THE BELGIC CONFESSION OF FAITH – A Commentary – By Dr.
Chuck Baynard
The Belgic Confession of Faith, Article VII
The Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures to Be the Only Rule
of Faith
We believe that those Holy Scriptures fully contain the will of God, and
that whatsoever man ought to believe unto salvation is sufficiently taught
therein. For since the whole manner of worship which God requires of us is
written in them at large, it is unlawful for any one, though an apostle, to
teach otherwise than we are now taught in the Holy Scriptures: nay, though it
were an angel from heaven, as the apostle Paul says. For since it is forbidden
to add unto or take away anything from the Word of God, it does thereby
evidently appear that the doctrine thereof is most perfect and complete in all
respects.
Neither may we consider any writings of men, however holy these men may
have been, of equal value with those divine Scriptures, nor ought we to consider
custom, or the great multitude, or antiquity, or succession of times and
persons, or councils, decrees or statutes, as of equal value with the truth of
God, since the truth is above all; for all men are of themselves liars, and more
vain than vanity itself. Therefore we reject with all our hearts whatsoever does
not agree with this infallible rule, as the apostles have taught us, saying,
Prove the spirits, whether they are of God. Likewise: If any one cometh unto
you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house.
A direct rejection of Roman
Catholic practice of considering the word of the Roman Pope to be infallible and
equal to the Bible being charitable, for in practice if not uniformly by
testimony of her clergy today, the Roman Church has always held the word of the
Pope to be of all authority. This was one of the prime divisions in the
Reformation along with many excesses this heresy allowed to devour Christianity
prior to the reformation of the sixteenth century. It stands a complete blockade
of reconciliation of the Protestant churches and Rome today. Along with numerous
other practices that are idolatry, Rome has not changed nor recanted from since
the reformation there is no path to unity with Rome. Yet, Rome’s liberal and
inclusive false Gospel attracts many blinded by Satan to in the name of unity in
the Spirit wander into the Roman graveyard. The attraction to her antiquity and
traditions is all compelling to all but the very elect whom the Bible says
cannot ultimately be deceived.
As noted in the Confession, the
claims of direct succession of office have no weight whatsoever in establishing
the pope or the church above the scriptures. Rome has claimed Peter as their
first Pope, a fact that history and the Bible render impossible, and that all
succeeding popes are in direct succession to office from the apostles. Even if
this were true, it is of no weight since the Bible says that no person, to
include a holy angel may change or set aside the word of God. Christ said not
one jot would pass away from the Bible before the end of the world. God has
spoken, and that clearly. This is not debatable nor can a compromise be reached.
The true church can have no part of these foul doctrines from hell.
Let all who then see differently
turn to the only source of truth and see their error. Movements such as
Evangelicals and Catholics Together are dead wrong and trample the martyrs of
the reformation under their feet in their haste to believe the lie of Satan. The
necessity of the reformation of the sixteenth century is proven by the word and
practice of Rome in contradiction of Scripture before and since those defenders
of truth laid down their lives in the name of Christ for the purity of
Christ’s church. Nothing has changed.
