Three Forms Podcast

What came first, the Bible or the Church? In Article 5 of the Belgic Confession, we continue to outline what we understand about God's Word, and both its authentication and authority. Article 5: The Authority of ScriptureWe receive all these books and these only as holy and canonical, for the regulating, founding, and establishing of our faith. And we believe without a doubt all things contained in them—not so much because the church receives and approves them as such but above all because the Holy Spirit testifies in our hearts that they are from God, and also because they prove themselves to be from God. For even the blind themselves are able to see that the things predicted in them do happen.

Why is the Bible called Canonical? Did the church create the Bible, or does the Bible create the church? When were the 66 books of the Protestant Bible recognized? Episode 204 answers these questions and more! Article 4: The Canonical BooksWe include in the Holy Scripture the two volumes of the Old and New Testaments. They are canonical books with which there can be no quarrel at all.In the church of God the list is as follows: In the Old Testament, the five books of Moses—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy; the books of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth; the two books of Samuel, and two of Kings; the two books of Chronicles, called Paralipomenon; the first book of Ezra; Nehemiah, Esther, Job; the Psalms of David; the three books of Solomon—Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song; the four major prophets—Isaiah, Jeremiah*, Ezekiel, Daniel; and then the other twelve minor prophets—Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.In the New Testament, the four gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; the Acts of the Apostles; the fourteen letters of Paul—to the Romans; the two letters to the Corinthians; to the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians; the two letters to the Thessalonians; the two letters to Timothy; to Titus, Philemon, and to the Hebrews; the seven letters of the other apostles—one of James; two of Peter; three of John; one of Jude; and the Revelation of the apostle John.

The second of six Articles focusing on God's Revelation, and specifically the Scripture. Here we discuss how we have received God's Word, and recognize it as both Holy and Divine. Article 3: The Written Word of God We confess that this Word of God was not sent nor delivered “by human will,” but that “men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God,” as Peter says. Afterward our God— with special care for us and our salvation— commanded his servants, the prophets and apostles, to commit this revealed Word to writing. God, with his own finger, wrote the two tables of the law. Therefore we call such writings holy and divine Scriptures.

While Article 1 confesses the reality of God, Article 2 starts to explore how we come to know this God. Scripture and the Confession point to two books telling us of who God is, Creation and His Word. Article 2: The Means by Which We Know God We know God by two means: First, by the creation, preservation, and government of the universe, since that universe is before our eyes like a beautiful book in which all creatures, great and small, are as letters to make us ponder the invisible things of God: God’s eternal power and divinity, as the apostle Paul says in Romans 1:20. All these things are enough to convict humans and to leave them without excuse. Second, God makes himself known to us more clearly by his holy and divine Word, as much as we need in this life, for God’s glory and for our salvation.

The Belgic Confession begins with a declaration of who God is. We discuss what the confessions means when it says He is a "simple Being," and then explore ten of His attributes that it focuses on. Article 1: The Only GodWe all believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that there is a single and simple spiritual being, whom we call God— eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, unchangeable, infinite, almighty; completely wise, just, and good, and the overflowing source of all good.

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In this final Lord's Day, we consider our three sworn enemies, the aim of our prayers being God's glory, and our assurance that our God not only hears but answers our prayers! Lord’s Day 52 Q & A 127 Q. What does the sixth petition mean? A. “And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one” means: By ourselves we are too weak to hold our own even for a moment. And our sworn enemies—the devil, the world, and our own flesh—never stop attacking us.And so, Lord, uphold us and make us strong with the strength of your Holy Spirit, so that we may not go down to defeat in this spiritual struggle, but may firmly resist our enemies until we finally win the complete victory. Q & A 128 Q. What does your conclusion to this prayer mean? A. For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours forever” means: We have made all these petitions of you because, as our all-powerful king, you are both willing and able to give us all that is good; and because your holy name, and not we ourselves, should receive all the praise, forever. Q & A 129 Q. What does that little word “Amen” express? A. “Amen” means: This shall truly and surely be! It is even more sure that God listens to my prayer than that I really desire what I pray for.

Dave Ramsey encourages us to pay off our debts, but spiritually, we all have debt to the Lord that we can not pay. Yet, He has graciously forgiven our debt, and expects us to now live in forgiveness. Lord’s Day 51 Q & A 126 Q. What does the fifth petition mean? A. “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” means: Because of Christ’s blood, do not hold against us, poor sinners that we are, any of the sins we do or the evil that constantly clings to us. Forgive us just as we are fully determined, as evidence of your grace in us, to forgive our neighbors.

While the Lord's Prayer starts with several lofty and spiritual requests, the 4th request shows us that our Lord cares about both our bodies and souls. In fact, the two are closely related! Lord’s Day 50 Q & A 125 Q. What does the fourth petition mean? A. “Give us this day our daily bread” means: Do take care of all our physical needs so that we come to know that you are the only source of everything good, and that neither our work and worry nor your gifts can do us any good without your blessing. And so help us to give up our trust in creatures and trust in you alone.