THE BELGIC CONFESSION OF FAITH
– A Commentary – By Dr. Chuck Baynard
The Belgic Confession of Faith,
Article XXV
The Abolishing of the Ceremonial
Law
We believe that the ceremonies and symbols of the law ceased at the
coming of Christ, and that all the shadows are accomplished; so that the use of
them must be abolished among Christians; yet the truth and substance of them
remain with us in Jesus Christ, in whom they have their completion. In the
meantime we still use the testimonies taken out of the law and the prophets to
confirm us in the doctrine of the gospel, and to regulate our life in all
honorableness to the glory of God, according to His will.
This is in accordance with the word of Christ when He said that He had
come not to do away with the law but to fulfill it. Likewise Christ directed
that the Jews were to search the Scriptures for they were that which testified
of Him. At the time of Christ the only Scripture was the Old Testament. Here we
find one of the places this confession could have used clearer language to bring
the proper understanding to the reformed tradition concerning the ceremonial
laws. The ceremonial laws did not end at the birth of Christ, as it might appear
the confession states at this point. The shadows were lifted in the resurrection
and ascension of Christ, not the moment of His birth or first coming to earth.
To remain sinless as a man Christ had to obey all of the Old Testament. Without
His death there is no testament. In our day we understand the term last will and
testament used to leave the instructions concerning our estate is of no effect
until we die. This was no different in the day of Christ.
As an example we see Christ tell John the Baptist to baptize Him that
they might fulfill all righteousness. Righteous means complete obedience to the
currently prevailing laws. In life Christ was recognized as a Rabbi or teacher not a
priest much less the high priest. Yet after His death Christ was made a high
priest after the order of Melchizedek that is without beginning or end. There is
a great paradigm shift in worship because of this priesthood, from the
ceremonies of the Old Testament to the truth and spirit of the New Testament.
Paul in his letter to the Galatians best explains the necessity of
abolishing the old ceremonial laws of the Old Testament (Jews). Paul said this
was to enter into bondage again for to be under the law was to maintain perfect
obedience to the law. Yet not one person was or will ever be saved by the law.
So it was a return not only to the physical obedience of all of the laws of the
Old Testament, but to the bondage of sin having made the completed work of
Christ of no merit.
Yet the truth and substance of them remain with us is similar to the
Westminster Confessions treatment of the judicial laws meant for the nation of
Israel as a theocracy. Christ said that man does
not live by bread alone but every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Thus
all Scripture is a divine or eternal word and cannot be done away with. To this
end Christ also said that not one word or even the smallest mark making up the
letters of a word would pass away. Paul in Timothy gives to us a list of the
uses of the Scripture and this includes every word of both Testaments. Thus we
turn to the New Testament for the complete word or explanation of the Old
Testament and the Old Testament for the foundation needed to understand the New
Testament. The Bible gives equal weight to all sixty-six books since all are
words that proceed from the mouth of God (Present tense intended).
