Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 21 September, 2003
"I was glad when they said unto me, Let
us go into the house of the Lord"
(Psalm 122:1)
Morning
Service - 11:00 AM
The New Birth (4)
The Revelation of the New Birth
John 3:9-13
I. Revealed in the Old Testament
II. Revealed in the New Testament
III. Revealed in the Preaching
Psalms: 31:6-10; 78:68-72; 51:15-19; 119:97-104
Evening Service - 6:00 PM
True Conversion
Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 33, Jeremiah 31:18-19
I. A Description of True Conversion
II. The Sovereignty of True Conversion
Psalms: 32:3-6; 79:1-8; 19:7-9, 11-13; 80:14-19
Quotes to Consider:
John Calvin: "The faithful under the ancient covenant were
gifted and endowed with a spirit of regeneration."
John Owen: "... no doctrine is more fully and plainly declared
in the gospel than ... regeneration by the effectual and ineffable
operation of the Holy Spirit; and it is a consequent and fruit of the
depravation of our nature, that, against the full light and evidence
of truth, now clearly manifested, this great and holy work is opposed
and despised" (Works, vol. 3, p. 212).
Canons of Dordt III/IV:12: "And this is the regeneration
so highly celebrated in Scripture, and denominated a new creation: a
resurrection from the dead, a making alive, which God works in us
without our aid. But this is in no wise effected merely by the
external preaching of the gospel, by moral suasion, or such a mode of
operation, that after God has performed his part, it still remains in
the power of man to be regenerated or not, to be converted, or to
continue unconverted; but it is evidently a supernatural work, most
powerful, and at the same time most delightful, astonishing,
mysterious, and ineffable; not inferior in efficacy to creation, or
the resurrection from the dead, as the Scripture inspired by the
author of this work declares; so that all in whose heart God works in
this marvellous manner, are certainly, infallibly, and effectually
regenerated, and do actually believe.—Whereupon the will thus renewed,
is not only actuated and influenced by God, but in consequence of this
influence, becomes itself active. Wherefore also, man is himself
rightly said to believe and repent, by virtue of that grace received."
Announcements:
An article on the free offer from the most recent issue of The
Presbyterian Standard is available on the back table today.
This Tuesday, the Trinitarian Bible Society is holding a
meeting in Belfast. More information is available on the back table.
Bible Study will be held Wednesday (DV) at 8 PM at the manse. We
will continue our study of the basic time structures in the Bible.
This Friday, 26 September, Rev Stewart will give a lecture
entitled "Why Did God Create the World?"—A Tercentenary Appreciation
of Jonathan Edwards. The lecture will be at 8 PM in Ballymena
Protestant Hall. Leaflets are available on the back table to pass on
to friends.
The Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day, 28 September,
(8:30-9:00 AM, on Gospel 846AM/MW) is "Walk as Children of Light"
(Eph. 5:8).
A mini-conference is being planned for Friday, 5 December, and
Saturday, 6 December. Prof. Hanko will give three lectures on the
antithesis. Times for the lectures are to be decided.
Last Week’s Offerings: £535.30. Donation: £200 (tapes).
PRC News: Hudsonville has a trio of Rev. Bruinsma (Kalamazoo),
Rev. Terpstra (Holland), and Rev. Van Overloop. Hull’s trio for the
second missionary to Ghana: Rev. Dick (Grace), Rev. Laning (Hope), and
Rev. Miersma (Lacombe).