Belgic Confession, Article 18: The Incarnation
This excerpt from Article 18 of the Belgic Confession presents the Reformed doctrine of the incarnation, affirming that God's eternal Son assumed true human nature—body and soul—while remaining sinless, fulfilling Old Testament covenant promises. The article defends orthodox Christology against Anabaptist heresy by emphasizing Christ's genuine human descent from David and Abraham, making Him truly Immanuel, "God with us." This confessional statement is foundational to understanding Protestant Reformed theology and the biblical basis for Christ's person and redemptive work.
Article 18: The Incarnation So then we confess that God fulfilled the promisemade to the early fathers and mothers by the mouth of the holy prophetswhen he sent the only and eternal Son of God into the world at the time appointed.The Son took the “form of a slave” and was made in “human form,”34truly assuming a real human nature, with all its weaknesses, except for sin; being conceived in the womb of the blessed virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, without male participation.And Christ...