Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 27 May, 2012
“Those that be planted in the house of the Lord
shall flourish in the courts of our God” (Ps. 92:13)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Lawful Oaths and Vows [youtube]
Scripture Reading: II Corinthians 1
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Days 36-37
I. The Assertory Oath
II. The Promisary Vow
Psalms: 15:1-5; 138:1-4; 132:1-9; 119:121-128
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
The Salvation of the Rich Young Ruler [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Mark 10:1-34
Text: Mark 10:17-27
I. The Proof
II. The Events
III. The Lessons
Psalms: 103:8-15; 138:5-8; 49:6-12; 116:1-8
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murray
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart
CPRC website: www.cprc.co.uk
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Ballymena-United-Kingdom/Covenant-Protestant-
Reformed-Church-N-Ireland/337347932331
Quotes to Consider
Westminster Confession 22:7:“No man may vow to do any thing forbidden in the word of God, or what would hinder any duty therein commanded, or which is not in his power, and for the performance whereof he hath no promise of ability from God. In which respects, Popish monastical vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself.”
G. I. Williamson: “To ‘take’ God’s name means, centrally, to become a Christian. A woman ‘takes’ her husband’s name when she takes her marriage vows … In a similar way, we profess our faith in Jesus Christ and are privileged to be called Christians. But, if we are not sincere and become covenant breakers, we have ‘taken his name in vain’ … In churches all across the world there are people who profess the name of Jesus and then live just as they please. They do not tremble at his Word. They do not keep his Sabbath. They do not respect the lawful authority of the church elders. And we could go on. But there is no need. It is this great sin that the third commandment is concerned with. God hates nothing so much as hypocrisy. And what is hypocrisy? It is the wearing of a false mask. It is claiming to be in submission to Jesus Christ as Lord, while not really being in submission at all. And what could deserve the wrath of God more richly than that?”
Alfred Edersheim: “For, ‘looking at him’ in his sincerity and earnestness, ‘He loved him’—as He loves those that are His Own. One thing was needful for this young man: that he should not only become His disciple, but that, in so doing, he should ‘come and follow’ Christ … And, although we hear no more of him, who that day went back to his rich home very poor, because ‘very sorrowful,’ we cannot but believe that he, whom Jesus loved, yet found in the poverty of earth the treasure of heaven” (The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, vol. 2, p. 341).
A. W. Pink: “Concerning the rich young ruler of whom it is said Christ ‘loved him’ (Mark 10:21), we fully believe that he was one of God’s elect, and was saved sometime after his interview with our Lord” (The Sovereignty of God, p. 201).
David J. Engelsma: “However one might explain Mark 10:17-22, the incident of the rich young ruler who asked Jesus about inheriting eternal life and went away grieved, Jesus’ love for the rich ruler was a saving love, that is, a love that desired his salvation. The context concerns inheriting eternal life (v. 17) and entering the kingdom of God (vv. 23-31). If, then, the rich ruler perished in his sins, it is possible that the Christ of God loves a man with a love that desires his salvation, but that He fails, nevertheless, to accomplish the desired salvation. This necessarily raises the further question, ‘Did Christ in His love for and desire to save some persons who yet perish also carry this love and desire to save to the cross?’ For Mark 10:32ff. proclaims the cross, especially verse 45: ‘… the Son of man came … to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.’ In this case, Christ died for persons who go lost forever. The doctrine of limited atonement is denied. Scripture condemns the notion of a universal, ineffectual Messianic love as false. Christ loved ‘His own,’ loved them “unto the end,” gave Himself to the cross for them alone, and effectually gives eternal life to every one of the (see John 13:1, 18; 17:1ff .). From the fact that Jesus loved the rich ruler, we may, must, and can only conclude that the rich ruler was one of the elect and that, later, he was converted, gladly selling all he had, giving to the poor, and following Christ. Jesus suggests as much in verses 23-27: what is impossible with men is possible with God, even the salvation of a rich man” (Standard Bearer, vol. 71, p. 321).
Don Doezema on the rich young ruler: “He felt a ‘lack.’ That already, it would seem, is a fruit of the work of the Spirit in the man’s heart. That this is a correct evaluation of the young man is borne out by Jesus’ reaction to him. Immediately after the young man affirmed that he had kept the commandment from his youth, we read that Jesus, ‘beholding him loved him’ (Mark 10:21). That can only be the love wherewith Jesus loves His own. And that love is an efficacious love, a love that accomplishes its purpose” (Upon This Rock, vol. 1, p. 428).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Family Visitation continues this week. The schedule is on the back of the bulletin.
Our Tuesday morning Bible study meets at 11 AM on “Eschatology and Time.” We will discuss the “last days” in the Old Testament, etc.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) will be “Building With Sword and Trowel” (Neh. 4) by Rev. Haak.
CPRC Website Additions: 1 Hungarian translation and 1 Portuguese translation.
Offerings: General Fund: £620.01. Donations: £150 (CR News), £150 (CR News).
