Sharing God's Truth in Holland, MI
HomeArticles & NewsArticle

Article

The Antithesis: Godly Living in Ungodly Times

Table of contents for Antithesis series

Preface

These articles are taken from the three speeches that were given in January 2007 at the Winter Conference sponsored by the Evangelism Committee of the First Protestant Reformed Church of Holland, MI. The theme for this conference was “The Antithesis: Godly Living in Ungodly Times.”

This topic is relevant in light of the fact that the term itself (“antithesis”) has been largely forgotten. In addition to this, the important truth that the term expresses, as well as the practical application of it to the Christian life, is often denied, and even opposed, in this age of tolerance and ecumenism. For these reasons we felt it beneficial to treat this subject.

The Sovereign God and Man’s Will

Table of contents for The Sovereign God and Man’s Will series

Preface

This booklet, The Sovereign God and Man’s Will, presents in printed form three lectures under the heading The Sovereign God and the Free Will of Man — Whose Will is Truly Sovereign? The Evangelism Committee of the First Protestant Reformed Church of Holland, Michigan, sponsored these lectures in February of 2003 for the annual Winter Conference.

The Law of God and Man’s Will

By Rev. Carl J. Haak

Introduction

As Reformed believers we gladly and humbly confess that our God is sovereign in His will of predestination! From eternity He has chosen in His decree of unconditional election those He will save. He has also willed eternally in His decree of reprobation those who will be condemned in their sins, and has done so in strictest justice and unrivaled sovereignty. Therefore, when a sinner is actually saved, it is the mighty, irresistible, and never-failing love and grace of God at work in his heart bringing him to his Savior Jesus Christ (see Deut. 32:39, 40; Matt. 11:25, 26; Rom. 9:11ff.).

God’s Grace and Man’s Will

By Professor Robert D. Decker

We begin by calling the readers’ attention to two passages of Scripture. The first is Deuteronomy 30:19, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” The second is Romans 9:16 and 18: “So then it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy…. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he (God) will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.” Are these two passages contradictory? After all, Deuteronomy says, “choose life,” but Romans 9 plainly states, “it is not of him that willeth, but of God who shows mercy on whom he wills.” To choose is an act of the will. Again, does Romans contradict Deuteronomy?

Zion’s Cornerstone: A Stone of Stumbling

By Prof. Herman C. Hanko

I Peter 2:7-8: “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.”

Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ,

I chose to make a sermon this past week on this passage because of the conference that you are holding here in Holland the last two weeks and that will be concluded this week, the Lord willing. I chose this passage because it is a passage that stresses so strongly the truth of the absolute sovereignty of God, the truth that must be maintained in order to understand properly the place of the will of man in sovereign election and reprobation.

The challenges of bringing the gospel to those who have little or no knowledge of the Truth

The Domestic Mission Committee of the Protestant Reformed Churches hosted two Missions Seminars this past week, March 23 and 24. Each evening featured a speech followed by an open discussion with a panel of ministers and attendees. Rev. Arie den Hartog and Rev. Ron Van Overloop spoke on the topic The challenges of bringing the gospel to those who have little or no knowledge of the Truth.

Following are some notes from the seminars:

Lámpara es tu’ Palabra

La Palabra de Dios

Dios es tan grande que nosotros no podemos conocerle a menos que Él se revele a sí  mismo a nosotros. Él es tan grande que nosotros no podemos verlo ni tocarlo (1 Tim. 6:16), por eso Él se revela a nosotros como nuestro Señor y Salvador por medio de su Palabra. Nosotros no debemos estar sorprendidos por eso ya que el hablar es el principal medio de comunicación entre nosotros, quienes fuimos creados a su imagen.

Living Antithetically In An Age of Immorality

Speech #3 of The Antithesis: Godly Living in Ungodly Times

Prof. Herman Hanko

Introduction

The antithesis, as the previous speakers made clear, is that work of God, sovereignly executed, by means of which God reaches down into this world of sin and darkness, seemingly under the control and power of Satan, and, through the salvation of His people, causes the light of His truth and holiness to shine. Satan has made his attempt to seize control of this creation and of the human race, but God does not relinquish His world to Satan. God stakes His claim to the world by the testimony and lives of His people. The world says, “We serve Satan. We will take God’s world from Him and make it ours to do with it as we please.” Over against that loud boast, God says, through His people, “This creation is mine. I made it. I will redeem it. I will glorify it and accomplish my own eternal purpose in making it. I will punish with everlasting destruction those who claim it for their own.”