Vol 97 Issue 17

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Hebrews 11:7 Are you diligently seeking God and living lives that please Him? Are you actively, consciously, and diligently living by the faith that abounds in all good works? Are you encouraging fellow believers to do good works by what you say and what you do? The goal of God through the inspired writer of Hebrews is not...

God willing, the Synod of the PRCA 2021 will hold its sessions beginning on Tuesday, June 8, 2021. Many synods of other denominations, just as last year, are canceled because of the pandemic. In God’s good providence the PRCA delegates can assemble to do the work of the churches in common, that is, Christ’s work that belongs not to individual congregations alone, but to the whole denomination. Synod begins with the presynodical worship service on Monday evening, June 7. If you are able, please join us, either in person or online as the delegates and congregation call on God for...

The lion is the strongest among beasts (Prov. 30:30). With his sharp claws he can rend a man in pieces (Ps. 7:2). With his powerful jaw he can crush bones and devour a man before he hits the floor (Dan. 6:24). His roar is like the battle cry of nations or the crashing of the seas (Is. 5:29). In the Scriptures, the strength of the lion is a powerful warning for the fierceness of our foes. The devil is not just any adversary, but a roaring lion who seeks victims to devour (I Pet. 5:8). The wicked man is a...

Only Luke is with me. II Timothy 4:11 A previous article on Onesiphorus (April 1, 2021) laid out the dire circumstances that accompanied the apostle Paul during his final days. These circumstances were the backdrop of his final epistle, a second letter to Timothy who was laboring in Ephesus. Before Paul was to leave this life and join the throng of just men made perfect, he delivered some final requests and greetings to those who were near and dear to his heart. Onesiphorus often refreshed Paul toward the end of his life (II Tim. 1:16), but as Paul faced the...

Why does our Lord say in multiple places that He is the beginning and the end? Why is this mentioned in passages stressing that Jehovah alone is God? Could there be more than one who is the beginning? Could more than one be the end? After an introductory article on the Trinity, we look now more specifically at God’s oneness. Afterwards, Lord willing, we will discuss the threeness of God. There are two subjects I plan to address in this first article on God’s oneness. The first is what it means that God is “one only simple” Being, as stated...

Previous article in this series: April 1, 2021, p. 302. Review articles 1 and 2 This article is number five in a series. It is time to reflect a bit. The first two articles in this series were written to explain the importance of maintaining faith as the lone instrument in all our salvation. In order to show how important that is, I backed up a bit to give some history behind the Reformed faith’s use of the word “instrument.” The word was used to describe Scriptures’ teaching that salvation is by, through, and out of faith. Faith is the...

Previous article in this series: December 1, 2020, p. 113. I am not a trained professional who has received a degree in child psychology or family practice. I do not have a Ph.D. in sociology or family counseling. Neither is it my life’s occupation to diagnose childhood disorders or strange behavior patterns in children. I am not saying that these practices are wrong or unnecessary. I am merely saying these are not my credentials. My credentials are more of a practical nature. I was raised in a covenant home with believing parents, my father being a strict disciplinarian and my...

Christ and His Church Through the Ages, vol. 1, The Ancient Church (AD 30–590), 2nd edition. Herman Hanko; edited and revised by Dan VanUffelen. Jenison, MI: Reformed Free Publishing Association. 272 pages, hardcover. $36.95. Reviewed by Douglas Kuiper.   The RFPA website currently lists ten titles written by Herman Hanko, emeritus professor of Church History and New Testament Studies at the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary. Publishing this survey of church history will add four more titles to those ten. These four may well be Hanko’s magnum opus. The four volumes correspond to the four main eras of church history—ancient, medieval,...

Trivia question When Heritage PRC in Sioux Falls, SD was organized in 2010 it became the first PR church in South Dakota in how many years? The only previous South Dakota PRC was located where? Answers later in this column and more trivia next time.   Minister activities Prof. R. Dykstra and his wife Carol returned to the USA in early May after serving the CERC of Singapore for five months. Rev. J. Smidstra and his wife Kelly traveled to Singapore in late April and he intends to fill the pulpit there into late August. Rev. C. Griess (First PRC...