1/16/13- We Confess

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ² By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.  ³ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried,that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

Thoughts: What was of first importance of all the things Paul taught?  What were his "essential tenets" on which he took his stand, on which he based his salvation, to which he held firmly?  It is that Christ died for our sins, that he was buried and raised.  He based these essentials "according to the Scriptures" and not on his own wishes or philosophy.  It is not wrong or UnReformed to hold essential tenets- for that is what Paul had.  It is not wrong to confess this faith.  Confession is not just confession of sins.  Confession is not just profession of faith.  Con (with) and fateri (to admit).  To confess our faith is to admit to our beliefs- to claim them- to proclaim them publicly to the world.  Belief without content is not belief, but faltering guessing, and will go back and forth based on fickle feeling.  I think of Martin Luther who said publicly at his trial at Worms- when asked to recant, "Here I stand.  I can do no other.  God help me amen."  Belief with content gives meaning, hope, purpose, strength, and courage.  Belief without content may tickle our itching ears, and make more people happy, but it is not the same as a true confession. 

Prayer: Help us to pass on our beliefs- and to pass on what is essential to the next generation. 

(Luther at the Imperial Diet of Worms 1521; The Reformation had some essential tenets- Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Scripture Alone- and the Priesthood of all Believers)

We confess that God alone is Lord of the conscience, but this
freedom is for the purpose of allowing us to be subject always
and primarily to God’s Word. The Spirit will never prompt
our conscience to conclusions that are at odds with the Scriptures
that He has inspired. The revelation of the incarnate
Word does not minimize, qualify, or set aside the authority of
the written Word. We are happy to confess ourselves captive
to the Word of God, not just individually, but also as members
of a community of faith, extending through time and around
the globe. In particular, we join with other members of the
Presbyterian and Reformed community to affirm the secondary
authority of the Book of Confessions as a faithful exposition of
the Word of God.