All Articles For Heys, John A.

Rev. Heys is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28 In this verse we find a very comforting truth. Jesus Christ, our Savior, promises us a very important and blessed gift. In our King James version of the Bible we read that Jesus here promises us rest. That surely is a precious and blessed gift. However, the original Greek word which our Savior uses is not the word “rest.” It is the word “refresh.” Christ here promises those who come...

Rev. Heys is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalm 139:14 Even though men and women can and do bring forth children, they cannot and do not by their acts give these children spiritual lives. They cannot cause their children to love God. In fact, in the text quoted above, we say that we are wonderfully and fearfully made because of God’s marvelous works. Being honest and thankful to God, we rightly confess that the spiritual...

Rev. Heys is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. I John 3:3 To appreciate this truth in regard to our hope, we do well to bear in mind that to hope, basically, is desiring with expectation. So often we use that word merely as meaning to desire to have something happen. We hope to have the sun shine and the rain to stop. We hope to have surgery help us stay alive in good health. However, correctly, as in the Webster Dictionary,...

Rev. Heys is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. Very plainly we are approaching the end of this present world. Our God informs us of this fact through the apostle John. For in I John 2:18 we read: “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists: whereby we know that it is the last time.” We do well, in the first place, to take note of the fact that the name Antichrist literally means “against Christ.” Very clearly we are in the day when, in the...

Rev. Heys is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.  II Peter 3:13 The coming of our Savior Jesus Christ is not mentioned literally in this verse. We do, however, find Him presented literally in the second verse of this chapter. There He is called our Savior: It is plain, then, that when our God speaks of the “new heavens and the new earth” He refers to the day in which Christ Jesus our Savior comes and God’s most blessed promise is...

Rev. Heys is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. I am the door: by me if any man enter in he shall be saved, and shall go in and out,and find pasture. John 10:9 No matter who we are and where we live, physical death will sooner or later come upon us. It may come unexpectedly by what is called an accident. It usually comes because organs of the body wear out and cannot function anymore, causing the heart to stop its beating. However, as believing children of God we have the comforting truth which our Savior gives...

But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:57 In this verse the apostle Paul presents the blessed truth that God gives us the victory which He realized through Christ Jesus our Lord. To appreciate this blessed truth, we must consider what we need and what we by God’s grace receive. The word “but” wherewith this verse begins reveals that through Paul our God presents a blessed change, which He realizes through His Son. In verses 50 through 56, the apostle Paul presents the awesome truth that our flesh and blood cannot,...

Rev. Heys is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. II Peter 1:10 What we are here commanded to do is that which by God’s grace we can do, because of what He does. We are not here commanded to make our calling and election sure in God’s mind and will. In fact, the word here translated as “sure” means sure in the sense of firm and steadfast. We are not called here to make our calling...

Rev. Heys is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. That which is preached in some churches, is written in some books or magazines, and is sung in church services and programs, may be scriptural, comforting, and encouraging. But the fact is that a very important element of our salvation, which is clearly and repeatedly presented in Scripture, is very seldom preached in the sermon, and is rarely written in books or sung in church services or programs. Salvation brings us some wonderful blessings. Thus, for example, in Romans 8 we read of many blessings which God has prepared for us,...

Rev. Heys is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. One of the richest prophecies in Scripture concerning the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ is found in Isaiah 9:6. There we read: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” All these names present tremendously comforting truths to which we must hold, and will by God’s grace do so. However, the awesome truth to which we must hold...