Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 22 April, 2012
“Those that be planted in the house of the Lord
shall flourish in the courts of our God” (Ps. 92:13)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Zechariah’s Night Visions (11)
The Crowning of Joshua [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Zechariah 3:1-10; 6:9-15
Text: Zechariah 6:9-15
I. The Act
II. The Symbolism
III. The Memorial
Psalms: 45:3-8; 132:1-9; 110:1-6; 2:6-12
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
The Quickening of the New Man [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Galatians 2:11-3:9
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 33
I. What It Is
II. How It Manifests Itself
III. The Ways of Seeking It
Psalms: 71:15-20; 132:10-18; 80:14-19; 119:153-160
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murray
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart
CPRC Website: www.cprc.co.uk • Live Webcast: https://cprc.co.uk/live-streaming/
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quote to Consider:
John Calvin on Zechariah 6:12:“He then says, ‘And he shall build the temple of Jehovah.’ This is a remarkable passage: it hence appears that the temple which the Jews had then begun to build, and which was afterwards built by Herod, was not the true temple of which Haggai had prophesied, when he said, ‘The glory of the second house shall be greater than that of the first.’ (Hag. 2:9). For though the temple of Herod was splendid, yet we see what the Spirit declares in this place,—that to build the temple would be Christ’s own work. Hence no one, had he heaped together all the gold and the silver of the world, could have built the true temple of which Haggai prophesied, and of which Ezekiel has so largely spoken near the end of his book. Christ alone then has been chosen by the Father to build this temple. Christ indeed himself was a temple as to his body, for the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him (Col. 2:6), but he built a temple to God the Father, when he raised up everywhere pure worship, having demolished superstitious, and when he consecrated us to be a royal priesthood.”
T. V. Moore on Zechariah 6:13: “The ‘counsel of peace’ is the counsel that produces peace, and this is done by Christ in the exercise of [the priestly and kingly] offices, by one of which he purchases redemption, and by the other applies it; by the one expiates sin, and by the other extirpates it; and thus reconciling man and God, causes peace on earth, and good will to man.”
Richard D. Phillips: “The building of this temple, God’s true spiritual house, is the meaning and end of history. Though so little of its final glory can now be seen, by faith we should come to the gathering of God’s people with awe, for God is there, and the work he [calls] us to share in the church is one that will shine in the heavens forever” (Zechariah, p. 149).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
On the back table is Rev. McGeown’s bi-monthly letter to the PRC as well as a newsletter from the Philippines.
Our Tuesday morning Bible study meets at 11 AM on “Eschatology and Time.” We will discuss the NT texts on sin in the last days.
Belgic Confession Class meets Wednesday at 7:45 PM to study Article 14 on man’s incapacity to do any good.
The Ladies’ Discussion Group will continue their study of the book Lies Women Believe, meeting this Friday, 27 April, at 10 AM to look at chapter 10.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) will be “The Test of Love” (I John 2:7-11) by Rev. R. Kleyn.
CPRC Website: 1 Serbian, 1 Spanish, 1 Russian and 5 Afrikaans translations were added.
Offerings: General Fund: £511.50. Donations: £107 (books & DVDs).
PRC News:Edgerton PRC called Rev. Kuiper (Randolph, WI).
Redefining Marriage
Rev. Angus Stewart
Sadly, the current UK civil government wants to redefine marriage so that it is no longer simply between a man and a woman, but also between a man and a man, and a woman and a woman. The new legislation would present the union between a man and a woman as only one of three options regarding “marriage.”
The God who created human beings male or female has defined marriage as a one-flesh union between one man and one woman, as the Lord Jesus teaches (Matt. 19:4-5). This reflects the great mystery of Christ’s unbreakable marriage with His beloved bride, the church, consisting of all His elect from the beginning to the end of the world (Eph. 5:32). Scripture’s declaration that marriage is a lifelong bond between one man and one woman (Rom. 7:2; I Cor. 7:39) is well summarised in the historic wedding form: “as long as you both shall live” and “till death us do part.”
Increased acceptance, approval and even encouragement of sins against the seventh commandment—fornication, adultery, pornography, divorce upon many grounds (sexual infidelity is the only ground, according to Christ in Matthew 5:32), remarriage while one’s spouse is still living (Matt. 5:32; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18; Rom. 7:3; I Cor. 7:10-11) and sodomy and lesbianism (Rom. 1:26-27)—has paved the way for the state’s push for same-sex marriage.
It is awful that our civil government should even contemplate “redefining” God’s creation ordinance of marriage, something foundational to both the family and society. Changing such a basic law is a mark of a state turning into a terrifying “beast” which more and more marginalizes, squeezes and persecutes “the saints of the Most High” (Dan. 7:25).
It is even worse that many unfaithful churches, now and in the past, have had a role to play in this degeneration and undermining of marriage. Craven ministers have failed to preach boldly the whole counsel of God on marriage and spineless elders have not exercised church discipline upon impenitent offenders against the seventh commandment. Some of the apostate and false churches are even calling on the civil government to bring in same-sex marriages and promising to swing their doors open wide to perform these “weddings.”
The Almighty is not mocked; He judges for sin and gives people over to their iniquity. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold [down] the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18). The only way of deliverance from sexual lusts and, indeed, the guilt, pollution and bondage of other sins as well, is repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, crucified, risen and exalted as Lord and Saviour. By His Word and Spirit, Christ will continue to build His church of pardoned sinners and battling saints (I Cor. 6:9-11) and He will preserve it in the midst of the deepening darkness. God’s irresistible grace will ensure that His church includes godly marriages and covenant children in Christ-honouring homes—until the wedding feast of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9)!
