Trivia question Can you name the students in our Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary? Answer later in this column. Sister-church activities The installation of Rev. Vernon Ibe as missionary-pastor to the fellowship in Albuera, Leyte is scheduled for November 17, 2019 at 3 p.m., at PRC in Bulacan, the Lord willing. Evangelism activities The Evangelism Committee of the Edgerton, MN PRC hosted a speech Friday, September 20, with Rev. Matthew De Boer giving the speech on witnessing. First PRC of Holland, MI planned a presentation they named “Living and Dying Happily” on September 25. The Evangelism Committee of Peace PRC in...
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Earlier this year my wife and I enjoyed an extended furlough in the USA. In the course of visiting our churches, giving presentations at our schools, and discussing with many of you our labors in the Philippines, I was asked numerous questions (and good ones, I might add) about the plans for and work toward the start of a seminary in the Philippines. These questions indicated, first of all, a lively interest in and support for this significant development in the Protestant Reformed Churches in the Philippines (PRCP). It is indeed a large undertaking for this small denomination. But they...
A couple articles ago we considered the prohibition of the seventh commandment as it applies to pornography. The instruction given there, although specifically addressing pornography, can be broadened to include any sexual sin. In the last article we examined the positive requirement of the seventh commandment for those who are unmarried, using three “Cs” to fill that out: Christ, Chastity, and Care. This time we again take that positive approach, but will study the requirement of the seventh commandment for those who are married. As you might expect, the focus will be upon the sexual relationship between a husband and...
Previous article in this series: April 1, 2019, p. 303. In our last article, we introduced the final important truth with regard to Holy Scripture that we intend to consider in this series: the Spirit’s work of illumination. Among all the other works of the Holy Spirit in connection with Scripture is the Spirit’s work of illumination. This is the Spirit’s work in the believer that results in the opening of his eyes and enlightening his understanding. The fruit of this work of the Spirit is that the child of God receives Holy Scripture as the Word of God. It...
Like the helm of a ship or a bit in the mouth of a horse, the tongue is a very little member (Jam. 3:3-5). Perhaps we are most conscious of our tongues when tasting a little food or drink, though we probably do not lap water with our tongues “as a dog lappeth,” as did the 300 soldiers of Gideon (Jud. 7:5). But it is especially in its capacity for language that the tongue “boasteth great things” (Jam. 3:5), even greater than steering the bulk of a ship or controlling a powerful horse. If you have ever used a glossary...
Previous article in this series: July 2019, p. 428. Ecclesiastes 10:18-20 Chapter 10 concludes with three further observations or warnings that we are called to ponder. They belong to the reality of life in a fallen world under the sun. They draw on the way of the fool in his walk and talk (Eccl. 10:12-15), that folly illustrated in the rulers among men (Eccl. 10:5, 6, 16, 17), and the inclination to folly rooted in the flesh (Eccl. 10:1, 2). These observations serve to summarize elements of the chapter and its lessons, call us to a certain measure of discernment...
Dr. Mackereth’s pronoun problem Dr. David Mackereth has worked as a medical doctor in the Accident and Emergency Department of government-run hospitals in England for over twenty years. Last year he became a benefits assessor for the UK Department of Work and Pensions, a job that involves determining whether a person fits the criteria necessary to claim social-welfare benefits on the grounds of disability. A few days after he began his new job, he claims he was asked in a performance evaluation a hypothetical question: “If you have a man, 6 feet tall with a beard, who says he wants...
With thanksgiving to God, we begin the new publishing year for the Standard Bearer. Since the first issue of the magazine appeared in October of 1924, this begins the 96th-volume year. Let us not overlook God’s faithfulness in providing the financial means and the writers all these years. For the coming year, 39 men and women have agreed to contribute from one to as many as ten articles for the SB. What changes will come for Volume 96? The writers added to the list this year (though some have written in the past) include Revs. V. Ibe and S. Key...
That election and the covenant of God are linked has been noted from Ephesians 1. There, in the context of teaching eternal election in Jesus Christ (v. 3), the apostle states, “having predestinated us unto the adoption of children in Jesus Christ” (v. 5). Since in this verse predestination is a synonym for election, election is unto adoption as children. And adoption is an obvious covenant reality. This connection between the covenant and adoption is affirmed in the Reformed “Form for the Administration of Baptism” which teaches that “God the Father witnesseth and sealeth unto us that He doth make...
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15, 16 Time has an unrelenting hold on us. That is evident in our conversations. “Sorry, I’m late!” “I didn’t have time.” “The summer has flown by!” We complain that there just are not enough hours in the day. This is something that touches each of us, young and old alike. Solomon expresses it so beautifully in Ecclesiastes chapter 3, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven….” As we sing...
