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MarMar-Apr 2011

The Evangelical Presbyterian


MarMar-Apr 2011 1.50

I am the Resurrection and the Life The Paper Evangelists Gresham Machen in Ulster A Tribute to Ernest Lloyd
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The Evangelical Presbyterian

The Evangelical Presbyterian


is published bi-monthly by the Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Please visit: www.epcni.org.uk

Take Note
The Continuing Erosion

Policy
The views expressed are those of the Editor and Contributors which are understood to reflect the theological position of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church

Editor
Harold Gibson Stockbridge 2 Barronstown Court DROMORE BT25 1FB hgibson@barronstown.force9.net

The constant and sometimes subtle attacks on Biblical principles in our land continue to give the church much concern. The recent call by the Minister for Social Development, Alex Attwood, for a review of the Sunday Trading laws in Northern Ireland is a further attempt to increase the hours of business on the Lords Day and to make it the same as any other day of the week. Marriage and family life have been the subjects for debate in the House of Lords during February. In an article in The Times William Rees-Mogg called on the Government to Reward marriage and rescue British society. Here are two areas of life on which God has given clear and direct guidance. They are the basis of a stable and ordered society. The rescue of society in any country will not be delivered by Government rewards but by a return to the principles of Gods Word. The Puritans called the Lords Day the market day of the soul. Even Winston Churchill commented Sunday is a divine and priceless institution. The whole area of marriage is under constant attack and the present Government is seeking to pass laws that will allow civil partnerships to take place in church buildings. Marriage and the Lords Day are creation ordinances and are given to mankind to express Gods care and provision for us. As J. C. Ryle notes The nearer a nations laws about marriage approach to the law of Christ, the higher has the moral tone of that nation proved to be.

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Cover Photograph

Gracie, eldest daughter of Rev Emmanuel and Mrs Ekka, Vijay Nagar congregation, Jabalpur, India. She is six and a half and goes to an English Medium school. Her sister, Glory, is three and a half.
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Take Note: Hold fast to the Lord your God,


as you have done to this day. (Josh 23.8)

MarMar-Apr 2011

The Authentic Gospel


The Editor addresses the question: What is the Gospel?
The Apostle Paul, writing to the Galatians expressed his astonishment that some of the believers were turning to a different gospel from the one that he had preached to them. False teachers had infiltrated the church troubling it and seeking to distort the gospel of Christ. Through the years the church has been troubled with unbelief that has resulted in false teaching and gospel distortion. Dr Gresham Machen was invited to write an article for the Union Seminary Review in 1927 on the theme What is the Gospel? This was a follow up to a previous article on the same theme in an earlier issue of the Review, which had invited members of a congregation to give their answer to this question. Dr Machen commented It is certainly interesting to discover what the people who actually form the membership of the churches think with regard to the basic questions of the Christian faith. 1 One of the things he noted was that even in a relatively well informed congregation there was considerable confusion of mind. The recent debate over N T Wrights New Perspective on Paul provoked the comment from Burk Parsons that his (Wrights) portrayal of the gospel and of justification in particular is so disfigured that it becomes difficult to recognize as biblically faithful.2 How would we answer the question What is the Gospel? and how do we distinguish the authentic from the false? The Gospel of God In Romans 1 Paul describes himself as an apostle set apart for the gospel of God. At the outset he declares the gospel he proclaims as belonging to God. He tells us that the gospel is something that was promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures. The Old Testament foretold the coming Saviour. He reminds the Galatians that the gospel he preaches is not mans gospel but was something that was revealed to him through Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter writes For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Pet 1.16); the gospel is not a myth as some would suggest but is the revelation of God to mankind. Peter links his message with the other apostles to affirm that they all preach the same message. Throughout the pages of the Bible we clearly see that the gospel is the Gospel of God. Paul writes For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed (Rom 1.17) The Christ of the Gospel The heart of the gospel centres upon the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul sets forth in Romans 1 the deity of Christ, descended from David according to the flesh and declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead. He reminds the Corinthians of the fundamentals of the Christian faith and the gospel that he preached, that Christ died for our sins, that he was buried and that he rose again on the third day, all in accordance with the Scriptures.
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The gospel is not about social action or the improvement of the welfare of mankind. It is good news, thats what the word gospel means! The gospel tells us not merely that Christ died, but why he died and what he accomplished by his death. Watch out for those who tell you that Jesus was a great man and an example to follow but who omit to tell you the reason why he came and what he did. The One of whom Isaiah spoke came and fulfilled all that was spoken of him in the Old Testament Scriptures. The central truth of the gospel tells us that the Father sent the Son who loved us and gave himself for us. He died in our place upon the cross, taking the punishment for our sins, and completing the glorious work of redemption by his resurrection from the dead. As Machen wrote: That is the centre and core of the gospel that the apostles proclaimed. The Power of the Gospel The authentic gospel transforms lives. It is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. Whenever the gospel is faithfully preached it will always bring reactions. It will arouse not only opposition, ridicule and contempt but will lead to faith in Jesus Christ. When Paul preached in Athens (Acts 17) we see the kind of responses that his preaching brought, some mocked, some procrastinated but some men joined him and believed. The authentic gospel transforms lives, translating men and women from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. The apostle Paul in his testimony before King Agrippa (Acts 26) speaks of that day when he met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, and his life was totally changed. He, who had been a blasphemer and persecutor of the church of Christ, was now called to be a witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you. We see this transforming grace at work in the life of Zacchaeus, his life changed and the evidence of that new life in his desire to obey the Word of God. The authenticity of the gospel is seen in transformed lives. Machen writes How rich and how varied are the effects of the gospel in human lives; in what manifold ways our Savour holds communion with those who are his! The Promise of the Gospel The authentic gospel is one of promise. Not only has Jesus accomplished redemption for his people but, as John Murray reminds us, Glorification is the final phase of the application of redemption. In the death of Christ, the last enemy has been defeated and we according to his promise are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Jesus promised a place in heaven for all those who love and trust him. The true gospel is a message of hope and certainty to a hopeless and uncertain world. The unbeliever is without God, and therefore without hope in this world. How would you answer the question What is the Gospel? Machen reminds us that if we are to determine what the gospel is, we must turn to the Scriptures and to the Scriptures alone. Not into our own souls but to the Bible should we look to obtain an answer to the momentous question What is the Gospel?3
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J Gresham Machen, Selected Shorter Writings, edited by D G Hart, P&R, 2004, p123. Tabletalk, February 2010, Ligonier Ministries. 3 Machen, p132.

If you believe what you like in the gospel, and reject what you dont like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself. Augustine
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MarMar-Apr 2011

I am the Resurrection and the Life


Rev Samuel Watson , Finaghy, proceeds with the I am sayings of Johns Gospel. Since Christ is both the Resurrection and the Life we can live entirely in hope.

This is the fifth of the I AM sayings of the Saviour in the Gospel of John, but we take it now since this magazine issue spans the Easter period. The words of Jesus in John 11.25-26 are almost invariably quoted at some point in every funeral service. So what do they tell us? The Reality of Life The reality of life is that in the midst of life we are in death! This was the reality that faced Mary and Martha. Lazarus was dead and grief had invaded their once happy home. He whom they had loved so dearly was snatched from their presence and they were devastated. And that is a reality which confronts us all. Death and bereavement enter into all our homes at some point. And death is an ugly, universal and, more often than not, unexpected event which brings broken hearts and great distress in its wake. Of course death is but the ultimate of the troubles we face in life. When Adam sinned in the garden of Eden he was told that the perfection of the life he had known until then was finished. From then on he and his descendants would know trouble and strife even from nature, with which he would now have to struggle by the sweat of his brow to make a living. The fact is that, through all of our life here on earth, we have to deal with various accidents, illnesses, difficulties, stresses, strains and troubles, eventually culminating in death. However much we might like to avoid or deny these things the reality is that they inevitably catch up with each of us. The Resurrection and the Life Into this world where death appears to wield un-disputed sway, however, came One who described himself as "the Resurrection and the Life'! On each of the three recorded occasions when our Lord came into contact with death he challenged it, grappled with it and forced it to give up its prey. Jairus's daughter, the son of the widow of Nain and Lazarus all testify to Christ's regal power over man's "last enemy" (1 Cor 15.26). As D L Moody quaintly phrased it: "Jesus spoiled every funeral he attended". When Jesus died on the cross, some of his last words were, "It is finished!" He did not say, "I am finished." This was not the cry of a defeated dying man, but the triumphant shout of a great Victor. It was the cry of One who had completed his task and fulfilled his mission. It is important to note, therefore, that when Jesus said, I am the Resurrection and the Life, he didnt simply say that the OT Scriptures contained a promised resurrection of the dead. Rather, he made himself the central focus of that resurrection hope. In fact, his words are emphatic: Ieven Iam the Resurrection and the Life. So one great lesson that we should learn from this is that there is no hope for resurrectionno hope for victory over deathapart from Jesus Christ. He isnt simply passing on the hope of resurrection to us. He isnt even just our example of what resurrection will be like. He is those things; but hes much more. He himself is the resurrection and the life. Remember that when Jesus said these
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The Evangelical Presbyterian

words to Martha, it was before the crucifixion and the first Easter. Jesus claimed to be the resurrection in response to Martha's stated belief that her brother would rise on the last day. And what He was telling her was "I'm not talking about some great mass resurrection at the end of the world. I'm the One who is going to raise the dead then and now because I AM the Resurrection and the Life. So Jesus was moving Martha's faith from a conceptthe resurrectionto a Person, himself. Resurrection is the victory over death, and Jesus declares that he is the One who has the power to triumph over death. But not only that, he is also the Lifethe One who is life itself and the One who therefore can give life to others. The Lord Jesus is the principle of life! He is the source of life! He is God! The apostle John (who saw these events) later wrote, And this is the record: that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life (1 John 5.11-12). As the Resurrection he raised Lazarus from the deadhe got him up. As the Life, he sustained him with life - he kept him up! The Revelation on Life Jesus Christ alone is the Resurrection and the Life. We clearly see that, not only in his miracles of raising the dead during the course of his earthly ministry, but supremely in his Own rising again on the third day to live after the power of an endless life. As a result our whole lives can be characterized by hope.

First, Jesus presents hope concerning those who have died in him. He told Martha, He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. This is a hope that comforts us with respect to those who, as believers in Christ, have passed on before us. When death has taken away someone we love, our sorrow is real. We miss them and we long for their fellowship again. We genuinely grieve. Jesus himself knew what that grief felt like. But because Jesus himself is "the Resurrection and the Life", our grief is experienced in the context and anticipation of future joy and victory. The apostle Paul wrote to his fellow believers in the city of Thessalonica, because many of their loved ones had died for their faith through persecution. He acknowledged their sorrow; and then he brought them tremendous comfort and assurance about their loved ones in 1 Thess 4.13-18. Second, Jesus presents hope concerning those of us who live. He not only meant this hope to be a comfort to us when we lose a beloved one in the Lord by death. Its also meant to give us, who are living, hope even while we live. Jesus also told Martha, And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die (v26 ). Literally ... he shall in no way die unto eternity. As Christians, we live our lives with the recognition that death may come to us at any time; but we also live with the recognition that death is in no way permanent. We will in no way die unto eternity. Physical death for the Christian should not be something which frightens us to our core. For those who believe in Jesus will simply go from life here to life in the Paradise of God; it will be going from this world of sin and death to live in a world with neither sin nor death. And so, we live in hope (2 Cor 4.16-5v1). Third, without Christ you never truly live. whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. There is a new kind of life that starts even now that does not
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run out even at death. Jesus imparts new life today. Christ did not come to improve our lives by giving us instructions. He came to impart new life by giving us his Spirit. Like Lazarus, we are dead, what the Scriptures call void of Gods Spirit. Christ came to make us alive, securing forgiveness through His death and the operation of his Spirit to give us new life, a new heart with new loves and a new capacity to be all God envisions us to be as human beings made in his image.

Fourth, if our greatest enemy, death, has been defeated by Christ and subject to him, then all our lesser enemies are under his feet as well. Isnt it amazing how we will believe in the resurrection at the last day, yet really not trust Christ to help us in our trials today? What is there to fear? What can man do to us? If Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life could raise Lazarus from the dead and bring help and comfort to Mary and Martha in the course of their lives, can he not help you in the struggles, troubles and heartbreaks of your life today? With Christ you never really die. Without Christ, you never truly live. He is the Resurrection and Life our only hope in death; our only hope for life. Do you know him? Do you believe in Him? The key to having this resurrection and life is to have Christ, the Person, and not just to hold to a doctrine. Having made this great affirmation to Martha Jesus asked, "Do you believe this? Well? Do you? Enough to believe in him?

Presbytery Family Day 2011


Saturday 7 May, Stranmillis College, Belfast Arrangements for this annual event in our calendar are currently in hand. Booking forms with full programme details will be available throughout the congregations quite soon. Meantime, please make a diary note.

Visit from the Presbyterian Free Church of Central India


Rev Samit Mishra and Mr Pradeep Kumar, Minister and Elder of the congregation of Chhapara, where Miss Nan Dunlop spent her missionary service, plan to make a short visit to us on:

Monday 4 April 2010


This is the only day our friends have available from their visit to the Netherlands and to Scotland and we are delighted to have the opportunity, albeit brief. However, 4 April is a Presbytery night and this restricts our options for a meeting. We will have consultations about it and advise the congregations of what we have Pradeep Kumar been able to arrange. It will be good for as Samit Mishra many as possible to meet them and hear their story. If there are views among the congregations as to what might work best please let us know.
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A Tribute to Ernest Lloyd


Rev Jeff Ballantine, Groomsport, remembers this most remarkable man.

I first met Ernest Lloyd about ten years ago when Mike Moore, Director of Christian Witness to Israel, was writing his biography. Mike interviewed him in our house and since then he has been a regular guest in our home. In some ways he is the most remarkable man I have ever met and I want to outline just a few of the characteristics that I shall remember him for, although he would have been quick to remind us of Psalm 115.1: Not unto us, not unto us, but unto your name give glory. Ernest was an exceedingly industrious man and eternity alone will reveal his labours for the salvation of souls, particularly those of his fellow Jews. He visited Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia on several occasions to establish Jewish missions, no mean feat before the days of EasyJet! He preached in a phenomenal number of evangelical churches and for someone who was brought up in an orphanage during the first World War and had never driven a car, thats quite unique! He cut down on his travels only fairly recently. He was also very humble. He had vast experience in Gods work yet he would ask questions like: What do you think this verse means, Jeff? or What have you read on this subject? Even in his 97th year he was growing in grace and knowledge. God blessed him with an extraordinary memory, even in old age. As I was reading The Importance of Being Ernest on the plane, I got into conversation with the man next to me. His wife then spoke up and said: I knew that man forty years ago. He visited my parents house when he was working in London. I promised to have them over during his next visit us but I didnt reveal her identity to Ernest just to see what would happen. She showed him a picture of herself as a ten-year -old girl and he recognized her immediately although he had not seen her since. He went on to speak at some length about her family and church acquaintances. A number of other features come to mind. He had the ability to cross the generation gap. He could relate to every age group and little children loved him. He distinguished between essentials and non-essentials, helped, no doubt, by his interaction with many Christians throughout the world. He would have agreed with another great Jew, Rabbi Duncan: Its exceedingly foolish, but exceedingly common, for men to put the adiaphora (non-essentials) in the place of the essentials. His preaching was memorable even in his advancing years, revealing his clarity of thought and structure. He was an amazing letter writer too. In answer to Sheenas question we learned approximately fifty each week. If you received one you knew who it was from, because Ernests typing was not like anything I have ever seen! Apparently he received three sacks of post on his 95 th birthday! Ernest rested from his labours on 22 December 2010 and his considerable works do follow him. We shall miss our aged gentle giant friend. However, one day we shall meet again. The memory of the just is blessed (Prov 10.7)
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MarMar-Apr 2011

In God Alone
Colin Moore, Moore Stranmillis, asks us to consider our lives of service in the light of Psalm 62-the second of a series of meditations on the Psalms.
As we come to Psalm 62 we see David speaking firstly to himself, to his own soul and then later to all believers. He reassures himself in God alone. This Psalm was written in the background of Davids son Absaloms rebellion and therefore is a very difficult period in his life. 1 Davids Trust (62.1-2) Davids entire beinghis inner self, mind, emotion and will is trusting in God and in him alone. The Hebrew word for God here is Elohimall powerful, majestic, one having dominion. David vows to trust alone in God and in him finds his: Salvation, Strength, Security and Stability. Dwell here for a moment and realise what is happening. In the midst of a potentially devastating set of personal circumstances David finds complete protection in God alone by quietly trusting in him. 2 Davids Troubles (62.3-4) In these two verses we see David in his weakened state. He feels the pressure of his enemies made all the worse because it was his own beloved son Absalom who was seeking to bring him down. Davids world is crumbling around him who will he turn to what will he do? 3 Davids Testimony (62.5-8) David turns to God and in him alone he waits. We know that David was an impulsive man who liked to sort things out quickly but God has brought him to this point and he knows that nothing he does can bring relief to this situation. David is saying to God that he has failed and that only God can restore his honour only God can bring him relief. As David comes to this realisation by waiting and looking to God in silence he invites others (v8) to share his confident faith in God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. 4 Davids Truth (62.9-12) David concludes this Psalm by contrasting the weakness of man with the power of God. He also reminds us of two great attributes of God, his strength and his love. Finally David reminds us all of our duty to serve God faithfully in this life because God will surely reward each of his children according to what they do for him all the days of their life on this earth. As we close this brief reflection on Psalm 62 how is your life of service before God? Are you doing all you can to reflect his glory to be a faithful witness unto him where he has placed you in this life? Hopefully we all are working hard for Him and like David can echo: My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
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The Evangelical Presbyterian

All Lands to God!


The Paper Evangelists
David Watson, Ballyclare, visits Nigeria with EHC
Just over fifty years ago, Mr & Mrs W E Allen started a ministry called Revival Movement Association. From an early stage, part of the vision was to reach every home in Northern Ireland with an item of Gospel literature which was produced on a small printing press in the front room of their home in East Belfast. This part of the work became known as Every Home Crusade and has since expanded to reach countries all round the world. Today, literature is printed in a large factory near Dromara, Co Down, and the report for 2010 tells of 91,000,000 publications:
10,760,000 22,082,000 58,846,000 55,000 80,000 Gospels of John Scripture & Gospel Booklets Gospel Tracts & Leaflets Sets of Childrens Bible Lessons Books

Jos Lagos

No charge is made for this literature and the work is entirely supported by gifts and donations, largely from Northern Ireland. You can read more of this amazing story in the book, A Mission to Millions by Victor Maxwell. Requests for literature are received from all parts of the world and care is needed in wisely meeting these requests. Questions such as the language, suitability, purpose group, quantity and distribution of the literature must be considered. In an effort to answer these questions, regular visits are made to receiving countries. I was privileged to accompany Samuel Adams (co-leader of the work) on such a visit to Nigeria for seven days in January 2011. Out of the many paper evangelists sent to Nigeria, let the following four tell their story.

The Gospel of John: I arrived in Lagos from Northern Ireland in


a large container alongside thousands of other paper evangelists. I ended up in the hands of the Mission Director of a large denomination for distribution within the 3000 congregations. Some of us are printed in English, others are in the Hausa or Yoruba languages.

Johns Gospel

Escape the Trap: The leader of the Fellowship of Christian Students (Scripture
Union) overseeing work in 3500 secondary schools among 1,000,000 students across the country asked for me. I deal with the specific evil of pornography and am suited to the teens and twenties group. I also think that the leader of the Christian Unions in the 293 Universities throughout Nigeria will be after me! I know he wants Gospel literature to be available on every campus.

The Wonder Devotional Book: I was packed alongside the Childrens Bible Lessons and delivered to the leader of Child Evangelism Fellowship in
Nigeria. He was delighted to receive us and we will be aiding the teaching of
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the Gospel to boys and girls, by full time and volunteer workers, in every province in Nigeria exciting?

Holiness (JC Ryle): Pastor Raymond asked for me (along with eight other titles).

He has developed a ministry of encouraging pastors to teach the Word of God through expository preaching. Each year he holds 12 training sessions with an average of 250 pastors in attendance. He wants us to go home with these pastors. He works not only within his denomination in Nigeria, but also in Ethiopia, Uganda and Cameroonso we are not sure where we could end up!

Readers of this magazine will be familiar with the work of ACTS (Africa Christian TextbookS). For two days we made ACTS Headquarters in Jos our base, holding meetings with the leaders of various Christian churches and organisations. Then in Lagos we participated in the official opening of a literature distribution depot, developed in partnership with ACTS. Our literature and books are available in their bookshops. This streamlines the distribution and already has proved to be mutually beneficial. May God continue to use the literature for his glory.

Entrance to new Lagos Depot

Awaiting Distribution

If you wish to support this ministry or wish to know more about it, just log on to www.revivalmovement.org or invite a representatives from Every Home Crusade for a deputation meeting. Also, a group from your church can visit the factory in Dromara by arrangement and see first hand something of the scope of the work. The Book Ministry

It was a privilege to be part of this trip. Samuel and I were kept safe and well throughout, so thank you for praying. It was also a delight to enjoy the fellowship and hospitality of our missionaries Pamela Musa and Gracie, Rickie Angie and Noah in Jos for a short time. Pray especially for their protection in these days leading up to elections in April.
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TIME TO CHANGE!
By the age of 19, John Bunyan had left the army and returned home. Sadly, he did not yet care for God.

John returned to the work of a tinker and to his old, wild way of life. Then something changedhe fell in love and got married! John and Mary were penniless, without a dish or a spoon between them, but in their little cottage they did have two books which told of the way to heaven. Reading these books along with Marys good influence had some effect on John and he began to go to church twice on Sundays. However, although he sang enthusiastically when he was there, his wicked life did not change at all. One Sunday, after the minister preached against Sunday sport, John went out as usual to play tip-cat with his friends on the village green. When it was his turn, he hit the cat (a short stick) up into the air with a longer stick. As he waited for the cat to come down, it was as if a voice from heaven darted into his soul. Will you leave your sins and go to heaven or keep your sins and go to hell? John was so shaken that he let the cat fall to the ground while he stood looking upwards. It was a serious question, but John quickly made up his mind. He reckoned he had left it too late to be forgiven and go to heaven, so he would just go on sinning. It was a terrible decision. John became worse than ever with his dreadful cursing, swearing and running wild in the streets. How sad poor Mary was. All she could do was pray.
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MarMar-Apr 2011

Part 2 of the John Bunyan story

One day a shopkeepers wife heard Johns foul language on the street and scolded him. You will spoil all the young people in the town! she declared. John felt very ashamed and from that day he stopped his swearing. He began to read his Bible and tried to keep the ten commandments. He thought he was doing well, but his heart had not been changed. By now, John had a little daughter called Mary. He loved her dearly especially when they discovered she was blind. It was not always easy to find enough work to feed his family so John would go to the streets of nearby Bedford looking for pots and pans to mend. One afternoon he overheard a group of women chatting in a doorway. They were talking of what Christ had done for them and seemed full of love and joy. John was amazed at what he heard. Ladies, he inquired, can you tell me what it is that makes you so glad? Could God change John Bunyans heart and give him that same happiness?
Quiz 1. What did John and Mary have in their cottage? 2. What game did John play one Sunday afternoon? 3. What question seemed to come from heaven? 4. What terrible decision did John make? 5. What did Mary do? 6. Who spoke to John about his bad language? 7. Which rules did he try to keep? 8. What was wrong with baby Mary? 9. Why did John go to Bedford? 10. What were the ladies chatting about in the doorway?
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Church News
Obituary: Mrs Jean Gibson, Finaghy
Jane (familiarly known as Jean) was born to Samuel and Isobel McGurk in 1934. She was the first of six children in a close and loving family unit. Jean met John Gibson in 1950. They were married in 1955 and God was pleased to give them 55 years together, until he called her home, suddenly, on Lords Day 6 February 2011. Jean served her time and worked in the upholstery trade until their son Gary was born. In later years she went to work in the Musgrave Park Hospital Sewing Room, and then, until 2010, in the Ulster Clinic at Stranmillis. Her family was special to her and she was an exceptional daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, great-aunt, neighbour and friend. She was brought up in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and served God particularly in Finaghy congregation with all of her powers. Whether it was singing, cleaning, catering, flower arranging, providing hospitality, Missionary Secretary, leader of the Womens Meeting and so on, all was done quietly, efficiently, faithfully and to the glory of God. As humble a saint as you could ever meet, Jean was extremely kind and thoughtful, compassionate and gracious and utterly selfless. In every aspect of her life she conveyed the love and fragrance of Christ her Saviour. Her death has been a devastating blow to her husband, son, family circle, and also to Finaghy where she was greatly loved. However, just as we are certain that she has gone to her reward in heaven, so we are also sure that God will give grace and help to those on earth who miss her so much. To her sorrowing loved ones we convey our sincere sympathy and continuing thoughts and prayers. ... she loved much ...(Luke7.47) SW

Obituary: Mrs Evelyn Knox, Somerton Road

Mrs Knox, a faithful member of Somerton Road passed into the presence of her Lord and Saviour on 3 October 2010 just a few days short of her 89th birthday. Mrs Knox grew up on a farm near Carryduff, the youngest of six children in a loving Christian home. She attended Granshaw Presbyterian Church where she professed her personal faith in Christ as a young girl. She loved farm work and after leaving school worked on the family farm until her marriage to Sam. She had an excellent brain and extensive gifts including playing the piano, embroidery and needlework, winning prizes at local country events. After her marriage she lived most of her life at Skegoniel Avenue in North Belfast where she reared her six children. She had great natural leadership abilities exercising them in Campaigners, Sunday School and the Womans Meeting as well as playing the organ as required. Her summer outing trips were legendary in the district and she loved to help organise the Christmas socials. Widowed for almost 30 years she shouldered her family responsibilities courageously along with her commitment to the Lords work. Increasingly immobile in the last few years she depended largely on her carers as she received her callers in her home. Her last 3 months were in Brackenwood Nursing Home near Bangor awaiting her home call to join her Saviour. We extend our sympathy to her children and their families: Samuel, Phyllis, Ruby, Wesley, Mervyn and to the family of the late Ronnie. May they be reunited with her in glory! RCB
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Prayer Diary: Mar-Apr 2011

3 Pray that this magazine will be of intellectual and spiritual value to all ages

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

13 10 Pray for the diligent, effective use of this Prayer Dairy throughout the Church daily 20 17 Pray that God will use those who minister the Word as a powerful means of grace 27 24 Pray for our concentrated, obedient hearing of the Word of God at all our services 7 4 Pray for the Crumlin congregation, particularly the vacancy now in its third year

14 11 Give thanks for the work at Omagh; use the four prayer points on page 16 21 18 Pray for the staff of the Evangelical Book Shop and their vital witness in literature. 28 25 Remember the meetings and the continuous work of Presbytery and its Committees 1 8 5 Pray for the Christian Institute, Guesthouse and Charitiy Commission issues: page 21 12 Pray for Sessions and Diaconates that the hard work they do will be effective

15 19 Pray for the work of our north Belfast work at Crosscollyer Street and Somerton Road 22 26 Pray regularly for more Ministers and Students for the Ministry. This will be an urgent need for our church in the coming few years and we must make it a prayer 29 priority until the Lord blesses us with a favourable answer. 2 9 6 Pray for the work of two of our provincial congregations Ballyclare and Richhill 13 Pray that the 400 million children of India will hear and receive the Gospel. See cover

16 20 Pray for the Paper Evangelists in Nigeria and other places. See pages 10 -11 23 27 Pray for the summer campsJunior, Intermediate and Senior and other outreach activities, including Uganda. Planning work and meetings go on through much of 30 the year. Pray for the leaders and for the detailed arrangements they need to make. 3 7 Pray for the Ministers and Office-Bearers Conference 4-5 March 2011 10 14 Pray for the planning of the Presbytery Family Day, Saturday 7 May 2011 17 21 Pray for Norman and Angela Reid as approach the end of their missionary service in SA 24 28 Pray for the children of our congregations that they will come to Christ early in life and spend the whole of their lives in his service. Pray that the Childrens Page, 12 -13, 31 will be a particular interest and help to them in regular learning the Word of God. 4 11 1 Pray for the visit of Rev Samit Mishra and Mr Pradeep Kumar on 4 April see page 7 8 Pray for Every Home Crusade and the new partnership with ACTS pages 10-11

18 15 Pray for the work of the Belfast congregations of Finaghy, Knock and Stranmillis 25 22 Give thanks for the life of Ernest Lloyd and pray that God will raise up a whole range of like-minded successors to work among Jewish people in various parts of 29 the world. Pray for CWI, for wisdom, strategy and resources. 5 12 2 Pray that many of our children will do the Sunday School Project and profit from it 9 Pray for the youth work in our congregations, its safety, regulation and spiritual good

19 16 Pray for the safety of the Missionaries in Nigeria at the present time. 26 23 Pray for the persecuted church in many parts of the world today. Give thanks for the Barnabas Fund and for Open Doors. Use their information to help with prayer. 30 Pray for our people who are coming through bereavement and other trials

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The Evangelical Presbyterian

Congregations: Omagh
Rev Andrew Lucas outlines the Omagh work and witness and asks us to pray about some important matters.
Our Location Omagh (the virgin plain) nestles under the shadow of two hills, Bessy Bell and Mary Gray, named after the daughters of two Scottish gentlemen. A Franciscan Friary was built on the site c792 AD, but it was not established as a town until 1610. According to the latest census almost 70% of the population are Roman Catholic, and since 1768 Omagh has been the county town for Tyrone. Our Work The life and witness of the congregation centers around the regular Sabbath Day services and the midweek meeting, but in addition to these we have following:

Sunday School and Young Adults Bible Class: In recent years, the Lord has
blessed us with young families and a growing number of covenant children. We do have some from outside the congregation attending Sunday School, but we would love to see more. The YABC caters for 16+ and often leads to lively debate! Friday Club: The numbers are relatively small and largely made up of our own children, but we do get youngsters who do not attend our Sunday School. Ladies Bible Study: This meets once a month and is particularly encouraging, as a number of ladies from outside of the congregation attend and not all would be saved. It has a discussion format and it is always simulating and helpful. Omagh Show: Thousands attend this agricultural show every July. For many years we have had a stand selling Christian books and we give out hundreds of free evangelistic booklets. Recently we have upgraded our bookshelves and tables and we display two banners outlining the history of the EPC and our doctrinal stance. This has raised our profile and led to many interesting conversations. August Holiday Bible Club: Numbers have been increasing more recently with last year particularly encouraging, because of the number of younger children coming for the first time. The Club centres around a Bible Story, and includes indoor and outdoor games. We introduced a craft session last year which proved very popular. On Friday evening we invite parents to a BBQ and prize distribution. Evangelical Times Christmas Issue: We deliver hundreds to homes in the area. Our Prayer Points Pray for the regular meetings of the congregation, that we might know the Lords presence and his reviving power, and grow spiritually and numerically. Pray that we might make a greater impact upon our community and that strangers might come in and be saved. Pray for the Session. Since the passing of Mr Hugh Crawford, the only Elder is Rev Andrew Lucas. Pray that the Lord would bless the work of our Assessor Elders, but that he would also raise up Elders from within the congregation. Pray about our building. Our outreach potential is hindered by limited facilities.
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MarMar-Apr 2011

Test your Bible Knowledge-2


The Editor will award a Book Token for the winning entry Clues by Jim Leckey
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1 Please post your entry to the Editor to arrive, week commencing 4 April. (Not before! Valid entries must be posted) 2 Mark your envelope Crossword. 3 The Editor will select the first correct entry from the bag as the winner.

Intense strong feeling (4) Line of descent (9) Boat builder (4) Post-flood years (13) Possess (3) A great well here (5) Under King Belshazzar (9) Sum of the Commandments (3) Expanse of water (3) Iron that floated (3) Saul and sons slain (11) Detestable evil (11) Tents (11) Did repairs with Benjamin (6) King of Bashan (2) Gods established order (6) Father of a spy (6) Son of Aaron (5) Tree (4) Bovine (2)

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The Evangelical Presbyterian

Dr J Gresham Machens Ulster Visit


Rev Geoff Thomas1 tells the story of its bearing on our formation in 1927.

When Dr. J. Gresham Machen arrived in Britain in May 1927 he had a considerable reputation in this country. He had been teaching in the prestigious Princeton Seminary for twenty years and his books on The Origin of Pauls Religion, Christianity and Liberalism and What is Faith? had been well reviewed. After meetings in Edinburgh, Manchester and Liverpool he caught the night ferry to Belfast and on the morning of Friday June 3, 1927 W J Grier, who had spent two years (1923-1925) studying under Machen at Princeton, was on the quayside. This was a crucial period in the history of Presbyterianism in Ulster and that larger picture must briefly be considered at this juncture. The Modernism which had spread from Germany the previous century had washed ashore in Ulster too. The lecturers of the theological colleges, and then the ministers of the city churches, and finally, through books and Sunday School manuals, the churches themselves were seduced by it. The voices raised against it were few. One leading evangelical preacher was the Rev James Hunter. Since 1889 he had been in the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. He had shown himself to be one of the few friends of the Free Church of Scotland after the House of Lords found in its favour in 1904. During the Great War he had introduced a motion deploring the absence of that wide-spread spirit of prayer and repentance which the church should have manifested. He was also rightly concerned for the purity of doctrine which missionary candidates displayed. In the 1920's the focus of church discipline in Presbyterian Ulster turned to the Assembly's College. Professor J E Davey's lectures and writings attacked Biblical infallibility. He considered the doctrine of imputation as irrational as the Roman doctrine of transubstantiation and held that Christ's views on the authorship of Scripture were no more authoritative than his views on angels and demons. In 1925 twenty-three students asked for relief from the formula of sub-scription to the Westminster Confession, objecting to the term 'Word of God' being identified with the Bible, and wishing to accept the Confession only in a general way. It was at this point that James Grier had returned from Princeton as he was required to take his final year of theology at the Assembly's College, Belfast. He was greatly grieved at the attacks made there upon the sacred Scriptures by the Professors under whom he studied. In some cases, it was the most central and precious doctrines of Holy Writ which were subjected to attack. Repeatedly he challenged statements made in the class-rooms. When he had been only a few weeks at the College Professor Davey stated in the class-room that Paul did not claim anywhere that Jesus pre-existed as God before he came into this world. Mr Grier challenged this, quoting Philippians 2.6. At the beginning of the following lecture Davey admitted that the objector was right and that Paul did so claim, but added, My faith is not in Paul. Coming into contact with the Rev James Hunter, Grier reported to him the teaching which was being given in the College. Mr Hunter was horrified at some of these reports and resolved to open his attack upon the College and press the battle to the issue. The Presbyterian Bible
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MarMar-Apr 2011

Standards League was formed to combat error within the Church, and Mr Hunter addressed large and enthusiastic gatherings in Belfast and over Ulster.2 Dr Machen described his 1927 visit to Ulster in this way:
I was met by Grier, one of our former Princeton Seminary students who is taking a leading part in the evangelical fight here, and by one or two other men. During my stay I am the guest of a Dr Gillespie who was formerly in the mission of the Irish Presbyterian Church in Manchuria, but who objected to the modernism that was there..3 On Friday afternoon I went over to Londonderry (commonly called Derry), about 80 miles away. The meeting was held in the Guildhall in the evening. It was well attended and my address on "What is Christianity?" was sympathetically received. Derry has the old walls, which were used at the siege of Derry in about 1689; but in general there are few ancient things in it. On Saturday morning I was taken on a beautiful motor trip to the "Giant's Causeway" on the north coast of Ireland ... Arriving at Belfast in the afternoon I proceeded almost immediately to the hall where the meeting (at 3.30 pm Saturday) was held. There was no trouble about the attendance this time; for a very great crowd were present. A very tense situation prevails just now in the Presbyterian Church in Ulster. Charges were made against a certain Professor Davey, who is a modernist in the seminary here. He was whitewashed in the Presbytery, but the case has been appealed to the General Assembly which meets tonight. The curious situation prevails that the ministers (with few exceptions) are standing on the Modernist side in the ecclesiastical fight; but there is a tremendous tide of evangelical and polemically anti-modernist sentiment among the laity. In the last five years a real revival of religion has been going on. It has been discouraged in every possible way by the great mass of the ministers.' 4 The interest is intense. The meetings at which I have spoken are of course c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e e c c l e s i a s t i c a l s i t u a t i o n , t h o u g h n a t u r a l l y I have not referred to the personal details in my addresses. On Sunday morning I preached in one of the churches - one of the few that has a pastor on our s i de. In the afternoo n (Sun day) the la rge ha ll of the YMCA, where I had spoken also on Saturday afternoon, was packed and jammed. At the Sunday evening meeting the even larger Ulster Hall was similarly crowded. Almost 1600 or 1700 persons were present. On Saturday afternoon I delivered my "What is Christianity?" address. On Sunday afternoon and evening I endeavoured to summarize the points of difference between modernism and the historic Christian faith. Heroic work has been done by Mr Grier our Seminary graduate of whom I have already spoken. He has thrown away all his ecclesiastical prospects for the sake of the cause. His work now is in the conduct of the Bookshop of the Bible Standards League. Most of the pulpits, of course, are closed to him. He informed me that it was very difficult to get any considerable stock of Christianity and Liberalism and that Hodder & Stoughton had simply informed him that The Origin of Paul's Religion was out of print. Apparently there is no possibility of anyone in Great Britain securing the latter book, though it is certainly not out of print in America. What is Faith? apparently is selling well at this Bookshop, which is a rallying point for the evangelical forces. The strength of the evangelical fight here is that it is given weight by being connected with a revival of religion among the people. Young people particularly come to the meetings. My "What is Christianity?" lecture, I think, is not so bad - for me. But the other lectures seemed to me to be very poor. The lectures were pretty well reported in the papers.

The story of this conflict must be taken one more step. The Assembly, as the Presbytery had done before it, supported Professor Davey and approved his teaching by a vote of 707 to 82. Before the vote was taken the Rev Charles Hunter, the brother of James, endeavoured to make his voice heard, but in vain. He was howled down and could not even be heard at the press table beneath the platform where he stood. Statements were made in the days following the vote to the effect that Professor Davey had gained support by his references to the 'second blessing' which he said he had received at Keswick.
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The Evangelical Presbyterian

It was the end of the road for James Hunter. He and his friends had many long discussions with Dr Machen. The Assembly appointed a Commission to deal with him and the Rev S Hanna. The modernist majority was intent on checking any more evangelical attempts to control the teaching in the theological college. Hunter continued to issue a series of pamphlets, and then a month after Machen's visit he discontinued membership in the Irish Presbyterian Church, and after 39 years in its ministry he demitted his position. In a letter to W J Grier, who also had written to the Clerk announcing his secession, James Hunter explained his decision: I do not see, however, what hope there is for the organized church if the preparation of its ministers is left in the hands of men who are half sceptical. Surely it is not the will of the Lord that people should remain banded together who have so little in common as the Modernists have with those of the old faith. 5 Few others seceded with these men:
There was indeed little con certed action. In Belfast, and here and there over the Province, believers in little companies and often in ones and twos, left the church of their fathers. Where there were larger groups, meetings were commenced. Most of our congregations began as "the church in so-and so's house". On 15 October 1927, at a representative meeting it was decided to form a new organisation under the name of the Irish Evangelical Church. Many of those present at this meeting had held office in the Irish Presbyterian Church. A few of those present were undecided and in the end continued in the Irish Presbyterian Church; a few who had seemed very determined upon secession in the end likewise remained within the church. But those who led in the new organisation were thoroughly convinced that they had acted in obedience to God's Word, and none of these things moved them.' 6

There were six congregations in Belfast, two in Co Antrim, and one in Co Tyrone. Initially eight Articles of Faith were drawn up in harmony with the Standards of the Reformed Faith, but soon such a basis showed its weakness. Two of the churchs workers held dispensationalist views and the church had to declare itself on this issue. So the Westminster Catechisms were adopted and officers were required to pledge their support. Later the Westminster Confession itself was adopted and the denomination is now called the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. In June 1928 the monthly magazine The Irish Evangelical was first issued and was edited for fifty years by W J Grier. The Evangelical Book Shop, opened by James Hunter in 1926, was destined to become the best-known Reformed Evangelical Book Shop in the United Kingdom. The new denomination established fraternal links with the Free Church of Scotland and co-operated with it in missionary endeavour. In 1942 the Rev James Hunter was called into the presence of his Saviour at the age of 79, but the truths he lived for and delighted to preach are still maintained by the members of the Evangelical Presby-terian Church and the new generation of young ministers who now serve it.
1 2

I originally wrote this for the Banner of Truth April 1983 and have modified it for this article The Origin and Witness of the Irish Evangelical Church. W J Grier, 1945, p 33. 3 Mr Grier was to marry Dr Gillespie's daughter, and God has given them a long married life together and three sons. 28 Knockdene Park South, was their home throughout their marriage. 4 Machen is referring to the far-reaching results of the then current ministry of W P Nicholson. 5 Letter dated 27 July 1927, quoted, Grier, p 50. 6 Ibid, p 52.

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MarMar-Apr 2011

The Guesthouse Case


Callum Webster, Christian Institute, summarises this high profile case for us.

The Christian owners of a guesthouse in Cornwall have been ordered to pay 3,600 compensation for refusing to provide a double bed to a homosexual couple. Peter and Hazelmary Bull have operated Chymorvah Guesthouse, near Penzance, since 1986. The guesthouse is their own home, and is run in accordance with their Christian beliefs. Bibles and evangelistic literature are placed in the bedrooms and the reception desk contains a mosaic with the verse: " Jesus Christ is Lord". Following the Bible's teaching on marriage, Mr and Mrs Bull restrict double bed accommodation to married couples. This policy has been adhered to since the guesthouse opened and is clearly stated on their website, and all booking forms. Mr and Mrs Bull apply the policy even to members of their own family. The policy is applied consistently to unmarried heterosexual couples, as well as to homosexual couples. Unmarried couples are instead offered other rooms. In September 2008 Steven Preddy booked a double room and arrived at Chymorvah the following day with Martyn Hall, whom he introduced as his civil partner. It was explained to Mr Preddy and Mr Hall that the double bed accommodation was restricted to married couples, and their deposit was refunded. Mr Preddy and Mr Hall issued a civil claim against Mr and Mrs Bull and the case was heard at Bristol County Court in December 2010. Mr Preddy and Mr Hall's legal action was financed by the Equality & Human Rights Commission, a taxpayer-funded body. On 18 January, Judge Andrew Rutherford ordered Mr and Mrs Bull to pay 3,600 in damages to the men and ruled that civil partnerships must be treated on a par with marriage. Mr and Mrs Bull are obviously disappointed: however the Judge did acknowledge that Mr and Mrs Bull were being forced to act in a manner contrary to their deeply and genuinely held beliefs. He also gave Mr and Mrs Bull permission to appeal his decision. In wake of the ruling, Mrs Bull made the following comments: "Our double-bed policy was based on our sincere beliefs about marriage, not hostility to anybody ... It was applied equally and consistently to unmarried heterosexual couples and homosexual couples, as the judge accepted Much is said about 'equality and diversity' but it seems some people are more equal than others". Mr and Mrs Bull are set to appeal and The Christian Institute has agreed to fund this. The Court of Appeal is likely to examine the case later this year. Please pray for Mr and Mrs Bull. Mr Bull has just undergone major heart surgery and Mrs Bull has received numerous menacing and abusive phone calls. Remember also The Christian Institute and its legal team as they prepare for the appeal. Pray that freedom for Christian B&B owners to operate their businesses in accordance with the Bible's teaching would be protected.

Please pray regularly about the Guesthouse issue and the Charity Commission situation we covered in the last issue
21

The Evangelical Presbyterian

The Discipline of Prayer


Michael Trimble, Stranmillis, completes his Discipline series: Study, Meditation and Prayer .

In previous articles we have considered study and meditation as spiritual disciplines, that is practices which aid us in our desire to progress in godliness. In this piece I wish to consider prayer as a spiritual discipline. But we must begin with a note of caution: Paul writes The LORD is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4.5-7. However, in his book Strengthening your grip Charles Swindoll comments that over the years successive writers have made prayer a guilt giving discipline, not an anxiety relieving practice. Conversation in the Context of a Relationship What is prayer? In answering this question it is appropriate to consider also what prayer is not. The contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal provides a clear contrast between prayer and magic, that is the use of words and rituals to try to control events. We read of the prophets of Baal crying and shouting, dancing and cutting themselves for hours in their attempt to get a resultbut without success. Then Elijah speaks calmly to the LORD, the covenant God of Israel. He is Gods servant acting on Gods instructions for Gods glory; and God answers. When Christ teaches his disciples on prayer we see the same contrasts. True prayer is a conversation with God based on our covenant relationship with him as creator and father. Whilst the Lords Prayer includes petitions that our needs may be met, it is a response to Gods leading (Thy will be done), and is for Gods glory. We must avoid the use of mindless repetition or empty words. We also must avoid behaviors which may interfere with our relationships with God and our fellow believers. Discipline in Conversation In day to day relationships we recognize the importance of certain words: please, thank you, sorry, I love you, or sometimes help! So in our relationship with God we need to express these sentiments also. This is not so different from the commonly used acrostic ACTS: adoration (I love you), confession (sorry), thanks, and supplication (please). We need to remember that we must also work at communication: a recent newspaper article recommended that married couples spend a set twenty minutes a day talking over issues of shared importance. And so we need to make time to talk with God. But we should remember that Jesus is God with us and that our lives are lived in his gaze. The conversation must not be limited to our set times of prayer but must continue in the midst of our busy lives. So prayer must be kept free from ritual and attempts to manipulate God, rather it must be understood as a conversation with God in a context of our relationship with him. We must achieve the balance of the spontaneous and the planned. Whilst we can all work at this discipline it should not be a millstone round our necks but rather a source of comfort and joy.
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MarMar-Apr 2011

Evangelical Book Shop


Belfast

Book Reviews

Indwelling Sin in Believers, abridged and made easy to read. 5.00 4.00 John Owen, Puritan Paperback series, Banner of Truth, 168 pages. Taking Romans 7.21 as his text: I find then a law, that, when I do good, evil is present within me, John Owen deals with the problem of indwelling sin in believers in his usual perceptive, Biblical manner. This superb little book reminds us of the ongoing presence of sin. We are reminded of the deceitfulness of sin and the need to guard against it. The Hebrews 2.1 warning: giving more earnest heed to the things which we have heard shows the need for earnest attention to the Word and to prayer and meditation. The Editor Evangelism & the Sovereignty of God J I Packer, Paperback, IVP, 128 pages 8:99 7.50 IVP has given a new generation of Christians access to this Packer Classic. Mark Dever asks in the Foreword Are you interested in the doctrine of Gods sovereignty? If yes, this is the book for you. Packer deals with the question If God is in control, why should we do anything at all? under Divine Sovereignty, human responsibility and evangelismWere it not for the sovereign grace of God, evangelism would be the most futile and useless enterprise the world has ever seen, and there would be no more complete waste of time under the sun than to preach the Christian gospel. This book will stir you up. The Editor The Erosion of Calvinist Orthodoxy Ian Hamilton, Paperback, Christian Focus, 240 pages, 11:99 8.99 All EPC office-bearers are required to take the following ordination vow: I believe the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms as accepted by this Church, to be founded on and agreeable to the Word of God, and as such I subscribe them as the confession of my faith; and this I do without any reservations. ... as accepted by this church refers to the CODEs three amendments to the Confession, the most notable being a toning down of the original reference to the Pope as the Antichrist. The present reviewer is fully supportive of these alterations but having read Ian Hamiltons fascinating study is beginning to wonder at the wisdom of amending the original Confessional statements. He skilfully shows how various Scottish Presbyterian churches drifted from the truth by altering their Confessional subscription by Declaratory Acts and in other ways. His chapter The making of the Free Church Declaratory Act: 1892 shows soberly how a Confessional church established in 1843 soon broke loose from its confessional moorings. The book is not a light read. It is very detailed and thoroughly researched. For those interested in Scottish Presbyterian Church history or matters Confessional it is a must. Perhaps this stimulating quotation from page 168 will whet your appetite:
..no confession of faith can ever be regarded as a final and permanent document. She (the Church) must always vindicate her right to revise, to purge, to add to it. We believe in the progressive advancement of the Church into a more perfect knowledge of the truth. Rev G N Burke

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