Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 17 November, 2013
“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious,
longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth” (Psalm 86:15)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Good Works and Salvation by Grace Alone [youtube]
Scripture Reading: John 15
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 24
I. The Standard of Good Works
II. The Reward of Good Works
III. The Certainty of Good Works
Psalms: 66:8-17; 51:15-19; 14:1-7; 116:9-19
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
The Man of Sin (12)
Holding the Traditions on the Man of Sin [youtube]
Scripture Reading: II Thessalonians 2
Text: II Thessalonians 2:15-17
I. The Meaning of the Traditions
II. The Holding of the Traditions
III. The Comfort of the Traditions
Psalms: 44:1-8; 52:1-9; 78:1-6; 50:1-6
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: https://cprc.co.uk/live-streaming/
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quote to Consider
James Buchanan: “He who exposes and expels error, does well; but it will only return in another form, unless the truth has been so lodged in the hearts as to shut it out forever.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
We welcome those who are visiting our worship services today. May we together be blessed as we hear Christ’s voice in the preaching of His Word.
Congratulations to William and Alison Graham on the birth of a baby girl, Hannah Joy, this past Wednesday. Alison and the baby returned home on Friday.
The special edition of the Standard Bearer on the Heidelberg Catechism is on the back table today for subscribers. Box sets of DVDs (as well as CDs) of the Heidelberg Catechism Conference held in Hudsonville PRC in October are available for £6.
Monday Catechism: Bradley, Samuel (Beginners NT) – 5:30PM
Alex, Nathan (Juniors OT) – 6:15PM
Jacob, Joseph (Seniors OT) – 7:00PM
Timothy (Essentials of Reformed Doctrine) – 7:45PM
Tuesday Bible study meets at 11 AM to study Christ’s controversy on marriage, divorce and remarriage. Hand outs are on the back table.
Belgic Confession Class meets this Wednesday at 7:45 PM to continue with article 21b on the cosmic significance of Christ’s particular atonement.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) is entitled “The Strong and Holy One” (Isa. 40:25-26).
S. Wales Lecture: Rev. McGeown will speak on Thursday, 12 December, at the Round Chapel in Port Talbot on “Eternal Life in Heaven.”
Offerings: General Fund – £853.37. Donations: £200 (DVDs).
Website Additions: 1 Portuguese, 2 Thai and 2 Italian translations.
Update from the Philippines: The consistory of the First Reformed Church of Bulacan (FRCB) has informed our missionaries in the Philippines that eleven families from the Protestant Reformed Fellowship in Albuera, Leyte had their homes and possessions, along with their building for worship, almost completely destroyed by the recent typhoon. The FRCB council will be investigating the benevolent needs as soon as possible, although travel to the affected area remains very difficult. The CPRC diaconate asked about providing financial help, but Rev. Kleyn says it is not needed at this time. Continue to remember the affected saints there, as well as the consistory of the FRCB, as they seek to provide the necessary assistance and God’s Word of comfort
If Sinners Entice Thee
Brian D. Dykstra
The article below and articles in future weeks are short devotional pieces written for Christian school teachers by a Christian school teacher. They show us the blessings of a Christian school—something for us to pray for and work toward. They teach us some practical lessons for raising our own children and grandchildren in this “present evil age.” And they call us all to remember the parents and children of the church in our prayers.
Proverbs 1:10–16: “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: for their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.”
In these verses, we have Solomon again giving spiritual instruction to his son. After telling his son the importance of fearing God and the reward of heeding godly parents, Solomon teaches about the general character of sin. It is a good foundation on which to build his book of wisdom. So much of Proverbs speaks of the blessed nature of spiritual virtue and the opposite effect of living in sin, that it is fitting that we have a basic outline of the development of sin.
In whose company does this son now find himself? He is in the company of sinners. It does not appear that he has usually found his companions among the wicked. It seems that these sinners come looking for him. Surely, these sinners show themselves to be very friendly people. Perhaps they even act as though they have this son’s good in heart. Isn’t that the example set by the father of the lie in his dealing with Eve?
This illustrates the importance of the company you keep. How many tears have been shed by godly parents when they see a son making his friends with the wicked. This is also one of the benefits of Christian education. Yes, our school has many shortcomings. How often don’t the students seem all to willing to follow a disobedient example? Yet, there are many godly friendships being formed here. Some of these friendships will prove very valuable during junior high and high school years. There are even examples of friendships started here that have lasted a lifetime.
These sinners do not lay open their plans at the start. In these verses, sin displays a progression. It all begins with a simple enticement. Sin is not presented to the son for what it really is. It is made to look good. Aren’t we surrounded by that every day? Do the media of television and movie dramas show the devastating spiritual result of breaking God’s commandments, or is sin portrayed as exciting, alluring and rather innocent? Our sinful natures are enticed daily, even without the help of the wicked. Children need to be warned about the enticing nature of sin. How did David’s sin with Bathsheba begin? Eve was enticed with the possibility of being as God.
What is Solomon’s advice? “Consent thou not!” It is a rather simple message. He assumes that because of the lifetime of instruction which his son has already been given, the son is able to recognize these sinners for what they are and their enticement for what it is. It is the type of advice that is so terribly mocked today. You are not coming along? You are going to be all alone. You are not going to have any friends. Your life will be very boring, devoid of any adventure. Aren’t you ever going to have a good time? What is it with you Christians? Why are you so judgmental? Aren’t we good enough for you?
Yet look at the examples from the Bible. Joseph resisted and, though he suffered at the hand of a wicked woman, prospered in the end and ultimately was saved. Job was tempted by Satan and was even encouraged by his wife to curse God. Yet Job has been a shining beacon to saints of all ages who have had to deal with adversity because we read, “… in all this Job sinned not.”
There is a progression in sin here as well. It all starts with the invitation merely “to come with us.” The demand then rises to become one of the group, “Cast in thy lot with us.” If the son is worried about being caught, he is reassured that all will be done secretly and no evidence will be left. The rewards of membership in the group will then be laid out: “the spoil of precious substance.” The profit will be shared by all.
The son is warned. Do not walk the same path with them. In fact, do not even place one foot on the same pathway with them. It seems that most often a life of sin begins not with a head-long into the depths of depravity, but with a slow immersion. What was once thought to be outside of the realm of possibility is now done with impunity. With each exposure to sin, the conscience becomes less sensitive. As is so often the case, one sin so often leads to another. The only safe thing to do is to recognize sin for what it truly is and to flee from it.
There are examples we can use in Bible class for this as well. Students must be warned of the dangers and the real power of sin. They must know that our nature is depraved, and that there is no sin which is impossible for us to commit. If we think that we can fend for ourselves and that we can associate with sinners without spiritual consequence, we deceive ourselves. When the sinners entice, we must flee to our only refuge, the protecting hand of the Triune God. He can uphold us through all temptation for His hand is almighty and His grace in Jesus Christ is rich.
