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Originally Posted by mangum  Well, to the Reformers and Divines there were no other possible positions one could take. Who or what else could it or can it be other than the self-proclaimed Christ on earth? |
I agree with this entirely. If calling oneself the substitute for Christ and claiming the authority to forgive sin aren't showing himself as God, it is hard to imagine what would be!
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Really, what institution, what group, better fits the bill? I can't name one other plausible alternative.
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I can't either. However, my idea of what is plausible isn't the best way to determine truth!
I prefer it in the Confessions because it seems that for this day and age it is more necessary than ever. The reformation is over. The protestant churches in America have by and large compromised the gospel to the point that they see the Catholic church as a legitimate denomination within the pale of orthodoxy (or maybe that should be the "pail"). I think this demands an explicit rejection of the Roman Catholic (false) gospel and the confession a good place for it.
OTOH, I can see the wisdom in recognizing that we might be wrong about our interpretation of the antichrist and we don't want our confession to bind anyone's conscience where Christ has given liberty.
I think it's good to consider such things, especially in light of the occasional accusations we receive that we "worship the confession". It demonstrates that the confession is subordinate to the Word of God, not equal with it when we dare question it and examine it in light of the Word.