Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 17 March, 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
Administration of the Lord’s Supper
More and More United to Christ
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Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 6
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 28
I. The Helpful Illustrations
II. The Rich Meaning
III. The Powerful Means
Psalms: 136:1-10; 102:19-22; 119:9-16; 34:1-9
Evening Service - 6:00 PM
Applicatory - Gospel Living (18)
Vengeance!
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Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 32:30-52
Text: Romans 12:19
I. Its Crucial Prohibition
II. Its Proper Place
Psalms: 24:1-6; 102:23-28; 99:1-7; 34:11-18
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.cprf.co.uk/live.html
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quote to Consider
Robert Haldane on Romans 12:19: “If any man dare to take into his own hands the vengeance which belongeth to God, it will recoil upon himself.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
After a week of self-examination, CPRC confessing members in good standing are called to partake of the Lord’s Supper. Your participation in the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood is in part a witness that you repent of your sins, believe in Jesus Christ as your only righteousness, and desire to live a new and godly life. As this heavenly food can be taken to one’s judgment (I Cor. 11:28-30) and as the common reception of the Lord’s Supper is a confession of doctrinal unity (Acts 2:42), the elders supervise the partaking of the sacrament. Visitors who are members of other denominations must already have presented to the Council an attestation from their church that they are confessing members in good standing and have received permission from the Council to partake of the Lord’s Supper.
A new RFPA Update is available on the back table today.
The new tea rota sheet is on the back table. Thank you to all who signed up! We are planning to have tea next Lord’s Day evening. Tea rota: Group A.
Monday catechism classes:
5:00 PM - Josh & Taylor (Juniors OT)
5:45 PM - Corey & Katelyn (Beginners OT, Book 2)
6:30 PM - Bradley & Samuel (Seniors OT)
7:15 PM - Alex, Jacob & Nathan (Essentials)
Tuesday Bible Study at 11 AM will discuss Israel’s covenantal consecration in Exodus 24.
Belgic Confession Class meets Wednesday at 7:45 PM for a thorough refutation of the Council of Trent (1545-1563) on the sacrifice of the mass.
S. Wales Lecture: Rev. Stewart will speak on “The Canons of Dordt: The Original Five Points of Calvinism” in Margam Community Centre on Thursday, 21 March.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. R. Kleyn is entitled “Love Is Not Easily Provoked” (I Cor. 13:5).
Offerings: General Fund: £615.05. Donation: £200 (England).
Translation Additions: 1 Chinese and 1 Spanish.
PRC News: Immanuel (Lacombe, Canada) will call on 24 March from a new trio of Revs. Guichelaar, McGeown and VanderWal. Rev. Haak declined the call to be missionary-on-loan to the CERC (Singapore). Rev. W. Langerak is considering the call to Trinity PRC.
Cheeks, Cloaks and Miles
Rev. Martin VanderWal
(an excerpt from The Standard Bearer, volume 78, issue 20)
Jesus Christ, the King of the kingdom of heaven, draws out of the Old Testament another law of which He is the fulfilment: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.”
This law is out of Exodus 21:24. This passage, along with verse 23, gives more examples. “And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” This “mischief” addresses specifically the harm done to a woman with child. However, Christ makes the matter far more broad than that specific instance. The principle expressed with these particular words is equity, a just balance between the harm committed and the retribution exacted.
The words of this Old Testament law were to prevent injustice in retribution. In the punishment meted out to evildoers, there are two wrong tendencies toward injustice. The first tendency is the exaction of more than was due. A man would commit some harm against his neighbour. A judge would receive the victim of such violence and hear his complaint. His wrath would be aroused against the offender. Out of that anger he would pronounce his sentence. That sentence would require greater punishment than was proper. The intent of this law was to prevent that. Not an eye for a tooth, but a tooth for a tooth.
The opposite tendency might arise in another case. The same act of violence may have been committed. This time, however, the offender might be a man of some influence or means. The judge who heard this particular case would have the inclination either to dismiss the case altogether, or to require only a token punishment. The intent of this law, again, was to prevent such a lapse in justice. The punishment must be equal to the crime. Not a tooth for an eye, but an eye for an eye.
Against the background of this Old Testament law, the words of Christ that follow are weighty. “But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”
As with the law that Christ quoted from the Old Testament, His words here are also addressed toward the same tendency: injustice. There has been damage done. The question is how the citizen of the kingdom of Christ shall answer that injustice. How moderate must he be? How exact must he be? The words of Christ are so striking here because they require the very opposite of exacting any vengeance. They demand a giving: the offering of the right cheek, the offering of one’s cloak, the offering of another mile beyond the one demanded.
These different commands of Christ are concrete examples of the principle demanded in the words that precede: “that ye resist not evil.” The word “evil” refers to some wrong brought to bear upon the Christian, something that causes him pain or injury. It is contrary to his nature. Thus, it is evil unto him. This evil he is called not to resist. He is called instead to suffer it. He must submit wholly to it, showing the completeness of that submission by giving even more.
Weighty words indeed! They expose a wicked tendency we have within ourselves. By these words, our King teaches us that, when suffering some evil, our first reaction is to make that person to feel in himself the pain he has inflicted upon us. That pain may be physical, regarding the cheek. That pain may be the loss of personal property, a coat. That pain may be the forced loss of time and energy, a mile. Whatever it is, when we feel it inflicted upon ourselves by another, we want to inflict it back, and that always in a greater measure. In the first moment of suffering this injury, we have no thought of justice, whether justice among men, or justice with God.
That reaction, brought out in the first moment of injury, is a great evil. It is the evil of pride. Out of that pride, we give more weight to injury inflicted upon us by others than any like harm done to the neighbour. We give it more weight than any transgression of God’s commandments. Compare some personal injustice done to you with the profaning of God’s holy name. Which is more likely to arouse your anger?
Rather than the taking of vengeance, we are called to give place.
There are two illustrations that show these words of Christ in their application. The first is from the reign of King David. Absalom’s treachery forced him to leave the city of Jerusalem, and cross over Jordan into safety. As David went, Shimei cast stones and dust at him and cursed him. David had just borne the loss of his kingdom by means of a rebellious son. Yet, he did not take vengeance upon this “dead dog,” as Abishai called him. Rather than seek revenge, David committed the matter into God’s hands. He did not make it his business to render an eye for an eye, or a tooth for a tooth. Instead, he looked for the vindication of God. Knowing that the hand of God was in all these things, He meekly submitted to this awful treatment.
The second illustration is our Lord Jesus Christ. Speaking of His bearing of evil, Peter wrote, “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (I Pet. 2:23). We must think upon the unjust treatment He received. He was smitten on the cheek. He had His coat taken from Him. He was compelled to carry His cross to the hill of Calvary. Instead of exacting vengeance, calling down more than twelve legions of angels, He meekly submitted to this unjust treatment. By His actions, He showed full compliance with His own law. The King Himself submits to His own law!
Even more, He gave. He is the fulfilment of the law. In that suffering He gave Himself. He not only endured the contradiction of sinners. He also made atonement for them, even while they contradicted Him. They compelled Him to be crucified. He suffered and died in their stead. He did not even pray for God’s vengeance to be executed upon them. Instead He prayed for their forgiveness: “Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do.” They would take His coat. He gave them His cloak also.
At the cross of our King we also find the fulfilment of the Old Testament Scriptures that He quoted, “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” By this very death, He made full satisfaction to the justice of God. God required an eye from the sinner. Jesus Christ gave that eye in the sinner’s behalf. God required a tooth from the sinner. Jesus Christ gave that tooth in the sinner’s behalf. For every offense committed by every elect sinner, Jesus Christ gave payment in full by His suffering and death.
At the cross, we find the only power also to fulfil this law of our Lord. There are times we find it so very hard to let go of our vain pride. Often we want to exact personal vengeance in the worst way. In such cases, we must remember the work of our Lord for us. We were the guilty, the violators of this law. Yet, He died in our stead, despite the worst treatment. So grateful must we be, therefore, that we are ready to give up all things that belong to self, that Christ might be magnified. And, in that way, Christ is glorified. His people show forth the glory of their great King.