Outline.
Lesson 15: (The vital importance of a proper understanding of Church History)

Every age of the gospel hath had its Creeds, Confessions, Catechisms, and such breviaries and models of divinity as have been singularly useful. (To the Christian Reader, a preface to the Westminster Confession of Faith)

Intro.
i. The use of Confessions and the prevention of heresy.
ii. The importance of church history as a study necessary for Christians. What is Genesis through Chronicles, the gospels and Acts? (John Foxe, Acts and Monuments, To the true and faythfull Congregation of Christes Vniuersall Church)
1. The history of early church Creeds, Confessions and authoritative statements of faith.
1. The apostles creed. 2nd century. (To refute pagans, skeptics, Jews and schismatics)
2. The Nicean Creed. 325 (To refute Arianism) Brief history of Arianism. Condemned by councils, condemned by the Roman state. Arianism is the belief that Christ was begotten in time, therefore made, therefore inferior to the Father in respect of Deity. “And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.”
3. Chalcedonian Creed. 451 (Refuting monophysitism) Monophysitism is the belief that the two natures of Christ become one in the incarnation.
4. Athanasian Creed. 5th century (to refute those who accept heretics for Christians) It was not ratified at a council of bishops. It was a reaffirmation of doctrine expressed in the previous creeds. It is called Athanasian because of a medieval account. “Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith; Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.. .This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.” App. Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith. Church history is an Encouragement to believers.

YouTube Audio: https://youtu.be/tOj-2s-l2kI