Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 11 May, 2025
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
The Unregenerate Walking According to Satan [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:15-2:17
Text: Ephesians 2:2
I. The Subjects of Satan’s Kingdom
II. The Objects of Satan’s Working
Psalms: 14:1-7; 124:1-8 (AOS); 109:1-7; 126:1-6
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Adam-Christ Typology [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Romans 5
Text: Romans 5:15
I. Their Persons?
II. Respective Numbers?
III. Much More?
Psalms: 147:1-8; 125:1-5; 149:4-9; 145:5-6, 9-14
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murray
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart or the elders
CPRC Website: www.cprc.co.uk • Live Webcast: www.cprc.co.uk/live-streaming
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quotes to Consider
Robert Haldane on Romans 5:15: “The greater abounding cannot possibly be with respect to the greater number of individuals benefited. None are benefited by Christ but those who were ruined in Adam; and only a part of those who were ruined are benefited. In this respect, then, instead of an abounding, there is a shortcoming. The abounding is evidently in the gift extending, not only to the recovery of what Adam lost, but to blessings which Adam did not possess, and had no reason to expect. The redeemed are raised in the scale of being above all creatures, whereas they were created lower than the angels. Some are of the opinion that the Apostle here rests the abounding of the gift on a supposition, which in the following verses he proves. Thus, as so much evil has come by Adam, it may well be supposed that much more good will come by Christ. But this is evidently mistaking the meaning altogether. The Apostle does not rest on supposition derived from the nature of the case; he asserts a fact. He does not say that it may well be supposed that a greater good comes by Christ than the evil that came by Adam; but he says that the good that comes by Christ does more than repair the evil that came by Adam.”
Herman Hoeksema: “Neither does the apostle mean that the gift abounds more in kind than the sin of Adam. Some have explained that sin abounds unto death, but that the gift abounds much more unto righteousness and life. But the apostle does not say this. He says, ‘Much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, … hath abounded unto many.’ The meaning is that out of the grace of God came Christ. And Christ abounds with blessings. The blessings that flow out of Christ are more than there is evil flowing out of Adam” (Righteous by Faith Alone, p. 228).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Rev. Jim & Margaret Laning, Balint & Kati Vásárhelyi and family, Rev. Janos & Alexandra Nagy and the church in Pecel, Hungary, pass on their greetings to the CPRC.
The Council meets tomorrow evening at 7 PM.
Tuesday Bible study will meet this week at 11 AM to continue our study of the Council of Nicea (AD 325) on its 1,700th anniversary.
Everyone is welcome to come to a barbecue at the manse this Friday, 16 May, at 6:30 PM or as soon as you can make it. If you intend to come, please let Rev. or Mary Stewart know so that they can plan how much food is needed.
Men’s Bible study plans to meet this Saturday, 17 May, at 7:30 PM on-line, starting with Psalm 37, using A 30 Day Walk With God Through the Psalms.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is entitled, “Blessed Are the Meek” (Matt. 5:5).
Offerings: £3,154.58.
Translation Addition: 1 Chinese.
PRC News: Prof. Gritters declined the call to Grace PRC, so Grace PRC formed a new trio of Revs. DeBoer, W. Langerak and Smidstra. Grandville PRC called Rev. Maatman. Hudsonville PRC will call from a trio of Revs. Engelsma, D. Holstege and Maatman. Lynden PRC called Rev. DeBoer.
Church Discipline (3) by Rev. Josiah Tan
What are the marks of true repentance? True repentance will be known by its observable fruits.
The first and foundational mark is grief over sin itself. True repentance mourns, not merely the consequences of sin, nor merely the shame of public exposure, but, above all, the offense that sin brings against the holy God. It sees sin, in its essence, not first as a violation against man, but as rebellion against the majesty of God Himself.
As grievous as David’s sins were against Uriah, whom he murdered, and against Bathsheba, whom he led into adultery, the true greatness of David’s sin lay in this: that he had sinned against Jehovah God. He had transgressed God’s holy commandments—God’s sixth and seventh commandments. He has offended the thrice-holy God, the One who is a consuming fire against all iniquity.
In true grief and godly sorrow, David confessed, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight” (Ps. 51:4). David did not deny the real evil he had done against his neighbour. Rather, he recognized that every sin against man is first a direct assault upon God.
Without this fundamental recognition—that all sin is first and foremost committed against God—there can be no true repentance.
Consider, for example, a husband who strikes his wife in the face. That man will never grasp the true weight of his evil unless he comes to see that he has not only sinned against his wife, but against Jehovah God Himself!
Once this foundation is missing, once sin is seen merely as a private matter, a mistake or a horizontal failure against men, rather than a vertical rebellion against God, a man loses all true perspective on the gravity and horror of his sin. Such a one may, after offering a superficial apology, in the same breath mock the elders and make demands of immediate closure of the discipline process.
The piercing awareness that all sin is committed against the holy God, this work by the Spirit in one’s heart, is the fountain of true sorrow for sin. Unless the Spirit causes him to realize that in striking one of God’s covenant daughters, he has, in a real and dreadful sense, raised his hand against Christ Himself (Acts 9:4), there will no true repentance nor fruits of repentance.
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Only when there is true repentance is church discipline lifted.
So what exactly does Scripture mean by true repentance?
True repentance is not simply saying, “I’m sorry.” It’s not temporary sorrow, brief regret, or a promise to do better next time. True repentance, according to God’s Word, is a deep, lasting, whole-person turning away from sin to Jesus Christ. It’s a powerful, inward work of the Holy Spirit in the elect child of God.
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for repentance means “to turn” or “to return.” This paints a clear picture of a sinner turning completely around from the path of rebellion and walking back to God, the God of mercy and grace. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord … for He will abundantly pardon” (Isa. 55:7).
In the New Testament, repentance is described with the Greek word meaning “a change of mind.” But this “change” is not simply a new opinion. It describes a deep spiritual renewing of the mind, transforming how we see our sin, ourselves and especially God.
When God works repentance, it transforms our:
• Mind: What we once excused or justified, we now clearly see as hateful rebellion against God.
• Heart: What we once loved and cherished, we now deeply hate and mourn over.
• Will: What we once eagerly chose and pursued, we now flee from in humility and obedience.
True repentance is therefore a 180-degree turn away from sin and toward Christ. It’s not produced by human strength or effort; it is the gracious, sovereign gift of God (Acts 5:31; II Tim. 2:25). Yet this change always becomes clearly visible in the believer’s life.
A key mark of true repentance is genuine, godly sorrow. This sorrow isn’t self-pity or mere regret over being caught or embarrassed. It’s a heartfelt grief that we have deeply offended God Himself—the holy and gracious God who has loved us so greatly.
This godly sorrow begins with acknowledging clearly what sin truly is. Sin is not merely a mistake or weakness. It is personal rebellion against the infinite majesty and holiness of the living God. If someone steals from his brother, he ultimately steals from God. If someone lies, he lies to the Holy Spirit. If he harms another believer, he wounds Christ Himself, who identifies with His people (Isa. 63:9, Acts 9:5). True repentance therefore begins with King David’s heartfelt confession: “Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight” (Ps. 51:4).
Only when we truly realize that our sin directly offends God, whose glory surpasses understanding, whose justice is perfect, and whose holiness fills all creation, then can we begin to sorrow properly. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise” (Ps. 51:17).
… we must remember that this godly sorrow grieves not only over obvious sins but also hidden sins like pride, bitterness, laziness, resentment and self-righteousness.
This godly sorrow does not compare itself with others but honestly admits personal guilt before God. It does not minimize or excuse sin but recognizes every sin as rebellion against God. It leads the repentant sinner not into despair but directly to Christ.
Hence true repentance is never emotionless, cold or indifferent. It is deeply broken over sin and at the same time trusting entirely in the mercy of Christ.
Finally, when there is an inward turning and a godly sorrow, the penitent sinner will humble himself completely under God’s correction and chastisement. Repentance does not merely agree verbally with God’s judgment against sin. Rather it fully submits to God’s discipline and only humbly asks for grace and mercy.
One who is truly repentant does not proudly demand for forgiveness. He does not say, “God, you had better be merciful to me, the sinner,” or to the elders of the church threateningly, “You better forgive me, the sinner who has already apologised.”
Rather in deep humility, it manifests itself as described in Luke 18:13: “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”
When we come to God in such humility and truth, however guilty, however gross our sin, we discover not rejection, but infinite mercy and forgiveness in Christ. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9).
Let us therefore as a church family respond faithfully to God’s gracious discipline, whether it be by the preaching, from fellow believers or officially from the elders. When we have sinned, let us respond not with pride or bitterness, but with sincere repentance, humility and trust. For in Christ, “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7).
