The Sacrifice of Praise by Herman Bavinck

Author:Herman Bavinck
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: what is reformed theology;reformation study bible;dutch reformed;reformed church beliefs;religious reformers;bavinck reformed dogmatics;reformed theologians;christian life;christian devotional;profession of faith;confession of faith;english translation;cameron clausing;greg parker;gregory parker jr;gregory parker;scott swain;university of edinburgh;systematic theology
ISBN: 9781683072775
Publisher: Hendrickson Publishers
Published: 2019-03-21T19:02:08+00:00

Notes

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[1]. Bavinck may have in mind here “Lord’s Day 64” from the Heidelberg Catechism:

Q: “But does not this doctrine make men careless and profane?

A: By no means: for it is impossible that those, who are implanted into Christ by a true faith, should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness.”

5. The Contents of Confession

And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (Acts 8:37)

In particular two items constitute the contents of confession according to Holy Scripture.

In the first place, all true confession contains an acknowledgment of our guilt and sin. In the days of the Old Testament, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest was required to lay both of his hands upon the head of a live goat, confessing all the iniquities and transgressions of the children of Israel, regardless of the nature of their sins. When with this symbolic act, he had laid the sins of the people upon the head of the goat, he needed to send the goat away into the wilderness [Lev. 16:20–22].

That was a communal confession made by the high priest on behalf of the whole nation. But this communal confession did not exclude the personal, individual confession of sins. This is constantly mentioned in the books of the old covenant, especially in the so-called penitential psalms.[1] It also forms a prominent element of the prayers of the saints, of David and Solomon, of Isaiah and Jeremiah and Daniel. There exists not a people in the world that have felt so deeply the guilt of sin and have confessed so humbly as the children of Israel.

My iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head. [Ps. 40:12]

There is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. [Ps. 38:3–4]

Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. [Ps. 143:2]

If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? [Ps. 130:3]

This confession of sins continues in the church of the New Testament. When John the Baptist appeared and preached repentance, many were baptized by him in the Jordan and confessed their sins [Luke 3:1–21]. Jesus often not only healed the multitude of sick who came to him with their bodily diseases, but he also gave an even greater gift—namely, the forgiveness of their sins and the salvation of their soul [Col. 1:14]. He placed this prayer on the lips of his disciples: Father, “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” [Matt. 6:12]. In the parable of the tax collector, he portrays the spirit in which we as sinners come before the righteous and holy God. The tax collector standing far off would not even lift up his eyes to heaven but beat his chest, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” [Luke 18:13].

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