In the aftermath of the French and English leaving Leith near Edinburgh, the Protestant movement in Scotland became a reality. One of the first steps Parliament took in 1560 was to commission some leading ministers to put together a document outlining the Protestant faith in our nation. This document, known as the Scots Confession, was rapidly put together by six Johns: John Knox, John Spottiswood, John Willock, John Row, John Douglas and John Winram. The reason for its rapid production in just four days is because the leaders had already thrashed out the key beliefs over many years. When it was read out to the Scottish Parliament it was ratified by the Three Estates (the lords, burgesses and clergy) with little opposition, and so became official on 17th August, 1560, being also afterwards confirmed by Acts of Parliament.
The document itself claims to be ‘wholesome and sound doctrine grounded upon the infallible truth of God’s word.’ In many ways it is no different than other Christian historical documents and reaffirms the essential teachings of the church, such as the trinity, original sin, incarnation of Christ and his death, resurrection and ascension. On the other hand, the document deals with the serious issues caused by the apostate Romanist church, such as papal power and transubstantiation. It lays out the vital teaching that we have eternal salvation through Christ alone, by grace through faith, rather than by our good works; it also champions the Bible as our authority over that of the traditions and ideas of man. Contained within its text is the statement: ‘our Head and only Mediator Jesus Christ’. It is a declaration which would become a bone of contention with kings who would seek to control the church later, even as the papal system had done in their times.
Even though these reformers had tried their best to produce a biblical document of faith, they humbly invited the readers to examine it carefully for themselves, ‘that if any will note in this our confession any Article or sentence repugnant to God’s holy word, that it would please him of his gentleness for Christian charity’s sake to admonish us of the same in writing’. They were acting in the opposite spirit of Rome that dictated to people. Furthermore, they recognized that there were two churches on earth: God’s church, belonging to Christ, and the apostate church.
As such, the Scots Confession was a document crafted by the six Johns in an attitude that was full of grace and truth, and would become influential for the later Westminster Confession of 1647, which would become a rallying call for all evangelically-minded Christians.
‘Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints’ (Jude 3-4, NKJV).
Image: The Scots Confession, taken from the Church of Scotland Committee on Publications