All Articles For I Peter

Herman Hoeksema was the first editor of theStandard Bearer. “Grace to the Humble” appeared 70 years ago, in the March 1925 issue. “For God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble.” I Peter 5:5 In the wild mountain regions mighty giants of granite proudly rise heavenward, peak upon peak, contesting as it were with one another for superiority, striving to attain the most exalted position, whence they may display their proud forms in the thin and clear atmosphere to the far distant world around. Down in the valley grows the lowly lily, well nigh hidden in oblivion, humbly...

Rev. denHartog is pastor of Hope Protestant Reformed Church in Redlands, California. It was truly the fulfillment of a dream when last September we received an invitation to return to Singapore to visit the Evangelical Reformed Churches there. It has been eight years since we left Singapore after seven years of labors in the ERCS. The occasion for this visit would be the dedication of the new church building and the celebration of the 13th anniversary of the First Evangelical Reformed Church on January 22, 1995. A few months later we received a check in the mail for more than...

Rev. Cammenga is pastor of Southwest Protestant Reformed Church in Grandville, Michigan. Why this defense of the faith? Polemical the Standard Bearer was and polemical she is. Why? Why from the beginning was it felt that theStandard Bearer ought to be polemical? Why thisdefense of the faith? The Standard Bearer is and the Standard Bearer must continue to be polemical for God’s sake. Defense of the faith is at bottom defense, not just of the faith, but of the honor and glory of God. God is glorified in the truth. He is the truth! God is robbed of His glory by the lie. Zeal for the Name of...

Rev. Woudenberg is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. And be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. I Peter 3:15 On looking at the Brief Declaration of Principles, which was drawn up by the Protestant Reformed synod in 1950, one might wonder at its claim to be “brief.” In its original form it appeared as a full pamphlet by itself, and one reading it today goes through a full 24 pages of very solid material as it appears in...

Rev. denHartog is pastor of Hope Protestant Reformed Church in Redlands, California. I recently had the opportunity to preach a special sermon to the young women in our church in connection with the wonderful occasion of the confession of faith of three of our covenant young women. In several places the letters of the inspired apostles of our Lord specifically address various classes of church members. This is rather striking. The vast majority of the exhortations of the Word of God apply to every member of the church. We have a common calling as saints of God no matter who...

Rev. Kuiper is pastor of Southeast Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We understand an inheritance to be something: that is precious and valuable. An inheritance is a precious possession that a person has no right to of himself; it is something freely and graciously bestowed upon an individual. An inheritance is a legal matter; it has its basis and protection in law. And before one can enter into the possession and enjoyment of his inheritance, the death of the testator must occur. The Hebrew word for inheritance (and related words) means to distribute, to give as a possession,...

Rev. denHartog is pastor of Hope Protestant Reformed Church in Redlands, California. * This is the second installment of a sermon preached by Rev. denHartog on the occasion of the public confession of faith by three young women in his congregation. The Word of God often admonishes the Christian woman to live in submission. We are, of course, first of all to submit ourselves to God and His Word by His grace and Spirit in our hearts. If in the Lord’s providence we marry some day, we are to be subject to our husbands. The role of a woman in...

Rev. VanOverloop is pastor of Bethel Protestant Church in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. It is a commonly held position in the church world that one either accepts or rejects Gods efforts to save. It is said, too, that the only way to do the work of evangelism and missions is by seeking to persuade the objects of that work to accept Christ as their personal Savior. It is said that everyone must be told that it is his responsibility to open his heart and to let the waiting Savior into his heart and life. Whether anyone is saved or not...

The ABC’s of Assurance, by John H. Gerstner. Ligonier, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1991. 112 pages. Paper. $7.95. [Reviewed by the Editor.] Literally. Dr. Gerstner treats the biblical . doctrine of the Christian’s assurance of salvation by chapter headings that follow the alphabet: “Assurance of Eternal Salvation”; “Beating the Body”; “captain of Our Salvation”; etc. In short chapters, usually three or four pages, and in simple language, the book explains and defends the precious truth that the believing child of God can and must be sure of his or her eternal salvation. All of the glorious doctrines of salvation...

Rev. Lubbers is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. My plan is to publish two “study helps” for each of the six chapters of I Timothy. After consulting with Prof. Engelsma, Editor-in-Chief, I saw the fitness of writing a short “Overview” before writing the study helps. We must keep in mind that these study helps must be brief, yet comprehensive of the main thrust of the letter. Furthermore, we must bear in mind that this letter is, in the deepest sense, issued by the risen Christ from His throne at, God’s right hand. It is no human letter,...