REFORMED WITNESS
Volume V, June 1997, Number 6
An Opportunity to Order Free Reformed Literature
We at The Reformed Witness are always interested in promoting the reading of good Reformed Literature. We believe that reading good literature is an excellent way for the Christian to build himself/herself up in the faith. We must be strong in the truth of God both for the positive reason that this truth might be the basis of our hope and comfort in God and His Son Jesus Christ and also so that we might stand firm over against the many false teachings of our day.
The summer months afford a little more opportunity for some at least to find quiet times in their lives when they can do some extra reading. We have a great wealth of literature available by the providence of the Lord. Besides many books, some of which we have advertised from time to time for our readers to purchase, we have a large quantity of free literature available. We are using this month's newsetter to encourage our readers to send for some of these items. We have a number of small booklets on a wide range of subjects. We offer samples of these booklets free of charge or obligation to our readers. These booklets are from twenty to thirty pages in length.
Following are a few comments about the contents of twelve of the booklets we have available. They are written in a concise style and are especially good for those who might find it difficult to read full-length books. The booklets are in colorful and attractive format. If, after reading these booklets, you would like to order a quantity of any of these booklets to distribute to others, we can provide them at the cost which we have incurred in obtaining them. If you would like to order any of the pamphlets described below, simply mail or email us. We will be happy to respond as promptly as possible.
THE COVENANT OF GOD AND THE CHILDREN OF BELIEVERS by Prof. David Engelsma: This booklet discusses the question of why the Reformed Churches believe that children are included in God's covenant of grace, and how we must view these children for the purpose of instructing and guiding them into the truth of the Lord in their young lives. The practice of infant baptism in the Reformed Churches is based especially on the truth of the covenant which we believe God has made with believers and their children.
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN AN EVIL AGE by Rev. Steven Key: This booklet discusses the subject of why it is important for the Christian to be a member of a true church of Jesus Christ on earth. It sets forth from scripture what the marks of the true church of Jesus Christ are. It also speaks of the obligation and calling of Christians toward the church. Many professing Christians today imagine that they do not need to be so concerned about membership in the local church. Rev. Key shows how this thinking is wrong. It is displeasing to the Lord and detrimental to the faith of the Christian and the spiritual welfare of his family.
PUBLIC WORSHIP AND THE REFORMED FAITH by Rev. Barry Gritters: In our day many churches are constantly changing the order of their worship services. The preaching of the Word is being replaced by all sorts of other media such as film shows, dramas, musical presentations by Christian groups, etc. This pamphlet defends the so-called "regulative principle" for worship services in the church. By this "principle" is meant that only those things are allowed in the worship service which are clearly sanctioned by scripture. A strong defense is given for the central place of the preaching of the Word in the worship services of the church. Reformed Churches have always believed that preaching is the main part of the worship service. We believe that the preaching of the Word is the chief means through which God Himself is pleased to build up the faith of the members of the church and make them strong in the truth through faith in Him.
THE ANTICHRIST by Rev. Barry Gritters: Various subjects related to the signs of the times and the last days before the return of Christ have always been of great interest to the Christian. This is proper. Our Lord exhorts many times to be watchful for His coming. We are watchful when we know the signs of the times. One of the great events that must take place before the return of our Lord is the final rise of the Antichrist. This booklet provides good instruction regarding who the Antichrist is and what we must be watching for in connection with his development in the world.
TRY THE SPIRITS by Prof. David Engelsma: The subtitle of this booklet is A Reformed Look at Pentecostalism. The errors of Pentecostalism or the Charismatic movement continue to prevail in the church world. Many recent-day mass movements have been heavily influenced by wrong teaching regarding the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit. Surely we must not oppose any organized cause that is from God. The Bible warns of the seriousness of doing this. On the other hand, we are also exhorted to "Try the Spirits." This is urgent, so that we are not led away from the truth by popular mass movements which are seriously lacking as far as teaching the true doctrine of the Word of God.
THE KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE by Rev. Steven Houck: The King James Version of the Bible, once the most popular Bible in the English language, is fast disappearing from church. There are a host of men and organizations who claim that the church needs again and again a new translation of the Bible. Many of the new translations of the Bible contain serious errors of translation and interpolation of liberal theology. Many catalogues advertising Bibles contain a bewildering array of different translations of the Bible; Bibles that have been published for specific people and to promote specific philosophies concerning the Bible. There are special Bibles for women, special ones for men; special ones for young people and special ones for all kinds of particular uses. While not all are wrong of course, it is needful for the Christian to be careful. This pamphlet defends the King James Bible as still being the best translation in the English language, and encourages the Christian to use this translation rather than many of the modern versions.
THE ROD AND REPROOF by Rev. Steven Key: The subtitle of this booklet is The Loving Discipline of Covenant Children. There are few subjects more hotly debated in the world than the subject of the discipline of children. The news media reports the horrors of child abuse that goes on in some homes in America. The public schools are in an awful state largely because of problems with discipline. On the positive side, the Reformed Churches, because of their understanding of the covenant and the place of children in the covenant, take very seriously the calling of God concerning instructing and disciplining children. This is a good subject for Christian parents to study. What is proper godly, loving discipline? Helpful instruction based on God's Word and not human psychology is given in this booklet.
GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD by Prof. Homer C. Hoeksema: This booklet presents a message based on the most familiar passage of scripture, John 3:16. It is a very commonly-held position that God loves all men. In fact, any suggestion to the contrary would, by most professing Christians be considered outrageous. What does the Bible say about whom God loves? Does John 3:16 teach that God loves every single individual in the world whether righteous or wicked? This is not a question of abstract theology. The church must warn those who are the object of God's wrath. By means of the true preaching of the gospel it must also comfort God's People. There is no greater comfort than the right understanding of the love of God for His people. This booklet answers some important theological questions and gives good biblical instruction concerning the wonder of the love of God for His people.
GRACE UNCOMMON by Rev. Barry Gritters: This booklet discusses the commonly held position in the churches that God is gracious toward all men both elect and reprobate. Our comments concerning this booklet are similar to those given above. Many believe that God is favorably inclined toward all, so that even the wicked are in some way the recipients of the favor of God. They claim that besides saving grace there is also a non-saving "common grace" which God has even for the wicked. Is this a Biblical idea? You might think that this is not such an important question. Rev. Gritters shows the relevance of this question with regard to the walk of the Christian in the world and his attitude toward the philosophy and productions of the world.
THE THREE FORMS OF UNITY: This booklet contains the three confessional statements of Reformed Churches.
The Heidelberg Catechism: We believe this confession is the most beautiful, practical and comforting summary of the Christian faith of any Reformed Confession. It begins with the beautiful question "What is your only comfort in life and death?" The beautiful answer follows: "That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with His precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto Him." This question and answer sets forth the comforting perspective from which the entire catechism summarizes all the great doctrines of the Word of God. For centuries many Christians have been greatly blessed through the study of the Heidelberg Catechism.
The Belgic Confession: This is a more objective statement of the Reformed Faith, setting forth the great doctrines of God's Word in 37 articles. Each article is filled with scriptural quotations and references to prove that this faith is indeed the faith of the scriptures.
The Cannons of Dort: These "canons" were formulated by the great Synod of Dordrecht which was held in 1618 and 1619. They are the most extensive confessional answer by the Reformed Churches to the great errors of Arminianism. These errors have all but engulfed Protestant Churches today. The Canons of Dordrecht are also the original formulation of what today are called "The Doctrines of Grace" or the "Five Points of Calvinism". This is a mighty doctrinal confession dealing with the profound truths of the grace of God that we believe stand at the heart of the gospel. Reading this confession requires a good measure of sanctified exercise of one's understanding. But all the effort put forth will be greatly rewarded by an increased understanding of the truth of the gospel.
PROMISES, PROMISES, PROMISES... by Rev. Ronald Cammenga: This booklet is a critique of Promise Keepers. Promise Keepers rallies are being held all over the country. Thousands and thousands of men are attending these rallies. They have sensational appeal because of the grand drama of the huge mass meetings. But no matter how popular, how great their following or how sensational their presentations, the Christian must examine all such organized causes. We will be judged of God for an unholy judgment of any cause that is truly of God. But we will also be judged for failure to "try every spirit" to see whether it be of God. We must not make judgments simply because we like to be critical, neither because we are jealous of the following these popular causes have. We need to judge prayerfully and earnestly every cause; whether it stands the test of the infallible rule of Holy Scripture. We need to do this for the sake of the truth of God and the true spiritual welfare of God's people. We challenge our readers to ask for this booklet and judge what it has to say about Promise Keepers in the light of the Word of God.
REMEMBERING THE LORD'S DAY by Prof. David Engelsma: Serious observance of the Lord's Day is disappearing more and more in the church world. Many Christian leaders are teaching that we need not keep the Lord's Day, and that observance of the Lord's Day is a legalistic practice with no Biblical warrant. We believe in serious Lord's Day observance. We believe observing the Lord's Day is a moral and spiritual necessity for the Christian. Positively, the faithful observance of the Lord's Day will bring great blessing to the church and to God's people.
| Back to top | Back to main Reformed Witness page |
The Reformed Witness newsletter is published monthly under the auspices of the Evangelism Committee of the Hope Protestant Reformed Church of Redlands. This newsletter is available to anyone who is interested in the Reformed Faith. If you would like your name added to our mailing list, please write to:The Reformed Witness
Hope Protestant Reformed Church
1307 E. Brockton Ave.
Redlands, CA 92374-3802
or email us: