All Articles For Houck, Steven R.

Rev. Houck is pastor of Peace Protestant Reformed Church in Lansing, Illinois. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 Before we look at the positive meaning of this passage, let us take note of the fact that Roman Catholicism teaches the very opposite of what is taught here. Rome teaches that a person is saved by means of works. Original sin and the sins committed before baptism are forgiven by baptism. After that, a person can be forgiven...

Rev. Houck is pastor of Peace Protestant Reformed Church in Lansing, Illinois. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. I John 4:15 This text teaches us that Jesus Christ is very God. Before we look at that great truth, let us consider what the cults think of Jesus Christ. The Mormons have an extremely heretical view of Christ. Jesus, they say, was a pre-existing spirit along with the spirits of all men. The only difference between Christ and us is that He is the firstborn of the Father-God’s children....

Rev. Houck is pastor of Peace Protestant Reformed Church in Lansing, Illinois. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6 In the first part of this chapter, Jesus tells His disciples about His Father’s house. Jesus is going to that house to prepare a place for each of His people. But Thomas does not understand what Jesus is talking about. He declares to Jesus that he does not know where the Lord is going and he does not know the way to get there....

Rev. Houck is pastor of Peace Protestant Reformed Church in Lansing, Illinois. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. Galatians 2:10 The Jerusalem council did not lord it over the apostle Paul and give him all kinds of orders. They did, however, ask him for one thing: that he would remember the poor of the churches of Jerusalem and Judea. There had been a great famine which devastated the people. Paul and Barnabas had already brought money from the church of Antioch to help relieve that great need. But...

Rev. Houck is pastor of Peace Protestant Reformed Church in Lansing, Illinois. “…and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in….”  Malachi 3:1b In this prophecy Malachi speaks of the coming of the Messenger of the covenant. That Messenger is Christ. The first part of this verse is an obvious reference to another messenger, John the Baptist. We read, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me….” John the Baptist was the messenger of God who was sent by God to...

Rev. Houck is pastor of Peace Protestant Reformed Church in Lansing, Illinois. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  Galatians 6:1 In this verse the apostle Paul admonishes us to restore a sinful brother. The occasion for this admonition is found in the words, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault….” Even though the apostle says “if a man,” he does not refer to man in general. The principle which he sets down is not a...

Rev. Houck is pastor of Peace Protestant Reformed Church in Lansing, Illinois. “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.”  1 Peter 2:20 Before the apostle Peter lays down the positive principle of this passage, he speaks of a contrasting principle. He says, “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently?” Here the apostle speaks of the believer’s faults. Even though...

Rev. Houck is pastor of Peace Protestant Reformed Church in Lansing, Illinois. *Speech given on 11/17/95 at the dedication service of the new

Rev. Houck is pastor of Peace Protestant Reformed Church in Lynwood, Illinois. (In the previous article we pointed out that in the preaching, God Himself speaks, and that the Word which He speaks is a twofold power – a power that brings salvation to the elect, and a power by which the reprobate wicked are hardened. Further, we began to note that that power is not dependent on the eloquence of the preacher; for the natural man is in himself spiritually incapable of receiving the preaching, no matter how persuasive. We concluded that article by affirming that “if a person...

Rev. Houck is pastor of Peace Protestant Reformed Church in Lynwood, Illinois. There are many who do not recognize the power of the preaching. They see the preaching as merely an offer of salvation by God to the lost sinner, an offer which the lost sinner can accept or reject. They say that God loves everyone, and that He therefore sincerely desires the salvation of everyone. He expresses His love and desire by making His generous offer in the preaching. Thus the preaching is merely the presentation of certain information. It is information about man and his need of salvation,...