Jul
30
Glorificar a Dios y gozar de El para siempre!
Filed Under Missions, Music, Westminster Confession | Leave a Comment
Our friends and fellow laborers with the Christian Missionary Society in Peru are developing a musical version of the first 38 questions of the Westminster Shorter Catechism–en Espanol, ya esta! Alonzo Ramirez has translated the texts, and Allen Smith is leading the way with the composition of tunes that sing well to the Peruvian ear. You can listen to samples at Allen and Sandi Smith’s blog, which also includes a video slide show for questions 1 and 7:
Allen reports that children in Trujillo, Peru love to sing these catechism songs, and that in some neighborhoods he can hear the songs being sung in the streets as the children play. Rejoice in God’s truth going forth!
Feb
23
WCF I.2
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Last post we considered the first section of the first chapter of the confession on the necessity of the Word of God. This week we’ll consider section two of the first chapter on the content of the Bible.
WCF 1:2 Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testament, which are these:
Of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Songs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Of the New Testament: The Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John; The Acts of the Apostles; Paul’s Epistles to the Romans, Corinthians I, Corinthians II, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians I, Thessalonians II, To Timothy I, To Timothy II, To Titus, To Philemon; The Epistle to the Hebrews; The Epistle of James; The first and second Epistles of Peter; The first, second, and third Epistles of John; The Epistle of Jude; The Revelation
All which are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life.(1)
(1) Luke 16:29,31; Eph. 2:20; Rev. 22:18,19; 2 Tim. 3:16.
Aside from merely stating what books are in the Bible, it is also of note to see the different synonyms that the divines used to express the twofold content of Scripture: belief and duty. Here in WCF I.2 they say “rule of faith and life.” The Shorter Catechism uses the terms “belief and duty.” The Larger Catechism uses the terms “faith and obedience.” We find this concensus amongst many different creeds and confessions on the uniform teaching of Scripture summarized under the two heads of belief (cognitive doctrine) and duty (resulting affections and actions).
Feb
20
WCF I.1
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I’m beginning a leisurely stroll through the first chapter of the Westminster Confession of Faith. I hope you enjoy the journey. If it seems to get positive feedback, maybe we’ll tackle subsequent chapters. For now, we’ll begin with section one of the first chapter which deals with the topic of “The Bible”.
You’ll note as we work through the first chapter in successive posts that four main themes are going to pop up concerning the Word of God. It is necessary, authoritative, sufficient, and perspicuous. Today’s section highlights the necessity of scripture. The scriptures are necessary to know God rightly, as he is revealed both in his work of creation and providence.
WCF 1.1 Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable;(1) yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of His will, which is necessary unto salvation:(2) therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His Church;(3) and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing;(4) which maketh the Holy Scripture to be most necessary;(5) those former ways of God’s revealing His will unto His people being now ceased.(6)
- Rom. 2:14,15; Rom. 1:19,20; Ps. 19:1,2,3; Rom. 1:32; Rom. 2:1.
- 1 Cor. 1:21; 1 Cor. 2:13,14
- Heb. 1:1
- Prov. 22:19,20,21;Luke 1:3,4; Rom. 15:4; Matt. 4:4,7,10; Isa. 8:19,20.
- 2 Tim. 3:15; 2 Pet. 1:19
- Heb. 1:1,2