All Articles For II Peter

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9 God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” This last part of II Peter 3:9 has been used to teach a universal love of God. It is thought that this passage teaches that God desires the salvation of all. It is thought that it teaches that proper preaching must include an ‘offer’ because God wants the salvation of all....

Rev. Hanko is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Lynden, Washington. Previous article in this series: December 1, 2006, p. 103. The Fourth Disputation: Chapter 2:17-3:6 (continued) 3. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Here Malachi speaks in further detail of Christ’s work as Savior under the figure of a refiner of gold and silver, but adds something about the ultimate purpose of His work as refiner and...

The reader should diligently keep in mind that the apostle is here addressing the living church of God. He is not addressing potential candidates for heaven and hell, confronting them with “two ways”. But he is admonishing the living church to work out her salvation with fear and trembling since it is God that worketh in her both to will and to do of His good-pleasure! The sacred writer stirs up the living church to walk in the faith and daily, progressive conversion!

In the same article from in de rechte straat mentioned in the editorial “Flight From The Telephone” a very important aspect of doctrinal controversy is touched on by Editor Hegger. And both because it is of importance in all controversy and because it is of special importance in the current controversy against the “new theology” in the Netherlands, I want to comment on it. 

In one of the Dutch papers, in de rechte straat, (Nov., 1969) there is reported a tragic instance of the sad state of affairs in the Gereformeerde Kerken, an instance at the same time of the reckless manner in which certain leading figures express themselves publicly to the detriment of the churches. This incident involved Dr. J. Lever, biologist at the Free University of Amsterdam, and one of the leading protagonists of the theory of evolution in the Dutch churches. The above-mentioned magazine quotes from an interview between Prof. Lever and a certain A.

It is well known that Martin Luther’s great work, The Bondage of the Will, sets forth the Reformation’s central doctrine of salvation by the sovereign grace of God alone. The introduction to J. I. Packer and O. R. Johnston’s translation of The Bondage (London: James Clarke & Co., Ltd., 1957; the quotations that follow are taken from this fine translation) calls the book “the greatest piece of theological writing that ever came from Luther’s pen.” It quotes the Reformation scholar E. Gordon Rupp as approving the description of The Bondage as “the finest and most powerful Soli Deo Gloria to...

Prof. Decker is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Calvin understood this prophecy to be a “confirmation” of the “doctrine … concerning the restoration of the Church.”* Calvin viewed this prophecy of the restoration of the church as a special vision added by God, ” … by way of confirmation, in order to make it more certain and undoubted that, whatever calamities might arise, his Church never perish” (p. 90). That which God confirms by this vision is the promise revealed in Isaiah 1: 26 and 27, “And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and...

Prof. Decker is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. “Holy Rollers”: Bigger, Richer Than Ever I am indebted to Kenneth Vink, Corporate Systems Supervisor at Spartan Stores, Inc. and an elder in our Grandville, MI Church, for the source of this article. Mr. Vink sent me a copy of an in-depth study of the Assemblies of God denomination which appeared in The Wall Street Journal. Eluding the hellfire and smoke surrounding his pulpit, the Rev. Tommy Barnett waves good-bye. With a hearty ‘Hallelujah,’ he soars straight toward heaven and out of sight.  The abrupt flight of this...

Rev. Slopsema is pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. But now saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:1 &2 Isaiah was the prophet of God to Judah in her apostasy. We...

Rev. VanOverloop is pastor of Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church in Bauer, Michigan. No one likes to be told that he is immature. Children want to be older, so they may be allowed to do the things they see their parents or older siblings doing. Young people want to be considered adults, or old enough to be allowed to do certain things. And no one likes to be told he is an immature Christian. At least twice in the New Testament, Christians were called immature. The apostle Paul charged the Corinthian Christians with being “babes in Christ” (I Cor. 31). Paul...