Vol 78 Issue 03

Rev. Hanko is a minister in the Protestant Reformed Churches. Milking a Ram with a Sieve: Works Righteousness Rejected In the previous article (October 15, 2001) we examined the essential points of Luther’s Reformed and reforming doctrine of justification. In this article we wish to look at some supplementary points, and, first of all, a little further at his opposition to the pernicious doctrine of justification by works. In his own inimitable way he expresses his opposition to the doctrine of justification by works:

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Minister Activities   Rev. B. Gritters, pastor of the Hudsonville, MI PRC, has been extended a call to serve as pastor of the Lynden, WA PRC. Rev. W. Bruinsma, pastor of the Kalamazoo, MI PRC, declined the call he received from the newly organized Trinity PRC in Hudsonville, MI. Rev. A. denHartog, who recently accepted the call to serve as minister-on-loan to the Evangelical Reformed Churches of Singapore, will preach his farewell sermon in the Hope PRC in Redlands, CA on November 11, the Lord willing.  This...

The Satisfaction of Christ: Studies in the Atonement, by Arthur W. Pink. Forest City North Carolina: Truth For Today Publications, 1996. 313 pp. $21.95 (hard cover). [Reviewed by Prof. H. Hanko.] Most of our readers are acquainted with Arthur Pink’s book, The Sovereignty of God. In its original edition (not the truncated edition published by The Banner of Truth) Pink set forth the central truth of God’s sovereignty in a way which has been used by God to bring many to the truth of sovereign grace. Pink’s work was characterized by clarity and by the fact that it was based...

Mr. Kalsbeek is a teacher in Covenant Christian High School and a member in Hope Protestant Reformed Church, Walker, Michigan. “And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command.”  I Chronicles 12:32

Mrs. Meyer is a wife and mother in Hope Protestant Reformed Church of Walker, Michigan. The first enemy we encounter on this earth is our own sin. And our first attack upon this foe consists of searching for it in our own hearts and lives and repenting of it. This is a spiritual battle, for this is a spiritual enemy. Nevertheless, there are some physical steps that can be taken in order to avoid this enemy. If we want to avoid drunkenness, we won’t let our feet walk into the party or the bar. If we want to avoid the...

Dear RFPA Members and Friends, The preamble to the constitution of the RFPA states that we “… have organized for the express purpose of witnessing to the Reformed truth.” A few quotes from readers of RFPA publications should illustrate that we continue to fulfill our purpose: — A retired Marine Corps Major writes,

Rev. Dick is pastor of Grace Protestant Reformed Church in Standale, Michigan. This is the life. Spike (your hair). Do (affirmative action). Study dispassionately (stem cells). Hug passionately (yon tree). Live (for money). Go (to the Laughing Church). Believe (in Yourself). Play (the lottery). Swim (across Lake Superior). Love (the things Madonna loves). Rock. Roll. And Sin (in everything). The life—saith the world! Come and get it! But, dear youthful reader—don’t! For the world’s life is no life. Theirs is life without God. Vanity. Terrible depraved death-life now. And then death-death forever. Saith the Lord! Dear young Christian readers: your...

Prof. Dykstra is professor of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Luther’s Bondage of the Will was a thorough refutation of the notion of a free will in fallen man as set forth by the world-renowned Desiderius Erasmus in his refined discourse entitled On the Freedom of the Will. This was the crucial issue in Luther’s mind. He praised Erasmus because he alone among Luther’s opponents had recognized that the doctrine of free will was “the grand turning point of the cause.” Luther wrote, “You, and you alone saw, what was the grand hinge upon which...

Andrew Clarke is a member of the CPRC in Northern Ireland. On 4th July 2001, Angus Stewart was installed as the minister of Covenant Protestant Reformed Church in Ballymena Northern Ireland. As yet, the congregation does not have their own building to meet in, so Ballymena Town Hall was rented for the occasion. The ordination was well advertised. Personal invitations were sent to those who had expressed an interest in the work of Covenant. The preparation paid off—there was a good number attending, made up of church members, friends of the congregation, and relatives of Rev. Stewart. We were also...

Thoughtful Review   Thanks to Rev. Key for his thoughtful review of the initial volume of Unfolding Covenant History. Perhaps this will be the impetus for those of your readers who have not purchased or read this book to do so. Rev. Key suggested that a textual and a subject index would be helpful. Your readers will be pleased to know that while a subject index is not contemplated, a comprehensive textual index for all volumes is planned at the end of the final volume in this series. Mark H. Hoeksema Hudsonville, Michigan