Stats for June

The Apostasy of Irish Presbyterianism

Free Presbyterian ministers take a vow at ordination to withstand the apostasy of Irish Presbyterianism. This account explains to a considerable degree why that vow is taken. It is the account of the trial of Professor Davey given by Dr Ian Paisley which appeared in an old edition of The Revivalist -

THE TRIAL OF PROFESSOR J. E. DAVEY FOR HERESY, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

Perhaps to be perfectly accurate we should say the trial of Professor Davey for heresy by the Belfast Presbytery, and the appeals to the Assembly on their verdict of 'Not guilty', and the rejecting of those appeals by the General Assembly, and the consequences which have flowed from those decisions.

The story of Presbyterians in Ulster is a story rich with the grace and the power of God. The founding fathers of Ulster's Presbyterianism were men of principle, men of power, and men of prayer. They were well educated. They came of good and great lineage. They were eloquent preachers of the Gospel, but above all they were totally committed to the Bible as the Infallible Word of God.

Church History Anniversaries 2015

1850th anniversary

June 165 AD - Justin Martyr, the Christian Apologist, was believed to have been martyred for his faith on this date. 

800th anniversary

November 1215 - The fourth Lateran Council was convoked. It promulgated the the doctrine of Transubstantiation which claims that the substance of the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, with only the appearances of bread and wine remaining. Thomas Aquinas later expanded upon this doctrine firmly establishing it as part of Romish teaching. 

Stats for May

The Bible ahead of its Time on Sodomite Marriage!

The Word of God teaches that prior to the return of Jesus Christ, to this earth, there will be a re-appearance, and a convergence, of the characteristics of two periods of great wickedness, mentioned in Old Testament times. History will repeat itself. It has a strange habit of doing so!

The days of Noah, and the days of Lot, will reappear and converge at the end of this age. This is the teaching of Jesus Christ in Luke 17:26-30: 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.

Statement from Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster on the Ashers Bakery Court Case

Though today’s ruling in the Belfast County Court against the Ashers Baking Company is hugely disappointing, it is hardly surprising. Over the course of many years the Parliaments and courtrooms of our nation have increasingly legislated for sin and against righteousness.

However even allowing for this ruinous trend does not help us to understand how a judge in Belfast can reach a verdict that rules in favour of the promotion of an activity – same-sex marriage – that, by four successive votes in our legislative Assembly, remains illegal in Northern Ireland.

In legal terms, this is a significant judgment because it militates against freedom of conscience and freedom of speech and effectively opens the door to other opportunists to bring an endless stream of expensive “discrimination” cases against a wide variety of businesses, both Christian and non-Christian. 

Ashers Bakery lose their court case

District Judge Isobel Brownlie has ruled that the owners of the Ashers Baking Company have unlawfully discriminated, on the grounds of sexual orientation, when they refused to bake and ice a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan. The slogan on the cake was in support of Sodomite marriage, something which is illegal in Northern Ireland.

BBC News - 'Gay cake' row: Judge rules against Ashers bakery

Christian Institute - Ashers ‘deeply disappointed’ after losing case

The Bible has this to say about those who are persecuted for their Christian faith:
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you, Matthew 5:10-12.

Statement from Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster to follow

Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible omits any reference to children needing to be converted in the section entitled: "Raising children in the Lord"

In the 'Christian Living Section' of 'The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible', there is an article entitled: "Raising Children in the Lord".

This article outlines five "means" which Christian parents are to employ in raising children in the Lord. There is first a reference to praying for children. This is expanded to mean labouring to bring our children to Jesus so that He might bless them. Matthew 19:13-15* is included as a reference at this point. [*see below]

Subsequent "means" of raising children are outlined as: teaching the Bible to your children, disciplining them in love, offering wise counsel, and lastly, living as a godly example before them.

Stats for April

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!

Stats for March

Quotable Quote - A. W. Pink on Justification and Sanctification

In his book on the Doctrine of Justification A. W. Pink had this to say about the connection between Justification and Sanctification:

It is therefore the bounden duty of those who profess to have been justified by God to diligently and impartially examine themselves, to ascertain whether or not they have in them those spiritual graces which always accompany justification. It is by our sanctification, and that alone, that we may discover our justification. Would you know whether Christ fulfilled the law for you, that His obedience has been imputed to your account? Then search your heart and life and see whether a spirit of obedience to Him is daily working in you. The righteousness of the law is fulfilled only in those who "walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom. 8:4). God never designed that the obedience of His Son should be imputed to those who live a life of worldliness, self-pleasing, and gratifying the lusts of the flesh. Far from it: "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).

Protest Service against Sunday Football

The crowd as it gathered outside Tyndale Free Presbyterian Church for the protest meeting. While the protest service was taking place others gave out Gospel tracks and a leaflet explaining the importance of upholding the sanctity of the Sabbath day.

Sunday Football - Sabbath Desecration

Sadly, tomorrow [Lord's day 29th March 2015] will witness a further decline in the acknowledgement and upholding of the law of God respecting the Sabbath day. A new low in departure from God will take place in Northern Ireland. This is the first time that a home international football match will be played on the Lord's day. It is part of the Euro 2016 qualifying competition.

Representatives from The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, Government & Morals Committee, met with the Irish Football Association some weeks ago to express our opposition to this football match going ahead, and also to make known the inconvenience it will cause to one of our local Free Presbyterian congregations. Tyndale Memorial congregation, on Donegall Avenue in Belfast, is situated a few hundred yards away from one of the main entrances to Windsor Park, where the football match will be played. 

A. W. Pink on whether Justification brings about a change in man's moral nature

A. W. Pink wrote on the Doctrine of Justification. In chapter two of his work upon this subject he deals with the meaning of Justification. Here is what he says regarding whether a moral change is made in man's nature and explaining the difference between Justification and Sanctification:

Sanctification is moral or experimental, justification is legal or judicial. Sanctification results from the operation of the Spirit in me, justification is based upon what Christ has done for me. The one is gradual and progressive, the other is instantaneous and immutable. The one admits of degrees, and is never perfect in this life; the other is complete and admits of no addition. The one concerns my state, the other has to do with my standing before God. Sanctification produces a moral transformation of character, justification is a change of legal status: it is a change from guilt and condemnation to forgiveness and acceptance, and this solely by a gratuitous act of God, founded upon the imputation of Christ’s righteousness, through the instrument of faith alone. Though justification is quite separate from sanctification, yet sanctification ever accompanies it.

To read the whole chapter use this link - The Meaning of Justification To read the whole book online use this link - A. W. Pink: The Doctrine of Justification

Quotable Quote - John Bunyan on Justification

But if you do not put a difference between justification wrought by the Man Christ without, and sanctification wrought by the Spirit of Christ within, teaching believers their duty to their God for his love in giving Christ, you are not able to divide the word aright; but contrariwise, you corrupt the word of God, and cast stumbling-blocks before the people, and will certainly one day most deeply smart for your folly, except you repent. John Bunyan

Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible wrongly teaches that Justification brings about a "change of man's moral nature"

There is at best a most unfortunate mistake in the Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible concerning the vital doctrine of Justification. At worse, it is the incorporation of false teaching, even Roman Catholic teaching, into this Study Bible regarding the important truth of Justification.

Either way it surely needs, and deserves, an immediate, public clarification and correction!

There are a number of Christians, including young believers, who have purchased hard printed copies of this Study Bible, who will be unaware of the erroneous nature of this statement. They will accept the content of this footnote as being accurate, believing it to be indeed the truth about the great doctrine of Justification. After all, it is contained in this Study Bible and no clarification or correction has been publicised, even though the publishers know about the error.

Over 3,000 people support the Ashers' Bakery owners

A special meeting had been arranged by the Christian Institute to show support for the owners of the Ashers Bakery. Over 3,000 people attended. There were 2,500 people in the main hall, 300 in an overflow hall and 500 people outside. Typically the BBC said there was only over 2,000. Those within the main auditorium gave Daniel McArthur, the bakery's general manager, a standing ovation before he spoke and again when he had finished speaking.

See the following reports:

Belfast Newsletter - Waterfront overflows with ‘gay cake’ bakery supporters

Belfast Telegraph - Christian Institute rally for Ashers Baking Company held at the Waterfront Hall Belfast

BBC News - Ashers Baking Company: Show of support for County Antrim firm's stance in 'gay cake' row

Ashers Bakery owners in Court this incoming week

The owners of Ashers Baking Company are due in court this incoming week, in Belfast, accused of discrimination against sodomites.

The Ashers Baking Company refused to make a cake with the pro-gay marriage slogan ‘Support gay marriage’ emblazoned upon it, along with pictures of two characters from Sesame Street and the name of the group, Queerspace. Interestingly, Gay/sodomite marriage is presently illegal in Northern Ireland. The impression created in many minds is that the Bakery was targeted by those who knew the Christian beliefs of the owners.

The Bakery owners are being taken to court by the Stormont funded Equality Commission. This unelected quango wrote to the Bakery last July threatening legal action if it did not apologise and pay compensation for refusing service. The owners rightly refused and in November the Equality Commission decided to press ahead with the case.

Dr Paisley on who was the 'rock' upon which the Church was built

This quote is taken from Dr Paisley's Concise Guide to Bible Christianity and Romanism. It was in the form of questions and answers:

Question 27: What text in Matthew's Gospel does the Church of Rome use to support her claims for St. Peter being the first Pope?

Answer - Matthew chapter 16 and verse 18: 'And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.' The meaning of this text is obvious. Jesus having heard from the disciples the various notions which were entertained of Him, asked them: 'But whom say ye that I am?' and Peter, always more forward than the rest, replied: 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.'