Vol 73 Issue 06

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Young People’s Activities The young people of the Hudsonville, MI PRC continue to be busy with plans for next year’s Young People’s Convention, scheduled for August 18-22 at Camp Miniwanca, on the east shore of Lake Michigan near Shelby, MI. Since our last update, Hudsonville’s young people have chosen a convention theme, “Knowing My God,” based on John 17-3, with Psalter 64:2 being their theme song. They have also asked the Revs. Ron Cammenga, Doug Kuiper, and Carl Haak to speak at their convention. At their November...

Sermons on Election & Reprobation by John Calvin. Audubon, New Jersey: Old Paths Publications, 1996. 317 pp., plus subject and scriptural text indexes. $36.95 (hardcover). [Reviewed by the editor.] These sermons by John Calvin on God’s election of Jacob and reprobation of Esau were published in English for the first time in 1579. Never again reprinted until now, they have been unavailable to, and virtually unknown by, English-speaking people for more than 400 years. They were originally part of Calvin’s series on the book of Genesis. Calvin began the series in September, 1559. The sermons represent, therefore, the reformer’s well-developed...

he late Homer Hoeksema was professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. The Tempter (2) We must remember, however, that the real personality, the subject speaking through the serpent in the temptation of Adam and Eve, was Satan, the devil. It is, rather striking that the devil is not directly mentioned in the narrative in Genesis 3. He is not mentioned in the account of the temptation, nor is he mentioned in the curse that is pronounced after the Fall. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that Genesis simply narrates the events as they took...

Rev. Key is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Randolph, Wisconsin. You will notice that the title of this article contains a question mark. Having considered what the Bible teaches concerning man’s devastating depravity, as well as the development of sin, we are left with a question. We have shown from Scripture that sin develops according to the sovereign purpose of God, and even as the manifestation of His just judgment against the sinful race (Rom. 1:18-32). But isn’t it also true that there is a certain restraint of sin? Before we answer this question, we would like to...

O man who art thou that pleadest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus?  Romans 9:20 Dearly Beloved Brethren, We must not be amazed if the article of the everlasting predestination to God, be so assaulted and fought against by Satan’s maintainers, seeing it is the foundation of our salvation, and also serveth for the better magnifying of the free goodness of God towards us. On the other side those Dogs which bark against it thinking to have a good and favorable cause are therein more hardy: as in...

Rev. Dick is pastor of Grace Protestant Reformed Chruch in Standale, Michigan. Amazing Teacher, this Jesus of Nazareth! What other teacher lectures about Himself? What other teacher speaks with such authority? Whose words besides His not only inform, but save? Who may teach, besides Him, and demand for Himself the worship of those who sit at His feet? Who else might say, would say, could say: “I am the light of the world”? Astounding claim! Was Jesus drawing the attention of the people away from the burning torches of the Feast of Tabernacles which had recently been shedding their glow...

Rev. Brummel is the pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church in Edgerton, Minnesota. After more than 20 years of correspondence and visits, the way has been opened by God for our churches to involve themselves in a difficult and intimidating work. This is a work which could well take as many more years to establish. When by God’s grace it becomes established it will be a work that will require much manpower and financial sacrifice. Out of love for God and His truth we face the challenge with confident hope. That challenge is establishing a mission in Ghana, Africa. Where...

Rev. denHartog is pastor of Hope Protestant Reformed Church in Redlands, California. For some time already now, the Young Adults Fellowship at our church has been studying the book of Proverbs. We have been amazed time and again by the treasures of practical spiritual wisdom which this book contains. One of the outstanding chapters of Proverbs is chapter seven. Studying it again I was deeply impressed by the powerful warning this chapter contains for the young (really for the young and the old) regarding the enticement of the sin of immorality and the dreadful consequences this sin has for those...

The gross error of postmillennialism is that it misconceives the victory of Christ in history as carnal rather than spiritual. Gary North is wrong when he says, “It’s not a question of ‘dominion vs. no dominion’; it’s a question of whose dominion” (Unconditional Surrender, ICE, 1988, p. 317). It is emphatically not a question of “whose dominion.” Jesus Christ has dominion. Jesus Christ has dominion in the world in history. Jesus Christ has dominion now. Not only does Jesus Christ now .have dominion over all creatures, including His enemies, by His power, but also He now has dominion in His...

Herman Hoeksema was the first editor of the Standard Bearer. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.”  Romans 1:18 Introduction My text is intended to be an added reason for the statement of the apostle in verse 16. There the apostle says: “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. I am not ashamed to preach it, to represent it, to preach it wherever the Lord sends me, even in Rome.” The first reason for this statement, the apostle gives in verses 16, 17:...