6.20.2007 | the righteous and the wicked

Looking for a good, old school confession of faith? Consider the New Hampshire
Baptist Confession of 1833. It's succinct; it's clear as a bell ringing out on a cold winter's morn.

Here's one of my favorite elements of that confession, and one which all too many well-meaning Christians, and most secular humanists, would gag on: the notion that we are, as Jesus told us, to be divided into sheep and goats, the righteous and the wicked.

From the New Hampshire Baptist Confession of 1833:

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in his esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in his sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death.

Note that well: "a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked." And know well that neither the righteous or the wicked may get their justice here on this earth.

Rest assured, though: His will be done, and the righteous in Christ will be rewarded. Those who deny Christ and persecute His flock will see something a wee bit warmer...