All Articles For From Holy Writ

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is: the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt. 7:13-14 We may definitely assert that the “Kingdom of Heaven” is the subject of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Throughout this sermon in Matt. 5:7, the spiritual character of this Kingdom receives all emphasis. It is spiritual in distinction from the earthy expectation of the disciples on the one...

(Speech delivered Aug. 29, 1945 to the Federation of Protestant Reformed Young People’s Societies). “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it.” John 14:12-14 Christ’s departure from His brethren was to them a tremendous mystery. They believed in Him as the...

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which arte at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Eph. 1:1-2 The time and place of the writing of Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians is approximately the same as of the epistles to the Colossians, Philippians, and’ Philemon— this is generally accepted. These epistles were written during Paul’s imprisonment at Rome. Of interest is a comparison between the epistle to the Ephesians and that to the Colossians. A...

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” Eph. 1:3 Verse 3 of Ephesians 1 may well be called the keynote of Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians. Having introduced himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and having proclaimed upon the Church of God grace and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the apostle now directs us to the fulness of that salvation which we possess in Jesus Christ, our Lord. The Church must...

“According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” Eph. 1:4 The connection between this verse and the preceding is expressed by the words “according as”. The apostle purposes to develop the keynote of verse 3. He will describe that glorious salvation, our spiritual blessings in heavenly places, which is ours in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Unto that end he, in verses 4 and 5, refers us to the quiet of eternity, the eternal beginning of our salvation, at the same time revealing...

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19 The future appeared dark for the church of God at the time of the writing of this last epistle of the apostle, Paul. Paul is nearing the end of his life—see 2 Tim. 2:12, 4:6, 7. He is in prison at Rome. As a veteran soldier who knows the reality of life he is concerned about Timothy, the first and youthful minister of the church at Ephesus....

A few remarks of an introductory nature may not be considered out of order. Remarks pertaining to the general setup of this rubric. Our editor of the Standard Bearer has requested, that those contributing to this department could write exegetical studies. These should be of a consecutive nature. In attempting to meet with this requirement the undersigned has agreed with the Rev. H. Veldman to also write on the first section of the Epistle to the Ephesians. The Rev. Veldman would write on the first 6 verses, and I would continue from thereon. Naturally, each would then be free to...

In our former writing on Ephesians 1:6-10 we took notice of the implications of two very important elements in verse 7. These two are: 1. What we must understand by “the redemption in His blood” and “the forgiveness of transgressions”. 2. How these two elements are mutually related in the text and in Scripture in general.

We should remember, that, in our discussion, we are still occupied by the verses 6-10. Up to this point we have called attention to the 7th verse. More particularly, we would point out, that we have called attention to the following elements: We have called attention to the phrases, “the redemption in His blood” and “the forgiveness of sins.” In doing so, we attempted, not only to show the implication of each phrase taken by itself, but also to show how these two ideas are related mutually as a benefit of Gold’s grace. Attention was also directed to the fact,...

“. . . . Having made known tons the Mystery of His will. . . .(namely) to sum up all things in Christ. . . .even, in Him.” Eph. 1:8-10 The conclusion at which we arrived in our former article was, that the phrase “in all wisdom and prudence”, in verse 8, does not refer to the manner of God’s dealing with us, to divine virtues that prompted Him to cause His riches or grace to abound to us. It rather must he understood to designate the content, or at least a phase of the content, of the riches of...