The issue that you hold in your hands reflects the truth that Sword and Shield is a believer’s paper. We have had many submissions sent into the magazine either from some of our regular contributors or from others. Sword and Shield started in part to give a voice to the believer as he occupies that most fundamental office of all believer because he shares in Christ’s anointing and is a prophet, priest, and king. Refreshing and encouraging it is to have an issue from time to time that highlights the fact that Sword and Shield is a believer’s magazine.

The editor continues his series on union with Christ by taking up the subject of regeneration. Along with that he includes a meditation on the fascinating passage in Ezekiel 37 on the same divine wonder of regeneration.

From the Philippines Reverend Pascual gives another informative article on what happened in the Bulacan Reformed Protestant Church in the Philippines. Mr. Andy Birkett sent in an enlightening story of his visit with a Roman Catholic priest. The pope’s man sounds very familiar and cannot figure out what is wrong with Protestant Reformed theology! Mr. Michael Vermeer contributed an article on the important—crucial—doctrine of the antithesis. With the recovery of the doctrine of the unconditional covenant in the Reformed Protestant Churches, there also has been a renewed interest in and growth in understanding about the antithesis. These two doctrines stand and fall together because one cannot love God and God’s enemies. Mr. Garrett Varner starts a series on the minor confessions in this issue. These confessions are called minor not because they are of lesser importance than the three forms of unity but because they are of limited scope in comparison to the three forms of unity.

Mr. Earl Kamps, the only Reformed Protestant seminarian, contributes the first installment of a dogmatics paper on the well-meant gospel offer and the decree of God. Mr. Kamps has begun his internship this fall at Second Reformed Protestant Church. During his internship he will continue to submit regular contributions to the magazine. It is part of the ministerial office to write theology, stating both the positive truth and refuting the lie. And it is part of the ministerial training in the Reformed Protestant Churches that the seminarians learn to write well.

May the Lord edify your hearts, refresh your souls, and inform your minds with the content of these pages.