Vol 86 Issue 02

Rev. Slopsema is pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 A rich young ruler came to Jesus inquiring what he must do to inherit eternal life....

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Congregation Activities By this time of year all of our churches are well into their fall season of catechism classes and Bible studies. The days of summer vacation are long gone and forgotten and there is a renewed emphasis and dedication to the study of God’s Word. Hopefully you take advantage of those opportunities in your local congregation to continue to grow in your knowledge of the good news of the gospel. The Kalamazoo, MI PRC traditionally marks the start of their year of Bible study and...

September 9, 2009 Kalamazoo PRC Classis East met in regular session on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 in the Kalamazoo PRC. Each church was represented by two delegates. Rev. Andrew Lanning was the chairman for this session. Classis was informed that Cornerstone PRC had transferred the ministerial credentials and membership of its pastor, Rev. Nathan Brummel, to a United Reformed Church. The church visitors also gave a report about this matter. Classis decided to send the following notice to the churches in Classis East and West and to our sister church in Northern Ireland: “With sorrow, Classis East informs the churches...

Rev. Laning is pastor of Hope Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Previous article in this series: September 15, 2009, p. 492. “Israel means Israel,” is one of the most common lines uttered by dispensationalists. It is a way of saying that there is no need to search the Scriptures to find an answer to the question as to who Israel is. To a dispensationalist, everyone knows by common sense who Israel is. The Jews in Palestine—and really the other Jews scattered abroad as well—constitute this nation. In the mind of a dispensationalist, the promises to Israel are obviously...

Rev. Kleyn is pastor of Covenant of Grace Protestant Reformed Church in Spokane, Washington. Previous article in this series: April 1, 2009, p. 298. Lord’s Day 3 Question 6. Did God then create man so wicked and perverse? Answer. By no means; but God created man good, and after His own image, in true righteousness and holiness, that he might rightly know God his Creator, heartily love Him, and live with Him in eternal happiness to glorify and praise Him. Question 7. Whence then proceeds this depravity of human nature? Answer. From the fall and disobedience of our first parents,...

Reprinted from When Thou Sittest In Thine House, by Abraham Kuyper, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1929. Used by permission of Eerdmans Publishing Co. Keeping in one’s station Does the Christian faith condemn all luxury as such? For an answer to this question, compare the ministry of Christ with that of John the Baptist; and see how Jesus Himself pointed to the fact that John refrained even from food and drink, and they said: He hath a devil; while the Son of man came eating and drinking, even in such a manner that they said (Matt. 11:19):...

Rev. Kuiper is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church in Randolph, Wisconsin. Previous article in this series: October 1, 2009, p. 18. That God in His Word both forbids women to hold the office of deacon, and at the same time permits the deacons to use women as assistants in their work of mercy, we have seen in our last article. In this article we begin to survey the history of the church permitting women to assist the deacons. Noting the teachings of the church fathers, the statements of church councils, and the opinions of scholars, we will draw some...

Prof. Engelsma is professor emeritus of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Previous article in this series: August 2009, p. 448. Introduction The truth of the millennium is corrupted by two, distinct errors concerning the thousand years of Revelation 20. Not only do these two doctrines err in their explanation of the millennium, but they also grossly exaggerate its importance. The millennium, a relatively minor teaching found in only one chapter of the Bible (and that, in the highly figurative and symbolical book of Revelation), comes to dominate all of eschatology and even to occupy an unduly...

Prof. Cammenga is professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. This is the second installment of the text of the address given on the occasion of the graduation of Mr. Cory Griess and Dr. David Torlach from the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary on June 11, 2009 in Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Previous article in this series: October 1, 2009, p. 7. Paul’s Separation unto this Gospel This is the gospel, now, unto which Paul was separated: “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God”...

September 15, 2009 I write this news on September 15, after one full week of classes in this new semester. The starting date this year was late. Both the extended session of Synod 2009 and the seminary’s Calvin Conference in late August led the TSC to approve a starting date two weeks later than normal. But the year has begun, and begun well, under God’s blessings. The highlight of the summer was our Seminary-sponsored Calvin Conference in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin. For over a year preparations were made for this significant event. Southwest...