Vol 22 Issue 08

NETHERLAND YOUTH CONGRESS

In our former writing on Ephesians 1:6-10 we took notice of the implications of two very important elements in verse 7. These two are: 1. What we must understand by “the redemption in His blood” and “the forgiveness of transgressions”. 2. How these two elements are mutually related in the text and in Scripture in general.

In a previous article we brought out that the elect, the Christian, the believer is ‘the man of God’. And on the basis of Scripture God is our God and the God of our seed, hence, the church must proceed from the fact that in the covenant child she is dealing with ‘the man of God’. And this ‘man of God’ must be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. This is according to Scripture, and specifically so stated in II Timothy 3:17.

As was observed, however deserving of criticism the popes of the Middle Ages may be, what cannot be said of them is, that they were lacking ingenuity to devise ways and means for legitimatizing their false position in the eyes of men. As we said, what perhaps must be regarded as the outstanding example of such papal ingenuity was the appearance of the Pseudo-Isidor in the middle of the ninth century. As was said, this code of ecclesiastical laws—for such it was—turned out to be, on examination, the greatest fraud known in the history of church literature.

When Naomi went forth out of the place in Moab, her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, went with her. It seems that Orpah so well as Ruth set out with the intention to return with their mother-in-law to Judah. The text reads, “And they—the three of them—went on the way to return to the land of Judah.” And again, “And they—Orpah and Ruth—said unto her, “Surely, we will return with thee unto thy people.” Thus spake also Orpah. Hence, she, too, must be urged to return to her people. And how insistent Naomi was that the both of them do...

“Christ,” so the Catechism instructs us, “in sight of His disciples, was taken up from earth into heaven.”

When we speak of the covenant view of the liberated churches, we must constantly bear in mind, that there is no officially adopted dogma with them on this point.

In The Banner of Jan. 4, 1946, the editor reflects upon some of my statements in the last issue of our paper, relative to his, the editor’s, attitude to and evaluation, of the controversy and schism in the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands. Judging by his language, I got the impression that the editor was rather roiled.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23, 24 Profound supplication! Cry of perfect agreement with, and of wholehearted surrender to the ever searching, constantly trying God! Search me, O God! . . . .