Title & Purpose

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble:

for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand, Joel 2:1.


All quotations from the Scriptures will be from the Authorised Version - the best and most accurate English translation of the Scriptures.

Please see Sermons & Articles further down the Blog about why the Authorised Version is the best and most accurate English translation of the Scriptures

and why we reject the many perversions of the Scriptures, including those so beloved of many neo-evangelicals at present such as ESV & NKJV.

Beware of the Errors in The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible! 
Featured Sermons:

Tuesday 28 June 2011

Quotable Quote!

The fact of evolution is the backbone of biology, and biology is thus in the peculiar position of being a science founded upon a unproven theory - is it then a science or a faith? Belief in the theory of evolution is thus exactly parallel to belief in special creation - both are concepts which believers know to be true but neither, up to the present, have been capable of proof.

Source: Origin of Species by Charles Darwin published in 1971 by J.M. Dent & Sons. The quote is taken from page xi of the Introduction to this edition written Dr Leonard Harrison Matthews [1901-1986], Fellow of the Royal Society.

Wednesday 22 June 2011

Repost -


This article was originally posted on 3rd June 2010. It bears repeating in the light of the present media focus on Greece and the Euro.

The debt problems that Greece and other Europeans nations are facing have sparked off considerable discussion about whether the Euro will survive or not. Part of this is due to the scepticism of Germany towards bailing out lesser performing European countries. Their hard won economic strength is at stake because of the failings of these other countries. To the extent that it is being reported that secretly Germany has begun to re-print the Deutsche Mark.

Greece is of interest to Bible believers and readers of the prophetic Scriptures.

As I have listened to various news reports over these past weeks about the problems facing the Euro currency I have been made to think about some things that the book of Daniel has to say about the state of south-eastern European nations immediately prior to the coming of the Lord Jesus.
Daniel ch 8 emphasises the importance of keeping our eye upon the countries of south-eastern Europe and particularly Greece.
Daniel ch 8 is dealing with the time immediately prior to the return of the Saviour. The same period of time is in view in both chapter 7 and 8, cf. v17 … Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision; v19 Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be; v23 And in the latter time of their kingdom.

This chapter cannot be dealing with Antiochus Epiphanes as some claim. He may fulfill some points but he certainly does not fit into the timeframe outlined in these verses. It is clearly yet future.

The '
little horn' is mentioned in both ch 7 & 8. Dan 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them anotherlittle horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things;
Dan ch 8:9: And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land
.
Daniel ch 7 outlines the activity that this 'little horn' engages in:
[1] He subdues three of the ten horns,
v20;
[2] He will speak against the most high,
v25;
[3] He will persecute (wear out) the saints,
v25;
[4] He will seek to change times and laws,
v25;
[5] He will continue to do for 3 1/2 years,
v25;
[6] Upon his destruction God gives the kingdom to His people,
v26.

This description '
little horn' is a title for Antichrist. Additional activity is also attributed to him in ch 8. In this chapter Daniel teaches us that Antichrist's destruction will not be by human means, cf. ch 8:25 but he shall be broken without hand. The Lord will personally destroy him at His coming.

The interesting point to observe is where he originates from. We know from
ch 7:8 that he will arise from among the ten horns. In ch 8 it is even more specific. He will arise out of one of the four divisions of the old Grecian Empire.

The ‘
he goat’ represents Greece, cf. ch 8:8,21,22. The Grecian kingdom was divided into four after Alexander’s death. History records this. The four divisions generally speaking were:
[1] Egypt;
[2] Syria;
[3] Thrace (Southeastern Bulgaria, northeastern Greece and the northwestern part of Turkey);
[4] Greece.

The Biblical doctrine of Separation Part 5

The substance of five sermons preached in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church on the distinctive of being a sanctified, separated Church. 
An audio recording can be listened to on the Church's Sermonaudio site. 

Part 1 - Introduction




Part 5
The Christian is to be separate in their Associations cont'd
There is one further important area of life where this principle of separation is to be seen.

The Christian is to practice separation in the area of Ecclesiastical Separation. The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster is a separatist denomination. By saying that we mean that we will have no fellowship with other denominations that are either liberal or modernistic or both in their theology or denominations that are involved in the ecumenical movement.

The word 'Free' in the title of our denomination was selected by our founding fathers all those years ago to reflect this very point. Separated unto the Gospel, the little booklet published and distributed by our North American churches, [available online here] has the following to say about this point: 
The Free in our name refers to our total dissociation from the major Presbyterian denominations of the world, which have largely repudiated the historical Christian faith. We have no affiliation with the World Council of Churches or any of its international, national, or local organizations. Thus Free speaks of our liberty to stand without compromise for Christ in a day of apostasy.

Many evangelicals have stayed in apostate churches. Others have separated but have not made any strong protest against the betrayal of the gospel by apostates and by the compromise of those evangelicals who have put denominational loyalty before obedience to the biblical command to separate. We view our freedom as liberty to stand resolutely for Christ, to defend the gospel, to oppose apostasy and compromise, and to urge God’s people to cease all fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. For us freedom is freedom to be holy, observing both personal and ecclesiastical separation unto the Lord
.


Tuesday 21 June 2011

Where has Harold Camping gone wrong?

The substance of a sermon preached in Newtownabbey FPC and available on the Church's Sermonaudio page

According to Harold Camping the Secret Rapture was supposed to take place on Saturday 21st May at 6 pm across the world.

Harold Camping for those who don't know of him by now is the President of Family Radio. This is a California based radio station group that has more than 150 outlets in the United States.

Camping is now known virtually the world over as the man who predicted that 'Judgment Day', as he described it, would take place on 21st May 2011. He had been announcing for sometime that Jesus Christ would then return to this world, that the righteous would be raptured up to heaven. He estimated that around 200 million people would be raptured, or about 3% of the world's population. There would subsequently follow five months of fire, brimstone and plagues, with millions of people dying each day. This would culminate five months later, on 21st Oct 2011, with the end of the world.

Camping arrived at this date by applying numerology to his interpretations of the Bible. Ten of thousands, and most likely hundreds of thousands, of US dollars where spent on a countrywide advertising campaign to warn of this Judgment Day. Followers sold their homes and used their money to spread the word. People had their vehicles liveried with this message to warn the masses.

However, 21st May has come and gone and there has been no evident rapture and no subsequent plagues etc falling upon the world. The explanation given as to why we did not see it happening is really very clear according to Camping. The coming of Christ was spiritual and that is why no one else has seen it. Camping has said: We didn't see any difference but God brought Judgment Day to bear upon the whole world. The whole world is under Judgment Day and it will continue right up until Oct. 21, 2011 and by that time the whole world will be destroyed.

So, in other words, even though Harold Camping was evidently so wrong, he was actually still right. We just don't see it, because.... well you and I just aren't Harold Camping.

However, it is worthwhile to ask: where has Harold Camping gone wrong?

Monday 20 June 2011

The Biblical doctrine of Separation Part 4

The substance of five sermons preached in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church on the distinctive of being a sanctified, separated Church. 
An audio recording can be listened to on the Church's Sermonaudio site. 

Part 1 - Introduction

Part 2 - The Christian is to be separate in their Affections

Part 3 - The Christian is to be separate in their Appearance

Part 4
The Christian is to be separate in their Associations 
In Numbers 6:6,7 All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body. He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head, the Nazarite was never to come into contact with the dead as part of his Nazarite vow. This requirement will illustrate the wider principle of separation as applied to our associations.

John the Baptist is the Nazarite in the Scriptures who emphasises this particular aspect. Among a number of things peculiar to John the Baptist was those whom he refused to associate himself with. He distanced himself from the dead religion of the Scribes and Pharisees, calling them a generation of vipers. He was the voice of one on his own crying in the wilderness, Matthew 3:3.

He had more effect upon the people of the day than all the Scribes and Pharisees. Separation is not a lessening of influence but rather a strengthening of it. It gives the witness a divine power which is absolutely necessary to accomplish anything for God.

What is in view in obeying this principle is not isolation from a world of perishing sinners. We are in the world but not of the world. This is the opposite of what Rome practices with her monasteries and nunneries where people attempt to shut themselves away from the world around them and only succeed in troubling themselves with even greater temptation. Martin Luther said that he broke the seventh commandment more often in the monastery than he did outside it!

It is not isolation from the world with need but separation from defiling associations is what the Lord would have us to practice. This principle brings us to consider the unequal yoke, 2 Corinthains 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers… Believers are not to yoke themselves together with unbelievers under any circumstances. To do so will give delight to the devil, dishonour the Lord and dampen our zeal and devotion to Christ. We ignore this precept at our peril.

This applies to a number of areas in our lives:

Saturday 18 June 2011

A compelling argument for marriage!

Today the Daily Mail is reporting the findings of a survey which highlights the value of marriage.



Sadly society is going to have to learn the hard way that Bible morality is not only pleasing to God but good for humankind. 

Thursday 16 June 2011

The Biblical doctrine of Separation Part 3

The substance of five sermons preached in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church on the distinctive of being a sanctified, separated Church. 
An audio recording can be listened to on the Church's Sermonaudio site.

Part 1 - Introduction

Part 2 - The Christian is to be separate in their Affections

Part 3
The Christian is to be separate in their Appearance
In Numbers 6:5 All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow, the Nazarite was never to shave their head along as they had taken this Nazarite vow. This requirement will illustrate the wider principle of separation as applied to our appearance.

The Christian's appearance must not be that which is associated with a sinful or a worldly style of living. In the Scriptures we read of styles of dress and appearance that are particularly associated with different things:
[1] There is a style of dress and appearance that is associated with sorrow and mourning. We read of people wearing sackcloth and ashes.
[2] There is the dress of the widow. Tamar put her widow’s garments off from her, Genesis 38:14.
[3] There is the dress of the harlot, Proverbs 7:10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
[4] You have the appearance of Jezebel where she painted her face or her eyes as the margin says, 2 Kings 9:30 And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.

The Scriptures that we are to flee all appearance of evil. This will apply to the manner of our appearance. 1 Peter 3:3,4 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. That which is to interest the Christian more is not the vanity of the outward appearance but godliness in the heart. It is not outward paint and powder, it is inward grace and holiness.

The desire of a Christian should never be to draw attention to themselves by what they wear or how little they wear. Rather it should always be to have people pointed towards Christ, who they see in us.

We live in a day when this is the spirit of the age. It is a case of people dressing to draw attention to themselves, with short hemlines and low necklines. This is not how a Christian is to live. Neither are we to draw attention to themselves for being dowdy, or frumpy.

Rather we are to adorn the gospel by our appearance and show to the world that we have put on Christ. The Christian by their life is to draw attention to the spiritual and not the physical. This is what is of primary important to a born again believer.

Tuesday 14 June 2011

The Biblical doctrine of Separation Part 2

The substance of a number of sermons preached in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church on the distinctive of being a sanctified, separated Church. 
An audio recording can be listened to on the Church's Sermonaudio site.

Part 1 - Introduction

Part 2
The Christian is to be separate in their Affections 
In Numbers 6:3,4: He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk; the Nazarite was commanded not to partake of wine or strong drink. This requirement placed upon the Nazarite will illustrate and emphasise the wider principle of separation being applied to all our affections.

Sanctification/separation is applicable to our spiritual affections. Because we are fallen, sinful, creatures, we have fallen, sinful, lusts and desires. These are the inclinations of a depraved heart. The root of sin is still present in us. The child of God must seek to crush and crucify those sinful lusts and affections as described in 1 John 2:16; Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. We are to think and act differently to when we were unconverted, Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. The true child of God is to be different and will be.

The Christian is to set their affections upon those things which are heavenly, Colossians 3:1-3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God; and that which is upright and holy, Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

The following and satisfying of carnal, fleshly affections and appetites have no place in the life of a true believer and will hinder our service to God. It will dampen our ardour for Christ. If worldly, sinful things predominate in our lives we will be nothing and do nothing for God.

The only 'cure' for Sodomy!

Protesters picket NI 'gay cure' event



Read the full report on the BBC news website

The only 'cure' for sodomy is the one administered by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. An example of this 'cure' are those who made up part of the membership of the Church at Corinth during the days of the Apostle Paul. 

In writing to that Church, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul speaks of those who practiced the sin of sodomy and how they had been 'cured', 1 Corinthians 6:9-11:
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate,
nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God
.

Such 'were some of you' [past tense] Paul states. This change or 'cure', to use the term employed in this media report, came about by the power of the Holy Spirit washing and cleansing the individual. It was not the only sin that had been previously practised by those converted to Christ in Corinth under the preaching of the Apostle Paul, but it was certainly one of those mentioned. 

As with any sin there is only one means of obtaining a 'cure'. It is to received a new nature inclined to holiness and obedience to God's Moral law through coming to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. 

No psychological treatment will ever effect what only the power of God can bring about. 

PS. I'm sure the Church of Ireland are in a pickle about the bad press they will be receiving by having this conference in their premises. They will be doing all thy can to distant themselves from it!

Monday 13 June 2011

The Biblical doctrine of Separation Part 1

The substance of a number of sermons preached in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church on the distinctive of being a sanctified, separated Church. 
An audio recording can be listened to on the Church's Sermonaudio site.

Holiness of life is another name for sanctification. Sanctification is the work of God's Holy Spirit within a genuine believer whereby they are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness, Shorter Catechism No. 35.

This Biblical distinctive deals with old fashioned holiness of life which has always been the feature of orthodox Christianity. We believe not in entire sanctification but progressive sanctification.

Sanctification always accompanies justification. This is the purpose of redemption, Ephesians 5:26: That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. This is the work of the Spirit, 1 Peter 1:2: Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

We can go as far as to say that if sanctification is not taking place in a person's life there is no evidence for claiming salvation. Whom Christ saves, the Spirit sanctifies!

This inward work of sanctification leads to outward separation from the world. The apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:15,16: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Friday 10 June 2011

The remembered heroes of Ulster's Troubles

It is very good to see the tribute to the UDR [Ulster Defence Regiment] which is carried in today's Belfast Newsletter.

The newspaper also carries the inspiring story of Eric Glass who fought off a cowardly gang of IRA terrorists who sought to murder him. A truly modern day hero!



In many ways he is one of the fortunate ones, in that he is alive. In total 197 UDR soldiers were killed as active servicemen. Another 61 members were killed after they had left the UDR.

When you see those whose trade has been murder and mayhem propped up in high governmental office you are forced to ask yourself the question: what was the point of it all? It seems they have died in vain.

Thursday 2 June 2011

Pageviews for May

Here is a breakdown of page views for the blog during the month of May