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Harvest

October 1, 2020 Standard Bearer preview article

This article is written by Rev. Clayton Spronk and will be published in the October 1, 2020 issue of the Standard Bearer.  Click to read pdf as printed in the October 1, 2020 issue. ________________ J. I. Packer (1926-2020) The obituary posted (July 17, 2020) on Christianity Today’s website by Leland Ryken reports, “James Innell Packer, better known to many as J. I. Packer, was one of the most famous and influential evangelical leaders of our time. He died Friday, July 17, at age 93.”1 Packer’s...

Zeal

This article was written by Rev. Dale Kuiper in the 2/15/1992 issue of the Standard Bearer. _______________ It is striking that both the Hebrew and the Greek words from which our KJV derives the words zeal, zealous, and zealot are words which have the basic meaning of heat. The Hebrew root means to boil with heat, to be hot. Metaphorically the word indicates excitement of mind, ardor, fervor of spirit, zeal in embracing, pursuing, or defending anything. The Greek word means to become very red,...

September 15, 2020 Standard Bearer preview article

This article is written by Rev. Thomas Miersma and will be published in the September 15, 2020 issue of the Standard Bearer.  Click to read pdf as printed in the September 15, 2020 issue. ________________ The end of the matter—found (Ecclesiastes 12:12-14) The preceding verses set before us the Word of God as truth. It is divinely inspired, infallibly written, and as the Word of God, to be relied upon. God is our faithful Shepherd. In that connection the text continues: And further, by these, my son, be...

September 1, 2020 Standard Bearer preview article

This article is written by Prof. Barrett Gritters and will be published in the September 1, 2020 issue of the Standard Bearer.  Click to read pdf as printed in the September 1, 2020 issue. ________________ Preserving our good Christian schools We can truly say about our good Christian schools, “The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad!” (Ps. 126:3). The more I think about what God has given us, I want to say this. Even the heathen, if they would look at our...

Doctrine

This article was written by Rev. Dale Kuiper in the 12/15/1992 issue of the Standard Bearer. _______________ The Hebrew word for doctrine means “to take, receive, seize;” then it means that which is received mentally, instruction. The Greek has a whole family of words relating to our topic: one means that which is taught; another refers to the one doing the teaching, the doctor or master; the verb form simply means to instruct or indoctrinate. The word doctrine appears fifty-two times in scripture, good...

Laughter

This article was written by Rev. Dale Kuiper in the 11/15/1991 issue of the Standard Bearer. _______________ Not many times do the words laugh and laughter occur in the scriptures. We read of the laughter of the wicked, the laughter of the righteous, and, most striking of all, the laughter of God. As we consider this subject we ought to be reminded that we live in a world where comedy is king and where the insanity of unbelief is punctuated by forced humor, jokes, blasphemies, frivolousness, and inanities. How much...

Contentment

This 'A Word Fitly Spoken' article was written by Rev. Dale Kuiper in the January 1, 1991 issue of the Standard Bearer. _____________ The Christian virtue of contentment is expressed in scripture with a word that is, to say the least, surprising. Contentment is translated from a compound Greek word meaning “self” and “sufficient.” Literally it means “to be sufficient of one’s self, to possess enough to need no aid or support,” hence, “to be independent.” How surprising, in light of the fact that scripture on every page instructs...

Hope

This article was written by Rev. Dale Kuiper in Issue 11, 3/1/1991 of the Standard Bearer. _____________ Hope is the power of the Christian life, when the Christian life is viewed as a pilgrimage, a journey through this present time and place to a better city and country. Hope is the power that keeps the Christian on that pilgrim way and encourages him on that way. The book of 1 Peter, addressed to pilgrims and strangers scattered throughout the earth, stressing the importance of...

July 2020 Standard Bearer preview article

This article is written by Rev. James Laning and will be published in the July 2020 issue of the Standard Bearer.  Click to read pdf as printed in the July 2020 issue. ________________ God’s sure promise The previous article spoke of God promising deliverance to His covenant people. In this article we consider that the promise of our God is sure. It does not depend upon us for its fulfillment. Our salvation is entirely a gift of God’s grace. The promise of God It...

When you Pass Through the Waters

This meditation was written by Rev. James Slopsema in the February 15, 2000 issue of the Standard Bearer. _____________ But now saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle...

Bread for His Service

This article was written by Rev. John Heys in the April 1, 1964 issue of the Standard Bearer. __________ Here in these climes there are increasing evidences of the return of spring. In our complex life of today this has lost so much of its significance. In our pleasure-mad world the outlook of man is so different from what it was only a few generations ago. We live so far away from the soil today. That all our food is grown in the soil and comes to...

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...

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...