All Articles For Cammenga, Ronald

Previous article in this series: April 15, 2019, p. 330. Death By death we understand not only bodily death, which all of us must once suffer on account of sins, but also eternal punishment due to our sins and corruption. For the apostle says: “Who were dead in trespasses and sins…and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy…even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:1ff). Also: “Wherefore, as by one man sin en­tered into the world, and death by sin; and so death...

Previous article in this series: February 1, 2019, p. 208. The fall of man In the beginning, man was made according to the image of God, in righteousness and true holiness, good and upright. But when at the instigation of the serpent and by his own fault he abandoned goodness and righteousness, he became subject to sin, death, and various calamities. And what he became by the fall, that is, subject to sin, death, and various calamities, so are all those who have descended from him. The main subject of Second Helvetic Confession, Chapter 8, is the fall of man...

Previous article in this series: February 1, 2019, p. 208. The Holy Spirit and the Scriptures Scripture is the Word of God—the Word of God in the words of men. Because Scripture is the Word of God, it partakes of the attributes of God. In the last several articles, we have considered together the outstanding attributes of Scripture. Included in the attributes of Scripture are its authority, necessity, perspicuity, sufficiency, and trustworthiness. There is one important subject to which we must yet give our attention before concluding this series on “Revelation, Inspiration, and Infallibility.” That is the subject of illumination—an...

Previous article in this series: December 1, 2018, p. 112. Of man Now concerning man, Scripture says that in the beginning he was made good according to the im­age and likeness of God; that God placed him in Paradise and made all things subject to him (Gen., ch. 2). This is what David magnificently sets forth in Psalm 8. Moreover, God gave him a wife and blessed them. We also affirm that man consists of two different substances in one person: an immor­tal soul which, when separated from the body, nei­ther sleeps nor dies, and a mortal body which will...

Previous article in this series: June 2018, p. 396. The Bible is trustworthy. It can be relied upon. The inspired psalmist gives expression to the Bible’s trustworthiness when he says “the testimony [Word] of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (Ps. 19:7). That God’s Word is “sure” means that it is trustworthy. Trustworthiness is the last of the five perfections that are often ascribed to Holy Scripture. The Bible is trustworthy and can be relied upon be­cause the Bible is the Word of God—the Word of God in the words of men. Because the Bible is the Word...

Previous article in this series: August 2018, p. 444. God created all things This good and almighty God created all things, both visible and invisible, by His co-eternal Word, and preserves them by His co-eternal Spirit, as David testified when he said: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth” (Ps. 33:6). And, as Scripture says, everything that God had made was very good, and was made for the profit and use of man. Now we assert that all things proceed from one beginning. The doctrine of creation...

The Synod of Dordt condemned heresy and upheld the truth of the gospel. The heresy that it condemned was not only an error that concerned the content of the gospel. But it was also a heresy that concerned the preaching of the gospel. In a unique way the error of Arminianism concerned not only the message of the gospel, but also the way in which the gospel was proclaimed. It concerned both what was preached and how it was preached. For the Synod of Dordt condemned the Arminian perversion of the gospel as an offer of faith and salvation. Sadly,...

Previous article in this series: May 15, 2018, p. 373. Means not to be despised Nevertheless, we do not spurn as useless the means by which divine providence works, but we teach that we are to adapt ourselves to them in so far as they are recommended to us in the Word of God. Wherefore we disapprove of the rash statements of those who say that if all things are managed by the providence of God, then our efforts and endeavors are in vain. It will be sufficient if we leave everything to the governance of divine providence, and we...

Previous article in this series: April 15, 2018, p. 323. In the last several articles in this series we have been examining the perfections of Scripture. Just as God possesses certain perfections, so also does His Word. The perfection of God’s being demands the perfection of His works, and one of His greatest works is the revelation of Himself in His Word. Who and what God is necessarily impacts the nature of His Word. It cannot be otherwise. If God is weak and fallible, so also His Word will be weak and fallible. But if God is perfect and absolutely...

Previous article in this series: March 15, 2018, p. 279. The Epicureans We therefore condemn the Epicureans who deny the providence of God, and all those who blasphemously say that God is busy with the heavens and neither sees nor cares about us and our affairs. David, the royal prophet, also condemned this when he said: “O Lord, how long shall the wicked exult? They say, ‘The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.’ Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He...