THE BELGIC CONFESSION OF FAITH – A Commentary – By
Dr. Chuck Baynard
All this we know as well from the testimonies of Holy Writ as from
their operations, and chiefly by those we feel in ourselves. The testimonies
of the Holy Scriptures that teach us to believe this Holy Trinity are written
in many places of the Old Testament, which are not so necessary to enumerate
as to choose them out with discretion and judgment.
In Genesis, chap. 1:26, 27, God says: Let us make man in our image,
after our likeness, etc. And God created man in his own image, male and female
created he them. And Gen. 3:22, Behold, the man is become as one of us. From
this saying, Let us make man in our image, it appears that there are more
persons than one in the Godhead; and when He says, God created, He signifies
the unity. It is true, He does not say how many persons there are, but that
which appears to us somewhat obscure in the Old Testament is very plain in the
New. For when our Lord was baptized in Jordan, the voice of the Father was
heard, saying, This is my beloved Son; the Son was seen in the water, and the
Holy Spirit appeared in the shape of a dove. This form is also instituted by
Christ in the baptism of all believers: Make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit. In the Gospel of Luke the angel Gabriel thus addressed Mary, the
mother of our Lord: The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the
Most High shall overshadow thee; wherefore also the holy thing which is
begotten shall be called the Son of God. Likewise: The grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you
all. And (A.V.): There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the
Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
In all these places we are fully taught that there are three persons in
one only divine essence. And although this doctrine far surpasses all human
understanding, nevertheless we now believe it by means of the Word of God, but
expect hereafter to enjoy the perfect knowledge and benefit thereof in heaven.
Moreover, we must observe the particular offices and operations of
these three persons towards us. The Father is called our Creator, by His
power; the Son is our Savior and Redeemer, by His blood; the Holy Spirit is
our Sanctifier, by His dwelling in our hearts.
This doctrine of the Holy Trinity has always been affirmed and
maintained by the true Church since the time of the apostles to this very day
against the Jews, Mohammedans, and some false Christians and heretics, as
Marcion, Manes, Praxeas, Sabellius, Samosatenus, Arius, and such like, who
have been justly condemned by the orthodox fathers. Therefore, in this point,
we do willingly receive the three creeds, namely, that of the Apostles, of
Nicea, and of Athanasius; likewise that which, conformable thereunto, is
agreed upon by the ancient fathers.
As noted before, the word
Trinity is not in the Bible, but the doctrine is clear from both Testaments
and has been part of the Christian church from her birth. The error of all the
different persons, sects, and men listed above were concerning the doctrine of
the Trinity in equality of essence, distinction of person, inviolate unity of
person by any means whatsoever. All the heresies of the ancient and present
world are founded on an incomplete or wrong Christology.
