Mrs. Bosveld is a wife and mother in Hope Protestant Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Work. Busyness. Stress. These three words often define our life in this world. Whether we are parents or children, married or single, our lives are busy and stressful. Often we complain that there are…
Rev. Kleyn is pastor of Trinity Protestant Reformed Church in Hudsonville, Michigan. What has happened and what is happening to the Christian Sabbath in society and the church-world all around us? Where has the Sabbath gone? I hardly need to tell you, if my purpose is to inform you. You…
Rev. Bruinsma is Eastern Home Missionary of the Protestant Reformed Churches, stationed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is an age-old question. Is the fourth commandment still in effect for the New Testament church? “Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work:…
Rev. Kuiper is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church in Randolph, Wisconsin. Foundational to a proper understanding of the Sabbath is a right view of God’s covenant. God made the Sabbath for man (Mark 2:27)—specifically, for His covenant people. He gave Israel the Sabbath as a sign of His covenant…
Rev. Smit is pastor of Immanuel Protestant Reformed Church in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. The sessions of the Synod of Dordrecht on Friday, May 17, 1619 were filled with deliberations over issues that had been scheduled for treatment the previous day. On Thursday, May 16, Synod decided that it would treat…
Rev. Koole is pastor of Grandville Protestant Reformed Church in Grandville, Michigan. In its treatment of the fourth commandment (Lord’s Day 38) our Heidelberg Catechism is noticeably brief, one Q. & A. (103); and in reference to the lawful keeping of the Lord’s Day, it is without reference to any…
Rev. Shand is pastor of the Winnaleah congregation of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Australia. The fundamental doctrinal position of the Westminster Assembly regarding the Sabbath Day is set forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith in Chapter XXI, which bears the heading, “Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath-day.” The…
If a denomination will survive as a true church of Christ, she will delight in keeping the fourth commandment. A denomination may perish for other reasons, but refusal to keep the fourth commandment will ensure it. She will perish, not because her permission to violate the Lord’s Day makes her…
Call the Sabbath a Delight! Welcome to our special issue on the Lord’s Day. The Old Testament name Sabbathemphasizes the truth that we are to rest in the mighty works of God, notably our salvation sealed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The New Testament name Lord’s Dayemphasizes that Jesus Christ is…
Rev. Slopsema is pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem…