All Articles For II Peter

In our former essay we ended with some observations concerning the created design and purpose of sun, moon and stars. They are media of the revelation of God. They are set for signs and for seasons, and for days and for years. And the very speech of the heavenly luminaries is that all time ends. Each evening the sun sets, proclaiming to man and beast that the end has come of that particular day. And each new moon proclaims that another month has come, only to fade away after the zenith of its glory in the “last quarter” and then...

This Word of God We may notice that in the present article our Confession simply speaks of “this Word of God,” without further defining and describing what Word of God is meant. The Confession refers, of course, to the Bible, with its thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and its twenty-seven books of the New. For the time being, this article simply assumes this, in order in the next article to specify which are the canonical books. And, of course, it is also evident that the Confession is referring to the written Word of God. The latter part of the article refers...

In answer to this question concerning the meaning of the quotation from II Peter 1 (raised in the last issue), we may notice that our Confession does not answer this question directly, seeing that it quotes only from verse 21. But in order to understand this quotation we should view it in its context, and then must ask as to the meaning of the statement that “No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” As suggested, there are those who interpret this expression as merely laying down a rule for the interpretation of Scripture. In that case the text means...

PART Two  EXPOSITION OF THE CANONS  FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE  OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS 

The pre-convention Hymn-Sing was held in Hudsonville Church, Sunday evening, August 13. Chas. Westra, of Southeast church conducted the “sing,” with Jim Jonker, of First church, at the organ and Mrs. B. Lubbers, of Hudsonville, at the piano. Special numbers were: a medley of hymns arranged for the piano, by Mrs. B. Lubbers, and a tenor solo, by Gerald Kuiper, of Hope church, accompanied by Miss Bonnie Bylsma, of First church. Lammert Lubbers, of the Beacons Lightsstaff, gave a good description of the plans for traveling to and from Loveland so the delegates and the parents might learn those plans first...

In the confessions of the Reformed churches this truth is especially developed in the {Canons of Dordrecht, Chapter V. We must remember that Arminius himself, who died in 1609, did not directly deny or oppose the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. But nevertheless he expressed serious doubts, and certainly wanted to have the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints settled at a synod. And the same is true of the Articles of the Remonstrance. It is in opposition to this that our fathers of Dordrecht composed the Canons. In the fifth chapter they emphasize that a final...

In our former essay we considered that the Day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night as far as the wicked are concerned, but it shall not be thus for the righteous who are children of the day and not of the night! We also observed that Peter is not attempting to stir up the minds of the wicked, seeking a certain point of contact with their natural understanding, but that he expressly states that he is stirring up the sincere mind of the believers.

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan.   Minister Activities  Since our last “News,” several of our churches have been busy extending calls. Rev. R. VanOverloop received the call from the Doon, IA PRC to serve as missionary pastor to the Berean PRC in Manila, the Philippines. The newly organized Providence PRC, presently meeting in Hudsonville, MI, extended their first call for a pastor to Rev. R. Kleyn. Both Rev. Kleyn and Rev. VanOverloop recently declined those calls. Rev. J. Slopsema is considering a call from Grace PRC in Standale, MI to become their...

Rev. denHartog is pastor of Southwest Protestant Reformed Church in Grandville, Michigan. This has been a very exciting summer for us. We spent two weeks in Singapore. Our hearts greatly rejoiced when we were invited to come to Singapore to speak at the “Family Camp” of Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church. At first I was going to write only about our experiences in Singapore, but then we enjoyed an equally exciting time in our church in Redlands, California, where we were asked to speak at the youth retreat sponsored by Hope Protestant Reformed Church. Being part of the two events mentioned...

Rev. VanOverloop is pastor of Byron Center Protestant Reformed Church in Byron Center, Michigan. “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”  II Peter 1:10, 11 These young Christians needed to be steadfast (II Peter 3:17), that is, established in the truth. They were troubled by false teachers and scoffers. God’s promise concerning Christ’s return was being fiercely challenged. As a result they were...