All Articles For Hoekstra J.H.

Rev. H. Hoeksema: I cannot help thinking that you agree with the following. If so, could you find space in your Standard Bearer to reproduce it for the good of everybody? The Five Points of Calvinism, and the 3 Points of Synod of 1924. No doubt, but your readers are acquainted with the famous five points of Calvinism. They are: Total inability. Unconditional election. Limited atonement. Irresistible grace. Perseverance of the saints. The first letters of these points, T.U.L.I.P. form the word,—tulip. The tulip is a beautiful flower expressive of grace and life in the realm of earthly glory. Reading...

A motive is that within the individual which incites him to action. (Webster Dictionary). Therefore any act ion of any individual has its origin in an idea translated into a motive and transported into action. If a man is of a pure mind his motives as well as his actions will be pure, and, contrary; if a man is impure in mind, his motives, and actions will be impure. If an individual is religious, naturally his motives and actions will have a religious contour. If a human being is financial minded; his thoughts, ideas, motives and activities will be centered...

During the regime of King Ahab and Jezebel the heathen worship of Baal reached its zenith. Jehovah, the God of the fathers exhibited His wrath by visiting Israel with a great drought and consequent famine. Elijah, the prophet of God, requested the king and the people to gather with him upon Mount Carmel, building two altars there, one for Baal and one for Jehovah, and he who should answer with fire from heaven should be acknowledged as God. The Baal priests engaged themselves all morning to induce Baal to answer them with fire, but without avail. But upon a short...

The word—Responsibility—since 1924has become one of the three words today used, also in our religious vocabulary. It fits neatly in our language, vividly expressing ideas and thoughts; pertaining to our activities in life. As was said, the word is especially used denoting religious ideas and sentiment, depicting a kind of religious exaltation, exhibiting some kind of pious satisfaction. In this capacity it is much used in connection with the sovereignty of God, in combination with the by God declared total depravity of men. The word applied in this sense, is theologically used to convey the idea and to uphold the...

Editor, The Standard Bearer, The undersigned read your most interesting remarks upon THE DESCEMSION INTO HELL appearing on page 457 of the Standard Bearer of Aug. 1945. I have no criticism to offer, for I agree with your explanations of the 44th question and answer of our Catechism, discussed by you upon said page. Although agreeing with you, I am nevertheless not satisfied with the answer of the Catechism, nor your explanation as given by you and others explaining this part of our Catechism. There seems to be a serious void which has no reason of existence, as I see...