Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 11 January, 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 – Rev. J. Engelsma
The Precious Benefits of Justification [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1-11
Text: Romans 5:1-2
I. Peace
II. Access
III. Glory
Psalms: 117:1-2; 51:1-7; 23:1-6; 103:1-4, 11-12
Evening Service – 6:00 PM – Rev. J. Engelsma
Glorying in Tribulations [youtube]
Scripture Reading: II Corinthians 4
Text: Romans 5:3-5
I. The Confession
II. The Explanation
III. The Foundation
Psalms: 42:1-5; 15:1-5; 61:1-4; 73:23-28
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
Herman Hoeksema on Romans 5:2: “The glory of God is His own glory. It is the radiation of His goodness. But the text does not simply refer to the glory of God. Rather, it refers to the glory of God as we will share in it. It is the glory of God as it will be reflected in us in the state of glory. The apostle John says that we shall be like Him. We shall be like Him in the sense that He will reflect all His glory, His covenant glory, in His people. Not an objective glory, but a glory reflected from within, is the glory of God in the text” (Righteous by Faith Alone, p. 194).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
We welcome Rev. Engelsma and Elder Keith VanDrunen, both from Crete PRC in Illinois. Rev. Engelsma will be preaching for us today and next Lord’s day.
On the back table are flyers for Rev. Engelsma’s lecture on “Biblical Masculinity.” Please take copies, and pass them on the friends and family.
The Lord’s Supper dates for 2026 are 29 March, 28 June, 27 September and 27 December.
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)
The Council and church visitors meet tomorrow evening at 8 PM for church visitation.
Tuesday Bible study will meet this week at 11 AM to consider Titus 2:1-6 (in light of verses 11-15).
Rev. J. Engelsma will give a lecture on “Biblical Masculinity” on Wednesday, 14 January, at 7:30 PM in the CPRC.
5-a-side football has been arranged for Thursday, 15 January from 9-10 PM at the Sports Hut for men and boys high-school age and older.
The congregational dinner is this Friday, 16 January, at 7 PM at Dunsilly Hotel in Antrim.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is entitled “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” (Ps. 139:14).
There will be tea after the evening service next Lord’s day.
Offerings: £1,715.50. Donation: £1,000 (England).
Translation Additions: 1 Chinese, 1 Dutch, 4 Hungarian, 2 Indonesian, 1 Polish, 2 Spanish and 3 Urdu.
Biblical Masculinity
Western societies are confused about gender. A lot of conflicting information swirls on the Internet. Warnings are issued against “toxic masculinity.” Many young people and parents are perplexed.
So what is maleness and real masculinity? What does Scripture say about it and how does this help parents raising sons? On Wednesday night, American pastor Joshua Engelsma will give a lecture in Ballymena on “Biblical Masculinity.”
Pastor Engelsma is an editor of the Standard Bearer (North America’s oldest continuously published subscriber-based Reformed magazine) and the author of two books: a biography of a nineteenth-century Dutch church reformer (Watchman on the Walls of Zion: The Life and Influence of Simon van Velzen) and a biblical treatment of courtship (Dating Differently: A Guide to Reformed Dating). His next book is at the publishers. It traces the godly life and heroic martyrdom of Guido de Brès, the author of the Belgic Confession (1561).
Rev. Engelsma pastors a church in the Chicago area and previously was the minister of a congregation in Iowa. This is his first time in Northern Ireland.
All are cordially invited to Pastor Engelsma’s speech on “Biblical Masculinity” on Wednesday (14 January) at 7:30 PM at the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church (CPRC), 83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR (www.cprc.co.uk).
Rev. Engelsma will also preach at both CPRC Sunday services on 11 and 18 January (11 AM & 6 PM). Everyone is welcome to attend these meetings. The lecture and sermons will be streamed live (www.cprc.co.uk/live-streaming).
John Calvin on Romans 5:1-2
1. Being then justified, etc. The Apostle begins to illustrate by the effects, what he has hitherto said of the righteousness of faith: and hence the whole of this chapter is taken up with amplifications, which are no less calculated to explain than to confirm. He had said before, that faith is abolished, if righteousness is sought by works; and in this case perpetual inquietude would disturb miserable souls, as they can find nothing substantial in themselves: but he teaches us now, that they are rendered quiet and tranquil, when we have obtained righteousness by faith, we have peace with God; and this is the peculiar fruit of the righteousness of faith.
When any one strives to seek tranquillity of conscience by works, (which is the case with profane and ignorant men,) he labours for it in vain; for either his heart is asleep through his disregard or forgetfulness of God’s judgment, or else it is full of trembling and dread, until it reposes on Christ, who is alone our peace.
Then peace means tranquillity of conscience, which arises from this, — that it feels itself to be reconciled to God. This the Pharisee has not, who swells with false confidence in his own works; nor the stupid sinner, who is not disquieted, because he is inebriated with the sweetness of vices: for though neither of these seems to have a manifest disquietude, as he is who is smitten with a consciousness of sin; yet as they do not really approach the tribunal of God, they have no reconciliation with him; for insensibility of conscience is, as it were, a sort of retreating from God. Peace with God is opposed to the dead security of the flesh, and for this reason, — because the first thing is, that every one should become awakened as to the account he must render of his life; and no one can stand boldly before God, but he who relies on a gratuitous reconciliation; for as long as he is God, all must otherwise tremble and be confounded. And this is the strongest of proofs, that our opponents do nothing but prate to no purpose, when they ascribe righteousness to works; for this conclusion of Paul is derived from this fact, — that miserable souls always tremble, except they repose on the grace of Christ.
2. Through whom we have access, etc. Our reconciliation with God depends only on Christ; for he only is the beloved Son, and we are all by nature the children of wrath. But this favour is communicated to us by the gospel; for the gospel is the ministry of reconciliation, by the means of which we are in a manner brought into the kingdom of God. Rightly then does Paul set before our eyes in Christ a sure pledge of God’s favour, that he might more easily draw us away from every confidence in works. And as he teaches us by the word access, that salvation begins with Christ, he excludes those preparations by which foolish men imagine that they can anticipate God’s mercy; as though he said, “Christ comes not to you, nor helps you, on account of your merits.” He afterwards immediately subjoins, that it is through the continuance of the same favour that our salvation becomes certain and sure; by which he intimates, that perseverance is not founded on our power and diligence, but on Christ; though at the same time by saying, that we stand, he indicates that the gospel ought to strike deep roots into the hearts of the godly, so that being strengthened by its truth, they may stand firm against all the devices of Satan and of the flesh. And by the word stand, he means, that faith is not a changeable persuasion, only for one day; but that it is immutable, and that it sinks deep into the heart, so that it endures through life. It is then not he, who by a sudden impulse is led to believe, that has faith, and is to be reckoned among the faithful; but he who constantly, and, so to speak, with a firm and fixed foot, abides in that station appointed to him by God, so as to cleave always to Christ …
