Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 30th July 2023
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed,
and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal.3:29)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM – Prof. D. Kuiper
Three Churchmen in Relation to Truth (1)
Gaius, Walking in Truth [youtube]
Scripture Reading: III John
Text: III John 3-4
I. Gaius’ Godly Walk
II. The Brothers’ Testimony
III. John’s Great Joy
Psalms: 84:1-2, 4-11; 119:161-168; 34:8-16; 25:4-10
Evening Service – 6:00 PM – Prof. D. Kuiper
The Day That Lasted Two Days [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Joshua 10:1-30
Text: Joshua 10:12-14
I. Jehovah’s Doing
II. Jehovah’s Means
III. Jehovah’s Purpose
Psalms: 19:1-6; 74:10-13, 16-17; 136:1-12; 44:1-6
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
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Offerings: £1,215.13 Solar panels refund: £1,978.64. Donation: £300 (New Jersey, USA)
Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846 MW at 0830 AM) by Rev. W. Bruinsma is entitled, “Nation Against Nation” (Matt. 24:6-7).
Rev. and Mary Stewart are in the US until 14 August. Pastor will preach on 30 July and 6 August at both services in Lynden PRC, Washington and on 13 August in Trinity PRC, Michigan (AM) and Zion PRC, Michigan (PM).
Imitate That Which Is Good
Rev. James Slopsema, excerpt from The Standard Bearer, vol 80, no 16
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God (III John 11).
The good and the evil! That which is good is that which is in harmony with the law of God. Goodness has an absolute standard. Ultimately, God is good. He is the source of all good and standard of all good. And He has revealed His goodness to us in His law. That which is good, therefore, is that behaviour or lifestyle that conforms to the holy law of God. But that which is good is also that which is helpful and beneficial. It is the nature of God’s goodness revealed in the law that promotes the welfare of the church, the gospel, marriage, the family, and society. That which is evil is just the opposite. It is that which is contrary to the law and will of God. For that reason it is also destructive. Those practices that conflict with God’s good laws always tear down instead of build up. They bring ruin, and with ruin they bring trouble and sorrow.
You will find both the good and the evil in the church!
You will find good in the church, due to the presence of such men as Gaius and Demetrius. Of Gaius we read that the truth was in him and that he walked in the truth (v. 3). Special mention is made of Gaius’ hospitality to missionaries sent out by John to preach to the pagan Gentiles. The missionaries found shelter at the home of Gaius on the way. Then there was Demetrius. He had a good report of all men (v. 12).
There will always be members in the church that are like these two brothers. They do good and even abound in that which is good. But you will also find evil in the church, due to men such as Diotrophes. Of Diotrophes we are told that he loved to have the preeminence. In this evil pursuit to be chief he would receive neither John nor those whom John sent to labor in the gospel. Furthermore, Diotrophes was guilty of speaking malicious words against the apostle and of casting out of the church those who supported John and his work. Yes, there will always be church members like Diotrophes, whose lives are filled with evil and who fill the church with their evil. That is true especially in churches where Christian discipline is not exercised.
We are instructed to imitate that which is good and not that which is evil. This means that we must evaluate all that we see around us. This evaluation must be done in light of Scripture. After proper evaluation we must imitate and put into practice only that which is good.
For one to be of (out of) God, his spiritual source or origin must be in God. One’s spiritual source is either God or the devil. If one’s source is in God, he bears His image. He reflects in his very being the goodness and perfections of God. If, however, his spiritual source is the devil, he bears the devil’s image and reflects in his being the devil’s evil. In short, he is totally depraved. By nature we are all of the devil. This is the result of the fall. To be of God requires the new birth of which John speaks so much in his epistles. Your spiritual source determines whether you do good or evil. Those who are born of God and thus have their source in Him do the good. Bearing the image of God, they are not only able to do the good, they are also inclined to the good. Their lives are filled with that which is good. And it is all the fruit of their being of God. Those, in turn, who are of the devil do that which is evil. They are just as depraved as the devil himself, incapable of any good and inclined to all evil.
But there is more. He that doeth evil hath not seen God. We cannot see the essence or being of God. But we can see God with the eye of faith. I John 3:16 connects this spiritual sight to abiding with God and knowing Him. “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” Notice three elements here. There is the element of abiding with God. This is to live in constant and close fellowship with Him. Then there is knowing God. We live with those whom we know. And the more we live with them, the more intimate our knowledge of them becomes. The same is true with God. Only when we come to know God in faith can we abide with Him in fellowship. The more we fellowship with God, the more intimate our knowledge of Him is. That brings us to the final element, our seeing God. We see those with whom we abide and live. We see them often. So also do those who know and abide with God see God. They see Him in faith as they abide in His presence daily. But those that are of the devil have not seen God. They have not known God, nor do they abide with Him. Neither therefore have they seen God. And that explains why they do that which is evil.
By imitating the practices and behaviour of others, we are ultimately imitating either God or the devil. When we imitate that which is good, we imitate those who are of God and have seen God. And so we ultimately are imitating God. When, however, we imitate that which is evil, we imitate those who are of the devil and who have never seen God. And ultimately we are imitating the devil. Our calling is clearly to imitate God by imitating the good of those who are of God. “Be ye followers (imitators) of God as dear children” (Eph. 5:1).
We are to bear this in mind especially with respect to our life in the church. There were those in the church in John’s day who claimed to be of God and to have seen God in fellowship. Yet they did that which was evil. Diotrophes was a case in point. The point that John was making to Gaius was that such claims of evildoers were false. Do not be lured into following their example, lest you become imitators of the devil. And the same applies to the church also today. There are many in the church who claim to be of God and to have seen God. Yet they live in sin. They live in adultery by divorcing and remarrying. They profane the Sabbath by their work and entertainment. They dishonour those in authority both in the home and in the workshop. Women usurp authority by intruding on the offices of the church. Many alter the worship that God has ordained for the church, introducing elements that are contrary to the will of God. In many cases false doctrines have led them in this direction. What we believe determines how we live. The church world is awash with false doctrine of every kind. Those who hold these heresies and follow the evil practices inherent in them also claim to be of God and to be those who have seen Him. But we must not be deceived. Those who do evil are not of God, neither have they seen God. Do not listen to their claim and do not follow their example.
And how is it possible for us to imitate that which is good? Only if we ourselves are of God and have seen God. Have you seen God? You see Him in the preaching. You see Him in the sacraments. You see Him in prayer. You see Him in the fellowship of the saints. In the power of that sight imitate that which is good and not that which is evil.
