesn’t mean that God is divided into three. All three are equal and of the same essence. The Father is the origin meaning he created all things visible and invisible. The Son is made in the image of the Father. The Holy Spirit is eternal power which comes from the Father and Son. All three essences are of one Triune God.[7]
John Calvin tells us that “Knowledge of God involves trust and reverence”[8] Calvin says that this knowledge teaches us first to have fear and reverence for God. Secondly with our
knowledge of God we should seek everything good from Him. Calvin goes on to tell us “God Bestows the actual knowledge of himself upon us only in Scriptures”[9] Through Scripture God chose to reveal a more intimate part of himself. God chose the Jews as his very own flock to shepherd them through His Word. So, that they would have a more intimate knowledge of who He is[10]. One more important theological point that Calvin makes is “The contemplation of God’s goodness in his creation will lead us to thankfulness and trust.”[11] God has made all things for our good and salvation. God created all things for humankind’s sake. God thoughtfully created the earth in 6 days. He could have done it one day if He wanted to. However, God prepared everything He foresaw to be useful to humankind. In doing so, God is seen as a father who lovingly cares for His creation. [12] The God that we know is one Triune God. He created all things on earth to benefit human kind. Through the 66 books of the Bible we get a glimpse of who this one God is that we worship. Scripture is the ultimate authority in our understanding of who God is. Scripture though written by man and woman was inspired through God by the Holy Spirit.
Trinity-
There are many people that get confused about the Trinity and historically it has been debated since early church times. Being of the Reformed faith I would like to delve deeper into Article 8 of the Belgic Confession. In the Reformed faith we believe in one God. We believe that God is of one single essence. This essence is made up of three persons the Father, Son and Holy Spirt. The Belgic confession describes these distinct persons as follow; “The Father
is the cause, origin, and source of all things, visible as well as invisible. The Son
is the Word, the Wisdom, and the image of the Father. The Holy Spirit is the eternal power
and might, proceeding from the Father and the Son.”[13] It is human instinct to want to assign numbers or rankings to the Trinity. Some may tell you that the Holy Spirit is of less importance than the Father and Son. I would say that is a heresy and can easily be disputed by scripture. One particular verse that comes to mind is found in the book of John. “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24 {NRSV}) “God is Spirit” means that He is not a physical being limited to one place. He is omnipotent and is present everywhere and can be worshiped anywhere. This scripture also points to the fact that we need to come to worship without resistance. If we come to the worship un guarded we can enter into a deeper depth of worship that is Spirit led. This show’s us clearly that the Spirit is God, and that all substances are equal and should not be numbered or ranked.
Creation
Beth Felker Jones in her book Practicing Christian Doctrine gives great insight into the Doctrine of Creation. Jones tells us that when we hear the word creation. We have been trained to think of nature or a scientific account of the origins of the universe. What Jones means is that our conversation on creation must begin with the character of God. God is the Creator of all things on heaven and Earth and sustains all that is.[14] This statement is in keeping with the Reformed tradition. When we look at the Belgic confession Article 12 gives us the insight on The Creation of All Things. In the Reformed tradition we believe that the Father Created all things heaven and earth and all creatures. God gave all creatures their being. He did this by giving them shape form and appearance and characteristics for serving the Creator. God governs over all things that He has created. He does this with his divine power and providence in order to serve humanity. In return Humankind is to worship the God. God is also responsible for the creation of angels. Angels are messengers of God and serve the elect. Some angels have fallen and become corrupt while others have remained in their original state, the ones that have fallen are the devils and evil spirits. The devils and evil spirits are enemies of God. They try to ruin those of the church and its members by deception. By their wickedness they are condemned to everlasting torment.[15]
Providence
Providence is one of those things that goes hand and hand with creation. John Calvin teaches us not to think of God as a momentary Creator. It would be cold to believe that God finished his work once and for all after He finished creating it. Another words God is the Creator and he is also the everlasting Governor and Preserver. He sustains, nourishes and cares for everything that he has made.[16] The book of Matthew tells us “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 And even the hairs of your head are all counted.” (Matthew 10;29-30) This scripture is a beautiful illustration in which Calvin and the Belgic Confession use in order to show’s God even provides for his lowliest of creatures. There one particular thing that some of the Non -Reformed faith may have trouble with is the elect. Even some of the Reformed faith struggle with Election. The decree of election is one that many wrestles with, and is rarely taught upon outside theological circles. This is the thought that God chose a definite number of people who will be saved in Christ. Therefore, some people may have trouble believing that God only created angels for the elect. I believe that this is one that many will continue to struggle with. When we think about creation it raises the question did God only create the universe for the Elect? I do believe in election and often ponder questions like these at times.
Conclusion
God is a great communicator who speaks to us through scripture. It through scripture that we get a clearer picture of who God is. The Triune God in whom we worship has many great attributes. We see God as the Creator of heaven and earth and all creatures. When we reflect upon all that God has created it brings us a great feeling of thankfulness for all that he has done for us. Creation also goes hand in hand with providence. God created all things in six days. However, his divine power sustains all his creation from the greatest to the least. It is through God’s creation that we can truly see his attributes and providence for human kind.
Chapter 3
Who Are Human beings, and what is Sin? Who is Jesus Christ and how is he our Savior?
Introduction
In this chapter we will look at who human beings are and their relationship to sin. We will also explore who Jesus Christ is. We will also look into what salvation is and how Christ is our one true Savior. We will take a systematic approach in dissecting theological anthropology, sin, Christology, Atonement. Christ and how is he our Savior? Christ is a great mediator sent as a divine being who took on flesh in order to atone for our sins.
Who are human beings?
One doesn’t have to look far to find Imago Dei which is the doctrine of the image of God. Genesis 1:26-27 tell us Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” So, God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:20-30 {NRSV})
Many Christians hold a substantial view on the image of God. This means that being made in the image of God helps us to God in ways that other creatures and animals cannot. The human soul is unique in that it gives us distinct capacity for rational and we are also able to love others and pursue the good in life, and this gives us an natural sense of God.[17] There is also the functional view of the image of God. This draws from Genesis 1:26 where God gave dominion over the fish, birds, cattle, wild animals, and every creeping thing toAdam and Eve. This is unique because God gives the human beings the authority and ability to take care of all Hiscreation. There is also a contemporary way of looking at the image of God with a relational view. This view begins by emphasizing God’s perfect relationship between Father Son and Holy Spirit. This view shows us that humans as supposed to exist in relationship with others. Genesis 1:27 tells us God created us in the image of God and He created male and female. This suggests that He did this in order that humans could have a relationship with others.[18]
All three of these views give us something to ponder and reflect upon when thinking of the image of God. I Think all three views don’t have to be absolute. I believe we were created with a unique soul and that we were also meant to take care of all of God’s living creation by being good stewards of the land. I also believe that God created man and woman to be in relationship with one another. Human beings were meant to be in relationship with one another.
Sin
The Apostle Paul gives us an account of the doctrine of Sin in the book of Romans. Paul Says” Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned— sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come. (Romans 5:12-14) What Paul is telling us here is that Adam acted as our human representative when he went against God. By Adam’s one offense he made the whole world guilty of sin. As a result, Adam’s original sin is imputed to each of us. It is abundantly clear through reading Paul’s account and Genesis 3 that Adam brought sin to the human race. It was with Adam’s original sin that death along with sin entered into this world and have remained close allies.
John Calvin in the Institutes of Christian Religion gives us a great definition of original sin. Calvin tells us “Original sin, therefore, seems to be a hereditary depravity and corruption of our nature, diffused into all parts of the soul, which first makes us liable to God’s wrath, then also brings forth in us those works which Scripture calls “works of the flesh” [Gal. 5: 19]. And that is properly what Paul often calls sin. The works that come forth from it— such as adulteries, fornications, thefts, hatreds, murders, carousing’s— he accordingly calls “fruits of sin” [Gal. 5: 19– 21],”[19] Calvin affirms for us what scripture tells us. That is that original sin is passed on from generation to generation. We are corrupt by nature and we must recognize that. We can fall prey to all the “works of the flesh: that the Apostle Paul warns us about in Galatians 5:19-21. We must remain cognizant of our Sin nature and regularly confess and repent of our sin to our Lord. We must remain in constant conversation with the Lord through prayer and our actions. So, that on that final judgment day we may not receive the wrath that we deserve because of our corrupt nature.
Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is the image of God in the flesh. Jesus Christ gives the Christian faith its identity. The Christian life is a life that is distinguished by the relationship with Jesus who is both divine and human.[20] This raises questions as to why God sent His Son to be in relationship with us. In the book of Isaiah, we are told “Rather, your iniquities have been barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. (Isaiah 59:2 NRSV) Therefore, Christ was sent to be Immanuel which meansGod with us. Christ wassent to be a mediator between humankind and God. This was a heavenly decree that took place so that humankind could break down the barriers that they had built between themselves and God.[21]
What is salvation?
Simply put salvation is being saved by God from our sins. How is it that we attain salvation? Salvation does not come by an act that we performed. Salvation is through Jesus Christ the perfect sacrifice that went to Calvary and shed His blood to atone for all of man kind’s sins. The book of John says “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”(John 3:16) The are no works in this life that we can perform to guarantee our salvation. We gain our salvation through grace and by faith. The Apostle Paul tells us “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast.”(Ephesians 2:8-9) Only through our true unconditional faith in Christ can salvation be attained by His grace.
How is he our Savior?
Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. He is the center of the Christian faith. Jesus Christ allows us to have a relationship with God. Without Christ our sins would keep barricade us from God. God sent His only Son to take on flesh and atone for our sins. We are saved truly by God’s grace by having a relationship with Christ our sins are forgiven and we are redeemed. Early in the Book of Matthew Christ is described as our savior from his birth. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and said “She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) God hasshown the world grace and true love byappointing Christ to bring salvation to this world. “In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10) John Calvin points out that this particular scripture points to God’s love for us. Calvin tells us that Christ was appointed to us by God in order to reconcile us to Himself.[22] There is no other way for us to receive salvation. Humankind is bound by sin and there is no way to receive salvation except through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is our rescuer we are saved by His grace.[23]
Atonement
One of the best ways to understand Atonement from a Reformed perspective is to look at Article 21 of the Belgic Confession. In the Reformed Church we believe that Jesus Christ is a high priest forever. He presented himself before his Father in our name. Offering himself on the Cross pouring out His precious blood in order to cleans our sins as the prophets had fore told.[24] The Belgic Confession states “For it is written that “the punishment that made us whole”
was placed on the Son of God and that “by his bruises we are healed. “He was “like a lamb that is led to slaughter”; he was “numbered with the transgressors, “and condemned as a criminal by Pontius Pilate, though Pilate had declared that he was innocent.”[25] The prophet Isiah predicted the coming messiah in Isiah 53:4-12. Christ being the most righteous being suffered for all the unrighteous. Christ endured all of this for the forgiveness of our sins. Through Christ sacrifice there is no other means to invent or seek to reconcile ourselves with God. Through this one and only perfect sacrifice Jesus renders believer’s perfect forever.
Chapter 4
Who is the Holy Spirit and how does the Spirit work in the world and the community of Faith?
Introduction
In this chapter we will look at who is the Holy Spirit, and how does the Spirit work the world and the community of faith. We will also take systematic approach at answering what is salvation. In order to attain salvation, we must partake in the sacraments and be sealed by the Holy Spirit. We will look at what a sacrament is, and also explore predestination and election.
Who is the Holy Spirit?
Being an active member of the Reformed Church in America I affirm and believe in the Belgic Confession. I believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is of the same essence of the Father and Son. This means that the Holy Spirit is not created. The Holy Spirit is God and shares the same glory as the Father and Son.[26] The Holy Spirit is not just a New Testament phenomenon. The Holy Spirit is present in the beginning of time The Book of Genesis says “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2 {NIV}) Therefore from the very beginning of time we see that the Holy Spirit is God. It is also my belief that the Holy Spirit lives and abides with all baptized Christian believers. Christ said “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 {NRSV}) In our baptism we are made new we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is with us to the end of times. Part of our church doctrine and standards is the Heidelberg Catechism which is a question and answer format. It is one of the most ecumenical catechisms and confessions of the Reformed tradition. Question 53 States “What do you believe concerning “the Holy Spirit”? The answer states “First, that the Spirit, with the Father and the Son, is the eternal God. Second that the Spirit is given also to me, so that, through true faith, he makes me share in Christ and all his benefits, comforts me, and will remain with me forever.”[27]
Salvation
How does one receive salvation? The Apostle Paul makes it pretty clear in his Epistle to the Ephesians. Paul tells us “ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast.”(Ephesians 2:8-9) This is an awesome gift given to us by God. Martin Luther gave us a theological account for this during the reformation. Luther had 5 Sola’s two of them directly apply to salvation. Sola gratia which is Latin for “grace alone” means that salvation from beginning to the end is a gift from God. As believers we need to put our full confidence in the assurance of God’s power to save. The second Sola that applies to salvation is sola fide. Sola fide is the Latin word which means “faith alone” this key theological idea leads us to realize that salvation is a two-part process. In faith alone we receive justification and salvation. One must be justified to receive salvation and you can’t have one with our the other. One scripture that points us to this is found in the book of Romans. Paul tells us:
“Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:1-11)
Through our faith in Jesus Christ and the blood that he shed on the cross we have been justified or made righteous in the eyes of God. Through this righteousness that we receive we find peace with God.
Dr. J. Todd Billings in his book Calvin’s Theology and it’s Reception gives great insight on Calvin’s theological idea of double grace. Dr. Billing’s tells us that Justification and sanctification are found in Christ. The Father pardon’s our sin because of Christ’s blamelessness. Which is known as justification. While the Holy Spirit sanctifies believers for new life. Both justification and sanctification are accessed through participation in Christ. However, both aspects would be damaged if the two sides of the double grace were mixed or collapsed into each other.[28]
Predestination /Election
Predestination also known as election is the doctrine that asserts that God chooses individuals and people for salvation. In the book Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion John Calvin gives a great insight of predestination. Calvin tells us “No one who wishes to be thought religious dares simply deny predestination, by which God adopts some to hope of life, and sentences others to eternal death.”[29] This is a doctrine that many will find trouble with that only elect individuals will find salvation. Another words God already has a finite number of people that will receive salvation. So, it is for reasons that we may not that God has chosen to not offer salvation to everyone. This is a tough doctrine and requires much study of scripture and theology to help us understand this doctrine. Calvin tells us “We call predestination God’s eternal decree, by which he compacted with himself what he willed to become of each man. For all are not created in equal condition; rather, eternal life is foreordained for some, eternal damnation for others.”[30] As an active member of the Reformed Church in America the Canons of Dort are part of our church standards and confessions. The first main point in the Canon of Dort covers election. Article 7 tells us that from before the world existed by grace God chose in Christ an exact number of people out of the entire human race that will receive salvation. Those chosen are neither more deserving than the others. God appointed Christ as the mediator of all who were chosen for eternity. Article 10 explains this a little clearer. Election is based on God’s good pleasure. Meaning that God didn’t choose the elect for certain qualities they possessed. Instead God chose to adopt certain people from a common pool of sinners as Hid own possession. Article 11 tells us that election is unchangeable. God has a greater wisdom than we can fathom. Election made by God can never be changed or altered. The number of the elect can be reduced either.[31]
Sacraments
The word sacrament comes from the Latin word sacramentum this word is a sign that signifies the solemn oath a soldier took to the commander when he entered into military service. This military oath is a profession one makes in order to go into military service. So, much like the soldier, our sign is that we profess Jesus Christ our commander.[32]
The Catholic Church believes in seven sacraments they are Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. We of the Reformed faith believe there are only two sacraments in which Christ has ordained us to celebrate. These two sacraments are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. John Calvin tells us a sacrament is “an outward sign by which the Lord seals on our consciences the promises of his good will toward us in order to sustain the weakness of our faith; and we in turn attest our piety toward him in the presence of the Lord and of his angels and before men.[33] To take it a little further the sacraments are visible signs and seals. Meaning that God works in us through the power of the Holy Spirit.[34]
John Calvin gives great insight into how the sacraments work. Calvin tells us “The sacraments properly fulfill their office only when the Spirit, that inward teacher, comes to them by whose power alone hearts are penetrated and affections moved and our souls opened for the sacraments to enter in.”[35] According to Calvin if the Holy Spirit isn’t present then the taking of Sacraments is empty. We must remain faithful to the Holy Spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to be alive in our hearts when partaking in the Sacraments. It is my belief that sacrament is God’s promise to us by a means of grace. By partaking in the sacraments God’s present grace is offered to us through the Holy Spirit. Sacraments call us into being an active participant in the body of Christ.
Chapter 5
Who are the people of God, and where does this narrative lead them?
Introduction
Covenant
The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines covenant as “Oath-bound promise whereby one party solemnly pledges to bless or serve another party in some specified way. Sometimes the keeping of the promise depends upon the meeting of certain conditions by the party to whom the promise is made. On other occasions the promise is made unilaterally and unconditionally. The covenant concept is a central, unifying theme of Scripture, establishing and defining God’s relationship to man in all ages.”[36]
There are many Covenants throughout the Bible. If we go back to the Book of Genesis God makes a covenant with Noah and all creation. Also, in Genesis we see the Abrahamic Covenants. The Mosaic Covenant takes place in Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, and Leviticus. The Davidic Covenant is shown in 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, and Psalms. All these mentioned covenants are found in the Old Testament. As a Christian we belong to the New Covenant which is found in the New Testament. The Gospels and the Epistles all point us to the new covenant which was given to us through Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary. We find the New Covenant in Matthew 26. This is where we see the institution of the Lord’s Supper. The Book of Matthew says “While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the[d] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:26-29) This scripture is the sacramental illustration of the Lord’s supper which we in the Reformed tradition partake in weekly and or monthly depending on the congregation and traditions. The Lord’s Supper points us to the forgiveness of sin’s that we receive from the blood shed by Christ. The New Covenant replaces the Old and frees us from the Law. We were never able to keep the Law. No amount of animal sacrifice could wash away our sin’s. Only the blood of our sinless Savior can wash away our sin’s. If you have faith in Jesus Christ then you can receive the blessing of the New Covenant.
Ecclesiology
Ecclesiology from my understanding is the study of the Church itself. Meaning how the church community, congregation, and denomination understands itself. This includes the church’s understanding of its role in salvation, it’s historical relationship to Christ, and its discipline, polity, and leadership. Beth Felker Jones in her book Practicing Christian Doctrine gives a great illustration of ecclesiology when it centers on church practice. Jones states” When ecclesiology centers on church practice, we see the body’s unity in our faithful life together as the people of God. For Luther, the church happens when we faithfully preach the Word and administer the sacraments. “Wherever you hear or see this word preached, believed, professed, and lived,” Luther writes, “do not doubt that the true ecclesia sancta Catholica, ‘a Christian holy people’ must be there.”[ 3] Church happens when the gospel is proclaimed, when new Christians are “buried with” Christ (Rom. 6: 4) in baptism, and when the family of God is fed at the communion table. This is visible, material unity: hear the Word preached.[37]
The Reformed Church in America practices cooperate worship. The congregation is involved in the service through prayer song and offering. The church worship is liturgical. Liturgical often times refers to a highly formal way of worshiping. In the reformed send the liturgy means the work of the people. Reformed Church is liturgical in that our worship involves the whole people of God. Lastly our church worship is sacramental. Through the practice of baptism and the Lords Super God comes through in all our senses.[38]
The Constitution of the Reformed Church in America is made up if three things. The first part is the Doctrinal Standard which are made up of the Belgic Confession, Belhar Confession, Heidelberg Catechism with its Compendium, and the Canons of the Synod of Dort. All these combined together are referred to as the Standards of the Reformed Church in America. The Second part that makes up the constitution is Liturgy. The Liturgy and the Directory of for Worship. The directory is a functional appendix to the Liturgy. The third part of the constitution is Polity. This is the Government of the Reformed Church in America. Disciples, judicial procedures and the preamble to the Book of Church Order are all found in the Book of Church order.[39]
The polity of the Reformed Church in America is a Presbyterian style government. Each local church has a governing body that is called the consistory. Each consistory is made up of elders and deacons who are elected by the congregation. The consistory also includes the installed minister from the church. The office of Elder maintains order and Christian discipline. They assist with pastoral care. They interview and receive into the church new members. They help plan and participate in the observance of the sacraments. Deacons are responsible for the benevolence of the church. They minister and they take care of the needs of people within the congregation and the community and even around the world. Ministers serve as the pastor of the church. They are the teachers of the congregation they care for the congregation and help equip them for ministry outside of the church in the local community and the world. A consistory is governed by its local classis. A classis is a group of ministers and elder delegates from local churches with in a similar geographical region. Each classis supervises congregations and ministers within its membership. The classis has judicial power over local consistories. The classis receives new congregations into the denomination. It is also responsible for ordination and installation of new ministers. It also has the power to dismiss ministers. They also take under their care students of theology. They regional synod is the next assembly in the Reformed Church in America. There are currently eight regional synods in the United States of America and Canada. They are responsible for coming up with programs to further the Gospel in the Geographical location they are assigned to. They are also responsible for forming new classis or dissolving classis that have become in active. The General Synod is the highest assembly in the Reformed Church in America. The membership is made up of minister and elder representatives from each classis and regional synod. The General Synod meets annually to sets the direction and tone for denominational ministry. It sets policy relating to the denomination program policy. It also has a responsibility over all lower assemblies[40]
Eschatology
John Calvin the founder of the Reformed movement believed in the intermediate state. Much of the theology of the Reformed Church in America we can attribute to John Calvin and his teachings. The traditional view of the intermediate state is that when we die, we will experience a time of being disembodied. This is not something for us to fret about. The intermediate state is a time in which our souls will be with the Lord. The intermediate state is the time before Christ’s return, the resurrection of the dead, and final judgement. The intermediate state is backed by scripture. In death our sin is put to death. We will no longer suffer from the sin nature. So, the time we spend in the intermediate state will be a time without sin. Our souls will be with the Lord in heaven, looking towards the time of the general resurrection, and final judgment with Christian hope.
The millennial view that I agree with is the premillennialism. Premillennialist take a view that Christ will reign on Earth for a thousand years after his return. From a historical premillennialism viewpoint there are a few things that must happen before Christ returns. They are evangelization of all nations, the great tribulation, the great apostasy, and the return of a personal Antichrist. This event will not be a two-stage event. It will be a single occurrence. Premillennialists believe that when Christ comes again believers who have died will be raised. The Christian believers that are living will be transformed and glorified. This group together will meet Christ in the air and then accompany Him back to earth. What comes next is the antichrist is slain and a vast majority of the Jews that are living repent of their sins and believe Christ is the Messiah. It is thought that the Jewish people will be a source of untold blessings for the world. At this point and time is when Christ sets up his millennial kingdom. Both redeemed Jews and Gentiles will rule with him. Everyone Jew and Gentile will be of one group the people of God. Unbelieving nations that are still present on earth will be kept in check by Christ and his rod of iron. During the millennium sin will still exist, but peace will prosper, and nature will flourish. Toward the end Satan will come back and try to make nations rebel. This is where fire will reign down from above and Satan will be cast into the lake of fire. At this Point the end of the millennium occurs and all unbelievers are resurrected. The believers and unbelievers will face judgement before the great white throne. Both will be judged and if your name is not in the book of life you be thrown into the lake of fire. God’s people then live on a new earth purged of all evil.[41]
I think this historical perspective of the millennial is the one that I prefer. I think of the thought of Apantesis. The Greek word used for describing public welcoming. In this version of the millennial believers in Christ do just that. They go and meet the Lord in the air and descend with him back to earth. Making this a one stage event instead of the opposite view where the believers go with Christ for seven years up in heaven and then return for the millennial. The premillennial version has the most historic value to me. This theory has been being taught since the 2nd century.
Ethics
I believe whole heartedly that when we think of Christian ethics we must turn to scripture. In the book of Matthew, we see the Pharisees, Sadducees and a lawyer gathered to ask Jesus what commandment is the greatest. Jesus replied to the lawyer that had asked the question “He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
There are many scriptures and Mosaic laws that we can pull from to shape our Christian ethics. But when you step back and look at the Law of Christ. If one follows these two commandments then it will be unlikely that they would break the rest of the commandments that God gave us through Moses at Mount Sinai. I believe that it is our highest and most ethical duty to love God with all of our heart mind and strength. This coupled with loving your neighbor as yourself gives all the glory to God. If we follow these commandments then we give God all the glory he deserves and everything that we do isn’t for us but to glorify Him and His kingdom. If we are to follow these two commandments, we will be not only a blessing to God but to others that we meet in our daily lives. The scripture and many other scriptures in the Bible can help guide our moral compass. By following Christ’s law, we can see what is right in the eyes of the Lord, and we can also make those ethical decisions of what is not right.
Conclusion
When we review what we have learned we come to the understanding that it is Christ that frees us from the law and it is through our faith in him that we find grace in the new covenant. The ecclesiology of the Reformed Church in America is rich in tradition and history. It is through our confessions and standards that it becomes visible of who we are and what we affirm to be true. Eschatology or the study of the end of times is a robust field to explore. There are many theories out there. Even Calvin never wrote a commentary on Revelation. So, we can ponder and wrestle with thoughts of the end of times. I have given you my historical perspective of the millennial view. This is a fascinating topic that we can study and debate for years to come. On the topic of ethics, it is scripture that gives us valuable insight into how we should act. It is the Law of Christ His two commandments that sums up all other commandments and can lead us towards a path of righteousness.
Bibliography
“Belgic Confession | Reformed Church In America”. Rca.Org. Last modified 2019. Accessed March 25, 2019. https://www.rca.org/belgic.
Billings, J. Todd, and I. John Hesselink. Calvin’s Theology And Its Reception. 1st ed. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012.
Brand, Chad, Eric Alan Mitchell, Steve Bonds, E. Ray Clendenen, Trent C Butler, and Bill Latta. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Holman Bible Publishers, 2003
“Brief Outline Of RCA History”. Reformed Church In America. Last modified 2020. Accessed April 9, 2020. https://www.rca.org/resources/rca-basics/brief-outline-rca-history.
Calvin, Jean, Ford Lewis Battles, and John T McNeill. Calvin: Institutes Of The Christian Religion Volume One. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006.
“Canons Of Dort | Reformed Church In America”. Rca.Org. Last modified 2019. Accessed March 25, 2019. https://www.rca.org/resources/canons-dort.
“Creeds And Confessions”. Reformed Church In America. Last modified 2020. Accessed April 9, 2020. https://www.rca.org/rca-basics/creeds-and-confessions.
Heidelberg Catechism. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2013.
Hoekema, Anthony A. THE BIBLE AND THE FUTURE. 1st ed. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1979.
“How We’re Organized | Reformed Church In America”. Rca.Org. Last modified 2019. Accessed May 10, 2019. https://www.rca.org/organized
“How We Worship | Reformed Church In America”. Rca.Org. Last modified 2019. Accessed May 10, 2019. https://www.rca.org/howweworship.
Jones, Beth Felker. Practicing Christian Doctrine. Grand Rapid, MI: Baker Publishing Group, 2014.
[1] “Brief Outline Of RCA History”, Reformed Church In America, last modified 2020, accessed April 9, 2020, https://www.rca.org/resources/rca-basics/brief-outline-rca-history.
[2] “Creeds And Confessions”, Reformed Church In America, last modified 2020, accessed April 9, 2020, https://www.rca.org/rca-basics/creeds-and-confessions.
[3] Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Holman Bible Publishers, 2003).
[4] Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Holman Bible Publishers, 2003).
[5] Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Holman Bible Publishers, 2003).
[6] “Belgic Confession | Reformed Church In America”, Rca.Org, last modified 2019, accessed March 25, 2019, https://www.rca.org/belgic.
[7] “Belgic Confession | Reformed Church In America”, Rca.Org, last modified 2019, accessed March 25, 2019, https://www.rca.org/belgic,2-3.
[8] Jean Calvin, Ford Lewis Battles and John T McNeill, Calvin : Institutes Of The Christian Religion Volume One (Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006): 41
[9] Calvin,42.
[10] Ibid,69-70.
[11] Ibid, 182.
[12] Ibid,183.
[13] “Belgic Confession | Reformed Church In America”, Rca.Org, last modified 2019, accessed March 25, 2019, https://www.rca.org/belgic.
[14] Beth Felker Jones, Practicing Christian Doctrine (Grand Rapid, MI: Baker Publishing Group, 2014):79.
[15] “Belgic Confession | Reformed Church In America”, Rca.Org, last modified 2019, accessed March 25, 2019, https://www.rca.org/belgic.
[16] Jean Calvin, Ford Lewis Battles and John T McNeill, Calvin : Institutes Of The Christian Religion Volume One (Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006): 197-199
[17] Beth Felker Jones, Practicing Christian Doctrine (Grand Rapid, MI: Baker Publishing Group, 2014)104.
[18] Jones,105-106.
[19] Jean Calvin, Ford Lewis Battles and John T McNeill, Calvin : Institutes Of The Christian Religion Volume One (Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006):251.
[20] Beth Felker Jones, Practicing Christian Doctrine (Grand Rapid, MI: Baker Publishing Group, 2014):117.
[21] Jean Calvin, Ford Lewis Battles and John T McNeill, Calvin : Institutes Of The Christian Religion Volume One (Louisville, Kentucky: Westminister John Knox Press, 2006):464-465.
[22] Calvin,530.
[23] Beth Felker Jones, Practicing Christian Doctrine (Grand Rapid, MI: Baker Publishing Group, 2014):155.
[24] “Belgic Confession | Reformed Church In America”, Rca.Org, last modified 2019, accessed March 25, 2019, https://www.rca.org/belgic.
[25] “Belgic Confession | Reformed Church In America”, Rca.Org, last modified 2019, accessed March 25, 2019, https://www.rca.org/belgic.
[26] “Belgic Confession | Reformed Church In America”, Rca.Org, last modified 2019, accessed March 25, 2019, https://www.rca.org/belgic.
[27] What do you believe concerning “the Holy Spirit”? A. First, that the Spirit, with the Father and the Son, is eternal God. 1 Second, that the Spirit is given also to me, so that, through true faith, he makes me share in Christ and all his benefits through true faith, comforts me, 4 and will remain with me forever.
Heidelberg Catechism (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2013):31.
[28] J. Todd Billings and I. John Hesselink, Calvin’s Theology And Its Reception, 1st ed. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012)56.
[29] Jean Calvin, Ford Lewis Battles and John T McNeill, Calvin : Institutes Of The Christian Religion Volume Two (Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006):926
[30] Calvin, 926.
[31] Article 7: The Sufficiency of Scripture We believe that this Holy Scripture contains the will of God completely and that everything one must believe to be saved is sufficiently taught in it. For since the entire manner of service which God requires of us is described in it at great length, no one–even an apostle or an angel from heaven, as Saint Paul says–ought to teach other than what the Holy Scriptures have already taught us. For since it is forbidden to add to the Word of God, or take anything from it,it is plainly demonstrated that the teaching is perfect and complete in all respects.
Therefore, we must not consider human writings–
no matter how holy their authors may have been–equal to the divine writings; nor may we put custom, nor the majority, nor age, nor the passage of times nor of persons, nor councils, decrees, or official decisions the truth of God, for truth is above everything else. For all human beings are liars by nature and more vain than vanity itself. Therefore we reject with all our hearts everything that does not agree with this infallible rule, as we are taught to do by the apostles when they say “Test the spirits to see if they are from God, “and also, “Do not receive into the house or welcome anyone who comes to you
and does not bring this teaching. “Belgic Confession | Reformed Church In America”, Rca.Org, last modified 2019, accessed March 25, 2019, https://www.rca.org/belgic
[32]Jean Calvin, Ford Lewis Battles and John T McNeill, Calvin : Institutes Of The Christian Religion Volume Two (Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006):1288.
[34] “Belgic Confession | Reformed Church In America”, Rca.Org, last modified 2019, accessed March 25, 2019, https://www.rca.org/belgic
[35] Jean Calvin, Ford Lewis Battles and John T McNeill, Calvin : Institutes Of The Christian Religion Volume Two (Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006)1284.
[36] Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Holman Bible Publishers, 2003).
[37] Beth Felker Jones, Practicing Christian Doctrine (Grand Rapid, MI: Baker Publishing Group, 2014):209.
[38] “How We Worship | Reformed Church In America”, Rca.Org, last modified 2019, accessed May 10, 2019, https://www.rca.org/howweworship.
[39] “The Constitution Of The RCA | Reformed Church In America”, Rca.Org, last modified 2019, accessed May 10, 2019, https://www.rca.org/standards.
[40] “How We’re Organized | Reformed Church In America”, Rca.Org, last modified 2019, accessed May 10, 2019, https://www.rca.org/organized.
[41] Anthony A. Hoekema, THE BIBLE AND THE FUTURE, 1st ed. (Grand Rapids , Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1979).