Reformed Worship - Resources for Planning and Leading Worship

The Order and Discipline of the Church
How should the church of Christ be governed?
 
We believe that
although it is useful and good
for those who govern the churches
to establish and set up
a certain order among themselves
for maintaining the body of the church,
they ought always to guard against deviating
from what Christ,
our only Master,
has ordained for us.
 
And what is the goal of such governing?
 
We accept only what is proper
to maintain harmony and unity
and to keep all in obedience
to God.
 
                         —Belgic Confession, article 32
 
The Sacraments
Why has God given us the sacraments?
 
We believe that our good God,
mindful of our crudeness and weakness,
has ordained sacraments for us
     to seal his promises in us,
     to pledge his good will and grace toward us,
     and also to nourish and sustain our faith.
 
What are sacraments?
 
They are visible signs and seals
of something internal and invisible,
     by means of which God works in us
     through the power of the Holy Spirit.
So they are not empty and hollow signs
to fool and deceive us,
     for their truth is Jesus Christ,
     without whom they could be nothing.
 
How many sacraments do we have?
 
We are satisfied with the number of sacraments
that Christ our Master has ordained for us.
There are only two:
     the sacrament of baptism
     and the Holy Supper of Jesus Christ.
 
                         —Belgic Confession, article 33
 
The Sacrament of Baptism (I)
What is the first sacrament of the Church?
 
We believe and confess that Jesus Christ,
in whom the law is fulfilled,
has by his shed blood
put an end to every other shedding of blood,
     which anyone might do or wish to do
     in order to atone or satisfy for sins.
 
Having abolished circumcision,
which was done with blood,
God established in its place
the sacrament of baptism.
 
What does baptism signify?
 
By it we are received into God's church
and set apart from all other people and alien religions,
that we may be dedicated entirely to him,
     bearing his mark and sign.
It also witnesses to us
that he will be our God forever,
     since he is our gracious Father.
 
What else does it mean?
 
Baptism signifies to us
that just as water washes away the dirt of the body
when it is poured on us
and also is seen on the body of the baptized
when it is sprinkled on him,
so too the blood of Christ does the same thing internally,
in the soul,
by the Holy Spirit.
                         —Belgic Confession, article 34
 
The Sacrament of Baptism (II)
Should our children be baptized too?
 
Yes, we believe our children ought to be baptized
and sealed with the sign of the covenant,
     as little children were circumcised in Israel
     on the basis of the same promises
     made to our children.
 
Christ has shed his blood no less
for washing the little children of believers
than he did for adults.
 
Is the significance of baptism, then, similar to circumcision?
 
Yes, baptism does for our children
what circumcision did for the Jewish people.
That is why Paul calls baptism
the "circumcision of Christ."
                         —Belgic Confession, article 34
 
The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper (I)
For whom is the Lord's Supper intended?
 
We believe and confess
that our Savior Jesus Christ
has ordained and instituted the sacrament of the Holy Supper
to nourish and sustain those
who are already born again and ingrafted
into his family:
his church.
 
Who are those who have been "born again"?
 
Those who are born again have two lives in them.
The one is physical and temporal—
     we have it from the moment of our first birth,
     and it is common to all.
The other is spiritual and heavenly,
     and is given us in our second birth;
     it comes through the Word of the gospel
     in the communion of the body of Christ;
     and this life is common to God's elect only.
 
What is God's aim for us in the Lord's Supper?
 
To maintain the spiritual and heavenly life
that belongs to believers
he has sent a living bread
that came down from heaven:
namely Jesus Christ;
     who nourishes and maintains
     the spiritual life of believers
     when eaten—
     that is, when appropriated
     and received spiritually
     by faith.
                         —Belgic Confession, article 35
 
The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper (II)
Does the Lord's Supper truly nourish us?
 
Yes, just as truly as we take and hold the sacraments in our hands
and eat and drink it in our mouths,
     by which our life is then sustained,
so truly we receive into our souls,
     for our spiritual life,
the true body and true blood of Christ,
     our only Savior.
We receive these by faith,
     which is the hand and mouth of our souls.
 
This banquet is a spiritual table
at which Christ communicates himself to us
with all his benefits.
 
How should we approach the Lord's Table?
 
With humility and reverence
we receive the holy sacrament
in the gathering of God's people,
     as we engage together,
     with thanksgiving,
     in a holy remembrance
     of the death of Christ our Savior,
     and as we thus confess
     our faith and Christian religion.
Therefore, none should come to this table
without examining themselves carefully,
     lest "by eating this bread
     and drinking this cup
     they eat and drink to their own judgment."
 
                         —Belgic Confession, article 35
 
The Civil Government
How has God provided for human society?
 
We believe that
because of the depravity of the human race
our good God has ordained civil officers.
 
Why has God done this?
 
He wants the world to be governed by laws and policies
so that human lawlessness may be restrained
and that everything may be conducted in good order
among human beings.
 
What is the task of such civil officers?
 
He has placed the sword
in the hands of the government,
to punish evil people
and protect the good.
 
So what must our response be?
 
Everyone,
regardless of status, condition, or rank,
must be subject to the government,
and pay taxes,
and hold its representatives in honor and respect,
and obey them in all things that are not in conflict
     with God's Word,
praying for them
     that the Lord may be willing to lead them
          in all their ways
     and that we may live a peaceful and quiet life
     in all piety and decency.
                         —Belgic Confession, article 36
 
The Last Judgment (I)
What will happen at the end of time?
 
When the time appointed by the Lord is come
(which is unknown to all creatures)
and the number of the elect is complete,
our Lord Jesus Christ will come from heaven,
     bodily and visibly,
as he ascended,
     with great glory and majesty,
to declare himself the judge
     of the living and the dead.
 
Will everyone see him when he comes?
 
Yes, all human creatures will appear in person
before the great judge—
     men, women, and children,
     who have lived from the beginning until the end
     of the world.
They will be summoned there
by the voice of the archangel
and by the sound of the divine trumpet.
 
What about those who have already died? Will they miss it?
 
All those who died before that time
will be raised from the earth,
     their spirits being joined and united
     with their own bodies
     in which they lived.
 
What about those who are still alive?
 
As for those who are still alive,
they will not die like the others
but will be changed "in the twinkling of an eye"
from "corruptible to incorruptible."
                         —Belgic Confession, article 37
 
The Last Judgment (II)
What will happen when Jesus comes again?
 
"The books" (that is, the consciences) will be opened,
and the dead will be judged
     according to the things they did in the world,
     whether good or evil.
And then the secrets and hypocrisies of all people
will be publicly uncovered
in the sight of all.
 
But isn't that a frightening picture to think of?
 
With good reason
the thought of this judgment
is horrible and dreadful
to wicked and evil people.
But it is very pleasant
and a great comfort
to the righteous and elect,
     since their total redemption
     will then be accomplished.
 
Are you eager for this day?
 
We look forward to that great day with longing
in order to enjoy fully
the promises of God in Christ Jesus,
our Lord.
                         —Belgic Confession, article 37