Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - June/91

Contributor - Scott Molebean

Title - What Must A Christian Believe?

Topic - Beliefs

It happens again and again. By the time the sickness is discovered it has progressed so far that it cannot be stopped anymore. Somehow the disease managed to hide itself so well in the body that apparently for months it could quietly do its devastating work. Unnoticed the strength of vital organs could be undermined without any or hardly any discomfort. A visit to the doctor revealed nothing - until it was too late. Nothing can be done any more.

This does not only happen to our physical body. It also happens to our spiritual life. The Lord Jesus speaks of false prophets. Those people also will be faced with a shocking discovery. "On that day many will say to Me. 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?'And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you evildoers."' (Matthew 7:22, 23) Clearly those people must have thought until the very end that they also would enter the kingdom of heaven, (v.21) but they found the "narrow gate" shut. They had considered themselves to be part of God's people. Now it turns out that they are evildoers, literally "those who work lawlessness." Lawlessness has been the disease which has robbed them of the kingdom of heaven. They even preached in Jesus' name, and accomplished a good deal in Jesus' name. Clearly they were not unfamiliar with the Gospel. How was such a result possible?

When a sickness unto death is discovered in someone we know we wonder whether another doctor, or even a "third opinion" would have discovered the disease sooner, while recovery was still possible. How can we discover whether we are on the way to life? (v.1 4) There are so many varieties of the Christian faith today. How can we be sure that those who preach to us are leading us towards the kingdom of heaven? How can we be sure that we are not lead by prophets who are actually workers of lawlessness, who will be shut out themselves? The answer is found (of course) in the Word of God, but that is a big book. We need help knowing what it is, we ought to believe.

The old Heidelberger asks its student: "What, then, must a Christian believe?" The right answer? "All that is promised us in the gospel, which the articles of our catholic and undoubted Christian faith teach us in a summary." (Q. & A. 21). "And what are these articles?" The Apostles' Creed, which is then explained in questions 23-58. Then in Q. 59 our old teacher asks: "But what does it help you now that you believe all this?" Answer: "In Christ I am righteous before God and heir to everlasting life."

In the Heidelberger we have a doctor who will make our relationship to the Lord our God so transparent that every departure from the way to salvation will show up painfully clear when we submit ourselves to its instruction. Those who believe all that is set forth there will find themselves in front of the narrow gate and it will be wide open when "that day" comes for them. Any teaching that deviates from this summary leads astray. If today there was a doctor able to see clearly even the slightest of abnormality in us so that only a small correction would make healthy, everyone would want to consult Him. More, we would demand that all doctors be trained in the same way. We would urge all our friends and relatives to place themselves under the care of such a doctor. Why then do so many avoid consultation with the Heidelberger? Because it is painful to be exposed to the truth. There is no such thing as faith without demands. Faith demands obedience. Faith demands moving from the easy way which leads to destruction to the hard way which alone leads to life. Faith demands repentance. That is why spiritual doctors who demand less are far more popular. That is why so many keep going to such people who are really wolves in sheep's clothing. Such prophets do not LOOK like wolves, for then we would not go near them. Such prophets seem very nice, decent and helpful. Their message is not hard on the ears. They themselves do not even know they are wolves underneath, for even they are totally surprised when "that day" comes for them!

One of my brothers-in-law is a very intelligent and well-read man. He keeps telling me that each of us has to be our own doctor. Maybe that is not possible medically, but it certainly is possible theologically, for we have the Heidelberger. There we find it spelled out very clearly what is necessary for a Christian to believe so that there will be no eternally unpleasant surprise on "that day" for any one of us. If "your prophet" does not bring that message, leave and find a place, where according to the Heidleberger, the voice of the shepherd truly sounds. Make sure that you do not unknowingly carry a spiritually dooming disease around. Make sure that you are well fed.

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