Vol 89 Issue 14

Congregation Activities Reflecting on the Word of God found in Psalm 84:10, “For a day in thy courts is better than a thou­sand,” we call your attention to the anniversary of the Heritage PRC in Sioux Falls, SD, organized April 23, 2010. All the societies of the Grand­ville, MI PRC were invited to hear Dr. Nate Lanning and Dr. Brendan Looyenga’s lectures on Tuesday, March 19. Dr. Lanning spoke on “Understanding Evolution: Reformed Consensus, Scientific Concepts, and Physical Proof,” and Dr. Looyenga on “Teaching About Evolution and Evolutionists within a Biblical Framework.” There was a question and answer period follow­ing...

Beneath the ornate ceiling of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel a gathering of Roman Catholic cardinals met to elect a new pope. It is fitting that the election of a man who represents all the earthly glory of Rome should take place in the monument that worldly Pope Julius II, papa terribile, built to outstrip all his predecessors in aggrandizing the Vatican, and that the profane Mi­chelangelo decorated. The pomp and circumstance of the event—election and installation—are unmatched. The world waited and watched. On March 14 the secret conclave elected an Argen­tinian archbishop and cardinal, Jorge Mario Bergoglio (pronounced Ber-GOAL-io), as the...

Thirty-five years ago NASA launched two space-probes within 16 days of each other. Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 were sent into space to gather information about some of the more distant planets in our solar system. With those original mis­sions now completed, the probes continue on through space and are on the verge of discovering more interest­ing information about interstellar space. Many of these space missions conjure up debate concerning the worth and wisdom of such costly endeavors. Regardless of what motives man may have in such investigations, we can consider these voyages and the data that is gathered in...

Previous article in this series: February 15, 2013, p. 226. Introduction One of the passages of Scripture that are especially important to postmillennialism is Romans 11:25, 26. This passage is explained by the advocates of postmil­lennialism as promising a dramatic conversion of large numbers of Jews in the future. According to the post­millennialists, this conversion of the Jews will occasion a similar conversion of large numbers of Gentiles, indeed a majority of the population of the world. Thus, the conversion of the Jews will both signal and actually bring about the onset of the thousand-year reign of Christ—the “golden age”...

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 18 Question 46. How dost thou understand these words, “He ascended into heaven”? Answer. That Christ, in sight of His disciples, was taken up from earth into heaven; and that He continues there for our interest, until He comes again to judge the quick and the dead. Question 47. Is not Christ then with us even to the end of the world, as He hath prom­ised? Answer. Christ is very man and very God; with respect to his human nature, He is no more on earth; but with respect to His Godhead, majesty, grace, and spirit,...

Redemption has been redefined by many. The true gospel is about the redemption of the church, but many today proclaim a redemp­tion of this world. Not surprisingly, this shift from the redemption of the church to the redemption of this world would involve a change in what is meant by the term redemp­tion. Therefore it is of utmost importance that we know what Scripture means by this term, and how it is being used very differently today by many who claim to be giving instruction in the truth of the Reformed faith. The redemption provided by Christ To redeem is...

Previous article in this series: April 1, 2013, p. 292. As stated in our recent SB editorials it has become plain that at present there is a concerted effort by various Doctors of Reformed Theology to put as much distance as possible between H. Bavinck’s covenantal view and that of H. Hoeksema. A perusal of recent issues of the Mid-America Journal of Theology (MJT) going back to volume 19 (2008) makes this rather clear, as we have demonstrated. From the articles dealt with, it be­comes plain that the intention of the writers is not simply to distinguish between Bavinck and...

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:13, 14 The above text is part of the reason why the teachings of salvation by sovereign, particular grace are to be evidenced in a life of godliness. Paul had just detailed the godliness in verses 2-10, and then he began giving the reason in verse 11. He explained that the grace of God saves, and in saving it...