RFPA Blog News

Start your graduate’s library off right with a gift of RFPA books

Consider The Triple Knowledge set (volumes 1–10)—Rev. Herman Hoeksema’s timeless commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism. Your graduate hears the Catechism preached every week. What better way to prepare for the Lord’s day than to read from a commentary that expands on each question and answer?   Other sets: Unfolding Covenant History (volumes 1–6)—From creation through Solomon, Prof. Homer Hoeksema and Prof. David Engelsma firmly teach familiar stories from the unique perspective of God’s covenant. His relationship of friendship with his people...

Interview with Henry Vander Wal: Present-Day Colporteur

This article was written by Prof. David Engelsma in the July 1989 issue of the Standard Bearer. __________ By August 1, [1989], Henry Vander Wal will have turned over the last of his responsibilities on behalf of The Standard Bearer to others. Henry is one of the “unsung heroes” in the story of the spreading of the witness to the truth by the Protestant Reformed Churches. At the time of the Reformation of the church in the sixteen century, one of the important ways in which...

June book sale!

In an effort to free up some space in our warehouse for the new books we continue to publish, the RFPA is offering older titles with a large inventory for 70% off the retail price.* This month’s books are: Redeemed with Judgment (volume 1): Sermons on Isaiah Redeemed with Judgment (volume 2): Sermons on Isaiah Retail price $32.00 each Sale price—$9.60 each! ________________ *Note to RFPA book club members: 70% discount on these titles cannot be combined with book club discount. Regular...

Time is running out to get these books at a steep discount!

In an effort to free up some space in our warehouse for the new books we continue to publish, the RFPA is offering older titles with a large inventory for 70% off the retail price.* This month’s books are: Communion With God Peace for the Troubled Heart  (Retail price $28.95 each) Sale price—$8.69 each! These are both excellent books for personal devotions and they also make great gifts for high school and college graduates! ________________ *Note to RFPA book club members: 70% discount on these...

As to Conditions (11)

This eleventh and final article in the series 'As to Conditions' was written by Herman Hoeksema in the June 1950 issue of the Standard Bearer. ____________ Once more we meet with the term condition in the Canons of Dordrecht, and again the word is put in the mouth of the Remonstrants. It is found in Chapter 5, Rejection of Errors, 1: ‘The true doctrine having been’ explained, the Synod rejects the errors of those: “Who teach: That the perseverance of the true believers is not a fruit of...

June 2020 Standard Bearer preview article

 Click to read pdf as printed in the June 2020 issue. This article is written by Rev. Joseph Holstege and will be published in the June 2020 issue of the Standard Bearer. Mind In days of pestilence and its resulting trouble, warranted is the apostle’s admonition that we “be not soon shaken in mind” (2 Thess. 2:2). When tempted to broadcast our opinions on said pestilence and its effects, the caution of Proverbs 29:11 is also in order: “A fool uttereth all his...

Did you miss these books during quarantine?

Unfolding Covenant History (volume 6): From Samuel to Solomon and Letters from Katie Luther: A Novel are now available! “This story impressed upon me the importance of godly friendships.”—Sarah Mowery, children’s book reviewer for Perspectives in Covenant Education   “In every chapter [of this book] we are led from the types in their weaknesses and sins to the reality, even to the Lord Jesus Christ and his cross where alone we find our salvation. This book comes highly recommended.”—Rev. Martyn McGeown...

As to Conditions (10)

This tenth article in the series 'As to Conditions' was written by Herman Hoeksema in the May 15, 1950 issue of the Standard Bearer. ____________ Before I proceed with my discussion of condition, I want to call the attention of our readers to something I wrote almost twenty years ago, and in which I apparently teach conditions myself. I refer the reader to Volume VI, page 90, ff., of the Standard Bearer. This passage occurs in a series of articles which have been published in pamphlet form under the title, Calvin, Berkhof,...

Fruit of the Spirit

The Fruit of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, by Richard J. Smit This little book discusses the nine aspects of the fruit that proceed from that fountain, Christ, and which by his Spirit he works in his saints. The book encourages branches of believers and their seed unto a life of good fruit-bearing. This beautiful paperback is a perfect gift book for anyone, young or old. This book also works well as a devotional. PAPERBACK EBOOK

A REMINDER about our May Book Sale!

In an effort to free up some space in our warehouse for the new books we continue to publish, the RFPA is offering older titles with a large inventory for 70% off the retail price.* This month’s books are: Communion With God Peace for the Troubled Heart  Retail price $28.95 each Sale price—$8.69 each! These are both excellent books for personal devotions and they also make great gifts for high school and college graduates! ________________ *Note to RFPA book club members: 70% discount on these...

As to Conditions (9)

We must still call attention to the very last part of Canons III, IV, 12.

There we read: “Whereupon the will thus renewed, is not only actuated and influenced by God, but in consequence of this influence, becomes itself active. Wherefore also, man is himself rightly said to believe and repent, by virtue of that grace received.”

Now the meaning of this is plain.

The article had first emphasized that the grace of regeneration is absolutely sovereign and unconditional. 

Don’t forget—The Standard Bearer is available for free online!

The May 15 issue of The Standard Bearer is now available here: https://rfpa.org/pages/the-standard-bearer. Here are a few articles in this issue: “A Fruitful Vine” by Rev. Michael DeVries “Taming the Tongue” by Rev. Rodney Kleyn “Relating Good Works and Justification” by Prof. Brian Huizinga “Book review: Unfolding Covenant History (Volume 6): From Samuel to Solomon” by Rev. David Noorman And don’t forget—the April 15 issue and the May 1 special issue, Since by man came death, are still available and can...

May 15, 2020 Standard Bearer issue is now available!

Due to printing restrictions related to COVID-19, the RFPA is temporarily unable to print and distribute hard copies of The Standard Bearer. Once these restrictions have been lifted, the RFPA will print and mail out all postponed hard copy issues of the magazine. In the meantime, these issues will be available for free online as they are produced. You can read the May 15, 2020 issue at: https://rfpa.org/pages/the-standard-bearer.  

As to Conditions (8)

In our last article under this heading we referred to Canons heads three and four, article 12, which speaks of regeneration. And at the close of that article we had several questions which we now shall discuss.

The first question in whether, if faith is a condition, regeneration must not also be considered as conditional, as something which man must fulfill in order that God may give him the grace of regeneration. That would seem to be almost an impossible conception, but it is also a conception which seems to be implied in what the Rev. Petter writes in Concordia of Feb. 2, 1950. For there he writes that the Spirit of regeneration, the Spirit of salvation, comes after repentance and is related to the latter as a condition.