We cover three chapters of the Confession in this issue of the Founders Journal. The themes of Christian liberty, worship, and regulated piety are common themes in each of these chapters. The chapter titles are XXI – “Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience,” XXII – “Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day,” and XXIII- “Of Lawful Oaths and Vows.” In all three subjects, Christian history has provided examples of unbiblical legalism on the one hand and Bible-ignoring libertinism on the other. Tom Nettles discusses chapter XXI highlighting aspects of both the moral and the ceremonial law, unwarranted restrictions, and careless interpretations of freedom. John English Lee gives a masterful discussion of the regulative principle of worship and how it relates to the concept of Sabbath worship among the new covenant people. Paul Taylor unfolds for us the relevance and beauty of the carefully constructed chapter on “Lawful Oaths and Vows.” In addition, we include a book review by Ryan Denton on an important discussion of the Reformation by Carlos M. N. Eire. Reformations: The Early Modern World, 1450-1650, a Yale University Press imprint. We pray that each article will increase each reader’s understanding of the historic witness to biblical faith, will enhance desire for faithful ministry, and will move each in joyful anticipation of the time when “the morning star rises in your hearts.”
Tom Nettles
