Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Bangalore

Background for chapter 23 and 24: During spread of reformation, some governments were evil.  Few reformers opposed it.  Anabaptists went to an extreme and opposed everything government said or did.  Within them, there were groups who didn’t submit to government and forbid taking up govt jobs.  They refused to join police, military judiciary, or politics because these jobs required them to take oaths, and they believed Bible completely forbids taking oaths.  There was real confusion of a believer’s relationship with government.  Framers of our confession wrote chapter 23 and 24 in this background and set forth a properly balanced biblical view in these two chapters about appropriateness of taking oaths on important occasions and believer’s attitude towards civil government.

PARA 1 – Taking Oath is an act of religious worship

1._____ A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, wherein the person swearing in truth, righteousness, and judgement, solemnly calleth God to witness what he sweareth, and to judge him according to the truth or falseness thereof.
( Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 10:20; Jeremiah 4:2; 2 Chronicles 6:22, 23 )

OUTLINE

When you take an oath, remember

1. A lawful oath is a part of religious worship swearing in
   1. truth,
   2. righteousness, and
   3. judgement,
2. You are solemnly calling God into your situation
   1. solemnly calleth God to witness what you are swearing , and
   2. to judge you according to the truth or falseness thereof

PARA 2 – Oaths are to be taken only in God’s name.

2._____ The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear; and therein it is to be used, with all holy fear and reverence; therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and dreadful name, or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred; yet as in matter of weight and moment, for confirmation of truth, and ending all strife, an oath is warranted by the word of God; so a lawful oath being imposed by lawful authority in such matters, ought to be taken.
( Matthew 5:34, 37; James 5:12; Hebrews 6:16; 2 Corinthians 1:23; Nehemiah 13:25 )

OUTLINE

1. Oaths are to be taken only in God’s name.
   • The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear
2. Hence the manner of swearing should be
   • with all holy fear and reverence
3. Swearing vainly rashly is sinful
   • therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and dreadful name, or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful and to be abhorred
4. Word of God permits such oaths at certain solemn occasions
   • yet as in matter of weight and moment, for confirmation of truth, and ending all strife, an oath is warranted by the word of God; so a lawful oath being imposed by lawful authority in such matters, ought to be taken.

(Eg:  Marriage vows, Church membership, elder or deacon ordination, before civil judge, taking up a police, military or judicial roles, etc.).

PARA 3 – Biblical Oath is a serious matter.

3._____ Whosoever taketh an oath warranted by the Word of God, ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he knoweth to be truth; for that by rash, false, and vain oaths, the Lord is provoked, and for them this land mourns.
( Leviticus 19:12; Jeremiah 23:10 )

OUTLINE

1. Oath is a serious matter
   • Whosoever taketh an oath warranted by the Word of God, ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act,
2. Oaths should be based on truth
   • and therein to avouch nothing but what he knoweth to be truth;
3. False oaths anger the Lord.
   • for that by rash, false, and vain oaths, the Lord is provoked, and for them this land mourns.

PARA 4 – Language of oaths to be crystal clear (don’t play with words!).

4._____ An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation or mental reservation.
( Psalms 24:4 ) (Ps. 24:4)

PARA 5 – Biblical oaths must be kept meticulously

5._____ A vow, which is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone, is to be made and performed with all religious care and faithfulness; but popish monastical vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself.
( Psalms 76:11; Genesis 28:20-22; 1 Corinthians 7:2, 9; Ephesians 4:28; Matthew 19:11 )

OUTLINE

1. Biblical oath is to be made only to God and kept meticulously
   • A vow, which is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone, is to be made and performed with all religious care and faithfulness
2. Unbiblical oaths don’t bind us and can be broken to follow revealed will of God.  
   • but popish monastical vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection
3. Christians should avoid all unbiblical vows
   • that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself