Third, do you declare ... that it is your heartfelt desire to serve him according to his Word ...? As a Christian you don't live for yourself, but you live for the Lord. The Bible is very clear on this. The most celebrated people in the Bible called themselves "servants" of God. Who are these … Continue reading PreCon 09: Serving the Lord →

"Third, do you declare that you love the Lord God ...?" The Christian faith is very personal. When you make profession of your faith, you publicly announce: "I love the Lord!" It is similar to what you do when you get married: that, too, is a public declaration of love. It would be strange to … Continue reading PreCon 08: A response of love →

"Do you ... seek your life outside of yourself in Jesus Christ?" Our salvation is the work of the God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Throughout our lives (and even before!) they work with us and in us and for us to give us complete salvation. We can distinguish several aspects or … Continue reading PreCon 07: Salvation →

"Second, do you acknowledge God's covenant promises, which have been signified and sealed to you in your baptism?" God made a covenant The Bible tells us from beginning to end that God has a personal relationship with people. This relationship is called covenant. God took the initiative to make this covenant, but he expects it … Continue reading PreCon 06: Covenant →

"Second, ... do you truly detest and humble yourself before God because of your sins and seek your life outside of yourself in Jesus Christ?" A Christian recognizes that there is something fundamentally wrong with him/her. This wrongness we call "sin". Only if you understand that your sin is real, can you appreciate what it … Continue reading PreCon 05: Sinner saved by grace →

"First, do you wholeheartedly believe the doctrine of the Word of God ... taught here in this Christian church? Do you promise by the grace of God steadfastly to continue in this doctrine in life and death, rejecting all heresies and errors conflicting with God's Word?" God's Word and the church We discussed that God's … Continue reading PreCon 04: Orthodoxy and error →

"… do you wholeheartedly believe the doctrine of the Word of God, summarized in the confessions …?" We believe that the Bible contains God's special revelation. It is authoritative, necessary, perspicuous, and sufficient to teach us all we need to know about our salvation. Yet the church has also adopted some other documents that are … Continue reading PreCon 03: The confessions of the church →

"... do you wholeheartedly believe the doctrine of the Word of God ...? Do you promise by the grace of God steadfastly to continue in this doctrine in life and death ...?" When you make public profession of faith, you pledge allegiance to the Word of God, that is, to the contents of the Bible. … Continue reading PreCon 02: The Word of God →

The "pre-con" catechism class is designed to prepare you for making your public profession of faith. Before the entire church you will vow that you believe in the Lord Jesus, and that you will live for him the rest of your life. In Reformed churches it is customary to spend a few months to prepare … Continue reading PreCon 01: Your profession of faith →