I am continuing my journey into doctrines of the Reformed Church, which include the Westminster Standards and the Three form of Unity of the Dutch Reformation.
Trinity United Reformed Church subscribes to the historic doctrines of the Reformation. These are collectively summarized in what is known as the Three Forms of Unity which is composed of:
1.) The Belgic Confession [Netherlands A.D. 1561]
2.) The Heidelberg Catechism [Heidelberg, Germany A.D. 1563]
3.) The Canons of Dordt [Dordrecht, Netherlands A.D. 1619]
These are accepted as official statements of doctrine by many of the Reformed churches, including the URCNA. These doctrines maintain that the Old and New Testaments are the infallible, inerrant, unchanging and inspired Word of God.
As I was XC skiing today, I listened to Pastor Ganger’s sermons from last September which really helped to clarify just how important the Cross and the Resurrection are to us and how we realize his gift of Grace. If you have time check them out.
Bread of Heaven
The Cross of Christ
Likewise there is some good reading on this Resurrection Sunday.
From the Heildberg Catechism
Q1.What is your only comfort in life and in death?
A.That I am not my own,1
but belong—
body and soul,
in life and in death2—
to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.3
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,4
and has delivered me from the tyranny of the devil.5
He also watches over me in such a way6
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven;7
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.8
Because I belong to him,
Christ, by his Holy Spirit,
also assures me of eternal life9
and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready
from now on to live for him.10
1 Cor. 6:19–20
2 Rom. 14:7–9
3 1 Cor. 3:23; Titus 2:14
4 1 Pet. 1:18–19; 1 John 1:7–9; 2:2
5 John 8:34–36; Heb. 2:14–15; 1 John 3:1–11
6 John 6:39–40; 10:27–30; 2 Thess. 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:5
7 Matt. 10:29–31; Luke 21:16–18
8 Rom. 8:28
9 Rom. 8:15–16; 2 Cor. 1:21–22; 5:5; Eph. 1:13–14
10 Rom. 8:1–17
Q57. How does “the resurrection of the body” comfort you?
A. Not only will my soul
be taken immediately after this life
to Christ its head,1
but also my very flesh, raised by the power of Christ,
will be reunited with my soul,
and made like Christ’s glorious body.2
1 Luke 23:43; Phil. 1:21–23
2 1 Cor. 15:20, 42–46, 54; Phil. 3:21; 1 John 3:2
From my readings of the Westminster Large Catechism
Q. 52. How was Christ exalted in his resurrection?
A. Christ was exalted in his resurrection, in that, not having seen corruption in death (of which it was not possible for him to be held), and having the very same body in which he suffered, with the essential properties thereof (but without mortality, and other common infirmities belonging to this life), really united to his soul, he rose again from the dead the third day by his own power; whereby he declared himself to be the Son of God, to have satisfied divine justice, to have vanquished death, and him that had power of it, and to be Lord of quick and dead: all which he did as a public person, the head of his church, for their justification, quickening in grace, support against enemies, and to assure them of their resurrection from the dead at the last day.
1 Corinthians 15:50-58
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Job 19:25-27
25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
The following is a bit more from the WLC, pointedly on how one in faith can have assurance not unlike what Job describes..
Q. 79. May not true believers, by reason of their imperfections, and the many temptations and sins they are overtaken with, fall away from the state of grace?
A. True believers, by reason of the unchangeable love of God, and his decree and covenant to give them perseverance, their inseparable union with Christ, his continual intercession for them, and the Spirit and seed of God abiding in them, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
Q. 80. Can true believers be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and that they shall persevere therein unto salvation?
A. Such as truly believe in Christ, and endeavor to walk in all good conscience before him, may, without extraordinary revelation, by faith grounded upon the truth of God’s promises, and by the Spirit enabling them to discern in themselves those graces to which the promises of life are made, and bearing witness with their spirits that they are the children of God, be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and shall persevere therein unto salvation.
Q. 81. Are all true believers at all times assured of their present being in the estate of grace, and that they shall be saved?
A. Assurance of grace and salvation not being of the essence of faith, true believers may wait long before they obtain it; and, after the enjoyment thereof, may have it weakened and intermitted, through manifold distempers, sins, temptations, and desertions; yet are they never left without such a presence and support of the Spirit of God as keeps them from sinking into utter despair.
Q. 82. What is the communion in glory which the members of the invisible church have with Christ?
A. The communion in glory which the members of the invisible church have with Christ, is in this life, immediately after death, and at last perfected at the resurrection and day of judgment.
Paul writes about this in Romans 8. You can read that on your own.
Rainbow Trout 