All Articles For Bible Study Guide

The Epistle to the Galatians is the strongest polemic against the attempt of the Judaizers to impose on the New Testament church the ceremonial aspects of the Old Testament law. At stake was much more than the circumcision of the Gentiles. The epistle dealt with the question of the law, whether one is justified by faith in Christ Jesus alone or is righteous in the keeping of the ceremon­ial law. The gospel of this epistle expresses the antithesis between bondage under the law and liberty in Jesus Christ. THE GALATIANS In the epistle itself, Paul addresses the recipients as “the...

Rev. Kortering is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Grandville, Michigan. As we begin our study of the book of Judges, we should bear in mind that the events that are recorded in this book follow historically upon those that we examined in the book of Joshua. The Lord raised up Joshua as a leader who guided the people of Israel in their conquest of the land of Canaan and in their assuming their places given to each tribe by the casting of lots. The question arises: what happened to these people after Joshua died? The answer is given...

Rev. Kortering is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Grandville, Michigan. We concluded in the previous article that God chastised His people through the heathen whom Israel had failed to exterminate as commanded by God. As soon as they were thus disciplined, Israel repented and returned unto Jehovah. We should observe that this took place repeatedly, and that it is for this reason that we speak of the cycle of the judges. Prior to the appearance of each of the judges there was a time of prosperity in which Israel had peace and all went well. This changed as...

Jason L. Kortering is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Grandville, Michigan. The first five books of the Bible are joined together into what is called the Pentateuch (five books). The thread of history runs through each one and joins them together into a bond of unity. Genesis marks the beginnings of creation, the patriarchs, and the nation of Israel. Exodus follows this nation out of Egypt to Sinai, where they receive the laws of God, the spiritual basis for the theocracy, God’s rule among them. Leviticus gives additional details of the laws God gave at Sinai, uniting them...

Jason L. Kortering is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Grandville, Michigan. We are in the process of outlining the first discourse of Moses recorded in the book of Deuteronomy (Deut. 1:1-4:43). We continue our outlining in Deut. 2:1. Moses has recalled Jehovah’s faithfulness in dealing with them in their initial stay in the wilderness. Moses describes how God cared for them in their departure from Kadesh Barnea and that they bypassed Mt. Seir, since that country was given to Esau for a possession. They could buy meat and water from them, but not engage in battle (Deut. 2:1-7). They...

Jason L. Kortering is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Grandville, Michigan. 2. The priestly consecration with its warnings for violations (Lev. 8:1-10:20). Aaron and his family were presented to the Lord in the presence of the congregation. Aaron was dressed in the proper clothes of the priest, a robe, an ephod (cape), breastplate, mitre, and crown. Moses took the oil and anointed the tabernacle, including its contents, and also anointed Aaron (Lev. 8:1-13). A bullock of sin offering, a ram of burnt-offering, and a ram of consecration were slain after they had laid their hands upon each of...

This little gem was written by Paul to a rich man who -was instructed by Paul to receive his slave who had run to Rome, but was converted there by Paul’s preaching and instructed to return. As such, it contains many implications on the fruits of the gospel.

Jason L. Kortering is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Grandville, Michigan. In the book of Deuteronomy, we do not have additional laws given by Moses. Rather we have a review of the instructions which God gave the people at Mt. Sinai, for the people who were about to enter the land of Canaan. The book is divided into four parts: the first discourse of Moses (Deut. 1:1-4:43), the second discourse of Moses (Deut. 4:44-26:19), the third discourse of Moses (Deut. 27:1-30:20), and the last words of Moses, including the record of his death (Deut. 31:1-34:12). With our outlining,...

Jason L. Kortering is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Grandville, Michigan. The Book of Joshua follows chronologically upon the events recorded in the Pentateuch. We have seen that the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy deal with the history of Israel that takes them to the very edge of the land of Canaan. They have endured the forty years of the wilderness sojourn, and Moses has been replaced by Joshua as the leader. They are ready to cross the Jordan River. The Former Prophets Having said this, we should acquaint ourselves with the fact that the Book of Joshua...

Jason L. Kortering is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Grandville, Michigan. We have come to the concluding part of the book of Deuteronomy, which contains the last words of Moses and the record of his death (Deut. 31:1-34:12). We are up to chapter 32 with our outline. In chapter 31:19, God instructed Moses to write a song which would witness to the people of Israel concerning God’s faithfulness to them. We now have this song that Moses wrote. In the introduction, Moses expresses the purpose of this song, to ascribe greatness to God (Deut. 32:1-3). This is followed...