Featured Why should the 1689 Confession of faith be used?

I've put him on the clock. Lullz...

 

DHK, you could find an online CoF that is close to your church's and paste it. Then tell us what you agree and disgree with that one.

FYI, I started another thread in the Cal/Armin forum about 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 if you want to address it. Thanks.

 

By "confessional" I assume those who were of the "Puritan" stock.

The "Church of England" was and always has been in error, and no matter the efforts of the Puritans to clean it up, it remains in error for it was started in error.

So, although I have a high regard for the C of F 1689, perhaps my objections are more toward what the group that wrote the document represented more than the document itself. Some of the earliest confessions written by members of the Separatists are most intriguing because those of the same Biblical understanding as the puritans yet separated from the church of England were not only intellectually strong, but had far more Christlike character than the Puritans.

So, I read the C of F 1689, and were I agree with it, I agree, but where I don't, I try to lay out exactly why.

For example: Do you agree with the Sabbath statement as it is written?

 

The temple that Rome tore down does not fit the statements of these prophets concerning the future temple. For example, just the "courts" of the temple are approximately one square mile. Far larger than any OT temple, and more especially the one Rome pulled down. The holy area is nearly 5o square miles, again far larger than any built to date.

Ezekiel 40 - 48.
Joel 3
Isaiah 2, and 30
Daniel 9
Haggia 2

The fact that Ezekiel was given extremely specific dimensions and instructions and non of the temples fit those dimensions, and that such detailed instructions are like that given for the tabernacle and the building of the Temple under Solomon, it follows that this is an extremely special building. One that the Jews continue to look forward to, and are actively gathering in preparation to build.

I have never read the "left behind" series. Does it have the building of a temple in it?

 

A part of the confession states:

As it is the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time, by God's appointment, be set apart for the worship of God, so by his Word, in a positive moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a sabbath to be kept holy unto him, which from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week, and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week, which is called the Lord's day: and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the last day of the week being abolished.​

Two reflections:
First, I don't consider it as part of the "law of nature" for no animal rests on the Sabbath or has a care about any day of the week.
Second, the commandment of the Mosaic law did not "bind all men in all ages." It bound the Jews and those who resided in the country of the Jews or with the Jews, only.

The very next section states:

The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations, but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.​

For the Puritans, being the writers of the document, were most careful to punish anyone who "broke" what they considered was the Sabbath honors.

More to the point, do you know of any church that holds to the 1689 confession that would not in some manner violate what the writers (Puritans) held as honorable in the "public and private exercises of his worship?"

What church does not spend time before and after the service engaging in silly talking, and mindless jesting?

What person purges their mind of worldly employment and recreation for the whole Sabbath?

Would that I could find such an assembly!


The Pilgrims considered things a bit differently than the Puritans and their worship reflected some of that thinking. Very little is left of the public record but John Winthrop recorded the typical worship of the early Pilgrims, and I do wish I could have been an eye witness to their devotion.

 

To be honest, the last chapters of Ezekiel, Daniel and most of Revelation give me fits. There are many passages of figurative language that explain Spiritual truths. In the 37th chapter of Ezekiel, we see him in a valley of very dry bones, and through prophesying as God commanded him to, these bones lived again. Now, was this an actual valley, or was it a vision he had that expressed a Spiritual truth that all that are to be saved, are like these dry bones were, dead and unable to do anything? Or was it a vision he had. I think(not dogmatic) this was a vision. Then in another chapter, Ezekiel wades in the water. Now, was this an actual river or was it a vision? I think it was a vision. Parlay that to Ezekiel 40-48 and it was a vision, and I don't really know enough to give to a proper answer, to be quite honest with you. There are many verses I just don't know about, and I don't pretend I do. I need to study Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelation in great detail now. Thanks for this.

Daniel's four beasts and Revelation's four beats, were they literal or are they figurative to express a biblical truth? I think they were figurative, but again, what little I do know, I am not dogmatic about it.

 

Anyone ever consider the Sermon on the Mount as a substitute for the afore mentioned COF.

 

Not just that sermon, but all scripture trump any CoF as scripture is infallible, whereas a CoF is fallible. However, these CoF's give others an idea of what ppl believe.

 

So, in summary why the 1689 LBCF should be used...

Is because it's super awesome.