Vol 94 Issue 14

Trivia question Seminary internships are a valuable part of the training of our young men for the gospel ministry. Do you know which year the first internship took place? Maybe you also know the students’ names and which pastors they interned under? Or the church where the internships took place? Answers later in this column. Regarding worship This from a recent PRC church bulletin: It is good for us to gather as a congregation to worship our covenant God once again. As we come, let us be conscious that we enter into the presence of the high and lofty One...

Classis West of the Protestant Reformed Churches met in Loveland, Colorado, on March 7, 2018. Thirteen ministers and seventeen elders represented the churches. Rev. Dennis Lee chaired the meeting. After opening devotions and the constituting of Classis, routine reports of the Stated Clerk, Classical Committee, and Reading Sermon Committee were read and approved. The church visitors also reported on their work over the last year and the presence of unity, peace, and love prevailing in the churches. In closed session, two consistories explained their labors with impenitent members and requested that Classis approve their proceeding to the increase of censure...

This special meeting of Classis East was required for two purposes. The first order of business was the examination of Pastor-elect David Noorman. In the afternoon Classis met to treat the appeal of a member against the member’s pastor and consistory. After preaching his specimen sermon and upon receiving the approval of his preaching from Classis East and the synodical deputies from Classis West, Pastor-elect David Noorman was examined extensively on the six loci of Reformed Dogmatics, and his knowledge of the Scriptures, confessions, controversy, and practica. Pastor-elect Noorman gave an excellent demonstration of his knowledge and training in all...

In my last article on the church catholic or universal (Jan. 1, 2018, SB, v. 94, p. 156), I addressed the need to recognize that the church redeemed by Christ is made up of all God’s elect people from different places, races, and faces—of difference nations, vocations, and denominations. Our weekly confession of this in the Apostles’ Creed should be more than habitual speech; we ought rather to believe sincerely that God preserves the existence of such a people here in this world, including those outside the membership of our Reformed congregations. We must be willing to recognize these brothers...

Previous article in this series: January 1, 2018, p. 152. What if Adam had not fallen into sin? Would he eventually have received the heavenly life that we now have in Christ? Many maintain that he would have. Adam was called to obey during a testing period, they say. If he had remained obedient during that period, God would have granted him heavenly life, the life that we now have in Christ. In this article, we take a look at this position. How do those who hold to it attempt to prove their position? And what does Scripture say about...

Lord’s Day 38 Question 103. What doth God require in the fourth commandment? Answer. First, that the ministry of the gospel and the schools be maintained; and that I, especially on the sabbath, that is, on the day of rest, diligently frequent the church of God, to hear His word, to use the sacraments, publicly to call upon the Lord, and contribute to the relief of the poor, as becomes a Christian. Secondly, that all the days of my life I cease from my evil works, and yield myself to the Lord, to work by His Holy Spirit in me;...

Previous article in this series: March 1, 2018, p. 252. Additional proof of Scripture’s sufficiency We ended our last article by demonstrating Scripture’s sufficiency from the two classic passages on the infallible inspiration of Scripture, II Timothy 3:16-17 and II Peter 1:19-21. Besides the support for the sufficiency of Scripture that is found in these two classic passages, there are other texts that underscore this truth concerning the Bible. One of those texts is Deuteronomy 4:2, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments...

Previous article in this series: June 2017, p. 395. The previous article in “Upon This Rock” was the twenty-second in a kind of series-within-a series entitled “Robbing Christ of His Honor.” Those articles, as you might recall, were dealing with the fascinating subject of typology, inspired in large part by articles of Rev. George Ophoff reflecting on it long ago in the SB. Much to my regret, my writing on it was interrupted. Lord willing, I will be able to return later to that aborted mini-series, but, for now, the best I can do is (using material I have already...

Previous article in this series: April 1, 2018, p. 293.     Every believer has a God-determined calling in this life. Few passages in Scripture emphasize it as strikingly as the psalmist’s confession of God’s sovereignty over his life in Psalm 139. While he was yet “in [his] mother’s womb…[his] substance was not hid from” God, which is to say, God knew his unformed substance (vv. 13, 15). Indeed, adds the psalmist, “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none...

“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2 As we wend our way through this vale of tears, there are many times when we feel overwhelmed. The stress, the grief, the pain—it is all too much! There are moments when it seems as if our whole world is collapsing around us. At such times we are mindful of our weakness and our helplessness. And we may struggle against bitterness, rebellion, even total despair. Through all of this we seek something...