Vol 58 Issue 08

We received the following question: “Is a regenerated person still depraved? Your question reminds me of two errors that often arise within the church: on the one hand, the error of perfectionism, and on the other hand, the error of antinomism. The perfectionist argues that we are new creatures in Christ; old things are passed away, and, along with these old things, also our depravity. He appeals to such passages of Scripture as I John 3:9: “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of...

The Epistle to the Galatians is the strongest polemic against the attempt of the Judaizers to impose on the New Testament church the ceremonial aspects of the Old Testament law. At stake was much more than the circumcision of the Gentiles. The epistle dealt with the question of the law, whether one is justified by faith in Christ Jesus alone or is righteous in the keeping of the ceremon­ial law. The gospel of this epistle expresses the antithesis between bondage under the law and liberty in Jesus Christ. THE GALATIANS In the epistle itself, Paul addresses the recipients as “the...

Several months ago we began a study of the book,The Planting And Development Of Missionary Churches, by Dr. John L. Nevius. Dissatisfied with the mission methods of his day (late 1800s) Nevius proposed a new method which has come to be known as the “Nevius method or plan.” The old plan depended largely on paid native preachers and evangelists and sought to foster and stimulate the growth and development of the native mission by pouring money into the work.

A Holland, Michigan bulletin gives us more information concerning the planned organization in Singapore: “Rev. James Slopsema of Edgerton and Elder Ed Van Ginkel of Doon will leave for Singapore in January for the organization of the group with which Rev. den Hartog is laboring into a church. We can rejoice in this evidence of God’s covenant faithfulness as He continues to gather His church.”  That same bulletin informs us that “Rev. W. Bruinsma has declined the call extended to him by our sister church in Redlands.” 

PARABLES OF OUR LORD, by William Arnot; Kregel Publications, 1981; 532 pages, $10.95. (Reviewed by Prof. H. Hanko) ‘This book is part of Kregel’s efforts to reprint valuable works from the past. It is a book written by a Free Church of Scotland minister who lived in the Nineteenth Century. It is an interesting and valuable addition to one’s library and can be read either to come to a clearer understanding of the parables or for good and (on the whole) sound devotional reading. 

Although man does not live by bread alone, man does live by bread. His earthly life, and body of flesh depend upon bread for continued existence. For did not the same Jesus, Who told Satan that man does not live by bread alone, also teach us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread”? Indeed man is constantly faced with the bread question. That very prayer teaches us that every day this question is there. Be he believer or unbeliever, young or old, white or black, bond or free, man faces every day the question, “What shall we eat,...

It is generally recognized that the church today as an institution is on the decline. Strange as this may seem, this decline goes hand in hand with what is being heralded as a spiritual awakening in our land. There is a spiritual movement in our land that goes under the name “Neo-Evangelicalism” or “New-Evangelicalism.” This movement is associated with such names as Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, Bill Bright, Mark Hatfield, and many others. Through their organizations and crusades we are told that thousands upon thousands have been brought to Jesus Christ. 

Of “Sacred Cows” and “Sour Milk” I make no claims of being a scientist. Though I regularly remind catechumens and the congregation of the errors of the “scientific” theory of evolution, and point them to the Scriptural truth of creationism, I do so not on the basis of “science” but of faith—whereby I believe without doubt that the worlds were framed by the Word of God. 

January 15, 1981

In an editorial in our November 15, 1981 issue I criticized the Editor of The Banner for editorially decreeing that articles 27-29 of the Belgic Confession are non-functional in the Christian Reformed Church. Literally he wrote: “And the kind of thinking about the church that is recorded in the Belgic Confession is no longer functional in the Christian Reformed Church.” I suggested that this was contrary to the Formula of Subscription as well as contrary to the adopted gravamen procedure of Editor Kuyvenhoven’s denomination.