Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 25, Section 1

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Today’s confession looks at what the church is.

We learn that the catholic or universal church consists of all believers past present and future. Christ is the head of the church and the relationship between Christ and the church.. Is that The church is the bride, the body and the fullness of him.

The confession calls the universal church invisible meaning we cannot see or know everyone who is saved.

As we worship today, we are reminded that we join all our brothers and sisters around the world, past present and future in, through, and by Jesus Christ. And that this local body here is a small representation of a much larger reality.

CONFESSION OF FAITH:

The catholic (that is, universal) church, which is invisible, consists of all the elect who have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ its head. This church is his bride, his body, and the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 23, Section 4

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As Christians we recognize that God places us under authority. When we are young, we are under the protection and authority of our parents. As we grow up, we are under the authority of other people, our teachers, boss, government, etc. All of this is given to us by God.

We recognize that no one is above the law. Even in civil matters, religious figures are still under the authority of the civil authorities. We are called to pray, honor, obey and subjected to the authorities for the sake of conscience.

Just as we are called to honor our parents in the fifth commandment, because they have been placed over us by the Lord, we too must submit ourselves to the authority of the civil government.

“It is the duty of people to pray for those in authority, to honor them, to pay them taxes or other revenue, to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority for the sake of conscience. Neither unbelief nor difference in religion makes void the just and legal authority of officeholders nor frees the people—church authorities included—from their due obedience to them. Much less does the Pope have any power or jurisdiction over civil authorities in their domains or over any of their people, nor can he deprive them of their domains or lives if he shall judge them to be heretics or on any other pretense whatever.”

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 24, Section 3

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As we have seen from the examples in the OT where numerous men of God married foreign wives. The wives worshiped other gods and idols. And as a result these men of God were led astray to worship foreign gods.

Marriage and sex is a gift from God. In it we have one of the most intimate relationships we have between two people. In a similar manner, marriage points us to our union with Christ.

Because of this we are told in the confession to be joined with other believers, marry in the Lord. This is to guard our hearts and recognize that marriage is more than just a physical union, but it encompasses a much deeper union: emotional, spiritual, and physical.

We are not to be unequally yoked, but rather in marriage we are to be joined together in the Lord. For those who are married with unbelievers, we are told to remain in the marriage so that in it we can be a witness of God’s grace to our spouse.

To those who are single, this is a stern warning and instruction teaching us to not just go after what is pleasing to the eye, but to look deeper into potential mates, examine their lives, see if they are walking with the Lord, see if what they profess is compatible with what you profess, so that in marriage, there may be a true union of spirit and body.

And with respect to Papists, that is for a different time to discuss…

3. It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry who are able to give their intelligent consent. Yet it is the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord. Therefore, those who profess the true reformed religion should not marry unbelievers, Papists, or other idolaters; nor should Christians be unequally yoked by marrying those who are notoriously wicked in their way of living or hold to damnable heresies.

PCA BCO 57-5

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57-5. The time having come for the making of a public profession, and those who have been approved by the Session having taken their places in the presence of the congregation, the minister may state that:

Of the number of those who were baptized in infancy as members of the Church of God by birthright, and as heirs of the covenant promises, the Session has examined and approved (call them by name), who come now to assume for themselves the full privileges and responsibilities of their inheritance in the household of faith.

If there be present any candidates for Baptism, the minister may state that:

As applicants for admission into the Church of God by Baptism, which is a sign and seal of our engrafting into Christ, and of our engagement to be the Lord’s, the Session has examined and approved (call them by name), who are cordially welcomed into the fellowship of the household of faith.

(All of) you being here present to make a public profession of faith, are to assent to the following declarations and promises, by which you enter into a solemn covenant with God and His Church.

1. Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope save in His sovereign mercy?

2. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is offered in the Gospel?

3. Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes the followers of Christ?

4. Do you promise to support the Church in its worship and work to the best of your ability?

5. Do you submit yourselves to the government and discipline of the Church, and promise to study its purity and peace?

PCA BCO 12-5

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12-5. The church Session is charged with maintaining the spiritual government of the church, for which purpose it has power:

a. To inquire into the knowledge, principles and Christian conduct of the church members under its care; to censure those found delinquent; to see that parents do not neglect to present their children for Baptism; to receive members into the communion of the Church; to remove them for just cause; to grant letters of dismissal to other churches, which when given to parents, shall always include the names of their non-communing, baptized children;

b. To examine, ordain, and install ruling elders and deacons on their election by the church, and to require these officers to devote themselves to their work; to examine the records of the proceedings of the deacons; to approve and adopt the budget;

c. To approve actions of special importance affecting church property;

d. To call congregational meetings when necessary; to establish and control Sunday schools and Bible classes with special reference to the children of the church; to establish and control all special groups in the church such as Men in the Church, Women in the Church and special Bible study groups; to promote world missions; to promote obedience to the Great Commission in its totality at home and abroad; to order collections for pious uses;

e. To exercise, in accordance with the Directory for Worship, authority over the time and place of the preaching of the Word and the administration of the Sacraments, over all other religious services, over the music in the services, and over the uses to which the church building and associated properties may be put; to take the oversight of the singing in the public worship of God; to ensure that the Word of God is preached only by such men as are sufficiently qualified (BCO 4-4, 53-2, 1 Timothy 2:11-12); to assemble the people for worship when there is no minister; to determine the best measures for promoting the spiritual interests of the church and congregation;

f. To observe and carry out the lawful injunctions of the higher courts; and to appoint representatives to the higher courts, who shall, on their return, make report of their diligence.

Trust and Belief

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Talking about Faith this week in sunday school.

Green Baggins has in interesting post onTrust and Belief.

A bit too heady for me…

In any case, here’s the three-fold view of faith: Knowledge, Assent, and Trust.

Faith requires us to believe it’s real (because it is real), agree that it’s right, and trust that it works. Faith must have all three elements.

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 23, Section 1

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This week we begin chapter 23 of the WCF, we consider what the bible says about civil magistrates or government.

When most people think about government they think about separation of church and state, but the bible is very explicit how Christians should interact with government.

We’ll look at two passages from Scripture.

When Jesus was asked whether it was lawful to pay taxes to the governments, Christ responded by asking the people to show him a coin and whose face was on it. When the crowd responded Caesar’s, Jesus responded give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. (Matthew 22:18-21)

The Apostle Paul further emphasized in Romans 13:1-5. Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Whoever rebels against what God has instituted will bring judgment on themselves. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore it is necessary to submit to the authorities not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

The context of the apostle Paul’s writing is from the time of Roman government where Christian persecution was widespread. Even with this Paul still recognized that all authority have been given from God. We recognize that civil government has its place and to administer justice and for the public good.

But we also recognize that God is the ultimate Lord and King of all the world. We recognize the God-given authority governments have to be armed in order to restrain and punish evil and upholding good of the public, and that the governments of the world will ultimately be accountable to God for how they exercised their power.

Let us as Christians be active in praying for our governments for wisdom, justice, and integrity, and the right use of the law to restrain evil and promoting good.

1. God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, has ordained civil authorities to be, under him, over the people for his own glory and the public good. For this purpose he has armed them with the power of the sword for the defense and encouragement of those who are good, and for the punishment of those who do evil.

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 22 Section 6

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Chapter 22 continues our look at lawful oaths and vows.

A vow is a promise we make to God. Today’s confession emphasizes when we make our vows to God it must be made voluntarily out of thankfulness for mercy or from the desire to obtain what we lack. Many examples of this in scripture… we see people offering vows as an act of worship as well as making vows in order to obtain something from the Lord. An example of this comes from 1 Sam 1 in which Hannah makes a vow that if God provides a baby to her she will give him up to the Lord.

Deut 23:21 If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the LORD your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.

Deut 23:23 Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the LORD your God with your own mouth.

The confession also says that we bind ourselves more strictly to necessary duties meaning we must be diligent to fulfill those duties. Deut 23:21 tells us to not be slow in fulfilling our vows and Deut 23:23 we must do what our lips say because our words matter to God.

Have you made any vows before God? Have you made promises to him with your mouth? Then turn to Christ who is the author and perfecter of our faith, who enables us with the power of the Holy Spirit to be faithful and diligent in fulfilling the vows we make before our God.

6. A vow is to be made only to God and not to any created being. In order for it to be acceptable, it is to be made voluntarily, out of faith and conviction of duty, either from thankfulness for mercy or from the desire to obtain what we lack. By taking a vow we bind ourselves more strictly to necessary duties, or to other things to the extent that they contribute to the performance of these duties.
At this time, I’d like to invite Ray to lead us for our prayer of supplication.