Why Christians Need Confessions

New Horizons ^ | February 2013 | Carl R. Trueman

[ReformationFan]

Despite claims to the contrary, the Christian world is not divided between those who have creeds and confessions and those who just have the Bible. It is actually divided between those who have creeds and confessions and write them down in a public form, open to public scrutiny and correction, and those who have them and do not write them down. The reason is simple: every church (and indeed every Christian) believes the Bible means something, and what it thinks the Bible means is its creed and confession, whether it chooses to write its beliefs down or not.

Of course, those who argue that they have no creed but Christ and no book but the Bible are usually trying to protect something important and biblical: the supreme authority of Scripture in all matters of Christian faith and practice. They rightly fear allowing unbiblical traditions or ideas to impact the substance of what the church believes. Yet for all of the good intentions that they may have, I believe that that which they want to protect—the unique status of Scripture—is actually best protected through explicit confessional documents, connected to a carefully thought-out form of church government.

In fact, and somewhat ironically, it is those who do not express their confession in the form of a written document who are in danger of elevating their tradition above Scripture in such a way that it can never be controlled by the latter.

[ReformationFan]

Good defense of confessions by an Orthodox Presbyterian professor of church history at Westminster Theological Seminary.

[narses]

“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ “

The OPC and it’s shrunken heretical and schismatic membership are evidence that the the breaking away from the One Church Our Lord gave us is fatal. At least in my opinion.

[narses]

“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ “

The OPC and it’s shrunken heretical and schismatic membership are evidence that the the breaking away from the One Church Our Lord gave us is fatal. At least in my opinion.

[narses]

“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ “

The OPC and it’s shrunken heretical and schismatic membership are evidence that the the breaking away from the One Church Our Lord gave us is fatal. At least in my opinion.

[mc5cents]

OK. Well this Catholic will take that under advisement, with
2 oz of bourbon, ginger ale and club soda. (aka Presbyterian cocktail)

[fkabuckeyesrule]

If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness I John 1:9.

[GeronL]

You should confess to God and Jesus certainly, to Priest?? ehhh..... a congregation I can buy

[P-Marlowe]

Boy, this thread sure is timely.

[strongbow]

Carl is an incredibly lucent writer and speaker. He came up to our summer camp a few years ago and I was very impressed with his knowledge of church history, especially reformation history. I can understand why the catholic pejoratives would be hurled against him. Sometimes I get a whiff of the old pyre from these guys when the light of reformation truth is spoken.

[P-Marlowe]

I looked on the OPC site and could not find a copyright declaration for this article.

I don’t think you needed to excerpt it. It makes it a lot easier to comment on if you can post the whole article.

I see you’ve picked up some negative comments already from people who clearly haven’t taken the time to read it.

Oh well. That seems to be the state of things around here.

[P-Marlowe]

In fact, and somewhat ironically, it is those who do not express their confession in the form of a written document who are in danger of elevating their tradition above Scripture in such a way that it can never be controlled by the latter. If a church has a document that says it is dispensational in eschatology, then we all know where such a church stands on the issue of the end times, and we can do the Berean thing and test the position by Scripture to see if it is so. The church that tells you simply that its position on the end times is the same one as that taught in the Bible appears to be telling you everything, but is actually telling you nothing at all.

That is some seriously profound writing. So much said in so few words. He is exactly 100% on the money.

Thanks for posting this. T

[ReformationFan]

You’re welcome. I agree with that bolded statement as well. When some folks say things like “we have no confession but the Bible” or “no creed but Christ” they are actually saying creeds and confessions but fail to realize it.

Lutheran Satire has a good video on creeds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPg0wBP5k6M

I enjoy it except for the quick swipe on Calvin’s Institutes they take near the end.

[ReformationFan]

That’s neat. I would like to hear him teach in person.

[P-Marlowe]

I enjoy it except for the quick swipe on Calvin’s Institutes they take near the end

Well,it just wouldn't be a religion thread on free republic without a quick swipe at Calvin's institutes. :-)

[johngrace]

I understand the Gist of the article is about confessing the faith like Apostles Creed or Nicene creed . This so important. I having personally met a spell caster who was declaring she was a Christian. This was a friend's wife. I was helping them move from an upstate NY home.

When we where boxing the books from the bookshelf she had new age books mixed with legitimate Christian titles. She believed in spells. She was deep into it. She declared to me she was a Christian. I told her I can prove she is not a Christian.

How I proved was by asking her to declare any creeds - apostles or Nicene creed. She could not declare it at the point of born of the Virgin Mary in the Apostles creed or Nicene. She stuttered then would blurt out " there are any Gods." Her husband was shocked when I did this with her. I am not kidding this is very important. If someone is oppressed or possessed that person can not declare in the personal pronoun that Jesus Christ a singular Divinity came in the flesh/ as human. I do this at times with friends who declare they are Christians of any denomination. I have different Christian friends but are 1John 4 Christians thus my tagline. Truly where are living in the last days.

1 John Chapter 4

2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:..Read More[Read More]

3 and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the spirit of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already...Read More[Read More]

15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in...Read More[Read More]

2 John Chapter 1

7 For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, even they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist...Read More[Read More]

Romans Chapter 10

9 because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:..Read More[Read More]

10 for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation...Read More[Read More]

Revelation Chapter 3< p> 5 He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels...Read More[Read More]

[johngrace]

Correction- She stuttered then would blurt out " there are any Gods. " = "there are many gods"

[P-Marlowe]

The mark of a cultist is the denial or refusal to acknowledge the historic doctrine of the trinity. Anyone claiming to be a Christian who denies this basic doctrine is either deceived or a liar.

The nature of God is the foundation of the Faith. You can't believe in Christ if you don't know who He is. And if you don't know him, he will say to you, "Depart from me, I never knew you".

[xzins]

I glanced through the entire article and I saw nothing in it that attacked the Catholic church. As I said, I glanced, so it’s possible something is there that I missed.

In any case, what I did see was an article that gives simple reasons for a church having a confession of faith. Since Catholics accept both the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed, it would actually be wise to be thoughtful about this article. I understand that traditionally reformed groups tend to be hard on the Catholic church, but this article is not that.

I would also point out that Dr Scott Hahn, now a Catholic, did come out of the Presbyterian (not OPC) environment. I knew his father-in-laws preaching, and it was not liberal Presbyterian but very conservative Presbyterian.

Everything he brought with him was not tainted since he was almost immediately incorporated as a teacher within your churches. Our commonalities in Christ should be recognized.

[HarleyD]

This article is clearly obvious evidence of predestination. :O)

BTW RF, I loved that link to the creed discussion on YouTube. What a hoot.