Vol 22 Issue 09

The January meeting of Classis, held at Fuller Ave., was opened with the singing of No. 65 from the Psalter. Rev. B. Kok, who had charge of the opening exercises, read Psalm 25 and led in prayer. The credentials were read and accepted, showing that all the churches were represented at Classis. Classis is declared constituted and Rev. G. Lubbers is called upon to preside. The delegates attending Classis for the first time sign the Formula of Subscription. The minutes of the preceding classical meeting are read and approved. Rev. G. M. Ophoff and D. Jonker are given advisory vote....

The Synod of 1944 had received an overture from Classis West that Synod “investigate the possibility of establishing an outlet for Foreign Mission Endeavor in the way of supporting some reputable Mission, now, and, in case this proves to be impossible, that a fund be established for this work in order that when the opportunity presents itself, either to support some reputable Mission or to establish our own Foreign Mission, we will be prepared to make use of it”. The Synod of 1944 adopted this overture and gave the matter to the Mission Committee for study. It was also decided...

A CHRISTIAN NATION? We become impatient with church people who talk about nations that are Christian, in distinction from nations that are not. Especially when they speak of America as a Christian Nation. Not long ago we read an article by Dr. G. Goris on “Not by might—but by the Lord” in which he compares (our country not only but) the United Nations as countries whose battles were won as David won his battle over Goliath. Not by might but by the Lord. Hitler was the modern Goliath. Then he continues: “Yes God is involved in this war. God is...

We should remember, that, in our discussion, we are still occupied by the verses 6-10. Up to this point we have called attention to the 7th verse. More particularly, we would point out, that we have called attention to the following elements: We have called attention to the phrases, “the redemption in His blood” and “the forgiveness of sins.” In doing so, we attempted, not only to show the implication of each phrase taken by itself, but also to show how these two ideas are related mutually as a benefit of Gold’s grace. Attention was also directed to the fact,...

In, our last article under the general heading “IN HIS FEAR” we emphasized that the man of God must be thoroughly furnished unto all good works. We also brought out that in this furnishing unto all good works the Church Institute has to perform a very vital task. And we promised to say something more in our next article about the question as to how the Church must quit herself of that task. We live in an age wherein the Church by various means tries to hold on to her youthful members and keep them in her bosom. This effort in...

Ruth, so we saw, had made the good choice. She was dead to Moab, to the pleasures of Moab, which were the pleasures of sin; dead was she to Moab’s idols, but she was alive to God. Thus she wanted God, His people, and Naomi. Forsaking Moab and all that Moab represented, she went to God in Canaan. He was calling her to His sanctuary. Naomi, considering that the blessings of Abraham were for Israel alone—it was the dispensation of shadows—was insistent that Ruth return to her people. But she was adamant. Great was her faith and great therefore was...

In the previous article regard! was had to the first degradation of the papacy, which occurred in the tenth century. As we saw, the popes of this period with few exceptions were wicked men, the reason being that their election was controlled by political factions in Rome headed by Italian nobles. As was explained, from the tyranny of these nobles the papacy was rescued by Otho I surnamed the Great. Otho and his successors—Otho II (937-983) and Otho III (983- 1002) did the papacy a great service. They delivered it from the power of Roman nobles, restored it to wealth,...

There is therefore now no condemnation for them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1 The eighth chapter of the Romans is a beautiful, inspired song of redemption, sung in the pure and clear atmosphere of the wondrous grace of God on the very mountain-tops of faith. Beginning with the negative, yet emphatic declaration that there is no condemnation for them that are in Christ Jesus, the apostle sings of the glorious liberty of the sons of God, of their freedom from the law of sin and death, of their...

We must bear in mind that it is He of Whose presence with us the Catechism speaks. He, Jesus Christ our Lord, is ever present with us in His Godhead and majesty. He it is that never leaves us in respect to His grace and Spirit. It is the presence of the Son of God in the flesh, who united Himself with our nature, and still is God and man in unity of the divine Person; the presence, not merely of God’ the Creator, who calls the things that are not as if they were, but of God our Redemptor,...

We were to prove that the general position of the Liberated Churches, viz., that all the children of believers are really in the covenant in virtue of the promise, i.e., that the promise is for them all, is contrary to the plain teaching of the Bible on this point. It is exactly this teaching that is denied in Rom. 9:6-8. The ninth chapter of the epistle to the Romans teaches plainly that God’s sovereign predestination cuts right through the historical line of the covenant, and, in the generations of believers, makes separation between children of the promise and children of...