Let us take the Lord's face in prayer. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth, who keeps the truth forever, who does not forsake the works of his hands. Amen. Grace be unto you and peace from him which is and which was and which is to come. and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Amen. Let's continue our worship service by singing Psalter 39, stanzas 1 and 4. Stanzas 1 and 4 from Psalter 39. ♪ I doubt his wisdom, my God ♪ ♪ He knows the world beyond the balance ♪ ♪ His fingers make wisdom divine ♪ After the confession of faith, we will sing Psalter 21, verse 4. Psalter 21, verse 4, after we have confessed with our heart and mind our undoubted Christian faith with the words of the Apostles' Creed and Lord's Day Aid of our Heidelberg Catechism as follows. I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost. born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day, he arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sitted at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost. I believe in the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Question 24. How are these articles divided? Answer, into three parts. The first is of God, the Father, and our creation. The second of God, the Son, and our redemption. The third of God, the Holy Ghost, and our sanctification. Question 25. since there is but one only divine essence, why speakest thou of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? Answer, because God hath so revealed himself in his word that these three distinct persons are the one only true and eternal God. ♪ In life ♪ Let's turn to our Bibles and we will hear the Word of God in two Scripture readings. First, in the book of Acts chapter 2, the verses 37 till 47, Acts chapter 2, 37 till 47. And the second Scripture reading you can find in the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Romans chapter 8, the verses 1 till 17. Romans 8, 1 till 17, but first Acts chapter 2, 37 till 47, and hear ye the word of God. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about 3,000 souls, and they continued steadfastly in the apostle doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread, and in prayer, and fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles, and all that believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need, And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily, such as should be saved. Romans 8, starting at verse 1. There is there for now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. Walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. for what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, a condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then, they that are in the flesh cannot please God, but ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit. If so, be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of us. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelt in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh, For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die. But if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself bear witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, joined heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Thus far the reading of God's word. Let us take the Lord's face and pray, let's pray. Holy and righteous God, we come before Thee for the second time on this Sabbath day as a congregation gathered together to worship Thee, to call upon Thy name. And, O Lord, when we look unto Thy holiness, and to Thy righteousness, O whom can stand before Thee. How we can ever come into Thy presence, because that's what we are doing right now, seeking Thy face, Thy countenance. O Lord, and in Thy holiness and in Thy righteousness, Thou hast given away, O not man-made, but such a divine way, a fresh and living way. In the blood of Thy dear Son, And oh Lord, we can't grasp all these things which we are so used to hear, and we know them by heart. But oh Lord, when we meditate upon these realities revealed in scripture, who can understand that thou in the Lord Jesus Christ, became man, a human being, with a human nature, a real human nature, and at the same time remaineth thine divine nature. And although we can't understand, Lord, we only can Worship it. We worship Thee for that, Lord. It's unbelievable, but it's all of Thee, and of Thee alone. There's no any worthiness in ourselves, Lord. In nobody of us. And grant us to see it. Oh Lord, grant us to believe it. For the first time, or by renewal, that we see the reality. of our heart and fallen nature, with all our religion, Lord, but enemies of Thee. And at the same time, we have our high thoughts about ourselves. With all we pray, open our eyes this afternoon to see who we are, O Lord, and who we remain But also, Lord, who Thou art and who Thou remainest in Thy dear Son. And therefore, O holy, righteous God, Thou art the most merciful and gracious God in Jesus Christ, O triune God. And therefore, Thou wilt receive all the glory and honor of Thy church. We pray, Lord, that also this evening the hearts of thy children might be filled with that joy, with that knowledge, with that faith in a triune God. Oh, thou once, Lord, wilt receive that full glory, that full honor. Oh, we cannot give it today. Our hearts, Lord, are filled with the brokenness of sin still of Thy church today. But Lord, O precious Savior, Thou hast glorified, Thou hast glorified Father's name as our surety, as our mediator. And therefore, oh, our eyes are only unto Thee, oh precious Savior. And in faith we might believe and know that also, Lord, we might worship Thee. But Lord, if we don't know Thee with our hearts, if we don't trust Thee, when we still reject Thee and are still satisfied with ourselves and we can go on, we can continue that life, oh Lord. Oh please, grant us a moment to see the reality of our pride O Lord of our deep misery, humble us before Thee. O Lord, that we might die with all our self-righteousness for the first time to see that full salvation given by a triune God through the finished work of our dear Lord and Savior. Lord, we would like to speak about these matters this afternoon. Help us in listening. Help us in proclaiming Thy Word. Open our hearts to receive Thy Word. Open our mouths, Lord, to proclaim Thy Word. Grant us the unction of Thy Holy Spirit. and not only in our midst, but everywhere, Lord, where the Bible will be opened and pastors will preach Thy Word, oh, that they might speak according to the Scriptures and that they truly might be, Lord, servants of the Word. Oh, Lord, all of that work will condemn us, and it does. But it also justifies when it reveals the righteousness of Christ to a sinner. Revive thy church. Oh, please, Lord, may we pray for that. Revive thy church. Like we have heard this morning, how thou also in the darkness of the time of Abraham, thou hast called him, chosen that family. Thou remainest faithful also to the offspring of Seth and the offspring of Shem. Up till today, thou hast still thy church. And therefore, Lord, oh, we pray, build Thy church and sustain Thy church and maintain Thy church. Call young people, Lord, again, call them first to Thee. Call young man to the ministry of the gospel, Lord, as preachers, as evangelists. O Lord, as missionaries, that there might be a prayer in the midst of the congregation for that, that Thy name might be glorified, O Lord, we pray. Oh, remember Thy worldwide church. Remember our persecuted brethren. Remember also their persecuted, Lord. and bring them at thy feet. And that's what we hear, Lord, that thou art converting so many people and that the church is growing in other parts of the world. But don't forget us, Lord. Please remember us and our children. Oh, work mightily in our midst. Remember also thy people Israel. O Lord, Thou hast given these great promises in Scripture. May we pray for the conversion of the Jewish people all around the world. Open their eyes, Lord, for the Messiah who already came. O Lord, and that thou would also use the circumstances in which the Jewish people are also in Israel. Thou knowest all the needs and all the concerns, Lord, remember them. Remember also, Lord, the suffering Palestinians. Oh God, all the evil which is also there. Open their eyes, Lord, for to see what is sin, but also open their eyes of the Jewish people, of the Palestinian people, yeah, of the entire world for the reality of sin and of eternity and of evil, but also of righteousness. Thou hast promised, O Lord Jesus, that Thou would send Thy Holy Spirit, and He would convince about sin, but also about righteousness. O Lord, to show them the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, but also convince them about judgment, O Lord. Not Satan will reign this world. But Christ, everything for the best. Lord, our eyes are unto Thee. Also for this afternoon, help us in listening, help us in preaching. Oh, be Thou in our midst, oh precious Savior. Our Lord, without Thee, without Thy presence, and that's what we deserve, but it's all in vain. But Thou hast promised that Thy word never will return void. Thou hast promised, Lord Jesus, that two or three are gathered in My name. I will be in their midst. May we experience it, that it all might be to the glory of Thy name and the extension of Thy kingdom among us, we pray. And that only in the name of Thy dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Let's sing Psalter 151, stanzas 2, 5, and 6. 151, stanzas 2, 5, and 6, and in between there will be the offerings, and may the Lord bless you and your gift as well. Amen. you ♪ In the night of my past ♪ ♪ I did an earth-born thing ♪ ♪ For an earth-born child ♪ In the blood of the Lord I rest, Alleluia. can't be free. And in the light of night, I walk faithfully. congregation, it was a mighty full day, the day of Pentecost, when Jesus Christ, who was in heaven, poured out His Spirit on earth, and how the Holy Spirit was anointing the apostles to preach And what did they preach? Do you remember it, congregation? The Bible says they preached the works of God, the mighty deeds of God. And children, can you remember that? How Peter was preaching on that day of Pentecost, preaching to all the Jewish people in the power of the Holy Spirit. And he starts in the Old Testament, and he went on, and he went on, and he came in the end that God has fulfilled His Old Testament promises in the Lord Jesus Christ as the given Messiah. But, and then Peter became very honest. He said, that was the Savior whom you have crucified. You have killed Him. You have murdered Him. You are accountable for that. Oh, Peter said, but it was not the end, but it was by His Father's power whom has risen Him out of death into life, and who is taken at the right hand of the Father. And it is by His power that what you see today, how the Holy Spirit is poured out upon us. And on that moment, we started to read in Acts chapter 2 verse 37. And now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter, men and brethren, what shall we do? The heart of man was touched, and they realized, I am God. a lost sinner. I am responsible for my own sin. Men and brethren, what shall we do?" And Peter continued, and he preached. And he said, repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ. For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off." And then we read those mighty words, and with many other words. And then it says in verse 41, and they that gladly received his word were baptized. So what happens on that day congregation? That's what the Bible says, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. We are thinking about faith, right? We have seen already that not everyone will be saved by the finished work of Christ. But only those who believe, who by a true faith, question 20 says, are engrafted in Christ and receive all His benefits. Jesus has preached, and we have heard about that, that only those who enter the narrow gate, and that is Christ Himself, will be saved, and everyone who is outside that gate is lost. That's what we see on the day of Pentecost. And they that gladly received His Word, oh, they believed the preaching of the Apostle Peter. That's that true saving faith. And the question is, what does that true saving faith believe? What do those sinners believe? The preaching of Peter. And it says in verse 42, and they continued, not only once, they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine. They believed the preaching of the apostles. The congregation, when we We have seen what is, last week from the Heidelberg Catechism, what is then necessary for a Christian to believe? And then he answers, all things promised into the gospel which the articles of our Catholic undoubted Christian faith briefly teach us. So what does a Christian believe? Children, it's a very easy answer. God. A Christian believes God. That's all. When a sinner believes in God, he is saved. And that God in the Scriptures reveals Himself as a triune God. as a triune God, as a Father, as a Son, and as a Holy Ghost. That we see on the day of Pentecost, right? There we hear Peter preaching, and the Holy Spirit is poured out. God, the Holy Spirit is poured out, and Peter starts to preach. About whom? About Christ, the Son of God. and also about a father who has risen his son. And here you see in Acts chapter 2 how the Bible speaks about God as being a triune God. And so, and we have to speak about this often, what does a Christian believe congregation? True faith believes, and that's the theme of the sermon, true faith believes in a triune God. True faith believes a triune God. And we will see the source of that faith, we will see the order of the source of that, the Apostle's Creed, because we will speak about from Lord's Day 8 about the Apostle's Creed and the articles of our Christian faith. And we will see the source of that, we will see the order in it, we will see the meaning of it, and we also will briefly speak about the character of it. So the Apostles' Creed, that is faith which believes a triune God. And already I have shown you out of Acts chapter 2 that God reveals Himself as being a triune God. And that's what we find, you know, those people on the day of Pentecost, what did they believe? They believed the Apostles' doctrine, it says. And what's the Apostles' teaching? And therefore we go back, we go to Romans 8, that's what we read already also, right? So let us turn to Romans 8, verses 9 till 11. And there the Apostle Paul, he writes to the Romans, but ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you, now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you." Do you see congregation? In those three verses, you see them all three. God, the Father who raised up His Son, Jesus Christ. And in every Christian, Paul says, you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. The Spirit of God dwells in you. Every Christian has to deal and believes in a triune God. It's a biblical source, and that's when we read in question 25, and it is asked, since there is but only one divine essence, why speakest thou of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost? Then the only answer is because God had so revealed Himself in His Word that these three distinct persons are the only true and eternal God. Why do we believe in the Trinity? Maybe that's wrong what I say. People will sometimes say, yes, Calvinist believes in the Trinity. I would say we believe in a triune God. I don't believe in a trinity as a doctrine, but a Christian believes a triune God, a God who is in the Scripture, one God, and the same one God reveals Himself as being three different persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. So the source of the Apostles' Creed you can find in the Scriptures. The Trinity you can find already in the Old Testament. On the day of creation, God speaks, let us make man. There's a plurality in God already revealed in the Old Testament and also in other parts of the New Testament. we can see the Trinity throughout the New Testament everywhere. Yes, and still, there are people who are, who don't believe it, who don't believe that Jesus Christ is God and is the Son of God. But it's very clear, congregation, that the source of this Apostles' Creed, of the Apostles' doctrine, is the revelation of God Himself. God has revealed Himself as being the triune God. Can I understand it? No. I can't understand how one being at the same time can be of three persons, but children Like we discussed it this morning in the Catechism class, the only reason we believe in the Trinity, in the triune God, is that God has revealed himself in that way. Do you remember who was confessing Jesus as being God? Thomas. Thomas was confessing, my God, my Lord, my God. So, that the Trinity, which you can find in the Apostles' Creed, that's a biblical reality. Let's secondly see what's the order, because there's also an order in these articles of the Christian faith, and that's the question 24. How are these articles divided? Then it says in three parts. The first is of God the Father and our creation, the second of God the Son and our redemption, the third of God the Holy Ghost and our sanctification. That's the content of the Apostles' doctrine, God the Father and our creation, God the Son and our redemption, and God the Holy Ghost and our sanctification. And so, the Apostles' Creed congregation is actually just a confession of the triune God. And every, also this afternoon we have confessed that our Christian faith, and hopefully you are still aware of what we are doing, children, why we are repeating every Sunday the Apostles' Creed? Why? Is it just part of the liturgy and actually the church service will start when the pastors start preaching? Oh no, oh no, oh no. Here we confess that the God of Scripture is a triune God, and this is what I believe, and this is what the whole congregation is testifying when the elder is reading it. Then we say, I, this is a personal matter, I believe in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit. So the whole Apostles Creed congregation is about faith in a triune God. I believe in God the Father, and I believe in God the Son, and I believe in God the Holy Spirit. And so that is the order in the Apostles' Creed. The first confession, I believe in God the Father. And the confessions two till seven, they're all about I believe in God the Son. And then in confession eight, I believe in the Holy Ghost. And then followed, then our following still for other ones. And maybe you are confused by those four other ones. You will say it's about Trinity, right? So those four other ones, it seems to be that we also believe in a church and in the forgiveness of sins. Don't make that mistake, congregation. Those four, the last four confessions are just part of the work of the Holy Ghost. So they belong to the work of the Holy Ghost. So actually you can say the order in the Apostles' Creed is the Trinity. I believe in a triune God. And that's the important congregation. What we are talking about? Not about doctrine, first of all. Now the question is, are all men then as they perished in Adam saved by Christ? And then the answer is, no! So congregation this is the point, not everyone who is here present this evening, this afternoon is saved. Only those are saved who are engrafted in Christ Jesus by a true faith. And if not, then you are still lost, and then you are still on the way to an everlasting damnation. Oh, no doubt, I know your future, and it will not change. That will be your future, to be forever separated from God. And this is the reality. And the only way to change that is that only those who are engrafted by a true faith in Christ Jesus and who will receive all His benefits. And what does that mean? What kind of faith is that? What does that faith believe? How will I get saved? Oh that true faith in a triune God, God the Father and our creation, God the Son and our redemption, and God the Holy Spirit and our sanctification. So you see congregation, this is a matter of everlasting life or everlasting death. And what does a Christian believe? Don't forget, he knows, he believes not only in the Father, not only in Jesus, not only in the Holy Spirit, but he believes in a triune God. And that's also in the life of a Christian congregation, when the Holy Spirit works that faith in the hearts of a sinner, like He did on the day of Pentecost. Those people, they got to know what? The need of a Savior? They were praying, man and brethren, what shall we do? And that's still today when the Holy Spirit works in a sinner's life. Oh, He will bring that question in our hearts. Men and brethren, what I have to do? It's about my salvation. How I can ever get saved. May I ask you? Has that ever been a need in your life? No, not discussion. We can discuss about all kinds of things, right? No, it's about your soul. And if you ever realized in your life that you need a Savior, that you need a triune God to get saved, and here it is. O congregation, that's the Christian. He believes. That Christian which is engrafted in Christ. And that Christian, which is by their true faith, who receives all the benefits of Jesus, what does he believe? A triune God. A triune God. And so congregation, we cannot be reconciled just only by a… Yeah, we can say, now I'm reconciled with Jesus, but not with the Father and something like that. No, no, no. We are reconciled with a triune God, or we are not reconciled. Oh, Jesus Christ, He reconciles a sinner with a triune God. And that's a wonderful reality, what those people experienced on the day of Pentecost. And therefore they continued steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine. Oh, what is necessary for our salvation? That I know. a triune God. And then, that's my third point, the meaning of these three different aspects when it says in Lord's Day 8, God the Father in our creation, God the Son in our redemption, God the Holy Ghost in our sanctification. Oh, like I said, congregation, it is not just a formal classification. It's not just for teaching content, but it's about my salvation. And salvation of a sinner is based on the work of a triune God. And therefore, Athanasius says, therefore if anyone wishes to be saved, he must believe thus of the Trinity. Belief, not understanding. I can't understand as I mentioned already. I can't understand the Trinity of God. But at the same time, it's a very personal matter. It says, you know, it's about the Father and our creation. It's about the Son and our redemption. It's about the God of the Holy Ghost and our sanctification. It's a personal matter. So it's not about a discussion about Trinity and all these things. No, it's about your soul. It's about your salvation. God has revealed Himself in the Scriptures as a triune God. Why? Just to save lost sinners. And the triune God is involved as the Creator, as the Redeemer. and is our sanctifier. What a wonderful flying congregation, but also what an important matter, to know God as my Creator. Do you know God? Of course, you will say, of course, I'm taught from youth, from childhood, that God is my Creator. Have you ever believed that? Did you ever believe that God created you? When you believe that, and you look to your own heart a little bit, and you know a little bit of your own heart, I have to be ashamed, isn't it? Oh, when you know your own heart and you realize God has created me. Why? To worship Him. God has created me to honor Him. God has created me to be to His glory on earth. What is my life? What is your life? Oh, by nature it's all about me. Oh, also in religion it's all about me. Isn't it? And when I realize that the true saving faith is faith in God as my creator. Oh, that true saving faith that will confess, Lord, that's true. Thou art my creator. Thou has created me in paradise without sin. Perfectly, Lord. And those people you can find on their knees. And when they cannot find peace for their soul, And when it seems that God doesn't answer their prayer, and when they sometimes think, oh, I will never get saved, God will never hear me. When they go on their knees, when they come on their knees, and God opens their eyes to see, I have sinned against my Creator. And I'm not worthy that God will answer my prayer. I'm not worthy. I've sinned against Thee. I have sinned against my Creator, O Lord. And when Thou never would grant me that faith, and when Thou never would save me, Lord, that would be righteous. That would be righteous. O such a sinner, he bows before God, and he cannot, he cannot see any unrighteousness in God. And at the same time, he cries out to his Creator, but have mercy upon me, O God. Have mercy upon me, the sinner." Do you see a congregation to believe in God, the Creator? in God the Father, that's also the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. When God opens my eyes to see, that this Father, that my Creator is the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. And when He opens my eyes to see on the Lord Jesus Christ, oh I see that Father. And we will speak about that the next week or the week after that when we come to the work of the Father who is for Christ's sake my God and my Father. God the Father who created my life, who sustained my life, who maintains my life. And then the knowledge of God the Son and our redemption. To be saved we need to know God the Father as being our Creator and also the Son. as our Redeemer. And He has revealed Himself, congregation, in Scriptures as the Redeemer, like we have seen this morning, right? Oh, it is God. It is God who has chosen His people. It is God who has chosen Abraham. It is God who has elected sinners. It is God's good pleasure. Oh, it is His finished work. He has given His Son. It's all His. It's all Him. And when I started to see it, oh, when a sinner with all his guilt and with all his lostness started to see that the triune God, God the Father, has given His Son, has given His Son. Oh, He has not given an angel. He has not given all animals for the sin of people, but He has given His only begotten Son. How do you see congregation? God so loved the world, God so loved sinners, that He has given His only begotten Son for lost sinners. And such a sinner can only who understand the reality, like those men on the day of Pentecost. Men and brethren, what shall we do? It was the answer of the Apostle. It was very clear when he says, repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ. For what reason? For the remission of sin. Oh, in Christ Jesus. And we will see it. It is a full forgiveness. There is a full salvation. There is a full, full glory. in Christ, the Son and our redemption. That saving faith that believes in a triune God, God the Father and our creation, God the Son and our redemption, but also in God the Holy Spirit and our sanctification, that word has been used here. It's actually a word, it's actually a summary of all the work of the Holy Spirit. And the congregation, the Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity, and He is always in the background in the life of a Christian, but He is the first. Oh, He is right there in convincing sinners about their lost lives. He does a sinner. He let a sinner believe that he is lost. He let a sinner believe that he is a sinner. He let a sinner believe that he needs a Savior. He shows the sinner the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Savior out of the Scriptures. Oh, it is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ who maintains that spiritual life in a Christian every day. We have heard about that, isn't it? Paul spoke about that in Romans 8. What does he say about the Spirit of God? He dwells in you. Oh, I believe in God, the Holy Spirit. He dwells in me. Can you imagine that? When you know your heart, you can say, oh Lord, how is that ever possible? But the Bible teaches us. And I confess it when I say, I believe in God the Father, and I believe in God the Son, and I believe in God the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God who dwells in me. The Spirit of God who maintains that spiritual life every day again, who grants that communion with Christ. who granted I a faith to look unto Him, to see Him out of the Scriptures. Oh, what a wonderful, what a wonderful Spirit, isn't it? Oh, God's people who so often are confronted with the reality of their own sinful and empty and cold heart. What a blessing when they say, but I believe in the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit dwells in me, and He will, and He shall." Do you see? Faith in a triune God. So it's not just a matter of doctrine, but it's a matter of salvation. And this is an important congregation. that we know that triune God, the only faithful eternal God. And then finally, we have seen the source of that confession. We have seen the order of that confession. We have seen the meaning of that confession, but I also briefly would touch on the character of that confession? What's the character of the Apostle's Creed? And you will ask me, Pastor, what do you mean by the word character? Let us just go back to Laws Day 7, because it's very important and it's quite often overlooked. Question 22, what is then necessary for a Christian to believe? All things promised us in the gospel. which the articles of our Catholic undoubted Christian faith briefly teach us. So what does a Christian believe? The gospel. The gospel. And the gospel is summarized in the twelve articles. So to get saved, not all the world needs to go upside down. but a Christian believes in the triune God, in the gospel it says, and the articles of our Catholic undoubted Christian faith are actually a summary. But now the point, and I would like to say that again, the answer doesn't say all things the gospel has been revealed." It would be true, right? And it says, all things the gospel has revealed unto us, it would be true. But it doesn't say. The church confesses already from the time of Reformation that these things are promised, right? all things promised us in the gospel, which the articles of our Catholic, undoubted Christian faith briefly teach us. So the twelve articles, you can say they are twelve promises of God. And when we will go over all these different aspects of the creation and of the of the sustaining of God, of creation, and of His providence, and when we will speak about His Son, and when we will speak about His names, and when we will speak about His natures, and when we will speak about His benefits, and when we will speak about the Holy Spirit and His work, and about the church, and about conversion, what it is? It's all promised. It's promised. So everything between Lord's Day 7 and Lord's Day 23 congregation is one promise of God. And that's a wonderful reality. And that's how we have to read and explain our Heidelberg Catechism. That's what it says, what it says by himself, all things promised us in the gospel, which the articles of our Catholic undoubted Christian faith briefly teach. They briefly teach the promises of the gospel. That's what Peter was talking about, right? When Peter was preaching on the day of Pentecost, and he had preached very clear the deeds of God and those men, they came and they cried and they said, men and brethren what shall we do? And then Peter, he preached repent and be baptized. But then he continues and he says in verse 39, for the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. The promise, what is the promise? That's the promise of salvation. Oh, young people, maybe you think sometimes it seems to be so hard to get saved. It seems to be so complicated. Faith seems to be so impossible for kids. It seems to be so impossible for young people. You need to study and you need to have a lot of knowledge. No. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. For sure not. It is promised here. It says the promises are to you and to your children and to all that are far off. These promises are given to children, to young people. The promise of salvation. It's all, it's all promised in the scriptures. And oh, And you look to yourself and you say, oh God, but I'm a sinner and I have sinned against my creator. The father will say, I know, I know. But therefore as a father, I have given my son. I did it. I did it. I have given the Savior for sinners. I have given my beloved Son. I believe in God the Father. Congregation, that's a promise for a sinner. And therefore, when you read the gospel, Or we can so often doubt. And in particular, you know, when the Holy Spirit convinces a sinner, it's not easy to believe. Because, you know, we cannot live from conclusions. Faith is not a conclusion. But faith, that is a surrendering. It's a complete surrendering to the Lord Jesus Christ, right? And when you know a little bit of your own heart, you have to say, Oh Lord, how can I ever surrender? How is it ever possible to get saved? You know, and for such a sinner, it's such a mighty comfort to see that God has promised, as a triune God, a complete salvation for a complete sinner. And that's His only hope, and that's His only expectation. And what is faith? Faith, faith is not believing that I'm a Christian. Faith, like we have seen last week, is even not that I believe, first of all, that my sins are forgiven. No, faith is to believe in a triune God. And that's to believe through the Lord Jesus Christ, I need to say, in a triune God. And that for Christ's sake, yes, for Christ's sake, all my sins are forgiven. Yes. Do you see? Faith unites the sinner. with a complete Christ, with a complete Jesus. And in Christ Jesus, He has a complete salvation. He has forgiveness of sin and sanctification, everything in Him and in Him alone. All the promises of the gospel, the Bible says, they are J and Amen. How? J and Amen in Christ Jesus alone. And that's why we sung from Psalm 21, all his promises are sure. Oh, congregation, that's such a wonderful thing. All the promises of God are sure. And that's why John Newton wrote and writes in one of his poems, and he says, approach my soul, the mercy seat, where Jesus answers prayer, and there humbly fall before his feet, for none can perish there. That's a wonderful word. Approach my soul the mercy, and you know John Newton, you know he was such a big sinner You know he was such a big enemy of grace And he had such a lot of knowledge, but he was fighting against it, and he was living out his sin And here he preaches to his own soul. And he says, approach my soul, the mercy seat, where Jesus answers prayer. There humbly fall before his feet, for none can perish there. Why not? Thy promise is my only plea. With this I venture nigh. Now call us burdened souls to Thee, and such, O Lord, am I." And there you can find those souls, and there you can find those sinners at the mercy seat of God, with an open Bible, with a sinful and a guilty heart, with nothing to pay, but just to confess. thy promise is my only plea. With this I venture nigh, thou callest burdened souls to thee, and such a Lord am I. Amen. Let us sing Psalter 303, verse 1, Psalter 303. and we will sing the first stanza. O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of Let's pray. And so we come before Thee, O Triune God, And oh God, it's like we already said in our prayer, it's so unbelievable. We are so unworthy, Lord. But thou hast revealed thyself as a triune God for our salvation. Oh, to have that life eternal today. Oh, to live that eternal life today. And for that reason, thou hast revealed thyself as a triune God, but thou art also acting as a triune God. Like we have heard, O Lord, and that thy church might be lived out of that truth, revealed in Scriptures. And like we have heard and confessed with our Heidelberg Catechism, That is, that it is, that it are promises, O Lord. And that's, that's such a wonder. That's just grace. That's only paid grace by the Lord Jesus Christ. That, that is, that those days, that those truths, Lord, are revealed to us as promises from heaven, as ropes from heaven for sinners who have nothing, O Lord. and that we might learn to pray with one of thy servants. Thy promise is my only plea. O dear Lord, work mightily among us. We need thy work, O Lord. We need thy work, and only thy work. And like thy work is a promise, O Father, O Son, O Holy Spirit, We pray, fulfill Thy promises in the hearts of our children, of our youth, yes, of each and every one of us who are present or listening along at home. O Lord, may we pray again for Jonas who is in the hospital, for Mrs. Vandenberg who is in the hospital. O Lord, remember them and be with them. Lord, may we pray for the entire congregation also in this coming week, when there will be the house visitations, Lord, and there will be a ladies' aid meeting, and we will have a worship service, and there will be baptismal instruction, and there will be catechism and confession class. O Lord, make everything well and use all these weak means to reveal Thyself as a triune God in the hearts and lives of every one of us. Lord, we thank Thee for those who have traveled and came safely back home. We pray for those who have to travel again, be with them as well. Lord, be also with us when the youth will come to the parsonage and we will have a sing-along. Be thou in our midst when we sing thy word. Open our hearts, Lord, that we might be aware of what we are singing. And we pray. Hear our prayers. Bless thy word in the forgiveness of all our sins. and that only for the sake of Christ. Amen. Let us in closing sing Psalter 428, the second stanza, 428 verse 2. O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free Amen. Yeah. The people go in peace and lift up your hearts and receive the blessing of our Lord. The Lord bless thee and keep thee. The Lord make his face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace. Amen.