All Articles For John

In previous articles we have distinguished among the various aspects of the church’s missionary task. There is mission work which must be done among the heathen. Missionary efforts must be directed toward the Jews who are the natural branches of the olive tree of God’s church (cf. Romans 11). There is also mission work to be done among what we termed, “covenant wanderers.” ‘This latter work we prefer to call evangelism, or Reformed evangelism.

From all that we have gleaned out of Scripture and our Reformed Confessions it ought to be obvious that the sole foundation of Missions has to be God’s eternal good pleasure in Christ. It pleases God to save His elect Church in Jesus Christ. It pleases God to manifest His immeasurable glory in that Church in Christ in the New Creation. It pleases God to gather these elect out of every nation into that multitude which no man can number (Rev. 7:9ff.).

Article 2 (cont’d) 

Question 53. What dost thou believe concerning the Holy Ghost?  Answer. First, that He is true and co-eternal God with the Father and the Son; secondly, that He is also given me, to make me by a true faith, partaker of Christ and all His benefits, that He may comfort me and abide with me forever.  Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 20.

God calls from the darkness of sin and death to the glorious light of covenant fellowship with Himself. That call is efficacious (powerfully effective); those called do come and assuredly enjoy the communion God promised in Christ.  In speaking of the call according to which God brings His elect people to the consciousness of salvation, we understand that this is the powerful effect of what is called the “irresistible grace” of God. When God calls, His chosen people come; must come. 

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways;” II Peter 2:1-2

Prof. Cammenga is professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. This is the first installment of the text of the address given on the occasion of the graduation of Mr. Cory Griess and Dr. David Torlach from the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary on June 11, 2009 in Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Beloved graduates, esteemed colleagues, members of the Theological School Committee, delegates of synod, brothers and sisters in Christ: The epistle to the Romans is a monument in the New Testament Scriptures. What the prophecy of Isaiah is to the Old Testament, Romans...

“He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.” Song of Solomon 2:4Inspired Solomon uses an extended metaphor to speak about a deeper spiritual truth concerning Christ and the church, the bridegroom and His bride. The same metaphor is used in Ephesians 5:31-32: “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” In the words we consider, the bride speaks about the actions of her bridegroom....

Previous article in this series: October 1, 2011, p. 17. O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and...