Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 26 May, 2019
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering …” (Col. 3:12)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Why Good Works? [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:1-18
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 32
I. The Carnal Motivations
II. The Spiritual Motivations
Psalms: 107:15-22; 106:7-10; 14:1-7; 116:9-19
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
What Does Your Faith Stand Upon? [youtube]
Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 1:17-2:5
Text: I Corinthians 2:5
I. What It Must Not Stand Upon
II. What It Must Stand Upon
Psalms: 23:1-6; 106:11-18; 119:137-144; 19:9-14
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
Quotes to Consider
Herman Hoeksema on Lord’s Day 32: “[Ephesians 2:10] is especially significant, for it emphasizes the truth that good works are the fruit of the grace of God and that they were ordained by God from all eternity that we should walk in them. God’s workmanship we are. He has made us new creatures in Christ Jesus by the wondrous power of his grace. This wonder of grace he performed in us so that we should do good works. Even these works were ordained for every one of us before the foundation of the world by God himself. For the believer it is a God-given privilege to walk in those good works … The church is not just a number of saved believers; it is a grand whole, a body, a unity. The purpose of the whole is to show forth the glory of God in Christ. All the saints develop this one theme in their good works, each in his position and performing his part. The great Artist ordained and prepared all the several parts of this glorious theme for every one of the saints, just as by grace he prepared them for all the parts they were to perform. He created them in Christ Jesus exactly unto the good works he prepared for them, so they could walk in them” (Love the Lord Thy God, pp. 118-119).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Family visitation continues this week:
Ariana Fiurasek & Michelle Lou Hing – Monday, 10 AM (Crossett/Rev. Stewart)
Tuesday Bible Study meets at 11 AM to consider the covenant consecration and laws of New Testament Israel, especially in I Peter 3f.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. R. Kleyn is entitled “Now and Then” (I Cor. 13:12).
The Council meets on Monday, 3 June at 7:30 PM.
S. Wales Lecture: Rev. Stewart will speak on “The Burnt Offering” on Thursday, 6 June at 7:15 PM in Margam Community Centre.
Rev. & Larisa McGeown will be leaving this week for the US. Rev. McGeown will represent the CPRC and the LRF at the PR Synod.
Rev. Justin Smidstra will be preaching for the LRF in Rev. McGeown’s absence. In order for the CPRC to meet Rev. & Kelly Smidstra, Rev. Smidstra will be preaching for us on 9 June, while Rev. Stewart preaches in the LRF.
The CPRC Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 12 June, at 7:30 PM. Audio-visual (Stephen Murray), financial (Julian Kennedy) and new website (Rev. Stewart) reports will be given. Do come!
Offerings: General Fund: £586.03. Donations: £200 (England).
Translation Additions: 2 Hungarian.
PRC News: Rev. Spronk (Faith, MI) is considering the call from Immanuel PRC (Lacombe, AB). Rev. Huizenga (Redlands, CA) is considering the call to Southeast PRC.
Second Helvetic Confession (1566)
CHAPTER XVI. OF FAITH AND GOOD WORKS;
OF THEIR REWARD, AND OF MAN’S MERIT
… It was said before that the law of God, which is the will of God, did prescribe unto us the pattern of good works. And the apostle says, ‘This is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye abstain from all uncleanness, and that no man oppress or deceive his brother in any matter’ (1 Thess. iv.3, 6). But as for such works and worships of God as are taken up upon our own liking, which St. Paul calls ‘will-worship’ (Col. ii.23), they are not allowed nor liked of God. Of such the Lord says in the Gospel, ‘They worship me in vain, teaching for doctrine the precepts of men’ (Matt. xv.9).
We therefore disallow all such manner of works, and we approve and urge men unto such as are according to the will and commandment of God. Yea, and these same works that are agreeable to God’s will must be done, not to the end to merit eternal life by them; for ‘life everlasting,’ as the apostle says, ‘is the gift of God’ (Rom. vi.23), nor for ostentation’s sake, which the Lord does reject (Matt. vi.1, 5, 16), nor for lucre, which also he mislikes (Matt. xxiii.23), but to the glory of God, to commend and set forth our calling, and to yield thankfulness unto God, and also for the profit of our neighbors. For the Lord says again in the Gospel, ‘Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven’ (Matt. v.16). Likewise the Apostle Paul says, ‘Walk worthy of your calling’ (Eph. iv.1). Also, ‘Whatsoever ye do,’ says he, ‘either in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him’ (Col. iii.17). ‘Let no man seek his own, but every man his brother’s’ (Phil. ii.4). And, ‘Let ours also learn to show forth good works for necessary uses, that they be not unprofitable’ (Tit. iii.14).
Notwithstanding, therefore, that we teach with the apostle that a man is justified by faith in Christ, and not by any good works (Rom. iii.28), yet we do not lightly esteem or condemn good works; because we know that a man is not created or regenerated through faith that he should be idle, but rather that without ceasing he should do those things which are good and profitable. For in the Gospel the Lord says, ‘A good tree bringeth forth good fruit’ (Matt. xii.33); and, again, ‘Whosoever abideth in me, bringeth forth much fruit’ (John xv.5). And, lastly, the apostle says, ‘We are the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God hath prepared, that we should walk in them’ (Eph. ii.10). And again, ‘Who gave himself for us, that he might deliver us from all iniquity, and purge us to be a peculiar people to himself, zealous of good works’ (Tit. ii.14). We therefore condemn all those who do contemn good works, and do babble that they are needless and not to be regarded. Nevertheless, as was said before, we do not think that we are saved by good works, or that they are so necessary to salvation that no man was ever saved without them. For we are saved by grace and by the benefit of Christ alone. Works do necessarily proceed from faith; but salvation is improperly attributed to them, which is most properly ascribed to grace. That sentence of the apostle is very notable: ‘If by grace, then not of works; for then grace were no more grace: but if of works, then is it not of grace; for then works were no more works’ (Rom. xi.6).
Now the works which we do are accepted and allowed of God through faith; because they who do them please God by faith in Christ, and also the works themselves are done by the grace of God through his Holy Spirit. For St. Peter says that ‘of every nation he that feareth God, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him’ (Acts x.35). And Paul also, ‘We cease not to pray for you, that you may walk worthy of the Lord, and in all things please him, being fruitful in every good work’ (Col. i.9, 10). Here, therefore, we diligently teach, not false and philosophical, but true virtues, true good works, and the true duties of a Christian man. And this we do with all the diligence and earnestness that we can inculcate and beat into men’s minds; sharply reproving the slothfulness and hypocrisy of all those who with their mouths praise and profess the Gospel, and yet with their shameful life do dishonor the same; setting before their eyes, in this case, God’s horrible threatenings, large promises, and bountiful rewards, and that by exhorting, comforting, and rebuking.
For we teach that God does bestow great rewards on them that do good, according to that saying of the prophet, ‘Refrain thy voice from weeping, because thy works shall have a reward’ (Jer. xxxi.16). In the Gospel also the Lord said, ‘Rejoice, and be glad, because your reward is great in heaven’ (Matt. v.12). And, ‘He that shall give to one of these little ones a cup of cold water, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward’ (Matt. x.42). Yet we do not attribute this reward, which God gives, to the merit of the man that receives it, but to the goodness, or liberality, and truth of God, which promises and gives it; who, although he owe nothing to any, yet he has promised to give a reward to those that faithfully worship him, notwithstanding that he do also give them grace to worship him. Besides, there are many things unworthy the majesty of God, and many imperfect things are found in the works even of the saints; and yet because God does receive into favor and embrace those who work them for Christ’s sake therefore he performs unto them the promised reward. For otherwise our righteousness is compared to a menstruous cloth (Isa. lxiv.6); yea, and the Lord in the Gospel says, ‘When ye have done all things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do’ (Luke xvii.10). So that though we teach that God does give a reward to our good deeds, yet withal we teach, with Augustine, that ‘God doth crown in us, not our deserts, but his own gifts.’ And, therefore, whatsoever reward we receive, we say that it is a grace, and rather a grace than a reward: because those good things which we do, we do them rather by God than by ourselves; and because Paul says, ‘What hast thou that thou hast not received? but if thou hast received it, why dost thou boast, as though thou hadst not received it?’ (1 Cor. iv.7). Which thing also the blessed martyr Cyprian does gather out of this place, that ‘we must not boast of anything, seeing nothing is our own.’ We therefore condemn those who defend the merits of men, that they may make frustrate the grace of God.
