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CAN YOU STILL MAKE CONFESSION OF FAITH IN 1985?

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CAN YOU STILL MAKE CONFESSION OF FAITH IN 1985?

8 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

The author of this article, J. Kwantes, labors on behalf of the Netherlands Reformed Congregations as an evangelist in the Netherlands. The following has been translated from our Dutch youth periodical, “Daniel, “ by Elder Wm. Van Voorst, with the hope that it may provide guidance for young people on the question of making confession of faith.

The question asked by many young people is: Can I still make confession of faith in 1985? You can do it so that you don’t have to go to catechism anymore. You can also do it because your parents want you to. It is a happy day for our parents when they hear us give our oath before God and the congregation. There can be a good thought in this.

But to attend the confession of faith class is an important decision. In catechism class we are being prepared for the confession of faith class upon which follows public confession of faith. What Takes Place Before Confession:

Father and Mother have had you baptized. They have answered “yes” before the Lord for themselves and for you. The Lord has, by means of His servant, in the commission given him, confirmed the sign of the covenant on your forehead. You can never undo this. The sign of baptism will always remain valid before the Lord. Even when you serve the world and the devil, your baptism will go with you — even into the grave and before the throne of God. There we will stand, and the Lord shall show us that He has not desired our evil day, but that He has said in baptism: “I desire to be the God of your life. I desire that you depart from evil, and to wash you from all your sins. I desire to dwell with you and to sanctify you.”

Read carefully the form of baptism. Father and Mother have answered “yes” at your baptism and when you do confession of faith you assume this vow for yourself. To be sure, when you have become an adult, you cannot remain living upon the “yes” of your parents. This you must seriously consider.

Doing confession with an indifferent heart will only make of you a “dead professor.” Some choose an escape route by saying: “We are not doing confession of faith, but we are only confessing the truth.” But then we are trying to deceive God and man. When you have come to years of discretion, it is your calling to make confession of faith. What Kind Of Faith Is Intended?

It is the faith which is written of in Hebrews 11. That is not your or my faith, but it is the gift of God — His gift of grace. That is not an historical faith in the form of: “I believe that God exists and that the Bible is His Word.” Historical faith is necessary, but not saving.

What Is A True Faith?

“True faith is not only a certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in His Word, but also an assured confidence which the Holy Ghost works by the gospel in my heart,” etc. Read Lord’s Day 7 of the Heidelberg Catechism, Q & A 21.

By nature we do not possess this faith. But we may pray to the Lord for it. Young people, what a great blessing it would be if you could not go on anymore in your old way, and you would learn to bow your knees before the Lord to supplicate Him for true saving faith!

What The Lord God Requires:

If you have listened attentively in catechism, you have heard something about the will of God: the will of God’s decree and the will of His command. The first is hidden for us, but the second is revealed to us. Read Ecclesiastes 12:1, “Remember now thy Creator,” and Proverbs 8:17b, “Those that seek me early shall find me.” Josiah was sixteen years old when he began to seek the Lord (2 Chron. 34). When we unbelievingly reason about God’s decrees, we arrive on a “path of death,” because then we speak so coldly and without feeling these important matters, by saying things like, “God must work it in us,” and then turning our back on it all — albeit with a sigh.

God has worked everything necessary for salvation: from eternity, in paradise, in Bethlehem, on Golgotha, in the garden of Joseph via the resurrection, and on the Mount of Olives at His ascension. The Lord Jesus has accomplished all what is necessary unto salvation. We do not have to add anything to it.

And now, the demand of God in His Word remains: “Repent, and believe the gospel.”

But can we do this ourselves? Certainly not. But this is just the emphasis of preaching which must bring us on our knees by the administration of the Holy Spirit. Then we shall cry to the Lord for deliverance. He is glorified in His own work of grace. What Are You Busy With?

How do we occupy our time? Do we prayerfully search God’s precious Word? We believe that there are some young people who take this seriously. It is no small matter to give your “yes” before God and the congregation. It is a matter with which you must be prayerfully occupied because you cannot make confession of faith alone. And the Lord does not ask that of you either. Neither does the church and it’s office-bearers ask this of you.

You were taught in catechism that you cannot do confession alone. To the contrary, you have learned that it is altogether impossible to help yourself, but you have also learned that you are not willing. Read Romans 8:7-8: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Are you also occupied with the Word of God? What You Have Been Taught:

Reformed doctrine is the doctrine according to godliness. What does this mean to you? This doctrine cuts us off from all our own ability and knowledge, and points us to the Lord alone. Through this instruction the Lord gathers His church by means of His Word and Spirit. This doctrine strives against all unsound or shallow religion, with which the people in our time make themselves “rich.” Many reason: God does half, and I do the other half. The Reformation was a means in the hands of the Lord to deliver the Church from this heresy. Being saved is a one-sided work of the Lord. This doctrine drives one to God by the workings of the Holy Spirit. This you have been taught in catechism. Have you taken this instruction seriously?

Do not forget the Lord will once return to this instruction. Catechism does not make converted boys and girls of us. When the lessons which we have learned are applied by the Holy Spirit, we become unconverted in ourselves. Then we need the Lord. Then we may give over everything in His hands; yes, surrender ourselves to Him. My son, my daughter, give me your heart — no matter how sinful, bad and corrupt it is. Who You Need In Everything:

The Lord Jesus Christ has spoken to His church: “Without Me ye can do nothing.” Nevertheless, the Lord has given means unto salvation which we must use. Our parents will provide means for our daily living. Without these means you cannot live. When you are sick, the doctor gives you medicines to heal you and you must use them. The Lord gives the means of grace: His Word, doctrinal standards, liturgy, and also catechetical instruction belong to this category. When you despise the means of grace which God has given you all your life, you will not be saved. Read the Canons of Dort, Head I, article 16: “And do nevertheless persist in the use of the means which God hath appointed for working these graces in us ….”

But surely you will have learned this. It is good that you know this, but do you also do it? You can decide not to do confession of faith, letting everything take its own course. But then you are doing confession of your unbelief. That is just what Satan wants you to do. The fewer who do confession of faith, the better he likes it, for the prince of this world (as the Lord calls Satan, John 12:31b) wants the church to disappear. And he has his eye upon you. If Satan has the youth, he has the future. Do not listen to the theory of the unbelief of the times we are living in — the new socalled “life of faith,” which can live without the church. Read our doctrinal standards: The Heidelberg Catechism, The Belgic Confession of Faith, and the Canons of Dort. Above all, seek the Lord and His strength.

With Him alone all things are possible — also for you.

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van zaterdag 1 juni 1985

The Banner of Truth | 20 Pagina's

CAN YOU STILL MAKE CONFESSION OF FAITH IN 1985?

Bekijk de hele uitgave van zaterdag 1 juni 1985

The Banner of Truth | 20 Pagina's