Vol 34 Issue 03

It is plain from the caption above, that I do not refer to our conception of the Church as such. The mystical body of Christ, His Church of all ages which He, by His Spirit and Word, gathers out of all kindreds and ages of men, is surely none else than the body of believers and their seed—the elect. Concerning that there is, or at least ought be no doubt among us. About that our instruction in times past has suffered nothing in clarity. And therefore any other conception on this point must be branded unscriptural and unreformed. 

Abraham’s faith reached its climax when it responded to offer up Isaac. Said the Lord, “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains I will tell thee of.” That the command had respect of literal offering is a view that has the firm support of the Scriptures. For Isaac is to be a burnt offering. Even the place where he is to be devoted is specified—one of the mountains of Moriah.

July 24, 1957 The Protestant Reformed Churches  Rev. George Lubbers, Stated Clerk  1125 Franklin Street  Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Esteemed Brethren in Christ:  The Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in session during the month of June, 1957, made the following decisions in reply to your letter dated June 19, 1957, page 83, Art. 142, III)  A. Material: 

Our Creeds and the Mission Mandate.  From time to time in recent years we have heard voices in the Christian Reformed Church reiterating the questions: How is it that our Reformed Creeds devote no special articles to give expression to the mandate of Christ to the church to proclaim the gospel to all nations? and, Should not the church append or revise her creeds to include an expression on this her particular duty as mandated by Christ? 

We are discussing the position which is defended by Rev. MacKay concerning the matter of church and state. His view is expressed in the third article of the 33rd Chapter of the original Westminster Confession which we quoted in the previous issue. In regard to this we must now add the following: 

Article 16.

The coronation ceremonies were on a splendid scale. But the size of Rome, whose population at this time may not have exceeded thirty-five thousand, must be taken into account when we compare them with the pageants of the ancient city. At the enthronization in St.

In the foregoing we have taken rather careful notice how Paul establishes the divine truth of the matter, that “tongues” are nothing in the church when there is no “interpretation.” They are then not bonafide evidences of the Holy Spirit, but they are mere gibberish. Shall “tongues” be more than signs to unbelievers to the effect that the Word of God is taken from them, the candlestick taken from its place, then surely they must stand in the service of the more sure prophetic Word, as this Word shines more and more unto the perfect day. 

8. I will hiss to them, and gather them, for I have redeemed thee, and they shall increase as they did increase (before).  9. And I will sow them among the peoples, and in far countries they shall remember me, and with their children they shall live and return.  10. And I will bring them back from the land of Egypt, and Assyria will I gather them, and to the land of Gilead and Lebanon will I bring them, and room shall not be found for them. 

It is evident, then, that it was Adam’s obedience that connected all the world as a kingdom with its God. As long as Adam would be servant of God in the world, creation was God’s kingdom. But the moment Adam rebelled, the world stood in rebellion against the Sovereign of heaven and earth. If Adam, instead of kneeling in the dust as the king-servant before his highest Sovereign, would subject himself to the will of Satan, the kingdom of God would be changed into a kingdom of the prince of darkness. And this is exactly what took place. Not a...