All Articles For I John

Ronald H. Hanko is pastor of Trinity Protestant Reformed Church, Houston, Texas. 1.Introduction. The mystery of the incarnation is not so much that our Lord Jesus Christ is true God or true man, but that He is at one and the same time both of these. This is, in the final analysis, a mystery as great as the mystery of the trinity. Scripture itself reminds us of this by calling the truth that God is come in the flesh the beginning of the “great mystery of godliness” (I Tim. 3:16). That the incarnation is a mystery means that it is...

Herman Veldman is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. We concluded our preceding article with the observation that we must believe in God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. No sinner can or will or can will to accept a general, well-meaning offer of salvation (almost universally proclaimed and taught today). God must speak as He alone can speak and as He spoke when He created the heavens and the earth. Indeed, I believe, I mustbelieve in God, the Father, Almighty, the Maker of heaven and of earth. Then I believe, I must believe in Jesus Christ,...

Herman Veldman is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. Our Heidelberg Catechism begins its discussion of the Confession of the Apostles’ Creed in regard to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in Lord’s Day 11. And we begin by calling attention to the distinctive character of this Lord’s Day. In Answer 29 we read that “we ought not to seek, neither can find salvation in any other.” It is well to lay all emphasis upon this truth. We will have opportunity to call attention to this later in connection with Answer 30. As far as the thirtieth...

Some weeks ago a brother wrote to me about this subject, and asked me to editorialize about it at a convenient time. He asked me to write about the value of various weekly church meetings, but also to touch on the question why our Church Order “completely ignores this important aspect of the organic church life.”

Gise J. Van Baren is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Once upon a time (children’s stories and perhaps “parables” should begin that way) there was a man who was a carpenter—a very good one at that. From his youth he had been developing his talents. He spent unending hours practicing and seeking to perfect this art. He lived in a ramshackle, old house (badly in need of repair), but he did not have the time to take care of that. He anticipated a call from the king who was building his palace. After all, the king...

Herman C. Hanko is professor of Church History and New Testament departments at the Protestant Reformed Seminary. The Scriptural teaching concerning the office of all believers was one of the crucial doctrines of the Reformation and was held by every Reformer on the continent of Europe and in Great Britain. It is not too much to say that without this central teaching, the Reformation would never have restored the church to the pure teaching of Scripture. The truth concerning the office of all believers had been denied by the Romish Church. A number of factors accounted for this. While we...

Homer C. Hoeksema is professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament at the Protestant Reformed Seminary. All God’s people are prophets. The Spirit Who was poured out on the church on the day of Pentecost is the Spirit of prophecy, Who makes God’s people participants in the prophetic anointing of Christ. “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy!” Hence, under the new covenant, according to Hebrews 8:11, “they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.” In fact, God’s people know all things:...

Cornelius Hanko is an emeritus minister in the Protestant Reformed Churches. Ques. 104. What doth God require in the fifth commandment? Ans. That I show all honor, love and fidelity to my father and mother, and all in authority over me, and submit myself to their good instruction and correction, with due obedience; and also patiently bear with their weaknesses and infirmities, since it pleases God to govern us by their hand. Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 39. “I love the Lord, the Fount of life and grace!” I love Him, because He first loved me, drew me to Himself as...

I would like to consider with you a portion of the truth of God’s Word as it is given to us in I John 3:1-3. We read a very blessed truth in these verses. It is good to reflect upon them for awhile; and thus we shall through this meditation. First we quote the text referred to above: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.

“I love the Lord because He hath heard my voice and my supplications.” Psalm 116:1