All Articles For Colossians

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:17 God calls each and every one of His people to worship Him. However, our worship is not confined to attending services on Sunday morning and evening. Nor is it the case that our worship merely extends to times of family or personal devotions. Fact is, every aspect of our lives is a matter of worship. Everything we say and do declares how worthy of glory we consider God to be. Worship has...

* In the fall of 1989, I gave the address to the annual meeting of the Reformed Free Publishing Association, publisher of the Standard Bearer. This was my first address to the parent body as editor of the magazine—my “inaugural address.” The group instructed me to publish the speech in the SB. Belatedly, I now obey the order. I have, however, taken the liberty to revise the speech, significantly so in places, as those who heard the speech will discover when they read especially the last two installments. There will be four installments in this series of editorials. We will do our...

Lord’s Day 39 Chapter 2: Obedience and Promise (cont’d).

Rev. VanBaren is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. Remember the Sabbath Day to Keep It Holy One has become accustomed to businesses being open on Sunday. There was a time when this was not so. Only about 40 years ago most businesses were closed on the Sabbath. Even those who were not members of a church or professing Christians seemed to agree that it was best so. Almost inevitably this was true in small-town rural communities. All that has changed. Today it is a rare instance when a business is closed on Sunday. Many “Christians” have accommodated...

Mission Activities A very special welcome was extended to all visitors Sunday morning, January 31, at the worship service of the Heritage PR Fellowship of Sioux Falls, SD. That Sunday Heritage celebrated their third year of worship services in Sioux Falls. Rev. Allen Brummel, our denomination’s missionary pastor to Sioux Falls, preached from Psalm 29:2 under the theme, “Worshiping in Holiness.” A brief program was held immediately following the worship service that morning. May God bless Heritage’s continued labors for the glory of His name. Missionary-pastor Rev. Daniel Kleyn, along with his wife, Sharon, worshiped with the congregation of the All of...

At the beginning of a new year, the church is reminded of the second coming of Jesus Christ and the end of all things. The reminder is especially forceful when the beginning of a new year is also the beginning of a new millennium. Jesus Christ is coming the second time. He is coming quickly. He is coming for the salvation of all who look for Him. He is coming to raise our bodies from the dead. He is coming to conduct the final judgment in which we will be publicly vindicated and in which His and our enemies will...

Rev. VanOverloop is pastor of Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church in Hudsonville, Michigan. “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” 

Baptism by Women In the article, “Invalid Baptism by Women,” in the Standard Bearer of 1 March 2000 you take a position that seems to go beyond what the Bible by necessary consequence would demand. With you, I wholeheartedly enjoin that for baptism the application of water in the name of the triune God is required, as well as that women are not lawfully called to be ministers. It must be admitted that WCF, ch. 28.2; Second Helvetic Confession, ch. 20; the Bremen Consensus; and the Scottish Confession of Faith maintain that a sacrament is only valid when performed by...

Rev. VanOverloop is pastor of Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church in Hudsonville, Michigan. “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” Ephesians 4:7, 8 In the first three chapters of this epistle God has used the apostle to instruct in many precious truths. These truths are among the doctrines of the apostles (cf. Acts 2:42). These truths serve as the foundation of the church (Eph. 2:20). Now the Spirit leads the apostle to apply...

Mr. Kalsbeek is a member of Hope Protestant Reformed Chruch, Grand Rapids. (Do) you acknowledge the doctrine which is contained in the Old and New Testament, and in the articles of the Christian faith, and which is taught here in this Christian church to be the true and perfect (complete) doctrine of salvation?In 1927 a 38-year-old Byron Center muck farmer and his 39-year-old wife could not answer yes to that question when it was time to have their infant daughter baptized in the Christian Reformed Church. The Lord used this stand for the truth by my grandparents to bring my...