Vol 99 Issue 07

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. I Peter 5:7 From every earthly point of view as we enter this new year, we have reason to be anxious. We know nothing about what lies in store for us in 2023. Through all the political animosity and conflict, we see increasing hatred toward Christianity amidst the rapid development of wickedness in the world. From the perspective of our human natures, that is alarming. Nor do we know what trials may develop in the midst of our own families and churches. We know not whom the Lord will...

Peace in the church is fragile and precious. Threats to peace in the church are many and mighty. The call to peace in the church is urgent and necessary. When we speak of the church, we are not referring to the mystical body of all the elect, but to the church institute as the visible congregation where we have our membership. Think of Jerusalem of old where the Israelites gathered for temple worship, or think of the congregation gathered in Corinth during the apostolic era, or think of your own congregation (and denomination). Concerning God’s church may we all sincerely...

Justification—Special issue Thank you for the recent Standard Bearer issue (Nov. 15, 2022) dedicated to “Justification by Faith Alone.” I always enjoy the special issues that focus on a certain theme, and this one was outstanding. I have been having discussions recently with a theologically astute Roman Catholic co-worker (who joined the Catholic church as a young adult after growing up in nominally Reformed churches), and I just shared this SB issue with him. Lord willing, these articles will help spur further discussions with him. May God use these truths to build up His people in hope, comfort, and joy...

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. Acts 16:14 Several of Paul’s teachings are not popular in the church world today, particularly regarding women and church office (I Cor. 14:34; I Tim. 2:11-12). Any issues one may have with Paul’s instruction regarding the role of women in the church simply reveals a lack of understanding of the inspiration of holy Scripture. As an apostle, Paul’s message was the Holy Spirit’s message;...

Previous article in this series: June 2022, p. 402. Two Natures in Christ We therefore acknowledge two natures or substances, the divine and the human, in one and the same Jesus Christ our Lord (Hebrews 2). And we say that these are bound and united with one another in such a way that they are not absorbed, or confused, or mixed, but are united or joined together in one person— the properties of the natures being unimpaired and permanent. The fifth chapter of the SHC is concerned with the church’s confession that Jesus Christ is true God and true man....

Many are the afflictions of the righteous…. Psalm 34:19a Our children may find it disheartening to know that as children of God they will be called upon—chosen really—to suffer many afflictions and persecutions in this life. The concept that it is necessary for them to endure these trials may be hard for them to comprehend. Thus they must be taught to understand that it is a privilege to suffer for the Lord’s sake, and a privilege for which they should give thanks. That the children of God will suffer persecution is scriptural. Being followers of Christ will put us at...

Greetings in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of the harvest, from the City of Antipolo in the province of Rizal of the Philippines. Here is an update regarding our labors in the past several months. 2022 furloughs My family enjoyed our furlough from May 31 to July 28, our first since being called back to labor here in December 2017. Rev. and Mrs. Daniel Kleyn enjoyed their furlough from July 11 to August 30. When thinking about our respective furloughs in June to August 2022, now seemingly long passed already, I was reminded of a comment about furloughs in...

Previous article in this series: December 15, 2022, p. 143. In my previous article, I mentioned the name Lambert Holstege, who was my great grandfather. Lambert (Lammert) was born on December 3, 1880 in Doornspijk, Gelderland. Five months later, he was carried on to a ship and he immigrated to the United States with his family. His parents settled in the Beaverdam area, just west of Hudsonville (West Michigan). For those of you who are familiar with the Hudsonville area, we are talking about 56th Avenue and New Holland Road. Don’t blink or you will miss it…and it still has...

  Mr. Charles Terpstra, member of Faith PRC in Jenison, Michigan and full-time librarian/registrar/archivist at the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary The following book is reviewed by Rev. Daniel Holstege, pastor of Wingham PRC in Wingham, Ontario, Canada. Say Among the Heathen the Lord Reigns, by Mrs. Jean Kortering, Reformed Free Publishing Association, 2022, 368 pages, $24.95 paper. [Originally self-published in 2007.] In 1992, after serving as a pastor for thirty-two years in Protestant Reformed churches throughout America, Rev. Jason Kortering and his wife Jean moved around the world to Singapore and served God throughout Asia for the next ten years....