In my previous article, I summarized the common argument that advocates of paedocommunion derive from the teaching of the Old Testament. This argument appeals primarily to two kinds of evidence, the second of which is the most important. First, an appeal is made to the inclusion of the children of believers within the covenant community […]

“Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other.” (Acts 15:37–39) Paul and Barnabas had […]

Jeremiah could not keep still! As you read through the Book of Jeremiah, you discover that the prophet suffered many things because of his testimony and his preaching. He was threatened so many times that he came to a point in his life where he decided to quit his career as a prophet. He would […]

If you want to understand what the Bible teaches about baptism or any other subject, you should begin the process in the Old Testament. This represents a major difference between Baptists and paedobaptists. Reformed people read the Bible as one book from the perspective of promise and fulfillment. In regards to baptism, if you begin […]

The pure administration of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the second mark of Christ’s Church (art. 29) because they are the external means by which God “confirm[s] in us the salvation which He imparts to us” (art. 33). Christ creates His Church through the preaching of the Gospel, and confirms her […]

“The entire Scriptures consist of two parts, of the law and the Gospel.” This unambiguous distinction between the law and the gospel in Scripture was relentlessly taught by Martin Luther from about 1517 until his death in 1548. Phillip Melanchthon (1497–1560), Luther’s colleague, also taught the difference between the law and the gospel. He said, […]

The opening of the sixth seal brings before us the great Day of Wrath; in view is Judgment Day. The horrifying scene is described in verses 12–14: “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became […]

We have often heard that Jesus Christ had to die on the cross so that our sins might be forgiven. This is absolutely true and wonderful! But it is only one side of the story. Jesus Christ also had to obey on the cross so that we might inherit eternal life. The distinction between these […]

On March 22–23, 2006 the committees for ecumenicity of both the OPC and the URCNA met in Willow Grove, PA to further their ecumenical dialogue. Present from the URCNA: John A. Bouwers, Chuck Dykstra, Gary Findley, Casey Freswick, Don Hoaglander, Todd Joling, Ralph A. Pontier, William Van der Woerd, Harry Zekveld. Present from the OPC: […]

Do you know where your children are? Of course you do. You consider yourself a responsible parent. You make sure your children know their catechism. You provide them with a Reformed Christian education. You do all that you can to provide a Christian environment for your child. Even now, she is upstairs in her bedroom […]