All Articles For Isaiah

Ques. 52. What comfort is if to thee that, “Christ shall come again to judge the quick and the dead”?  Ans. That in all my sorrows and persecutions, with uplifted head I wait for the very same Person, Who before offered Himself for my sake, to the tribunal of God, and has removed all curse from me, to come as judge from heaven: Who shall cast all His and my enemies into everlasting condemnation, and shall translate me with all His chosen ones to Himself into heavenly joys and glory.  Heidelberg Catechism. Lord’s Day 19.

The work of evangelism is a very important part of the calling and work of the church of Jesus Christ. It is not the only work of the church, as some today would have it, nor even the most important. It is nevertheless a very important work; so much so that no church that is not actively involved in it is fulfilling the whole of her calling and purpose. The work of evangelism is surely part of the great commission which our Lord Jesus gave to the New Testament church. This great commission stands for our church today.

It is Reformed to maintain the truth of sovereign reprobation. The man who denies reprobation not only shows himself to be outside the Reformed camp, but shows himself actually to be an enemy of the Reformed faith itself. Reformed believers confess double predestination—this is, not only God’s election of some men, but God’s reprobation of others.

We conclude our discussion of what we have designated as the dominating spirit of our age, namely the absence of shame, or if you will, the callous conscience. We have stated that the historical Christian church herself has taken the lead role in encouraging men to lead lewd, defiant lives. They have assured the underprivileged (found both among the neglected poor and the spoiled rich) that God does not condemn their disobedience, but He condemns rather those who have insisted upon a “puritan” morality, and who have given people a guilt complex.

Rev. Brummel is a home missionary of the Protestant Reformed Churches, stationed in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The sixteenth century saw a Roman Catholic focus on overseas missions that had no parallel. The Catholic Church aggressively promoted its false doctrine throughout the known world, making use of the sword as its chief evangelism tool. Opportunities that were available to the Roman Catholics in terms of traveling with and living under the protection of explorers and commercial companies were not available to their Protestant counterparts. As a result, the Reformers of the sixteenth century are often accused of failing to be...

Previous this series: November 1, 2009, p. 53. In this anniversary year of John Calvin’s birth, we hold forth the man of God as an example for our pastors. Pray for your minister, that he may offer his life to God’s church as Calvin did. Few have the gifts and capacity of Calvin (although may God give us men of great gifts and ability!). But all can be useful in their place. Last time I showed that Calvin 1) was personally upright, 2) suffered willingly and patiently, 3) was a wise and sympathetic pastor, and 4) was devoted to the...

THE CHURCH IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY: Elect From Every Nation; by Louis Praamsma; Paideia Press, 1981; 289 pp., $9.95 (paper). [Reviewed by Prof. H.C. Hanko] This is the last volume in Dr. Praamsma’s series on the history of the Christian Church. This book is a translation from the Dutch in which language it was originally printed.

While the Arminian boasts in the fact that he “asked Christ into his heart” and he “promised to give his life to God,” the Scriptures teach us that salvation is not the result of man’s will and works, but it is the gift of the sovereign grace of God alone (Eph. 2:8-9). If we are to boast, therefore, we must boast not in what we have done, but in what God has done for us and in us. “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (I Cor. 2:31). God alone is our Savior. This becomes even more evident when we consider the fact that...

September 7, 2011 Classis West met in regular session on Wednesday, September 7, in the facilities of the Peace PRC of Lansing, IL. Rev. Dennis Lee chaired this meeting. The highlight of the day was the examination of Mr. Brian Huizinga, pastor-elect of the Hope PRC of Redlands, CA. At an official worship service the evening before Classis convened, Mr. Huizinga preached a sermon on Isaiah 55:6-7 under the theme “Seek Ye the Lord.” On Wednesday Classis examined Mr. Huizinga in the six loci of dogmatics, knowledge of Scripture, knowledge of the confessions, controversy, and practica. Classis approved Mr. Huizinga’s exam and...