Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 25 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
Our Mediator’s Human Nature [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Romans 8:1-18
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 5
I. What It Is
II. Its Role in Our Salvation
Psalms: 138:1-6; 9:10-14; 49:1-4, 6-10; 36:5-11
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Jew and Gentiles United in Christ (2)
The Far Off Made Nigh [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2
Text: Ephesians 2:13
I. The Former Situation
II. The Present Blessedness
III. The Wonderful Agent
Psalms: 84:1-6; 9:15-20; 147:12-20; 148:7-14 (AOS)
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
Charles Hodge on Ephesians 2:13: “As being far from God included both separation from his people and spiritual distance or alienation from himself; so to be brought nigh includes both introduction into the church and reconciliation with God.”
John Gill on Ephesians 2:13: “‘are made nigh by the blood of Christ’: so as to have nearness of access to and communion with God, Father, Son, and Spirit, and the saints, in virtue of the blood of Christ; which gives boldness and speaks peace; by which their persons are justified, the pardon of their sins is procured, reconciliation is made, and their garments are washed, and made white; and so they draw nigh with confidence by the faith of him.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Ivan Reid was admitted to Antrim Hospital (Ward 4C) and remains on antibiotics for an infection in his gall bladder. Marina Mawhinney underwent an operation on Monday to repair her fractured hip. She is in the Royal Victoria Hospital (Ward 4A). Willie John has returned home. Continue to remember the Reids and the Mawhinneys in your prayers, as well as others in the congregation who struggle with the infirmities of old age or long-term illnesses. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).
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 this week at 11 AM to consider “The Existence of God.”
The Belgic Confession class meets at 7:30 PM on Wednesday for more on “The One Biblical Consummation Versus Dispensationalism: The Goal of All Things.”
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is entitled “Trusting and Not Fearing” (Psalm 56:3-4).
Offerings: £1,834. Donation: £250 (New Jersey).
Translation Additions: 1 French, 2 Pashto, 1 Polish, 1 Russian and 3 Urdu.
Volume 1, issues 1-15, of the Covenant Reformed News (1992-1993) by Rev. VanBaren, Rev. Hanko and Prof. Hanko are now on the CPRC website.
PRC News: Rev. Marcus declined the call to be missionary-on-loan to the Philippines, so a new trio has been formed of Revs. Eriks, Maatman and Spronk. Grace PRC called Rev. Langerak. Heritage PRC called Rev. DeBoer. Calvary PRC has formed a new trio of Revs. Engelsma, Eriks and Maatman. Grandville PRC formed a new trio of Revs. Eriks, D. Holstege and Spronk. Hope PRC (Redlands, CA) has formed a new trio of Revs. D. Holstege, Maatman and Smidstra.
The Only Way (1)
an article by Rev. Herman Hoeksema in the Standard Bearer, vol 13, issue 20
“Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name dam many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:21-23).
Beware of them! For, false prophets they are!
And be doubly on your guard against them, lest ye be deceived, for they come in sheep’s clothing, while inwardly they are ravening wolves!
Their appearance is such that in their company you might feel safe, for they appear, indeed, to be travelling to the kingdom of heaven; fact is, however, that they have no part in that kingdom, are wholly of this world and have their end in perdition.
Lord! Lord! Say they to Jesus. And you might be attracted by their profession.
Many wonderful works they do. For, devils they cast out, the world they make a good and clean place to live in, they prophesy in the name of the Lord they profess. And easily you might be tempted to seek their company and to travel their way …
Yet, one thing they lack! The one thing. For, they do not do the will of our Father which is in heaven.
However strikingly they may resemble the sheep, they are still wolves! Ravening wolves, seeking to devour you!
Who shall enter?
Which is the way in which one, in “that day,” shall enter the Kingdom of heaven?
Not everyone! And not even every one of those that say: Lord, Lord! Not those that profess Him with their mouth, while they love iniquity. But they and they only shall enter that walk in the way in which they do the will of His Father which is in heaven!
What then, is that kingdom of heaven?
It is, first of all, most decidedly a kingdom, a spiritual-ethical domain in which God rules as King, in which He issues His precepts and makes known His will, in which He is sovereign and is the sole Ruler and Judge, in which His will is strictly and exclusively executed, and all other wills are wholly in subjection unto His. It is, moreover, the domain, in which the Most High rules by grace, by His own grace, so that all hearts are gladly in subjection unto Him and all wills delight to be in harmony with the will of God. For, Sovereign is He over all the world by His divine power, yet, that does not make the world a kingdom of heaven. He has dominion in heaven and in hell and over all the earth. Not only the angels that are in heaven and the righteous that are in the earth and the saints that are in glory, but also the forces of darkness, the devil and all his host, are in subjection under Him. He executes His will and no one ever did nor ever shall resist Him. For, our God is in the heavens and He doeth all His good pleasure! Yet, in the kingdom of heaven He rules, not merely by His power, but by the sweet influences of His grace. In that kingdom all look up unto Him, waiting for the Word that proceedeth out of His mouth; all know His will and delight in His service. And all that breathes constantly gives glory to Him that sitteth on the throne saying: Bless the Lord!
It is the kingdom of heaven.
For, it has its origin and source in heaven and comes down out of heaven, always out of heaven, and cannot rest until it has embraced all the universe to its remotest bounds, overcoming, forcing out, replacing the kingdom of the devil and darkness. On earth, in the hearts of men, is the kingdom of darkness, of sin and guilt and death, in which men love iniquity to their own destruction. But the kingdom of God comes out of heaven in Christ, the Servant of Jehovah, whom God anointed Lord and Christ over all things, in whom the Father reveals Himself and is known, by whom He plucks up the kingdom of darkness by its very roots, in whose blood He establishes the foundation of the kingdom of God in righteousness and justice, in whose resurrection and exaltation at His right hand He realizes that kingdom centrally, and from whom the kingdom of God descends out of heaven into the hearts of men, when He returns in the Spirit to dwell in them and abide with them forever!
And even so the kingdom of heaven is still coming!
For, it is not yet consummated.
It will come in “that day” in the day of Christ. With Him it will come out of heaven, in heavenly beauty and glory, to embrace all things in the new heavens and the new earth in which righteousness shall dwell. Then the New Jerusalem shall descend out of heaven from God in the beauty of perfect holiness, in the glory of heavenly perfection. The former things shall pass away and all things shall be made new. Death shall flee away and all darkness. There shall be neither sorrow nor crying. God in Christ shall be all in all and we shall see face to face and know even as we are known!
The kingdom of heaven shall have come perfectly!
And even as this kingdom is already come and yet is still coming and shall come in “that day”, so the subjects of that kingdom do enter into that kingdom now, here upon earth, and shall enter into it in the day of its final consummation.
For, spiritually we enter into that kingdom, when the Lord of that kingdom through His Spirit enters into our hearts, when He translates us out of death into life, when He calls us out of darkness into His marvellous light, when He breaks our hearts into true contrition and fills us with sorrow after God, when He makes us one plant with Him in the likeness of His death and resurrection, when He causes us to hear His voice, speaking of forgiveness of sin, of righteousness in His blood, of the adoption unto children, of the will of His Father which is in heaven; when He makes us wholly willing to call Him our Lord and to serve Him with body and soul, with mind and heart, even in the midst of a world that lieth in darkness …
Yet, we still must enter!
For, truly we have eternal life even now, yet we also lie in the midst of death. For, the spirit is life because of righteousness, yet the body is still dead because of sin. Here we are, indeed, saints in Christ, yet we are sinful; we are citizens of heaven, and our walk is in heaven, yet we are of the earth earthy; we are heirs of all things, yet we possess nothing and are killed all the day long …
We shall enter!
In that day, of the which the Lord speaks in the text. His day!
Enter through death into life eternal!
Enter into the resurrection through the corruption of the grave!
Enter into the glorified heaven and earth through the final catastrophe, when the old heavens and earth shall pass away!
And we shall hear the voice of Him that sitteth on the throne: Behold, I make all things new!
