Vol 31 Issue 08

Looking back upon this Classis meeting it may be said that it was a good day in which the work Classis had to perform was done with dispatch. Rev. G. VandenBerg was the chairman and Rev. M Schipper took minutes. All the churches in Classis East were represented by two delegates, so that Classis was constituted of 24 members. Classis adjourned Wednesday evening at 6:30 o’clock. There are a few matters taken care of by Classis which are worthy of a little more detailed report. We refer to the following matters:

ARMINIANISM  In the statements of the Arminians man is always first and God always comes trailing behind to assist man by His grace to get to heaven.  1. Man’s believing is the cause of his justification.  2. Our obeying Christ is the cause of Him giving us eternal life and that our obedience to Christ is the cause of Him becoming the author of eternal salvation to us.  3. God the Son, they tell us “hath redeemed us only on the condition of our concurrence and compliance.”

Such was the subject of the essay delivered by the Rev. J. Blankespoor at a conference of schismatic ministers held recently in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and occupying the editorial space of Concordia of December 2, 1954. In the last issue of the Standard Bearer we quoted the introduction to this essay and made a few remarks. However, due to the fact that our space was limited by the transcription of the decision of the Superior Court Judge, Honorable Thaddeus Taylor, of the case of First Protestant Reformed Church versus the De Wolf group, my article was cut short.

“Among the ministers of the word equality shall be maintained with respect to the duties of their office, and also in other matters as far as possible, according to the judgment of the consistory, and if necessary, of the classis; which equality shall also be maintained in the case of the elders and deacons.”—Art. 17, D.K.O. 

Article 15.

Continuing with Philip Schaff’s description of Julian’s ruthless attempt to destroy Christianity, we quote the following, Vol. III, 52, ff. 

A change of mind is not necessarily sinful. It can be sinful. It can be the casting out of the truth in order to receive and embrace the lie. But is can also be the casting out of the lie to receive and embrace the truth. We were, therefore, at first encouraged and hopeful when we began to read the “fine” essay of Rev. Blankespoor which he delivered in Oskaloosa, Iowa and which was published in a recent copy of Concordia.

This passage in Paul’s epistle to the Galatians reads as follows: “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only (use) not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, (even) in this: thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that we be not consumed one of another.” 

17. When the poor and the needy seek water and there is none, And their tongue is parched for thirst, I the Lord will hear them,  18. I will open in elevated places rivers, And in the midst of valleys fountains: And I will make the wilderness a pool of water, And the dry land springs of water.  19. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the accasia tree. And the myrtle and the wild olive; And will set in the desert the fir tree, I And the elm and the box tree together: 

Chapter 1:The perfection of the Law Preached (cont’d) Thus the apostle writes in I Cor. 6:9, 10: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?