Our Faith
The word creed, meaning something believed, has been used throughout the church's history to refer to that which a given group of believers professes to be biblical. Similarly, the word confession, captures the idea of stating what one believes. This can be very simple as in Peter's, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Many believers speak of having no creed but Christ, or no creed by the Bible. In one sense, this is admirable. The attempt to maintain the supreme authority of Christ and his will as revealed in Scripture is a worthy cause. However, to say one has no creed but Christ only raises the questions, "Who do you believe the Bible teaches Christ to be?" And, "What do you believe the Bible teaches Christ to have done?" The same can be said about the other oft recited statement, "No creed but the Bible." What does the Bible teach? What does the Bible say about a given subject? What does the Bible teach about sin, grace, obedience, salvation, etc.?
That Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "For by grace are ye saved through faith...," is beyond dispute for Bible-believing Christians. However, what Paul meant by these precious words, is a matter requiring some thought and restatement. When we say, "No one will be forgiven by their own works, as if they could purchase eternal life," we engage in a form of creed. To make it formal we might say, "I believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ, and that no one will gain eternal life by their own works." Instantly we are using language meant to convey and clarify what we believe the Bible teaches. This is a creed; in one sense Biblical, because it is trying to restate what the Scripture teaches, and yet in another sense extra-biblical, because it is not quoting verbatim from the Bible.
Our congregation and denomination have found that a particular confession, written many years ago now, correctly and appropriately states what the Bible teaches on 33 important subjects. Instead of coming up with our own words, we have been well pleased with the "form of sound words" handed down to us in the Westminster Standards, which are comprised of the Confession of Faith, the Larger Catechism, and the Shorter Catechism. This is not to be confused with the idea that the Confession or Catechisms are equal in authority to the Scripture. Rather, even as the Confession contends (31:4), "All synods or councils since the apostles' times, whether general or particular, may err, and many have erred; therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith or practice, but to be used as an help in both." And again (1:10), "The supreme Judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentences we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the scripture." Thus, the Scriptures stand supreme. Yet, having studied the Scriptures, we find the words provided in the Westminster Confession to be words accurately conveying the Scriptures' sense and meaning.
Many believers speak of having no creed but Christ, or no creed by the Bible. In one sense, this is admirable. The attempt to maintain the supreme authority of Christ and his will as revealed in Scripture is a worthy cause. However, to say one has no creed but Christ only raises the questions, "Who do you believe the Bible teaches Christ to be?" And, "What do you believe the Bible teaches Christ to have done?" The same can be said about the other oft recited statement, "No creed but the Bible." What does the Bible teach? What does the Bible say about a given subject? What does the Bible teach about sin, grace, obedience, salvation, etc.?
That Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "For by grace are ye saved through faith...," is beyond dispute for Bible-believing Christians. However, what Paul meant by these precious words, is a matter requiring some thought and restatement. When we say, "No one will be forgiven by their own works, as if they could purchase eternal life," we engage in a form of creed. To make it formal we might say, "I believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ, and that no one will gain eternal life by their own works." Instantly we are using language meant to convey and clarify what we believe the Bible teaches. This is a creed; in one sense Biblical, because it is trying to restate what the Scripture teaches, and yet in another sense extra-biblical, because it is not quoting verbatim from the Bible.
Our congregation and denomination have found that a particular confession, written many years ago now, correctly and appropriately states what the Bible teaches on 33 important subjects. Instead of coming up with our own words, we have been well pleased with the "form of sound words" handed down to us in the Westminster Standards, which are comprised of the Confession of Faith, the Larger Catechism, and the Shorter Catechism. This is not to be confused with the idea that the Confession or Catechisms are equal in authority to the Scripture. Rather, even as the Confession contends (31:4), "All synods or councils since the apostles' times, whether general or particular, may err, and many have erred; therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith or practice, but to be used as an help in both." And again (1:10), "The supreme Judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentences we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the scripture." Thus, the Scriptures stand supreme. Yet, having studied the Scriptures, we find the words provided in the Westminster Confession to be words accurately conveying the Scriptures' sense and meaning.