In this chapter Paul continues to write about the relationship that fellow believers ought to have with one another. Whereas in the previous chapter Paul wrote about matters that divide strong and weak Christians, he now moves on to that which should unite us. Both chapters, of course, hinge on our union with Christ. Too […]
Some time ago I listened to a Christian mother voice her concerns about her adult son’s manner of living. The conversation was entirely downbeat until she ended by saying, with something of a smile, “Well, at least he has fire insurance.” It wasn’t until later that I fully understood what that mother was saying. She […]
“But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.” — I John 3:5 It is interesting to observe the way John treats the matter of holiness and righteousness. His appeal to holiness is always made in terms of doctrine—that is, it is always […]
The Free Reformed Churches of North America is made up of nineteen congregations, with most of them located in Canada in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. Two congregations are in the United States, one in New Jersey and one in Michigan, with a mission in Guatemala. They have two church plants, which they call preaching […]
Classis Ontario East met at the Wellandport URC in Wellandport, Ontario, on March 20, 2014. The chairman was Rev. Joel Dykstra of Wellandport URC. Vice-chairman Rev. Norm Van Eeden Petersman opened the meeting with devotions taken from Psalm 51. Fraternal delegate Rev. Huijgen from the Canadian Reformed Churches (CanRC) Classis Niagara was welcomed to the […]
On March 11, 2014, the 42nd meeting of Classis Michigan was hosted by Faith United Reformed Church of West Olive, Michigan. Twenty-four delegates from the twelve area URC churches joined together in Faith’s sanctuary for the deliberations of the day. The meeting was ably led by Rev. Phil Vos as chairman and Rev. Jason Tuinstra […]
The annual meeting of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC) once again provided a venue for representatives of the United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA) and the Canadian Reformed Churches (CanRC) to meet and discuss their efforts toward merger. Those present from the URCNA’s Committee for Ecumenical Relations and Church Unity (CERCU) […]
There it is in the church bulletin. The elders have announced that somewhere in the middle of the week they are calling the congregation to gather for Prayer Day. Some churches observe this day in March, others in May. Somehow it always takes us by surprise. During the service, the congregation sings several songs, and […]
In prior articles on Herman Bavinck’s extensive treatment of the doctrine of sin, I noted that Bavinck treats the doctrine of sin as a kind of backdrop to his exposition of the biblical doctrine of salvation through the person and work of Christ, the Mediator of the covenant of grace. As the Mediator […]
It the end of Romans 14, Paul has finished the official teaching part of his epistle to the church that meets in Rome. Having laid out the full doctrine of salvation, Paul appears almost hesitant to end the epistle. He seems to close the epistle four times (Rom. 15:5; 15:13; 15:33; 16:26–27). His conclusion, however, […]