Historical Context
The Westminster Confession of Faith was written in the year 1646, titled “The Humble Advice of the Assembly,” in London, under the authority of King Charles I. During the period leading up to the Confession, in the battles of civil discontent with Scotland, the Royal Crown and Church of England had to quench the appeal for religious freedoms that the Episcopal Orthodox government of the past could not placate. Forty years prior, under King James I, the Puritan views which had been so ingrained into the people, caused many of the laity, parliamentarians, and bishops alike to have desire for change from the current Christian structures and governance. Although there was tremendous pressure from the Puritan views, much of their …show more content…
What is the position of the document? What might it be arguing against? How does it justify its position? What are the strengths and weaknesses of its argument? [approximately 3 pages] The key question I am observing, is whether the sacraments are rightly reflecting the actual events of the mirrored biblical text. It is important that one understands the value of a sacrament the original intent for them as an outward expression of spiritual change. The position taken by the Assembly is that the sacraments are a compulsory practice for the Church and must be fitting for representation of Christ. Sacraments must, therefore, be maintained as a representation or sign of the covenant of grace, and not the covenant of grace itself. This emphasis on sacraments merely being signs and representations reinforces the indication that the rituals allow the church to “put a visible difference between those that belong unto the Church and the rest of the world.” Venema claims, “The ‘substance’ to which the sacramental sign points can only be Jesus Christ himself in all of his saving presence and power.” The sacraments should not point to itself, it should lead one, through faith, into communion with …show more content…
Although, the elements officially used in the Lord’s Supper are wine and bread, per the scriptural sources, the Assembly missed a major flaw in their representation of the Lords Supper, in that Christ was instituting a lifestyle of remembrance for his disciples on the day of the Passover, not instituting a duty in formality of
The Westminster Confession of Faith was written in the year 1646, titled “The Humble Advice of the Assembly,” in London, under the authority of King Charles I. During the period leading up to the Confession, in the battles of civil discontent with Scotland, the Royal Crown and Church of England had to quench the appeal for religious freedoms that the Episcopal Orthodox government of the past could not placate. Forty years prior, under King James I, the Puritan views which had been so ingrained into the people, caused many of the laity, parliamentarians, and bishops alike to have desire for change from the current Christian structures and governance. Although there was tremendous pressure from the Puritan views, much of their …show more content…
What is the position of the document? What might it be arguing against? How does it justify its position? What are the strengths and weaknesses of its argument? [approximately 3 pages] The key question I am observing, is whether the sacraments are rightly reflecting the actual events of the mirrored biblical text. It is important that one understands the value of a sacrament the original intent for them as an outward expression of spiritual change. The position taken by the Assembly is that the sacraments are a compulsory practice for the Church and must be fitting for representation of Christ. Sacraments must, therefore, be maintained as a representation or sign of the covenant of grace, and not the covenant of grace itself. This emphasis on sacraments merely being signs and representations reinforces the indication that the rituals allow the church to “put a visible difference between those that belong unto the Church and the rest of the world.” Venema claims, “The ‘substance’ to which the sacramental sign points can only be Jesus Christ himself in all of his saving presence and power.” The sacraments should not point to itself, it should lead one, through faith, into communion with …show more content…
Although, the elements officially used in the Lord’s Supper are wine and bread, per the scriptural sources, the Assembly missed a major flaw in their representation of the Lords Supper, in that Christ was instituting a lifestyle of remembrance for his disciples on the day of the Passover, not instituting a duty in formality of