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The Creeds, Confessions and Liturgical Forms of the Reformed

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The Creeds, Confessions and Liturgical Forms of the Reformed THE CREEDS, CONFESSIONS AND LITURGICAL FORMS OF THE REFORMED CHURCHES OF NEW ZEALAND THE CREEDS, CONFESSIONS AND LITURGICAL FORMS OF THE REFORMED CHURCHES OF NEW ZEALAND Published in 2015 by the Forms and Confessions Committee in conjunction with the National Publications Committee of the Reformed Churches of New Zealand. This book is not copyrighted. Any part of it is freely available for use by anyone interested. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. ISBN 978-0-473-28109-0 Contents Ecumenical Creeds The Apostles’ Creed ................................................................................................................ 8 The Nicene Creed.................................................................................................................... 9 The Athanasian Creed ........................................................................................................... 10 Confessions The Heidelberg Catechism .................................................................................................... 13 The Belgic Confession .......................................................................................................... 57 The Canons of Dort ............................................................................................................... 75 The Westminster Confession of Faith ................................................................................... 99 Liturgical Forms Baptism of the children of believers: form 1 ....................................................................... 143 Baptism of the children of believers: form 2 ....................................................................... 146 Baptism of the children of believers: form 3 ....................................................................... 150 Profession of faith ............................................................................................................... 152 Baptism of adults ................................................................................................................ 154 Lord’s Supper: preparatory form A ..................................................................................... 157 Lord’s Supper: preparatory form B ..................................................................................... 159 Lord’s Supper: form 1 ......................................................................................................... 161 Lord’s Supper: form 2 ......................................................................................................... 165 Lord’s Supper: form 3 ......................................................................................................... 170 Excommunication ............................................................................................................... 172 Readmission ........................................................................................................................ 174 Ordination or installation of ministers of the Word ........................................................... 177 Ordination or installation of elders and deacons ................................................................. 181 Marriage .............................................................................................................................. 185 Funeral ................................................................................................................................ 189 Church Order ...................................................................................................................... 195 Form of Subscription .......................................................................................................... 211 Preface Work on this publication began in 2002 when the Reformed Churches of New Zealand appointed a committee to update the language of our liturgical forms and assess any available language-updated versions of the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dort. Subsequently the mandate was broadened to include updating the range of liturgical forms available for use in worship services and searching out and evaluating updated versions of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). After investigation the committee recommended new translations of the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dort produced by the Canadian Reformed Churches, with minor revisions made by the committee, and incorporating Scripture quotations from the New International Version (1984). These were approved by the synod of 2011. The committee also recommended the Modern English Study Version (MESV) produced by the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The synod of 2011 decided to retain the WCF as our confessional standard, to which all office bearers must subscribe, and to permit the MESV in the preaching and teaching of our churches. The synod also decided that both the Westminster Confession of Faith and the MESV should be printed in this publication in parallel columns. After years of committee work, feedback from the sessions, numerous revisions and final proof-reading, the synod of 2014 approved the liturgical forms as presented by the committee. As convenor for the past twelve years, I want to thank the other committee members who have assisted with this work. Reverends Paul Archbald and Peter Kloosterman and I began the initial work of revision. Dr Sally Davey has served faithfully and capably for the entire twelve years, and Mr Ed Havelaar, Rev Andrew Nugteren and Rev Robert van Wichen for the past six years, with Ed Havelaar preparing the final layout. Rev Leo de Vos came onto this committee in the last inter-synodical period to assist with the baptism forms. Rev Bruce Hoyt, while not a committee member, has provided much helpful feedback on the liturgical forms, assisted with the proof-reading and given us advice on layout. My sincere thanks to all of you. This has not only been a long project but also one that has required much careful and detailed attention to theology, words, syntax and grammar. All members of this committee have contributed significantly to this project and have brought their unique gifts and contributions to the task. We have enjoyed the work and have benefited personally from this close study of our confessions and liturgical forms. It has been a pleasure for me to serve on this committee with the other members. It is fitting that I am writing this preface on the 31st of October 2014, the day our Reformed Churches remember the Reformation, which began in 1517 after Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenburg church door. This book contains two confessions written at the height of the Reformation, that is, the Belgic Confession (1561) and the Heidelberg Catechism (1563). It also contains the Canons of Dort (1618 and 1619) written during the debate between the Calvinists and the Remonstrants, and the Westminster Confession of Faith (1647), a product of the mature fruit of further years of study of the Scriptures and theological reflection. It is our desire and prayer that this book will serve our churches well for many decades to come, in aiding our worship and in enabling us to hold fast to the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints, for the building up of the church to the glory of God. John A Haverland (convenor), 31st October 2014 Ecumenical creeds: introduction The Apostles’ Creed This creed is called the Apostles’ Creed, not because it was written by the apostles themselves, but because it contains a brief summary of their teachings. It sets forth their doctrine, as has been said, “in sublime simplicity, in unsurpassable brevity, in beautiful order, and with liturgical solemnity.” In its present form it is of no later date than the fourth century. More than any other creed in Christendom, it may justly be called an ecumenical symbol of faith. The Nicene Creed The Nicene Creed is a statement of the orthodox faith of the early Christian church, in opposition to certain heresies, especially Arianism. These heresies concerned the doctrine of the Trinity and of the person of Christ and were refuted at the Council of Nicea (AD 325). What we now call the Nicene Creed is not the one formulated by the Council of Nicea but rather one modified by the Council of Constantinople (AD 381) and finally ratified by the church at the Council of Chalcedon (AD 451). Both the Eastern and the Western church confess the truth of the Nicene Creed, although with one important difference. The Western church included the phrase “and the Son” (known as the Filioque) in the article on the procession of the Holy Spirit, a phrase which to this day is repudiated by the Eastern church. The Athanasian Creed This creed is named after Athanasius (AD 293–373), the champion of orthodoxy over against Arian attacks on the doctrine of the Trinity. Although Athanasius did not write this creed and it is improperly called after him, the name persists because until the seventeenth century it was commonly ascribed to him. Apart from the opening and closing sentences, it consists of two sections, the first setting forth the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity, and the second dealing with the doctrine of Christ, especially concerning his two natures. The teachings of Augustine (AD 354–430) in particular form the background to the Christological section. The creed itself appears for the first time in the first
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