07 Dec

Covenant Reformed News - October 2024

Published in Covenant PRC Ballymena, Northern Ireland

Covenant Reformed News
October 2024 • Volume XX, Issue 6

Opposition From Jehovah’s Enemies

Any and all true works of God always face opposition from His enemies. In Nehemiah 2, there is a reference to evil forces even before Nehemiah reached Jerusalem. On his journey from the east, Governor Nehemiah was granted a military escort for his own protection, plus letters of safe conduct (9).

However, the most serious enmity spoken of in Nehemiah 2:9-10 came not from bandits (9) but from two nasty individuals (10): Sanballat, the governor of Samaria (to the north of Judah), and Tobiah, his official from Ammon (to the east of Judah). Both of these ungodly civil rulers are mentioned as troublemakers throughout this book, especially in chapters 2, 4, 6 and 13.

At this stage, their hatred had not yet manifested itself in actions or even words. The animosity of Sanballat and Tobiah was experienced by them as internal pain, intense distress that anyone would want to help God’s church: “it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel” (2:10). These two extremely wicked men were hardened and self-conscious enemies of Jehovah’s covenant people. They understood that Nehemiah, the new governor of Judah, would assist the Jews but, as yet, they did not know that he planned to build Jerusalem’s perimeter wall.

Once word got out that the Jews under Nehemiah were going to rebuild the wall of their capital city, we read of three powerful enemies, for Geshem the Arabian is now added to the two opponents mentioned earlier (19). Thus Judah has adversaries from three sides: Sanballat in the north, Tobiah from the east and Geshem from the south.

The hostility against God’s church and covenant intensified. Before Nehemiah’s arrival in Jerusalem, Sanballat and Tobiah were “exceedingly” “grieved” (10), but, after they heard of the Jews’ building project, the three enemies “despised” them (19). Thus we read of their mockery of God’s people: “they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?” namely, Emperor Artaxerxes of Medo-Persia (19).

In every age and land, the true church of the Lord Jesus has enemies on every side. She is despised and derided, as was Christ Himself, especially as He hung upon the cross, where He paid the price of our redemption.

What was Nehemiah’s response to their taunts? It took the form of confident words uttered out of a strong faith in the living Lord: “The God of heaven, he will prosper us” (20). Thus Nehemiah stated his resolute purpose to construct the walls of Jerusalem: “therefore we his servants will arise and build” (20)!

Nehemiah’s rejoinder to his three powerful enemies was also sharply antithetical, for the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls was none of their business. Judah’s governor told them, “ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem” (20), since they had no legal or religious authority, portion or inheritance in the city of God! O that all church leaders would take such a no-nonsense, firm and unequivocal line against all syncretism with paganism and false ecumenism in our own day! Rev. A. Stewart

Is God’s Moral Law Permanent?

We have in this issue of the News another request for an article about the law: “Many people believe that the moral law of God (summarized in the Ten Commandments) was rendered obsolete along with the Mosaic civil and ceremonial laws. I know this is error. Please address this in the Covenant Reformed News.”

Many reckon that the Ten Commandments, sometimes referred to as the moral law, are not in effect in the New Testament era and so they do not think they are obligatory in their requirements. This opposition to the Ten Commandments usually rests on the belief that Israel and the church are two different groups with whom God has two different covenants with each covenant having a different sign (circumcision or baptism). These two groups may even have entirely different futures, as is the teaching of premillennialism and dispensationalism. The Ten Commandments, in this view, belong to Israel and the covenant that God made with them.

Matthew 5:17, where Jesus speaks of His fulfilling the law, is often used as proof for this rejection of the Ten Commandments. That, however, is a misunderstanding of the passage. Jesus does not mean that He has done away with the law or He would be contradicting Himself, for He immediately talks about the importance of doing and teaching, and not breaking, the precepts of the law, and goes on to explain and apply several of the commandments.

Romans 10:4, which says that Christ is the “end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth,” is also misused. “End,” in the minds of many, means that the moral law is finished and done away with, but that is not the meaning of the Greek word translated “end” in Romans 10:4. There are other Greek words for “end” that mean that something is finished, with nothing to follow (Matt. 24:31; 28:1; Heb. 6:16; II Pet. 2:20). The word used in Romans 10:4 and many other passages has the meaning of goal or purpose. Christ is the goal of the law. The word “end” in Romans 10:4 does not imply that the Ten Commandments are finished and done away with.

Another argument against the Ten Commandments is found by some in Romans 6:14: “for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” It is wrongly assumed that, because we are not under the law, we have no relationship to the law at all. But that is wrong. The fact that I am not “under” my wife does not mean I have no relationship at all to her. The fact of the matter is that, just as I am over my wife, so also I am over the law. The law, in God’s gracious saving will towards me, is now my servant, as a “schoolmaster to bring [me] unto Christ” (Gal. 3:24).

When asked whether this means that Christians have no law that must be obeyed, the answer is often that Christians obey “the law of Christ” (a phrase only found in Galatians 6:2), that is, the commands and precepts found in the New Testament, which may or may not be the same as the precepts of the Ten Commandments. This is classic Antinomianism, that is, a rejection of God’s law as embodied in the Ten Commandments.

That argument is nullified by Galatians 3:19: “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.” The Ten Commandments, from the time that God gave them at Sinai, were “the law of Christ,” our mediator, and were in His “hand.” To make a distinction between the Ten Commandments and another law of Christ is explicitly contrary to Scripture. To this Paul adds the important truth that the law is not “against the promises of God” (21), as those allege who find a dichotomy between His moral law and grace.

That the Ten Commandments are still in force follows from two arguments. First, the law as embodied in the Ten Commandments is called the law of God, and to say that it is different from the law of Christ comes very close to a denial of Christ’s divinity. Also the Ten Commandments are rooted in the very nature of God and it seems very difficult, therefore, to understand how they could go out of force.

A good example is the first commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Ex. 20:3). This command follows from the great truth that He is God alone and that there are no other gods beside Him. The other commandments are similar. The second flows from the truth that God is spirit (John 4:24), and the third from the truth that His name is holy and separate from all other names. The fourth rests upon the truth that He is the eternal Creator who made time, as well as space, and who worked six days and rested on the seventh. The fifth is based upon His sovereign authority, and so on.

If the commandments are not arbitrary rules but follow from the nature of God Himself, they must be still in force and we believe they are. We agree with Westminster Confession 19:5: “The moral law doth for ever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof; and that not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God, the Creator, who gave it. Neither doth Christ in the gospel any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation” (Rom. 13:8-10; Eph. 6:2; I John 2:3-4, 7-8; James 2:8, 10-11; Matt. 5:17-19; Rom. 3:31).

Those who do not believe that the Ten Commandments are in force for New Testament Christians will admit that almost all of the commandments are repeated in the New Testament. This we see as further evidence that the moral law is abiding. In Matthew 5:21-42, commandments 6, 7 and 3 are explained by Jesus, and He validates the whole second table of the law, commandments 5-10, in verses 43-48. He repeats commandments 5-9 in Matthew 19:18-19. What is more, these examples in Matthew 5 help us to identify the “law” that Jesus is talking about when He says, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil” (17).

Commandments 7 and 6 are repeated in James 2:11, and James also refers to the rest of the second table when he speaks of loving our neighbour as ourselves (8). Commandment 10, “Thou shalt not covet,” is repeated in Romans 7:7 and Paul establishes the validity of the second table in Romans 13:8-9, where commandments 6-10 are repeated and reference is made to “any other commandment.”

The requirements of the first table are also permanent, according to the teaching of the New Testament. If “love thy neighbour as thyself” is a summary of the second table of the law and “love the Lord thy God” is a summary of the first table, then the New Testament clearly enjoins both. All idolatry and false worship (the first and second commandments) and blasphemy (the third commandment) are clearly forbidden in the New Testament (John 4:24; Gal. 5:20; Col. 3:8; I Tim. 6:1; I John 5:19-21). That leaves only the fourth commandment which is not explicitly repeated but, as we will see in another article, DV, that commandment is also still in force.

I and II John, in their repeated references to the importance of keeping the divine precepts, speak of the commandments of God and make no distinction between these and a “law of Christ” (I John 2:3-4; 3:22, 24; 5:2-3; II John 1:6). Revelation also speaks of the commandments of God and makes no mention of any law of Christ which is different (12:17; 14:12; 22:14). It is difficult to see how this can be anything else but a reference to God’s moral law.

For Paul, the “law” and the “commandment” are “holy, and just, and good” (Rom. 7:12; cf. 13:9), and he confesses that he “delight[s] in the law of God after the inward man” (7:22), which can mean nothing else but that he, regenerated and renewed by grace, a new man in Christ, finds that the law is not something to be despised but cherished.

That the Ten Commandments were written by the finger of God in tables of stone also indicates the permanence of these regulations. That they were spoken by God Himself from Mount Sinai and the stone tables were placed in the ark confirms this, for it shows the difference between these commandments and all the rest of the Mosaic legislation.

John Calvin is right in his comments on Romans 7:12: “I consider that there is a peculiar force in the words, when he says, that the law itself and whatever is commanded in the law, is holy, and therefore to be regarded with the highest reverence—that it is just, and cannot therefore be charged with anything wrong—that it is good, and hence pure and free from everything that can do harm. He thus defends the law against every charge of blame, that no one should ascribe to it what is contrary to goodness, justice, and holiness.”

This leaves us with several matters that still need explanation. We need to look at what it means that we are “dead to the law” (Rom. 7:4; Gal. 2:19). We also must examine the reasons why the fourth commandment, regarding the sabbath, is not explicitly repeated in the New Testament. Rev. Ron Hanko

Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena, BT43 5DR • Lord’s Day services at 11 am & 6 pm
Website: https://cprc.co.uk/ • Live broadcast: cprc.co.uk/live-streaming/
Pastor: Angus Stewart, 7 Lislunnan Road, Kells, N. Ireland, BT42 3NR • (028) 25 891851
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. • www.youtube.com/cprcni • www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC

01 Dec

PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for December 1, 2024 *(Updated)

Published in News

Today, December 1, is the forty-eighth Lord's Day of this year of our Lord 2024, and another rest stop on our pilgrim journey through this world. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Below you will find special highlights of PRC and sister-church news. It is our hope that these reports not only inform you but also give you opportunity to pray for the needs of these churches and mission fields throughout the world.

And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. ~ Revelation 15:1-4

If you are new to this website and the PRCA, we invite you to join us in worship today or on any of the Sunday's of this year at one of our local congregations near you; or you may listen online through one of the PRC's livestreams.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS

Last Sunday Rev. M. DeBoer (Edgerton-MN PRC) declined the call to Southwest PRC (Wyoming, MI).
Last Sunday Grandville PRC extended a call to Rev. M. DeBoer.
Today Rev. E. Guichelaar (Grace PRC) accepted the call to Zion PRC.
The Council of Hope PRC-Redlands, CA has announced a new trio from which to call her next pastor: Revs. J. Smidstra (First PRC-Holland PRC), J. Maatman (Southeast PRC), and W. Langerak (Trinity PRC). The congregational meeting is set for Monday, December 2. *Rev. Maatman has received this call.
Hudsonville PRC's Council has chosen a new trio of Revs. R. Barnhill (Heritage PRC-Sioux Falls, SD), D. Holstege (Wingham PRC-ON), and D. Lee (Kalamazoo PRC). The congregation will vote from the trio at the annual congregational meeting on Dec.11.
Southwest PRC's Council formed a trio of Revs. J. Engelsma (Crete-IL PRC), W. Langerak (Trinity PRC), and J. Maatman (Southeast PRC). A special congregational meeting to call from this trio is planned for December 15 after the evening service.

Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs: Rev. A. Spriensma in Cornerstone PRC-Dyer, IN; Rev. K. Koole and Rev. J. Holstege in Grandville PRC; Rev. S. Key in Hope PRC-Redlands; Prof. B. Huizinga and Rev. E. Guichelaar in Hudsonville PRC; Rev. W. Bruinsma in Lynden PRC; Prof. R. Cammenga and Rev. D. Lee in Southwest PRC; Prof. B. Gritters and Rev. G. Eriks in Zion PRC. May we count it a blessing of our church federation that we can help one another in these needs. Let us remember to pray for the men who supply these pulpits and for the vacant congregations. And may we continue to pray for men to hear the call to serve as pastors and missionaries!

Special Congregational/Evangelism Notices:

Byron Center (MI) PRC: "The Community Bible Study plans to meet this Thursday (12/5) at 7:30 p.m. [at the church]. We plan to begin a study of the book of Philemon. We would love to have you bring a friend or neighbor and join us!"
First PRC-Grand Rapids, MI: "Community Bible Study meets Wednesday, December 4, at 7:00 p.m. [at the church]. We'll discuss Noah's Work of Faith in Building the Ark, Hebrews 11:7 & Genesis 6."
Georgetown PRC: India: "The Council of Georgetown PRC informs the churches that they have sent a delegation to Vellore, India, to minister to the saints in that place. The team—Rev. Carl Haak, Chad Noorman, and Deane and Donna Wassink—arrived in Vellore on November 21 and plan to return home on December 3. The purpose of this trip is to encourage Pastor Paulraj and the churches in Vellore, assist Pastor Paulraj by teaching men who desire to become ministers of the Gospel, and support Mrs. Kasthuri Paulraj and the Grace Foster Home during very trying circumstances. The team attended retreats for the Vellore PRC and Vellore Christian Church (English church). Pastor Haak is instructing the young men attending the Sola Gratia Seminary, preparing them to minister to God’s people. The team is also visiting families of the congregation and other churches in the area interested in the Reformed faith. Rev. Haak is preaching to God’s people on the Sabbath. Please pray for them and for the important work of the spread of the Gospel. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17."
Loveland (CO) PRC: "Christmas Concert: This year, our church choir will be presenting our Christmas concert to the community before we perform it for our congregation. You are welcome to attend the concert at the Spiritual Life Center (inside the doors to the Visitor Center) at the Loveland Good Samaritan Village on Sunday, December 1 at 3:00 p.m. You can use the flyers available by the mailboxes as personal invitations for extended family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers -- or, for posting them publicly. We are thankful for the opportunity to once again tell the old story of Jesus and His love -- the message of salvation from God's holy Word! After the concert, light refreshments will be served; please use this time to join us in continuing our witness to the residents and others in the audience."
Hope PRC (Walker, MI) re upcoming Myanmar visit: "The Council of Hope PRC informs the churches that... a delegation from Hope Church, consisting of Jonathon and Tricia Kamps, Rev. and Keri Mahtani, and Eugene Kamps, will travel to Thailand to meet with Rev. Titus, Certi, and Josiah from December 4 to 11. The group looks forward to connecting with our brothers and sister in Christ to support and encourage them during these difficult times. As Paul expressed in Romans 1:11-12, “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.”
In 2025 the Hull Protestant Reformed Church will celebrate 100 years of God’s covenant faithfulness to us as a congregation. Taking as our theme Upheld by His Hand, we would like to invite all members and former members to celebrate with us on August 15-17, 2025. Lord willing, we plan to gather together for a keynotespeech, program, and ice-cream social Friday evening. Saturday will be a day with opportunity for much fellowship with many activities and a meal being planned. We will conclude our celebration on Sunday with worship in the house of worship that the Lord has graciously provided for us and end the day with joyful praise to Him in a singspiration. Be sure to save these dates and watch for more details later!

PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

Home mission news: Zion’s Council and the DMC have sent our domestic missionary, Rev. J. Laning, to the Dallas/ Fort Worth area for six months, along with his wife, Margaret. They arrived there on October 19 and have settled into the labors there. For some time Rev. Laning has been conducting weekly Zoom Bible studies with people in Texas, and has made a number of trips there. The plan is to have Rev. Laning continue to labor among those whom they have already come to know, while also witnessing to others in that area. Seeing as the preaching of the gospel is the chief means the Spirit uses to gather His people, it will be good to spend some time there meeting for worship and having Bible studies, in order, Lord willing, to gather a group together. We thank the Lord for opening this door, and pray that He may guide us in this work to the glory of His name. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). If you happen to know of anyone in that area who may be interested, please contact our domestic missionary at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.."

At the request of Unity PRC and with the concurrence of two neighboring consistories, the Classical Committee has arranged for a special meeting of Classis East to convene in Southwest PRC on Tuesday, December 3, at 8 a.m. The meeting will likely be held in closed session.
PRC 100th! Did you attend the 75th PRC Anniversary Commemoration in 2000? Please share your pictures and videos with the PRC Historical Archive. You can drop off or mail physical copies to Chuck Terpstra at the seminary (4949 Ivanrest Ave. SW Wyoming MI 49418), or email digitized content to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. As we beganpreparing for the 100th, we realized that we have few visuals from the 75th. Thank you for your help building upour archive!
PRC 100th Anniversary Celebration: NEW!! Online Registration is now open. All the members of the PRCA, our sister churches, and close contacts are encouraged to come together at Calvin University from June 2-6, 2025 to participate in this commemorative week. To attend visit https://prca100.org/register for registration instructions and the web link. For more 100-year PRC history, videos and photos, visit this Facebook page.

front entry snow Nov 2024
Over the Thanksgiving weekend the PRTS experienced its first significant snowfall this season

PRC Seminary Notices:

The PR Theological Seminary has now completed thirteen weeks of this first semester of its 2024-25 school year, with two weeks of classes left before exams. The faculty, students, and staff covet your prayers as they move toward the end of this semester's labors and activities. The first semester's schedule and calendar (2024-25) have been posted on this webpage.
This week Joseph Dick (1st year) will lead the daily devotions, and Rev. G. Eriks will lead the Wednesday chapel.
This week Wednesday Prof. B. Gritters will undergo ankle replacement surgery. Prof. R. Cammenga will take the last two weeks of his classes while he recovers. Prof. Gritters hopes to be ready to teach when the second semester begins in mid-January.
Have you watched or listened to the videos of the recent PRTS Conference on the historic PRC stand on grace? The PRTS' recent conference (Oct.31-Nov.2) at Grace PRC (“By Grace I Am What I Am”: The PRCA’s Rejection of Common Grace) was well attended and well received. The speeches are now all available both on Grace PRC's Sermonaudio channel as well as the seminary's YouTube channel.
Sem. Bruce Feenstra (junior) has been licensed to to speak a word of edification in the churches. All scheduling of Mr. Feenstra must be done through the seminary, either by sending a request to the seminary secretary (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or the rector, Prof. D. Kuiper (doug.kuiperThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
Sem. Aaron Van Dyke (senior) is in the final weeks of his summer/fall internship in the Wingham, Ontario PRC, under the supervision of Wingham’s Consistory and the mentoring of Rev. Daniel Holstege. The internship runs from July 1 through December 31. Continue to pray for Mr. Van Dyke and his family during his internship.
The Fall 2024 issue of the PR Theological Journal is now available; both domestic and foreign copies have been mailed out. The digital edition (pdf) is available on the seminary's journal page linked here. This issue contains, among other things, the second part of Dr. J. Bolt's treatment of the CRC Synod of 1924 ("Unfinished Business on Common Grace"), Prof Griess' lecture on "Sexual Abuse in Calvin's Geneva," Dr. N. Willborn's lectures on "Old Princeton," a sermon warning of drunkenness (and other addictions) from Prov.23:29-35 by Prof. Kuiper, and ten book reviews. If you want to be added to our mailing list (either print or digital) or wish to pick up a copy, contact Bethany Engelsma, the seminary secretary (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or stop by the seminary.
For the latest seminary news and information, visit the seminary's website - and don't forget the blog!

SISTER-CHURCH/MISSION NEWS:

Covenant ERC, Singapore and her Kolkata, India mission work:
- Pastors J. Tan and M. Wee are faithfully serving the CERC. Today Pastor Wee led both services. In the bulletin this week was this special note: "Dear congregation, Council will be having a one-day retreat on 7 Dec 24 (Sat). The purpose is to set aside dedicated time to reflect on the spiritual well-being of the church and discuss about longer term plans and focus for the church. If you have any feedback or issues you think would be important for the Council to discuss during the retreat, please feel free to approach any Council member."
- A new issue of Salt Shakers is available - August2024, #73, the third of this year! Once again you will find a variety of articles on timely subjects in this issue! Written especially for young people and young adults, SS is edifying for all adults!

Covenant PRC, N. Ireland:
- Rev. A. Stewart continues to serve this sister congregation faithfully, and through the CPRC to minister the gospel far and wide in other ways.
- The October and November 2024 issues of "Covenant Reformed News" have just been published. Read the October articles by Rev. A. Stewart on "Opposition from Jehovah's Enemies" (Nehemiah 2) and Rev. R. Hanko's response to a question: "Is God's Moral Law Permanent?".
- The CPRC YouTube channel with all its edifying content may be found here.

PRC in the Philippines and her mission work in various places:
- Berean PRC bulletin: Elders Penaverde and Umali led her worship services today. And, "The saints of All of Grace Protestant Reformed Fellowship in Gabaldon Nueva Ecija will join us in worship today via livestreaming at our official Facebook page. We pray for God’s continued care and blessings upon them as they hear the Word of God."
- Mission news: "Rev. Ibe and family are scheduled to travel to Magsingal, Ilocos Sur on Nov. 29 – Dec. 01, D.V. Pastor Ibe was invited again by the saints in Magsingal (which was approved by the Council) to lead them in their Thanksgiving Day on Nov. 30 and will preach for them on Sunday (Dec. 01) morning, all the Lord willing." And, this coming week, "Rev. Ibe and Sis. Melody is scheduled to visit the pastors and saints in Bacolod and Sipalay City on Dec. 9 - 10. The Lord willing, Rev. Ibe will lecture on the Church Order of Dort Articles 10-12 and Reformed Dogmatics (Soteriology) on the Ordo Salutis. We pray for God’s continued spiritual strength and growth for the churches in these areas as they learn and receive the Reformed truth of God’s sovereign particular grace in Christ Jesusand for His sake only. Soli Deo Gloria!"
- Provident PRC bulletin: Officebearers led both worship services today.

REFORMED RESOURCES for EDUCATION, EDIFICATION, and EVANGELISM

Listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday - on a radio station near you, on Sermonaudio, or on your favorite podcast - wherever you are!

CHaak GT PRC

This month - December 2024 - the RWH will broadcast five gospel messages by Rev. C. Haak, considering the treasure and the wonder of the birth of Jesus Christ in his series, The Blessings of Emmanuel’s Reign. There will also be a special Christmas message from Luke 2. Today's message is "The Desert Shall Bloom as the Rose" based on Isaiah 35:1,2.
The Reformed Witness Hour publishes each month's messages in an attractive booklet. These printed sermons are a great blessing to many and are distributed all over the world, including to many prisoners in the U.S. If you or your Evangelism Committee would like to receive these, let the RWHC know and they will add you to the mailing list (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Union Christ 2024 BRF

The latest collection of British Reformed Fellowship speeches (2022) titled Union with Christ has been published and is available from the RFPA, Reformed Book Outlet, PRC Seminary, and local PRCs. Follow the link to find more information on this book and to find the digital download.

The Reformed Book Outlet (downtown Hudsonville, MI) is now operating out of its new store in downtown Hudsonville (3472 Harvey St.). Visit the store and browse the variety of resources for your Reformed-Christian faith and walk, including many children's titles. They are open Tuesday-Friday, 10-5, and Saturday 10-1.
*Special notice! RBO Holiday Open House: Join us Monday, December 2 from 1-8PM for a special time at the RBO! There will be cookies to decorate, giveaways and a scavenger hunt! Books and Bibles and much more will be on sale for 25% off! Hope to see you there!

In need of sound biblical and Reformed catechism materials for children and young people? Check out the PRC's full curriculum of materials here. Call the PRC Seminary for help with any of these materials (616-531-1490).
For sound, distinctively Reformed literature on a variety of subjects and for all ages - including church history and Bible study materials - visit the Reformed Free Publishing Association website or stop in at their Jenison (Michigan) location.

This Week's Thought for Contemplation

“...The words we consider today are a part of a larger picture, therefore, one we will consider in our broadcast today. It is true that Isaiah speaks to Judah and us using figurative language. For that reason it may seem to us confusing at first. But these few words gave great hope, comfort, and encouragement to the faithful few who were yet looking for their Savior to come. And as we consider them today they are of great joy and comfort to us too. “There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” That will be our focus in our broadcast today: Christ’s birth.

Prior to the birth of Jesus Christ the nation of Israel had once again departed from Jehovah and was no longer looking for her Messiah. It was a dark point in the history of God’s church once again, just as it was in Isaiah’s day. It was not as if the church had disappeared. Yes, Jerusalem was destroyed and God’s people were led into captivity, as Isaiah prophesied. But God led His people back to the land of Canaan after the period of captivity in Babylon. She had rebuilt the temple and was worshiping with her sacrifices there. However, the worship of the church was empty and vain. The Jews in their sacrifices no longer looked for a Messiah who would save them from their sin. The nation was swallowed up in work-righteousness. The Deliverer they sought was going to be an earthly king who would rule on the throne of David restoring Israel to her former glory. Only few in Israel yet looked for their Messiah to come to deliver them from their sin.

The church existed in name therefore, but it was thoroughly apostate. Times looked bleak for the church. The glory had departed from Israel. Mere formal worship, vain traditions, worldly living. Would the Messiah ever be born? Out of a stem shall spring forth a rod and out of a root shall grow a branch! Christ the Savior is born!

Taken from the 2022 Advent radio message by Rev. W. Bruinsma, "The Branch of Jesse."

29 Nov

Reformed Witness Hour - December 2024 Newsletter

Published in First PRC Grand Rapids, MI

News from the Reformed Witness Hour

December 2024

December 2024 Broadcast Schedule

Lord willing, for the month of December, Rev. Haak will lead us as we consider the treasure and the wonder of the birth of Jesus Christ in his series, The Blessings of Emmanuel’s Reign. Isaiah 35 speaks to us in a picturesque way of the blessings that will be brought when Immanuel comes. “The desert,” we read, “shall blossom as the rose…the eyes of the blind shall be opened…the parched ground shall become a pool of water…the redeemed of the Lord shall go upon a highway of holiness.” The point of the chapter is that when God pours out upon us sinners His goodness and grace in the coming of His Son Immanuel, great blessings come upon His precious church. Tune in to hear these beautiful messages!

December 1
The Desert Shall Bloom as the Rose
Isaiah 35:1-2

Rev. C. Haak

December 8
Then Shall a Lame Man Leap as a Hart

Isaiah 35:3-6

Rev. C. Haak

December 15
The Mirage is Become a Pool of Water

Isaiah 35:6-7

Rev. C. Haak

December 22
Great Joy Brought to You
Luke 2:10-11

Rev. C. Haak

December 29
Highway Through the Desert

Isaiah 35:8-10

Rev. C. Haak

December 29
Highway Through the Desert

Isaiah 35:8-10

Rev. C. Haak

RWH Website

If you haven’t visited our website recently, take a few minutes to check it out. We have an extensive broadcast archive which includes transcript versions of many messages, highlights of favorite messages, details on the stations that broadcast our messages and more. Visit at reformedwitnesshour.org.

Who is Downloading RWH Messages?

October was another interesting month for download data from Sermon Audio. You may recall back in April we saw a significantly larger number of downloads, mostly attributed to Cambodia. In October we had another significant increase in downloads, this time, it appears to be attributed to the state of Washington which had 2,723 downloads for the month. Additionally, the state of Texas had a significantly higher number of downloads compared to previous months with 413 downloads. These two states surpassed all other states for highest number of downloads in one month.

Top 5 states reached each month	May (top 5)	June (top 5)	July (top 5)	August (top 5)	September (top 5)	October (top 5)
Washington	10	9	14	26	37	2,723 (1)
Texas	44 (5)	22	19	39	45	413 (2)
Ohio	217 (1)	8	5	9	151 (2)	124
Michigan	133 (2)	107 (3)	114 (3)	102 (3)	201 (1)	149 (4)
Wisconsin	12	11	181 (1)	30	23	20
Virginia	36	133 (1)	25	120 (2)	33	166 (3)
So. Carolina	2	13	4	2	21	146 (5)
Illinois	39	66 (4)	144 (2)	54 (4)	95	76
California	28	24	20	25	141 (3)	37
N. Carolina	71 (4)	39	96 (5)	120 (1)	136 (4)	36
Iowa	28	127 (2)	41	21	31	27
Oregon	13	7	97 (4)	9	117 (5)	9
Colorado	74 (3)	55	18	44 (5)	34	18
Georgia	31	58 (5)	66	8	16	17

downloads by month Dec 2024

Union with Christ

By Stewart, Angus

Foreword to new BRF book, Union with Christ (2024)

Union with our Lord Jesus Christ, the subject of this book, is a profound and beautiful biblical truth that exalts the Triune God and comforts believers. Heinrich Heppe explains its nature and significance in continental European Reformed theology:

According to its real nature the calling of the elect is thus an insitio in Christum or unio cum Christo, a real, wholesale, spiritual and indissoluble union of the person of the elect with the divine-human … Redeemer, so that for the former the latter is … the same as soul is for body. The implanting of the elect into Christ is thus the beginning of all appropriation of salvation, of all fellowship in salvation (gratia) and in glory (gloria). At the root of the whole doctrine of the appropriation of salvation lies the doctrine of insitio or insertio in Christum, through which we live in him and he is us. So the dogmaticians discuss it with special emphasis.¹

Turning to the British Isles, English Presbyterian preacher John Flavel (1628-1691) marvels at our unio cum Christo:

How transcendently glorious is the advancement of believers, by their union with the Lord of glory? This also is an admirable and astonishing mystery; it is the highest dignity of which our nature is capable, to be hypostatically united; and the greatest glory of which our persons are capable is to be mystically united to this Lord of glory; to be bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh. O what is this! Christian, does thou know and believe all this, and thy heart not burn within thee in love to Christ?²

This book consists of the speeches and sermons at the 16th British Reformed Fellowship (BRF) Family Conference held in Castlewellan Castle, County Down, Northern Ireland on “Union With Christ” (9-16 July, 2022). Though all the addresses have been reworked somewhat for publication in written form, one of them has been extensively developed: “Christ Is Made Ours:” Calvin’s Doctrine of Union.

The chapters of this book are not in the order in which they were originally spoken. Here we have adopted a logical approach by starting with the Saviour to whom we are united (part 1), before proceeding chronologically with the Old Testament (part 2) and the New Testament (part 3) on unio cum Christo, and concluding with (some) historical theology on our glorious theme (part 4).

The two main authors of this book are both from the United States of America. This is the eighth and last BRF book co-authored by David J. Engelsma, an emeritus theological professor, who has been of immense help in so many ways to the British Reformed Fellowship right from its beginning in 1990. Contributing to his first BRF book is Brian L. Huizinga, a former pastor of Hope Protestant Reformed Church in Redlands, California, who is now Professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary in Wyoming, Michigan. These two men are responsible for Parts 1 and 3 of this book, consisting of the two Lord’s day sermons and five main lectures. Angus Stewart, the minister of the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church (CPRC) in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, has written chapters 3 and 9 (parts 2 and 4).

The Lord Jesus Himself illustrated our mystical union with Him as being like that of branches in a vine (John 15:1-8). Thus the front cover of this book is a lovely photograph of a vineyard.

Union with Christ is the eighth BRF book and a worthy addition to our growing collection: Keeping God’s Covenant (2006), The Five Points of Calvinism (2008), The Work of the Holy Spirit (2010), The Reformed Worldview (2012), Ye Are My Witnesses (2014), Be Ye Holy (2016) and Behold, I Come Quickly (2018).³

Our hope and prayer is that this book will serve to spread the spiritual understanding, benefit and enjoyment of union with the Lord Jesus to readers near and far, “to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).

Rev. Angus Stewart
BRF Chairman

CONTENTS

Foreword

Part 1: The Christ With Whom We Are United
1. Our Changeless Jesus Christ
2. The Lamb of God Come

Part 2: Old Testament Theology on Union With Christ
3. The Psalm of Union

Part 3: New Testament Theology on Union With Christ
4. Union and the Covenant
5. Union and Election
6. Union With Christ’s Death
7. Union and a New Creation
8. Union and Marriage

Part 4: Historical Theology on Union With Christ
9. “Christ Is Made Ours:” Calvin’s Doctrine of Union With Christ

Appendix
About the British Reformed Fellowship

Yet I Will Rejoice in the Lord

By Haak, Carl

24 Nov

PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for November 24, 2024 *(Updated)

Published in News

Today, November 24, is the forty-seventh Lord's Day of this year of our Lord 2024, and another rest stop on our pilgrim journey through this world. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High.... I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. ...Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. ...Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. ~ Psalm 50:14; 69:30; 95:2; 100:4

This Thursday the PRCs in the U.S. will gather for a special morning worship service on the national Day of Thanksgiving. You are warmly welcomed to join us in praising and thanking our good God for His manifold gifts and grace in Jesus Christ.