All Articles For Vol 75 Issue 18 7/1/1999

Mr. Wigger is an elder in the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Congregation Activities The week of May 24-27 the Young People’s Society of the Covenant PRC in Wyckoff, New Jersey hosted what we hope will be their first annual Young Adults’ Retreat. We say first annual because, from all indications, this retreat was very worthwhile and something that should be repeated. Since most of the 35 or so young adults, representing nearly all of our churches in Canada and the U.S., were able to arrive by Saturday afternoon, the congregation at Covenant organized a BBQ dinner at their...

May 12, 1999 Grace Protestant Reformed Church Classis East met in regular session on Wednesday, May 12, 1999 at the Grace Protestant Reformed Church in Standale, MI. Each church was represented by two delegates. Rev. K. Koole was the chairman for this session. Most of the business of this session was routine. Two matters, however, did command the attention of the classis. First, delegates from the newly-organized congregation in northwest Indiana presented their credentials to this classis. This congregation had been organized by Classis West under the auspices of the South Holland PRC. Classis East decided to receive the credentials...

* Charles Crismier III is founder of SAVE AMERICA Ministries, based in Richmond, Virginia, and host of VIEWPOINT, a daily radio program, “Confronting the Issues of America’s Heart and Home.” Marriage, the Mystery of Christ and the Church: The Covenant-Bond in Scripture and History, by David J. Engelsma. Grand Rapids: Reformed Free Publishing Association, 1998. 239 pp. $24.95 (cloth). [Reviewed by Charles Crismier III.*] At last! A refreshing relook at Marriage … The Mystery of Christ and the Church. God has only one wife. He calls her the “Bride of Christ.” And the “Apostle of grace,” Paul, makes clear that...

Calvin’s commentary on Zechariah 4:10, and his prayer after the commentary. This doctrine may be also applied to us: for God, to exhibit the more his power, begins with small things in building his spiritual temple; nothing grand is seen, which attracts the eyes and thoughts of men, but everything is almost contemptible. God indeed could put forth immediately his power, and thus rouse the attention of all men and fill them with wonder; he could indeed do so; but as I have already said, his purpose is to increase, by doing wonders, the brightness of his power; which he...

Rev. Hanko is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13 There may be a question in our minds whether this encouragement and warning should actually be included under the signs of the times. Taken entirely by itself, it would seem out of place, yet the fact remains that this assurance that the faithful will be saved is a sign that God guarantees to us the safety and salvation of His church even unto the end. The very fact of God’s preservation of His elect...

Rev. Kuiper is pastor of Southeast Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. * This is the text of a lecture given in First Church, Grand Rapids, MI on April 22, 1999. In preparing this speech, at the request of the Evangelism Societies of the First and Southeast Churches, I thought it would be helpful to check out in a concordance the words usually associated with our subject of entertainment. What do the Scriptures say? What is the scriptural emphasis? I believe this is the proper and safe way to proceed. And I want to share my findings with you...

This Generation Thank you for your continued defense of the amillennial view of eschatology. While many “stars” of theology have changed their view over the years (taking their followers along with them), you have remained faithful in your stand for the Reformed truth. I have one suggestion for the Standard Bearer that I feel would be of great benefit to readers struggling with this millennial question: Do a study of Matthew 24:34. The whole basis for the preterist view seems to hinge on what is meant by “this generation” in verse 34. R.C. Sproul’s recent book is based almost entirely...

The First Protestant Reformed Church of Holland, MI hosted the 1999 synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC). Synod met from June 8 through June 15. The pre-synodical worship service was held in the Holland church building and was led by the president of the previous synod, Rev. Gise VanBaren. He preached on Romans 9:1-5, “Paul’s Concern for His Kinsmen.” That Rev. VanBaren led this service was especially appropriate since synod would approve his request to become emeritus. Officers of the 1999 synod were Rev. Ron Cammenga, president; Rev. Dale Kuiper, vice-president; Rev. Wilbur Bruinsma, first clerk; and Rev. Ron...

Rev. VanBaren is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Loveland, Colorado. The above article is the text of the Pre-synodical Sermon preached on June 7, 1999. In the first five verses of Romans 9, Paul speaks of his interest in and concern about his kinsmen according to the flesh. The rest of Romans 9 reveals that the Word of God has its proper effect. It is the chapter regularly quoted to prove the doctrine of predestination, including both election and reprobation. This doctrine the church has held ever dear and has maintained faithfully. We, with the church of God...