Vol 68 Issue 03

Recommended Works on Eschatology I thank you for your good work in producing The Standard Bearer. I look forward to each issue and read it cover to cover. Could you send me a copy of the Belgic Confession? In addition, could you advise me as to the best books, publications, etc. that you would recommend on defining and defending the amillennial position in eschatology? (Mr.) Jim Pierson Maryville, TN Response: Receive with our compliments a copy of the Belgic Confession, as well as a copy of the Heidelberg Catechism and of the Canons of Dordt – the confessions of the...

* In the fall of 1989, I gave the address to the annual meeting of the Reformed Free Publishing Association, publisher of the Standard Bearer. This was my first address to the parent body as editor of the magazine—my “inaugural address.” The group instructed me to publish the speech in the SB. Belatedly, I now obey the order. I have, however, taken the liberty to revise the speech, significantly so in places, as those who heard the speech will discover when they read especially the last two installments. There will be four installments in this series of editorials. We will do our...

Rev. Kortering is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Grandville, Michigan. And take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Ephesians 6:17 We have a sword! Thank God, while the arrows of the wicked assail us and while Satan hurls his fiery darts at us, we do not have to sit by helplessly and question the outcome. We have a sword! That makes our armor complete. We are covered from head to toe. Our spiritual loins are protected by the girdle of truth, our breast is secure with the breastplate of the righteousness of Jesus,...

Rev. denHartog is pastor of the Hope Protestant Reformed Church in Redlands, California. In our two previous articles we have considered the importance of doctrine for our Christian faith. True Christianity is based on sound doctrine. Christianity is more than merely living by several vaguely defined principles of ethics taught by Jesus which have little more than human and earthly good as their object. Christianity without doctrine leads to humanism and modernism. True Christianity is knowing and believing, confessing and living by the true doctrine of God. Doctrine, according to Scripture, is nothing more than sound teaching. It is the...

Prof. Hanko is professor of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. The problem of the relation between the church of Jesus Christ in the world and the secular state has always been a vexing one, but never more so than in the Middle Ages. Beginning with the fall of Rome and the destruction of the Roman Empire in the West, the Roman Catholic Church began to gather to itself power and authority not only in ecclesiastical affairs, but also in affairs of the state. And as the pope of Rome increasingly set himself up as the...

Rev. Woudenberg is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Acts 2:39 The recent studies which Prof. Engelsma has been providing us in the Standard Bearer on the subject of the Covenant of Grace are to be appreciated. It has been a needed study, and helpful to many. To it I have little to add. Nevertheless, in working with some problems regarding the covenant, especially earlier this year in Australia, I...

Prof. Decker is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. “The Reformed Church in the United States should begin now to forge links of fellowship and cooperation that will lead to eventual union with other Reformed churches. Our period of geographic and cultural isolation is at an end. It is time for the RCUS to become more definitely a part of the continuing Reformation.” With these words The Reverend Peter B. Grossman, editor of his denomination’s magazine, Reformed Herald, began a recent editorial. The RCUS is the conservative remnant of the old “German” Reformed Church. In 1934 one...

Rev. Kuiper is pastor of Immanuel Protestant Reformed Church in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. What can we learn from the restless seas? What do the Scriptures intend to teach us with these large bodies of water with their immeasurably powerful waves, tides, and storms? The uniform teaching of the Word of God is that the seas have a negative, symbolic meaning: they stand for troubles, and especially for unbelief and the wicked nations of the world. How often does the psalmist express his troubles in terms of these great depths! When his soul is cast down and he is filled with...

September 18, 1991 Dear Brothers and sisters in the Lord: What a difference having a few more students makes! We have seven in all: dive from our PR churches and two from the Evangelical Presbyterian Churches in Australia. The parking lot is nearly full, as are also the classrooms. Because the professors also use their classrooms as offices, there is little room to spare in some classes. With classes of five to seven students there is often lively discussion of pertinent theological issues. Professors are stimulated and sometimes challenged. Students encourage one another and are motivated to further study by...

Rev. Cammenga is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Loveland, Colorado. “The consistory shall take care that the churches, for the possession of their property and the peace and order of their meetings, can claim the protection of the authorities; it should be well understood, however, that for the sake of peace and material possession they may never suffer the royal government of Christ over His church to be in the least infringed upon.” A Radical Revision Our present Article 28 represents a radical revision of the original article. The original Article 28 as drafted by the Synod of...