Episode Transcript
Justin: Yeah, I would just simply state that we use the confessions and we confess the confessions; we subscribe to the confessions because they're biblical.
Jon: That's right.
Justin: So, because sometimes people get that under- they get it twisted a little bit. Like we, well we use the confession in as much as it's biblical.
It's like, no, we use this because we have- it's been assessed and it is biblical. And that's the conclusion that we have drawn. And when we read language from these things, man, I mean, good gracious. Like you said, it sounds like the words of the scriptures. I mean, it sounds like the teaching of the apostles.
Jon: Right.
If someone reads the Bible and then gives you the explanation of what it means, they're giving you a confession. So Justin, if we read,
Justin: Sure.
Jon: um, take up your and follow me, and then someone says, "This is what that means." You just gave me a confession.
Justin: Well, you've given me interpretation, and that means you've given me a confession.
Jon: Right.
You're confessing what you believe to be true about the text. The question is, is your confession examinable and does it stand the test of time.
Justin: Right.
Jon: That's the issue.
Justin: And I'm just going to go ahead and leave this here. Colossians one is a great example of this Colo- the whole letter to- to Colossae, but then a number of the other letters of the apostles, Paul and others.
I think an honest survey of the New Testament of epistles makes this plain that I'm about to say. It's obvious in the mind of Paul and others that the thing that will guard the saints from false teaching and abhorrent practice in the church is one thing, and that is a clear vision of the person and work of Jesus Christ.
And that is what the confessions guard. The confessions guard that news and they guard that, that presentation of Jesus: his person rightly understood, his work rightly understood. And that is the thing that will protect the church.
Everyday Grace 058
