This short, little book started as three public lectures by Prof. Homer Hoeksema. He gave these speeches in the 1960s when the teachings of evolutionism, especially theistic evolutionism, were finding their way into Reformed churches and schools—especially colleges.
The conflict between creationism and evolutionism has not gone away. In fact, it has only increased. Today theistic evolutionism is taught uncontested in most Christian institutions.Read More
The reader will remember that some months ago [Issue 3, 11/1/1965] I criticized an essay by Dr. Billy Graham on "The New Birth." This essay was published by Christianity Today as one of a series of essays on "Fundamentals of Faith." But the essay itself was excerpted from Dr. Graham's recent book, "World Aflame."Â
Partly through some correspondence with a Calvinist friend in England who was also interested in this book of Graham, and partly, I suppose, out of a certain innate curiosity and desire "to see for myself", I purchased the book. I wanted to see whether the entire book was like the sample given in the essay on "The New Birth."Â
Pastor de Cock briefly addresses the gathering, pointing them to the seriousness of the moment and of the step they were contemplating. Then they all kneel in prayer to commit their cause to the Lord and to beseech him for grace that they may make their decision in the consciousness of his favor. For their help is in the name of the God of Jacob.Â
It was only a little band!Â
They did not belong to the noble and the wise and the rich of this world. They did not belong to those who counted for something in this world. But "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are" [1 Cor. 1:27].Â
It was by this little flock of small and despised folk that a step was taken and a decision reached which would prove to be of tremendous historical significance for the Reformed Churches—in fact, for Zion of all ages, for eternity. Read More
We must not imagine that the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints and of the assurance of that perseverance was a new doctrine established by the Synod of Dordrecht in 1618–‘19. It was not. The doctrine of perseverance was not new for the church in general, nor was it new to our Reformed creeds and for our Reformed churches. I need only remind you of the fact that this doctrine finds expression in a most beautiful context in that jewel of our Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 54, concerning the holy, catholic church. The 54th answer concludes with the well-known words, "...and that I am and forever shall remain, a living member thereof." There, in just a few words, you have both the doctrine of perseverance and the doctrine of the assurance of perseverance. And the fathers of Dordt were well aware of this, and thus aware of the fact that the Arminians militated against the adopted confession, as is plain from their reference to Q&A 54 in article 9 of the fifth head of doctrine:Read More
To understand the meaning of irresistible grace we must go back in history to the time of the Arminian controversy. The very term irresistible cannot be understood, except in that light.Â
The Arminians taught resistible grace. In their third article they seemed to maintain an orthodox doctrine of man's depravity, although more than appearance this was not. And in their fourth article they made it very plain that the grace of God in their system of doctrine is dependent on the will of man. Man, after all, is able to resist the operation of God's grace; and if he is able to resist, he is also able not to resist. The choice rests with him, and the efficacy of God's grace depends on the willingness or unwillingness of the sinner.Â
This is very plain when one reads Articles 3 and 4 of the Arminians together.
CONSIDER ONE OF OUR BOOK SETS FOR YOUR GRADUATE UNFOLDING COVENANT HISTORY SERIES (volumes 1-5) From creation to the book of Ruth, Prof. Homer Hoeksema and Prof. David Engelsma teach familiar stories from the unique perspective of God’s covenant. His relationship of friendship with his people of the Old Testament is the same one he makes with us and our children! Buy Now THE TRIPLE KNOWLEDGE SERIES (volumes 1-10) Rev. Herman Hoeksema’s timeless commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism. Your graduate hears...
For four hundred years, the Canons of Dordt, the product of the seven month long Synod of Dordt, have served as one of the three major creeds of Reformed churches around the world. The Canons have served these churches well. They have been and still remain a bulwark against those who seek to undermine the doctrines of sovereign, particular grace. They have preserved faithful, Reformed believers from the onslaughts of those who wish to inject man’s work into the work of...
Available Summer 2013 in print and eBook formats! Perhaps you've noticed that the popular commentary on the Canons of Dordrecht, The Voice of Our Fathers, has been out of print for well over a year. We're pleased to announce the new revised edition will be available this summer in both print and eBook formats! This book is an extensive commentary on the articles drawn up by the great Synod of Dordrecht (1618–19). The articles stated and defended the doctrines of...
