All Articles For Taking Heed to the Doctrine

Previous article in this series: June 2014, p. 391. Introduction In marvelous ways God reveals Himself. First, He reveals Himself in the creation, for “[t]he heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork” (Ps. 19:1). Because of God’s revelation in the creation the psalmist exclaims in Psalm 8:1, “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” Besides God’s revelation of Himself in the works of His hands in the creation, He also reveals Himself in the history of the world, as He orders all things that happen for the accomplishment of...

Introduction What is the Bible? The Bible is a library of books within one book.1 It is a library with two branches: an Old Testament branch and a New Testament branch. It is a library made up of sixty-six books: thirty-nine in the Old Testament branch and twenty-seven in the New Testament branch. The books are written mainly in two languages: Hebrew and Greek. It is a library containing about forty different authors, who wrote over a period of approximately fifteen hundred years. The contents of the books vary: some contain history, others prayers, hymns of praise, visions, poetry, proverbs,...

Previous article in this series: February 15, 2014, p. 222. Introduction A recent post on the Young Calvinists blog informed readers of the depths to which our godless society and the apostate church have sunk in their depravity. At the same time the post demonstrates the extent to which God’s Word is contradicted, corrupted, twisted, and thoroughly distorted by one of the most powerful self-interest groups of our day: homosexuals and lesbians. We have grown up in homes where God’s word is treated with reverence and respect. The Bible is received as God’s revelation to us His people…. Not everyone,...

Previous article in this series: January 1, 2014, p. 151. Introduction Scripture is “the oracles of God.” This is the apostle Paul’s description of Scripture in Romans 3:2. What this means is that Scripture is the Word of God. Scripture is not the word of man and the Word of God. Scripture is rather the Word of God and the Word of God alone. As the oracles of God, Scripture is infallible, inerrant, and authoritative over the individual believer and over the church as a whole. That Scripture is the oracles of God has important im­plication for translations of Scripture....

Previous article in this series: November 15, 2013, p. 80. “Though the Stake Were Staring Us in the Face” A papal legate arrived in the city [of Prague], in the spring of 1412. He brought the sacred pallium—a vestment sent by the pope as a token of authority—to Archbishop Albik, the successor of Zbynek. He was also, to publish the bull of the pope against Ladislas. He suspected that Hus might oppose the measure. Yet it was highly important for the success of the sale of indulgences, the practical plan to raise funds for the crusade, that the great preacher...

Previous article in this series: August 2013, p. 444. A previous article (April 15, 2013, p. 320) spoke of how today many are redefining the term redemption. The redemption of which they speak is very different from the redemption spoken of in Scripture: –  They speak of a “redemption” for this world, rather than for the church. –  This redemption would involve not a deliverance from sin, but rather some external changes in society designed to improve merely the bodily life of human beings. –  Individuals of different religious faiths could join hands as “redeemers,” working together to bring this...

Previous article in this series: December 1, 2012, p. 104. The Bible is the infallibly inspired written Word of God. This is the believer’s heartfelt convic­tion and bold confession concerning Scripture. Simply put, the Bible is the Word of God, the Word of God in the words of men. Because it is the Word of God, the Bible is the supreme authority in the life of the believer. Only God has supreme and ultimate authority. Because the Bible is the Word of God, it has supreme and ultimate authority over the church and over the members of the church. It...

Previous article in this series: June 2013, p. 402. Before our Lord ascended into heaven, He gave us a mandate. He called us to go forth and make all nations disciples of Christ, teaching them to observe everything that Christ has taught us. Constantly we are to be doing this. Centrally on Sunday by means of the official proclamation of the gospel, but also throughout the week, we are to be busily engaged in this work that our Lord has given us. Together we are to seek to learn all that Christ has taught us, applying it to our own...

Many love to speak about “culture” today. Christian education, supposedly, is de­signed to teach our children to engage in “cultural activities” that will make this world a better place. But what exactly is culture? What is accomplished by the various “cultural activities” promoted in neo-Calvinistic colleges today? More importantly, what activity would be the biblical counterpart to the world’s idea of developing culture? What is “culture”? A cultural activity is one that is designed to develop human beings, especially by means of education. It refers to the act of “cultivating” people to promote their growth. Just as agriculture has to...

Redemption has been redefined by many. The true gospel is about the redemption of the church, but many today proclaim a redemp­tion of this world. Not surprisingly, this shift from the redemption of the church to the redemption of this world would involve a change in what is meant by the term redemp­tion. Therefore it is of utmost importance that we know what Scripture means by this term, and how it is being used very differently today by many who claim to be giving instruction in the truth of the Reformed faith. The redemption provided by Christ To redeem is...