All Articles For Editorial

What, for a long time we feared, what, according to the reports in the last papers we received from the old country, the Dutch more and more feared, especially since the “protective” possession by the Germans of Denmark and Norway, has now become history: old Holland was invaded and overcome by the German war-machine! And we, no doubt, were all shocked and filled with indignation because of this brutal and wholly unjustified attack upon the lowlands. Without provocation on the part of the Dutch, though the German government concocted several reasons and excuses for this wanton disregard of international relations...

Assurance was a significant doctrine faced at the Synod of Dordt in 1618–19. The Arminians insisted no man could have assurance that salvation was his unless he was told: “God loves you and wants to save you.” And, said the Arminians, that might not be said to him unless it is true that God loves everyone, Christ died for everyone, and God’s desire is to save all. Assurance is also a significant issue in the doctrine of the covenant. The conditional covenant touts itself as the covenant theology that gives the most assurance. The assurance it gives (so it is...

In the last editorial on the Canons’ explanation of faith in Head IV, we called attention to the fact that faith is an instrument that embraces and appropriates Christ and His benefits. This faith, however, it not a condition that man can or must fulfill in order to be saved. This is evident, first, from the fact that faith flows out of election. Second, faith, even the act of believing, is the work of God in the elect. To call a work of God in His people a condition that they must fulfill is wrong on the face of it....

About this subject a question was delivered to me from the Men’s Society of our Church in South Holland, IL. The exact wording of the question I know not, because the question was delivered orally, but I believe that the Society is interested to know especially whether that battle must be conceived of as a real, literal battle, or whether the text in Revelation refers to something spiritual. The possibility of conceiving of it in a spiritual way was suggested, I believe, by the mention of the three unclean spirits that proceed out of the mouth of the dragon, the...

Repeatedly we have heard the thought expressed that since the German Reich established its “protectorate” in old Holland, the Nazi party gained considerably in influence. It is even suggested occasionally that the National Socialist Party is now in the majority. And somewhere I read that even one of the professors of the Free University of Amsterdam had joined the Nazi Party. The facts in the case, however, appear to be, that the original N. S. B. in the Netherlands (Nationaal Socialisten Bond), which at the outbreak of the war numbered approximately forty thousand members, is still a small minority party,...

All our readers, no doubt, know that our lawmakers in Washington are debating the merits and demerits of the “Lease-Lend Bill,” known as H.R. 1776. By the time this number of our Standard Bearer appears it may have been adopted, either with or without important amendments and modifications. For we are making history fast. The bill is designed to make is possible for our government to produce and deliver to Great Britain all the war material she may need with the greatest possible speed. It is divided into nine sections, the most important of which is the third, which we...

Key to a proper understanding of the Reformed doctrine of salvation and therefore also of the doctrine of the covenant, is faith. How faith fits as an instrument must be carefully taught, lest one slip into hyper-Calvinism or into Arminianism. That faith is an instrument is clear from the con­fessions. The Belgic Confession (Art. 22) teaches that “the Holy Ghost kindleth in our hearts an upright faith, which embraces Jesus Christ, with all His merits, ap­propriates Him, and seeks nothing more besides Him.” It goes on to maintain that believers “possess Jesus Christ through faith.” The article rejects the notion...

Even as last year, so also this time the Board of the Federation of Protestant Reformed Young People’s Societies requested us to devote one of the issues of The Standard Bearer to the memory of the Convention of this Federation that was recently held in Oak Lawn. We gladly gave our consent. I think that the Federation is a worthy cause, which well deserves our support. Besides, the contents of this number of our paper may well be read. The only difficulty is that the language must needs be all English. Those of our Holland people that cannot read English...

The Canons’ positive treatment of the Reformed doctrine of total depravity is straightforward and relatively brief. And yet, all nine articles of the Rejection of Errors condemn errors of the Remonstrants connected with total depravity. The reason for this is simple. The Canons set forth the Reformed truth over against the specific teaching of the Remonstrants. However, the Reformed doctrine of total depravity was explicitly set forth in the existing confessions, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Belgic Confession of Faith. The Remonstrants did not write what they really believed about fallen man. If they had, they would obviously contradict the...

Head 2 of the Canons sets forth the Reformed truth that Jesus’ death is an effectual atonement for sin, because it was a substitutionary death and a satisfaction for the sins of the elect only. In harmony with that, the gospel never promises salvation to all who hear the preaching. Rather, in the preaching, though all hearers are commanded to repent and believe, the promise of eternal life is specifically spoken to those who believe. Only the elect can and do believe, for election is the fountain of faith. And since the sacrament of baptism is a sign and seal...