All Articles For Believing and Confessing

Previous article in this series: May 1, 2015, p. 346. (Second Helvetic Confession, Chapter 1, B) Fundamental to everything that the Reformed Christian believes and confesses is the truth of sacred Scripture: “…in this Holy Scripture, the universal Church of Christ has the most complete exposition of all that pertains to a saving faith, and also to the framing of a life acceptable to God…” (SHC, 1.1). What we believe and confess is derived from Scripture, is taught in Scripture, and can be defended on the basis of Scripture. It is what we believe about Scripture more than anything else...

Previous article in this series: February 1, 2015, p. 202. Lord’s Day 27 Question 72. Is then the external baptism with water the washing away of sin itself? Answer. Not at all: for the blood of Jesus Christ only, and the Holy Ghost, cleanse us from all sin. Question 73. Why then doth the Holy Ghost call baptism “the washing of regeneration” and “the washing away of sins”? Answer. God speaks thus not without great cause, to wit, not only thereby to teach us that, as the filth of the body is purged away by water, so our sins are...

Previous article in this series: March 1, 2015, p. 254. With this article we begin our consideration of the thirty chapters of the Second Helvetic Confession. Considering the length of these chapters, our plan is to write two Standard Bearer articles on each chapter. We will quote the individual sections of each chapter; following each section we will give a brief exposition. We intend to use the titles of the chapters of the Confession as the titles for our articles. Although the chapters of the Second Helvetic Confession are quite lengthy, quoting them is necessary if the purpose of familiarity with the...

Previous article in this series: January 1, 2015, p. 158. Background The Second Helvetic Confession was written in 1562 by Heinrich Bullinger (1504-1575), whose life we considered in our previous article. It was intended by Bullinger to be buried with him as a testimony to the faith for which he had lived and which he had defended to his dying day. But despite his intentions, before he died Bullinger’s confession came to light and was widely disseminated. This was due to a request from the pious Elector of the Palatinate, Frederick III, that Bullinger prepare a clear and complete exposition...

Lord’s Day 26 Question 69. How art thou admonished and assured by holy baptism that the one sacrifice of Christ upon the cross is of real advantage to thee? Answer. Thus: that Christ appointed this external washing with water, adding thereto this promise, that I am as certainly washed by His blood and Spirit from all the pollution of my soul, that is, from all my sins, as I am washed externally with water, by which the filthiness of the body is commonly washed away. Question 70. What is it to be washed with the blood and Spirit of Christ?...

Introduction Beginning with this issue of the Standard Bearer, the undersigned has agreed to write a series of articles explaining the Second Helvetic Confession. These articles will regularly appear in the rubric “Believing and Confessing.” This first article and the one that is to follow will serve as a general introduction to this new series. In this article we will focus on the author of the Second Helvetic Confession, Heinrich Bullinger. In the next article we will take an overview of the confession that he penned. Very likely most readers of the Standard Bearer are not familiar with this Reformed...

Lord’s Day 25 Question 65. Since then we are made partakers of Christ and all His benefits by faith only, whence doth this faith proceed? Answer. From the Holy Ghost, who works faith in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel, and confirms it by the use of the sacraments. Question 66. What are the sacraments? Answer. The sacraments are holy, visible signs and seals, appointed of God for this end, that by the use thereof, He may the more fully declare and seal to us the promise of the gospel, namely, that He grants us freely the remission...

Lord’s Day 24 Question 62. But why cannot our good works be the whole or part of our righteousness before God? Answer. Because that the righteousness which can be approved of before the tribunal of God must be absolutely perfect, and in all respects conformable to the divine law; and also, that our best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin. Question 63. What! do not our good works merit, which yet God will reward in this and in a future life? Answer. This reward is not of merit, but of grace. Question 64. But doth...

Lord’s Day 23 Question 59. But what doth it profit thee now that thou believest all this? Answer. That I am righteous in Christ, before God, and an heir of eternal life. Question 60. How art thou righteous before God? Answer. Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ; so that, though my conscience accuse me that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept none of them, and am still inclined to all evil; notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine, but only of mere grace, grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and...

Lord’s Day 22 Question 57. What comfort doth the “resurrection of the body” afford thee? Answer. That not only my soul after this life shall be immediately taken up to Christ its head; but also, that this my body, being raised by the power of Christ, shall be re­united with my soul, and made like unto the glorious body of Christ. Question 58. What comfort takest thou from the article of “life everlasting”? Answer. That since I now feel in my heart the beginning of eternal joy, after this life I shall inherit perfect salvation, which “eye hath not seen,...