CPRC Bulletin – March 6, 2022

   

Covenant Protestant Reformed Church

83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart

Lord’s Day, 6 March, 2022

“… walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself
for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” (Eph. 5:2)

Morning Service – 11:00 AM

When the Wicked Flourish  [youtube]

Scripture Reading: Psalm 92
Text: Psalm 92:7

I. The Glaring Fact
II. The Scriptural Evaluation

Psalms: 25:4-10; 22:1-7; 73:7-9, 16-20; 92:5-11

Evening Service – 6:00 PM

Solomon: Israel’s Wisest King (26)
Solomon’s Dedicatory Prayer  [youtube]

Scripture Reading: I Kings 8:22-53
Text: I Kings 8:22-53

I. The Powerful Preface
II. The Seven Petitions
III. The Christological Significance

Psalms: 138:1-6; 22:8-14; 20:1-7; 106:41-48

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: “… when the wicked well-doer is successful, increases his wealth, enlarges his place, gains in power and influence, he merely enhances his obligation to serve God. For the things of this present time are God’s capital, entrusted to us, placing us under the obligation to serve and glorify the Most High with it all. But the wicked cannot and will not employ all things in His service. To him the things of this present time are means to satisfy the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life. And, therefore, the more he increases his substance and position, the greater sinner he becomes, the more he aggravates his judgment, the severer will be his eternal punishment” (“The Curse-Reward of the Wicked Well-Doer,” p. 19).

Announcements (subject to God’s will)

Standard Bearers are on the back table for subscribers.

Grace Gould was admitted to Antrim Hospital this past week with heart palpitations and chest pain. Doctors have been running tests to determine the cause and she is due to have a dye test at the Royal Victoria Hospital this week. Continue to remember Grace and the Gould family in your prayers.

Monday catechism classes:
5:00 PM: Jason, Maisie & Sebastian (Juniors NT)
5:45 PM: Eleanora, Felicity, Hannah, Jorja, Penelope, Sammy, Somaya, Sophie, Xander & Yossef (Beginners OT, Book 2)
6:30 PM: Angelica, Bradley, Jack, Josh, Samuel & Taylor (Heidelberg, Book 1)
7:15 PM: Alex, Jacob & Nathan (Essentials)

The Council meets tomorrow night at 8 PM at the church.

Tuesday Bible study at 11 AM will meet to discuss the category of faith.

The Belgic Confession Class will meet on Wednesday at 7:30 PM to finish the topic of the nearness of Christ’s return.

Membership Class: Thursday, 11 AM with the Goulds.

The congregational dinner is this Friday at Rosspark Hotel at 7 PM. Sign-up sheets are on the back table or e-mail your meal selections to William Graham.

Saturday night Bible study meets this week at 8 PM at church and on-line to discuss Malachi 2:1-10.

The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Bruinsma is entitled, “Joseph’s Dysfunctional Family” (Gen. 37:1-11).

Offerings: General Fund: £805. Donations: £200 (England), $1,174.56 (Hudsonville PRC). Solar Panel Generation: £1,845.55.

Translation Additions: 4 Afrikaans, 2 Hungarian and 1 Russian.

PRC News: Edmonton PRC called Rev. Guichelaar (Randolph, WI).

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Belgic Confession 26: Christ’s Intercession

We believe that we have no access unto God but alone through the only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous,¹ who therefore became man, having united in one person the divine and human natures, that we men might have access to the divine Majesty, which access would otherwise be barred against us. But this Mediator, whom the Father hath appointed between Him and us, ought in no wise to affright us by His majesty, or cause us to seek another according to our fancy.² For there is no creature either in heaven or on earth who loveth us more than Jesus Christ;³ who, though He was in the form of God, yet made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a man and of a servant for us,⁴ and was made like unto His brethren in all things. If, then, we should seek for another mediator, who would be well affected towards us, whom could we find who loved us more than He who laid down His life for us, even when we were His enemies?⁵ And if we seek for one who hath power and majesty, who is there that hath so much of both as He who sits at the right hand of His Father, and who hath all power in heaven and on earth?⁶ And who will sooner be heard than the own well-beloved Son of God?

Therefore it was only through distrust that this practice of dishonoring, instead of honoring, the saints was introduced, doing that which they never have done not required, but have on the contrary, steadfastly rejected, according to their bounden duty, as appears by their writings.⁷ Neither must we plead here our unworthiness; for the meaning is not that we should offer our prayers to God on the ground of our own worthiness, but only on the ground of the excellency and worthiness of the Lord Jesus Christ,⁸ whose righteousness is become ours by faith.

Therefore the apostle, to remove this foolish fear, or rather mistrust, from us, justly saith that Jesus Christ was made like unto His brethren in all things, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered, being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.⁹ And further to encourage us, he adds: Seeing then that we have a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.¹⁰ The same apostle saith: Having boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, etc.¹¹ Likewise, Christ hath an unchangeable priesthood, wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.¹²

What more can be required, since Christ Himself saith: I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me?¹³ To what purpose should we then seek another advocate,¹⁴ since it hath pleased God to give us His own Son as an advocate?¹⁵ Let us not forsake Him to take another, or rather to seek after another, without ever being able to find him; for God well knew, when He gave Him to us, that we were sinners.

Therefore, according to the command of Christ, we call upon the heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our only Mediator, as we are taught in the Lord’s Prayer;¹⁶ being assured that whatever we ask of the Father in His name will be granted us.¹⁷

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¹ 1 Tim. 2:5—For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1 John 2:1—My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Rom. 8:33—Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

² Hos. 13:9—O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.
Jer. 2:13—For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
Jer. 2:33—Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.

³ John 10:11—I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
1 John 4:10—Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Rom. 5:8—But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Eph. 3:19—And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
John 15:13—Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

⁴ Phil. 2:7—But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

⁵ Rom. 5:8—But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

⁶ Mark 16:19— So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Col. 3:1—If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Rom. 8:33—Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Matt. 11:27—All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Matt. 28:18—And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

⁷ Acts 10:26—But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
Acts 14:15—And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

⁸ Dan. 9:17, 18—Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
John 16:23—And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Eph. 3:12—In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Acts 4:12—Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
1 Cor. 1:31—That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Eph. 2:18—For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

⁹ Heb. 2:17, 18—Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.

¹⁰ Heb. 4:14-16—Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

¹¹ Heb. 10:19—Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb. 10:22—Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

¹² Heb. 7:24, 25—But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

¹³ John 14:6—Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

¹⁴ Ps. 44:21—Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

¹⁵ 1 Tim. 2:5—For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1 John 2:1—My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Rom. 8:33—Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

¹⁶ Luke 11:2—And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

¹⁷ John 4:17—The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
John 16:23—And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
John 14:13—And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.