Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 6 September, 2020
“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
Installation of Office-Bearers
Rulers in God’s Israel [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 1:1-18
Text: Deuteronomy 1:9-15
I. The Various Offices
II. The Key Elements
Psalms: 101:1-4; 75:5-10
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
A Charge to Rulers in God’s Israel [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Exodus 18
Text: Deuteronomy 1:16-18
I. Regarding Hearing
II. Regarding Impartiality
III. Regarding Fear
Psalms: 95:1-5; 101:5-8
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murray
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart 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
Martin Luther: “He calls them [i.e., rulers] ‘known’ because they should be known among the people; much more, however, because they should be experienced and acquainted with affairs, so that you may understand well-known and knowledgeable to be the same. They are the wise men who understand affairs divine and human, especially those who know the statutes and laws and all that is necessary for the life of the people. In Hebrew those are called ‘understanding’ who are watchful and keep looking out with sharp judgment and vigilant mind, so that they may judge properly and sensibly about all matters and practice moderation. For many things trick the wise unless they are also understanding, and many things deceive them unless they are also experienced and knowing … You see, therefore, that in divine Law no account is taken of the rich, powerful, noble, strong, and friendly, for handling public office, as is the custom of the world; but of the wise, understanding, and experienced, even if they are poor, lowly, weak, etc. … This is the highest and most difficult virtue of rulers, namely, justice and integrity of judgment. For it is easy to pronounce judgment on poor and common people; but to condemn the powerful, the wealthy, and the friendly, to disregard blood, honor, fear, favor, and gain, and simply to consider the issue—this is a divine virtue. Nor does any ruler do this unless by the Holy Spirit he is given courage through faith in God” (Lectures on Deuteronomy, pp. 18, 19).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
This morning we have the installation of office-bearers, Ivan Reid (elder) and Julian Kennedy (deacon). Pray that the Lord may continue to strengthen these men for their offices and work among us.
George Wilkinson’s brother, Adam, passed away this past week. The funeral was held on Friday. May the Lord comfort George and Hannah in their loss.
Monday catechism classes begin tomorrow.
5:45 PM Eleanora, Hannah, Jorja & Somaya (Beginners OT) – Bible study room
6:30 PM Angelica, Bradley, Josh, Samuel & Taylor (Seniors OT) – upstairs open area
7:15 PM Alex, Jacob & Nathan (Essentials) – catechism room
The Council meets tomorrow evening at 8 PM.
Tuesday Bible study at 11 AM will meet at church to conclude our study of justification and assurance.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Spriensma is entitled, “The Spirit’s Work in the Covenant” (Rom. 8:15-17).
Offerings: General Fund: £689. Donations: £200 (England). The £2,500 that was received for the PRC in the Philippines was transferred to them last week.
Translation Additions: 20 Burmese, 3 Odia, 2 Hungarian and 1 Spanish.
PRC News: Kalamazoo PRC’s new trio is Revs. R. Kleyn, J. Laning and S. Regnerus. Hudsonville PRC will call from a trio of Revs. J. Engelsma, R. Kleyn and C. Spronk.
The Nature of the Office of Elder (2): The Rule of Christ
Prof. Douglas Kuiper (an excerpt from the Standard Bearer, issue 9, vol. 87)
… exactly who rules in the church? Do the elders rule in the church on their own? Does a body of mere men rule the church? Or does another? The answer is that the rule of the office of elder is the rule of Jesus Christ, the King of the church …
As one visible evidence of His presence, Christ gave His church office-bearers. The “you” of Matthew 28:20 refers to the church, as represented by the apostles. Romans 12:6-8, I Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 4:11ff. also teach that office-bearers are Christ’s gifts to the church. That Christ is still present with His church through her offices yet today is clear from two considerations: first, Christ has not removed these offices from the church; second, in faithful churches, He continues to fill these offices with godly believers.
How do office-bearers particularly manifest the presence of Christ? Not in their persons but in their work. It is true that office-bearers, in their persons, are called to be examples of faith and godliness. Yet God requires every Christian to be such; and in their person, office-bearers are no different from the rest of the church—sinful humans, made saints by grace. But the work that office-bearers do—teaching, ruling, administering Christ’s mercies—is the work of the exalted Christ in and for His church. Through the faithful pastor, Christ teaches; through faithful elders, Christ rules; and through faithful deacons, Christ administers His mercies.
That Christ works through office-bearers is the teaching of Scripture. When He said to Peter, “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 16:19) and promised that the proper use of those keys on earth would be honoured in the day of judgment, He did not mean that Peter now had the necessary gifts to work in the church apart from Jesus Christ; rather, Christ meant that He would work through Peter and the other apostles.
Referring to the church’s office-bearers, and with particular application to the office of elder, Paul tells the Thessalonian saints “to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord” (I Thess. 5:12). “Over you in the Lord” indicates that these function in the authority of Jesus Christ.
So it was also in the Old Testament. When Moses appointed judges over Israel, he reminded them that “the judgment is God’s” (Deut. 1:17). Later, following Moses’ example, Jehoshaphat said the same thing: “Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in judgment” (II Chron. 19:6). That Jehovah was present with these judges in judgment did not mean merely that He equipped them to do their work, although that is implied; but even more, it meant that the work was Jehovah’s and He was performing it through them.
Let us be clear what we mean when we say that Christ works in His church through office-bearers. The “church” in which He works is the spiritual body of Christ as manifested in true churches—instituted churches in various localities, which strive to be faithful to Him. Christ does not work today in every organization that calls itself a church; nor does He work through every person who claims to be a preacher, elder or deacon. But where His true church is manifested (Belgic Confession 29), and where that institute has a body of godly, believing and qualified men filling its offices (Titus 1:5-9; I Tim. 3), Christ is present and works.
Through the work of such men, Christ manifests Himself as the only Mediator and Saviour of His church. By their work, He strengthens us in our faith; He assures us that we are regenerated, justified and sanctified; He causes us to grow in our hope for glory; and He guides us in all our spiritual pilgrimage …
Because Christ is present with His church in the offices and through them works in His church, He rules the church through the office of elder. Christ manifests His rule in the church in every work that the elders perform in harmony with their office.
The authority of the office of elder is limited to matters that concern the spiritual welfare of the people or that bear directly on the welfare of the church as a whole … the church is warned against intruding into any and every matter under the sun, including political matters, private matters between two members and other temporal affairs.
… the main aspect of the work of the elders will be not legislating but administering or enforcing the law of God. This is the work of judging, biblical support for which we have already noted (Deut. 1:17; II Chron. 19:6). We live in an age of tolerance, in which people despise the notion of judging others. Yet Christ called the elders to do precisely this. They are not to judge the hearts of confessing believers; but they are to judge the outward speech, actions and all conduct of the lives of the members of the congregation, determining whether or not these are in conformity with God’s law.
The elders see to this work in many ways. Christian discipline certainly is one way but it is not the only way. When reviewing the membership roll to evaluate whether any member is neglecting the means of grace; on family visitation; when treating the request of anyone for baptism for their child, confession of faith or the privilege of partaking of the Lord’s Supper; and also in other ways, the elders pass judgment on the conduct of the members.
Then, the work of the elders in ruling is also to feed, nourish, protect and defend the people of God—in other words, everything involved in being a shepherd. We readily think of the pastor as a shepherd but we must remember that the elders are shepherds too. In Scripture, kings in the Old Testament are called shepherds—Isaiah 56:11, Ezekiel 34, Zechariah 10:3. And Acts 20:28 and I Peter 5:2-4 use this terminology explicitly with reference to the office of elder.
So the nature of the elders’ rule is to feed the people, protect them, encourage and comfort them. This explains the calling of the elders to visit, and watch over, the congregation.
Our point in mentioning these broad aspects of the elders’ work is to say that, when the elders do this, Christ rules the church through them! For Christ is the Shepherd of His flock, the King of His church.
Following from the reality that Christ rules in the church through the elders is the calling that God lays on the congregation to honour the office of elder, and those who hold that office. This calling is found in various places in Scripture (I Thess. 5:12-13; I Tim. 5:17). Concretely, by remembering these men, following their faith, and obeying and submitting to them (Heb. 13:7, 17), the members of the church show that they honour the office of elder.
Reasons not to honour this office or the men who fill it might cross our minds. The office is one of rule; sinful men, prone to pride and self-seeking, do not like to be ruled. And as regards the men who hold the office, they are sinners, like us.
But the reason that God gives for requiring us to honour elders in His church has to do, not with the men as such, but with their work and with the fact that Christ Himself works through them: “esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake” (I Thess. 5:13).
Do you honour your elders?
Have you prayed for them lately?
Are you grateful to God for His rule of you through them?
