Quotable Quote

If I profess with loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the Devil are at that moment attacking, I am not professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point - Martin Luther.

Free Presbyterian missionary attacked in Liberia

On Tuesday 23rd July, Rev David DiCanio, Free Presbyterian missionary, was attacked in Liberia.

Sermonaudio - FPC Missionary Assaulted and Robbed in Liberia
ThinkGospel - Missionary Robbed in Liberia

There follows a report and request for prayer, sent out by the FPC of North America Mission Board:
Dear Brethren
I am writing to inform you of a serious incident in Liberia in the early hours of Tuesday morning. At 3:15am Rev. David DiCanio was awakened by sounds coming from the kitchen and when he went to investigate he was confronted by two men with machetes who had entered the property through the kitchen window. Two more men were in the process of coming in the same way. They had ripped the steel bars from the windows. When David appeared they demanded money and stole a considerable amount of dollars from his double safe. They hit him with the blunt edge of the machetes, though he did not suffer serious physical injury. They also stole a number of David’s personal items. Before they left they forced David into a closet and demanded that he remain there. During the ordeal he felt he was going to lose his life. Once David was convinced that the men had left his house he immediately made his way across the compound to the building where Joanne Greer lives. She was not aware of the break in or of any of the trauma that had unfolded and was completely unharmed. David’s truck had been tampered with but they were able to drive out of the compound in Joanne’s vehicle and make their way to friends in the neighbourhood. The chief of police was called and arrived approximately an hour later with police officers. They arrested three men who worked as watchmen in the compound, though there is no further information on the ongoing investigation. 

A foretaste of the consequences of legalising Sodomite marriage #5

Daily Telegraph - Christian arrested for calling homosexuality a 'sin' warns of 'real-life thought police'

Christian Institute - Arrested for saying homosexuality is a sin

Christian Concern - Street Preacher arrested in London

A foretaste of the consequences of legalising Sodomite marriage #4

Law to allow male ‘wives’ and female ‘husbands’
All married men can be legally called ‘wives’ and all married woman called ‘husbands’ under the United Kingdom's Government sodomite marriage Bill.

Read more click - Christian Institute

Stats for June

The dangerous error of Covenant Succession Part 4

III. The Fallacy of Covenant Succession Ejected

Not only do the passages of Scriptures often referred to by the exponents of covenant succession, offer no support to the concept, there are also a whole raft of other issues, doctrines and passages of Scripture that this fallacy contradicts:

1. This fallacy involves a time division of the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation where there ought to be none. While there is a logical order that can be attributed to the work of the Holy Spirit in effectual calling, regeneration, conversion, justification, adoption and the beginning of sanctification, there is actually no time difference. The division made in these matters is never a time related one, it is a logical one to help our understanding.

This work of the Holy Spirit cannot in this circumstance be separated by a period of time, long or short. Once a sinner is effectually called and regenerated, that new life immediately expresses itself in faith and repentance, which brings about justification, adoption and the beginnings of sanctification. It is not possible for new life to be in the soul of a sinner, by virtue of regeneration, and that new life not express itself in faith and repentance. These are the first acts of a newborn soul. They follow on immediately from regeneration.

A foretaste of the consequences of legalising Sodomite marriage #3

The British Labour Party have tabled an amendment to the Children and Families Bill which would make lessons on gay marriage compulsory

Read more:
Guardian Newspaper - Labour calls for lessons on relationships in national curriculum

Christian Institute - Compulsory gay marriage lessons in schools

A foretaste of the consequences of legalising Sodomite marriage #2

Belfast Telegraph - My son (3) told 'same-sex' facts

Christian Institute - Boy, 3, taught about gay marriage in nursery

A foretaste of the consequences of legalising Sodomite marriage #1

In what can be seen as a foretaste of what will eventually come to the United Kingdom, an American bakery is being sued for refusing to bake a 'wedding cake' to celebrate a sodomite marriage. Read the details here.

At stake is the conflict between the rights of freedom of conscience and the vociferous lobby for 'sodomite marriage'. No doubt they could have gone elsewhere and had their cake baked but they prey on those who have principles and they seek to close down all opposition to their agenda.

This is what will happen in the United Kingdom if, as it seems likely, the present government gets their way and implements a similar law in England and Wales.

Stats for May

The dangerous error of Covenant Succession Part 3

II. The Fallacy of Covenant Succession Examined cont'd

Another area where support for 'Covenant Succession' is drawn from is that of Scriptural testimonies. The lives and the language that surrounds a number of individuals is employed to bolster this fallacy. However, instead of providing support for the concept of 'Covenant Succession', each one of these Scriptural testimonies argue against this fallacy in different ways:

1. Psalm 22:9,10: But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly. These words are taken to refer to David and are viewed as supporting the premise that children can be regenerated from infancy and even when they are in their mother's womb.

However, these words do not refer to David at all but to the person of the mediator Jesus Christ. The whole Psalm in a messianic prophecy from beginning to the end. It commences with a subsequent cry from the cross, it concludes with another cry from the cross. This Psalm is prophetic of the sufferings of the Messiah. Verses 9,10 can no more apply to the personal experience of David than the words of v16: For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. Did David also then have his hands and his feet pierced? This would have to be the consistent interpretation if vv 9,10 are going to be applied to David.

The dangerous error of Covenant Succession Part 2

II. The Fallacy of Covenant Succession Examined

Any considered examination of the Scriptural evidence upon which this fallacy is based will require us to seriously question this thesis.

It is surely a most foolish practice to draw a distinction between how we treat and view our children before God and how they actually are in reality before God. How great is the folly of treating our children as being in the covenant when they may not be? It surely must be crystal clear that a person is either in the covenant or they are not. If it is claimed that the children of believers are in the covenant then it must emphatically follow that they will be converted and will persevere unto the end. Not one of them will fall out of the covenant and be lost if they are really and truly in the covenant! This is the infallible terms of the covenant of grace. They cannot be in the covenant and not eventually be saved.

Even the holders of 'Covenant Succession' have to admit the obvious reality that not all children of believers are in Christ. So where is 'Covenant Succession' here? Some go as far as to assert that those who do not persevere are not really their true children after all. A scandalous assertion!

If it has to be acknowledged that sadly many children of believers are not in the covenant because they end up dying out of Christ, then where is the reality of 'Covenant Succession'? The reality makes a mockery out of the claim! All the children of believers are not in the Covenant! Therefore they should not be treated as such.

Sodomy Not Genetic!

It has always been the contention of Biblical Christianity that Sodomy is a perverted moral choice and not a result of a person's genetic constitution. Eight major studies of identical twins in Australia, the U.S., and Scandinavia during the last 20 years have arrived at the same conclusion. Sodomites are not born that way!

The first very large, reliable study of identical twins was conducted in Australia in 1991, followed by a large U.S. study about 1997. Then Australia and the U.S. conducted more twin studies in 2000, followed by several studies in Scandinavia.

Read the whole article - Identical Twin Studies Prove Homosexuality Not Genetic

Quotable Quote

John Owen, the prince of theologians wrote:
Can it be conceived that there should be a redemption of men and those men not redeemed; that a price should be paid and the purchase never consummated? Yet all this must be true, and innumerable other absurdities, if universal redemption be asserted: a price would be paid for all yet few delivered: the redemption of all perfected yet few redeemed: the judge satisfied, the jailor conquered and yet prisoners remain enthralled in bondage, and that eternally.

The dangerous error of Covenant Succession Part 1

There is a belief, professed among some ultra-Reformed, and hyper-Calvinistic circles, that the children of believers do not need to be evangelised and certainly do not need to be converted in the conventional sense of the term. It is 'nurture' and 'discipline' that they need, not 'evangelism' is their mantra!

These 'covenant children', as they are described, are to be looked upon and treated as being 'the children of God'. They must therefore be treated, not as the enemies of God, but as members of, and brothers and sisters in, the kingdom of God. They are even to be welcomed to the Lord's Table in many instances from an early age and encouraged to be partakers of the bread and wine.

This view goes under a number of different titles such as: 'Covenant Succession', 'Presumptive Regeneration', 'Presupposed Regeneration', 'Dormant Regeneration' or 'Covenantal Regeneration'. All with slight variations of meaning in each term, and maybe in some cases no difference of meaning at all. Some adherents certainly engage in semantics where they deny they believe in or hold to 'Presupposed Regeneration' but rather describe their view as 'believing covenant promises' or 'trusting in covenantal election'. Same thing only different words!

Another step along the road of the great apostasy!

BBC News - Church of Scotland General Assembly votes to allow gay ministers

BBC News - Gay marriage: Deal to allow bill to proceed in Parliament

The Church of Scotland's ruling General Assembly has voted to allow active sodomites to become church ministers. This, along with David Cameron striking a deal with Labour to push through sodomite marriage, marks another milestone along the road of the great apostasy that is to take place prior to the Saviour's return, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3: Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.

A return to the days of Lot in Sodom was prophesied by the Saviour Himself, Luke 17:28-30: Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. Those days are upon us.

It is little wonder that the Word of God depicts true believers as yearning for that day when Christ will return and bring to an end this reign of wickedness, Revelation 22:20: He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Creationists at heart!

Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have supposedly broken through a symbolic mark in recent days. Daily measurements of carbon dioxide levels recorded at an United States government agency laboratory on the island of Hawaii have topped 400 parts per million for the first time in the modern age.

The claim is made that the last time carbon dioxide levels were regularly above 400 parts per million was 3-5 million years ago. In the evolutionary scheme of things this is supposed to be before modern humans existed.

BBC News - Carbon dioxide passes symbolic mark

CNN - CO2 levels hit new peak at key observatory

Free Presbyterian Position on Ecclesiastical Separation

Statement from the Free Presbyterian Church in Ulster General Presbytery

This statement has been published and distributed to Free Presbyterian congregations

Our Stand on Separation

The Scriptures lay before Christ’s Church the will of God pertaining to the doctrine of separation. With regard to this doctrine the following points are made clear in God’s Word. (It is important to underline that the points outlined below that present the Biblical teaching on separation, constitute a summary of what the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster has stated, believed and preached during its entire history).

1. The holiness of God is the undeniable root of separation at both a personal and an ecclesiastical level. God’s holiness is the essence of His very being, thus He is “glorious in holiness”, (Exodus 15: 11); and He is transcendently holy, so that “There is none holy as the Lord”, (1 Samuel 2: 2).

2. On the basis of His own holiness the Lord commands His people to be holy, “Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy”, (Leviticus 19: 2), (1 Peter 1: 16).

Stats for April

When is death destroyed?

This question arises from the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:20-28:
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

When is the 'last enemy' death destroyed? The answer is found in observing the order set forth in these verses:

Call to impose sodomite marriage on Northern Ireland through the courts

The Christian Institute reports that: Legal action could be used to force same-sex marriage on Northern Ireland, according to two groups that back gay marriage. Last year the Northern Ireland Assembly voted against a motion to support same-sex marriage, with a minister saying there were many other issues it should be debating. But Amnesty International and a gay lobby group in the Province say a legal challenge could be made if marriage is not redefined in Northern Ireland, but is in the rest of the UK.

To read the rest of the article click here for a link to the Christian Institute website. 

Some other relevant links:

The Guardian - Northern Ireland's ban on gay marriage to be challenged by Amnesty in court

The Purpose and Success of Evangelism as the Return of Christ Draws Nearer

This topic is suggested by the different tone that we find in two types of Scripture verses. On one hand there are verses which speak of the spread of the knowledge of Christ. On the other hand there are verses which speak of the end time apostasy developing and only a remnant testimony being found in the earth when Christ returns. These types of verses would seem to be, and in reality are, incompatible with one another.

How on one hand can the Scriptures teach that: For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts, Malachi 1:11; and yet at the same time the Scriptures teach that a great apostasy will be taking place; the love of many will wax cold; professing Christendom will be like a field mixed with worthless tares; multiple false prophets will be deceiving many; evil men will wax worse and worse; there will no ear for sound doctrine, rather a believing of fables; scoffers will abound; all of professing Christianity slumbers and sleeps and the Saviour laments whether there will be faith on the earth when He returns? These verses are simply not compatible!

The onward march of anti-semitism

The rise of anti-semitism in Europe, and beyond, took a step forward this past week with the actions of the Congress of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI). This report states that:

At its Annual Congress on Thursday 4th April 2013, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) became the first academic union in Europe to endorse the Palestinian call for an academic boycott of Israel. The motion, which refers to Israel as an “apartheid state”, calls for “all members to cease all cultural and academic collaboration with Israel, including the exchange of scientists, students and academic personalities, as well as all cooperation in research programmes” was passed by a unanimous vote during today’s morning session.

The motion further calls on the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to “step up its campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against the apartheid state of Israel until it lifts its illegal siege of Gaza and its illegal occupation of the West Bank, and agrees to abide by International law and all UN Resolutions against it”, and on the TUI to conduct an awareness campaign amongst members on the need for BDS. The motion was a composite motion proposed by the TUI Executive Committee and TUI Dublin Colleges Branch. It was presented by Jim Roche, a lecturer in the DIT School of Architecture and member of the TUI Dublin Colleges Union branch, and seconded by Gerry Quinn, Vice President of the TUI.

Stats for March

What is the point of this?????

This season of the year is marked, in numerous places across the world, by those who foolishly seek to re-enact the crucifixion of Christ to some degree.

Over a dozen reasons why the argument for Exclusive Psalmody doesn't stand up, Part 17

17. An Exclusive Psalmist can never sing the name of 'Jesus'

John Newton penned the words of that exquisite hymn, How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds.* The name 'Jesus' means 'Saviour' in Greek. The Hebrew equivalent is the name 'Joshua' or 'Jehoshua', cf. Numbers 13:16 & 1 Chronicles 7:27. These two names are interchanged in Hebrews 4:8: For if Jesus [ie Joshua] had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. The name of 'Jesus' appears well over 900 times in the New Testament.

There is something very special about the Saviour's name. This name was given to Him by His Father. The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph to instruct him that this was the name by which he was to call the offspring of the Virgin, Matthew 1:20,21: But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

The Blasphemy of the Pope

Here is a reminder, with the election of a new Pope, of the blasphemous beliefs of Romanism about the Pope

History is replete with the statements made by different Popes or else made by other Romanists about the Papacy. They have never been shy in stating their claims. Rome might be a little embarrassed in modern times about the antics of her priests, bishops and Popes but these claims have never been denied or disowned.

For example:
Cardinal Manning in a sermon in the Pro Cathedral, Kensington, and reported in the Tablet [weekly Catholic newspaper] 9th October 1864 said: [speaking in the name of the Pope]
I acknowledge no civil superior, I am the subject of no prince, and I claim more than this, I claim to be the supreme judge on earth and director of the consciences of men, I am the last supreme judge of what is right and wrong.

Peter's message to the new Pope

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, 1 Peter 1:18,19. 

The Church of Rome falsely claims that Peter was the first Pope. She has built the whole system of the Papacy supposedly upon certain words that the Saviour spoke to Peter making him the head of the Apostles and giving him special authority on earth over the Church of Christ.

Peter is not the rock upon which the Church is built. Neither was he given any special place above the other apostles in the Church. Furthermore there is no evidence in the Bible that Peter was ever bishop of Rome as Popery claims. The only time that Peter was ever in Rome is the claim from Church history that he was taken there and martyred for the faith.

Spiritualising Scripture - A warning from J C Ryle

The following quotation is taken from J C Ryle's commentary on John's Gospel, chapter 12, verses 12-19:

We learn, for another thing, in these verses, how minutely the PROPHECIES concerning Christ's first coming were fulfilled. The riding into Jerusalem on an donkey, which is here recorded, might seem at first sight a simple action, and in no way remarkable. But when we turn to the Old Testament, we find that this very thing had been predicted by the Prophet Zechariah five hundred years before. (Zech. 9:9.) We find that the coming of a Redeemer some day was not the only thing which the Holy Spirit had revealed to the Fathers, but that even the least particulars of His earthly career were predicted and written down with precise accuracy.

Stats for February

Biblical Separation and “Platform fellowship”

“Platform fellowship’ is a phrase coined to describe the artificial distinction some see in the relationship, or fellowship, experienced among participants in a conference situation. Sometimes this conference scenario primarily involves preaching, while in others it is primarily academic in nature. However, when a conference is theological or involves handling the truth of God in any form, it cannot simply be regarded as academic, whether it involves preachers or seminarians.

The concept of ‘platform fellowship’, as defined by many conservative evangelicals, allows them to justify in their own minds the freedom to associate with, worship with, preach with and lecture with those that, on a strictly Biblical basis, they should distance themselves from. It is in many ways an attempt to find a way for men to bring together what God has put asunder! …

Click here to read the rest of the article on the Stand Still A While Blog site by Rev Andrew Foster. 

C H Spurgeon on the 'Family'

My wife drew my attention to these words about the Family [I am presently preaching a series on the Family in Newtownabbey FPC] which she read in a sermon preached by C. H. Spurgeon, entitled: 'Comfort from the Future'.

The words come from No. 2676 in Volume 46 of his sermons. It was preached at the Metropolitan Tabernacle on Lord's day evening 30th January 1881, upon the text in Job 11:16: Thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away.

The truth escapes every now and then!

Despite many concerted attempts to suppress the truth, thankfully every now and then it manages to burst forth into the 'public square'.

The Welsh secretary in the United Kingdom, Westminster Government, Mr David Jones, has said that sodomite couples 'clearly' cannot provide a 'warm and safe environment in which to raise children. His exact words are:
I regard marriage as an institution that has developed over many centuries, essentially for the provision of a warm and safe environment for the upbringing of children, which is clearly something that two same-sex partners can't do.

Mr Jones voted against the re-definition of marriage when it was debated and voted upon recently in the British House of Commons. He was one of only two cabinets ministers to do so.

Over a dozen reasons why the argument for Exclusive Psalmody doesn't stand up, Part 16

16. A number of the Psalms could not have been sung in public worship as they contained instructions forbidden in public worship. 

The Lord laid down strict instructions as to what musical instruments were to be employed in public worship in the Temple. These instructions relate to four musical instruments, namely: the trumpet, harp, psaltery and cymbals.

The use of the trumpet was present from the very beginning of the Mosaic economy. The silver trumpets were to be blown at set times, cf. Numbers 10:2-.

J. C. Ryle on Marriage

In no relation is so much earthly happiness to be found, if it be entered upon discreetly, advisedly and in the fear of God. In none is so much misery seen to follow, if it be taken in hand unadvisedly, lightly, wantonly and without thought.

New website - well worth visiting!

Believers Alerted to New Ageism & Secular Humanism

Click on the icon above for the link to the new website

Days of Noah & Lot to return

In Luke 17:26-30 the Saviour spoke of certain characteristics that would mark the days prior to His second coming:
And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.