The Book of Confessions - The Presbyterian Leader

of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son
of God" (Luke 1:35). And also in the baptism of Christ a voice is heard from heaven concerning
Christ, saying, "This is my beloved Son" (Matt. 3:17). The Holy Spirit also appeared in the form
of a dove (John 1:32). And when the Lord himself commanded the apostles to baptize, he
commanded them to baptize "in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit" (Matt.
28:19). Elsewhere in the Gospel he said: "The Father will send the Holy Spirit in my name" (John
14:26), and again he said: "When the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father,
even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me," etc. (John
15:26). In short, we receive the Apostles' Creed because it delivers to us the true faith.
HERESIES. Therefore we condemn the Jews and Mohammedans, and all those who
blaspheme that sacred and adorable Trinity. We also condemn all heresies and heretics who teach
that the Son and Holy Spirit are God in name only, and also that there is something created and
subservient, or subordinate to another in the Trinity, and that there is something unequal in it, a
greater or a less, something corporeal or corporeally conceived, something different with respect
to character or will, something mixed or solitary, as if the Son and Holy Spirit were the affections
and properties of one God the Father, as the Monarchians, Novatians, Praxeas, Patripassians,
Sabellius, Paul of Samosata, Aëtius, Macedonius, Anthropomorphites, Arius, and such like, have
thought.
CHAPTER IV - Of Idols or Images of God, Christ and The Saints
IMAGES OF GOD. Since God as Spirit is in essence invisible and immense, he cannot
really be expressed by any art or image. For this reason we have no fear pronouncing with
Scripture that images of God are mere lies. Therefore we reject not only the idols of the Gentiles,
but also the images of Christians. IMAGES OF CHRIST. Although Christ assumed human
nature, yet he did not on that account assume it in order to provide a model for carvers and
painters. He denied that he had come "to abolish the law and the prophets" (Matt. 5:17). But
images are forbidden by the law and the prophets (Deut. 4:15; Isa. 44:9). He denied that his
bodily presence would be profitable for the Church, and promised that he would be near us by his
Spirit forever (John 16:7). Who, therefore, would believe that a shadow or likeness of his body
would contribute any benefit to the pious? (II Cor. 5:5). Since he abides in us by his Spirit, we
are therefore the temple of God (I Cor. 3:16). But "what agreement has the temple of God with
idols?" (II Cor. 6:16). IMAGES OF SAINTS. And since the blessed spirits and saints in heaven,
while they lived here on earth, rejected all worship of themselves (Acts 3:12f.; 14:11ff.; Rev. 14:7;
22:9) and condemned images, shall anyone find it likely that the heavenly saints and angels are
pleased with their own images before which men kneel, uncover their heads, and bestow other
honors?
But in fact in order to instruct men in religion and to remind them of divine things and of
their salvation, the Lord commanded the preaching of the Gospel (Mark 16:15)--not to paint and
to teach the laity by means of pictures. Moreover, he instituted sacraments, but nowhere did he
set up images. THE SCRIPTURES OF THE LAITY. Furthermore, wherever we turn our eyes,
we see the living and true creatures of God which, if they be observed, as is proper, make a much
Copyright © 1996 by the Office of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (USA)