# Second Helvetic Confession
## Chapter 13 - Of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: also of Promises; of the Spirit and of the Letter
The Gospel, indeed, is opposed to the law: for the law works wrath, and does announce a curse; but the Gospel does preach grace and blessing. John also says, ‘The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ’ ([John 1:17](/get-passage/John+1:17)). Yet, notwithstanding, it is most certain that they who were before the law, and under the law, were not altogether destitute of the Gospel. For they had notable evangelical promises, such as these: ‘The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head’ ([Genesis 3:15](/get-passage/Genesis+3:15)). ‘In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed’ ([Genesis 49:10](/get-passage/Genesis+49:10)). ‘The Lord shall raise up a Prophet from among his own brethren,’ etc. ([Deuteronomy 18:15](/get-passage/Deuteronomy+18:15); [Acts 3:22](/get-passage/Acts+3:22), and [7:37](/get-passage/Acts+7:37)).

And we do acknowledge that the fathers had two kinds of promises revealed unto them, even as we have. For some of them were of present and transitory things: such as were the promises of the land of Canaan, and of victories; and such as are nowadays concerning our daily bread. Other promises there were then, and are now, of heavenly and everlasting things; as of God’s favor, remission of sins, and life everlasting, through faith in Jesus Christ. Now, the fathers had not only outward or earthly, but spiritual and heavenly promises in Christ. For the Apostle Peter says that ‘the prophets, which prophesied of the grace that should come to us, have searched and inquired of his salvation’ ([1 Peter 1:10](/get-passage/1+Peter+1:10)). Whereupon the Apostle Paul also says, that ‘the Gospel of God was promised before by the prophets of God in the Holy Scriptures’ ([Romans 1:2](/get-passage/Romans+1:2)). Hereby, then, it appears evidently that the fathers were not altogether destitute of all the Gospel.

And although, after this manner, our fathers had the Gospel in the writings of the prophets, by which they attained salvation in Christ through faith, yet the Gospel is properly called ‘glad and happy tidings;’ wherein, first by John Baptist, then by Christ the Lord himself, and afterwards by the apostles and their successors, is preached to us in the world, that God has now performed that which he promised from the beginning of the world, and has sent, yea, and even given unto us, his only Son, and, in him, reconciliation with the Father, remission of sins, all fullness, and everlasting life. The history, therefore, set down by the four evangelists, declaring how these things were done or fulfilled in Christ, and what he taught and did, and that they who believe in him have all fullness—this, I say, is truly called the Gospel. The preaching, also, and Scripture of the apostles, in which they expound unto us how the Son was given us of the Father, and, in him, all things pertaining to life and salvation, is truly called the doctrine of the Gospel; so as even at this day it loses not that worthy name, if it be sincere.

The same preaching of the Gospel is by the apostle termed the Spirit, and ‘the ministry of the Spirit’ ([2 Corinthians 3:8](/get-passage/2+Corinthians+3:8)): because it lives and works through faith in the ears, yea, in the hearts, of the faithful, through the illumination of the Holy Spirit. For the letter, which is opposed unto the Spirit, does indeed signify every outward thing, but more especially the doctrine of the law, which, without the Spirit and faith, works wrath, and stirs up sin in the minds of them that do not truly believe. For which cause it is called by the apostle ‘the ministry of death’ ([2 Corinthians 3:7](/get-passage/2+Corinthians+3:7)); for hitherto pertains that saying of the apostle, ‘the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life’ ([2 Corinthians 3:6](/get-passage/2+Corinthians+3:6)). The false apostles preached the Gospel, corrupted by mingling of the law therewith; as though Christ could not save without the law. Such, also, were the Ebionites said to be, who came of Ebion the heretic; and the Nazarites, who beforetime were called Mineans. All whom we do condemn, sincerely preaching the word, and teaching that believers are justified through the Spirit (or Christ) only, and not through the law. But of this matter there shall follow a fuller exposition, under the title of justification.

And although the doctrine of the Gospel, compared with the Pharisees’ doctrine of the law, might seem (when it was first preached by Christ) to be a new doctrine (which thing also Jeremiah prophesied of the New Testament); yet, indeed, it not only was, and as yet is (though the papists call it new, in regard of popish doctrine, which has of long time been received), an ancient doctrine, but also the most ancient in the world. For God from all eternity foreordained to save the world by Christ, and this his predestination and eternal counsel has he opened to the world by the Gospel ([2 Timothy 1:9-10](/get-passage/2+Timothy+1:9-10). Whereby it appears that the evangelical doctrine and religion was the most ancient of all that ever were or are; wherefore we say, that all they [the papists] err foully, and speak things unworthy the eternal counsel of God, who term the evangelical doctrine and religion a newly concocted faith, scarce thirty years old: to whom that saying of Isaiah does very well agree—‘Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter’ ([Isaiah 5:20](/get-passage/Isaiah+5:20)).
