The true church of Jesus Christ—Her marks
By : Reformed Free Publishing Association
The preaching in Christ’s church sets forth the doctrine of the gospel in all its glory and power. It is pure, unmixed with the errors of Pelagius or Arminius that ascribe to man a part in his salvation. It is uncorrupted with Romish or Federal Vision errors that require man to perform works that will in some way contribute to his salvation. The opinions and philosophies of men are excluded. It must be the pure doctrine of the gospel. Preaching the...
Read MoreIs the gospel part of the law?
By : Reformed Free Publishing Association
“What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone” (Romans 9:30-32). In this text the issue is righteousness. The Israelites who sought righteousness by obedience...
Read MoreThe Bible and Israel (6)
By : Reformed Free Publishing Association
Recently, the modern nation of Israel celebrated seventy years since it was established. Moreover, the United States has just moved its embassy to Jerusalem in order to recognize it as Israel’s capital city. But do such political moves have anything to do with the Bible? Are they the fulfilment of prophecy? Many Christians of a premillennial dispensational persuasion believe that they do. In addition, many in the premillennial dispensational camp argue that it is the Christian’s duty to support the nation...
Read MoreStart your graduate’s library with a gift of RFPA books
By : Reformed Free Publishing Association
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...
Read MoreIs the law part of the gospel?
By : Reformed Free Publishing Association
I remember being quite confused for a long time by the question that titles this article. I remember being further confused by statements made by Protestant Reformed authors, such as the following: “In fact, Scripture makes clear that the law is gospel, for it has the power to convert the soul, to make wise the simple, and to enlighten the eyes.” And, “The law is gospel. If anyone doubts it, let him read Psalm 19 and Psalm 119.” And, “For Calvin...
Read MoreEyes and Ears, Hands and Feet
By : Reformed Free Publishing Association
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the communion of the saints? Often we think about things that other people have done for us. Sometimes you will hear a person say when they are sick or going through some trial that they have really experienced the communion of the saints through the care of other believers. And this is a good thing. But when we think about the communion of the saints, we ought not think...
Read MoreSocial Constructionism (9): Ideas have Legs
By : Reformed Free Publishing Association
For within the framework of men’s bodies is generated the most powerful explosive force known in history—the explosive force of ideas. …Ideas change men. Ideas shape nations. So many ideas bid for the allegiance of each human heart as it takes its journey from the womb to the tomb. And when millions of ordinary men and women begin to follow the same star history is molded. Great Britain’s Peter Howard wrote this shortly after World War II in his book Ideas...
Read MoreInstruction that is Governed
By : Reformed Free Publishing Association
Christian Education and the Reformed Baptism Form (8): Instruction that is Governed The instruction of covenant children is governed by God himself. In the thanksgiving prayer of the form for baptism we pray for the covenant children “that they may be piously and religiously educated.” This rearing was first mentioned in the form at “the end of the doctrinal part, where it was said, ‘parents are in duty bound to instruct their children further herein while they grow up.’ This was...
Read MoreRFPA Update newsletter - Spring 2018
By : Reformed Free Publishing Association
Click icon to read the full pdf version. The articles in this issue are: "Richly blessed by those books" Keeping RFPA titles in print: Amazing Cross, Behold, He Cometh, Portraits of Faithful Saints Two special Reformation Issues of the Standard Bearer New Releases: Walking in the Way of Love, T is for Tree, Studies in Hebrews Children's books division news What are the next books being printed?: Here We Stand: Commemorating the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, The Belgic Confession commentary (volume 1), Grace...
Read MoreMay 1, 2018 Standard Bearer issue preview
By : Reformed Free Publishing Association
Christ’s voluntary sacrifice on the cross points to God’s great love toward us. He sees us in our misery and sets himself to deliver us and give to us abundant life. He came so that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly. Abundant life is nothing less than the fullness of joy in the Father’s presence, ultimately life in eternity. That is what the cross is about. Now when we see Christ crucified, we must know...
Read MoreThe Bible and Israel (5)
By : Reformed Free Publishing Association
Having proven that the church is the same entity as Israel, the main difference being the spiritual maturity (or majority) of the former and the spiritual immaturity (or minority) of the latter (Gal. 3-4), the apostle Paul addresses the issue of motherhood—who is the spiritual mother of the believer, whether Jew or Gentile; and who is the spiritual mother of the unbelieving, carnal Jew? Paul uses an allegory to illustrate this spiritual truth in Galatians 4, in which allegory there are...
Read MoreThe riches of God’s promises are for young children
By : Reformed Free Publishing Association
T is for Tree The riches of God’s promises are, indeed, especially for young children; God specifically includes them in his everlasting, unconditional covenant of grace: “...and to thy seed after thee” (Gen. 17:7). Our little ones may not be neglected. Even in the books we choose to read to them, we can and we must keep the vows we made at the time of baptism to “help and cause them to be instructed” in the “true and perfect doctrine...
Read MoreSingular Love
By : Reformed Free Publishing Association
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.”—1 John 3:1 BEHOLD! What marvelous love was bestowed upon us! No cold, matter-of-fact statement the apostle makes before the church of all ages. Rather it must be seen as a shout of ecstasy pressed from the author’s heart under the influence of an over-mastering emotion. Rapt out of himself and elevated above the reach of ordinary, natural perception, caught up in...
Read MoreThe Bible and Israel (4)
By : Reformed Free Publishing Association
The purpose of these blog posts is to identify the true, chosen people of God—are the people of God the modern nation of Israel, or is it the church? We have seen already that believers in Christ, and therefore not unbelieving ethnic Jews, are the true children of Abraham. Next we turn to the epistle to the Galatians. In Galatians 3, having proved that Abraham was justified through faith in exactly the same way as believers in all ages, Paul declares,...
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