John 3:16; Rom. 5:8.
“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death
of his Son,” etc. Rom. 5:10; Heb. 5:9.
“If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own
Son, but delivered him up for us all,” etc. Rom. 8:31,32; 1 John 3:16.
“Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver
and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your
fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot.” 1 Pet. 1:18,19.
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God
sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through
him.” 1 John 4:9.
ARTICLE XVI.
_Of the life, suffering, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of
Jesus Christ, and of his again receiving his glory with his Father._ Of
this we confess: That the Lord Jesus, in the time of his humiliation
in the flesh, being about thirty-three years, did not only with words,
but also by works and deeds, set us a holy, godly example, to be looked
to as the Captain of the faith, by all believers, and followed in the
regeneration; for in his youth he was subject to his father and mother.
And when his time was fulfilled, he entered in full obedience toward
his heavenly Father, on the office and ministry imposed upon him,
proclaimed unto them his Father’s good pleasure, made the deaf to hear,
the dumb to speak, the blind to see, cleansed the lepers, cast out
devils, raised the dead from their graves, forgave men their sins, and
promised eternal life to those who believe in him.
These things Christ did not do in the same manner and form as his
apostles and others, who performed miracles through a power and gift
only received, which had been conferred upon and given them by Christ.
But such was not the case with Christ; for he himself had all power in
heaven and earth; so that he said to the two blind men: “Believe ye
that I am able to do this?” And further: “That ye may know that the Son
of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” And still further: “I will
raise them up at the last day; and I give unto them eternal life.”
Thus the Lord Jesus completely fulfilled and accomplished the works of
his Father, and shone as a clear heavenly light into this dark world,
convincing the same of her evil works, and pointing them out to her;
by which he incurred the hatred of the blinded scribes and Pharisees,
who did not know the light of truth, and who, from hatred and envy,
censured him for all these divine deeds, attributing them to the
devil; and thus they delivered this innocent one into the hands of the
unbelieving heathen, Pontius Pilate. They also examined this dumb Lamb
with many severe threats, mocked him, spat in his face, smote him with
their fists, scourged him, wounded his head with a crown of thorns,
and finally stripped him and stretched him naked on the cross, nailed
his hands and feet thereon, and thus suspended him, as the Prince and
Captain of all malefactors, between two murderers. In his bitter thirst
they gave him vinegar to drink, mixed with gall; they pierced his
side with a spear, so that blood and water flowed out therefrom. Thus
he gave up the ghost with a loud voice, commending it into the hands
of his Father. And when he had died, heaven and earth were convulsed
by this precious death and resurrection; so that the sun lost his
brightness, and darkness came over all the earth; the earth quaked; the
vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and
many bodies of the saints arose from their graves, and went into the
holy city, and appeared unto many.
And as in the time of his flesh, suffering and death, he showed that
he had become man, so he also showed herein that this very man was
also true God with his Father; and that he had the keys of the power
of death and hell, that he could again raise up the broken temple of
his body in three days, and had the power to lay down his life, and
to take it up again; so that it was impossible, that he should be
held by death, or that his holy flesh should see corruption, but rose
triumphantly from the dead, on the third day, by the glory of the
Father, revealed himself to his apostles and others, and miraculously
appeared unto them, as they were assembled with doors closed, ate
and drank with them, and for forty days spake with them of many
things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Then, in the presence of the
apostles, he was taken up to heaven by a cloud, and sat down on the
right hand of his Almighty Father in heaven.
Thus the only begotten Son of God suffered, was crucified and put to
death according to the flesh; but thereby was again glorified and made
alive according to the spirit, and again fully received his previous
divine glory, and his equality with the Father. He will now die no
more, neither will death have any more dominion over him; but he shall
live and rule as a reigning King of kings, and Lord of lords over mount
Zion and the house of Jacob, forever and ever.
Of the unblamable life and conversation of Christ, and how he was
subject to his father and mother, read: Luke 2:51; John 8:46; Acts 1:1.
And after his time was fulfilled, how he entered on the ministry
imposed upon him, and performed many glorious deeds in his Father’s
name, read: Mark 1:15; Matt. 8:16; 9:35; 11:5; 12:15; John 10; Acts
10:38; Is. 53:7; 1 Pet. 2:24.
And how he, as a light in the world, testified of their dark and evil
works, and thus fell into the hands of sinners, read: “The world cannot
hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works
thereof are evil.” John 7:7; 1:5; 3:19; Matt. 27:18.
How Christ in the time of his humiliation in the flesh was obedient to
his heavenly Father, read: “He humbled himself, and became obedient
unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil. 2:8.
“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he
suffered.” Heb. 5:8.
Of the suffering, death, and burial of Christ, read: Ps. 22:16;
60:9,21; Is. 53:7; 63:3; Acts 8:32; Matt. 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John
19; Acts 3:15; 1 Cor. 15:4,20; Matt. 27:57; Is. 53:9.
Of the resurrection of Christ, read: Matt. 28:7; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:7;
1 Cor. 15:4,20; Acts 3:26; 10:40.
How Christ again received the divine glory and likeness which he had
forsaken; and how he ascended unto heaven, read: “And Jesus came and
spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in
earth.” Matt. 28:18; Ps. 8:6.
“Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his
glory?” Luke 24:26.
“Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him
with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet.” Heb. 2:7–9;
John 17:5.
“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a
tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a
Savior,” etc. Acts 5:30,31; Phil. 2:9; Acts 2:33,36.
“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken
up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked
steadfastly toward heaven as he went up,” etc. Acts 1:9,10; Mark 16:19;
Luke 24:51.
ARTICLE XVII.
_Of the office of Christ, and the specific reason of his coming into
the world._ We confess: That Christ is the true promised Prophet,
High Priest, and King, whom Moses and all the prophets foretold and
proclaimed, and to whom the former priests and kings pointed as figures
and shadows. And the specific reason of his coming into the world was:
to destroy the works of the devil, to seek that which was lost, to
deliver the whole human race from the captivity of sin, and the power
of the devil, and to reconcile them with God his Father, and thus to
save sinners.
According to his prophetical office he went out from God, and came into
the world to proclaim unto men, through the Gospel, the full counsel
and will of God, which had been hid from the beginning of the world,
and thus to preach deliverance to the captives, the Gospel to the poor,
and the acceptable year of the Lord, according to which, as the last
declaration and will of God, all the children of the New Covenant are
required to live and walk, according to a perfect rule of faith, which
shall obtain until the end of the world.
According to his office as High Priest he fulfilled and changed the
Levitical priesthood; and by his one offering made on the cross, he
opened the closed entrance to the Holy of holies; and through this his
one offering, which is of eternal value, he fulfilled and finished the
sacrifice of the law, and obtained an eternal redemption. And thus
reconciling mankind with the Father, he sat down on the right hand of
the Majesty in heaven, and is become the believers’ only Advocate,
Mediator, High Priest, and Intercessor with God his Father, and ever
lives to make intercession for them.
And according to his office as King he came with full power from
his almighty Father from heaven, to re-establish, as a mighty King
of kings, and commander of the people, judgment and righteousness
on earth; and he was the end and fulfillment of all the kings of
Israel. But as his kingdom was not of this world, and he was a
spiritual, heavenly King, he avoided all earthly kingdoms of this
world, and desired and had only a spiritual, heavenly kingdom. Among
his subjects he reformed, improved and fulfilled the commandments,
laws, and customs, given by Moses. As a commanding king he dissuaded
and prohibited his followers from all revenge, whether with words or
by deed; [and taught them] that they should beat their swords into
ploughshares, and their spears into scythes and sickles, and should
learn war no more; but that, on the contrary, they, according to the
example of Christ, their Captain, should love their enemies, and pray
for those who injure and persecute them--very far indeed from allowing
them to wage war against their enemies with carnal weapons. But Christ
armed his people only with the armor of God, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God, with which to fight against flesh and
blood, the world, sin, and the manifold wiles of the devil, and thus
finally to receive, through grace, from this eternal King, the crown
of everlasting life, as their recompense and exceeding great reward.
How Christ is the prophet promised by God, whom we must hear and follow
as the perfect teacher of the will of God, read: “The Lord thy God will
raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren,
like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.” Deut. 18:15; Acts 7:37; 3:22;
Matt. 17:5.
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that
ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place.” 2 Pet.
1:19.
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto
the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by
his Son,” etc. Heb. 1:1,2.
Of his prophecies, read: Matt. 24 throughout; Luke 17:20; 19:41–44.
Of his priestly office, read: “And having a high priest over the house
of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,”
etc. Hebrews 10:21,22.
“For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change
also of the law.” Heb. 7:12; 8:6; 10:12.
“But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come,” etc. Heb.
9:11.
Of his preaching, read: Matt. 9:35; Mark 1:14; Matt. 5:2; 11:1; Luke
4:15.
Of his office of King, read: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy King cometh unto thee,”
etc. Zech. 9:9; Matt. 21:5.
“Behold, the days come, that I will raise unto David a righteous
Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment
and justice in the earth.” Jer. 23:5; 33:15; Is. 32:1.
“Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.” John
1:49; Acts 10:36; 2 Cor. 4:5; Phil. 2:11.
Of his spiritual kingdom and dominion, read: “And the Lord God shall
give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over
the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”
Luke 1:32,33.
“For he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him
are called, and chosen, and faithful.” Rev. 17:14.
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,” etc. 1 Pet. 2:9;
Ex. 19:6; Rev. 5:10; John 18:36,37; Ps. 22:28.
Of his government, read: “Behold, I have given him for a witness to the
people, a leader and commander to the people.” Is. 55:4.
“There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy,” etc. Jas.
4:12; 1 Cor. 9:21; Matthew 12:8; 28:20; Jas. 1:25.
ARTICLE XVIII.
_Of the church of God and the communion of believers._ Concerning this
we believe and confess: Whereas men by reason of the natural birth
of the flesh, follow sin and wickedness when they attain to their
understanding, and thereby depart from God their Creator; therefore
the high and holy God, before whom the sinners and ungodly cannot
stand, from the beginning of the world, called and chose, from all the
unbelieving nations of the world, an own special people, and separated
them from all other nations. These are they who turn their ears to the
calling voice of God, and thereby have separated themselves from the
world with all its sinful lusts, and all false worship, and have again
united themselves to Christ, bowing, as obedient members and sheep
of Jesus Christ, under his head and commanding voice, and shunning
everything strange which militates against this. These are they who are
renewed in the inward man, and are circumcised, changed, and converted,
and live after the Spirit.
This church of God was first commenced on earth, with Adam and Eve in
paradise, and afterwards, with Enoch, Noah, and all those who with
them honored and called upon the high name of God; which was the first
period of time, that is, before the law.
After this God the Lord established his covenant or church with Abraham
and his seed, giving them circumcision as a sign of the covenant,
together with many laws, ceremonies, statutes, and customs; which
continued till the coming of Christ, and was the second period, or the
time of the law of Moses.
Finally God sent his Son, who, as a potentate in heaven and earth,
established a new and perfect covenant with the house of Israel,
calling to the same all the Gentiles and nations of the earth, all
those who amend their sinful life, and obediently yield their bodies
under this covenant. With all these Christ has established his church
and congregation; this is the third and last period, which shall
thus continue, without change in faith, walk, and laws, until the
reappearing of Christ from heaven.
And though the people of God in these three periods, had different and
special laws and ceremonies, according to which they had to live and
walk; yet this was the will of God, and they were nevertheless only one
people of God, and were moved and led by one Spirit.
This church and congregation of believers has not always been visible
to the eyes of all men, but has frequently vanished from the sight of
the sinful and blood-thirsty world, the latter not being worthy of
them. This can be seen in the case of Noah with his families in the
ark, who concealed themselves from the whole world; in the people of
Israel in the Red Sea, and here and there during the forty years in the
wilderness; in the pious in Judah, from the bloody sword of Manasseh;
and in all the godfearing in Israel from the awful threats of Jezebel.
Thus also the bride of the Lamb, the church of Jesus Christ, had to
hide herself in the wilderness, forty-two months, or three times and a
half a time,[219] from the abominable beast of antichrist, which with
his tyrannical sword and burning, exalted itself above everything which
is called and worshiped as God. Afterwards, through the grace of God,
she again came to the light, and was built upon the first, ancient
apostolical foundation.
[219] Understand, taking each time for a great year, there are as
many years as there are days in three years and a half; which is
about 1260 years. Num. 14:34; Ezek. 4:5.
And as Solomon’s temple was destroyed, and the second building
continued until the first coming of Christ in the flesh, so we hold
that the church of Jesus Christ, rebuilt upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, shall also continue openly in the light until
the second coming of Christ from heaven.
This church of God, that is, all believers, are, as members of
one body, joined together by faith and the bond of love; they are
like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus; they live
according to the same rule of the divine word, and are bound together
by the same love, thus having fellowship with one another. Those whom
God has blessed with spiritual gifts, minister with them to the souls
of their neighbors, out of love. And those whom God has provided with
temporal possessions, minister with them to the temporal needs of their
neighbors; thus showing that they have their temporal and spiritual
goods in common, and suffer no want in spiritual and temporal gifts.
This church of God has existed on the earth from the beginning of the
world, either in greater or in smaller numbers, secretly or openly, and
shall thus continue unto the end of the world, and Christ will be with
her, with his Spirit, always.
Of the Christian church, that is, of all believing regenerated persons,
gathered and purified by the holy Spirit, read: “The Lord thy God hath
chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that
are upon the face of the earth.” Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:2; 26:18; 1 Pet.
2:9.
“And among all the multitude of peoples thou hast gotten thee one
people: and unto this people, whom thou lovedst, thou gavest a law that
is approved of all.” 2 Esdr. 5:27.
How the church of God, which is built upon Christ, must be subject, as
members to their head, read: “And upon this rock (Christ) I will build
my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matt.
16:18. 28:20.
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and
gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a
glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but
that it should be holy and without blemish.” Eph. 5:25–27, 29, 32; 1:22.
“That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house
of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of
the truth.” 1 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 2:20; 4:16; Hebrews 12:23.
Of the fellowship of believers, read: “But if we walk in the light, as
he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood
of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.
“They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship.”
Acts 2:42; 4:34; 1 Corinthians 12:12; Gal. 3:28; John 17:21.
ARTICLE XIX.
_Of the signs of the church of God, by which it may be distinguished
from all other peoples_, we confess the following: In the first place,
all true Christians are known by the only saving faith, which works
by love. It is wrought, through the grace of God, in the heart of
man by the hearing of the word of God, and hence, is not founded and
built upon human decrees, but upon the word of God alone; and it works
so effectually that by it we are drawn and impelled from all visible
things and sinful lusts of this world to the invisible God and his
heavenly riches.
Secondly. All true children of God are known by the second or new
birth, from above, of God; which is wrought by the Spirit of God
internally in the heart, through the putting off of the sinful lusts
of the flesh; so that, as man, through his first birth of the flesh,
brings forth his human nature and mind; so, through regeneration, he
becomes a partaker of the divine nature, by which he is also to bring
forth godly and spiritual fruits, and the mind of Christ Jesus.
Thirdly. The church, or the believers, are known by the good works
which they evince as fruits of gratitude from their faith; which
may not be done according to human instructions, in a self-selected
holiness, but in which we follow Christ and his apostles, as they
prescribed and walked. And with these divine virtues all true believers
must be clothed, that, as a light on the candlestick, and a city on a
hill, they may excel and shine among all men, and may be known thereby,
as a good tree is known and distinguished by its good fruits.
Fourthly. The church of God is known by the glorious appellations by
which she is described and honored by the Holy Spirit, as a city and
temple of the living God, in which God will dwell and walk; the bride
of the Lamb, the daughter of Zion; a chaste virgin, joined to Christ
by faith; so that, even as with all cities which are subject to the
command of their Lord and king, and it may thereby properly be known,
under whose power and dominion they belong, so also the church of God
is known by this that she recognizes and obeys Christ Jesus as her only
Head and King, in all matters of faith, and observes his commandments.
And as a pure virgin and bride forsakes father, mother, and all strange
company and subjects herself to the will and obedience of her only
bridegroom; so all true children of God must separate themselves from
all false worship, flee from the stranger’s voice, and unite themselves
to Christ, to hear and obediently follow his voice, which is proclaimed
by the ministers sent by him.
Fifthly. The people of God are known by their faithful ministers, who,
according to the doctrine of Paul, are unblamable in doctrine and life,
and feed the sheep of Christ, not for the milk and wool, but with a
willing mind, with knowledge and understanding; speaking not their
own words, but only the words of their Lord, and executing his work;
rightly dividing and dispensing the word of God, and bringing forth
fruits with it; in order that through this good message of the ways
of the Lord men might, according to the counsel and will of God, be
converted from their evil ways, and won to God.
Sixthly, and lastly. All true disciples of Jesus Christ are known by
the unfeigned godly love, which our Savior himself has put as a sign,
by which his disciples should be specially known; which is comprehended
in these things: That we love the Lord God our Creator with all our
heart and strength, above all other things, which consists principally
in the keeping of his commandments. And besides: That we love our
brethren or neighbors as ourselves, not only in word or tongue, but
in deed and in truth; so that those to whom God has given spiritual
gifts, minister therewith, from love, to the souls of their neighbors;
and those whom God has blessed with temporal possessions, minister
therewith unto the temporal needs of their neighbors, in order that
thus among this true Israel of God, there may be found no poor, nor any
lack in spiritual or temporal things. Finally, we must show charity
to all men, though they be our open enemies, who persecute and kill
us, whom we may by no means resist with carnal weapons; but, as Christ
did not open his mouth in revenge upon his enemies, but, as an humble
and dumb lamb, prayed for them, so we must also follow this infallible
example. And as all soldiers forsake their former avocation, and wear
the livery of their lord and king, as a sign to distinguish them
from all strange servants, and that they are bound to their captain
even unto death; so also, must all true servants of Jesus Christ be
armed with the aforesaid marks, that thereby they may be known and
distinguished from all other people.