All Articles For VanderWal, Martin

After reading Rev. Koole’s response to a letter written by Rev. Nathan Langerak, a letter printed after the response instead of before it, I was puzzled and my curiosity aroused. Was what I read a true response? Was what I read really an answer to a charge? I found in the response an explanation for the arti­cle which Rev. Langerak addressed, an article that appeared earlier in the Standard Bearer [Oct. 1, 2018]. I read of some reasons offered for which that article was written, offered by the author. I also read of his won­derment that Rev. Langerak should present...

Gospel Truth of Justification: Proclaimed, Defended, Developed, David J. Engelsma. Reformed Free Publishing Association, 2017, 528 pages. [Reviewed by Rev. Martin VanderWal, pastor of Wingham, ON PRC.] Thoroughly grounded and rooted is Gospel Truth of Justification by David J. Engelsma. Thoroughly grounded and rooted in Scripture, the book presents a strong and beautiful garden for every lover of the grace of God to enjoy. This is not a garden of flowers that live and die according to their seasons, but it is a garden of a tree of life that yields all manner of fruit. Deliciously sweet and nutritious are...

“To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?” II Corinthians 2:16 “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.” II Corinthians 3:5 Just as it was with Paul, so is it with you. To him was committed a most glorious work, to preach the gospel of Christ. It was his calling to take up that work in a very different area of work than the rest of the...

But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. Mark 10:6 You live in an age of great confusion. The society in which you are growing up, and in which you are beginning to take your place is a very chaotic society. Everything is moving and shifting. Foundations once solid, strong, and safe are now crumbling under your feet. In the air is a sense of restlessness and anxiety. Nowhere is this more true than in matters of gender. No longer are there two choices for identifying your gender. Serious discussion is taking place in educational...

“And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God.” Genesis 28:20, 21 What is the meaning of God’s everlasting cov­enant of grace and what is its significance for you? The covenant has its meaning and significance for your parents and for your church. Your parents belong to the people of God. They believe in Him, and through faith...

“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat,…” Genesis 2:16 So very many trees God planted in Paradise. So many trees with their fruit God gave to the man and the woman for food. Theirs was a delicious variety to enjoy every day. They never had to go far for their food. As soon as they were only a little hungry they might reach out with their hands to the fruit hanging right before them, and take and eat. Easily and quickly they might satisfy their hunger. They might eat as...

A few months ago, in a hospital waiting room, God’s providence brought to my attention the last broadcast of the Oprah Winfrey Show. In the segment I saw she was talking about the success of her show over the years. Its success was due to one factor: “Women want to be affirmed.” I would affirm that statement, and add to it that women are not the only ones who want to be affirmed. Everyone wants to be affirmed. But in reality, great evil lies in those words. The evil becomes evident if you rephrase the basic statement, with only slightly...

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. Isaiah 26:3, 4 Peace is one of the most precious gifts that God has given to you. This peace is a wonderful peace. Its wonder is that God gives it to you, who are by nature only at war with Him. Your charac­ter by nature is no different from that of the ungodly nations who strive in their unholy rebellion against God and His Christ. But God...

“For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” Isaiah 66:2 “Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word: Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glori­fied: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.” Isaiah 66:5 What is this fear and trembling at the Word of the Lord? This...

How far can you reach? How far can you stretch? Such is part of your strength of youth. So much of that reaching and stretching has to do with your physical body. In soft­ball, how far can you reach in fielding to catch the ball? In basketball, can you reach far enough by jumping with your legs and by stretching out your arms to slam-dunk? You have competitions among yourselves, not only to see who is taller, but who can stretch the farthest. Or think of distance training. To run fast for a short length requires practice and discipline, but...