Byron Snapp

will Rejoice!" (Phil. 4:4) the practice

of correct doctrine takes our eyes of
ourselves and focuses them on the
triune God.
Book Reviews
Living In TheJoy Of Faith: The
Christian Faith As Outlined In The
Heidelberg Catechism by Clarence
Starn, Inheritance Publications Box
154 Neerlandia,Alberta, Canada TOG
IRa. $19.95; $26.50 in u.s.
The author, a pastor in the Cana-
dian Reformed Church, provides the
reader with a series of sermons on the
doctrines presented in the Heidel-
berg Catechism. Each chapter con-
tains relevant catechism questions
andanswers,anoutlineofthesennon
and the sermon itself along with ap-
propriate Scripture on the topiC.
Catechistic preaching can be ben-
eficial to a congregation. Major Bib-
lical doctrine can thus be regularly
taught. As the Holy Spirit works,
listeners are grounded in docirine
that works itself out in all aspects of
life. All too often, I receive letters
from individuals and families who
have no strong churchin their area to
attend. Sadly many churches are
afraid to proclaim Biblical doctrine
forfear oflosingmembers. Inourage
of entertaimnent and pleasure orien-
tation, the church itself is seen as a
place of entertainment. Pastor Stams
book provides a good resource for
those thirsty for short expOsitions of
Biblical doctrine.
Sadly it is easy to lose Christ in a
studyofdoctrine. Caremustbetaken
to make sure the claims of Christ are
clearly made lmown. Every doctrine
points in some way to Christ and of
The sermons are each less than
five pages in length. Thus the reader
course, to all members of the triune does not have to commit a large
Godhead. We must never take such segment of time to read a complete
pride in correct doctrine that we lose message. Being hardbound with a
sight of Christ our Redeemer. If we beautiful cover, the book lends itself
losesightof our God thenwealso lose to being used time and again which
sight of correct doctrine, for correct would also be easily noticed by visi-
doctrine is God-centered. The au- tors if left on the coffee table.
thor keeps Christ before his hearers.
In a sennon on "The Function of the GodIn Three Persons byE. Calvin
Covenant Law" he writes: "To see the Beisner, Tyndale 1984 16Opp.
holy God, we must show ourselves
holy in this life. We can do so only by
the Spirit and Word of Christ, and we
will not do so perfecdy. Christ is also
our sanctification. Our holiness, too,
comes from Him. Butwemustreflect
and demonstrate in our life that we
are a different people, a holy people,
that we are separated from the filth
and dirt of this world. For we are
Gods people, the people of His cov-
enant who do His law; who gladly
hear His law; and do notfeelrestricted
when they ~ r it, but instead feel
refreshed and challenged to serve
again, every week, withnewenthusi-
asm and joy. " (p. 22 7)
From this quote and the bookS
tide we are reminded of the joy that
come fromlmowing God as our God
and understanding to the degree that
we do that He is a sovereign, cov-
enantal God Whom we can lmow as
He has revealed HimselfinScripture.
We are not just to serve the Lord; we
are to serve Him with gladness. (Ps.
100:1) Paul, grounded in correct
doctrine, could write from prison:
"rejoice in the Lord always, again I
Lost by many in our generation is
the great struggle that occurred in the
early church in the formulation of
basic Christian doctrine.
Beisner capably shows the devel-
opment of the doctrine of the 1linity
in the early church. This study is of
particular interest for the word 'Trin-
ity" is not mentioned in Scripture. It
is impossible to explain by human
reasoning the fact of three persons in
the Godhead.
New Testament evidence is pre-
sented and then the reader is intro-
duced to the writings of Ignatius,
Irenaeus, Tertullian and the develop-
ment of the Trinitarian doctrine in
theirwriting. These and otherwriters
had to Scripturally answer Gnosti-
cismandMonarchism. Byanswering
the false doctrines of these sects
Christians sharpened their own un-
derstanding of the Trinity and thus
helped not only themselves but fu-
ture generations as well.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
6 ~ THE COUNSEL of Cbalcedon t- February, 1992
SNAPP, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
Through the onslaught of
Arianism(thisfalseteachingdenied
the eternity of the Logos and both
the personality and deity of the
Holy Spirit) the Nicene Creed was
developed as an answer that faith-
fully set forth Scriptural teaching.
The book closes with a brief exami-
nation of the Nicene Creed in light
of New Testament teaching.
ThejoyofreadingBeiSneristhat
he writes on the level of the man in
thepew. Heexplamshistermsand
formulates his arguments cleady
and cogently
The Biblical doctrine of the
Trinity continues to be denied to-
dayby many including Jehovahs
Wimesses and Mormons. If asked,
could you defend the Scriptural
teaching on the Trinity? If not this
bookisfotyou. ltwillalsogiveyou
betierappreciationforearlychurch
historyO
24. f THE COUNSEL of Chalcedon , Febmary, 1992
Non-Profit Org.
U.s. Postage
PAID
BULK RATE
Pennit No. 1553
Greenville, SC
29602
'iI!ie Cotmsel of Cfiaf'ceMn put asong in my
fieart 6ecause it faitlifuiEy applies (jot's wort
to af of fife ani is written in an. uruferstatufa6fe
stgfe. I CooK-to it for "wise counsel' ami fiigfify
recommerui it foryour support. D
]udyRogers
SONGWRlTERi PERFORMER