The Confessions of the Church

Transcription

1 The Confessions of the Church FPC Officer Training Dr. Todd B. Jones November 10, 2016

2 F-2.01 The Purpose of the Confessional Statements 2 In [the creeds and confessions in the Book of Confessions] the church declares to its members and to the world who and what it is, what it believes and what it resolves to do. They claim the truth of the Gospel at those points where their authors perceived that truth to be at risk. They appeal to the universal truth of the Gospel while expressing that truth within the social and cultural assumptions of their time. They affirm a common faith tradition, while also from time to time standing in tension with each other.

3 F-2.02 The Confessions as Subordinate Standards 3 Confessions are subordinate to the Authority of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, as the Scriptures bear witness to Him... they are, nonetheless, standards. They are not to be ignored or dismissed. Can be used for instruction, counseling or even discipline of ordained persons who seriously reject the faith expressed in the confessions. Open to change, but the process is demanding, requiring a high degree of consensus across the church.

4 F-2.03 The Confessions as Statements of the Faith of the Church Catholic 4 The confessions express the faith of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church in the recognition of canonical Scriptures and the formulation and adoption of the ecumenical creeds, notably the Nicene and Apostles Creeds...

5 F-2.04 The Confessions as Statements of the Faith of the Protestant Reformation 5 The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) upholds the affirmations of the Protestant Reformation... The Protestant watchwords grace alone, faith alone, Scripture alone embody principles of understanding that continue to guide and motivate the people of God in the life of faith.

6 F-2.05 The Confessions as Statements of the Faith of the Reformed Tradition 6 The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) expresses the faith of the Reformed Tradition... Related to this central affirmation of God s sovereignty are other great themes of the Reformed tradition: The election of the people for service as well as salvation. Covenant life marked by a disciplined concern for order in the church according to the Word of God. Faithful stewardship. A recognition of the human tendency to idolatry... which calls [for us] to work for the transformation of society by seeking justice...

7 7 Nicene Creed Oldest extant manuscript of the Nicene Creed, dated to the 5th Century.

8 Nicene Creed 8 We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible; And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end. And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

9 Apostles Creed 9 I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

10 John Calvin 10

11 11 Scotts Confession John Knox

12 12 Heidelberg Catechism Zacharias Ursinus

13 13 Second Helvetic Confession Heinrich Bullinger

14 14 The Theological Declaration of Barmen Karl Barth

15 End