                                       tandarc

                                                  earer

A   R E F O R M E D   S E M I - M O N T H L Y   M A G A Z I N E



     IN THIS ISSUE

             Meditation
               The Righteous Scarcely Saved

             Editorial
               The OPC and the "Free Offer"


             Christian Liberty
               (see: The Strength  of Youth)


             Eschatology - In The Old Testament

               (see: Contending for the Faith)
        i





                                                  Volume XLIX, Number 21, September 15, 1973    .


482                                                       THE STANDARD BEARER



                           CONTENTS:                                                                      THE  STANDARD   BEARER
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Meditation  -                                                                 Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Homer C Hoeksema
   The Righteous Scarcely Saved . . . . . . . . . . . . . .482                Department  Editon:  Rev.  Robert   0.  Decker,   Mr.  Donald   Doezema.  Rev.
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Meditation

                               The Righteous Scarcely Saved
                                                               Rev. M. Schipper

              "And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
                                                                                                                                    I Peter 4:18.

   It should be evident to the most casual reader of this intense persecution which was about to break over the
text that the apostle has said more, to which these                          church, and which would try men's hearts and test the
words are most intimately connected, and without                             faith of the members of the church. Of this the apostle
reference to which the above text cannot be properly                         speaks in verses 12 and 13, "Beloved, think it not
understood.                                                                  strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,
   The text is closely connected to the preceding verse                      as though some strange thing happened unto you: but
and is a further explanation of it. There the apostle                        rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's
writes: "For the time is come that judgment must sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed ye may
begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us,                      be glad also .with exceeding joy." And, again, in verse
what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel                        16, "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not
of God?"                                                                     be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."
   Here the apostle emphasizes three things: first, the                      Secondly, it is also to be noticed, that the apostle
time of the coming judgment is at hand. The judgment                         stresses the point that the judgment begins at the
that is imminent is not the judgment we expect at the house of God. This is the church of God in the world.
end of this age, but it undoubtedly refers to a time of                      It is quite natural that the judgment of persecution


                                               THE STANDARD BEARER                                                   483



should begin with the followers of Christ. Historically       nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
the church of Christ has always borne the brunt of present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor
persecution; for the church is the manifestation of any other creature, shall be able to separate us from
light in the midst of darkness, and darkness always           the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
militates against the light. Thirdly, the apostle             And hear what Peter says in I Peter 1, "Blessed be the
emphasizes that the unbelievers shall melt away in this       God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
judgment. There is also a judgment for them that has          according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us
its end in the destruction of the unrepentant and             again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus
unbelieving.                                                  Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible,
  Indeed, if the righteous scarcely be saved, there is no     and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in
hope for the ungodly and sinner!                              heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God
  Perhaps the apostle had in mind the Word of God in          through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the
Proverbs 11: 3 1 when he penned our text: "Behold, the last time." According to this, not only is our salvation
righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much sure, but we may also be sure of our salvation. This is
more the wicked and the sinner." Here also the                the tone of all Scripture, not only in the New
righteous go not unnoticed in this life. They have their Testament, but also in the Old. The psalmist in Psalm
reward. But it is just as true that the ungodly shall         73 found it hard to understand this, until he went into
swiftly be recompensed.                                       the house of God. Then his eyes were opened, and he
  The righteous scarcely saved!                               saw not only the end of the wicked, but also his own
  Notice, first of all, that though the righteous are         end. The Lord would guide him now by his counsel,
scarcely saved, they nevertheless are surely saved!           and afterwards take him to glory.
  We must not be misled by the interpretation of                The surety of the salvation of the righteous rests
some who would find in our text a ground for their            also upon other considerations, based upon the Word
contention that it is possible for the righteous to be        of God. Upon the basic truth of eternal and sovereign
lost. They explain our passage in such a way that God         election. Concerning this truth Jesus said, "All that the
is said to provide the prize for all. Accordingly, there      Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that
are many who set their feet on the path to run for the        cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out," John 6:37.
prize. But alas, the majority fail ultimately to reach the    Again He said, "My sheep hear my voice; and I know
crown. God, as it were, opens wide the gate of the            them, and they follow me: and I give unto them
eternal city for all to enter. He stands with open arms       eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall
beckoning all to choose the divinely prescribed way to        any man pluck them out of hand . . ." John 10:27-30.
righteousness and life. 0, it is admitted that you will       Moreover, with this basic truth which certifies the
always find some who utterly disdain this glorious            salvation of the righteous and is a fruit of it, we have
way, and who despise these eternal values to their own        the fact that we have been purchased by the blood of
destruction. But in spite of this there are many who          Christ. He laid down His life for His sheep, not for
strive earnestly for the goal and the prize. But through goats. Through that blood the elect become righteous.
temptation by the devil and the world, they are               It is atoning blood. It delivers us from the wrath of
side-tracked, and fail to reach the proffered prize.          God. It gives us the right to eternal life. For His people
Again, there are others who do not possess enough of Jesus is Jehovah, Who saves. With their righteousness
the grace of patience, who, when trials and troubles          they have the adoption unto sons, and the right to an
arise, lose heart and fall by the wayside. So the inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled, that fadeth
righteous are scarcely saved, which means that only           not away. And for that inheritance they are kept by
few there are who ever obtain eternal salvation.              the power of God through faith.
  If this were true, salvation would indeed be a                Indeed, the righteous are surely saved!
precarious thing. No one, not even the righteous can            Yet the text says, they are scarcely saved! What does
with certainty know whether he will be fmally saved.          the Word of God here mean by the righteous? And
It is much like the hymn goes: Almost - but lost!             what is to be understood by the fact that they are
  Such an interpretation militates against all that           scarcely saved?
Scripture teaches, and contradicts the experience of            The righteous are they who are upright in life and
every sincere child of God. If this interpretation were       walk. They conform to the perfect will of God which
true, then all true believers in our Lord Jesus Christ        always judges them. Righteousness is that grace of God
would have to conclude that they are yet in their sins,       in them according to which they are in harmony with
and of all men most miserable.                                His holy will in all their thinking, willing, and acting,
  Nay, all Scripture declares in no uncertain terms           and that, not according to their own judgment, but
that the salvation of the righteous is very sure. It is as    according to God's judgment which is constantly over
sure as God is the living God. Listen to Paul in Romans them.
8; "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life,           You ask: Where shall they be found who possess this


484                                           THE STANDARD BEARER                                                         I


righteousness? Do not the Scriptures declare there is destruction.
none righteous, no, not one? Is it not rather true that         Would you see clearly how the righteous are scarcely
all men are totally depraved, and altogether filthy and saved, you need only to look to our Saviour, the
corrupt?                                                      Captain of ou.r salvation. 0, how He battled His, way to
  And the Word of God answers, indeed, in all the salvation! In His human nature He nearly succumbed in
race of Adam there can be found no one who is the garden of Gethsemane, where His soul was
righteous in himself, except One, our Lord Jesus exceeding sorrowful even unto death. On the cross of
Christ. He conformed perfectly to the will of God. He Calvary He exclaims: "My God, My God, why hast
declared it was His meat and drink to do the will of Thou forsaken Me?" Think also of the persecution and
God. And this holy and righteous Child Jesus God sent trial He endured at the hands of wicked men. There on
into the world to make all whom the Father had given the cross it appeared that not He, but the devil and the
Him righteous as He is righteous. He Who knew no sin world of darkness was victor. Yet He knew that He,
was made sin for us, in order that we might be made the Righteous, was saved. On the third day He arose,
the righteousness of God in Him. He was delivered for victor over sin, death, and grace. And in His ascension
our offenses and raised because of our justification.         He entered into the glory of perfect salvation.
  So, and not otherwise, there are righteous! Surely,           As He was, so are the righteous in this world, only
they are never righteous because of any work which with this difference: while He, the righteous, was the
they accomplish. In themselves they are hopelessly lost sinless One made sinner; they, the righteous, are
and unrighteous. But in and through Christ they are sinners who become righteous through His grace.
made righteous. The cross of Calvary is witness to the          Indeed, the righteous are scarcely saved; yet by
fact that God dipped the pen of His good pleasure in grace, they overcome, and at last enter into the glory
the fountain of Jesus' blood, and cancelled all our of their salvation. They are saved in glory!
debt, and writes the sentence of our perfect                    This is implied also in the rest of the text!
righteousness in Him. The opened grave in Joseph's              There the question is asked: "Where shall the
garden is God's testimony to us that our sin and guilt is ungodly and sinner appear?"
vanquished, and the seal of our righteousness before            The ungodly  are the impious, wholly destitute of
God. All our righteousness is in Christ. Those in Christ reverential awe towards God and things holy.  The-
are the righteous indeed!                                     sinner is the same impious one who always misses the
  Who are scarcely saved!                                     mark of God's law. Together they are the impenitent
  That the righteous are scarcely saved means that wicked who go on in their way of sin and rebellion to
they are saved with great difficulty. The road to their destruction. It is not, nor shall it ever be well with
perfect salvation is narrow, and beset with much them. Let them know that their day  corn&h,  when
tribulation. They are surrounded constantly by many they shall be consumed as in an oven. The wrath of
enemies, the greatest of whom they carry under their God abideth upon them, even though they appear to
own waist-coat, their own sinful flesh, their old man of prosper in the world. The children of darkness who
sin within them. The good they would do, they do not persecute the righteous shall surely fall into the pit
do; and the evil they would not, they do. Their flesh they have digged.
wars against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh.      But the righteous, who are saved with great
Because of this they often must cry out with the difficulty, shall enter at last into heavenly glory!
apostle: "0, wretched man that I am! who shall deliver          They that touch the righteous to hurt them, touch
me from this flesh?" They are righteous only in the apple of God's eye. The righteous Lord Who
principle. Then, too, along the way to salvation they delivers the righteous, will destroy all their adversaries,
meet many enemies that seek to pull them back and while He saves His people through the way of
make it difficult for them to attain to their final difficulty.
salvation. The devil battles hard against them. The             Here is the unspeakable wisdom and grace of God!
world tries to engulf them, and ensnare them to





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                                                  THE STANDARD BEARER                                                              485


Editorials

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                      The OPC and the `jFree Offer" (4)
                                                    Proi H. C. Hoeksema
                                                Contrary to the Confessions
                                                              (continued)
  We now continue to demonstrate from the                              For note that in Chapter III, 7 the same Westminster
Westminster Confession of Faith that the Confession states the following:
offer-theology set forth in the Murray-Stonehouse                            The rest of mankind God was pleased, according
pamphlet, The Free Offer of the Gospel, is inconsistent                 to the unsearchable counsel of His own will, whereby
with our Reformed confessions.                                          He extendeth or withholdeth mercy, as He pleaseth,
  In Chapter III, 5 we read (and again, I insert the                    for the glory of His sovereign power over His
references to the Scriptural proofs, which the                          creatures, to pass by; and to ordain them to
Confession quotes in full):                                             dishonour and wrath for their sin, to the praise of His
       Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life,               glorious justice (Matt. 11:25, 26; Rom. 9:17,18,21,
    God, before the foundation of the world was laid,                   22; II Tim. 2:19,20;  Jude, ver. 4; I Pet. 2:8).
    according to His eternal and immutable purpose;and                 Now let us notice, for the purposes of this
    the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, bath          discussion, that this article speaks infralapsarian
    ch,osen, in Christ, unto everlasting glory (Eph.                language: for it speaks of the 
    1:4, 9, 11; Rom. 8:30; II Tim. 1:9; I Thess. 5:9), out                                                    passing by  of the
    of His mere free grace and love, without any foresight          reprobate. This only strengthens our argument, and it
    of faith, or good works, or perseverance in either of           prevents anyone from claiming that the controversy
    them, or any other thing in the creature, as                    about the offer is one of supra against infra. This has
    conditions, or causes moving Him thereunto (Ram,                been claimed upon occasion in the past, as though
    9:11, 13, 16;Eph.l:4,9):andalltothepraiseofHis                  basically  infia  is more sympathetic to the Arminian
    glorious grace (Eph. 1:6,12).                                   position than is supra. Anyone who claims this either
  This article teaches that God's grace and love were does not understand infralapsarianism as over against
toward His elect in Christ from eternity. And, in the Arminianism  - and at the same time betrays little
light of what this same Confession teaches concerning knowledge of the history of doctrine (it is the
reprobation, it teaches that God's grace and love are infralapsarian Canons of Dordrecht, after all, which
for the elect  exclusively.  The Murray-Stonehouse controvert the Arminian heresy!)  - or he is
pamphlet teaches that God is filled with lovingkindness deliberately twisting the truth. No sound and
`toward the reprobate. It teaches a grace for all that is consistent infralapsarian could possibly agree with the
revealed in the gospel. And no amount of mental offer-theology of the Murray-Stonehouse pamphlet.
gymnastics can harmonize the two or even persuade a                    Notice, secondly, that for all its infra  language, this
man that both positions are possible.                               article emphasizes very clearly that reprobation is


486                                                          THE STANDARD BEARER


sovereign and unconditional:                                                This article connects the whole of our salvation,
                                                                          both objective and subjective, with the decree of
1) It speaks of God's good pleasure: God "was pleased
         ,,                                                               election. The foreordination of the elect includes not
. . .                                                                     only their appointment unto glory but also "all the
2) It speaks of the fact that God extendeth or                            means thereunto." And these means include the work
withholdeth mercy "according to the unsearchable of Christ for us, that is, His redemption, and the work
counsel of His own will."                                                 of Christ  in  us: calling, faith, justification, adoption,
3) It speaks of the fact that He reprobates "for the sanctification, and preservation. Notice, too, that there
glory of His sovereign power over His creatures."                         is a' strict limitation in this article, in the form of an
4) And note very carefully that it speaks of the fact exclusion: "Neither are any other redeemed by Christ,
that God was pleased "to ordain them to dishonour effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and
and wrath for their sin." Notice, please, that the phrase saved, 
"for their sin" does not  belpng  with the words "to                             but the elect only." (emphasis added) This is
ordain."                                                                  worthy of special note. Sometimes it has been claimed
                      That would be conditional reprobation:              that this element of 
reprobation on the basis of foreseen sin. That is the                                              exclusiveness is not found in the
                                                                          Westminster Confession. But this is obviously not
Arminian position. And that is the only consistent correct.
position which the offer-theology can take with                             But an article such as this presents insurmountable
respect to reprobation. But the words "for their sin" difficulties for the offer-theology. In the first place, if
belong with "dishonour and wrath." This also explains the redemption' of Christ through the cross is for the
how the Confession can add at  this point: "to the ele`ct only, it is evident that there was in God no desire
praise of His glorious justice."                                          to save all men and no disposition of lovingkindness
       Now the position of offer-theology is in direct toward all men when He gave His only begotten Son:
contradiction of the above article of faith. The for then He would certainly have redeemed them all,
protagonists of this position may expostulate again and something which He did not do. In the second place, if
again that when they speak of the offer of the gospel, Christ died and paid the price of redemption for the
they are not referring to the  decretive will of God, .elect only, and for none other, then God has no
while at the same time they claim that they are not                       salvation to offer the reprobate. The benefits of the
referring simply to "the bare preceptive will of God." cross were purchased only for the elect. How, then,
This is a ruse by which  nd. one  - least of all, they                    can it be truthfully said  - not only by the human
themselves - can be convinced. The fact remains that preacher, but by God Himself  - that He offers
they attribute to the will of God two totally contra- salvation to all and that He desires the salvation of all?
dictory desires:                                                          Such an offer cannot possibly be bonafide! In the third
 1. God wills the damnation of the reprobate: He has place, what kind of God does the offer-theology
ordained them to dishonour and wrath.                                     presuppose? A `God Who desires the salvation of all,
2. God has a real disposition of lovingkindness toward but Who does not provide for their salvation? A God
the reprobate, according to which He wills their Who is able certainly to save whomsoever He desires to
salvation.                                                                save, and Who claims that He desires the salvation of
       And it is impossible for any rational mind to hold all and is filled with lovingkindness toward all, but
both positions.                                                           Who nevertheless neither. redeems, nor calls effectually,
       Next we call your attention to Chapter III, 6:                     nor justifies, nor adopts, nor sanctifies, nor preserves?
                  As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so          Among men anyone who would thus conduct himself
               hath He by the eternal and most free purpose of His        would be called a cruel fraud and deceiver! And how
               will, foreordained all the means thereunto (I Pet. 1:2;    much more is this true of such a God! Yet this is the
               Eph. 1:4, 5; Eph. 2:lO; II Thess. 2:13). Wherefore,        God of the offer-theology!
               they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are              This concludes our quotations from Chapter III of
               redeemed by Christ (I Thess. 5:9, 1.0; Tit. 2:14), are     the Westminster Confession.
               effectuaily called unto faith in Christ by His Spirit                                  ***
               working in due season, are justified, adopted,
               sanctified (Rom. 8:30; Eph. 1:5; II Thess. 2:13), and      Note: In my previous editorial on this subject a
               kept by His power, through faith, unto salvation (I        mistake was made by the printer. On page 460, 2nd
               Pet. 1~5). Neither are any other redeemed by Christ,       column, following the words, "In Chapter III, 3,4, we
               effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and    read," the next two paragraphs should have been
               saved, but the elect only (John 17:.9; Rom. 8:28end;       indented as a quotation from the Westminster
               John 6:64,65;  John 10: 26; John 8:45; I John 2:19).       Confession of Faith.

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                                                    THE STANDARD BEARER.                                                         487


All Around Us

                                           A Computerized Isaiah
                                          Deciding the Unthinkable
                                                         ProJ: H. Hanko

A COMPUTERIZED ISAIAH
  Higher critics have for a very long time insisted that              and eccentricity. He chose as Isaiah's norm the first
the book of Isaiah was not written by one man, but by                 twelve chapters, commonly accepted as of unitary
two or three. This idea has become rather generally                   authorship, and programmed two computers to
accepted  - even within Reformed circles. I recall an                 compare these with the rest of the book.
article several years ago in a Reformed periodical                         Check: Radday was convinced that the results
                                                                      would confirm his own belief in `&one and only one"
which defended this  .view. While it is not always                    Isaiah: But the Elliot 503 and IBM 360/50  computers
admitted, the main difficulty for scholars is the                     reported that no fewer than three authors had been at
prophecy of the last half of the book which predicts                  work on the complex verses of Isaiah.. Astonished,
the return of the children of Judah under Cyrus, an                   Radday sent his material to West German physicist
event which did not take place until over a century                   Dieter  Wickmamr  for a second computer check.
after Isaiah prophesied of the event. The question is                 Wickmann estimated the probability that the latter
therefore one of prophecy itself. Did Isaiah predict, as              half was written by the author of the fast half at 1 in
the Word of the Lord, the return of the captives of                   100,000.
Judah more than a hundred years before this event                          Despite his own statistical evidence, Radday
took place? The higher critics insist this was impossible             remains skeptical. "I would not like to suggest," he
                                                                      says, "that the problem of Isaiah has been solved. My
and, doing so, deny prophecy. And this in turn                        results are only probabilities." But for all his
involves a question concerning the inspiration of the                 scholarly caution, the 59-year-old professor clearly
Scriptures. It is a very old question.                                found his methodology promising. Next on his list for
  The problem has recently been attacked with the                     computer analysis is the Book of Judges.
assistance of computers. A recent article in Newsweek
describes what was done.                                           This reminds me of a story which appeared in the
       Of all the Old Testament prophets, Isaiah is the          public press some years ago. There was a man in
    most revered by Jews and Christians alike. The Book          England who tried the same thing as Prof. Radday;
    of Isaiah ranges prodigiously over the turbulent reigns      only he concentrated his attention on the epistles of
    of four Judaean kings whom Isaiah served - with              Paul. After careful and lengthy analysis with the aid of
    dizzying changes of role - as chastizer, comforter and       computers, he concluded that only a very few (I have
    remorseless lobbyist for social justice. For Christians,     forgotten the exact figure) of the epistles traditionally
    his verses on the Suffering Servant herald the coming        ascribed to Paul were actually authored by him. The
    of Christ.
       The book of Isaiah is, in fact, so protean and so         difficulty was that this Englishman was a very prolific
    diverse that scholars have long wondered whether             writer. Some wag took all his writings and, using the
    there were several Isaiahs. One problem is historic;         same  formulae as the Englishman, subjected this
    the time span covered in the book is about 200 years.        Englishman's writings to computer analysis. The results
    A second is literary; one segment is expansive, full of      were that the Englishman actually wrote only a small
    biographical detail about the author, while another          fraction of what. he had claimed to write, and there
    segment is cryptic, in which the author never                were easily detectable, by computer analysis, at least
    mentions his name. Now, sophisticated electronic             four or  five different authors who had a part in the
    gadgetry has been enlisted to try to solve the Isaiah        writings of this man. So much for computer analysis.
    enigma. Yehuda Radday, an Israeli professor of Bible            But there is a morelserious side to this matter. To
    studies at Haifa's Technion Institute, has fed the           subject any part of Scripture to computer analysis with
    Book of Isaiah into a computer.                              the purpose of learning authorship is to deny the
       While the prophet's shifts in subject matter might        divine authorship of Scripture. Granting that the Lord
    simply reflect a natural evolution of ideas, Radday
    reasoned, Isaiah's use of language should remain             God, in His inscrutable wisdom, used men to give us
    constant. So Radday analyzed the linguistic                  the Holy Scriptures, it nevertheless remains a fact that
    properties of the book's 18,000 words. To measure            such futile exercises as described above are, in effect,
    stylistic patterns, he selected 29 criteria such as          subjecting God Himself to the analysis of a computer.
    sentence length, syllabification, vocabulary richness        This is evil.


488                                           THE STANDARD BEARER


DECIDING THE UNTHINKABLE                                  between "homosexual," "homosexuality," and
   The apostle Paul writes to the Church at Ephesus "homosexualism." The first term refers to a person
warning them about the evils in the world and with homo sexual "tendencies" or "inclinations,"
admonishing the Christians at Ephesus to flee these though he need not necessarily commit the act. The
sins. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful second term describes the condition of a man who has
works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a homosexual tendencies. The third designates the act
shame even to speak of those things which are done of itself. The third term therefore is a reference to the
them in secret." Ephesians 5 : 11,12.                     overt sin. This was condemned by Synod.
   One has the strong impression that this observation      However, Synod took the position, upon the advice
of the apostle has had very little effect in recent years of the study committee that a man or woman may be a
in the Church of Christ. Paul observes that it is a shame homosexual by reasons of birth or environmental
even to speak of the wicked things done by the influences. The pertinent paragraph reads: "As we have
ungodly. People not only speak of them today; seen in the earlier part of this report, we have learned
ecclesiastical assemblies discuss them and make from the sciences that homosexuality often is a
decisions about them. And, even worse, ecclesiastical condition which is rooted deeply in biological and
assemblies pass decisions which more or less approve of psychological aberrations that create a disorder for
these very things.                                        which the individual can be held only partly
   I refer, of course, to the recent decisions of the responsible, if at all."
Christian Reformed Church on homosexuality. One             If this means anything at all, then the following
dislikes writing about these things. It would be better conclusions must be drawn from this statement: 1)
not to mention them. The sin is too great, too The sciences are regulatory in this matter even when
monstrous, too horrible even to discuss. This is why they contradict the Scriptures. The Synod was
there is something unutterably sad and hopeless about prepared to accept the findings of science rather than
the fact that the Synod of the Christian Reformed the clear and unequivocal statements of the Word of
Church even spent time discussing the matter. Even God. 2) The condition of homosexuality is found in
.apart from the fact that a decision was taken, apart some because of biological and/or psychological
from the question of what the decision was, even if the aberrations. That is, a person is born this way, or he
whole matter had been totally condemned by the becomes this way through adverse psychological
Synod, there is something hopeless about the mere influences. This is what science tells us. 3) This
presence of such a question on an ecclesiastical condition is not therefore rooted in a sinful nature; it
assembly. If the Churches have declined spiritually to is not itself sin; it has nothing to do with sin or total
such an extent that such a question can even come up depravity. It is biological or psychological aberration.
and be seriously entertained, then there is something 4) A person is not responsible therefore, for being this
very hopeless about the ecclesiastical situation.         way (or perhaps, only minimally responsible). It is a
  We do not intend to discuss that decision in this twist of fate, a matter of the genes, something he
article. It is lengthy and involved; the matter is too cannot help, something for which he need not give
clear to warrant extended discussion - after all, God account, a cross to be borne, a burden to carry.
destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for exactly this sin.          It is no wonder then that Synod concluded that
But we do want to call attention to a basic such a person, as long as he does not commit the act, is
presupposition in the whole chain of argument which to be accepted into the Church, is to be treated with
is of wider application than this decision, but which is love and compassion, is to have the sympathy and
spiritually and ethically evil.                           understanding of the body of the saints, and is even to
  The decision has created no little stir in the be allowed to hold office. "By the same token,
Christian Reformed Church, as well it should. Various churches should recognize that their homosexual
meetings have been held, at least in the Grand Rapids members are fellow-servants of Christ who are to be
area, as some attempted to explain to the people of the given opportunity to render within the offices and
Church the meaning and correctness of the decision - structures of the congregation the same service that is
as well they might. There has been some expected from heterosexuals."
misunderstanding about the whole matter, I presume.         We have no time nor inclination to deal with this
Some have said that the Synod approved of sophistry in detail. But a few observations are
homosexual acts; they did not do this. But even though nevertheless important. At the very heart of the matter
it is true that this was not done, nevertheless, the lies the whole question of sin. Is sin  sin?  There is
decision is so wrong that one wonders how it is altogether too much denial of this in our day. One can
possible for a Reformed body to come to such a find this same approach in practically every mental
decision - and that by an overwhelming majority vote.     institution. When a person, so it is said, commits
  To understand the position which Synod took, one adultery, robs a bank, murders his father, this is not
must understand that Synod made a distinction             sin; it is biological or psychological aberration. The


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                489


man does not need the admonitions of Scripture to who change the glory of the incorruptible God into an
repent; he needs psychiatric care. This whole theory is image like unto corruptible man. But it is a sin which
now carried over into the area of homosexuality. But flows forth from a nature depraved and corrupted.
the evil of it all is that sin is denied. More and more And it is the kind of sin which results not from
there is no such thing as sin. There is sickness; there is biological and psychological aberrations (science may
aberration; there is abnormality; but there is no sin. know about these, but Scripture does not), but from
And, of course; if there is no sin, there is no need for inordinate lust. The lust is already the sin - long before
repentance and conversion. And, worst of all, there is the act is committed. The depraved nature of man is
no need of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ capable of terrible crimes - even against nature. And
died, not to save abnormal people and those with when a person gives himself over to these sins, he
biological aberrations (although salvation is certainly becomes a slave of them.
from all the afflictions which flow from sin); Christ        This is the point that needs remembering. Sin is a
died to save sinners. And the cross is for those who monster. It is a most cruel and heartless tyrant. It has
turn from sin and flee for forgiveness to the blood of power beyond our comprehension. When a person sets
atonement. How comfortable for the homosexual: he himself on the pathway of drunkenness, he willingly
needs not repentance and conversion; he needs medical and willfully gives himself over to sin. When a person
treatment. And yet how cruel: he needs not the cross; lets lust enter his life, he becomes a slave of lust. When
he needs the doctor of psychiatry.                         a person turns to unnatural lust, he invites the tyrant
  Can a woman be a whore by birth and never have of lust to rule in his life. And when this happens, then
committed fornication? Can a murderer be such from these sins become so completely masters that change is
birth and never have hated in his heart and killed? Can impossible. The chains are too tightly bound. The
a fornicator be made into one by his environment and shackles are too heavy. The tyranny of sin is too
never have lusted or committed fornication. Can a complete. A man invites this upon himself when he
drunkard be such because of biological aberrations and enters sin's service. He ceases to be anything else but a
never have tasted a drop of liquor? What kind of wretched slave of his sins, and from them there is no
sophistry is this?                                         escape.
  Scripture presents quite another picture. Whatever         No escape, that is, except through the power of the
terms one may want to use, homosexualism is a cross. For grace is greater than all sin. Not sympathy is
terrible sin. It is the kind of sin which apparently required and loving acceptance of the sinner, all the
stands in a class by itself in the Scriptures. It is one of while excusing his perversity; but grace and the power
those sins which it is a shame to speak of  - also for of the Lord Christ. Not psychiatric treatment and
ecclesiastical assemblies. It is a sin which brings fire excusing of sin, but conversion and repentance. For
and `brimstone from heaven upon those who do such the blood of the cross cleanses from all sin.
things. It is a sin which Paul in Romans 1 describes as      Synod turned away from the cross and turned the
being a special kind of judgment of God upon those sinner from the cross. How terrible!



Question  Box

      Going Into The Streets And lanes Of The City
                                              Luke 14:21
                                              Prof H.C. Hoeksema
Question                                                   interpretation. So the question comes down to this:
  From a Michigan reader I received a letter in which a does this passage teach that we are literally to go out
brother poses a problem of interpretation which arose into the streets and lanes of the city and into the
in the context of a discussion about Key `73 highways and hedges of the country to evangelize?
evangelism. But this reader asks me to formulate his And if not, what is the significance of the passage?
question. Evidently the language of Luke 14: 21-23 was RePlY
quoted in support of mass evangelism and even of door        First of all, a word or two about the connection of
to door evangelism. And my correspondent felt that this question with Key `73 evangelism. For one thing,
this was not the idea of the parable in Luke 14, but       our objection is not to  evangelism  as such. True
was unable at the moment to furnish the proper evangelization is the calling and duty of the church of


490                                         THE STANDARD BEARER


Jesus Christ in the midst of the world. The denial of 2) The supper prepared is the fulness of blessing in the
this would be tantamount to a denial of the very kingdom of God in the new dispensation. It denotes
nature of the church. Moreover, the church is called to    the supreme blessing of the covenant-fellowship of
proclaim the gospel promiscuously, that is, to all, elect God, together with all the blessings implied in that
and reprobate, to whom God in His good pleasure fellowship: the forgiveness of sin, righteousness,
sends the gospel. However: 1) The gospel which must adoption unto children and heirs, sanctification, the
be proclaimed must be the gospel of the Scriptures,        nourishment of faith and hope and love  - all the
not the pseudo-gospel of Arminianism, of spiritual blessings of the kingdom. These had been
offer-theology, and of crusade-evangelism that is so promised all through the old dispensation, but they
widespread today. The church is called to proclaim were not "ready." Now, in the new dispensation, they
promiscuously a particular promise. 2) As has been so are ready, prepared by God through the death and
admirably explained by Rev. Engelsma in his recent resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ready in
lecture on Key `73, the ecumenistic evangelism of Key Christ.
`73 is not true evangelism. 3) It is not the calling of 3) To come to the supper implies that we long for
Tom, Dick, and Harry to be little evangelists. The God's fellowship and love and favor, desire it and seek
church  is called to proclaim the gospel, and does so      it above anything else  - as is clearly implied in the
through her God-ordained and officially called contrast of those in the parable who "all with one
ministers.                                                 consent began to make excuse" and who placed their
  In the second place, a word about the interpretation own things before the importance of coming to the
of parables. Not only must one be careful to discern supper. And it implies, therefore, that we are sorry for
the particular point of comparison and lesson in each sin and that we hunger and thirst after righteousness,
parable; but one must also guard against interpreting that we sincerely put away from us every evil way,
the figurative language of the parables literally, or even every sin that we love, all of self and of our own
mixing elements of the literal and of the figurative. interests, that we seek our all in the finished work of
Thus, for example, everyone recognizes (from the God in Christ.
Lord's own interpretation) that the Parable of the 4) Notice, further, that the servant is sent out to call
Sower is not about literal farmers, literal seed, literal them that were bidden. Here you have the call of the
soil, but about the preaching of the Word and about gospel, the external preaching of the gospel. And this
the different kinds of hearers of the Word. So also call comes, first of all, to them "that were bidden,"
here, in the Parable of the Great Supper, everyone that is, in general, to the Jews, who had the Word of
recognizes that this parable does not intend to teach God and to whom the gospel must always be preached
about a literal, earthly supper and about being bidden first. Bear in mind, in this connection, that historically
to that supper. All recognize that it has to do with the the point of the parable is that of the new
call of the gospel to the "feast" of the kingdom of dispensation, when "all things are ready." Note, too,
heaven. But then, to be consistent, one must not that this call cannot be declined without great loss:
switch to a literal interpretation of the streets and "none of those men that were bidden shall taste of my
lanes of the city, the highways and hedges of the supper." But note also that in the light of Scripture
country, nor even the poor, the maimed, the halt, and this call is more than a mere, kind invitation. It is a
the blind that are mentioned in this context. To press command, implying a solemn obligation; and to refuse
these details literally and to their extreme will only this  command  brings the penalty of death. This is
result in reducing the whole matter of preaching the sharply emphasized in the Parable of the Wedding
gospel to absurdity. I would certainly not advise Feast. of the King's Son in Matthew 22. And note,
anyone to preach the gospel on Interstate 80 or further, that this is very definitely the outward call of
Interstate 96 where the cars go whizzing past at 70 or the gospel - the call which reaches many, while few
80 miles per hour. Nor would I advise one to preach are chosen. For it is plain from this parable, too, that
the gospel literally in the hedges - not if he expects to not all who are called actually come. (Again, compare
have hearers. This is simply not the point of the whole the parable in Matthew 22, where the Lord specifically
parable.                                                   concludes with the words, "For many are called, but
                                                           few are chosen.")
  In the third place, a few words concerning the 5) A three-fold distinction is made among them that
significance of the Parable of the Great Supper:           are called to the supper. In the first place, there are
1) In general, this parable is by no means the same as those who were bidden. This denotes, we said, the
the Parable of the Wedding Feast of the King's Son in Jews, in general. But more ,particularly it points to the
Matthew 22. The reader may compare the two. And chief priests and elders, the scribes and Pharisees, who
indeed, the two have certain likenesses, and in certain considered themselves to be the elite in Israel, in
respects are also complementary. But they are not to distinction from the common people, who "knew not
be identified.                                             the law" and who were "accursed." They were in their


                                            THE STANDARD BEARER                                                 491


own estimation the ones who were called to the feast order are.called last.
and who had a proper place at the supper. They were 6) Finally, note the purpose and effect. On the one
the children of Abraham, who claimed knowledge of hand, none of those that were bidden shall taste of the
and loyalty to Moses  - in their own estimation. But supper. On the other hand, the house must be filled
when Jesus came in the fulness of time, and when the with guests. This certainly does not denote, in the light
supper was all prepared, they "all with one consent of the rest of Scripture, that the filling of God's house
began to make excuse." And, by the way, do not is haphazard or that God first intended that certain
overlook the fact that the Lord Jesus spoke this men should be guests and that when this failed, by
parable at "the house of one of the Chief Pharisees" "hook or crook" somehow He would fill His house
and "on the sabbath day" when they "watched him" with guests at the supper of the kingdom. But it
- evidently to see whether He would heal on the emphasizes that the Lord surely fulfills His purpose of
sabbath day (vss. 1-5)  - and when they were all fiUing His house through the preaching of the gospel -
concerned about choosing out the chief places at this all, of course, according to His purpose of election,
dinner! In the second place, there are those who are which certainly cannot be frustrated by those who
called by the servant from the streets and lanes of the disobey the gospel. And, in the second place, it
city: the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the emphasizes that to reject the call of the gospel is
blind. These represent, in distinction from the indeed a heinous sin, which incurs the fierce anger of
self-righteous scribes and Pharisees, "the lost sheep of God and which can only have the dire result that those
the house of Israel," of the  city, the theocracy. They who reject it have no place at the supper of the
are the spiritually sick, the spiritually needy, the kingdom, no part in the fellowship of God's covenant
despised and the outcast, who should enter into the and in the blessings of the feast that is ready.
kingdom of God rather than the "wise and prudent."           I hope that I have shed some light on my
And, in the third place, there are those who are called    questioner's problem; and if I have missed his point, he
from the highways and hedges, outside the city. These is welcome to call again.
denote the Gentiles, the heathen, who in historical


The Strength  oj Youth

                                Christian Liberty (`1)
                                               Rev. J. Kortering

  This subject takes us into an arena.                       We are speaking of Christian liberty. This must be
  This arena is not for spectator sports, rather for considered in contrast with the wild abandon of
battle.                                                    licentiousness which marks so much of the foolishness
  It's not the nicest place to be. It spells out many of modern youth. The drug cult, the sexual revolution,
harsh words between young people and their parents. Woodstock and its byproducts, detail for us the worst
It has caused division among brothers and sisters in the form of bondage. Truly, man is born in sin and as such
household of faith. Why? Because in the exercise of brings himself into greater expression of sin and death.
Christian liberty one Christian says no, and sometimes Here is how God describes it, "For when ye were the
another says yes; and there is supposed to be a place servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What
for both within the church. And that on moral fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now
judgments.                                                 ashamed? For the end of those things is death," Rom.
  In Bible times it assumed the form of circumcision 6 : 2  0,2 1. Do not confuse Christian liberty with
or non-circumcision, of meats offered to idols - to eat licentiousness, lawlessness.
or not to eat. Today it assumes the form of dress
codes, at hl e t its, television, cant emporary music,       Rather, liberty for a Christian is to be conformed to
smoking, drinking, and what not. It always seems as if the law of God and to rejoice in that law. Let's listen
young people are on one side of the confrontation.         to Scripture for a moment. "And I will walk at liberty:
                                                           for I seek thy precepts," Ps. 119:45. Here the Psalmist
LIBERTY                                                    joins liberty and law. Further, "Jesus answered them,
  It is paradoxical that such a beautiful word has to be Verily I say unto you, whosoever committeth sin is the
viewed against such a hostile background. Liberty! The servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the
word itself tingles with openness, with abandon. And house for ever, but the Son abideth ever. If the Son
so it should be, if viewed properly.                       therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed,"


492                                          THE STANDARD BEARER


John  8:3'&-36. Here we learn the added fact that long list of dos and don t's which if observed externally,
liberty is in Christ, the Son of God; He must free us. would make a fine "Christian" but which Christ calls a
That from which He frees us is pointed out in Rom. white washed sepulchre. The church would then tempt
8:2,  "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus the Christian by transferring his moral calling'to judge
hath made me free from the law of sin and death." The moral issues to the church and freeing him from his
content of the liberty is given to us in II Cor. 17: 18, duty as a Christian. The other difficulty is to extol
"Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of Christian liberty to such an extent that everything falls
the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face under this  catagory, and the doctrine of Christian
beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are liberty becomes an umbrella under which sin is
changed into the same image from glory to glory, even condoned within the Christian community: church,
as by the Spirit of the Lord." This then is the liberty home, school, and society.
of the Christian. We pass from a servant of sin unto          John Calvin puts this problem into perspective:
one who acknowledges the glory of God.                             Moreover, though it has already been occasionally
                                                                adverted to, there was an advantage in deferring the
THE SCOPE OF LIBERTY                                            fuller consideration of it (that is, Christian liberty) till
       So far there is no controversy.                          now, for the moment any mention is made of
       Inevitably, we have to face the question how far         Christian liberty lust begins to boil, or insane
does this liberty extend. To phrase it differently, in          commotions arise, if a speedy restraint is not laid on
                                                               those licentious spirits by whom the best things are
how far does the law of God bind the conscience of             perverted into the worst. For they either, under
every child of God? What should be considered as               pretext of this liberty, shake off all obedience to
dictated by the law of God (including all the moral             God, and break out. into unbridled licentiousness, or
teachings of the entire Scripture), and what should be         they feel indignant, thinking that all choice, order,
included in liberty of conscience to be determined by          and restraint are abolished. What can we do when
each child of God? We must allow for both areas of             thus encompassed with straits? Are we to bid adieu to
Christian judgment.                                            Christian liberty, in order that we may cut off all
  We face two real difficulties here.                           opportunity for such perilous consequences? But, as
       On the one hand, we recognize that the Scriptures       we have said, if the subject. be not understood,
form moral judgments which must be obeyed. We                  neither Christ, nor the truth of the Gospel, nor the
usually consider them to be summarized in the ten              inward peace of the soul is properly known. Our
                                                               endeavors must rather be, while not suppressing this
commandments, as Christ did in Matt. 22:37-39. The             very necessary part of doctrine, to obviate the absurd
Bible indicates that certain moral conduct is wrong and        objections to which it usually gives rise. (Institutes of
exhorts us to proper behavior. These must be upheld            the Christian Religion, Book III, chapter 19, page
by every Christian, and within this area there is no            131.)
room for equivocation. These include such things
forbidden as drunkenness, fornication, murder, stealing,    SCRIPTURAL DIRECTIVES
etc. We are exhorted to moral purity, to assist our           It is not easy to  define what comes under the
neighbor, etc.                                              heading of Christian liberty. In general, we have in
  Besides this area, there is also indicated in the mind those things not  specificalIy condemned in the
Scripture certain things which must be left to the Bible nor commanded. Sometimes these are called
individual judgment of the Christian. Each Christian "adiaphora" or "things indifferent." It gets this
must take the general principles of the Scriptures and designation because of the fact that you cannot go to
apply them in some instances differently, As we cited the Bible and find direct proof whether they are right
before, the two most well known examples of Paul are or wrong. We believe there are, however, Scriptural
with the circumcision of Timothy and the directives which help us in understanding how to
non-circumcision of Titus (Acts 16:3, Gal. 2:3). Also handle things included in Christian liberty. We consider
Paul explained the use of meats offered to idols, I Cor. three of them.
8. In both cases there was a yes and a no, and Paul           First, strictly speaking, there is not such a thing as a
determined what it should be in each instance on the thing indifferent, or that it doesn't make any
basis of his Christian liberty. He was criticized for his difference how we act. Simply because everything has
decision, but he defended his action on the basis of his moral value, it demands of us careful and responsible
freedom to decide.                                          decisions. Before God, we must make the right
  The double difficulty to which we made reference is decision in everything we do. We can use our Christian
this. If, on the one hand, we try to legislate liberty for goo_d or evil. Everything comprehended in
ecclesiastically on certain issues which properly be- this area will also enter into judgment, "But I say unto
long in the area of Christian liberty, we do wrong you that every idle word that men shall speak, they
and go beyond the teaching of Scripture. To do this shall give account thereof in the day of judgment,"
undoubtedly leads to Phariseeism: we would have a Matt. 12:36.


                                                     THE STANDARD BEARER                                                    493


   Secondly, our Christian liberty must be used to the           "to make him feel bad or react unfavorably to our
glory of God. Not only must we not sin by things we              conduct"; rather, "to cause him to stumble and fall
do, but we must serve God! Listen, "For, brethren, ye into sin." This touches upon an important area of our
have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for Christian liberty. We may not simply say, "It is all
an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one                  right for me; I don't see anything wrong in what I
another," Gal. 5: 13, 14. Peter warns, "As free, and not         do." We have to ask also, "Will my doing this give
using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as occasion for my brother to sin? Will I be a bad
servants of God," I Peter 2: 16. John Calvin correctly          example, or give excuse for evil?" More positively, we
comments:                                                       may also add, our conduct must always be a good
       They say there are things indifferent: I admit it        example and serve as a living testimony of the power
    provided they are used indifferently, but when they         of the living Christ. All things must edify, `build up
    are indulged in luxurious profusion, things which           spiritually. This idea moves Paul to say in the Holy
    otherwise were in themselves lawful are certainly           Spirit, "For though I be free from all men, yet have I
    defiled by these vices. Paul makes an admirable             made myself servant of all that I might gain the more,"
    distinction in regard to things indifferent: "Unto the      I Cor. 9: 19. Sometimes it is the Christian duty to go
    pure all things are pure; but unto them that are            the "extra mile" to avoid offense and render spiritual
    defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their
    mind and conscience is defiled," Titus  1:15.               direction by avoiding something that may seem
    (Institutes, Book III, -chapter 19, page 136)               "indifferent" and replacing it with something
                                                                wholesome and worthwhile.
Rather, we are to use our Christian liberty in serving             We suggest that if we are going to come to honest
God, "But now being made free from sin and become understanding in the area of Christian liberty, we have
servants to God, ye have your fruits unto holiness and to deal with all three of these elements. The way we
in the end everlasting life. Rom. 6: 18.                        dress, our use of television, drinking, smoking, sports,
  In addition to the foregoing, we can add a third have to be viewed in light of these things. It makes a
element, that our exercise of Christian liberty must difference before God as to our motive, do we do these
also be for the good of our neighbor. Correctly Paul things not out of empty pleasure (license), but truly as
warns, "But take heed, lest by any means this liberty servants of God, and that by their use we are not
of yours becomes a stumbling block to them that are causing our neighbor to sin, but are helping him be a
weak," I Cor. 8:9. He adds later, "All things are lawful better Christian. Surely there is an area of liberty, but
for me, but all things are not expedient, all things are that area must pass the scrutiny of the Word of God.
lawful for me, but all things edify not," I Cor. 10: 23 ;         In our next article we will consider, D.V., why this
We must ask ourselves whether our conduct may seems to be such a crucial area in the life of young
offend our weaker brother. The idea of offend is not people.


Contending  for  the  Faith

                   Eschatology - In The Old Testament
                                                        Rev. H. Veldman

  Concluding our discussion of the doctrine of                     in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand
Eschatology as taught in the Old Testament, we now                  there are pleasures for evermore.
would call attention to two other phases of this                It is true, we understand, that this passage  refers-
doctrine as held before us in the Scriptures of the Old         specifically to the death and resurrection of our Lord
Dispensation. First, the Word of God certainly                  Jesus- Christ. But, although it is true that the passage
comforted the Church of God in the Old Dispensation refers to our Lord Jesus Christ, it nevertheless speaks
with the truth of the resurrection of the dead. The of the resurrection of the dead. And, secondly, the
passages of Ps.  16:8-11 and Job  19:25-27 are very Word of God surely also teaches us that this
familiar. Ps. 16:8-l 1 reads as follows:                        resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is the blessed
       I have set the Lord always before me: because he         pledge of our resurrection of the dead.
    is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore          And in Job  19:25-27 we read the following very
    my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh          beautiful passage:
    also shall rest in hope. For thou will not leave my                For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he
    soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy .One          shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And
    to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life:          though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in


494                                                   THE STANDARD BEARER


        my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself,    judgment. Daniel was given to see the development of
        and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though       the kingdom of God throughout the history and ages
        my reins be consumed within me.                           of the world, also the Day of Judgment. And in Ps.
  Here the afflicted saint of the Old Dispensation gives          62: 12 we read: "Also unto Thee, 0 Lord, belongeth
expression to his faith in the resurrection of his body           mercy: for Thou renderest to every man according to
in the last day. He writes that he shall see God in his           his work." `And this is in harmony with the word of
flesh. We understand that this does not mean that he the apostle Paul in 2 Cor. 5: 10 and with the word of
will see God in his present earthy flesh. Does he not Christ in Rev. 22 : 12.
declare that the worms shall destroy this body? It is               Turning our attention to the Scriptures of the New
obvious, therefore, that Job refers to his body, that he Testament, particularly the four gospel narratives, we
is speaking here of the resurrection of his body, and cannot escape the conclusion that the disciples of our
that he with his eyes shall see God although his reins Lord Jesus Christ, as `prior to the outpouring of the
be consumed within him. This is the Old Testament Holy Spirit upon the day of Pentecost, were
believer's faith in the resurrection of the body.                 premillenarian in their conception and expectation of
  Finally, the Old Testament Scriptures also call our the Messiah and His kingdom. There are those who are
attention to the truth of the final judgment. This, we of the opinion that the apostles, also after the day of
know, is taught throughout the Word of God. We need Pentecost, were of the opinion that Jesus was returning
not quote now from the New Testament Scriptures.                  soon after His ascension to heaven, and that this
We are undoubtedly familiar with such Scriptures as 2             opinion was  generally held by the church of God
Cor. 5: 10 and 2 Pet.  2:4-g, where we read that we during the early years of the New Dispensation. Now
must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, and it is true that there are passages in Scripture to the
also that the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out             effect that Jesus is coming soon.  In Rev. 22: 12 we read
of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day that our Lord Jesus Christ is coming quickly. In James
of judgment to be punished. But we also have 5 : 8 we read that the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
references to this truth in the Old Testament And in the following verse, verse 9, we read that "the
Scriptures. We read in Jude 14-15 :                               judge standeth before  the door." `And in Rom.  13 : 12
        And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam,                    we read that "the night is far spent, the day is at
        prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh      hand." `Upon these and similar passages the conclusion
        with ten thousands of His saints, To execute              is based that it was generally believed in the church of
        judgment upon all, and to convince all that are
        ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which       God that Christ was coming soon. In answer to this, we
        they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard        may observe the following. In the first place, it may
        speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against        have been true that the people of God were generally of
        H i m .                                                   the opinion that the return of Christ upon  the clouds
       Now it is true that we have no reference to this of heaven could be expected momentarily. Perhaps
Word of God in the Old Testament account as held they were of this opinion. In the second place, it is
before us in the book of Genesis, in the days prior to            surely impossible to believe that this opinion was also
the flood. We do read of these ungodly speeches, as held by the apostles. It is undoubtedly true that, prior
expressed by the godless Lamech, contemporary with to the day of Pentecost, they were premillenarian in
Enoch, the father of  Jubal,  Jabal and Tubal-Cain. their conception and expectation of the Messiah and
However, this, of  course, does not nullify that  En&r His kingdom. But it is surely difficult to believe that
prophesied against the wicked of his day, as recorded they continued  in_ this expectation after the
here for us in the book of Jude. This saint of God, the           outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Endowed with the Holy
seventh from Adam, certainly spoke here of the Spirit of Pentecost, Who led them into all the truth,
Judgment Day.                                                     they certainly knew that Christ could not return upon
       And in Daniel 7: 9-l 1 we read:                            the clouds of heaven until  ail things had been
           I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the      accomplished. They certainly knew that the gospel
        Ancient of days did sit, Whose garment was white as       must be preached to all nations, that wars must come
        snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool: His    and  rumours of wars, also pestilences and famines
        throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as        and earthquakes, and that the  final return of Christ
        burning fne. A fiery stream issued and came forth         upon the clouds of heaven would be preceded by the
        from before Him: thousand thousands ministered
        unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand             antichrist, the son of perdition. Thirdly, however, it
        stood before  IIim: the judgment was set, and the         surely does not make a particle of difference what the
        books were opened. I beheld then because of the           opinion of the church may have been, and what the
        voice of the great words which the horn spake: I          personal opinion of the apostles may have been. We
        beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body        believe in the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures.
        destroyed, and given to the burning flame.                It is not important, therefore, to know what their
       Here we have a vivid, description of the final personal opinion may have been. The only question of


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                 495


importance is: what is the meaning of these Scriptures      But, of course, the element of Jesus' instruction which
and of the Holy Spirit Who inspired them? It is             they `resented was the reference to the manner in
certainly true that the language of the Word of God is      which He would die. They resented the element of
adapted to the time and age when it was composed.           suffering. They objected to the element of shame.
But the Comforter of the weary, of Whom we read in          They could not understand why their Lord; Who had
Is. 50:4, surely speaks a word of comfort to the weary,' power over all things, also His enemies, would be
also in season, and the Word of God is applicable to        willing to subject Himself to such a shameful
the people of God throughout the ages. And we               humiliation. And that they opposed Him was also due,
certainly know that these various passages of Holy Writ     undoubtedly, to their carnality. At least, Jesus rebukes
do not speak of an early return of our Lord Jesus           them, as in Luke  24:25, in connection with His
Christ upon the clouds of heaven, although this             appearance as the risen Lord to the travellers to
expectation may have lived in the consciousness of the      Emmaus, because they were fools, that is, slow of
people of God during the early years of the New             heart to believe all that the prophets had spoken of
Dispensation.                                               Him. And that they were slow ofheart surely indicates
  That the disciples of our Lord were premillenarian        the factor of carnality for which they were responsible
in their conception of Christ and His kingdom can           and for which they are rebuked by our risen Lord.
hardly be  .doubted. It was immediately before our They did not understand the way of suffering and
Lord's transfiguration .upon the mount that `He began shame because they were carnal and clung to the things
to teach His disciples in regard to His approaching that are below.
suffering and death. And we will recall that the apostle      These disciples were certainly earthly in their
Peter took our Lord aside and said to Him that this         conception of the Messiah and His kingdom. They
would not happen unto Him. Is this not strange? Had resented His teaching with respect to His falling into
not the Old Testament Scriptures spoken plainly of the the hands of sinners. As often as He would speak of
Messiah's suffering and death? Does not Isaiah speak of His approaching humiliation at the hands of sinners,
Him, as in ch. 53, as of the suffering Servant of they would be debating among themselves who would
Jehovah? And notice what we read in Is. 50:5-6: "The be the greatest in the kingdom. They were angry at
Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not two of the disciples when these two disciples,
rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to     undoubtedly inspired by their mother, asked Him for a
the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off place in His kingdom, one at His right hand and the
the hair: I hid not my face from shame -and spitting." other at His left, cf. Mark 10:35-41. In fact, as late as
These passages are surely easy to read and understand.      when Jesus ascended to heaven, His disciples ask Him,
And yet the disciples resented this reference of their according to Acts  1:6: "Lord, wilt thou at this time
Lord to His suffering and death? Why? 0, if Jesus had       restore again the kingdom to Israel?" And what these
told them that He would die in a spectacular fashion,       disciples meant we all understand. 0, it is certainly
that He would miraculously lay down His life and just true that the disciples were premillenarian in their
as miraculously take it up again, publicly and in the       conception of the coming kingdom of the Messiah. But
sight of all  men,. they probably would not have we may certainly believe that they were relieved of this
objected. Did not all the sacrifices of the Old             earthly and carnal conception when they received the
Dispensation speak of a sacrifice that was to come?         outpouring of the Holy Spirit.


From Holy Writ

                           Exposition of Hebrews 11:29
                                                 Rev. G. Lubbers

  The writer to the Hebrews now presents Israel in its and his rider hath he thrown into the sea." (Ex. 16: 2 1)
complete triumph over Pharaoh, his armies and all his         Surely here we see faith in operation as it passes
horse-men. We hear the Song of Moses at the sea, "The from glory unto glory as by the Spirit of the LORD.
LORD is a man of  .war: the LORD is his name.                 Israel passes through the Red Sea as upon `dry
Pharaoh's chariots and host hath he cast into the sea." ground. This was an act of faith in the promises of
(Ex.  15:3,4) And we take note of Miriam, Moses' God, an act of faith that follows whithersoever the
sister, who answered in glad refrain, "Sing ye to the LORD did lead by His pillar of fire by night and by his
LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse cloud by day. It is really following the Lamb


496                                           THE STANDARD  BEARER



whithersoever He did lead. And this example, too, was         fight for you." Some four hundred years earlier the
written for us upon whom the end of the ages is come,         LORD had spoken to Abraham that He would deliver
that we might press these same foot-prints of Israel from Egypt in the words, "And he said unto
Abraham's children in faith.                                  Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a
  The text in Hebrews is very brief and beautiful. It         stranger in the land that is not theirs and shall serve
reads as follows in the KJV,  `By  faith they passed them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
through the Red Sea as by dry land: which the                 and also that nation, whom they shall serve will I
Egyptians assaying to do were drowned."  (Heb. judge; and afterwards they shall come out with great
11:29)                                                        substance . . . but in the fourth generation they shall
AN HISTORIC EVENT (Exodus 14)                                 come hither again . . . " (Gen.  15:13-16) Not one of
  Were it not that there are legions in our day who these words can fall to the ground, even though heaven
deny the historicity of the Old Testament Scriptures and earth pass away. The LORD was fulfilling these
we would not need to reemphasize that what we read words to Israel by the hand of Moses. (Exodus 3: 10)
of in Exodus is a matter of history. It came to pass in         And now the historic moment has come that God
world-history. That is the clear testimony of the book may show all His power in Pharaoh's hardness and
of Exodus and as such it is quoted in many passages of proud rebellion. Pharaoh will make his last bold and
Scripture both in the Old and New Testaments. all-out attempt to destroy Israel here at the Red Sea.
(Joshua  2:9-11;  4:23;  9:9 Jeremiah  50:21; Psalm The LORD hardens, makes strong his heart. He pursues
78:13,14;  136:13,1'5;   109:7; Isaiah  43:9,10;  51:9,10) Israel at the Red Sea. The LORD did not cause Israel
In all of these passages the Spirit of Christ is pointing to go through the land of the Philistines, but at Etham
out in the Word the great implication of the He led them Southward toward Pihahiroth between
once-and-for-all deliverance of Israel out of Egypt by Migdol and the Sea. God deliberately led Israel into a
His mighty outstretched arm. It is the pattern of all the place and position where only a miraculous deliverance
mighty doings of God with His people and of His of God could'be  of any avail. He deceived Pharaoh into
triumph over all His and Israel's foes. Surely this was an concluding that Israel was trapped in the wilderness
historical event! Only wilful unbelief denies'it!             and was an easy prey to slaughter with his horses and
  However, what is more, it is also an historic event. chariots. So he pursues after them with 600 chariots and
This means that it was a determining point for Israel's horses and with all his army to slaughter the church of
history, as a blood-sprinkled people. It is momentous God, a congregation of men, women and children, old
and has far-reaching consequences. It is an historical and young. His great moment has struck to deliver
type of baptism into Christ. It was what Paul calls a the fatal blow!! Truly, it was a very historic moment
"baptism unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea." (I also for Egypt.
Cor.  10:2) This means that they could be baptized
because they were under the blood of the Passover A MIRACULOUS ACT (Exodus 14, Hebrews 11: 19)
Lamb. This seems to be suggested in the text here in            The text says, "they passed through the Red Sea as
Hebrews  11:29. The subject "they" refers to the              upon dry ground." Israel must "go forward." That is
former verse 28 where the "sprinkling of the blood" is        the divine command to Moses. The people of God are
mentioned to protect Israel against the "angel of indeed in dire need and in a terrifying position. Picture
death, the destroyer." All the firstborn of Egypt were        this in your mind's eye: before Israel is the Sea, on
killed but none of Israel. Israel is God's first born son.    either side are the mountains and behind them is
(Exodus  4:22) Hence the "they" are those who are             coming at full speed the entire army of the Egyptians.
under the blood; and now they have the sign of this           Israel cries out to the LORD. (Exodus 14: 10; Joshua
protection of being delivered from the house of 24:7; Neh. 9:9; Psalm 74: 13) It was also a cry such as
bondage to serve God, in this passage through the Red never had before been heard in Israel; it was the cry of
Sea as on dry ground. Truly, this was an historic event,      faith and hope, although it was not perfect faith and
great in the annals of the Sacred Scripture, as we have all did not believe. Yet, Hebrews 11: 29 says it was "by
already pointed out.                                          faith." It was the substance of things hoped for, the
 Another element that points up Israel's victory over evidence of things not seen! Without this faith Israel
Egypt as being an historic event is that it was the           could not please God. They must believe in this
fulfillment of the predictive prophecy and- promise of moment of deepest trial that "God is, and that he is a
Jehovah. Israel does not simply walk out of Egypt             rewarder of those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)
straight for Canaan, the promised land. It was not              No, it was not perfect faith. All seem to have also
self-liberation, a declaration of independence; nor was       doubted the wisdom and the love of God in Moses'
it a taking up of arms against Egypt. It was simply a         delivering them out of Egypt. They recite their words
demonstration that "I am the LORD." Pharaoh and once more to Moses which they spoke to Moses and
Egypt must know that Jehovah, Israel's God, is God Aaron when Pharaoh increased their tasks and burdens
alone. Hence, Israel is enjoined to "be still" and "I will upon Moses coming to Egypt to deliver them. (Ex.


                                             THE STANDARD BEARER                                                   497


5: 2 1; 6: 9) They murmur and say, "Is not this the word    presence not symbolized in the Pillar of Cloud which
 that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone,      went before them to lead them on the way, and which
that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been            was a pillar of fire by night. Was this not the glory of
better for us to, serve the Egyptians, than that we         God which rested later on the mercyseat in the
should die in the wilderness." (Exodus 14: 12) It was       temple? It was the glory of the Shekinah of God. It
not perfect faith on the part of the true Israel of God;    represented the gracious indwelling of God with his
it was stark unbelief on the part of the reprobate          people as the glory of grace. On the one hand this was
element, who later will indeed die in the wilderness.       a light and protection for Israel, and it was also Israel's
They will die not because of the hand of the LORD           defense against the Egyptians all through the night.
being shortened, but rather "because of their               For in His glorycloud the Lord made a separation
unbelief." (Hebrews 3: 19) This unbelief is also            between Israel and the Egyptians all through the night,
recounted on the pages of the Old Testament                 after He had made a wide path for Israel through the
Scriptures. (Psalm 106:6-12) That God saved Israel at       Red Sea, causing the waters to stand as a heap on both
the Red Sea was not because of any worthiness of            sides. And the cloud was a light and sun and shield to
Israel. The Holy Spirit gives us that answer Psalm          Israel, while it was a light which was hidden from the
 106:7,8, "Our fathers understood not thy wonders in        Egyptians so that the latter had to walk in the darkness
Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy             of eternal night! They did not see the miraculous work
mercies; but provoked him at the Red Sea.                   of the LORD'S grace! Yet it was a miraculous work of
Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he     grace indeed for Israel.
might make his mighty power to  be known." (italics         EGYPT HAS NO FAITH
added) The glory of God's power both in grace and in          Faith is the gift of God. This faith was withheld
judgment is at stake. His promises cannot fail. It is       from the Egyptians as well as the promises. They were
sovereign grace here; it is not of works but of redeem- not told the LORD'S war strategy. Hence, they were
ing mercy under the blood. And although faith is not        taken in their own craftiness, as the wicked ever are.
perfect, God leads this faith to greater heights by his     They had only worldly wisdom which is made
Spirit causing Israel to obey his word to "go forward."     foolishness by the Lord. The Lord fooled them into
And their faith was rewarded so that the following          following into the dry river-bed of the Red Sea.
morning Israel sees the dead bodies of the Egyptians However, they did not do so upon God's command but
on the shore. The Psalmist tells us, "And the waters        were impelled by their lust to destroy Israel. And God
covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.      caused the waters of the sea to return upon them, to
Then believed they his words." They were confirmed swallow them up. It was a horrifying and terrifying
in their faith. They had passed over in faith; now their    experience. They knew it was no mere law of nature.
faith is strengthened.                                      The LORD looked through the cloud with a light more
   That seems to be the correct interpretation of their brilliant than the sun; they saw the face of the LORD
passing over in faith!                                      against them in this cloud. Their chariots went hard,
   It was faith in God's miraculous work! It was faith      the wheels were removed, and the waters swallowed up
before crossing, and all during the crossing, all the Egypt. They could not please God; they walked not in
night; and faith in the morning when with Moses they the faith of.Israel.
sing the triumphant song. Had not God performed His           Let us as Israel by faith cross the Red Sea without
wonder of grace in this night. Was His gracious murmuring at the ways of the Almighty!




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498    THE STANDARD BEARER





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500                                                      THE STANDARD BEARER


                                                    Book Review

                                                          Pro$ H. C Hoeksema


FIFTY YEARS OF MUSIC AT CALVIN COLLEGE, ble to agree with Jellema's interpretation of 1834 and
by Seymour Swets; Wm. B. Eerdmans Publ. Co., Grand                      1886. It is quite probable, however, that this interpre-
Rapids, Mich.; 260 pages, $5.95 (paper). Reviewed by tation lies behind the course of development at Calvin
Prof H. C Hoeksema                                                      with respect to the arts and "culture."
  The author lived through the 50 years of musical                        Going back to the turn of the century, Prof. Swets
history at Calvin College which he reviews in this book. describes the musical history of the CRC, particularly
In the Introduction he says:                                            as it centered in Calvin College. He traces the history
         It will be our purpose to trace the earliest music at          of Singing Schools in the churches before the era of
       Calvin, both vocal and instnimental, and to present              formal  music at the college. Then he goes through the
       briefly the elements in our cultural background that             lowly origins of the music department, telling  of the
       prevailed at the time when the writer became the first           development of vocal music, the history of the
       full-time teacher of music and speech in 1923. We                Oratorio Society, the band and orchestra, and
       will trace the  slow development of the music                    instruction in theory and fundamentals at the college.
       department . . . (192345) . . . and how in the next                The author treats his material factually, furnishing
       twenty-two years (194.567) the music department
       grew from a one-man staff to a faculty of ten.                   many memorabilia from old church periodicals and
                                                                    interesting pictures from by-gone years. The quiet
  In the Foreword, Dr. Wm. Harry Jellema, furnishing nostalgia of the book leads the reader on to find out
background for understanding Prof. Swets' account, more, whether he knows the people mentioned, or not.
traces the history of the Christian Reformed Church as Unexpected and humorous incidents during rehearsals,
it had its beginnings in the Netherlands. First he performances, or tours lend a spark of interest to the
discusses the Secession of 1834 and describes it as history. It was undoubtedly largely through the
separatistic in `the sense that it eschewed all forms of author's efforts and by his capable leadership that the
worldliness, preached total depravity and a salvation music program at Calvin developed richly. Though in
through sovereign grace, with the result that it the book  Prof. Swets modestly retreats into the
emphasized consecrated lives of thankfulness to God. background, the reader can judge his efforts by the
In short, they emphasized particular grace, their whole fruits.
life was dedicated to the service of God, and their only                  An item of special interest to us of Prot. Ref.
real interest was in the church. Next, Jellema describes background is the song written for Corps, an all-male
the Secession of 1886 under Abraham Kuyper. Al- student society at Calvin, because it was written by
though Dr. Kuyper stressed the same cardinal doctrines student Herman Hoeksema. Three stanzas he wrote in
of salvation as did the Separatists, this movement Dutch, and the fourth (copying European university
"meant a break with the basic theoretical and practical customs) was in Latin!
stipulation that distinguished Separatism." For Kuyper                    Although Swets does not comment on it, a
and his adherents adopted the theory of common discerning reader sees that the influence of Kuyper's
grace, whereby they aimed "to reorient, reform, re- common  grace invaded the music department at
direct the cultural achievements of (the natural) man to Calvin. Gradually the programs became more secular,
their proper end of glorifying God," and to reclaim for and the  synthesis between "Christian culture" and
the Kingdom of Christ every area of `human life. These "worldly culture" was accomplished.
two streams converged in the Christian Reformed                           The book  is of interest to musicians and to Calvin
Church in our country. This reviewer found it impossi- Alumni especially.


        NOW AVAILABLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                  REFORMED DOGMATICS
                                                                  by                                  NEW PRICE: $9.95
                                                         Rev. Herman Hoeksema

                            Order from: R.F.P.A., Box 2005, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501


                                                                            THE STANDARD BEARER                                                                    501


                                  ATTENTION!                                                                               NOTICE
     The annual meeting of the Permanent Committee                                          Classis East of the Protestant Reformed Churches
  for the Publication of Protestant Reformed Literature will meet in regular session on October 3, 1973 in the
  (the book publishing arm of the R.F.P.A.) will be held, Hudsonville Prot. Ref. Church. Material to be treated
  D.V., Monday, September 24, at 8 P.M., at the First in this session must be in the hands of the Stated Clerk
  Protestant Reformed Church of Grand Rapids. All at least ten days prior to the convening of this session.
  members of this organization, please take notice and                                                                                                    Jon Huisken
  plan to be present.                                                                                                                                     Stated Clerk
                                                              -D.  Hauck, sec'y



                                 ATTENTION!                                                         ANNIVERSAR Y ANNOUNCEMENT
     The Theological School of the Protestant Reformed
  Churches has begun its 1973-`74  term. We commend                                         On September 27, 1973, D.V., our beloved parents
  the seminary and its needs to the continual prayers of
, our people and churches. Consistories are hereby
 reminded that requests for seminary pulpit supply and                                                 PETER and DOROTHY DECKER
  catechism supply should be addressed to the rector.                                   will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. We, their
                                         Prof. H. C. Hoeksema, Rector                   children, are grateful to God for the example of faith
                                                                                        and godliness which they have left us. We pray that
                                                                                        God will continue to bless them richly in their
                                                                                        remaining years together so that they may confess:
                                                                                        "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart
                                                                                        trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart
                                                                                        greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him."
                                    NOTICE!!!                                           Psalm 28:7
     The annual meeting of the Reformed Free
  Publishing Association will be held Thursday evening,                                          Robert and Marilyn Decker
  Sept. 27th at 8 PM, in our Southeast church.                                                  Carl and Mary Potjer-
     We urge all members, plus prospective new members                                          Kenneth and Doris Hoksbergen
  to attend. The Board covets your support. Please mark                                         James and Nancy Decker
  the.date on your calendar now.                                                                Eight grandchildren




                                                Index To Volume 49
                            TEXTUAL INDEX
  Psalm4:8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S              2    I Corinthians 11:3-16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.              56
  Psalm 66:16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.           130    I Corinthians 15:58 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.         170
  Psalm 68:19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.            77    II Corinthians 3:18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S.          218
  Psalm 119:37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.            146    II Corinthians4:17,18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S.              242
  Isaiah 1:l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.C.H.          476    II Corinthians 5:l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.        341
  Joel 2:32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.         418    Ephesians 2:8,9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S.           50
  Matthew 7:22,23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                 430    Philippians 3:20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.      434
  Mark 10:51,52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.               461    I Thessalonians 1:lO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.          194
  Luke 2:10,11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S.                98    I Timothy4:lO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.           297
  Luke 14:21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.              489    Hebrews 2:9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S.        386
  Luke23:34a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..M.S.                269    Hebrews 11:24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..G.C.L.         354
  Luke 23:43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S.             295    Hebrews 11:24-26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.C.L.            399
  Luke 24136-45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.S.             314    Hebrews 11:26,27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.C.L.              428
  Acts 22:17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.            334    Hebrews 11:28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.C.L.           468
  Romans 9: lo-13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H.C.H.                 344    Hebrews 11:29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.C.L.           495


502                                                                    THE STANDARD BEARER


 James 1:l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .R.D.D.        13,37    Lectures in Systematic Theology, 359
 James 1:24 . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . R.D.D.        37,83    Life In Christ, 191
 James 1:5-8  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.D.D.        117    Millennial Studies, 141
 James 1:9-11  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .R.D.D.          151    A New Breed Of Clergy, 214
 James 1:12-17  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.D.D. 175,205         The Old Testament, Its Claims And Its Critics, 47
 James 1:18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .R.D.D.           235    The Philistines And The Old Testament, 263
 James 1:19-21  , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.D.D.          279    Preaching Yesterday And Today, 140
 James 1:22-25  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.D.D. 307,326         Pray: A Study Of Distinctive Christian Praying, 23
 James 1:26,27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R.D.D.          13,327    sin, 443
 IPeter4:18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS.         482    Studies In The Book Of Daniel, 214
 IIPeter 1:lO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M.S.         362    They Chose To Live, 70
 IJohn3:2,3 . . . . . . . ..I............... M.S.                            26    The Westminster Confession And Modem Society, 142
 ALL AROUND US                                                                     Written In Blood, 47
 fby  &of Herman Hanko)
 The Argument Over Abortion, 107                                                   CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH
 Billy Graham, Key `73 and the Jews, 474                                           (Studies in the History  of Doctrine, by Rev. Herman Veldman)
 Billy Graham on Original Sin, 129                                                 The Doctrine of Atonement (Reformation Period), 19,45,84,
 A Blasphemous Chapel Service, 62                                                     115,157,177,203,226,249,303,332
 Christmas Made Relevant, 184                                                      Eschatology - In The Old Testament, 373,405, 493
 A Computerized Isaiah, 487
 Conservative Victories in Missouri Synod, 473                                     THE'DAY OF SHADOWS
 A Continuing Presbyterian Church, 127                                             (Studies in 0, T. History, by Rev. John A. Heys)
 Continuing Presbyterians, 300                                                     The Apostasy Begins, 21
 Creation and Evolution in the Public Schools, 61                                  Covenant Confidence, 132
 Creationism in California's Schools, 213                                          Defection and Translation, 155
 Creedal Authority, 301                                                            Distinguishing Grace, 308
 Deciding The Unthinkable, 488,                                                    Every , . . only. . . Continually, 256
 Developments in the Gereformeerde Kerken, 346                                     God's Shut-in, 470
 Ecclesiastical Potpourri, 224                                                     Righteous In This Generation, 403
 Evolutionism A Theory In Tennessee, 474                                           Mixed Seed And A Fixed Crop, 201
 A Letter To My Son, 148                                                           The Paving of Sin's Highway, 63
 Modern Vie% Of Marriage, 211                                                      So Did He, 375                                        - -    -
 More On Evangelism Thrust, 80                                                     (Note: All of these articles deal `with the history of the
 News Items From The Netherlands, 473                                              pre-diluvian world.)
 The Problem of Death, 128
 Resolution on Key `73, 107                                                        EDITORIALS
 Secession Among Southern Presbyterians, 472                                       (by Pro$ Homer C. Hoeksema)
 Some Thoughts On Being Led By The Spirit, 259                                     About the New Jenison Congregation, 197
 Some Thoughts On Dialoguing, 274                                                  Amazing Hocus-Pocus!, 8
 The Supreme Court and Abortion, 274                                               Background of the Kuitert Decision, 16 1
 Tax Credit For Tuition, 302                                                       Decision in the Kuitert Case, 159
 A Victory for the Amish, 128                                                      Developments in the Gereformeerde Kerken, 330
Vouchers for Private Schools, 105                                                  Dishonesty and the Formula of Subscription, 421
                                                                                   Does the Tail Wag the Dog?, 101
BOOKS REVIEWED                                                                     Evaluation of the Kuitert Decision, 162
(by title)                                                                         Further Delay in the Wiersinga Case, 164
Apocalyptic, 141                                                                   Gambling Made Respectable, 196
Bible Characters and Doctrines, 143                                                Implications of the Kuitert Decision, 198
The Book of Isaiah, Vol. III, 23                                                   Is It True? Is It Equitable, 437
Calvin's NewTestament Commentaries, I, II, III, 478                                Key `73, And Then Key `75, And Then?, 459
The Church And The Ecological Crisis, 215                                          Key `73's False Ecumenism, 186
Commentaar Op Het Oude Testament, Maleachi, 215                                    Key -`73's Myth Exploded, 329
The .Covenantal  Sabbath, 285                                                      Others View The Kuitert Decision, 245
Extremism, Left and Right, 23                                                      A New "Book of Praise", 189
Farewell To Anglicanism, 287                                                       The OPC and the "Free Offer", 290,339,379,389,460,485
Feed My Sheep, 286                                                                 "Quo Vadis?", 188
Fifty Years of Mu&at Calvin College, 500                                           The RES, the GKN, and the WCC, 29
.The Five Points of Calvinism, 478                                                 Right . . . But Dead Wrong!, 5
The Gospels in Current Study, 10                                                   Seminary Graduation, 1973,420
The Ground of Certainty, 94                                                        Should OPs and RPs Unite?, 74,123,220,267
In Place of Sacraments, 143                                                        A Significant Lecture, 389
Labor Problems In Christian Perspective, 70                                        That Insane Amusement-Notion, 293


                                                   THE STANDARD BEARER                                                         503


Things I Did Hear, 9                                              NEWS FROM OUR CHURCHES
An Unholy Alliance, 53                                            (D. Doezema, News Editor)
                                                                  News reports are found on 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168,
                                                                                                  pp.                                 '
FROM HOLY WRIT                                                         192, 216, 239,264,288,312,336,360,384,408,432,456,
(Expository  articles by Rev. Robert D. Decker and Rev. George         479,504
   ^---
   C: Lubbers)
Expositions of Hebrews 11 (by Rev. Lubbers)                       QUESTION BOX
Expositions of James 1 (by Rev. Decker)                           lby Prof  Homer C. Hoeksema)
Note: for various articles see Textual Index                      About Becoming "Human" Again, 393
                                                                  Casting Out Devils, Matt. 7:22,23, 430
IN HIS FEAR                                                       About I Corinthians 11:3-16, 56
(by Rev. Dale H. Kuiper)                                          As To The Ethics of Criticism, 299
Addressing God In Prayer, 88                                      About The Elder Son, 79,103
The Age Of Man, 231                                               Going Into The Streets and Lanes, 489
The Home Library, 136                                             Some Pertinent Questions About Our Reformed Position, 246,
Mission Motives, 323                                                   271,297,344,364
Pastoral Aspects Of The Canons of Dordt, 425                      About Trances and Visions, Acts 22: 17, 334
Television - A Homogenizing Influence, 397                        About Unordained Preachers, 55
To Be Tolerant Or Intolerant, 283                                 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES
MEDITATIONS                                                       (Rev.  Gise lran  Baren)
(by Rev. Marinus Schipper)                                        "      and earthquakes . . .", 277
Afflictions Working Glory, 242                                    "De Facto" Church Union, 182
Asleep In The Storm, 2                                            The Enemy Within, 92
Assurance of Election, 362                                        The Sexual Revolution, 43
Blessing The Lord, 77                                             This Is `Reformed' Evangelism?, 401
The Certitude of Eternal Mansions, 341
Easter Evening In The Upper Room, 3 14
Good Tidings of Great Joy, 98                                     THE STRENGTH OF YOUTH
Saved By Grace, 50                                                (by Rev. J. Kortering).
The Hope Of God's Children, 26                                    Christian Liberty (l), 491
Our Heavenly Citizenship, 434                                     Divorce And Remarriage, 4 1,86,153,207,254,350,450
A Prayer For Forgiveness, 269
The Righteous Scarcely Saved, 482                                 STUDIES IN DOCTRINE
The Saint's Need For Quickening, 146                              (by Rev, David Engelsma)
The Saint's Personal Testimony, 130                               A Defense of Calvinism as the Gospel, 15,68,138, 164
Salvation In Zion, 418                                            The Importance of the Preaching of God's Word, 228,251,348
Seeing Jesus Crowned, 386                                         An Open Letter Regarding Christian Liberty, 464
Sight To The Blind, 461                                           STUDIES IN ELECTION
Transformed Into Christ's Image, 218                              (Rev.  Robert C Harbach)
Umnoveably Steadfast, 170                                         Its Assurance, 110
Waiting For God's Son, 194                                        Its Evidences, 108
With Christ In Paradise, 295                                      Its Proclamation, 135, 179, 209, 261
                                                                  Its Resistance, 39, 111, 134
MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES                                            Its Value, 305
Christian Witnessing  (HH), 367,395                               Its Veneration, 111
The Crisis Mounts (JRdW), 58
Exegesis and Preaching (Graduation Address, HI-J.), 440           STUDIES IN ISAIAH
The Garden of Friendship and Peace (BW), 16                       fby Rev. Robert C Harbach)
Key `73 - What Must We Say About It? (Lecture, DE), 410           Introduction, 352,452
The Mode of Baptism (RCH), 166,181                                Isaiah's Prophetic Vision (1: l), 476
Annual Reports, RFPA, 90
Seminary Building - A Progress Report (GVB), 114, 317,475 THE VOICE OF OUR FATHERS
Seminary Building Pictures, 498                                   lby Rev. J. Kortering)
Synod of 1973,422                                                 Note: All of these articles are expositions of Article 14 of the
Ten Commandments  - Rhymed Version (TF), 449                      Belgic Confession.
Walking In The Old Ways (Convocation Address, HH.), 34            Creation, A Biblical Truth, 173
                                                                  The Fall of Man, 377
MISSION NEWS                                                      Man Created In God's Image, 281
Mission Musings (JMF), 372                                        Man Created, Not Evolved, 65
Our Labors in Florida (Hv), 356                                   Man Formed Out Of The Dust, 233
News from Jamaica (GL), 321,369,448_                              Pre-Adamite Man?, 112


 THE STANDARD BEARER
          P.O. Box 6064
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506



504                                          THE STANDARD BEARER



                                News From Our Churches

                     September 1, 1973                     all means stop sending the Standard Bearer to a certain
   Rev. R. Decker and family planned to move to            address in that country. The writer noted that copies
Grand Rapids the day after Labor Day. His installation     of our magazine were sent to an individual in
into the office of Seminary Professor is scheduled for     Friesland, The Netherlands, "much to his surprise."
October 3, in First Church. Professor H. Hanko will        The writer continued, "Now you invited him to
conduct the service and Rev. G. Van Baren will read        subscribe to the  Standard Bearer,  but you will
the Form .for Installation. Following the service there    understand that he cannot do that and he hopes that
will be a social hour in the basement.                     you will stop sending more issues." The reason? Oh,
   On August 27 a Congregational Meeting was held in       yes, the reason  - "He doesn't know a word of
our South Holland church for the purpose of calling a      English!"
`minister from a trio which consisted of the Reverends                             *****
D. Engelsma, J. Kortering, and G. Van  Baren. Rev.           Building projects: At a July congregational meeting,
Kortering received the call.                               Grand Rapids' Hope Church approved plans for
  According to a Southeast Bulletin, Rev. and Mrs.         building a new parsonage. At a June congregational
Schipper returned from New Jersey on August 28.            meeting in our Loveland Church, the congregation
Rev. Schipper reported that it was "a most blessed         decided to build a new parsonage on the church's
experience to be privileged to bring the Word to a         property on E. 57th St. And, by the end of July, the
people that is hungry for the truth." He added that,       construction of the new church building in Randolph
"though a congregation was not organized, as was           had progressed to the point where "the entire structure
previously planned, we believe this will be                is standing and is "roughed in."
accomplished in the near future."                                                  *****
  From a Hope. Church bulletin we learn that "Rev.           Before the current school year gets too far along, I
Woudenberg has been going to Edmonton, Alberta,            ought to quote a little from a March, 1973, Covenant
Canada, every other Thursday for a Bible Study Class.      Christian High School Newsletter which has been in
He meets with about twenty people who are keenly           my box entirely too long. The newsletter included a
interested."                                               list of "Did You Knows" which might be of interest to
  Rev. Heys has declined the call to serve as Home         those of you who didn't see the letter. Following are
Missionary.                                                some of them. Did you know that: CCHS has 120
                           *****                           students? draws its students from a 25 mile radius of
       Our Business Manager, who receives fascinating the school? has 8 teachers (6 men, 2 women)? all the
 correspondence almost daily, has again forwarded a faculty members have an AB or MA degree in the field
 couple of letters to us. The first is a very favorable they teach? has 7 classrooms and about 14,000 square
 reaction to the  Standard Bearer  by a reader of our feet of floor space? has a library of over 3,000 books
 magazine in Northern Ireland. In requesting that we and 180 tape recordings? was built in 1968-l 969, with
 continue to send him the Standard Bearer, he submits an addition in 1971-l 972?
 the following:                                              Further "school news" comes by way of bulletins
       "I must take the opportunity of thanking the from Hull. On April 29 the parents there attended a
 editors and contributors for maintaining such a high meeting "to hear a speech on aspects related to
 standard of publication. I have read with great interest organizing our own Protestant Reformed School
 the articles on the `Free Offer of the Gospel,' and I am Society." The June 24 bulletin announced that a
 particularly looking forward to following the series on "committee has been appointed to propose a
 `Isaiah' and `Hyper-Calvinism' that are beginning to constitution, after which the real business of making
 appear."                                                  plans and discussing details can take place." In the July
       "Being a Baptist I suppose from my point of view 22 bulletin it was reported that, at the school society
 there are some `faults' with your magazine, but not meeting held on July 16, five board members were
 having magnifying spectacles I confess to finding very elected after "the constitution was adopted, spelling
 few.  All in all  I find the  Standard Bearer  very out the basis and formal organization of the Society
 profitable indeed."                                       for Protestant Reformed Education of Hull, Iowa."
   Then there's another. letter, this one from The Needless to say, we follow these developments with
 Netherlands. The letter contained a request that we by deep interest.                                         D.D.


