Making a Good Profession

 

Introduction

 

This little book is intended to serve the needs of the local session in fulfilling its task of training people to make "a good profession" of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ before his church.  The material is based on Scripture and our secondary standards The Westminster Confession and Catechisms and assumes the use of the "Questions for Public Profession of Faith in Christ" found in "The Directory for the Public Worship of God," Chapter V.5, in The Book of Church Order of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (cf. Appendix B). 

 

The Purpose of the Course

 

This course is designed for those who wish to consider membership in this local church.  It is designed to prepare you to make a good profession of Jesus Christ as well as to acquaint you with the teachings of this particular church.  You will no doubt find that there are many areas that will require more study in the future.  This course is only meant to lay the foundation and equip you with the basic resources for a lifetime of Christian study and growth.  Look at this time as a beginning not an end.  

The course is intended to cover the full range of what it means to be a Christian.  This involves what we believe and how we are to live as a consequence of those beliefs.  Such teaching was known in the ancient church as catechizing.  Whether or not such instruction should take place before or after one makes a "public profession of faith" before the church may be debatable.  Biblical precedent points in the direction or prior instruction, especially for the "unchurched".  The book of Acts gives several examples of those who were connected with the synagogue and yet received instruction prior to baptism into the church.  Philip explained the passage that the Ethiopian Eunuch was reading in Isaiah and went on to preach Jesus from the rest of Scripture (Acts 8:35).  Peter instructed the godly Cornelius prior to baptism (Acts 10:34ff).  If those connected with the visible church of the Old Testament needed instruction, how much more essential is it in our day.  Whether instruction takes place  before or after membership vows are taken, one thing is clear at Pentecost: the centrality of apostolic teaching in the life of the early church (Acts 2:41, 42).

 There is no more important course of instruction offered in the Christian church than the one which prepares people to make a good profession of Jesus Christ.  The lack of such training today, along with the general absence of Biblical literacy in our culture adds to the urgency of the task.  The Reformation heritage of conservative Presbyterian churches has put us on the cutting edge of education for several centuries.  The progress of God's kingdom in the present day depends upon knowing what and who we believe, and how we are to live.  Teaching the "whole counsel of God" lies at the heart of fulfilling our Lord's Great Commission to "disciple the nations."  We cannot properly worship and serve a Lord and Savior about whom we know little.

In 1 Timothy 6:12 Paul enjoins Timothy to "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have professed a good profession in the presence of many witnesses."  Profess means to confess or declare plainly.  A Christian profession is an earnest confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; and that eternal life is obtained by faith in Him.  Timothy had made such a profession in the presence of the church, not only at the beginning of his Christian life but continually as a disciple who lived according to what he said he believed.  The English word believe is derived from two words be and lifan, "to live in accordance with."  This word accurately captures the meaning of the Greek word for faith (pistis).  To profess a good profession is to take vows before the living God in the presence of His people, the church, that commit you to being a life-long disciple of the crucified and risen Christ.  You become a soldier in God's spiritual army the church.  In order to fight the good fight with Timothy you must be well equipped with a good knowledge of the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.  This is the burden of this course.  Along with the effort that goes into your study you have the promise of our Lord: "Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 10:32).

 

Your Participation in the Course

 

Your participation in this course does not necessarily represent a commitment on your part to becoming a member of this church.

In order for you to gain the most benefit from this course the following guidelines are recommended:

1.  Study the assigned material prayerfully with an open Bible.

2.  Read the Questions for Public Profession (Appendix A) carefully each week before you study.

3.  Bring your questions to class.  I will stop for questions at appropriate points during the lectures.  Please stop me at any time to ask questions of information and/or clarification.

4.  Memorize The Apostles' Creed, The Lord's Prayer and The Ten Commandments (see Appendices B, C, and D).  Begin memorizing The Shorter Catechism.

 

Reading for the Course

 

The following is required reading:

 

Reynolds, Making a Good Profession

The booklet you are reading is the main textbook and gives the basic outline of the course.

 

Cummings, Confessing Christ (Revised 1992)

This is a supplemental text for the course.

 

The Westminster Confession of Faith

This is the primary text of our doctrinal standard or confession

 

Seaton, The Five Points of Calvinism

This covers the reformed doctrine of salvation by sovereign grace in a systematic way.

 

Wray, The Importance of the Local Church

Wray, Biblical Church Discipline

 

Churchill, Lest We Forget

This covers the early history of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

 

Blanchard, Ultimate Questions

This is an evangelistic tract that gives the content of evangelism.

 

The following is supplementary reading:

 

The Shorter Catechism with Scripture Proofs

This is pocket size for memorization.

 

Williamson, The Westminster Confession of Faith

This is a thorough exposition of the confession.

 

Williamson, Understanding the Times

This helps us understand our culture from a Biblical perspective in order to be better witnesses of the gospel.

 

Lloyd-Jones, The Cross, The Vindication of God

 

Ferguson, Healthy Christian Growth

 

Beeke, Holiness

 

Barnes, Seeing Jesus

 

McDowell, The Incomparable Book

 

Martin, Living The Christian Life

 

Ranganathan, Origins?

 

Ferguson, Read Any Good Books?

 

Dewitt, What Is the Reformed Faith?

This booklet demonstrates that the reformed faith is not limited to the "Five Points."

 

Thomas, Reading the Bible

This will help you grow in your Bible reading.

Schedule of Classes

 

Week #1 & 2 - Scripture: The Foundation of Our Profession

Reynolds, Making a Good Profession - Chapter 1 (pp.1-7)

Cummings, Confessing Christ - Chapter 1 (pp.9-19)

The Westminster Confession of Faith - Chapter 1

 

Optional:

Williamson, The Westminster Confession of Faith - Chapter 1 (pp.1- 22)

The Shorter Catechism: Q.#1-3

McDowell, The Incomparable Book

 

Week #3 & 4 - Salvation Accomplished: The God of Our Profession

Reynolds, Making a Good Profession - Chapter 2 (pp.8-21)

Cummings, Confessing Christ - Chapter 2 (pp.21-32)

The Westminster Confession of Faith - Chapters 2-8

Seaton, The Five Points of Calvinism

 

Optional:

Williamson, The Westminster Confession of Faith - Chapters 2-8 (pp.23-84)

The Shorter Catechism: Q.#4-28

Dewitt, What Is the Reformed Faith?

Ranganathan, Origins?

Lloyd-Jones, The Cross, The Vindication of God

 

Week #5 & 6 - Salvation Applied: The Realization of Our Profession

Reynolds, Making a Good Profession - Chapter 3 (pp.22-33)

Cummings, Confessing Christ - Chapter 3 (pp.33-42)

The Westminster Confession of Faith - Chapters 9-18

 

Optional:

Williamson, The Westminster Confession of Faith - Chapters 9-17 (pp.85-136)

The Shorter Catechism: Q.#29-36, 84-87

 

Week #7 & 8 - Salvation Applied: Living Our Profession

Reynolds, Making a Good Profession - Chapter 4 (pp.34-52)

Cummings, Confessing Christ - Chapter 4 (pp.43-56)

The Westminster Confession of Faith - Chapters 19-22, 24

 

Optional:

Williamson, The Westminster Confession of Faith - Chapters 18-22 (pp.137- 186)

The Shorter Catechism: Q.#39-83

Ferguson, Healthy Christian Growth

Beeke, Holiness

Martin, Living The Christian Life

Week #9 - 11 - The Church: The Context of Our Profession

Reynolds, Making a Good Profession - Chapter 5 (pp.53-78)

Cummings, Confessing Christ - Chapters 5 & 6 (pp.57-90)

The Westminster Confession of Faith - Chapters 23, 25-31

Wray, The Importance of the Local Church

Wray, Biblical Church Discipline

 

Optional:

Williamson, The Westminster Confession of Faith - Chapters 23-30 (pp.187-251)

The Shorter Catechism: Q.#88-107

Barnes, Seeing Jesus

Thomas, Reading the Bible

Ferguson, Read Any Good Books?

 

Week #12 - Mission: The Propagation of Our Profession

Reynolds, Making a Good Profession - Chapter 6 (pp.79-82)

Cummings, Confessing Christ - Chapter 7 (pp.91-100)

Blanchard, Ultimate Questions

Churchill, Lest We Forget

 

Optional:

Williamson, Understanding the Times

 

Week #13 & 14 - Last Things: The Fulfillment of Our Profession

Reynolds, Making a Good Profession - Chapter 7 (pp.83-86)

Cummings, Confessing Christ - Chapter 1 (pp.1-11)

The Westminster Confession of Faith - Chapters 32, 33

 

Optional:

Williamson, The Westminster Confession of Faith - Chapters 31, 32 (pp.252-267)

The Shorter Catechism: Q.#37, 38

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