Sermons Vander Kam on HC Lord's Day 7
Q&A 22 Sermons Vander Kam on HC Lord's Day 7
Q&A 2222 Q. What, then, is necessary for a Christian to believe?
A. All that is promised us in the gospel, which the articles of our catholic and undoubted Christian faith teach us in a summary.
Beloved in the Lord, our God has given us two revelations, and the one we call the special revelation of God and the other the general. Now there is a great difference between the two of course, and they have an entirely different purpose. And the question has also been raised in our own circles even in recent years, whether the one is as infallible as the other. And of course, it is the kind of a question that puts you in a box, because of the fact that as soon as you say that a revelation of God is not infallible, then you are thereby doing despite to the revelation of God. But at the same time it also ought to be made very clear at the very outset, that you are not dealing with this, that it is a logical question. And it is asking the kind of a question that may not be asked, because of the fact that you are dealing with something where they are comparing two entirely different things. You have the special revelation of God that is come to us, and that was also already there in paradise. And God spake to Adam and Eve in the cool of the day and that was special revelation. It is not only the enscripturated revelation that we have, but also as He spoke to them at that time, that was a special revelation. And that was a special revelation that was indeed infallible and inerrant.
There was also the general revelation that He gave at that time whereby He showed all of His handiwork, and that His name is therefore also imprinted upon all that which He has made, and that is still with us today. But as a result of sin, because of man's sin, the general revelation of God is no longer clear. So that you are no longer able to see it in its pristine beauty, so that you are no longer able to see it the way it was intended to be. And as a result of that, due to your and my sin, that revelation of God has become something now, and I will say it, but please don't misquote me out of context -- I will say it -- that then it is no longer infallible. Because of the fact that it is now characterized by sin on every side, and as a result of that, even though He is still revealing Himself, thereto it is of an entirely different nature, and has an entirely different purpose.
And those are the things that we ought to keep clearly before us. So that when you are speaking here of this whether the two are infallible, and are comparing the two, then you are not comparing apples with apples, so to speak, but you are comparing those things which do not belong together. Because of the general revelation of God with the mark of sin upon it, so that, as one theologian has said, that we now look at a universe that is blurred through blurry eyes. Because the glasses that we have are blurred and so we look upon that which has been blurred. And then you don't get a clear picture. So that you need a special revelation of God, as Calvin called it, the spectacles of that special revelation to again give you the insight into what is there in the general revelation.
Now those are the things that are important for us to realize because of the fact that there is so much that is connected with it. That when we are dealing with the things of God that He has given to us in general revelation that is in nature about us, that is in the history of man, that is in man himself, there He has revealed Himself and the imprint of all of His works is there. And those are the things that are to be seen, and this makes Christian education such an important thing that we realize it cannot be otherwise. Like, certainly we will have to acknowledge the Creator in order to be able to understand His creation. Therefore we will also have to look at that special revelation of God in order to be able to understand that which is going on in nature about us.
And these are the things of course, that could be criticized in various ways, but only this, and with that I will leave it this morning, and that is this, that there are so many for example, that are looking into the psyche, that is, the soul of man. Who denied that he has a soul. And this is not going to get you far. And those are the kind of things that are before us all the time in the world in which we are living at the present time.
Now it is always this, now what must a Christian believe; what must a Christian believe, and that is the last answer that comes here prior to the one that asks, "Now what is the content of the apostolic confession?" But here it has been dealing with this, what is true faith; do we need it; is there a difference between that and the other. And now finally, it is this, what are you to believe; what must you believe -- that is the question. That is the question before us in question and answer 22, and to that we call your attention this morning as we speak to you on; "The Christian's Necessary Faith."
Noticing in the first place; the important question; secondly, the inclusive character; and finally, its content.
Now in the first place beloved, we are dealing here with a very important question, what is necessary for a Christian to believe? And there are all kinds of answers that have been given to hat question, and ever so many come to the conclusion of course, that you can believe whatever you wish. That it is up to you and there's nobody that has all the truth and if he thinks that he has then he is arrogant. That betrays a certain arrogance that ought never to found in a Christian. That he is so arrogant that he believes that he has the truth; these are the ones who are the followers of Pontius Pilate when he says to Jesus, "What is truth?" I don't know what it is and you don't either, nobody does.
But that is the answer of that poor pagan, that poor Roman pagan. That is the answer of that poor man that stands here before the Christ of God and he doesn't know whether he is dealing with the Son of God or with a common criminal. That is the one who is standing here before something which we will have to judge and he is not capable of doing it. And that is the word that has been kept of him through all the ages; What is truth! And most of the people and thinkers of today also come to that same conclusion and say, "Nobody knows." And what may be true for you may not be true for me. This is also a common American phenomenon. That we will look at it in this way; now it may be true for you but I don't accept it, I reject it, and that is perfectly proper that the one accept and the other reject, because there is no such thing as objective truth, it is all subjective.
So that there is truth to be found in all kinds of religions too of course, and that whether you are dealing with the Shintoist or whether you are dealing with the Christian, what's the difference. Whether you are dealing with the Jew or with the Mohammedan, what is the difference. The one has been brought up in a different way than the other and had you been born in that kind of a situation, you would have been that too. So that now, what must a Christian believe! That is a question that is important. It is important because of the fact that so many come to that conclusion that it doesn't make any difference. It makes no difference at all. You can believe whatever you wish because belief is not the important thing. The important thing is the life; see. So that what you believe, I don't care, and you don't care. But it is this -- what kind of life do you live.
And here you have one who has been brought up in paganism and he is a good neighbor, he doesn't believe a thing, but nevertheless he always does that which is right. And so you can go on, and I don't have to increase the number of examples; the examples are there for the taking, they are there before you all the time, and it doesn't make a particle of difference what you believe, it's only a matter what kind of a life you live.
Now in the first place, let it also be said very clearly that it is not a matter of no importance at all what kind of a life we live. That is the thing that must arise out of the beliefs that we have. And in the final analysis that's the only way that it can exist. That if there are not the proper beliefs then that kind of a life is also not going to be there, that is, that is to be accepted. But it is always this you know, in modern Christianity, and in the modern world in which we are living, and this is becoming ever more so; that is the error and the terror that we find in a nation such as this, which boasts itself upon this, that we have freedom of religion. The Bible never knows about that. Freedom of worship, I should say. But freedom of religion; it doesn't make any difference, says the Constitution, what you believe. The one is as good as the other, you have freedom, perfect freedom, and if you want to worship Buddha, that's up to you, people. And if you want to worship Jesus of Nazareth, that's up to you. We wash our hands of the whole business, because it doesn't make any difference what you believe anyway. Just so you act as a good citizen.
Again, it is a matter of life rather than belief, and that is the kind of a philosophy that has taken over this country, and it is ever getting more so. It has taken it over completely and that is no friend to grace to help us on to God; not by any means. It is that which is going to be very difficult to battle, very difficult to battle in the next generation, and that's why question 22 of the Heidelberg Catechism is so important; now what must a Christian believe? It is a very important question because it goes to the very heart of the matter; and that is, that it is a matter in the final analysis of what you believe. That is the emphasis, and that is that emphasis that must be underscored; must be underscored to everybody, but especially to the Christian church, that there is going to be that realization that it makes all the difference in the world what you believe. There is a God who has made us and who will stand at the latter day upon this earth, and He is going to give judgment. And then it is not going to be a matter that it makes no difference what you have believed?
Now, it is this, that He has spoken to us and He has made it very clear what is to be recognized as that which is necessary for us. For our necessary faith, and you have to have that faith, and without faith, and as one of the Dutch scholars wrote even a few years ago; "without faith, no one fares well." No. And he is about as far out as you can get, but, he even recognizes that without that faith no one fares well. So that there has to be a faith. Now it is a question of course, what must be the content of that faith? And those are the things, that has been a struggle, a struggle by ever so many, and a struggle in the Christian church, and in ever so many churches. And that is this, what is it all about? And that is the thing that must be answered. And this is the kind of a question that therefore comes and stands at the very top of our agenda; and that is, what must I believe, what must I believe.
And then there are ever so many of course, who conclude that it is very little that you have to believe. And there is also some Scriptural proof for that. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ," says Paul to the jailer at Philippi, "and thou shalt be saved." That's not much. Here we are already up to question 22 of the Catechism; he didn't even get to the first one. What must I do, what must I know. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. So, it's very simple, it isn't much. And now he makes so much of that; what must we believe, what must we believe. And that is nevertheless, the kind of a question that goes to the heart of the matter, because it is only in that general revelation that Jesus Christ is revealed. The nature around us, the general revelation reveals to us many things, but Jesus Christ is revealed only in this Book, and without that we would be totally in the dark concerning Him. And "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved"; but that also comes out of here. Not out of the general revelation, not out of my study of nature, or my study of man, or my study of history; that will not present it. But I must go again to another source to find it, that infallible source.
Now that is the important question that stands before us nevertheless; what must I believe? Every young person ought to ask that, and really mean business, and that he ask that in all sincerity. Now, what must I believe. And anybody that thinks at all will ask that question. And therefore the Catechism comes with these questions that go to the heart of the matter, go to the very root. They're radical questions. Ask first of all, what is your only comfort, what is it? Oh you're still dealing with that all the way through the Catechism, all these questions and answers, what is your only comfort. And then it comes with this one, now what, what must you believe, what must you believe? And it comes with these probing questions beloved, in order that our spiritual life is going to be strengthened, that it is going to be stirred up. That we are not going to fall asleep, as so many have done. But that we are going to see that this is, after all, the essence of everything that we hold dear.
Secondly, notice also its inclusive character.
Now you are dealing with something here that is, as I have already intimated, answered in various ways. That usually it is looked upon especially in our days that you are able to get along with very little. And it isn't a matter of how much you know, you know it is not a matter of I.Q., whether you enter into the kingdom of heaven or not, or your place in the kingdom of heaven. No... It is a matter of beliefs, it is a matter of obedience, and not of I.Q. So that if I know a lot, that is not going to reward me with a higher station in heaven. And if I know very little, I am not going to be demoted as a result of that. Then, what is the import of this question, what must I believe? Or is it one that can be answered in such various ways so that really in the final analysis, it still doesn't make any difference.
Now you notice the approach already of the Catechism on this score. And that approach is this beloved, what do you have to believe? Everything that's in the Bible. Not here a little, and there a little, not John 3:16 plus Matthew 18 plus I Corinthians 13 and many people have enough. If you know that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that he who believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. And Matthew 18 so that you know how to deal with your brother who sins against you, and I Corinthians 13 that ode to love. Hmm... What more do you want. And then must I still plow through Ezekiel and Daniel and Zephaniah and Zechariah and Malachi. Must I plow through that to find out what they have to say, or must I approach it in this way, I already have enough. I have approached the New Testament and here and there I take a few things.
What then is necessary for a Christian to believe. All that is promised us in the Gospel -- all of it. Now one of the great battles of the present day beloved, in Reformed circles has been this, concerning the Word of God, and that is still the ongoing thing; is not these other things of course, that have taken the limelight in our day; it is not a matter first of all of women in office, or even of evolution, or even of homosexuality. Those are the symptoms, those are the symptoms. But the basic problem is this, what is your understanding of the Word, what is your understanding of the Word of God. That's where it pinches. And if you no longer believe that that Word is infallible in every part, not only in John 3:16, but also in Matthew 19 when it speaks about divorce; also when it speaks there concerning office in I Timothy two. These are the things that you and I better believe and that is also infallible and that is to be believed; what then is necessary for a Christian to believe? All that is promised, every bit of it, and that means every bit. That means that whole Word, in all its parts. Our God has been so economical in giving us that Word; it's a big book, the Bible, but still nothing compared to some of the books in my library. And He has said so much more, and everything is in that is of importance so that it is not for me to pick and choose; and I will take this and not that.
This matter concerning the infallibility and the inerrancy of Scripture is fundamental, and it is fundamental for my salvation. And those are the things that have to be emphasized today, that's why we are here. That's why the Word is proclaimed, and that's why the whole counsel of God must be proclaimed, and that's why our children have to be educated and educated and educated some more. Because of the fact that we have to know that Word. And this is important. There may be some here who also have the idea this morning in coming here that it was not that important, that we will know that whole Word of God. I repeat, He has been very economical in giving it to us; it could have been much more, but everything that is there is golden, everything that is there is most precious, and don't you pick and choose.
No, again, that Word is not a textbook in science, but what it says about science is true. It is not a textbook in history, but what it says on history is true. It is not a textbook in sociology, but what it says on sociology is true. And so you could go on with all the sciences. And these are the things that are to be believed. What must a Christian believe in the final analysis. Everything that is here in this Word of God.
But is that really the proper explanation. For, notice, all that is promised us in the Gospel, but you also notice, and we looked at that a few weeks ago in the last question and answer of Lord's Day 6, which reads this way; "Whence do you know this, that is, that Jesus Christ is the only true Mediator." From the holy Gospel, notice, from the Gospel, which He Himself first revealed in paradise; oh, it doesn't begin with Matthew 1; but in paradise already. Afterwards published by the holy patriarchs and prophets, that's all Gospel; and showed by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the Law, that's all Gospel. And lastly fulfilled by His only begotten Son.
See, it puts all of it together, it's all of one piece, it is seamless throughout. It is Gospel from beginning to end. That's why I have to believe it for my salvation; everything that is there.
We have cut up the Word of God. Nah, we are not dispensationalists, no, and therefore we also usually deny the fact that we cut it up. But, aw, we have done so badly. We have done it in this way, and that is the way in which it is also shown in ever so many churches that they have lessons that are taken from the Old Testament and other lessons that are taken from the New Testament, because there's a difference of day and night. Is there? Not according to that Word, it's all of one piece. And whether it comes from Genesis or whether it comes from Revelation, there is progress of course. It was mentioned a few weeks ago, it is as a bud to the full flower, but nevertheless, it is all of the same nature. And all that is revealed to us in that Gospel, that must be proclaimed, and that's what I have to believe. All of it! There is nothing that I can do without. I can't do without this, that He has stated to me that He has made the heavens and the earth. I need Genesis, and otherwise I haven't got anything to believe on in John. I need Exodus, I need Leviticus, even in Numbers, just as much as I need Romans and Galatians. Strange, isn't it!
That is the view of the Word of God that has to be made very clear to us. That is the view of the Word of God that must be uppermost in our minds; what is necessary for you to believe? Everything that the Bible contains. The whole works. He didn't write something for an exercise for Himself, He did it for our benefit. And this is the difference you know, between the two; that He said but these are great that ye may believe, and that believing ye may have life in His name. That's what it's for; that whole Word. You mayn't add to it either. Woe to him that adds to the words of this Book; and He doesn't mean just the book of Revelation. Woe to him that detracts from it; that Word is complete. Don't try to improve on it; don't you dare add to it; don't you dare subtract from it. That Word is complete, that Word is sufficient. But then we have to have all of that Word.
And that's why the pulpits of this land should come with the proclamation of the Word of God; we don't know that Word well enough. And if you don't get it from the pulpit then where will you get it. Or am I to believe that you are leaving here and that you are going to go into a deep study of the Word of God by yourself in your home. I doubt it, honestly, I doubt it. It must be opened on the Lord's Day and it must be proclaimed constantly, and it must be taught constantly in order that we may come to the knowledge of the truth, because it is a sizeable book. And we have to come to the knowledge of it and to say of course, that we have to believe all of it and then have no understanding at all what it contains is utter foolishness, utter foolishness. So here you have the wide, the broad, the inclusive character of what is necessary for me to believe. And it is this; all that He has revealed to us in His Word. He is finally going to give you an exam on it. Hmmm. To give an examination is not so difficult, but it has to be fair. Students used to complain of course, and would say to me why, why, this is too hard. No... It isn't hard if you know your material, and if you don't know your material it is going to very, very difficult. I don't look at either one or the other, but I look at this; is it fair, have I taught this and am I asking that. And that I did. And God gives us His Word and He is going to expect that we will know it.
And finally notice also, the summary.
Now the summary of it is given to us according to this question and answer in the final words, which the articles of our catholic and undoubted Christian faith teach us in a summary. So that here we are dealing with the first wording concerning a confession. And that is, the apostolic confession and the Catechism is going to take that up now from Lord's Day 8 through 22. And it's going to deal with everyone of the articles of the apostolic confession so that we will know what is contained in them because that is a summary. That is not something to be given in place of, that is not something that you give in place of another thing, not in place of the Scriptures, for example, in this connection. But no, it is a summary of that which the Scriptures contain. I can go to somebody who knows nothing of the Bible, nothing of the way of salvation, nothing of Christianity; and I give them this Bible and say: "Here it is." And he is going to lose himself before he begins. He doesn't know where to begin, so that there is this summary, this summary that is going to be able to guide him, to direct him. There used to this, in countries in Europe, in practically all the countries there, they had what they called baeticus. And a baeticus was called after the man's name, I believe he was German, and that was a map, and a little explanation concerning every country so that everyone would have his baeticus, to be able to go through a land and there have some guidance. Now that's what this is. This is a summary of that which the Scriptures contain. That is, all that is necessary for you to believe. This is man-made. And there are so many people today of course, who believe that anything that is man-made is thereby also ipso-facto, to be thrown out, which is utter nonsense. This building was man-made. What a profound statement. This was man-made, the clothes that you wear are man-made. You'd better keep them.
These are the things that you and I better realize, that here there is a summary, of course the church has reflected upon that which is contained in the Scriptures, and has come to the aid of people and has given this summary in order that they may have a map, so that they will find their way in this. And that is also the thing that is going to be taken up in the following Lord's Days 8 through 22.
Naw, this summary beloved, is that which is very broad, because you noticed already, I hope, from the very beginning this morning, that I spoke on "The Christian's Necessary Faith." Not, what is necessary for a Reformed person to believe; notice that; but what is necessary for a Christian to believe. To be Christian you've got to believe in the apostolic confession. And that is adhered to by Catholic and Lutheran, by Baptist and Methodist and Reformed, and everyone else. Because that is the basis, the summary, this is in brief, that which makes a Christian. If you don't believe these things, you're not even Christian; you're not Christian. The various denominations have gone into other creeds and have spelled it out more clearly what they believe. You are not to say, in other words, that one who does not believe in the Canons of Dort is not a Christian; don't you dare. There are good Christians who don't believe in the Canons of Dort; they're wrong I think, but they're Christian. What makes a Christian; one who believes in the Apostles' Creed. That is, in the Trinity, in the two natures of Christ, in the personality of the Holy Spirit. Those are the basics, so that when this jailer calls out in the middle of the night, "Men and brethren, what must I do to be saved?" And Paul does not take out a Catechism, but he says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, man, and you will be saved."
So it is very simple, but at the same time, if you want to do justice to it and to have the riches, the riches of that faith, then of course, you need all of it. This is the summary, and then you better get beyond summaries sometime. We better get far beyond that. This is the undoubted Christian faith. I think I mentioned it once before here this spring, that a theologian in Holland, a so-called Reformed theologian has written a book called, "The Doubted, Our Doubted (notice, Our Doubted) Christian faith." No it is undoubted, says the Catechism. These are the things that nobody can doubt what is contained in that Apostles' Creed. Anyone who doubts that is in the midst of heathenism; he's not a Christian. What is necessary for a Christian to believe? These things, and those things are so important that it is that entire Scripture. Because, if you want only the ABCs, then it is finally true: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.
If you want to get by with the least possible then you believe in the Apostles' Creed and then you will be saved. But if you wish a rich faith, a rich spiritual life, to lay hold on all of His promises; then what is necessary for a Christian to believe? All that the Scriptures teach us, all that is contained in that Gospel. That Gospel, which is the entire Bible; I had occasion to say to someone recently who asked, what may we pray for? Everything that's promised. Sounds strange, doesn't it! Think about it sometime, and you will find that those promises of God are so rich, so numerous, that you can't even pray for all of them. And then you have the assurance that will be answered, because it is already promised. Give us today our daily bread; and I pray in the greatest confidence because He has already told me He will do that, He will do that. And then I don't turn around and say, "then why should I pray for it?" Because He has also commanded me so to pray and so to believe. That is what is necessary for a Christian's life, that he shall have this kind of faith, and that will be a faith that is rich, that is imbedded in the promises of God, and he will have that blessing upon him; when he knows the truth, and believes it. Amen....
We give thanks to Thee heavenly Father for the Word wherein Thou hast again spoken to us. And we pray that Thou wilt graciously apply it to our hearts by the operation of Thy Spirit. Grant O God that we may thus ever grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. That we may grow in the grace and also in the knowledge of that which Thou hast revealed in order that we may bring due honor unto Thee. Bless us further on this day that we may keep this entire day holy unto Thee. Bring us back into Thy house this evening, forgive our sins and keep us from sin, for we ask it in Jesus name. Amen....
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