Clause 27
The Prophet, of whom Moses had spoken, had come, who would give the Law of the New Covenant. Deut.18:15-18- Rom.lO:4; Matt.5:l7.
The basis of this new Law was Love of God and of your neighbour. Matt.22:36-39; Luke 10:25-37; The sermon on the mount Matthew chapters s 5,6 and 7.
Clause 29
The Word, that was in the beginning, was the Life. Only through this "Life", Jesus Christ, can we by God's free grace become blessed and righteous. Rom.5:21; John 1:4; Rom.3:10-29; Rom 5:1,2; 2 Cor.5:21.
Clause 30
He was the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Isa.53:7. John 1:29-36; Acts 8:26-40; Rom: 5:15-19; 2 Cor.5:21
Clause 31
Rejected by His people, as was predicted, He had to die on the cross, so that He would carry the curse for us and die the death which we had deserved. Matt.27:22,25; Isa 53; Ps.22; Ps.69; Gal. 3:13.
Clause 32
By the death of the Lord the shadow-- silhouette of the Paschal-lamb was fulfilled-- See clause 15.-- Those who paint the blood of Christ on the side posts and upper door post of their hearts will not be killed by the angel of destruction. John 1:7; Hebr.9:14; 1 Peter 1:18,19; Rev. 1:5; Hebr.9:7-12.
Clause 33
Just as God received the Israelites that were freed from Egypt and saved from death as His people, after they had passed through the Red Sea, God also wants to receive as His people those freed by the blood of Christ, when they have had themselves baptised with water.-see Clause 15.
Moses, who was called by God, led the children of Israel through the Red Sea with miracles and signs, after the blood of the paschal-Lamb had saved them from the angel of destruction.Exodus chapters 1 to 14.
Clause 34
Baptism with water is a sacrament. In all, the Church possesses three sacraments:
1: Baptism with water;
2:. Holy Communion;
3:. The laying on of hands --sealing-or Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
A sacrament is an externally visible sign of an internal spiritual grace given to us, and which was instituted by Christ both as a medium through which we receive the grace and a guarantee --pledge-- that we have received it.
Clause 35
THE HOLY BAPTISM WITH WATER.
In the Holy Baptism with water, water is the external symbol with which the person is baptised in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The internal spiritual grace is the death of sin and being born again to righteousness. The Holy Baptism with water is the water of rebirth and renewing of the Holy Spirit. John 3:3-6; Titus 3:4-7; Mark.16:16; Acts 8:37.
It must be adinistered in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Matth.8:19;
Through Bap~tism we are taken up in the covenant of grace. Phil.3:3; Col.2:10-15.
Circumcision was the symbol of the 01d covenant and a silhouette of this the new covenant-- See clause 12--.
Clause 12: From one of these descendants God chose Abram, with whom He made a covenant, the symbol of which was circumcision.Abram's name was also changed to Abraham. He received the promise that in his seed all the generations of the earth will be blessed. Gen.12:1-3~; Gen.13:14-17; Gen, 17:9-14
Baptism cleanses us of hereditary sin. Acts.22:16.
Through Baptism one obtains a share in the resurrection of Christ, and accordingly a new life must be led in Christ. Rom.6:1-11; Col.2: 12 .
This is the appeal made to God by a good conscience.1 Peter 3:21.
It is not necessary yo be immersed. Lev.1:5; Ezek. 36:25; Hebr. 12: 24;
Children too, who unknowingly have obtained a share in death through Adam, must be baptised and thus obtain a share in Christ. Acts 2:39; 1 Cor.10:1,2; Acts 10:33b and 44-47; Acts 16:15,33;1 Cor.l:16.
All nations must be baptised. During Baptism it is the Word that creates.Gen.l:2,3.
HOLY COMMUNION.
Holy Communion was instituted by the Lord Jesus himself in remembrance of His suffering and death. Matt.26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:14-20.
It is necessary for the maintenance of the spiritual life which we have obtained through Baptism. Just as Israel who were liberated from servitude in Egypt by passing through the Sea were maintained with manna and water -See Clause 16--, the Israel of the New covenant, who through Baptism became God's people must be maintained by Holy Communion in the desert which is life. John 6:53-58; Eph.5:29,30.
We must partake of it, just like the Lord instituted it, with unleavened bread and wine.1 Cor.5:7,8.
Both must be blessed by a servant called by God using the words Paul instructed us to use.1 Cor.11:23-26.
Everyone who is baptised may partake of it. He must, however, first submit to self examination, confess bis sins and receive remission through the ministry of reconciliation. 1 Cor.11:27-3O; John 2O:23; 2 Cor.5:18-2O; John 15:3.
As a rule it is celebrated on the first day of the week. Acts 20,7.
Clause 16. Moses led his people through the desert feeding them with manna from heaven and quenching their, thirst with water,from the rock. Num.32:13; Ex: 16:4-36; John 4:6-14; Ex.17: 1-6; John 6: 31-58;1 Cor.10:4.
Clause 37
After His resurrection from the dead, the Lord Jesus spent 40 days with His apostles, and instituted the ministry of reconciliation. Acts 1:1-3; John 20:23; 2 Cor.5:18-2O; James 5:15.
Clause 38
During His life He said: "I will not leave you comfortless" With these words the Lord promised- to pour out the Holy Spirit. This promise, also mentioned by the prophets of the Old Covenant, was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, when the disciples all received the power of the Holy spirit. John 1:15-18,26; John 15:26; John 16:7-15; Ps.68:18; Isa.32:1-4; Isa.44:3-5; Ezek.39:29; Joel 2:23, 28-32; Acts 2:1-21; Isa.32:1-15.
Clause 39
We now know the godly Being as Father, Son and- Holy Spirit and believe in God as taught by the so-called Aposto1ic and- Nicene Creeds.
The Apostles' Creed-Confession of Faith.
"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-- That is Hades, or the World of Spirits.--. 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 living 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.
The Nicene Creed--Confession of Faith--.
I 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 His 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 Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man,And was And was crucified als 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 the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, 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 spake by the Prophets.And I believe one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, And I look for the Resurrection of the dead, And the life of the world to come. Amen.
Clause 40
The Lord Jesus chose twelve men, whom He called apost1es, and instructed them to preach the Kingdom of heaven on earth. The numbr was twelve, based on the twelve tribes of Israel, which is a silhouette of the Israel of the New Testament. There weren't always twelve apostles. From the time of Judas' betrayal to the election of Matthias there were only eleven. Later we still find Paul, Barnabas and Apollos being called apost1es. Matt.l0:2-4; Matt.28:l9,20; Luke 6:13-16; Gen.49; Ex.15:27; Ex.39:14; Num.7:1-3; 1 Kings 4:7; Rev.21:12,14; Acts 14:14; 1 Cor.1:12; 1Cor.4:1,6,9.
Clause 41
The doctrine --teaching-- of the apostles was generally rejected by the Jews~ the Gentiles accepted it. In this way Japheth replaced Shem. Cornelius was the firstfruit of the Gentiles. --See Clauses 10 and 21-. Matt.24:9; John lO:16; Acts 6:12; Acts 9:1,2; Acts 13:46,47; Rom.11:,25; Rom.11: l7-2O; John 16:2.
Clause 10: After the great flood God gave Noah His commandments.We find his three sons as ancestors. The youngest, Japheth, received an important promise. Gen.9.
Clause 21: In the lineage of Judah we find Boaz, who married a woman of heathen origin-- a Gentile-named Ruth,who became the anancestress of David, of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, according to the promise God made to David.
Clause 42
The apostles fulfilled that which John the Baptist had said of the Lord Jesus, baptising with fire and the Holy Spirit. This was the fulfilment of the words: "And greater works than these shall He do." By this is meant: The gospel of salvation is now being preached in full, by the servants of the Lord deputising for Him.John 1:33; John 14:12; John 3:22; John 4:2.
Clause 43
The Church therefore in the beginning possessed a third sacrament: the Baptism fire or the Holy Spirit, Sealing.
SEALING:
LAYING 0N OF APOSTLES HANDS.
Baptism with water is not the imparting of the Holy Spirit. John 1:33.
Only the apostles could impart the Holy Spirit. 8:14-18; Acts 19:1-7Acts.
Paul calls this act Sealing. 2 Cor.l:,21,22; Eph.l:13.
The priests of the 0ld Covenant were, before they assumed duty, first cleansed with water and thereafter anointed with oil. Ex.29:4,7.
The kings of Israel were anointed to their office. 1 Sam.10:1; 1 Sam.16:13.
The Lord Jesus is called the anointed in the book of Psalms and the books of the Prophets. Ps. 2:2; Ps.45:7; Isa. 61:1.
The congregation is a royal priesthood. 1 Peter 2:9.
They had received the Holy Spirit as an anointing. 1 John 2: 20,27.
The Holy Spirit is the pledge --earnest--of our inheritance. Eph.l:13,14; 2 Cor.l:21,22.
Those sealed with the Holy Spirit are the first fruits of the creatures, before God and the Lamb, which were redeemed from the earth. Rev.l4:l-4; James 1:18.
Those sealed with the Holy Spirit bear the Name of the Father upon their foreheads, and the name of the new Jerusalem and the new name of the Son .Rev.7:3; Rev.l4:l; Rev.3:12.
They follow the Lamb, wherever He goes. Rev.l4:4.
They are the Bride, adorned, by the apostles with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and are brought to be presented to the Bridegroom. 2 Cor.11:2; Eph.5:26,27; Ps.45:14-l7.
Clause 44
Through Sealing with the Holy Spirit the congregation obtained the gift of the Holy Spirit, which are described for us by Paul. 1 Cor.12 and 14; Acts 21:9.
Peter tells us that it is the fulfilment of Joel's prophecy. Acts 2:14-18.
In the New Testament we also find prophets. Acts 11:27; Acts 13,1; Acts 21:10; Eph.4:11; 1 Cor.12:28.
The Holy Spirit reveals future things and spiritual mysteries. Tim.4:1-3.Acts.16:9; 1 cor.15:51; 1 Thess.4:15; Acts 11:28. Acts 20:23; Acts 21: 4,11;
Clause 45
Women also prophesied. Acts 21:9; 1 Cor.11:5.
Because Paul did not permit women of the congregation to address members in Church, it is clear that prophesying isn't preaching 1 Cor.14:34,35.
Frophesying, is speaking impelled by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21.
He who prophesies, is a spokesman of God, and brings God's testimony. Rev. 19:10.
Clause 46
It is not permitted to prevent prophesying. 1Cor.12:31; 1 Cor.l4:,l,39; 1 Thess.5:l9,20.
Clause 47
The gifts of the Holy Spirit munst remain until that which is perfect has come.1 Cor.13:8-10.
Clause 48
Then apostles are needed until such time; for only they can impart the Holy Spirit by the laying on of their hands. Acts.8:14-18; Acts 19:17; 2 Tim. 1:6.
Clause 49
People cannot claim, that if God had found it necessary, that there should still be apostles, He would have sent them continuously.It was not God's wish, that Israel and Judah should be without the service of offering. He had continuously warned them through the prophets.--See Clauses 22 and 23--. Similarly. God warned the Church, to preserve the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Congregation would also only receive her servants through the Holy Spirit, speaking through the mouth of the prophets.--See Clause 18--.1 Tim.l:18; 1 Tim.4:14; Acts 13:1-3; Hebr. 5:4.
Paul, as a result of prophecy, warned that people will later choose teachers, according to their own fancy., to flatter them. 2 Tim.4:3.
Clause 22:The Kingdom of Solomon was divided into the Kingdom of the ten tribes--Israel or Ephraim--, and the Kingdom of Judah,--Judah with Benjamin Both sinned. God warned them through prophets e.g. Elijah. The Kingdom of the ten tribes was destroyed by Sargon of Assyria- 722 B.C.- The nation disappeared, but still it is written, that God would return them to the land of their fathers. From 1 Kings 11-2 Kings 25; Lev 26:40-46.
Clause 23:Judah was also punished and Jerusalem conquered.The Temple of Solomon was destroyed and the people were removed as prisoners by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon- 582 B.C.- According to Godts promise the people of Judah would after seventy years he permitted to return and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. Jer:25:11,12; Isa:44:28; 2 Chron 36: 20-23; the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Clause 18: God isolated the Levites to perform His services, and from amongst them, speaking through the mouth of the prophet Moses, He called the house of Aaron for the performanoe of the priestly services.Ex.28:1; Hebr: 5:4.
Clause 50
The Lord Jesus estab1ished His Congregation upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, of which He himself is the chief corner stone. Nobody can lay another foundation. The divine worship of the New Covenant was estahlished for the whole period of the dispensation of grace, just as the divine worship of the 01d Covenant remained unchanged, till the Lord Jesus had established the New one.--See Clause l7--. Eph.2: l9-22; Matt.16:18; Isa.28:16; 1 Cor.3:1O,11.
Clause 17:In the desert, on the mountain of Horeb, God directed Moses how He desired to be served. Ha gave Israel the Law and the services in the tabarnacle as an example of that which was come. Thus the Israel of the Old Testamont and the Old Covenant are silhouettes of the spiritual Israel and the New Covenant. Ex.19; Ex.2O:1-17; Ex.24:9-18; Exodus chapters 25, 26 particularly 25,40 and chapters 26,3O; Gal.4:24-29; Hebr.9:8,9; Hebr.1O:1; Hebr.8:5; Col..2:16,17.
Feasts and holy seasons in the time of the Old Covenant which all have their particular significance :
Sabbath: Ex.2O:8-11; Ex.23: 12.
Sabbatical year: Ex.23:10,11; Deut.15:1-6.
Jubilee Lev. 25: 8-19.
The feast of the new moon: Num.10:10. Num.28:11-15. Ps.81.
Passover or Easter: Ex: 12:1-27.
Pentecost The harvest festival or feast of the first fruits: Ex.23:16.Num.28:26-31.
The feast of Tabarnacles: Lev.23:33-44. Deut.16:13-15.
The Great Day of Atonement: Lev: 16: 1-34; Lev.23: 23-32.
The feast of Purim: Esther 9:26-32,