Calvin Synod Herald, 2006 (107. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2006-01-01 / 1-2. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HF.RAI.D

9

Disznótoros Dinner and Dance West Side Hungarian Reformed Church in Cleveland, Ohio

On November 19, the 3rd Annual Disznótoros Dinner & Dance of the Lydia Guild at the West Side Hungarian Reformed Church in Cleveland, Ohio, was a wonderful success. About 230 people attended, enjoying great food, fantastic music, loving fellowship of friends.

Men enjoying the WSHRC Disznótoros Dinner-Dance (More photos on page 22.)

The patch for the Manassas (Alpha) Chapter of the Reformed Motorcycle Club

Reformed Motorcycle Club Debut

ABBREVIATIONS USED: AV = Authorized Version (1679)', Calvin - Institutes = John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (outline in 1536 complete version 1559 - Quotes from The Battle’s edition); Oxford Dictionary = Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church; Smith’s Dictionary = Smith's Bible Dictionary; WSC = Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647)\ WLC = Westminster Larger Catechism (1648); WCF = Westminster Confession of Faith - BC = Belgic Confession - HC = Heildelberg Catechism - Dort = Canons of the Synod of Dort

The Second Helvetic Confession - Chapter 1

Of the Holy Scripture Being the True Word of God'

Canonical Scripture. We believe and confess the canonical Scriptures of the holy prophets and apostles of both Testaments to be the true Word of God, and to have sufficient authority of themselves, not of men. For God himself spoke to the fathers, prophets, apostles, and still speaks to us through the Holy Scriptures.2

Though not listed as in the Westminster Confession,3 note that the sixty-six books of the Bible are the canon spoken of here. These sixty-six books alone have comprised the Reformed Bible from day one and find support with the early church fathers. These sixty-six books alone are the Word of God.4

And in this Holy Scripture, the universal Church of Christ has the most complete exposition of all that pertains to a saving faith, and also to the framing of a life acceptable to God; and in this respect it is expressly commanded by God that nothing either be added to or taken from the same.5

This has the effect of saying the canon is closed. Hebrews 1:1 does not say God will not ever speak through these various means again, just that in these last days (present or current time of the writer of Hebrews) that God has chosen to speak though His Son. Such statements bind God and set limits beyond which God cannot go. How can it be that the created can limit the Creator? The reason cited for the closing of the canon is shaky at best. The Fact it is closed is not up for debate. The criteria by which a book was included in the canon do not exist today. God would need to send an authenticated prophet and thus personally reopen the canon for an addition to be made. Likewise, since the Bible is a Divine Word, it cannot be deleted. For this reason Christ said that He did not come to destroy but to fulfill the Scriptures. Divine Word does not change, nor can it be set aside by any. Note that the use of singular “Word” is intentional. God’s Word is of the same unity as God or the Trinity. In the opening of John we see this image of unity expressed in that the Word was with God and the Word was God. Here we see why one part of the Bible may never contradict another. In places where this appears to be the case, the fault is with the understanding of the created, not the Word of the Creator, the Word is one and the only context is that of the whole Word, not book, chapter, paragraph, nor sentence. God has spoken, end of the debate. This Word of God may not be added to nor taken away from.6 7