Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 14 February, 2010
“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and
things wherewith one may edify another” (Rom. 14:19)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
The Outrage at Gibeah (4)
Painful Church Discipline in Israel [youtube]
Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 5
Text: Judges 20:18-25
I. The Unexpected Defeats
II. The Biblical Reasons
III. The Contemporary Application
Psalms: 95:1-7; 51:1-6; 77:15-20; 77:7-13
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Eating and Drinking Christ [youtube]
Scripture Reading: John 6:35-63
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 28
I. A Covenant Feast
II. A Blessed Feast
III. A Profitable Feast
Psalms: 122:1-9; 51:7-13; 36:5-10; 63:1-8
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: https://cprc.co.uk/live-streaming/
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quote to Consider:
Herman Hoeksema: “… it is to the well-being of the church that Christian discipline is diligently exercised. If not, the covenant of God is profaned, the wrath of God is kindled against the church; and soon, if the power of evil and the workers of iniquity are left in the church visible in the world, it will become subject to those powers and soon be corrupted … The purpose of the exercise of Christian discipline is also the salvation of its members. When they walk in sin, of which they do not repent, it is certainly not to their salvation that they are left undisturbed, without rebuke and admonition. And the positive purpose of the exercise of Christian discipline, as far as the members of the church are concerned, is certainly their salvation.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will):
We welcome Stephen Rushton, the Moores and the McCauslands to our worship services today.
Two new issues of the Standard Bearer (15 January & 1 February) are available on the back table for subscribers today.
Catechism:
Monday, 7:00 PM – Zoe, Amy & Lea Campbell at the manse
Tuesday, 7 PM – Jacob & Nathan at the Buchanans
Tuesday, 8 PM – Mark & Lauren at the Hamills
Wednesday, 1 PM – Beginners OT Class at the manse
Midweek Bible study meets this Wednesday at 7:45 PM at the manse. We will be studying I Peter 4:4f. on being blasphemed by the world.
The Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day (8:30-9:00 AM, on Gospel 846MW) is entitled “Praying for Daily Bread” (Luke 11:3) by Rev. R. Kleyn.
Ladies Bible study meets Thursday, 18 February, at 10:30 AM at the Murrays to study Lesson 4 of Keeping God’s Covenant.
Lectures in Limerick: Friday, 12 March – “The Real St. Patrick”
Church Building: The pebble-dash was put on the outside of the building. The plastering of the inside is complete. The radiators have been installed.
Rev. & Mary Stewart are to go to Naples with Francesco on 19-23 April to visit with some saints there (including Marco Barone), give some speeches (with Francesco translating) and meet Francesco’s parents.
Prof. Engelsma is to preach for the CPRC on the three Lord’s Days after the BRF Conference (15, 22 and 29 August).
Website Additions: 1 Italian and 2 German translations were added.
Offerings: General Fund: £615.80. Building Fund: £347.50. Donations: £5 (DVDs).
PRC News: Rev. Spriensma declined the call to Bethel. Byron Center extended a call to Rev. Spriensma. Cornerstone has a trio of Revs. Bruinsma, A. Lanning and Spriensma. Hull has a trio of Revs. Kuiper, W. Langerak and J. Laning.
God’s Covenant Friendship
Rev. Angus Stewart
(originally published in the “Paper Pulpit” of the Ballymena Times)
The covenant that God makes with elect believers in Jesus Christ is a warm and loving relationship of friendship and fellowship.
This is the teaching of the “covenant formula” repeated often in Scripture in many forms: “God
is our God and we are His people.” As “our God,” He is and will be to us all that Jehovah is and can be for us. He unites us to Himself through Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit. He pardons our sins, embraces us in His everlasting arms and guides us to glory. As “His people,” we cleave to Him, cast our burdens upon Him and trust in His mercy.
In the very first promise of the coming of Christ to crush Satan’s head, our salvation is described as “enmity” with the devil, which is friendship with God (Gen. 3:15; cf. James 4:4). At the end of the Bible, the realization of God’s covenant is His dwelling with us eternally as close friends who tabernacle together in the new heavens and the new earth—that realm without sorrow, crying, tears, pain or death
(Rev. 21:3-4).
Throughout God’s Word, He presents His covenant as an intimate marriage bond between Himself and His beloved bride, the church (e.g., Eze. 16). In the covenant, Jehovah establishes a Father-child relationship (Ex. 4:22)
with us as His sons and daughters, for He has begotten us by the Spirit and we bear (though in a weak and creaturely way) the image and likeness of our Father.
The biblical truth of reconciliation through the cross of Christ is a covenant idea because reconciliation is the restoration of friendship. As those brought into God’s friendship, we enjoy eternal life, which is sharing in the life of the Triune God, the everlasting fellowship of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit.
King David affirmed, “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant” (Ps. 25:14). The root meaning of the Hebrew word “secret” is cushion or couch. The idea is that of two friends sitting close together in familiar conversation and communicating in confidential fellowship. The word “secret,” therefore, speaks of the intimacy of our covenant friendship and fellowship with God.
The covenant blessings the Lord reveals to, and confers upon, us include righteousness in Christ, an eternal inheritance, protection from all our enemies and provision of all our needs. Our Father shows us His covenant secrets through the reading and preaching of the Scriptures, and by the inner working of the Holy Spirit, He applies His Word to every God-fearing hearer, so that he is assured that these covenant blessings are for him personally. God, as it were, sits down with those who revere Him and shares His secrets with him in a personal way: “In My covenant, I am for you and in you and with you in Jesus Christ.”
Do you know the secret of the Lord? Has He showed you His covenant?
For more on God’s covenant, see our covenant baptism resources page and our free pamphlets.
