All Articles For I Peter

Robert D. Decker is professor of New Testament and Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Ministers of the gospel do not make much money. Generally speaking, at least this is true in our denomination, ministers do not accumulate a great deal of earthly wealth. Do not misunderstand, our ministers are provided with all they need. They are provided with good houses and a salary and other benefits which are sufficient to “free them from worldly cares and avocations.” But, if one wishes to make a great deal of money and amass to himself earthly riches, he ought not enter...

Rev. Koole is pastor of Grandville Protestant Reformed Church in Grandville, Michigan. Some “Better” News   A previous article by the under signed reported that authorities in Malaysia (the country directly north of Singapore) had approved a ban on publishing Bibles (along with books by several well-known Reformed authors) in the Iban language, the language of the largest indigenous tribe in Malaysia. We are pleased to report that, following appeal and negative publicity, that law has been repealed. World magazine, in a news brief entitled “J. I. Packer, John Stott, & ‘Public Peace’ ” (June 14), reports the following. A...

Chapter XVII

PRC of New Zealand 

We have seen that the apostle Peter wrote this letter to the persecuted saints who were in need of encouragement. The oppression of government, the fear of death affected their outlook on life. With the light of the Christian hope shining upon their dark circumstances, they would focus more clearly upon their place in the world and the need to press on in the calling of serving the Lord.

It follows from the fact that we have been saved by the wonderful sovereign grace of God that we have now become His servants. We now owe our whole life to the Lord. We are not our own to live unto ourselves. We must live unto Him who has delivered us from death and from judgment. If one therefore confesses that God is his sovereign Lord and God, and on the other hand refuses to serve Him, such a one is no better than a hypocrite. If we love the Lord we will earnestly desire to serve Him.

Is Christ’s Suffering? With some hesitation I continue to comment on the installation of the Rev. Marchiene Rienstra at Hope Reformed Church at Holland, Michigan. I hesitate because an end must come in condemning this kind of wrong which so many wish to embrace openly anyway. Those who would receive women into the offices within the church remain of the same mind still. 

Rev. Dick is pastor of Grace Protestant Reformed Church in Standale, Michigan. In the March 15 issue of the Standard Bearer, “Grace Life” elaborated upon these seven theses of covenant marrying: 1.The father of the Christian home must earnestly endeavor to know who his children are to marry. 2.Father’s knowledge of God is crucial for the father’s superintending the marriage of his children. 3.The godly father will seek to know God’s will for a mate for his children through his knowledge of families. 4.Mates will be pursued in the church. 5.The church will be actively involved in the marrying of...

The God of Dave Hunt   Thank you for the review in the December 15, 2002 issue of the SB of Dave Hunt’s book, What Love Is This? I think this is a particularly significant book in a number of ways. First, the author, in other books, has done acceptable work exposing various cults. He therefore has established a positive reputation in the broader church world. His name on the cover (along with many other current luminaries), and seeing 400+ pages of seemingly scholarly work, will suffice for many to seal the deal against Calvinism. It will have great influence....

These first ten verses of chapter 2 of first Peter are a continuation of the apostle’s instruction in the former chapter. There the apostle had instructed the churches of their new status in Christ by virtue of God’s elective grace as this was realized through the power of the resurrection in their hearts, so that they are reborn unto a living hope. Old things have passed away and all things have become new. And in hope we look for the renewal of all things in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.