More Janus-Headed Theology In a recent issue of the Presbyterian Journal (May 12, 1982, pp. 9, 10) Donald A. Dunkerley presents some more Janus-headed theology, again classifying those who disagree with it as Hyper-Calvinists. This time he writes about the subject of the death of Christ in relation to the general offer of salvation.
Since our last column, there is much to report concerning the activity of our calling churches. Due to the vacancy left by Rev. Koole who, as we earlier reported, accepted the call to Redlands, California, our Randolph, Wisconsin congregation extended a call to Rev. Slopsema of our Edgerton, Minnesota church. The following handwritten sentence at the bottom of a Randolph bulletin reveals the response they received, “Rev. Slopsema has accepted the call!!!” As a result, Edgerton has formed a trio of Reverends Bekkering, Bruinsma, and Houck.
Classis East met in regular session on May 12, 1982 at our Holland Church. Each church, with the exception of Kalamazoo, was represented by two delegates. Rev. C. Haak chaired this session of Classis.
As the Holy Spirit led Paul to write about the unity of the church in Christ, he did so in two ways. First, he explained the unity from a doctrinal point of view by setting forth God’s sovereignty over the establishment of the church. In the second way, he dealt with the life of the church as she expresses her unity in a common bond of faith in Christ Jesus.
From one of our readers we received the question: “At the resurrection can our flesh and blood body be raised a glorified flesh and blood body that is fit for the kingdom of heaven?” It is usually during the season in which we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, or at the time of the loss of a dear one, that questions of this nature arise. This is only natural, for by faith we look forward to the day when we will be with Christ in heavenly perfection, both in body and soul.
Beloved in our Lord Jesus Christ:
We are all aware that the real issue behind so many questions and problems in the church world is the doctrine of Scripture. There have always been those who, in one way or another, denied the inspiration and infallibility of the Bible. But in these last days the churches of the Reformation do not even give unanimous assent to this truth, in spite of the fact that the Reformation of the sixteenth century claimed to be a return to the truth concerning the Bible.
Jacob, whose name Israel means Prince of God, at last came to stand before Pharaoh, a prince of this world. Jacob stands there as a stranger in a strange land. Pharaoh sits on his throne as the highest power in his own native land. Jacob was there with Pharaoh’s approval and in his good pleasure. Pharaoh, though he does not know it, was king in Egypt in God’s good pleasure and according to His sovereign counsel.
The role which our Confessions have played in the history of the church of Christ can hardly be overemphasized. These Confessions have served as powerful weapons in the defense of the faith; they have functioned as the basis for church Reformation over the centuries; they have preserved the unity of the church in her walk in the world of sin; they have been teachers to lead thousands to the knowledge of the truth. It is not an exaggeration to say that our Confessions have served as the strength of the church without which, humanly speaking, it would not have survived.
Comments on Special Issue We were delighted by the many favorable comments about the May 15 special issue on Predestination. Several letters were received in which extra copies were requested, and many oral comments were made. One of the striking facts about that issue was that all the writers wrote independently of one another—the one not knowing what the other would write—and yet there was unity and harmony among the various articles.
