Vol 34 Issue 11

Such, we believe, explains the way of reasoning of those who hold that all churches outside of our own are necessarily a manifestation and segment of the false church. 

When I was attending a class in Sociology in Calvin College, the professor there gave the following definition of a sect: “Any group of people organized for a religious purpose which is separated from another religious group and which tends to emphasize almost exclusively the doctrinal tenet which caused the separation.” The important part of this definition is the last part of it: “. . . which tends almost exclusively to emphasize the doctrinal tenet which caused the separation?

The meaning of the Arminian doctrine that is here opposed is in itself quite clear, and is in need of little exposition. It is a plain and simple contradiction of the Scriptural and Reformed truth concerning man’s total depravity: “The unregenerate man is not really nor utterly dead in sin, nor destitute of all powers unto spiritual good.” This is the main proposition here, the key to the Arminian thought.

The First Council of Lyons and the Close of Frederick’s Career. 1241-1250. 

Tremendous strides have been made in the printing and publishing world since the Scriptures were written and published as one book. When the various books of the Bible were written by the men whom God moved, guided and illumined, they existed for a long time as bulky rolls of parchment. Thus in Nazareth Jesus could be given the book of Isaiah from which to read. But now in a very compact book containing all the books of the Scriptures the Bible may conveniently be carried in one hand. And thousands upon thousands of copies are distributed over the length and...

It should be borne in mind that Paul is discussing various questions pertaining to the matters of matrimony, celibacy, as these relate to our calling as Christians in the midst of this world in a walk of thankfulness. We have noticed in former essays what Paul has to say concerning the honor: ableness of not entering into the marriage-state, provided one has thegift of continence. He touched upon the unmarried and the widows in relationship to remarriage. He maintains the word of Jesus in relationship to the unchangeableness of the marriage-tie. And he gives sanctified.

Awake, O sword, against the shepherd; and against a man, my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd and the sleep shall be scattered, and I will stretch out my hand upon the little ones.

Spiritual Israel, and not Israel, as a nation, must be considered the true Israel. Rom. 9:6-12 And therefore, we must distinguish also in the days of the Old Testament between Israel as a nation and the true, spiritual Israel. Not all the national Jews were true Israelites. But all true Israelites in the Old Testament were also Jews, belonging to the nation. True Israel, that is, the true, spiritual people of God, were enclosed in Israel as a nation.

The Declaration of Principles  This, as practically all of us know, is a document which was composed at the request of the Mission Committee of our churches, was proposed to the Synod of the Protestant Reformed Church in 1950, and was finally adopted by our synod in Oct. 1951. 

“And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the sribes. Then the high priest rent his clothes . . . . Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? and they all condemned Him to be guilty of death.” Mark 14:53, 63, 64 “The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”