7th November 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read (Romans 14)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


The Westminster Confession of Faith is not the Bible and should never be treated as such. It is however a time tested summary of Christian belief and, as I'm sure you know, it is the confessed belief of all Presbyterian ministers and elders. What you may not know is that the Confession has a whole chapter on the subject of Christian liberty and liberty of conscience. These are the issues that Paul deals with in Romans 14 and I thought I'd take a few devotions to outline the Confession's summary of Biblical teaching around the issue of the Christian's liberty.


Here is what we read in chapter twenty, paragraph one of the Westminster Confession of Faith "The liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the gospel consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the curse of the moral law; and in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin, from the evil of afflictions, the sting of death, the victory of the grave, and everlasting damnation; as also in their free access to God, and their yielding obedience unto Him, not out of slavish fear, but a childlike love, and a willing mind. All which were common also to believers under the law; but under the New Testament the liberty of Christians is further enlarged in their freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law, to which the Jewish church was subjected; and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace, and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of God, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of."


I know that the Confession can easily intimidate so allow me to explain what you've just read. By Christ's death and resurrection He has purchased a glorious freedom for every single child of God. By faith in Jesus we have been set free from the guilt of sin, the wrath of God and the curse of the moral law. We no longer have our sins counted against us, no longer do we need to fear the all consuming anger of God and no longer are we counted as law breakers deserving punishment. We are free in Christ.


If that weren't enough we are now free from the grip of the enemy. Neither sin nor Satan is our master and even though it has been appointed for us to die, death's sting is gone. When the Christian dies they go to be with Jesus which is better by far and we make that journey in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to come. The follower of Christ will stand again upon this earth and although hell remains for those who oppose Christ, the Christian will never see it. We are free in Christ.


There's even more freedom in Christ. By the merit of Christ's work, we have free access to God - the curtain has been torn, the way has been opened and we now freely and willingly serve the Lord. We don't serve Him because He is a tyrant whom we fear. We freely serve Him because we love Him as a child loves a parent - this is what we call the fear of God.


Even though all of these blessings were given to the Old Testament faithful, Christians on this side of the cross know an even greater freedom than our brothers and sisters of old. The Old Testament church were required to observe the ceremonial law and they worshipped in type and in shadow. Today the ceremonial law has gone - you don't bring a lamb to church because Jesus is the lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world. Indeed at this stage of redemptive history, you and I can be bolder in our approach to the throne of grace. This isn't out of arrogance but because Christ has come and in Christ we are free. Finally, although the Old Testament faithful knew the work of the Holy Spirit as we do, in some wonderful way we have a fuller and freer interaction with God the Holy Spirit.


Brothers and sisters, here is a brief explanation of the liberty purchased for us by Christ. Marvel at it and praise your God for in Christ, we are free.   


Pray (acTS)


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Q90 How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation? That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer; receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.
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6th November 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read - 1 Samuel 17:1-11


Message Alan Burke 


This week we finally get to the bit of 1 Samuel that everyone who knows anything about David knows, the battle of David and Goliath. There are many people who while they may not know the account know the  idiom ‘it’s a David vs Goliath contest’ which of course means the little guy against the big guy. It is one that captures the imagination all of us want to see the little guy overcome the big guy especially when there is injustice, discrimination, corruption, we want to see the wrong righted. That’s why so often in films and media the good guy, the little guy wins in the end. But I want to start off and say that this passage is not about you and your trials or problems. I’ve heard far to many sermons or talks given over the years that make it all about us and how we can overcome the giants in our lives and while I’d love to make that application it’s not about that. 


We will get to the defeat of Goliath later in the week but for now it’s the opening 11 verses that I want to focus on. These opening verses set the scene, the Philistines facing off to Saul and the Israelites. Another military crisis that was just one of many between the people of God and the Philistines. Remember the reason why the Philistines were here at all, was that because of Saul’s own failure, his foolish oath when he forbade his army to eat, they were weary and faint (14:28) and unable to have the victory the should have had over their enemy. Saul’s own faithlessness his lack of fidelity was in large part to blame of why the armies were gathered facing off. The Philistine champion comes out and challenges the Israelites to produce a champion so that they can fight to the death, whoever has the victory will win the day.


We’re given some detail about the champion from the Philistines, the man Goliath and he’s a big lad, over a meter taller than I am. He was also wearing the best body armour that money can buy, that would have made him invulnerable to anyones attack with the only bit of him that you can see is his face. Notice in the call of Goliath to the Israelites what he says, the NIV puts it as ‘Choose a man’ and the thing is those words should be ringing a bell in our ears. For Samuel spoke to the people gathered of the king that they had chosen for themselves, (1 Sam 8:18, 1 Sam 12:13). The people had really chosen a man for themselves, they had chosen Saul, Saul who was a head and shoulders above all the people if you remember (1 Sam 9:2) Saul who was a foot taller than most of the Israelites, the one that the people had chosen as their king. The chosen Saul though is just as afraid of the Philistine Goliath as the rest of the army gathered.


Saul was the one that the people wanted, they wanted to be like that nations around them (8:5) one who would go before them and fight their battles (8:20). They had a king like the nations to fight their battles but he is a coward, he is showing again a failure to lead the people of God. Saul’s reign might have started well but he wasn’t fit to be king. Even though Saul was the best match for Goliath he was to afraid to do anything and instead of leading as he showed his failure once more. He was supposed to be a model of faith to the people but he wasn’t, his successor who is about to come on to the scene though is one who was and is a model of faith (Deut 17:14-20). 


What I want to draw out for us today is that the taunt of Goliath is a taunt of the enemies of God against his people. Ok they are maybe not standing on the top of a hill shouting for all to hear but we can face them in many situations, those who oppose God’s people and make it clear, who taunt his people for their foolishness and ignorance who even pity the people of God for their stupidity. God will deliver his people from our enemies for we will share in the glory of what lies ahead in the new heavens and the new earth, whereas those who are the enemies of God and his people will be defeated and brought judgement. There are times that we will have to wait until then, that we will not get reprieve from the enemies of God in this life but he can be trusted in the midst of it all. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q89 How is the Word made effectual to salvation?
The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation. (Neh. 8:8, 1 Cor. 14:24–25, Acts 26:18, Ps. 19:8, Acts 20:32, Rom. 15:4, 2 Tim. 3:15–17, Rom. 10:13–17, Rom. 1:16)
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4th November 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read (Romans 14v20-22)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


It is a tragedy when a local church is ripped asunder by petty rivalry and Paul saw a looming tragedy developing in Rome. The fellowship was in danger of splitting over the issues of food, drink and days which caused Paul to offer the warning "do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God." (v20). It is possible for each one of us to damage our local fellowship with immaturity, arrogance and a "me-first" attitude. The Apostle was clear - the work of the Gospel is too precious to be trampled by such foolishness.


Regarding the issue of food, Paul was sure that everything was permissible for the Christian to eat (v20b). It is true that the Old Testament offered certain dietary restrictions for God's people but those were no longer binding by the time of Paul's letter to Rome. In Acts 10 Peter famously received a vision from God which addressed the food issue with the declaration "what God has made clean, do not call common." Furthermore, Christ was equally clear when He said "Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person." (Matthew 15v10-11)


But even though all food is "clean" in God's sight, it is wrong for one Christian to cause another to stumble. If you know that your brother has a tender conscience around certain issues, the loving thing is not to do anything that causes your brother to stumble (v21). This doesn't mean that the Christian with the tender conscience can become a dictator - perish the thought! Paul's whole appeal is for maturity on all sides. The stronger Christian should be willing to set his freedoms aside for a time while the weaker Christian should relax and not constantly seek to be annoyed.


Paul finishes his argument with an appeal to both sides of the debate. The stronger Christian is to humbly keep his faith between him and God (v22a). This doesn't prohibit him from sharing the Gospel or explaining his theology. Paul's point is that if you are confident about how you exercise your Christian liberty, you don't need to shout it from the rooftops. It is a blessing to have a settled mind about your position and not to be constantly judging your decisions (v22b).   


On the other hand, the weaker brother is not to eat disputed food if he has any doubts (v23). Isn't this a contradiction? Paul has stated that no food is unclean - so how is the weaker brother sinning? Because he is eating against his conscience. The weaker brother is eating not because he is convinced by God's Word but perhaps because of peer pressure or some other dubious reason. The eating itself isn't sinful but the heart of the weaker brother isn't convinced and therefore for him he has stumbled and fallen into sin. He has not acted from faith and as Paul says "whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." (v23b).


Life in church would be much more straight forward without the people - but then it wouldn't be church at all. Christ died for a multitude from every corner of this world. We look different, sound different and share different opinions. As we manage this diversity it isn't a reason for pettiness and dispute but another reason to seek the maturity offered by the Lord. As Paul would elsewhere say "I...urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4v1-3)
  
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Q88 What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption? The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption are, his ordinances, especially the Word, Sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.
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3rd November 2023


Pray (AC-ts) 


Read — Romans 1:1-2 


Message Alan Burke


First Posted 5th September 22


Did you hear the news? Like when will it get any better, it’s just constant! If I am honest I haven’t read the news today, I try to avoid it because I like having a smile on my face for at least some of the day. Sunday morning is different thought, it is one of the first things I do, check the news that is, incase anything important has happened that I need to mention in the prayers of intercession. The reason why I avoid it is because what we normally hear on the news, or read is just doom and gloom. Well today I have some good news, it is wonderful news and sadly we forget just how wonderful that good news is, good news that is focused not on the teaching but the person of Jesus Christ, Jesus is the good news, he is the gospel (gospel literally means good news). 


Look at what Paul says about this good news of God that it was promised beforehand! Probably the place that most of us would turn to if we were to tell someone about the gospel, the good news about the person and work of Jesus Christ, would be the four gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Naturally enough that is what comes to mind when we thing of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Gospel of God. The last place most people would go is the Old Testament, but all of it, all of the Old Testament acts as big arrow, that was directing God’s people and us to what God was doing in salvation history. For all scripture is God breathed, all scripture from the beginning to the end is announcing the gospel of God, it’s not something new, its origins are from God himself, our creator, that speaks of His love and mercy for His creation.


The first announcement of this gospel was in the midst of the fall, while it was the most tragic moment in history that took place, as sin entered the world and with sin, death followed. Even as the Covenant of Works lay in ruins, the Lord spoke of another covenant the Covenant of Grace. To Satan the Lord declared there in v15; “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall crush your head, and you shall strike his heel.” (v15). 


In those moments after the fall of humanity, the Lord God preached the Gospel to the Devil. It’s what is called by theologians as the protoevangel, the first gospel, because it contains the heart of the gospel that is unfolded in the rest of redemption history as it plays out. This is the gospel that Paul speaks of, this is the gospel of God that was first announced in Eden. God remained true to his promise that he would send one who would crush the head of the serpent, and he has in Christ Jesus. For Jesus came to do what Adam failed to do and what we by our sinful nature could not do.


This was not new, its origins were not from man instead it was God, fulfilling what he had said beforehand, fulfilling the promises that he had made know. Paul here at the beginning of Romans was grounding this and everything he would go on to say in how this gospel, this good news, was what God has always been doing, the Holy Scriptures all pointing to His Son Jesus Christ Our Lord!


And this is a message we need to hear, because some can fall into the trap and thinking that somehow God is different in the Old Testament and the New Testament, some people even come to the conclusion that there are two God’s in the bible, the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament. Yet nothing could be further from the truth for throughout they affirm that God is merciful and that He is compassionate, the God who has been bringing salvation to a sinful people from the dawn of creation. The bible from beginning to end is one continual revelation of God’s covenant of Grace. As we are reminded in 2 Timothy 3: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (3:16)”, not just the New Testament, all of it!


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Q87 What is repentance unto life? Repentance unto life is a saving grace, (Acts 11:18) whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, (Acts 2:37–38) and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, (Joel 2:12, Jer. 3:22) doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, (Jer. 31:18–19, Ezek. 36:31) with full purpose of, and endeavour after, new obedience. (2 Cor. 7:11, Isa. 1:16–17)
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2nd November 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read (Romans 14v17-19)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


It never ceases to amaze me that Christians will fight and divide over issues which aren't central to the Gospel. It is rare to hear of a fellowship arguing over the true nature of justification, but sadly all too common to hear of fellowships warring over the position of the choir seats or the "devaluing" of a "special" service. Paul's letter to the Romans addressed such secondary concerns - some Christians believed that they could eat and drink anything while others, in good conscience, believed that Biblical limits to their eating and drinking were still in force.


In theses verses the Apostle offered a clear reminder that the kingdom of God was not focused on eating and drinking but "righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (v17). Where can we find the kingdom of God? Jesus once told Pilate that His kingdom was not of this world (John 18v36) and so Christ's kingdom does not have borders or a capital city. Nevertheless, it is possible to catch a glimpse of Christ's kingdom as we observe the visible church.


Here's what the Confession says about the kingdom "The visible church, which is also catholic or universal under the gospel (not confined to one nation, as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion; and of their children: and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation."


So the kingdom of God has come and, although it is not yet what it one day will be, it's focus is not on unimportant matters of food and drink. Instead, the gaze of the church of Christ is upon righteousness - how humanity can stand before a holy God. Righteousness comes by faith in Christ whereby His righteousness is credited to our account. Peace with God and peace with each other is of much more concern in the kingdom than the eating habits of Christians. Additionally, the Spirit worked joy that marks a redeemed sinner's life should be more evident in the kingdom than division over drink and days. Paul was sure that the one who has this "kingdom focus" is both accepted by God and approved by men (v18).


How then should we respond? By pursuing whatever brings peace and mutual upbuilding to the church (v19). As Christians we are free from any and all man-made rules, we are free to exercise our Christian liberty and we are bound only by Holy Scripture. Even so, if our exercise of freedom causes division in the local church we should be wise enough to seek peace. On the other hand, if we struggle with certain issues and wish that our brothers and sisters would be more like us, we should be mature enough to build up our fellow Christians rather than pick a fight.


The kingdom of God is a serious place with no room for petty rivalry and foolish squabbles. It's focus isn't what you had for lunch or your man-made opinions which you seek to impose on everyone else. The meat and drink of the church is Christ and Him crucified. May we never forget it.


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Q86 What is faith in Jesus Christ? Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.
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1st November 2023


Pray (AC-ts) 


Read — Romans 1:1


Message - Alan Burke 


First Posted 31st August 2022


Today we think about Paul who is a servant and what that means, but as we come to the passage remember that what you have before you is but a translation of the original language and for Romans the language is Greek not King James English. I mention this because translators often have challenges conveying the full meaning of what is being said or an English equivalent doesn’t exist. Here though there is a word used and translators have used a substitute to avoid negative connotations and modern sensitivities. The word is translated as servant but it means slave. 


The word servant doesn’t capture the significance of what Paul is saying. He’s not a hired servant, but rather a slave . The reason why he uses the word slave is because a slave was one who was bought with a price, and as Paul writes, he is fully aware that he was purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ, that he became the possession of another, he became Christ’s slave. For any self respecting Roman citizen, identifying ones self as a slave would have been unthinkable, but Paul understood in a way that many of us miss the wonder off. By our nature we are slaves to sin and the flesh, when we are redeemed by Christ Jesus then we are set free from that slavery to sin and the flesh but it comes at a price. 


There has been a price paid for us, we have been bought with a price, we have been purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ that was spilled for us, he bore the wrath that we deserve and we now belong to him, we are the possession of Christ Jesus. As a result we are called to live our lives not as our own, not as autonomous or independently from God but instead to live for him, for his glory. We must understand the great cost, in how the only begotten Son of God Jesus Christ gave up the realms of glory and condescended, taking on our flesh so he could pay the price for our sin, thusly he had redeemed us by His blood, it is this great price that has been paid for us, we have been bought with the blood of Jesus and thusly are to live in the privileged position that we have. 


Because we are bought with a price, no longer are we slaves to sin and the flesh and when we die we face the pains of hell forever, instead because of the price that was paid for our salvation. Of course the imagery of slavery in our relationship with God is not everything that there is, we are called friends, children, heirs. There are also some aspects of slavery that are not fitting analogies, but that of how we were bought, that we have a master that is not ourselves is the significance that Paul is portraying. 


Paul was bound to Christ through faith, he was both with a price, and that price being the blood of Jesus Christ (1 Cor 6:19, Acts 20:28), likewise we are bough with a price, that price is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and we have been liberated by the work of God the Spirit, that we are freed from our slavery in sin and brought to slavery to God. For the believer we are not our own, we were bough with a price, we have been moved from slavery to sin, the flesh and death, to slavery to the Lord God though faith. Slavery to Christ is a special kind of slavery, of course. It is a slavery in which we actually become free.


Pray (acTS) 


Sing 


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Q85 What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and cursedue to us for sin?
To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, (Acts 20:21) with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption. (Prov. 2:1–5, Prov. 8:33–36, Isa. 55:3)
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