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Warfield on Predestination
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Sub Editors:
Marcus Hobson
Jeff Ballantine
Heather Watson
CONTENTS
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First word
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06
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Wrestling wi th sin
A Sermon on Romans 7:14-25
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12
HABAKKUK 1: 1-11
Book Reviews
Colin Campbell
Manager
The Evangelical Book Shop
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Book reviews
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FIRST WORD
Whilst studying the letters to the seven churches
in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 recently, I was
particularly struck by the words of Jesus describing the
circumstances of the Philadelphian church:
I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an
open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you
have but little power, and yet you have kept my word
and have not denied my name. (Revelation 3:8)
Jonty Rhodes
COVENANT THEOLOGY
Hi there Jonty, thanks for taking the time to chat to us. In
For those who are new to the idea of covenant, can you give
your book, Raiding the Lost Ark, you give a very clear and
dont know. Weve certainly lost touch with our heritage; you
afoot for some changes further down the line. Whats in the
pipeline, and how can people pray for you?
and Baptism?
Great, thanks for your time!
Well, at the most basic level it reminds us that these are
signs of the covenant. Baptism is the sign of entry into
the covenant people of God, and the Lords Supper that of
continuing to walk with him. They mark out the church as
best we can see it. As a pastor I cant magically and infallibly
see who has been born again, but I can see who has been
baptised, and therefore been called by God to live out the
covenant relationship. Covenant underpins this. For example,
in the Old Testament Jewish boys were circumcised as a sign
they were part of the covenant people of God. In the New
Covenant, the sign becomes baptism and is applied to both
genders and all nations. As a Presbyterian I believe that, like
circumcision, the sign of baptism should also be given to the
children of believers; they too are part of Gods covenant
people. Why do I believe this? Because at heart we are in the
same covenant as Abraham and his descendants,
albeit updated.
Unapologetic
Wrestling
with Sin
C
Benjamin Warfield
on Predestination:
Lessons in Theological and
Evangelistic Engagement
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HABAKKUK 1:1-11
For a very long time, there have been those who have maintained
that the death of Jesus on the Cross was not what Jesus had
envisaged, nor was it what God intended. If you think about that
for a moment it is actually telling us that God makes mistakes;
God does not know everything, but they, on the other hand, are
wiser than God and have a better understanding of
things. But that is absolute blasphemy. Those who
say such things simply show their ignorance of God, of Christ
and of the Word of God. What happened at the Cross? In our
last study we saw that at the cross, Jesus absolutely conformed to
Gods will. He was the Obedient Servant found again and again
in the Old Testament. In this second study, we shall see that the
cross was in absolute conformity to Gods Word.
The God of the Bible is a God who is all knowing. There are
words used of God in this respect. He is the only one who
is omniscient. What does that mean? It means a perfection
whereby God knows Himself, and all things actual and all things
possible. There are many portions of the Scriptures that declare
that very clearly.
But alongside this, God is also omnipotent. That means that
God has the power to do all that He wills to do.
We saw in our last study that the Father made a Covenant
between the Son and the Holy Spirit and Himself; the Covenant
of Redemption. Now, Christ Jesus on the Cross was doing what
he agreed He would do in eternity before time. But because
of the omniscience and the omnipotence of God, God declared
centuries before the very birth of Christ, exactly what would
happen. Here is the absolute conformity of the Cross to the Old
Testament prophecies. We will only be able to consider just a
few of these.
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Conclusion
The death of Christ on the Cross of Calvary was no mistake.
In our last article we saw His absolute conformity to the Fathers
will in all that took place. Christ accomplished all that the
Father sent Him to do, so was able to cry, Tetelestai! Finished!
Completed! Now we see clearly the absolute conformity to
the Old Testament prophetic word concerning the Cross of
Christ. Again, Christ could cry in triumph, Tetelestai! Finished!
Completed! There was nothing left undone. He did all.
It is finished, O what pleasure
Do these precious words afford.
Heavenly blessings, without measure
Flow to us from Christ the Lord.
It is finished, It is finished.
Saints the dying words record.
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What do we do?
How is Joy?
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Future Plans?
Prayer Points
Praise God
At this time of year when leaders-in-charge of camps are trying to fill up the spaces in the camp teams, we asked Kirsty Burke
and Delwyn Schmidt (Junior camp leader and cook respectively) to reflect on what it takes to serve in these capacities.
Here is what they said.
What it takes to be a camp leader:
If you think you might be interested in helping at camp, this year or sometime in the future, speak to your minister.
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SAMUEL BILL
1864-1942
By the time you read this, the
deadline for the submission of this
years Sunday school projects will
have passed. While some will have
filled scrapbooks and produced
power point presentations, many more will have benefited
from hearing the stories in Sunday School or as childrens
talks from the pulpit. This years subjects were Brother
Andrew and Samuel Bill. The former is well known as the
founder of Open Doors, a man who risked his life working to
spread the gospel behind the Iron Curtain. The latter, however,
despite being from these shores, is less well remembered.
Samuel was born in East Belfast of Christian parents in
1864. He attended Ballymacarrett Presbyterian Church and
through his earnest Sunday School teacher came to trust
the Saviour. He involved himself in Christian service through
teenage years and believed God was calling him to work on
the mission field. At the end of his missionary college training
he was certain that God was guiding him to work in a remote
part of Nigeria along the Qua Iboe river with tribal people who
knew nothing of the Gospel. It was part of the region in Africa
known as the White Mans Grave, with danger, disease and
death an ever present reality.
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Summer
Camps 2016
JUNIORS
2-9 July
Dunluce High School, Bushmills
Leader-in-charge: Heather Watson
Email davidwatson006@btinternet.com
INTERS
2-9 July
Moyallon Centre, Portadown
SENIORS
9-16 July
Ballyclabber RP church, Coleraine
BOOK REVIEWS
Title: Eyes Wide Open
Author: Steve DeWitt
Publisher: Credo House Publishers
Pages: 208
Steve DeWitts Eyes Wide Open
was an unexpected treat about the
rarely discussed subject of beauty.
pale imitation of, and signpost towards, the One who is truly
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Published: 2015
Published: 2015
Pages: 214
Pages:127
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