Did you know that common grace advocates seek to “Christianize” the world with a “grace” apart from that of the incarnate and crucified Christ?

Did you know that Abraham Kuyper’s chief biblical basis for common grace lies in his unique reinterpretation of Genesis 6-9 which removes it from the history and development of God’s covenant of grace, contrary to the Reformed and Presbyterian tradition?

Did you know that Kuyper taught that common grace means that not one human being on planet earth is totally depraved, contrary to Holy Scripture (e.g., Romans 3) and the Reformed faith and creeds, represented, for example, in the very first head of doctrine of the Canons of Dordt, the original Five Points of Calvinism? No wonder Kuyper’s common grace ideas and movement were, and are, called, not Calvinism but Neo-Calvinism!

Did you know that Kuyper’s theory of common grace was designed to enable a coalition government in the Netherlands involving a Roman Catholic party and Kuyper’s Reformed party? Similarly, the translation of Kuyper’s multi-volume work into English in our day is an ecumenical effort involving purportedly Protestant, evangelical and Reformed theologians and institutions with Roman Catholics.

Are you aware of the utter failure of Kuyper’s common grace to Christianize the Netherlands, America, Canada and elsewhere? Instead, this theory has facilitated apostasy and worldliness in the churches.

Did you know that common grace brings forth the Antichrist—according to its leading advocate, Abraham Kuyper!

Prof. David Engelsma’s book is a devastating critique of Abraham Kuyper’s cultural theory of a common grace of God and its grandiose mission. Its first and main part is a much-expanded version of the public lecture given in Grand Rapids in 2014 under the auspices of the evangelism society of Southwest Protestant Reformed Church in Wyoming, Michigan (pp. 11-123). The second part of the book consists of Prof. Engelsma’s answers to 27 wide-ranging questions raised by the audience at the conclusion of the lecture (pp. 125-191).

The publication of this book, which is based on a speech given by Professor Engelsma in a public lecture in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2014, coincides with the appearance of the English translation of Abraham Kuyper’s three-volume magnum opus on common grace which has been funded by various Reformed and Presbyterian churches and the Acton Institute—which is essentially Roman Catholic.

Engelsma’s points are incisive, convincing, and devastating of all Kuyper’s errors. “Christianizing the world” is NOT a Reformed calling and it denies total depravity, breaches the antithesis, destroys the oneness of the true Reformed worldview, causes world conformity, leads to an erroneous belief in postmillennialism, and ultimately the apostasy of churches and the rise of antichrist (the latter point actually made by Kuyper himself!). On a more local level, it has led to the falling away of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) and Calvin Theological Seminary. Many, many other Reformed churches are erring through espousing this doctrinal system.

Engelsma shows that Kuyper’s interpretation of the Noahic covenant is wrong, and that what he taught was anti-confessional and not Reformed.

Among the charges made about the Protestant Reformed Churches—the only denomination to oppose Kuyper’s view and its adoption by the CRC—was that they were “Anabaptist.” Engelsma again shows that this is spurious and false stating, “The Reformed Christian is permitted, indeed required, to live this godly life in physical contact and even earthly cooperation with the ungodly, for example, at work, in the neighbourhood, and in the life of the nation.”

The second half of the book consists of Engelsma’s answers to questions from the floor and others posted later. It also delves into several ramifications of Kuyper’s views.

It is a much-needed book that ought to be read by every member of Reformed and Presbyterian churches whose seminaries and leaders are almost all falling away from the biblical truth of the five points of Calvinism and in particular sovereign, irresistible, particular grace.

To read another review of this book, click here.

“Thank you for writing (and publishing) this important book [i.e., Christianizing the World]. For me, it connected so many dots that I knew were there, but just could not figure out the ‘common’ denominator.”

“I already have a copy of this book but [I think] that I should keep a second copy that is available to pass on to someone else should opportunity present itself. I find the book quite astounding. I think I must be a superficial reader. First up, and with most books, I have to read a second time to get the proper gist of the contents. But this book of Mr. Engelsma’s I have read 4 or 5 times so far and each time am rather staggered at some of the things that Abraham Kuyper comes out with. I think if I read again I will still find new things to impress me.” – Australia

“I have just finished Prof. Engelsma’s Christianizing the World, which I found a sound and useful book in the common grace debate.” – Hungary

Widely known evangelical leader, Richard J. Mouw has recently renewed the case for a common grace of God. In his book, He Shines in All That’s Fair: Culture and Common Grace (Eerdmans, 2001), Dr. Mouw recommends to all Christians the theory of common grace. Mouw contends that common grace is essential for Christian life in society, especially the Christian’s cooperation with non-Christians in forming good, godly culture.

Common Grace Revisited is a response to Mouw’s apology for common grace. It considers Mouw’s arguments for common grace, examines Kuyperian (and now Mouwian) common grace in the light of Scripture and Reformed confessions, and proposes an alternative to common grace as the basis and motive of the Christian’s life in society.

The doctrine of common grace must not go untested. There are solid, indeed urgent, reasons, both theological and practical, for challenging its claim to be part of the body of Reformed truth. Common Grace Revisited presents some of these reasons.

Those who have read He Shines in All That’s Fair, as well as those who accept common grace, perhaps uncritically, as the power of the Christian life in the world, will do well to read Common Grace Revisited.

Prof. David J. Engelsma examines Richard Mouw’s belief that “common grace” prevents the world of the ungodly from being totally depraved, so that the reprobate wicked can, by the power of this non-saving “grace”, do good works and produce a God-honouring culture. This “common grace” means (according to Mouw) that God can take pleasure in the athletic prowess of unbelievers (such as Tiger Woods), that He pities the reprobate in their suffering, and that he wills to bless them with temporal good (although He has eternally decreed their damnation in the way of their sins). Engelsma argues from Scripture and the Reformed creeds that no such “common grace” exists. “Common grace” argues Engelsma is “based on what men see, feel and think as they observe their neighbours in the world” (p. 16), but it lacks scriptural and creedal support.

Does God take pleasure in the sporting achievements of unbelieving sportsmen? “The athletic skills of the ungodly as they are actually put to use, God detests. They are the skills of one who is ungodly in all his abilities and activities. They are of no use to God or man. They desecrate His sabbath. They are part of the insane worship of the sports hero who holds millions in thrall. Honouring these skills is the waste not only of time but of an entire life. God takes no pleasure in the legs of a man (Ps. 147:10). ” writes Engelsma (p. 40).  He demonstrates that Scripture and the Reformed creeds teach that all the works of the ungodly are sin, only sin, and never good. They never please God. “Whatever work does not take [God] into account, does not aim at and end in Him, and does not manifest and promote His glory—that work is sin. Gross sin” (p. 36) he writes. “Does the decent family man next door love his wife and children out of faith in Christ? If not, his natural affection is sin, although his failing to be faithful would be greater sin” (p. 40). This is the clear teaching of Westminster Confession 16:7.

Does God pity the wicked in their earthly woes? Does His heart break when reprobate people suffer pain, sorrow, hardship and even death? We are grieved at the suffering of our fellow humans, but does it follow, as Mouw argues in his book, that God is grieved? No, writes Engelsma, “The suffering of the reprobate wicked outside of Jesus Christ does not break the heart of God”  (p. 48).  Indeed, God as a terrible Judge inflicts temporal and eternal punishment on the wicked.

God has only one purpose and that one purpose has as its goal, its only goal, Jesus Christ. Richard Mouw posits a second purpose in this life: the development by the reprobate of a God-honouring culture. Engelsma argues that “there is no divine purpose with creation and history alongside and independent of Jesus Christ. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is unrelated to Jesus Christ” (p. 81).  We may not be able to see how everything in history serves the salvation of the church in Jesus Christ, but one day we will understand: “Then we will see how in the vast, complicated panorama of history every creature and every motion of every creature cooperated, wittingly or unwittingly, in serving Christ and His church. Until then we believe and confess it” (p. 90), writes Engelsma. “Common grace” gives false hope to those outside of Jesus Christ and it is used as an excuse to deny the wrath of God in history, and to break down the antithesis between the church and the world.  “Gifted, prominent unbelievers, especially the Tiger Woods of this world, arrogantly suppose that they are quite something in themselves, regardless of Jesus Christ. Common grace with its two-purposes-of-God-in-history idea encourages them in this foolishness. The biblical gospel disabuses them of this folly” (p. 82).  Scripture teaches that (in the words of the title of Mouw’s book) He Shines in All That is Fair but as Engelsma explains, this means that, “God shines in the remaining splendour of His creation and in the holy life of the redeemed. The life of the ungodly is foul and He curses it” (p. 95).

“Herman Hoeksema [declared], ‘Believers and unbelievers have everything in common except grace’ and that grace fulfils the Lord’s purpose in Isaiah 43:21: ‘This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.’ Engelsma show how this is worked out in contact with unbelievers” (English Churchman).

“[This book] should be widely circulated” (Christian Observer).

“Thank you for Common Grace Revisited; although the contents are dynamite (!!!) my heart is strangely warmed so I join you ‘outside the camp!’” – England

“Common Grace Revisited by David Engelsma is very useful in exposing the heresy of common grace. Common grace is very dangerous because it infects people with the Arminian poison.” – Lincoln, England

“I recently read the book on ‘common grace’—it was excellent. I just can’t see why people including Richard Mouw can still maintain this doctrine of common grace. If they seriously read the book I find it hard to believe or impossible to believe that they cannot see the truth. I wanted to write to say how well the arguments were defined and how well supported by biblical truth. It was so encouraging, enjoyable and edifying to read Common Grace Revisited.” – France

To read an excerpt of this book, click here.
To read an excerpt of this book in Portuguese, click here.
To read a chapter of this book in Spanish, click here.
Chapter 8 of this book can be read in Polish.

What does the Bible teach regarding God’s attitude to the reprobate ungodly? What are the implications of the notion that Jehovah has an attitude of favour to the wicked? Do the Psalms support or give the lie to the theory of common grace? Does Zwier’s “triple cord” of biblical texts hold firm or is it cut to ribbons? Read and gain new appreciation for the truth that God’s goodness is always particular.

In this work, written in 1939, Herman Hoeksema answers a Rev. Daniel Zwier, who wrote an extensive series of articles defending the doctrine of common grace as adopted by the Christian Reformed Church in 1924. Rev. Zwier attempted to demonstrate the errors of Rev. Hoeksema and the Protestant Reformed Churches in their rejection of common grace. Zwier’s criticism was very pointed. Hoeksema’s reply was very pointed in return.

This book is extremely valuable for many reasons.

First, Rev. Hoeksema exposes the claim that to accept mutually exclusive propositions and to insist that “scripture teaches both” is a manifestation of “childlike faith.” Today, when propositional knowledge itself is being attacked, it is good to be regrounded on the biblical concept of logic. Hoeksema states,

[Zwier] is aware that we apply [what he calls] “miserable human logic,” which he despises, but we highly value as one of the noblest and most beautiful gifts of God to man and which we, in harmony with the will of God and in profound respect for the word of God, apply to the utmost of our power to the interpretation of scripture not to impose our notions on the holy scriptures … but to understand the scriptures in their own light (logical light, because it is light of revelation).

Second, Hoeksema exposes the dreadful implications and the absurdity of the doctrine of common grace for one’s conception of God. He uses the examples of Pharaoh, Nero and those who crucified Jesus to illustrate the terrible implications of the doctrine of common grace.

Third, Hoeksema clearly demonstrates the proper exegetical method of comparing Scripture with Scripture. This quote aptly describes the subject.

Zwier assumes that interpretation of a text apart from its connection with the current teaching of the Bible is interpretation of scripture, while I am convinced that the word of God is one organic whole that presents the same teaching throughout. Because of this, one can explain a certain text in the Bible without interpreting scripture. The whole of scripture must be considered when one interprets any particular passage, so that every text must be explained according to the rule of scripture … the current teaching of the Bible. The entire scriptural foundation on which Zwier attempts to build the superstructure of his doctrine of God’s general goodness consists of a few individual scriptural passages that superficially appear to support his view. However, his interpretation of them directly opposes not only several other clear texts of the Bible, but also the current teaching of Holy Writ. He is well aware of this conflict and admits it, but he refuses to explain scripture in its own light.

Fourth, in four chapters Hoeksema demonstrates that “scripture throughout teaches that God’s goodness is always particular and that the ungodly are never its object in time or eternity.”

Fifth, Hoeksema confronts the supposed “triple cord” of common grace proof texts put forth by Rev. Zwier (Psalm 145:9; Acts 14:16-17; Luke 6:35). They are the same texts used by the Christian Reformed Synod in 1924 and still wrongly interpreted by many today! The explanation of them is of great significance. Hoeksema severs each strand of Zwier’s “triple cord.”

Sixth, Hoeksema concludes by clarifying what happened at the Synod of 1924 and the days leading up to it. Had the ministers seceded from the Christian Reformed Church, as Rev. Zwier claimed, or had they been expelled? Had Rev. Hoeksema acted in harmony with or violated his promise governed by the Formula of Subscription? It is good that current and future generations understand what transpired then, in order to have an appreciation for the spiritual courage of their fathers and the doctrinal heritage that stems from their God-given boldness and convictions.

This work contains some of the most pointed and forceful writings of Hoeksema. His criticism of Zwier, his methods and his conclusions are simply devastating. This work is an example of how sharp one should be when doing battle with spiritual opponents. God’s honour is at stake. The arguments of those attempting to deny the truth and to teach error must be exposed. On the positive side, the proper explanations of some of the controversial passages are a refreshing reminder of how to understand these passages in light of all Scripture and the Reformed confessions.

As Hoeksema wrote in the preface to the book, “Let those who are shy of controversy remember that in this world it is impossible to maintain the truth unless one is ready and willing to defend it against gainsayers.”

For an excerpt of this book in Spanish, click here.

“God’s Goodness Always Particular—Excellent!” – London

“Just finished the book (God’s Goodness Always Particular). Excellent read.” – S. Wales

“Hoeksema does an incredible job [in God’s Goodness Always Particular] of not only handling a handful of disputed passages, but he demonstrates the ‘current’ of the Bible’s teaching on the doctrine of grace. It is hard not to look at the two denominations that came away from this theological battle in 1924 and not see that Hoeksema and company were right. Ninety-two years later, the PRC is still upholding the Reformed faith, still training ministers to be faithful to scripture, and still adhering faithfully to the Three Forms of Unity. [The] CRC is riddled with liberalism and moral relativism—the very things Hoeksema warned would come as a result of their pernicious doctrine of ‘common grace.’” – Illinois, USA

“Today I started to read Herman Hoeksema’s God’s Goodness Always Particular, which is a great work … The more I listen to HH … the more he is going to be on my list of favourite theologians.” – Netherlands

God’s Goodness Always Particular Reprinted

Since the contents of this book were originally Standard Bearer articles written in Dutch, the RFPA decided to translate these articles into English and print them in book format back in 1939. In 2016 we published a second edition of this book and printed 300 copies. By mid-2019 this book had sold out! Since we continued to receive requests for this book, we decided to keep it in stock and reprinted another 200 copies in May 2020. If you haven’t ever read this book, now is your chance to order a copy and give it a read!

From the Preface: “The material is controversial, but the reader will find sufficient positive instruction to make the reading worthwhile. Let those who are shy of controversy remember that in this world it is impossible to maintain the truth unless one is ready and willing to defend it against gainsayers.”—Herman Hoeksema

From the Foreword to the second edition: “Why is the Reformed Free Publishing Association publishing this book? It is polemical. The content is sharply worded. Motives are judged. Hoeksema says the content is controversial. None of this is popular today in the climate of political correctness.
Besides, is this controversy not ancient history? Does it really matter today? If it does matter, why does it matter? … The value of this book is no different from what it was almost eighty years ago. The reason is that the issue has not changed. At stake is still the doctrine of sovereign grace. In
the defense and development of the true doctrine of grace, the publisher is pleased to present the second edition of this book for the instruction and edification of God’s people.”

—Mark Hoeksema

One of the most powerful temptations of the believer is to doubt God’s goodness to him in time of trouble—earthly trouble including family distress, sickness, and financial hardship. Lending force to the temptation is God’s apparent goodness to the wicked in their prosperity—earthly prosperity including a peaceful home, health, and economic success.

Every Christian struggles with this temptation at some time in his life. Every Christian knows by experience that, especially when his trouble is great, or continues without relief, the temptation threatens his very faith in God and thus his salvation. The words of the psalmist in Psalm 73:2 are his own: “My feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.”

This temptation and this struggle regarding earthly troubles, as well as the overcoming of the temptation and victory in the struggle by every child of God are the profound and grand themes of Psalm 73.

Prosperous Wicked and Plagued Saints is a commentary on this precious psalm that applies to stumbling believers and their children, in a practical way, that gospel-truth which alone holds them up and restores them. This is the truth of God’s goodness, His gracious and favourable attitude, to his people in their trouble, as it is also the truth of God’s curse of the wicked in their prosperity.

In light of the teaching of Psalm 73, the book takes issue with a theory about earthly prosperity and earthly woe that, for all its strange popularity with Reformed and evangelical Christians, only intensifies the believer’s temptation to doubt in the hour of trouble: the theory of common grace.

“This little gem of a book … [is] a faithful exposition of Scripture, a book for all the saints. Prof. Engelsma takes Scripture word for word and carefully opens up its meaning with devastating effect. Verse by verse and phrase by phrase, through just over 100 easy-to-read pages, he shows us how [Psalm 73] totally demolishes the theory of common grace” (The Reformed Witness).

“I’ve started on David Engelsma’s book, and I like the way he writes: very simple and direct, unflinchingly getting right to the truth of the matter. It started me thinking about prosperous and famous people of today, like David and Victoria Beckham, Simon Cowell and Rod Stewart, for example.” – Essex, England

“I highly recommend this book for those who are struggling, depressed, stressed, and or suffering. It will straighten out your perspective. For the unbeliever this book will warn you not to take for granted your prosperity (whether in business, family, friends, society or finances) and instead look to the God who created you and will judge you according to your many sins and turn in repentance to Him.” – New York, USA

“I’m currently reading Prosperous Wicked and Plagued Saints by Prof. Engelsma. It’s very good so far. Prof. Engelsma is a very good writer. His language is clear and easy to understand which makes it a joy to read.” – Denmark

“What a wonderful book … I connected with this psalm and Professor Engelsma’s explanation of feeling lost in similar situations as did the psalmist. Knowing another church member that was going through similar trials, I purchased another [copy] for them.”

“I very much enjoyed the book on Psalm 73, Prosperous Wicked and Plagued Saints. I gave a copy to my daughter and son-in-law after the loss of their new born son. It was greatly appreciated.” – England

To read chapter 1 of this book in German, click here.
To read chapter 8 of this book in German, click here.
To read excerpts from chapter 1 of this book in Portuguese, click here.
To read chapter 2 of this book in Portuguese, click here.

John Owen (1616-1683) on Psalm 73: “We know that time and again God allows worldly good things to pass to the very people that He hates, whom He has a fixed determination to punish, and whom He has declared to be reserved for eternal punishment and destruction. (Psalm 73:4-12, 18-20). Note carefully—things which are good in themselves, but bestowed in such a way as to make it impossible to determine whether they are given in love or in hatred, cannot reveal any facet of God’s character. (‘The righteous and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them. All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked: to the good and the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as to the good, so to the sinner,’ Eccles. 9:1-2.) God gives good temporal things to the wicked. Why conclude that He is attempting to beguile them into realizing that He can be appeased? Far rather, as sovereign, He is fattening them for the coming day of slaughter!” (Biblical Theology [Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1994], p. 78).

The points of doctrine explained in this book will equip the Reformed believer to answer challenges to the gospel of sovereign, particular grace. Two question and answer sections preceded by concise introductions articulate the controversies that gave rise to and shaped the Protestant Reformed Churches in America. The first section covers Arminianism and the issue of “common grace.” The second exposes the error that posits a general promise of salvation to all children of believers. The blessings of God’s covenant are shown to be unconditional gifts to the elect children of believers.

Click here to read a quote from this book on Ezekiel 18:23 and 33:11.

Ready To Give an Answer: A Catechism of Reformed Distinctives, by Herman Hoeksema and Herman Hanko. Grandville Michigan: Reformed Free Publishing Association, 1997. 238 pages. (hardcover). [Reviewed by Rev. Arie denHartog.]

We commend the Reformed Free Publishing Association for the publication of this book and thank Prof. Herman Hanko for his contribution to this work. The largest part of the book is a reprint of materials found in a long out-of-print book by Rev. Hoeksema, titled The Protestant Reformed Churches in America. This part of the book presents the doctrinal issues of the common grace controversy, which in the Lord’s providence led to the beginning of the Protestant Reformed Churches. It is written in an interesting catechism format of questions and answers.

We believe that it is valuable to have this material available in a new book. It is of value for the members of the Protestant Reformed denomination. It is also of value for those outside of these churches who are interested in reading what we believe is an excellent defense of doctrinal issues that continue to be of great importance for the Reformed churches and the preservation of the truths of God’s Word which should be the basis of these churches.

Reading this material refreshed my appreciation of what a great theologian Rev. Hoeksema was. He was outstanding in his ability to reason carefully and sharply in defense of the truth. Above all, his reasoning was based on extensive, penetrating, and careful exposition of the Word of God. We do not believe that the common grace controversy should be ignored. It is our hope that, after years have gone by, and some of the emotionalism and subjective criticism have cooled down, a more objective evaluation of the position set forth by Rev. Hoekesma and others who loved the truth which he stood for can be made, for the benefit of the cause of the truth and the truly Reformed church. It cannot be denied that Rev. Hoeksema gave his life for the defense of the central and most glorious truth of the gospel, namely the truth of God’s wonderful, sovereign, and particular grace in saving His people in Christ Jesus.

Prof. Hanko follows this same catechism format to detail the doctrinal issues involved in the controversy of 1953 that very seriously affected the Protestant Reformed Churches. Prof. Hanko does an excellent job in showing how this controversy involved basically the same issues of sovereign grace as the history of 1924. Whatever may be said about what took place in the turbulent years of controversy in the Protestant Reformed Churches in the early 1950s, it is clear that at stake were the precious doctrines of sovereign grace. We are not ashamed of these doctrines. I had the great privilege of being a student for my seminary years in the church history classes of Prof. Hanko. I have no doubt that the excellence of Prof. Hanko in teaching New Testament Greek exegesis was equal to his outstanding ability in teaching church history. The greatest virtue and wisdom of his church history instruction was his ability to trace the history of the church of Jesus Christ as it was bound up with the clear, bold, and courageous defense and maintaining of the great truths of what today is called the Reformed faith.

The last part of the book is an appendix. It is a reprint of the “Declaration of Principles” drawn up by the Protestant Reformed Churches in the midst of the 1953 controversy. This declaration was made in connection with missionary policy for the work of home missions being done at the time among immigrants, especially those coming to Canada from the Liberated Churches in Holland. The declaration has often been criticized for being some sort of additional confession appended to the three forms of unity, which are the confessional basis of many continental Reformed churches. The Protestant Reformed Churches were and are criticized for doing something which they had no right to do when they adopted this declaration. May this part of the book also help, after the dust of historical controversy has settled, so that some, hopefully many, will be able better to judge whether the declaration is a new creed or nothing more than a clear and necessary setting forth of the truly Reformed doctrine of the creeds. We believe the latter is definitely the case. The copious recitation of references from the creeds proves this.

“Reading Herman Hoeksema on ‘common grace’ has been a delight, as it brings out the truth and the wonder of the grace of God to us. The Lord has changed me recently: previously, I wasn’t all that keen on reading materials against heresies but now I find it such a blessing.” – W. Midlands, England

Two books on early Protestant Reformed history may be read free on-line:

1. A Study of the Relation Between the Views of Prof. R. Janssen and Common Grace by Herman Hanko (covers two, related, doctrinal controversies in the Christian Reformed Church [1920-1925]: the Janssen controversy over the nature and authority of Scripture, and the common grace controversy, shedding much light on PRC origins)
2. The History of the Protestant Reformed Churches by Herman Hoeksema (covers 1924-1936)

Sin and Grace, originally published in Dutch in 1923, was written by two gifted young Christian Reformed ministers in the heat of controversy. It is a soul-stirring book. It is also groundbreaking on such central Reformed doctrines as grace, the antithesis, and the covenant and kingdom of God. The authors’ treatment of these significant doctrines is fresh and lively. Henry Danhof and Herman Hoeksema were united in their determination to make a stand for the truth of sovereign, particular grace.

Sin and Grace emphasizes the Reformed doctrine of the antithesis. It demonstrates how the kingdom of man and the kingdom of God develop side-by-side throughout history. That is the point of the title. These two kingdoms, alike composed of human beings who together inhabit the same earth, from a spiritual point of view share no common ground. They develop in diametric opposition to each other-one out of the principle of sin, the other out of grace.

Common grace seeks to bridge the gap. The authors’ treatment of this fatal error is one of the most enlightening elements of the book. They take dead aim at the doctrine of common grace, especially as it was developed by Dr. Abraham Kuyper. They demonstrate clearly from Scripture why common grace must be rejected.

The authors’ development of the organic idea of the covenant and kingdom of God is significant. Grasping this biblical concept is critical to understanding Hoeksema’s subsequent development of the doctrine of the covenant.

“Just finished reading Sin and Grace. Herman Hoeksema tackles the major issues and flaws of the theory of ‘Common Grace’ of theologian and politician, Dr. A. Kuyper. Very good read! Highly recommended for those who have a keen mind for theology.” – Wales

“Very many thanks for sending the tapes of the two conferences. I really have enjoyed listening to them and it rejoices my heart to have such rich ministry. I have certainly learned a lot from CPRC ministry and books, and have progressed now to H. Hoeksema & H. Danhof’s book, Sin & Grace. That is certainly a very profitable book as it gives so much background detail and is very clear.” – Suffolk, England

Click here to read an excerpt from this book.

The Rock Whence We Are Hewn is comprised of various pamphlets and booklets written very early in the history of the Protestant Reformed Churches—between 1919 and 1940. The authors are two men whom God used in forming these churches—Herman Hoeksema and Henry Danhof. All the writings explain and defend the great doctrines of the Reformed faith that were fundamental to the founding of the Protestant Reformed Churches—covenant, predestination, particular grace and antithesis. These writings, therefore, were used to establish these churches in the very beginning of their history. The contents of the book are their foundational writings.

The title of the book is taken from Isaiah 51:1: “Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.” In this figurative way, the prophet called the people of Israel to look to their origins. This title calls the members of the Protestant Reformed Churches, including the ministers and other office-bearers, and especially the younger generation, to find in the book the doctrinal truths that are of fundamental importance to the Protestant Reformed Churches still today. By the work of the Spirit, these doctrines, confessed, defended and explained in the writings in this book, are the source of the churches—the rock whence they were hewn.

CONTENTS

Foreword
1. The Idea of the Covenant of Grace  (Spanish)
2. On the Theory of Common Grace
3. Not Anabaptist But Reformed  (Dutch)
4. Along Pure Paths
5. For the Sake of Justice and Truth  (Dutch)
6. Calvin, Berkhof, and H. J. Kuiper
7. A Triple Breach in the Foundation of the Reformed Truth  (Italian)
8. The Reunion of the Christian Reformed and Protestant Reformed Churches  (Dutch)
9. The Place of Reprobation in the Preaching of the Gospel  (Dutch) (Italian) (Portuguese)
Afterword
Appendix of Names

An examination of the doctrine of common grace as embodied in the “Three Points” of the Christian Reformed Church.  This book can also be read on-line.

To read this book on-line in Italian, click here.