We are seven months and ten issues into the publication of Sword and Shield. We marvel at how God has cleared the way for our little magazine. Being mere men, it is hard for us to see the whole battlefield and our exact place in it. But I would have to guess that Sword and Shield is somewhere near the forefront of the battle lines in its contention against error and its stand for the truth. I say that because Satan’s attacks against the magazine have rained down hard and heavy from the first issue and continue unabated as this tenth issue goes to press. I say that also because the doctrines that Sword and Shield deals with are at the very heart of the gospel. Whether we are actually near the forefront of the battle or whether we are only in a distant skirmish somewhere, our Lord directs the battle and gives us the privilege to fight where and when he pleases.

Satan, of course, doesn’t really care about Sword and Shield. He has seen hundreds of magazines come and go in his time. But he hates with unholy anger the cause of Sword and Shield, which is Jesus Christ and his truth. Satan makes war against Christ because God himself put enmity between the Seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. Where the cause of Christ appears, there Satan must go to make war against him.

To all of the members of Reformed Believers Publishing, to the board members, to the readers, and to the writers, take heart when you see the gates of hell assembled against our paper. Christ has called us to the battle, and he goes before us valiantly and victoriously. The white horse of the gospel truth rides forth conquering and to conquer (Rev. 6:2). God’s truth is the unbreakable shield and buckler of his people, so that armored in his truth, they are not afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flies by day, nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday (Ps. 91:4–6). God’s truth is great unto the clouds, far greater than the lions, the sons of men who are set on fire, whose teeth are spears and arrows and their tongue a sharp sword, who have prepared a net and digged a pit (Ps. 57). God’s truth endures to all generations (Ps. 100:5).

We welcome to this issue Dr. Sonny Hernandez. Dr. Hernandez knows of Sword and Shield through his close friendship with Professor Engelsma and has become a supporter of the magazine. He has submitted an article on the ancient heresy of Nestorianism, providing us with a good opportunity to marvel at the truth of our incarnate Savior.

May God speed the truths written herein to your heart, and the next issue into your hands.