Welcome to the Tricentennial issue of the Reformed Herald!
I hope you will enjoy the historical perspective, the reports on various aspects of our celebration of this milestone, and the exhortations and encouragements for the future. As we give thanks for 300 years of the RCUS, of course, we are giving thanks for one part of God’s work in the church that is broader and bigger than we are. Some of our reasons for gratitude are distinctive to us, while others are shared with the church in general. We have a specific history with unique things to be grateful for, but we also share many of our most important blessings with other denominations.
One thing that we share with all true churches is that the Gospel ministry is the administration of the kingdom of God on earth. As our Heidelberg Catechism puts it:
Q. 83. What is the office of the keys?
The preaching of the Holy Gospel and Christian discipline. By these two, the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers and shut against unbelievers.
Q. 84. How is the kingdom of heaven opened and shut by the preaching of the Holy Gospel?
In this way, that according to the command of Christ, it is proclaimed and openly witnessed to believers, one and all, that as often as they accept with true faith the promise of the gospel, all their sins are really forgiven them of God for the sake of Christ’s merits. And on the contrary, to all unbelievers and hypocrites, that the wrath of God and eternal condemnation abide on them so long as they are not converted. According to this testimony of the gospel, God will judge men both in this life and in that which is to come.
Read the full article at: https://rcus.org/article/editorial-10/
