Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 4 September, 2011
“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
The Word (4)
Scripture Reading: Romans 1:18-32
Text: John 1:9-10
I. The Word Lights Every Man
II. The World Does Not Know the Word
Psalms: 148:1-10; 106:16-22; 19:1-6; 36:5-11
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 15
I. The Profound Meaning
II. The Blessed Result
Psalms: 149:1-6; 106:23-31; 69:14-15, 17-21; 22:13-20
Contact Stephen Murray for CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services.
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
Quote to Consider:
John Calvin on John 1:9: “For we know that men have this peculiar excellence which raises them above other animals, that they are endued with reason and intelligence, and that they carry the distinction between right and wrong engraven on their conscience. There is no man, therefore, whom some perception of the eternal light does not reach. But as there are fanatics who rashly strain and torture this passage, so as to infer from it that the grace of illumination is equally offered to all, let us remember that the only subject here treated is the common light of nature, which is far inferior to faith; for never will any man, by all the acuteness and sagacity of his own mind, penetrate into the kingdom of God. It is the Spirit of God alone who opens the gate of heaven to the elect. Next, let us remember that the light of reason which God implanted in men has been so obscured by sin, that amidst the thick darkness, and shocking ignorance, and gulf of errors, there are hardly a few shining sparks that are not utterly extinguished.”
Canons of Dordt III/IV:4: “There remain, however, in man since the fall, the glimmerings of natural light, whereby he retains some knowledge of God, of natural things, and of the differences between good and evil, and discovers some regard for virtue, good order in society, and for maintaining an orderly external deportment. But so far is this light of nature from being sufficient to bring him to a saving knowledge of God, and to true conversion, that he is incapable of using it aright even in things natural and civil. Nay further, this light, such as it is, man in various ways renders wholly polluted, and holds it in unrighteousness, by doing which he becomes inexcusable before God.”
Zacharias Ursinus on Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 15: “By the term passion we are to understand the whole humiliation of Christ, or the obedience of his whole humiliation, all the miseries, infirmities, griefs, torments and ignominy to which he was subject, for our sakes, from the moment of his birth even to the hour of his death, as well in soul as in body.”
Caspar Olevianus on Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 15: “The other aspect of the life of Christ that faith looks at and appropriates is the submissive, obedient humiliation that Christ the Lord in our person showed the Father throughout His whole life. For although our salvation is due above all to the obedience Christ showed in His death, the rest of His life is not excluded: throughout His whole life He took on the form of a servant. The Apostle Paul includes the entire submissive humiliation of the Son from beginning to end when he says in Philippians 2:8, ‘He humbled himself and became obedient to the Father to the point of death, even the death of the cross'” (A Firm Foundation: An Aid to Interpreting the Heidelberg Catechism, p. 64).
George Smeaton: “It must be noticed, further, that the verb ‘bears’ [in John 1:29], which is in the present tense, is not used as a prophecy, neither as an allusion to the constant efficacy of the sacrifice, but as indicating that Jesus was even then the sin-bearer. He never in fact appeared ‘without sin‘ during His humiliation (Heb. 9:28); and His coming in the likeness of sinful flesh was at once a proof that sin was borne by Him, and that this was already a part of His satisfaction. He was, even then, bearing sin, and many of the penal effects of it” (The Atonement According to Christ and His Apostles, p. 48).
John Owen on Hebrews 9:28: “In his first appearance in the flesh he was absolutely in himself without sin; but his great work was about sin. And in what he had to do for us he was ‘made sin,’ ‘he bare our iniquities,’ and was treated both by God and man as the greatest sinner. He had all the penal effects and consequents of sin upon him; all dolorous infirmities of nature, as fear, sorrow, grief, pain; all sufferings that sin deserved, that the law threatened, were in him and upon him. Nothing, as it were, appeared with him or upon him but sin; that is, the effects and consequents of it, in what he underwent for our sakes. But now he shall appear perfectly free from all these things, as a perfect conqueror over sin, in all its causes, effects, and consequents” (Hebrews, vol. 6, p. 416).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Missionary letters from Limerick and Pittsburgh are on the back table.
The second offering this morning is for the building fund.
A congregational meeting will be held this evening, Male confessing members will vote to approve or disapprove Ivan Reid for elder and to elect William Graham and Philip Hall as deacons (one for 2 years and one for 3 years).
The yearly Beacon Lights subscriptions are due. Subscribers, please pay Susan £10. If you would like to subscribe to this family magazine, speak to Susan.
Ladies Discussion Group will hold an introductory meeting this Friday at 10 AM at the church. Meetings will be on 9 & 23 September and then the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month. Speak to Susan or Alison for more details.
Catechism starts Monday, 12 September: 6 PM – O.T. Beginners (Alex & Nathan) 6:45 PM – O.T. Juniors (Jacob & Joseph)
Tuesday, 13 Sept. at 7 PM – Heidelberg Catechism (Timothy, Zoe, Amy & Lea). This class will normally meet at 7:30 PM on Monday evenings.
Our Tuesday morning Bible study will meet on 13 September at 11 AM. We will be studying the Antichrist in the book of Revelation. All are welcome.
Wednesday Belgic Confession Class will start on 14 September at 7:45 PM. We will look at Belgic Confession 12 on creation. All are welcome. CDs of the Belgic Confession Class introduction from last year are free on the back table.
The Council heard the confession of faith of Anga Dyck on Thursday. We rejoice in our sister’s good confession. Unless any lawful objections are made, Anga’s public confession of faith will take place on 18 September.
We hope to hold an “overnighter” on Friday night to Saturday afternoon (23-24 September) in Carlingford, Rep. of Ireland. A sign-up sheet is on the back table.
Offerings: General Fund: £971.50. Donations: £20 (DVDs), £50 (CDs).
