News from Free Presbyterian Missionary in Nepal

Rev. Wesley Graham is a missionary who visits Nepal under the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster. He has worked there since 2006 seeing over 100 Churches commenced and the formation of the Free Presbyterian Church of Nepal.

Rev Graham gave an interview to the Free Presbyterian Church of North America Missionary News, recounting his experience during Saturday’s earthquake, and described conditions for himself, his wife, and the Nepalese church.

The God of Providence

There have been around 700 pageviews of the posts on this Blog mentioning the structure failure of the West Stand at Windsor Park, football stadium. Even the Nolan Show have been in touch about it!

These Blog posts highlighted the fact that God does indeed intervene in this world by His overruling providence. At times that overruling providence is designed to teach men the folly of their defiance of God. 

Louis Berkhof, in his Systematic Theology, outlines, with supporting Scripture references, eleven areas of life over which God's Providence extends. They are:

1. The universe at large: 
Psalm 103:19: The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Daniel 4:35: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Ephesians 1:11: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.

Who are the "dozens" of unnamed contributors to The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible?

Who are the: dozens of contributors* who have written other articles throughout this study Bible, both interspersed within the text and in the Christian living section? *See "Acknowledgements" section on page 2,217 of the Study Bible.

Which articles, within the text and in the Christian living section, did these unnamed contributors write? 

Tesco to announce £6.38 billion of losses - Another costly defiance of God

In November 2011 Tesco announced that after supporting the Cancer Research ‘Race for Life’ charity, for more than a decade, it was now withdrawing its support. Shortly after making this announcement, the reason became clear. Tesco was now going to become a headline sponsor of Pride London, a sodomite festival, to the tune of £30,000 per year. Tesco said it would host Pride London’s family area, which would provide entertainment and activities for younger children.

Tesco is another example of the cost that defying God can bring. The troubles which have come upon this company, by all accounts, have read like a horror story. Tesco has lurched from one crisis to another, since that decision.

The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible's article on Regeneration contradicts the Perseverance of the Saints

Within The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible article on Regeneration, the following paragraph is found: The sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper reflect this twofold meaning of regeneration. The one is a rite of initiation, administered only once, as a sign of the new birth that happens only once. The other is a rite of nurture, signifying the way in which our souls are nourished and refreshed by feeding on Christ as the true food and drink of eternal life. It must be administered frequently, because the new life within us is still created, dependent life that will wane and die if not refueled and sustained.

The last sentence of this paragraph makes reference to the Believer's 'new life' waning and dying and needing to be refueled and sustained by the Lord's Supper to avoid this happening. The sentences states: It [ie. The Lord's Supper] must be administered frequently, because the new life within us is still created, dependent life that will wane and die if not refueled and sustained. [Emphasis mine]

Justice Minister to press ahead with change to abortion law despite overwhelming opposition

David Ford MLA, Justice Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive government, has announced that he is pressing ahead with a change in the abortion law in Northern Ireland. This change will allow doctors to abort an unborn child which has been diagnosed with 'fatal foetal abnormality'.

Mr Ford has held back from seeking to legislate for abortion in cases of rape.

This announcement was made following a public consultation on proposed reforms to Northern Ireland's abortion law. It transpires that the overwhelming view expressed in the responses, received during the consultation period, were against any change in the law. 

Windsor Park Stand to be demolished - A costly defiance of God

It has been reported that the Irish Football Association has been advised that they will have to demolish the damaged West Stand at Windsor Park stadium in Belfast. Serious cracks appeared in the structure of the West Stand shortly after the recent Euro 2016 qualifier which was played on the Lord's day.

The report is supposed to have said that the ground has moved around the base of the columns, causing the wall and the beams to also move. As the nature of the structure is top heavy, the stand is leaning on one side over the pitch. 

It has also been acknowledged that it was surprising that nothing more serious had happened when the structure moved. Around 5,000 football supporters were in the stand for the Euro qualifier. It could easily have collapsed with them in it.

The cost of constructing a new replacement stand has been estimated that between £8million and £10million. No doubt a dispute will ensure as to who is going to pay for it.

Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible employs a 'somewhat vague' and 'confusing' definition of the doctrine of 'Regeneration'. Why?

In 'The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible' there is a full page article given over to an explanation of the important doctrine of 'Regeneration'.

This full page article appears on page 1,774 of the Study Bible, in connection with the occurrence of the word 'regeneration' in Titus 3:5. This word translated 'regeneration' only appears twice in all the New Testament, and only in Titus 3:5 does it refer to the subject of individual salvation. The other place the word appears is Matthew 19:28, where it is used with respect to the coming restitution of all things.

The definition employed, by whoever wrote this article for the Study Bible, reverts back to an older definition that is not normally employed today in Reformed circles to describe the important doctrine of 'Regeneration'. A definition that was employed before the Order of Salvation was fully developed.

Correction of doctrinal errors in The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible

Dr Joel Beeke, General Editor of The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible, has announced the correction of some errors to future editions of the Study Bible. These corrections have already been made in the electronic version and will be incorporated into future printing of the hard copies.

These corrections were announced via a post on his Blog. Dr Beeke announced that these corrected errors did indeed "impinge on doctrinal issues". This is a welcome acknowledgment, as a number have questioned the validity of the posts on this Blog pointing out these doctrinal errors.

The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible justifies drinking alcohol Part 3

This Blog post is a continuation of previous articles on The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible justifying drinking booze.

The statement in 'The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible' notes, attached to Genesis 9, reads: Beware of the danger of drunkenness. We personally need to be very careful with strong drink. It is a stumbling block to many. Alcoholic drink is not wrong per se, but the Bible does clearly teach that drunkenness makes one unaware of what is happening. We must not misuse our bodies. Drunkennes is often linked to immorality and unseemly behavior. Therefore, respect the civil laws limiting alcohol consumption and guard yourself against ever becomimg intoxicated. [Emphasis mine]

In reading the Study Bible's commentary, in this place, the following points need commenting upon: 
1. "Alcoholic drink is not wrong per se".
2. Readers are to find out and then respect the local civil laws limiting alcohol consumption.
3. A Christian is only to be on their guard against being caught breaking the law on alcohol consumption and drunkenness.
4. This view of alcohol is a suitable subject for teaching at family worship, where children are present.

Alcohol forbidden to Kings and Priests

In Old Testament times there were two groups of individuals who were particularly forbidden to drink wine. They were:

1. The Priests, cf. Leviticus 10:8-11: And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

Sermon on Abstinence From Alcohol

One of the best expositions, explanation and defence of the Temperance position of the Free Presbyterian Church that I have heard. This is a sermon on Abstinence from Alcohol, preached passionately by Dr Mark Allison, minister of Malvern Free Presbyterian Church.



 MP4 also available, see here: Abstinence from Alcohol.

Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible justifies drinking alcohol, Part 2

This Blog post is a continuation of a previous article on The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible justifying drinking booze.

The statement in 'The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible' notes, attached to Genesis 9, reads: Beware of the danger of drunkenness. We personally need to be very careful with strong drink. It is a stumbling block to many. Alcoholic drink is not wrong per se, but the Bible does clearly teach that drunkenness makes one unaware of what is happening. We must not misuse our bodies. Drunkennes is often linked to immorality and unseemly behavior. Therefore, respect the civil laws limiting alcohol consumption and guard yourself against ever becomimg intoxicated. [Emphasis mine]

In reading the Study Bible's commentary, in this place, the following points need commenting upon: 
1. "Alcoholic drink is not wrong per se".
2. Readers are to find out and then respect the local civil laws limiting alcohol consumption.
3. A Christian is only to be on their guard against being caught breaking the law on alcohol consumption and drunkenness.
4. This view of alcohol is a suitable subject for teaching at family worship, where children are present.

The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible justifies drinking alcohol

If Christians were to read the following statement justifying the drinking of alcohol, especially the words underlined, without knowing where they came from, I wonder what their first reaction would be? This is especially applicable to Free Presbyterians, who hold to a Temperance position on the consumption of alcohol.

The statement reads: Beware of the danger of drunkenness. We personally need to be very careful with strong drink. It is a stumbling block to many. Alcoholic drink is not wrong per se, but the Bible does clearly teach that drunkenness makes one unaware of what is happening. We must not misuse our bodies. Drunkennes is often linked to immorality and unseemly behavior. Therefore, respect the civil laws limiting alcohol consumption and guard yourself against ever becomimg intoxicated.

It will be hard for many to fathom that this kind of statement is found in 'The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible'. These words are located in conjunction with Genesis ch 9, dealing with Noah planting a vineyard, subsequently becoming drunk with the wine that was made, and then leaving himself vulnerable to Ham's sinful desires.

Understanding the Foundation of the Church

There are two verses of Scripture in Luke's Gospel which help our understanding regarding who or what is the foundational rock upon which the Church is built. These verses are found in Luke 6:48,49: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

The term 'foundation' is used in two ways here:

Firstly, in v49, the term is used to refer to the immovable rock that lies beneath the surface of the earth. This rock is here used in contrast to the movable 'earth', upon which a man seeks to build a house. The earth is akin to the clay, or sand, as Matthew mentions in his similar account, cf. Matthew 7:26: And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand. The earth has no strength or ability to hold up the structure built upon it. There is the rock, and there is the sand, upon which the whole structure can be built. Only the house built upon the rock will stand.

Christ Jesus is this rock upon which the whole edifice of the Church is built. He is 'Petra', the rock.

Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible is wrong on a second count about the crossing of the Red Sea

Laying aside for a moment the serious issue of the map 'visualising' the Exodus from Egypt, which contains no actual crossing of the Red Sea, the 'Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible' also fails to accurately show the true route that Israel took.

In Numbers 33:5-8 we read of the route taken by Israel when existing Egypt: And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth. And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness. And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto Pihahiroth, which is before Baalzephon: and they pitched before Migdol. And they departed from before Pihahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah.

The record in the book of Exodus is equally clear about this 180˚ turn around and also gives us the reason for it taking place, cf. Exodus 14:1-4: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.

The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible Map Section endorses the liberal interpretation of the Exodus, with no crossing of the Red Sea

Great care ever needs to be taken, by Bible believing Christians, with respect to which Bible maps and atlases they employ or purchase. No where is that care more necessary than employing, or purchasing, maps which show the crossing of the Red Sea by the Israelites, when they came out of Egypt, on the night of the Passover. 

Sadly, it has long been the case that most of the Bible maps and atlases in circulation today give credence to a liberal interpretation of the supernatural details of the Bible. One subsequent assertion is that the Israelites didn't really cross the Red Sea when they came out of Egypt.

Simple Test

When purchasing a new Bible, if it contains any maps, or if I am looking to purchase a Bible atlas, this is one of the first places I turn up to see what sort of map the publishers have included for Israel's journey out of Egypt and across the Red Sea to Mount Sinai. I have long thought that to be a basic, elementary point to check out when purchasing a Bible with maps or buying a Bible atlas! 

God has ways of teaching men to respect His Law

The local media in Northern Ireland are reporting that the West Stand at Windsor Park has been sealed off today due to subsidence issues at the Stadium. Cracks have appeared in the structure of the Stand resulting in the area being sealed off. Work on redeveloping the West Stand, with a new structure being constructed behind the existing Stand, has been ongoing for weeks. It has not been confirmed whether the two issues are directly linked. The I.F.A. have called in structural engineers and are awaiting their report. See BBC news report here and the Belfast Telegraph report with pictures here.

It is being reported that local club matches and also further international matches could be in doubt. It may yet cost the I.F.A. a great deal more to repair, than they made from playing a football match on the Lord's day!

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