All Articles For Hoeksema, Herman (H.H.)

was the first editor of the Standard Bearer and pastor of First PRC, Grand Rapids, Michigan for 40 years (1886-1965)   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him—Ephesians 1:3, 4 Blessed be He who blessed us! It cannot escape our attention that the same word is used twice: God blesses us, we bless Him! Yet, there is a profound difference in meaning between the two uses of the word. For, first of all, God’s blessing...

(1886-1965) was the first editor of the Standard Bearer, one of the founders of the PRC and her seminary, and longtime pastor of First PRC in Grand Rapids, MI. This is a reprint (with minor edits) of an English translation by Homer C. Hoeksema of a Dutch meditation from the pen of his father. Klaagtoon en Jubellied was published in the Nov. 1, 1927 Standard Bearer (v. 4, p. 49). The English version was first published in the March 15, 1988 Standard Bearer (v. 64, p. 412). O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body...

Herman Hoeksema (1886-1965) was the first editor of the Standard Bearer and pastor of First PRC, Grand Rapids, Michigan for 40 years This is a reprint from volume 1, no. 1 of the Standard Bearer.   Here you will find a reprint of an article by Herman Hoeksema from the first issue of the Stan­dard Bearer, October 1924. (The editors printed one issue per month for the first year.) HH began treating what he considered to be some of the most fundamental Reformed doctrines as taught in Bi­ble history. The subject in the November issue was “The Lie and Its...

For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. Psalm 103:14   What fervent love and tender compassion glows in this poetic expression of Father’s attitude toward His children in the world! “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are dust.” The Lord never forgets the weakness and frailty of our frame. And mindful of our frailty, He is always compassionate and deals with us in delicate tenderness, always careful never to overburden, always filled with tender mercy and sympathizing with...

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Romans 8:15, 16 Blessed Spirit! It is through Him, the Parakleet, the Comforter, whom the Lord had promised to send from the Father, and whom He poured forth into His church on the day of the firstfruits, that we become heirs and partakers of all the blessings of salvation! He it is that imparts unto us the fullness of Christ...

We call our institution at Cutlerville the “Christian Psychopathic Hospital.” And although it is difficult for me to account properly for the meaning of that adjective psychopathic in connection with hospital, the meaning is plain enough. It is a hospital for the Christian care and treatment of psychopathic patients, of those who suffer from mental derangement. Now it appears to me that is more than co-incidental that espe­cially people of Reformed persuasion should conceive of the need and possibility of such an institution, and should consider it their Christian calling to devote their time and energy as well as their...

Herman Hoeksema was the first editor of the Standard Bearer. There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, namely, a messenger of Satan…. II Corinthians 12:7b What a wonderful gift! A sharp thorn in the flesh! Stranger still: a messenger of Satan who strikes with fists!1 And yet, that is what the apostle means. This is how it is before the consciousness of his faith at the moment; this thorn in the flesh, this messenger of Satan is God’s gift to him. For that reason, and only for that reason, is he reconciled unto it. He can be...

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,  and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins,  he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to  cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:8-9  This is the message! John has a message, tidings. For he has heard, his eyes have seen, he has looked  upon, and his hands have handled that which was from  the beginning, the Word of life, the Life, the eternal Life  which was with the Father and is now revealed. Therefore he has tidings. He must speak....

* This is a reprint of a meditation by the late Herman Hoeksema from the September 1, 1928 issue of the Standard Bearer and translated by Henry DeJong, a member of First PRC of Holland. The entire meditation is printed. The ellipses are part of the original article. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 Wondrous knowledge! We know, we are sure in our mind, that all things work together for our good, for us, who love God, whom He...

This is a sermon on Lord’s Day 1 by Rev. Herman Hoeksema carefully transcribed by Mr. Martin Swart. Preaching in connection with our Catechism and regularly following the line of doctrinal instruc­tion contained therein are of great importance and significance. In II Timothy 4 the apostle Paul charges his son Timothy. The content of his charge is that Timothy must preach the Word and maintain sound doctrine, for the time is coming when men will have itching ears and will despise sound doctrine. The beginning of that time Paul could already see. And it is not exaggerating when we say...