Our Lord Jesus has many names and titles in the Scripture. The Apostles’ Creed lists several of them, which we discuss in the catechism in Lord’s Days 11-13. Here is a longer list. Each of these names is a call to admire the beauty of our Saviour and the glory of his saving work! Christ … Continue reading Names of Jesus
Author: arjenvreugd
Educator and Christian minister. Interest and experience in theology, mathematics, science, and linguistics.
Does God create evil?
In the old King James Bible, Isaiah 45:7 read: “I [the LORD] create evil.” The Hebrew word for “evil”, ra`, means “bad” in a broad sense. Modern Bible versions tend to narrow it down by translating “adversity”, “calamity”, etc. But what about morally bad things? Does God have a hand in wickedness? Did he create … Continue reading Does God create evil?
In good times and bad times (LD 10, q&a 27-28)
Introduction God the Father is our Creator. The world in which we live was designed and put together by a God who is not only almighty but also good and faithful. But our God did not stop there. He also upholds and governs it with his counsel and providence, said the catechism in LD 9. … Continue reading In good times and bad times (LD 10, q&a 27-28)
The Creator is my Father (LD 9, q&a 26)
Introduction “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” That is how the book of Genesis introduces God, who is the main character not only of the Bible but in all of reality. In the previous lesson we mentioned that all three divine Persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy … Continue reading The Creator is my Father (LD 9, q&a 26)
The creation of the earth
In theology, a distinction is made between “first creation” and “second creation” (creatio prima/secunda). In the “first creation”, God created the whole universe and his heavens out of nothing; this is described in Gen. 1:1.* The “second creation” begins with the First Day in Gen. 1:3. Herman Bavinck writes in his Reformed Dogmatics (§2.269): “Genesis … Continue reading The creation of the earth
Knowing the Triune God (LD 8, q&a 24-25)
Introduction “I believe in God.” Many people say that. They believe that there is something, someone greater than they, who is in charge of their life and must be worshiped. But who is this God? What is he like? What is my relationship to him? What does he want of me? “I believe in God.” … Continue reading Knowing the Triune God (LD 8, q&a 24-25)
Speaking of the Trinity…
Our Triune God is not like anything on earth. It is therefore no surprise that the church struggled to find appropriate words to speak about the Trinity. We want to avoid partialism, the suggestion that God consists of three separate parts. But we should also shun modalism, where God is described as one individual person … Continue reading Speaking of the Trinity…
The Apostles’ Creed
The Apostles’ Creed is a summary of Christian doctrine used throughout the Western church. Legend has it that each of the twelve apostles wrote one of its articles; but the actual history of the creed is complicated. (A detailed study of its development can be found in J.N.D. Kelly, Early Christian Creeds.) The Apostles’ Creed … Continue reading The Apostles’ Creed
What to believe? (LD 7, q&a 22)
Introduction You can only be saved if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. The catechism made that very clear in q&a 20. Faith is what “grafts you into” the Saviour, that is, connects you with him on an essential level, so that his righteousness becomes your righteousness, and his holiness becomes your holiness, and … Continue reading What to believe? (LD 7, q&a 22)
True faith (LD 7, q&a 20-21)
Introduction “As by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners,so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” (Rom 5:19) This is the Bible’s summary of what we have studied so far in the catechism. Because of Adam’s sin, we are miserable sinners who deserve God’s wrath; but because of … Continue reading True faith (LD 7, q&a 20-21)