Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
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Covenant Protestant Reformed Church

Ballymena

Rev. Angus Stewart

Lord’s Day, 24 September, 2006

 

"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises

unto thy name, O most High: to shew forth thy lovingkindness in

the morning, and thy faithfulness every night" (Psalm 92:1-2)

 

Morning Service - 11:00 AM

The History of the Covenant (9)

The New Covenant

Jeremiah 31:31-34

I. It is the Same in Essence as the Other Covenants

II. It is Better than the Other Covenants

III. It is the Culmination of the Other Covenants

Psalms: 138:1-6; 62:7-12; 51:9-17; 37:29-37

 

Evening Service - 6:00 PM

The Blasphemer Stoned

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 36; Leviticus 24

I. The Sin

II. The Sentence

III. The Stoning

Psalms: 145:1-8; 63:1-11; 10:3-8; 59:7-13

CPRC website: www.cprf.co.uk

Quotes to Consider:

Westminster Larger Catechism:

Question 33: Was the covenant of grace always administered after one and the same manner? Answer: The covenant of grace was not always administered after the same manner, but the administrations of it under the Old Testament were different from those under the New.

Question 34: How was the covenant of grace administered under the Old Testament? Answer: The covenant of grace was administered under the Old Testament, by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the passover, and other types and ordinances, which did all foresignify Christ then to come, and were for that time sufficient to build up the elect in faith in the promised Messiah, by whom they then had full remission of sin, and eternal salvation.

Question 35: How is the covenant of grace administered under the New Testament? Answer: Under the New Testament, when Christ the substance was exhibited, the same covenant of grace was and still is to be administered in the preaching of the Word, and the administration of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; in which grace and salvation are held forth in more fulness, evidence, and efficacy, to all nations.

Matthew Henry on Leviticus 24:23: "This blasphemer was the first that died by the law of Moses. Stephen, the first that died for the gospel, died by the abuse of this law; the martyr and the malefactor suffered the same death: but how vast the difference between them!"

Announcements (subject to God’s will):

Letters from the PRC missions in Pittsburgh and Spokane are on the back table.

Most of the website is now on-line in the new style (www.cprf.co.uk).

Catechism: Monday, 7 PM with the Campbells at the manse. Tuesday, 7 PM at the Murrays. Thursday, 7 PM at the Hamills.

Our Mid-Week Bible Study is Wednesday at 7:45 PM at the manse on the Unconditional Covenant.

The Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day, 1 October (8:30-9:00 AM, on Gospel 846MW) is entitled "Why is the Sabbath Day Profaned?" (Neh. 13:15-22).

The second offering next week Sunday morning will be for our building fund.

Upcoming Lectures

Tuesday, 31 October, Limerick, "God’s Unconditional Covenant" 

Friday, 17 November, S. Wales, "God’s Unconditional Covenant"

Last Week’s Offerings: General Fund - £793.40. Donations: £14 (building fund).

PRC News: The PRC mission in Pittsburgh were informed last week that the bid they had placed on a church building had been accepted.

Encouraging Quotes:

"I know from your teaching tapes we are one in Spirit ... If you could arrange to despatch two copies of [A. W. Pink’s] The Sovereignty of God to my home address I will pass them on ... The Banner version has been butchered to the extreme, so I rely on fellowships like yours ..." - Brighton, England

"The C. R. News by e-mail will be great. I live in Llanelli, South Wales and attend an Evangelical church. I enjoy your website as it contains sound reformed doctrine." - South Wales

"The C. R. News will be used for study and for the growth here in our local church. When the Lord opened our eyes to his only gospel we were led to the work of Rev. Herman Hoeksema and confirmed that it is in harmony with the only gospel of God and, we know how he fought for it. We tried to get as much information from the work of Rev. Herman Hoeksema or the PRCA as it helps us grow in the knowledge of God. Thank you for including me in your C. R. News list and for the reply to my query. God bless you more and more." - Philippines

"Very many thanks for sending the tapes of the two conferences. I really have enjoyed listening to them and it rejoices my heart to have such rich ministry. I have certainly learned a lot from CPRC ministry and books, and have progressed now to H. Hoeksema & H. Danhof’s book, Sin & Grace. That is certainly a very profitable book as it gives so much background detail and is very clear." - Suffolk, England

"I found the book Hyper-Calvinism and the Call of the Gospel of great help in clarifying my thoughts upon the preaching of the gospel. It is in the process of being lent to some of my friends. In the UK (as I am sure you know) The Banner of Truth are pushing the well-meant offer as Reformed orthodoxy which I am very worried about. In his Spurgeon v Hyper-Calvinism Iain Murray defends and promotes a very confusing thesis and uses John Murray to do so (especially upon the issue of the love of God)." - Newcastle, England

"Thank you for the helpful leaflet, ‘Apostolic Gifts.’" - Co. Antrim, N. Ireland

"Just a note to express my deep gratitude for the MP3 CD ... Having listened to one of the sermons today, with much appreciation and benefit, I shall look forward to frequently learning more from your preaching as the days pass, God willing. Sincere thanks for your valuable ministry." - Cumbria, England

"Thank you for the articles and the information. Especially I liked the info on why Jesus did not allow Mary to touch him, because one Messianic Jew argued that Jesus ascended to the Father twice after His resurrection. In general, if you could send me some articles critical of the Messianic Jews, I would be grateful very much. They insist that we are to celebrate all the old feasts of Israel and insist on the Hebrew roots of Christianity. I would like to have a well-based platform against such opinions. God bless you richly! Best regards to Martyn." - Kazakhstan

"You have a wonderful array of articles on your website." - Wolverhampton, England

"Many thanks for sending the books so quickly. They are much appreciated ... If you ever get George Lubbers’ book on Galatians it would be very much appreciated indeed. In the meantime may the Lord richly bless you with His presence." - Co. Antrim, N. Ireland

"So you’ll be organizing that soon. Our prayers will be with your soon-to-be established Church. May the Lord bless you with dedicated and faithful office bearers for the strengthening of the faith of the saints ... I frequently visit your website, and follow your activities aside from downloading some of your written stuff. Probably, because your fellowship and ours have the same thing in common, being a mission field." - Philippines

"Thank you so much for continuing to send me your C. R. News and the other supporting leaflets ... I have just received my copy of When You Pray by Prof. Hanko—being a member of the Book Club—and have only just peered inside for a foretaste! The standard of the book’s format and binding is excellent (I do much prefer ‘hard cover’ productions!) and I am sure that its contents will be even greater. Please arrange to forward me a set of the tapes ‘Covenant with Adam’..." - South Wales

"Thank you for your answer [to my question] ... I really appreciate your generosity and kindness for the gift below ... I found your website looking for books about Nicodemitism. Certainly Come Out From Among Them will improve my monograph ... Your website is helpful. May God bless your efforts to spread His Word from a Reformed view. Here in Brazil we are battling for the same and God has given us great victories ... Please keep me on your list to receive the Covenant Reformed News. And I’ll be happy to help you in everything I can do for you here in Brazil." - Sao Paulo, Brazil

"I am so glad that you have been instituted as a church now ... I’ve listened to some of the conference tapes already and have been blessed by them and am really glad that you clearly had a blessed time together ... I’ve just gotten to part 3 of vol. 2 [of Unfolding Covenant History] and have so benefited from it, [that I] look forward to vol. 3. Thank you for your hard work in providing us with these lovely books." - Yorkshire, England

"I have received your e-mailed copy of the C. R. News on ‘Desertion’ and whether there can be a valid remarriage in such circumstances. My heart leaped for joy as I read your position. That is exactly what I believe the inerrant Scriptures teach on the subject. Your treatment of the issues and depth in style and content is precisely what I was looking for. I am going to be richly blessed overall in reading these publications!" - New Zealand

"We received the [Psalm] CD and we have truly enjoyed listening to it. Thank you for your kindness in sending it to us. Also, we delight in reading the various articles on the CPRC website." - Alabama, USA

"Please find enclosed a small gift as thanks for your pamphlets faithfully mailed to my address. I do enjoy their contents and hope to worship at your church in the near future, God willing." - Co. Antrim, N. Ireland