Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 15 March, 2026
“Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone,
a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste” (Isa. 28:16)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Jews and Gentiles United in Christ (8)
Fellow Citizens and God’s Household [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:11-3:12
Text: Ephesians 2:19
I. Civil Imagery
II. Family Imagery
Psalms: 145:7-14; 18:1-7; 87:1-7; 103:6-13
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
The Anointing of the Spirit [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Matthew 3
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 12
I. Everyone Without It
II. One With It
III. Many With It
Psalms: 14:1-7; 18:8-13; 45:2-7 (AOS); 119:97-104
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
Quote to Consider
Charles Hodge: “Formerly the Gentiles stood in the same relation to the theocracy or commonwealth of Israel that we do to a foreign state. They had no share in its privileges, no participation in its blessings. Now they are ‘fellow-citizens of the saints.’ By saints are not to be understood the Jews, nor the ancient patriarchs, but the people of God. Christians have become, under the new dispensation, what the Jews once were, viz., ‘saints,’ men selected and separated from the world, and consecrated to God as his peculiar people. They now constitute the theocracy, which is no longer confined to any one people or country, but embraces all in every country who have access to God by Christ Jesus. In this spiritual kingdom the Gentiles have now the right of citizenship. They are on terms of perfect equality with all other members of that kingdom. And that kingdom is the kingdom of heaven. The same terms of admission are required, and neither more nor less, for membership in that kingdom, and for admission into heaven; all who enter the one enter the other; the one is but the infancy of the other; we are now, says Paul, the citizens of heaven” (Comm. on Eph. 2:19).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
A new Covenant Reformed News, with articles on God’s incomprehensibility and the Song of Solomon, is available on the back table.
Monday night catechism classes:
5:00 PM: Felicity & Sophie (Juniors NT)
5:45 PM: Grace, Jonas, Liam & Sammy (Beginners NT)
6:30 PM: Eleanora, Hannah, Jorja, Penelope & Xander (Seniors NT)
7:15 PM: Jason, Maisie & Sebastian (Heidelberg Catechism – Book 2)
8:00 PM: Abbie, Jack, Josh, Samuel & Taylor (Essentials)
Tuesday Bible study will meet at 11 AM to conclude our treatment of the knowability of God.
The Belgic Confession class meets at 7:30 PM on Wednesday to consider the nature of our resurrection bodies.
Ladies’ Bible Study plans to meet this week Friday, 20 March, at 10 AM to continue our study on Titus.
Men’s Bible study is this Saturday, 21 March, at 7:30 PM on-line, treating Psalm 85, 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 “The People Had a Mind to Work” (Neh. 4).
Offerings: £2,311.40.
Translation Additions: 1 Polish, 1 Russian and 1 Spanish.
Pressing On To Perfection
an article by Rev. Gise Van Baren in the Standard Bearer, vol. 67, issue 6
Read and study Philippians 3:12-21
After speaking of his own attainments, which Paul counted as “dung” that he might win Christ, the apostle continues by showing the urgency of striving for the “prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Verses 12-14 describe the striving saint in terms of a foot race. The apostle appears to be very well acquainted with such a race. The course for it was, we are told, some 607 feet in length. Races could involve one or more circuits around the track. The striving of the runners and the desire to attain the goal were known to Paul and his readers. The crown was usually a wreath of leaves placed upon the head of the victor. So does this apostle describe his own spiritual race. He has not attained nor yet was he made perfect. He had earlier described the zeal he displayed before his conversion. But he had not “attained” through all of that effort. Nor has he now attained. He is still in the process of running the race. There is before him the mark: the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus. This prize is the glory of the heavenly in fellowship with his Lord, Jesus Christ. All else is of no worth compared to that great prize. He would “lay hold” (apprehend) on that prize even as Christ had “laid hold” of Paul in regeneration and in conversion. Notice how Paul runs. Note first: he knows that he has not yet attained. There is a necessary effort which must be put forth. Also, he runs with full concentration on the race: “If by any means I might attain …” With all that he has, with every ounce of strength, he will run to the goal. Consider, too, that this exertion of Paul is very great. It is the “one thing” which he will do. He must not be distracted by anything about him. Usually the man who ran the race would lay aside all unnecessary clothing so that nothing would interfere in the running. So Paul is fixed upon one thing: the goal before him. Nor will Paul look back. He forgets the things which are behind. This surely does not mean that Paul no longer remembered the past. In fact, he has just recounted much of his past life in the earlier verses. Nor would he want to forget his conversion on the road to Damascus. But he “forgets” in the sense that he is not resting on his laurels. He will not boast in that which is already accomplished. That represented only the means whereby he attained to his present position. Now he reaches forth to those things which are before. As the runner strains to touch the ribbon marking the finish line, so Paul strained toward the final goal: everlasting glory with Jesus. The reward is clearly in Paul’s mind’s eye: it is the high calling of God in Christ. He anticipates the glory of the heavenly All of his labours on this earth were directed towards this great goal. It is that worthy goal towards which every child of God earnestly strives. Verses 15 and 16 point out the proper mind of the “perfect” ones—perfect of course in principle and on the basis of Christ’s completed work. These are “single-minded.” They are not easily turned aside or distracted from their high calling. Where there are instances when the child of God does turn aside, God speaks through His Word and applies that by His Spirit, so that he is turned back again to the course which he must run. In verses 17 through 21 the apostle calls God’s people to imitate Paul. Imitators are “followers.” It is true that Scripture elsewhere commands us to be imitators of God (Eph. 5:1). There is, however, no conflict. Paul teaches in I Corinthians 11:1, “Be ye followers [i.e., imitators] of me, even as I also am of Christ.” Paul is not simply requiring church members to imitate him—but to imitate Christ in the same way that Paul does. The church is to note all those who walk as Paul does. There are many who do not run the race and hold to the course. Of this Paul speaks “weeping.” It grieves him greatly to observe those who claim to hold to the Word of God, who insist that they are running. the same race as does Paul, but they lie. The apostle points out that there are those within the church also who do nothing but seek the satisfaction of their flesh. Some call them “sensualists”—those concerned only with that which pleases their senses. Their “god” is their belly. These work with the goal of eating and drinking. They glory in their shame—that is, they find joy in an earthly, sinful walk. They “mind earthly things.” Paul paints a sad picture of those who are in the church for earthly, selfish, sinful reasons. Some of these had earlier been helpers of Paul, but had turned against him. The faithful Christian is not so. His “conversation” (citizenship) is in heaven. He knows that he is a pilgrim and stranger on this earth. He is not here to satisfy his flesh. He is not seeking merely earthly things. He looks to heaven for the return of Jesus Christ. It is a powerful, moving emotion which is presented! It is a desire, a longing, far stronger than the desire of husband for wife, or parents for children. The Lord is in heaven—and soon He is coming again.
Why should there be such an obvious and strong desire? Verse 21 shows to us the hope of the child of God: our “vile” (humiliated) bodies shall be changed like unto His glorified body. One may read of the body “before and after” in I Corinthians 15. When Christ was raised from the dead, He did not lose His humanity or His human body. The Divine Son remains forever united to the human. We shall see Him in glory and shall be able to talk to Him. Scripture reminds us that “flesh and blood” shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven. But Christ says of His resurrection body that it is “flesh and bones.” (Can you find the Scriptural references for this?) It is a body that is perfect, and perfectly adapted to the heavenly. It is without sin, not subject to suffering or death; it abides forevermore. Can the scientist explain all of that? Of course not. But Scripture testifies of the truth of it.
Even so shall the Christian’s body be changed. Now it is a “vile” or humiliated body It is not a very lovely thought to think of my body decaying in the grave. On this earth, a person pampers his body and tries to keep it functioning as well as possible through every possible means. But no one has been able to prevent the aging process from continuing, or death from coming. It is humiliating indeed to have a body which falls prey to every disease and can be racked with various pains. But we look for that which is to come. Even as Christ received the resurrection body, so shall those who belong to Christ. Christ, who has subjected all things to Himself, will also change our bodies in the great day of the resurrection. Then we shall possess what He has even now.
It is no wonder that the Christian, understanding all of this, does not set his heart on what fills his belly but on what shall be in glory for his body. Only a fool, and all unbelievers are fools, would be so concerned with the earthly that the truth concerning the heavenly is simply scorned. The believer knows that the glorious resurrection causes all other earthly things to pale into insignificance. All of this explains why the apostle is so insistent upon running the race with his undivided attention. “If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead” (v. 11).
