Now that we have considered Bavinck’s treatment of the doctrines of election and covenant, not only in his Reformed Dogmatics but also in his 1903 treatise on “calling and regeneration,” we are in a position to draw some conclusions regarding his position. These conclusions are based upon the exposition of Bavinck’s theology that we have […]
I would like to thank brothers Bouwers and Visscher for their response to the observations I gave concerning the 2010 URCNA Synod. Both were members of the Joint Theological Education Committee, Bouwers representing the United Reformed Churches, and Visscher the Canadian Reformed Churches. Let me begin by writing that I was genuinely surprised to read […]
“The Lamb Standing on Mount Zion” The overall effect of Revelation 12–13 is overpowering. The great fiery red dragon, that serpent of old, called the devil and Satan, together with his henchmen, the beast from the sea and the beast from the earth, have taken their stand against us. The intent of this unholy trinity […]
Mormonism is on fire. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is burning up the religious landscape in the United States. In 1800 there were no Mormons; in 1950 there were around two million; estimates today are around thirteen million. Recently the Mormon church has been brought to the spotlight through Mitt Romney’s […]
It had been twenty-five years since Abraham had left Haran based upon a promise that God had given to him—a son. Few events, apart from the birth of Jesus, were as anticipated as this event. Finally in Genesis 21—after many misadventures—anticipation became reality when to Abraham and Sarah a child was born, a son was […]
Genesis 20 is considered by some commentaries to be a variation of Genesis 12. After all, there are several similarities. Abraham and Sarah moved to a different area where he was afraid of the ruler. They agreed to say that they were brother and sister instead of husband and wife. The ruler of the land […]
Some might consider the subject of ethics pertaining to the Sabbath to be minimally important in contemporary ethics. Accountability for the minister and his flock for this moral commandment is virtually non-existent on a human level. There are almost as many opinions as there are people on this matter, and attitudes vary from theological disagreement […]
I remember sitting in church, still relatively new to Reformed theology, my mind full of the typical worries of mothers, when our pastor grabbed my attention with an interesting quotation. “The key to your own and your family’s spiritual health is remarkably simple. Though there is considerable hype to the contrary, it involves no pilgrimages […]
Earlier in this issue, Rev. Boekestein asks the question “Is your life an instrument of God’s praise?” That question triggered another question in my mind: “How are we to praise God?” and then, “How are we going to praise Him in 2011?” With that in mind, and it being the time of year when people […]
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25 Depending on when you are reading this, you may have already broken most or all of the resolutions you set for the new year. The old joke is that resolutions are made to be broken. And yet, we smile at […]