Vol 94 Issue 13

Trivia question On September 20, 2017 Rev. Douglas Kuiper was installed as a professor in the PRC seminary. Including the current professors, how many men have held that position and taught in our seminary throughout its history? Answer later in this column. Young adult activities Hope PRC in Redlands, CA will be hosting a Young Adults’ Retreat this summer on the dates July 2-5. Registration opened online on March 1. They, and the young adults who will attend, look forward to a great time of fun and fellowship! The Young Adults Bible study group at Byron Center, MI PRC invited...

We have previously looked at the United States Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges,1 in which the Court found that the rights embodied in the U.S. Constitution included a right for homosexuals to marry (“The Supreme Court Finds a Right to Homosexual Marriage [1-3],” Dec. 15, 2015; Feb. 1, 2016; May 15, 2016). As was noted at that time, when one such right is recognized, it raises the question of the limits of that right in relation to other recognized rights. The Supreme Court recently had an opportunity to look at the other side of the...

Having turned off the Isuzu Crosswind, I stepped out and walked up the stairs to the front door of the house, Bible in hand. Darkness had settled over the Orient, and thankfully the tropical heat had relented. This particular neighborhood in Metro Manila was peaceful and quiet. I had just driven about half an hour from our house in Antipolo City, in the low mountains east of Manila. I drove down the mountain, past multitudes of colorful jeepneys, noisy trikes, and crossing pedestrians, and arrived at the house. But I forgot that Filipinos usually eat supper around 7:00 p.m. or...

Jesus is salvation! Let there be no doubt. His name literally is: “I Am Salvation” (Ps. 35:3; Matt. 1:21). There is salvation in no other name (Acts 4:12). Of this salvation the prophets diligently searched, and declared that one day the ends of earth would see it (I Pet. 1:10). Taking Jesus in his arms, Simeon testified: “Mine eyes have seen thy salvation” (Luke 2:30). Stopping on His way to the cross, Jesus told Zacchaeus, “Salvation is come to your house” (Luke 19:9). Salvation is in Jesus and belongs to Jesus (Ps. 3:8; 62:7). Jesus is the Lord, the Author,...

Previous article in this series: February 1, 2018, p. 195. I have explained the principles that the synods of the HRC, FRC, and PRC have adopted to guide the interdenominational Psalter revision committee in proposing changes to our Psalter. The committee’s proposed changes to Psalms 73-89 have been distributed. But what is yet to come? How does the committee envision applying these principles to the rest of the Psalter? I will introduce you to some of the changes being proposed to the versifications of Psalms 1-40 (Psalter numbers 1-112). These proposed changes fall into three categories: changes to existing lyrics,...

Previous article in this series: February 15, 2018, p. 233. “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Ephesians 6:15 The footwear itself Like the girdle and breastplate we have previously examined, footwear is also important for battle. To have “your feet shod” is to have sandals fastened to your feet. The Roman soldier of Paul’s day did not wear rugged, all-terrain combat boots, but simple sandals with straps and sometimes spikes. Footwear helped the soldier maintain or alter his position on the field of battle. Footwear was not for defense like other parts of the...

Billy Graham died on February 21. He was 99 years old. As I read over all the tributes and praise being given to Billy Graham on Facebook and other media, I thought to myself, “Although I’ve certainly heard the name, I don’t really know who Billy Graham is. And outside of our Reformed community, I only hear good things being said about him.” And then I thought, “Perhaps there are others, especially of the younger generation, who are in the same situation—they have heard only good things about Billy Graham, but don’t really know who he is.” And so I...

Previous article in this series: March 15, 2018, p. 269. The truth of God’s absolute sovereignty is beautiful and comforting to the believer. God leaves nothing to chance. This is embedded in the Reformed believer’s confession of his greatest comfort: “I am not my own, but belong body and soul, in life and in death, to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.” This same Jesus, “so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation” (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 1). Indeed, fellow believer,...

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9 God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” This last part of II Peter 3:9 has been used to teach a universal love of God. It is thought that this passage teaches that God desires the salvation of all. It is thought that it teaches that proper preaching must include an ‘offer’ because God wants the salvation of all....