Unapologetic, part 3: The problem of pain

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Rejoicing in Hope (Romans 8:18-25)

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GOSPEL
OPPORTUNITIES

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Five minutes with Stuart Cashman

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Phi lippians 1 v 9-11

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CONTENTS
03

First word

04

Five minutes wi th Stuart Cashman

06

Unapologetic, part 3:
The problem of pain

08

Gospel Opportuni ties

10

Rejoicing in Hope

12

HABAKKUK 1:12- 2:1

Book Reviews

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14

Fulfi lment of the Prophetic Pictures

of the Old Testament

16

From the churches

21

Praise & Prayer

23

Book reviews

24

Best of the blogs

FIRST WORD
Of all the disciplines to which we are called in the
Christian life, personal evangelism is perhaps the one
which strikes fear into the hearts of most Christians!
We know that we ought to speak to others about Jesus,
and yet we struggle to know exactly what to say.
We worry that our friends might take offence at us for
our beliefs. We are concerned that we might not know
how to answer some of the difficult questions that
might be fired back at us. For all these reasons, when
the opportunity to speak of Christ arises, we stay quiet
and let the opportunity pass us by.

or those of us who find personal evangelism a

real challenge, the words of the apostle Paul in
the opening verses of Colossians chapter 4 are a real
encouragement. We can sum up Pauls approach to
personal evangelism with three words:
1) Praying (v2-4) As someone has put it, effective
evangelism begins with persevering prayer. If we want
to be effective witnesses for Christ, then this is where
we must start. Paul encourages the Colossians to pray
persistently, not giving up even though they may not
yet see the fruitfulness that they long for. They are to
pray watchfully, with one eye on the return of Christ,
and therefore marked with the urgency with which
his return fills us. And they are to pray thankfully, not
simply making requests of God, but also expressing their
gratitude to God for all that he has given to them
in Christ.

2) Living (v5) Having prayed, the believers are then to

go out and boldly live the Christian life in the sight of
those around them. In the words of Jesus, they are to let
their light shine before others. This will involve walking
in wisdom, as they allow Gods word to shape their
conduct. And it will mean making the best use of the
time, as they shape their diaries around the priority of
sharing Christ with unbelievers. They will need to invest
their time in building up relationships with those who
are not yet believers.
3) Speaking (v6) Having prayed, and lived, how Paul
has called them to do, the Colossian believers will find
that there will indeed be opportunities for them to be
sharing their faith with those around them. In answer
to their prayers, God will open up doors for the gospel
(v3). As their friends, neighbours and colleagues see the
transformed lives that these Christians are living, it will
prompt them to ask why. It is then that these believers
will be able to give an answer, with gracious words, to
each person. Praying, living, speaking.
Lets be believers who do our evangelism like that!

CHURCH
PLANTING
Five minutes with

Stuart Cashman

Hi Stuart, good to chat to you! Tell us a little about what is

pipeline for the next 5 years, so some people estimate the

going on in Brentford these days; youre involved in a new

population will have increased by up to 25% over a 10-15 year

church plant there

period. Church planting experts say that new churches are

often better placed to reach new residents than old churches.

Brentford is in on the north bank of the River Thames in West

Second, there is the need in Brentford. The churches that do

London, about 9 miles from the city centre. Historically, it

exist in Brentford are generally small, and while there are

was a dock area, where the Grand Union Canal met the River

evangelical churches, there is no viable gospel-proclaiming

Thames. Just over a quarter of the residents live in social

Reformed church.

housing. However in the last 5-10 years there has been a

lot of new development. Now alongside the social housing,

You have recently had your first official Sunday service;

luxury new apartment blocks have gone up. It is fairly

how did you arrive at that point? What goes on behind the

ethnically diverse too. For example, 56 different languages

scenes when getting a church plant up and running?

are spoken by children as they start at the school my children

attend!

It has taken almost a year since we first announced to the

congregation at IPC (International Presbyterian Church) Ealing

What was it about Brentford in particular that made you

that we wanted to plant a church in Brentford, so it has taken

think this is somewhere to do a church plant?

a while! We have had work on 3 fronts to get to this point.

First, we had to recruit and build a Seed Group to start the

There are two main reasons. First, the opportunity afforded

new church. We began last July, and started a Bible Study

by the population growth. Even more developments are in the

group back in September 2015 meeting in our home. From

January we began meeting in Brentford on Sunday afternoons

In addition, I have been encouraged by the giving of the group,

so a wider group of people could come and find out about

and a couple of US churches who are supporting us.

our vision and values. Second, we have been getting to know

Brentford better. That has included looking at census data,

Finally, tell us how we can be praying for you, your family,

but more importantly trying to get to meet people in the

and the church over the coming months.

community and understand their hopes, concerns, aspirations

and attitudes. It has also included building relationships with

Our first sermon series is on Ephesians, as I want us to see

the other church leaders. There is an ongoing aspect to all

the scale of Gods plans and the importance of the church in

this work of course. And third, there has been a fair amount

that. So please pray for me, that I will proclaim the gospel

of logistical organisation to do. Finding a venue and raising

clearly and boldly, and that the Lord will build us up. Please

funds are perhaps the most obvious part of this. We are

also pray for protection for us as a family and as a church.

grateful to the Lord for the school we are meeting in, which

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6, our battle is not against

suits us well.

flesh and blood. And please pray that we as a family, and all
of us members of Immanuel Church, will truly get involved

What have been the biggest challenges you have faced in

in Brentford, and have opportunities, courage and wisdom

getting Immanuel Brentford started?

to share the gospel there. Obviously, we would love to see

people who do not yet know Jesus come to know him. There

Finding a suitable venue has been a big challenge, but the

is quite a large community from Central and Eastern Europe

Lord has provided. Raising money is also a challenge. Our

in town. Id love to see someone saved from that background,

group has given generously, but London is expensive so we

who can then be an evangelist into that community. Thank

are still looking for more financial support. The other very big

you so much for your interest and support for what the Lord

challenge for us is to really get involved in Brentford. Paul

is doing through us.

tells the Thessalonians that he and his coworkers loved them

so much that we were ready to share with you not only the

www.immanuelbrentford.org

gospel of God but our very selves as well (1 Thessalonians

2:8). We believe this is what is needed for us to share the

Thanks Stuart!

gospel in Brentford too. However, most of our group live

around Brentford rather than in it. It is made harder by the
fact there is no real centre to Brentford. A lot of the new
apartment blocks feel more like dormitories for commuters
than homes for members of the community. So we all need
to make conscious, prayerful, costly steps to deliberately
get involved in Brentford, so that we can share not only the
gospel but our lives as well.
and following on from that, what have been the biggest
encouragements you have seen over recent months?
The biggest encouragement has been the people the Lord
has brought to us. Only one person I attempted to recruit has
joined us! However, the Lord has brought many other gifted,
committed people who love the Lord Jesus. For example, one
single man has just deliberately bought a flat and moved into
the area. An American missionary family who are with us
are just about to move in to Brentford too. The genuine love
amongst the members of our little church is also wonderful.

Stuart is being sent to plant Immanuel Church by

the International Presbyterian Church of Ealing
where he served as Associate Pastor.
He is married to Meriel, and they have two
children, Zo (6) and Joel (4). He holds an MDiv
from Covenant Theological Seminary.
He used to work in toothpaste.

Unapologetic

PART 3: The problem of pain

common protest from non-Christians is, How can you

precarious environment alongside many other species. In

believe in a good God when there is so much suffering

terms of ultimate morality our view of good can be no more

in the world? It is an undeniable fact that there is suffering

important than other club rules.

all around us. On television we can see the devastation

caused by earthquakes, famine, floods and war in distant

If we accept no moral foundations then societal prohibitions

lands - troubles too big to comprehend - and closer to home

against murder or violence are of no greater absolute

we can see the effects of illness, crime, domestic upset and

significance than that societys views as to whether a jacket

apparently random cruel fate. Suffering is unavoidable, and it

and tie should be worn for dinner. Even Richard Dawkins

is hard even for the most faithful saint to rationalise it all. The

appeal to the importance of the survival of the gene pool

book of Habakkuk begins with the prophets lament regarding

is of no ultimate value if there are no ultimate values. That

the state of affairs in his native Judah. He saw violence,

Richard Dawkins and his fellow evolutionary biologists feel

conflict, wickedness and corruption among his own people.

that realm of nature is important is irrelevant if everything

He cries out to God, How long, O LORD, must I call for help

is the result of chance. It is of no greater significance than

but you do not listen? Violence is everywhere I cry but you do

whether they prefer strawberry to chocolate ice cream. If all

not come to save. Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why

is the result of chance then we cannot complain about the

must I watch all this misery? (Habakkuk 1:2-3). We too may

injustice of chance outcomes - however grave they are for

echo his cry. We believe in an all-powerful God of love. We see

those concerned. Such cold atheism has no words of comfort

such evil. How can this be?

for the grieving. The question, then, is why do we get so

upset by the outworking of random events? Why do we not

Christian philosopher Alvin Plantinga notes that the two

simply stoically accept the outcomes? Instead we rail against

propositions

the injustice of innocent lives lost or persons afflicted. We

1) God is omniscient, omnipotent, and wholly good

recognise that something is wrong. Why? The question is not

and

then perhaps why suffering exists, so much as why non-

2) There is evil

Christians exhibit such anger against a God they deny exists.

are not, in themselves, explicitly or formally contradictory.

Indeed, we may reframe the argument as follows:

Rather there is an implicit contradiction which may be worked

out as follows:

1) If God does not exist, transcendent, objective values of

1) Evil and suffering exist in the world.

2) Evil does exist.

2) If God were omnipotent he would be able to prevent

3) Therefore objective values exist, and some things are

these things.

3) If God were wholly good (specifically, if he were a God of

love) he would want to prevent them.

4) Therefore, if there were an omnipotent and wholly good

God there would be no evil and suffering.

5) Therefore, as evil and suffering exist, there can be no God.

What then are the implications of this conclusion?
If we deny that God exists, we are left with time, plus space,
plus chance as the explanation for everything. If we deny
absolute standards of good and evil then what we call
good is merely the majority preference within a society
of biped mammals with no special status, existing in a
6

good and evil do not exist.

really, basically, fundamentally bad.

4) Therefore God exists.

CS Lewis follows a similar line of argument in the opening

And we know too that our part in this salvation has been

chapters of his book Mere Christianity in a section headed

secured by Jesus through his suffering on the cross, and

Right and wrong a clue to the meaning of the universe.

that he can sympathise with us for he understands our

We know when we have been wronged. Also, we experience

weaknesses, for he has faced all the same testings as we do.

guilt when we do wrong. As Paul notes in Romans chapter 2,

(Hebrews 4:15)

we know Gods law instinctively even if it is suppressed

and ignored.

In conclusion, that evil exists is undeniable, but the existence

of evil does not undermine our belief in a loving all powerful

So then, if the existence of evil does not mean that there is

God. It is true that we cannot know, cannot understand and

no God it still leaves us with questions about his goodness

cannot explain the outworking of his purposes, but we can

and his power. If he is loving, good, and all powerful, why is

trust him to act wisely and justly - even if, like Habakkuk, it

there evil? The philosophical term for attempting to explain

seems beyond our comprehension.

the existence of evil within the plans of a loving, all powerful

God is theodicy - a word derived from the Greek for God

Postscript: This has been a difficult piece to write.

and justice. It is, as John Milton put it, an attempt to justify

Not because of any philosophical or theological challenge but

the ways of God to man. This is a bold step as Paul reminds

because this is a topic where the rubber hits the road. In the

us in Romans 11:33-34: How impossible it is for us to

course of my work I daily see patients who are about to be

understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know

given news of life-changing or life-threatening diagnoses.

the LORDs thoughts? Rather than attempting a theodicy,

I see the effect this has on the individuals before me.

Alvin Plantinga proposes something less ambitious, but more

On occasion this comes closer to home - recently a colleague

achievable; what he terms a defence. His arguments are

was admitted under my care with a new diagnosis of cancer.

complex but, in essence, as God is all powerful and wholly

Times of high emotion like these are perhaps not the best

good, and evil does exist, then God must have good reason

time to start to consider the problem of pain. We should, like

for allowing this state of affairs. Plantinga argues that Gods

Habakkuk, aim to have our thinking clear before the storm

creation of man as a creature capable of morally significant

breaks. Evil exists, suffering exists, and, whilst we may not

choices necessitates the possibility of morally wrong choices.

understand how it serves Gods purposes, surely it is more

These choices have consequences: Evil and suffering. We

comforting to know that it is part of the plan of a good God,

can perhaps more easily see the immediate consequences

than merely the chance outworking of blind circumstance.

of the evil acts of men such as violence, but there are other

There is no comfort in that.

more subtle consequences worked out over the longer term

- remember that the whole Earth was cursed and groans as a
result of the fall. (Genesis 3:17 and Romans 8:20-22)
We had mentioned the prophet Habakkuk earlier in the
article. Gods answer to his question must have taken his
breath away. God did not promise revival but judgement at
the hands of a ruthless and godless nation - the Babylonians.
Habakkuks short book concludes with him waiting quietly
for the prophecy to be fulfilled. He is trusting, even rejoicing,
in the God of his salvation. Though we, like Habakkuk, may
find ourselves bewildered by circumstances, we have an
advantage over the prophet. We have been let in on the secret
- Gods mystery - for we know that there will be a day when
God himself will be with his people. He will wipe every tear
from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or
crying or pain. (Rev. 21:4)

Michael Trimble has been attending Stranmillis

EPC since 1993, and works as a physician in the
Royal Victoria Hospital. He is married to Rachel
and they have three children, David, Sophie and
Solomon.
7

Gospel Opportunities
(1 Corinthians 16:1-14)
The following article is adapted from one of the addresses
given by David McKay at the Office Bearers Conference.

espite what some Christians think, it is not unspiritual in

gospel ministry to make plans to look ahead and give
careful thought to how and where witness should be carried
on. The Apostle Paul, as the New Testament record shows
us, was clearly a missionary who thought carefully about the
next steps in his work and who had in mind places where he
hoped to preach the gospel and minister to the Lords people
in future years. Rome, for example, was much in his mind, as
he indicates in Romans 1:10-12.
There is the danger, however, that we come to rely on our
plans (or methodology) instead of relying on the Lord. It
is, after all, his work and we need to be seeking his leading
and guiding regarding gospel ministry and must take the
opportunities he provides. In this too Paul is an excellent
example.

1. The open door

Paul, writing to the Corinthians from Ephesus, is planning
ahead. I will visit you after passing through Macedonia (v5).
He appears to have in mind the possibility of an extended
visit, perhaps even spending the winter with them (v6). He
then envisages going on to Jerusalem with their gift for the
poor (v4). In all of this he is nevertheless conscious of an
overruling factor: it will only come to pass if the Lord permits
(v7).
At present the Lord is overruling But I will stay in Ephesus
until Pentecost (v8). He cannot move on yet, and the reason
he gives is profoundly significant: for a wide door for effective
work has opened to me (v9). As Paul carries on faithfully in
his assigned ministry, the Lord is providing significant gospel
opportunities in Ephesus and Paul must respond accordingly.
A door has opened literally Paul is saying that a door
stands open and remains open. In other words, this is not a
fleeting opportunity, but one that should last for some time.
The crucial question is of course, How has the door opened?
It certainly has not opened by itself nor has Paul produced an
open door by his efforts or his ingenuity. There is no doubt
that in Pauls view it is always God who opens doors of gospel
opportunity. We can see this, for example, in II Corinthians
2:12 where Paul writes that when he came to Troas to preach
the gospel of Christ, he found that a door was opened for me
in the Lord. We can be even more specific on this matter. It is
in particular Christ who opens doors of opportunity. Note the
8

Saviours words to the church in Philadelphia: Behold, I have

set before you an open door which no-one is able to shut
(Revelation 3:8). It is the sovereign and gracious Saviour who
provides gospel opportunities and in every sense this is his
work. Several things follow from this fundamental truth:

(i) The need to discern the opportunities he gives. In
looking for the doors he is opening, we may push some
doors in order to test what will happen, but we must never
try to force them open. At times we may be guilty of deciding
where we think there should be, or even where there will
be, a church, and then persisting with efforts to plant one
regardless of what response follows. Sometimes a lot of
personal prestige can be bound up with such efforts, so that
no hard questions can be asked. It is no easy matter to decide
at what point it is clear whether or not the Lord is opening
a door in a particular location, but the corporate wisdom of
a praying presbytery ought surely to play a significant role.
This requires a submissive spirit and contentment with Gods
provision, whether it is in accord with our preferences or not.

(ii) The need to exploit the opportunities he gives. The
open doors must be entered, not merely observed and
discussed. Open doors are a call to action in faith and ought
not to be missed. God opens doors for his church to go
through, taking the word of life to those who need to hear.
Planning and discussing, and (dare we say it?) even praying
can become a substitute for the hard work God is giving us to
do. How sad it is if we become experts in doors who always
stand on the wrong side of them. Open doors are to be gone
through.


(iii) The need to pray for open doors. Note Colossians
4:3: pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the
word. Prayer to the sovereign Lord is essential. Paul, the
great missionary, was absolutely convinced of that. Yes,
prayer can be a substitute for action, but sometimes action
can become a substitute for prayer. Being busy even
working ourselves to exhaustion - is not in itself proof that it
is the Lords work we are doing. The objection If you believe
God is sovereign, why pray? is easily answered: it is because
God is sovereign that we pray. If he is not, there is no point. If
it is the Lord alone who truly opens doors for the gospel, how
earnestly we ought to be praying that he will open the doors
he has decreed for us to enter.

2. The effective work

What the Lord is providing for Paul is an open door for
effective work. Note:

(i) The scope of the opportunity. It is a great (NIV) or
wide (ESV) door. Paul had many opportunities for gospel
ministry in Ephesus, work described in Acts 19, work among
Jews and Gentiles, including the sick, practitioners of magic
and even public officials. From this influential city the gospel
spread all the residents of Asia heard the word of the
Lord, both Jews and Greeks (Acts 19:10). Wherever God has
placed his people especially in an urban context there is
scope for gospel ministry that will make use of all their gifts
and resources. Disciple-making (Matthew 28:19) is always
possible. The opportunities may be more obvious in some
situations than in others, but they will be there if we look for
them.

(ii) The success of the work. It is a door for effective
work. What defines effective gospel work? It is effective
when the Word of God comes home to the hearts of men and
women with transforming effect bringing the spiritually
dead to life in Christ and renewing them in his likeness. There
is a new act of creation (II Corinthians 5:17) when any sinner
is saved. This happens by the powerful working of the Holy
Spirit as expressed in John 3:8 as being born of the Spirit.
When the Holy Spirit works, our labour will be effective and
as we rely on him we can and should expect success as God
wills it lives transformed by grace. Gospel work is effective.
We do not for a moment buy into the head-counting numbers
game that so infects many strands of evangelicalism, but we
cannot remain indifferent when efforts to spread the gospel
seem to meet with no significant response. At the very least
we need to be moved to ask serious questions. Sometimes
we can use the doctrine of Gods sovereignty to avoid facing
up to our own failings. There is a properly biblical success
that we should seek and expect.

3. The many opponents

Pauls experience in Ephesus offered dramatic evidence that
there are many adversaries. There is no pretending in Pauls
assessment of his situation. He is utterly realistic about the
warfare that inevitably goes along with the opportunities
for effective work. Of course the enemies of the gospel will
be stirred to opposition when effective gospel work is being
done. Pauls ministry is no exception.
In Ephesus, for example, Paul encountered opposition from
Demetrius and the silversmiths, among others, (Acts 19:23ff)
because of the effectiveness of the work he was doing. He
tells us, I fought with beasts at Ephesus (1 Corinthians
15:32), indicating vividly that the opposition there was fierce
and violent, and of course behind the human enemies stands
Satan, who prowls around like a roaring lion (I Peter 5:8).
Nothing has changed in this regard. Gospel work is warfare
(Ephesians 6:10ff) we are nave if we think otherwise and
still there are many adversaries. The attitudes to the gospel
that we encounter in our own local context indicate that
increasingly that is the case, and, unless the Lord intervenes
in a powerful way, we can expect the situation to get
worse. Such an apostolic warning should protect us against
overconfidence or, indeed, any confidence in ourselves. It
should also keep us spiritually watchful, heeding the warning
of I Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. The spiritual
health of the witness is crucial, lest Satan gain a foothold.
We should, however, be unafraid. The Lord we serve is
victorious over all his enemies and it is only a matter of time
until they are all put under his feet (I Corinthians 15:25).
Nothing can derail his eternal saving purpose. The enemy is
quite happy to see the Lords people intimidated into silence
and inactivity, but we must not make the slightest concession
to him. Effective work will be opposed: the Lord has warned
us that this will be the case. Opposition may, in a paradoxical
way, encourage us since it may well be an indication that the
Holy Spirit is rescuing sinners from the enemys grasp and so
he is stirred into resistance.
With the blessing of a sovereign Saviour, Gospel work done in
his strength and to his glory will be effective, and the glory
will be entirely his.

David McKay has been a minister of the Reformed

Presbyterian Church for over 32 years and has been
minister of Shaftesbury Square congregation in
Belfast since 2007. He also serves as Professor of
Systematic Theology, Ethics and Apologetics at the
Reformed Theological College.
9

Rejoicing
in Hope
A Sermon on Romans 8:18-25
(All Bible quotations from the ESV.)

he presence of the Holy Spirit in

The Whole Creation
the life of the believer makes a
fundamental difference. Christians live
The future of the whole creation
according to the Spirit and no longer
matters to Paul. He mentions it in
according to their flesh. The presence
each of verses 19-22. By creation I
of the Spirit enables them in a number
believe he means the physical universe,
of significant ways: walking through
including creatures, but excluding angels
life in a new way, according to different
or demons. In other words, the universe
principles (8:5); relating to God as Father
that a modern scientist would observe.
and not as judge (8:15); having an
Paul says three things about it: firstly, he
assurance they really are children of God
says that creation is unwillingly under
and heirs with Christ (8:17).
subjection. Something has happened
There is, of course, a little proviso in
that has put the put the whole of
v17: provided we suffer with him.
creation under an authority that it was
This is a reminder to us that becoming
not willing to be put under. Now it is in
a Christian is no easy thing. The gospel
bondage to decay (v21). As it were,
of Jesus Christ does not
creation is under lock
hold out to us an easier
and key, in chains and in
There is much to look forward
life of material prosperity.
to: not only for us but also for a state of deterioration.
Instead it holds out to us
How did that happen?
the whole of creation.
the prospect of spiritual
The answer is drawn
He paints a glorious picture
warfare. It is not easy
from Genesis 1-3. Paul
which helps us rejoice
to bear down on sin in
is here speaking about
patiently in glorious hope
your life or to continually
the consequences
remember that God is
of that Fall of man.
your heavenly Father or that we have an
Genesis describes how God made a
inheritance that cannot fade. We face
world that was very good and he was
continual temptation from the world,
pleased with all he had made. But
the flesh and the devil.
then we see how man succumbed to
Paul is being transparent about what
temptation and disobeyed God with
this Christian life is like now, but he is
devastating consequences for the whole
also clear about the need for patience in
of mankind. These were as a direct
the midst of all this suffering. There is
result of the curse of God bringing death
much to look forward to: not only for us
to all, the need for toilsome labour on
but also for the whole of creation.
the land, and the pain of childbirth for
He paints a glorious picture which helps
women. It was Gods curse that put
us rejoice patiently in glorious hope.
creation into bondage.
It is worth pausing for a moment
to think about that. When we see a

10

disaster on the TV, or have one happen

to us, we are tempted to get angry with
God. But does it ever occur to us that
perhaps God is angry with mankind?
And that he has every right to be so?
That he sees our sin, and that a disaster
is an alarm bell that calls us to repent
even when we do not personally suffer?
The second observation Paul makes
is that creation is subjected to futility
(v20). He is saying that the creation
in its current state serves no ultimate
useful purpose! Now it is true, that a
universe without God the atheists
universe is pointless. It is the message
of Ecclesiastes where the writer
tries many ways to find meaning and
satisfaction from this world alone, only
to find that everything is vanity. We
cant get rid of that gnawing feeling
that there is something fundamentally
unsatisfying about the world we
live in when God is excluded. What
makes it pointless in the end is the
inevitable march of corruption and
decay. Whatever is achieved in our
lives, if something else doesnt destroy
it, the second law of thermodynamics
will. Moths and rust get everywhere!
Creation is utterly pointless without
God. If you think it through clearly you
find that there is no longer room for
those concepts of truth, beauty and
meaning. It is this, I suggest, that drives
our western world increasingly towards
nihilism and the pursuit of instant
pleasure. There is nothing of lasting
value, so eat and drink for tomorrow
we die! (1 Cor. 15:32).

But Paul is saying even more than this.

He is saying that God does exist, but it is
still futile - not just that it feels pointless
if we think about it but that this
creation really is futile! So, Pauls third
observation, is that the creation groans
(v22). What kind of groaning is it?
Could this be the final groans of death
he is talking about? No. A different
kind of groaning it is like the groans
of childbirth (v22). Now, childbirth is
painful, but it is not death. It is a painful
prelude to something wonderful!
This is what Paul is leading to: though to
our limited human perception this world
is broken and dying, in the redemptive
plans of God there is a purpose even for
the creation to be set free from the
bondage that it is now in. When is this
moment of freedom going to come?

The Revelation of the Sons

of God
It is going to come at the revealing of
the Sons of God (v19). Paul links closely
the future prospects of creation with
the future prospects of the children of
God i.e. the church of Jesus Christ. Paul
is picturing this created order waiting
with longing for this future great event the revealing of the sons of God. Clearly
Paul has in mind the people he had
spoken of earlier in v15, the sons of God.
Whatever we see of Christians today,
there is going to be an unveiling later.
What we see now is in the shadows, but
one day it will be in clear daylight.
What can Paul possibly mean?
To see this we need to look on a bit
further to v23, not only the creation,
but we ourselves, who have the
firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly
as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons,
the redemption of our bodies.
The redemption of our bodies is
important. Two things which coincide
are intimately linked. First, there is a
future adoption as sons and, second,
redemption of the body. What Paul has
in view here is the final resurrection of
our bodies, and that is the revelation of
the sons of God for which the creation
eagerly waits. This will be a state of
true glory and it is in this state that true
freedom comes to us.
Indeed, the whole creation will then also

to the Lord the first tenth of the harvest.

be freed from its bondage.
It was only a token but recognising that
Lets pause for breath and fit it together
the whole harvest belonged to the Lord.
with what we now know. When you
Christian, whatever you are tasting now
become a believing Christian you have
as a result of the presence of the Holy
the indwelling Holy Spirit who brings
Spirit in your life is only the firstfruits.
about a changed life, but remember
What awaits you at the resurrection
there is still sin present in our members.
of your body is the full measure of the
We are dead to sin it has no authority
blessing and the glory of God! Because
over us but it is not yet dead in us.
we are tasting it now, it fuels our hope
Sin is still something of a ball and chain
for the future, and it gives us patience to
weighing us down in this life. To be free
endure the present suffering.
of that will require the death of our
Friends, the trouble that
bodies and a subsequent
you are facing in your
resurrection into a new
This will be a state of true
life just now, as long as
sinless body. At that
glory and it is in this state that
you are killing sin, is not
point we truly enter into
true freedom comes to us.
a sign of the absence
glory and we will be
Indeed, the whole creation will
of blessing of God.
finally and fully revealed
then also be freed from
Actually, it is the normal
as sons of God. Along
its bondage.
Christian experience of
with that comes the
waiting and longing and
freeing of the old creation
groaning for something much better.
to become a new, free creation.
Just as the pain of childbirth is the
Friends, this is the prospect that awaits
normal experience of a mother looking
Christians: that of unlimited glory in the
forward to the glorious birth of her child,
presence of Jesus, with new glorious
so we wait and long for the glorious
bodies, able to fully enjoy a new creation
freedom that the resurrection will bring
in his presence without all the problems
for us and all creation.
that sin brings.
Paul wants to encourage his readers
with this picture. They may well be
suffering in various ways, perhaps
through external opposition to the
gospel or the continual battle against
sin in their lives. But knowing this
description of the future gives us hope.

Patience and Hope

In the last three verses (23-25) Paul
speaks of the patient hope Christians
have even as they groan inwardly.
It is strange to describe Christians
groaning, but its a bit like this: can you
ever remember a time when you wanted
something really badly? For example,
it might have been a person you fell in
love with and sometimes you felt the
longing so badly that all you could do
was sigh or even groan? Paul describes
this for the Christian who receives the
Holy Spirit - a longing and sighing and
groaning for the glory to come.
With the presence of the Spirit, you get
a taster of it now how do I know that?
The Christian gets the firstfruits of the
spirit (v23)! Firstfruits is a reference
to the Old Testament practice of giving

Stephen Dancer is married to

Susan, and father of one.
He has a PhD in physics. He worked
for 14 years in the aerospace
industry and became a chartered
engineer. He also has a BA in
Theological Studies. He has been
a minister of the gospel at Solihull
Presbyterian Church, part of the
EPCEW, since March, 2007.

11

HOLDING
ON TO
THE TRUTH
HABAKKUK
1:12- 2:1

f youve ever had opportunity to use a rock climbing wall you

know it looks very daunting, but you soon start to realise
there are places to put your hands, places to hold on. You look
for where you can get a firm grasp and where you can put your
feet.
The same principle applies in our spiritual lives. What will you
hold on to when you face perplexing and difficult times in your
own life? Where can you get a firm grasp? Where will you feel
youre on solid ground?
In the opening chapter of Habakkuk the prophet is facing
very perplexing questions. The state of the land of Judah,
Gods people, is deeply troubling. There is violence, disorder,
a lack of justice, everybody doing what they want to do, and
Habakkuk is crying out to God concerning this he keeps on
crying out how long shall I cry and you will not hear? He is
troubled that the Lord isnt intervening.
But then the Lord does answer, and he promises to act in
a powerful way. Hes to judge his own people but his
instrument is none other than the Chaldeans, the Babylonians
- a pagan land, a land described here as terrible and dreadful
in what they will do.
And Habakkuks perplexity is now even increased. What is the
Lord doing using the Babylonians? How are we to understand
whats going on?
1. KNOWING GOD (1 v. 12)
We come to Habakkuks prayer in verse 12. We need to see
that whilst Habakkuk is perplexed by what he sees unfolding,
his faith in God is still clear. He knows who God is he holds
on to the truth about God impressed on his mind and heart.
He knows where to place his hands and feet when climbing
the wall.
What is the truth that he confesses here in verse 12? First of
all God is eternal. Are you not from everlasting, O LORD my

12

God, my Holy One? Habakkuk knows to whom he is praying

- not someone confined and limited by time. God has no
beginning or end. Our lives are very short; were very limited;
we see things from a very short-term perspective we can
change our views and our thinking from one day to the next.
But God isnt subject to changes and whims as we are - hes
the eternal God. What a sure and certain truth to hold on to
Habakkuk in his perplexity comes to the eternal God.
How much we can rely upon God the God who has eternal
strength, eternal wisdom, eternal power and love, and whose
plan and purpose is from all eternity. What a God to trust in!
The everlasting God; the unchanging one.
But thats not the only truth that Habakkuk confesses here.
Are you not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my holy one?
God is holy: utterly pure and perfect. We dont want a God
like us, a God like sinful man no, he is utterly different from
that. He cannot even bear to look on iniquity. Gods purity is
such that he cant for one moment view sin with indulgence or
complacency its always offensive to him.
The holiness of God is something to strengthen our faith. We
worship the one who is glorious in holiness, whose purity is
like a burning light. We rely on one whose perfect character
and ways will not change. Habakkuk knows God is the holy
one.
Habakkuk also confesses the God who is faithful to his people:
O LORD my God. He knows that he belongs to the Lord that
he belongs to the God who will ever be faithful to his people.
Thats why he can end with that conviction, we shall not die.
God will be faithful to his people, and faithful to his own word.
He has made an everlasting covenant: I will be your God and
you will be my people. Habakkuk remembers Gods promise.
He believes Gods people will not be wiped out.
When Habakkuk sets out to pray at this difficult time, hes
already reminding himself of the great God to whom he is
praying.
When in perplexity are we able to remember for a moment
who God is? Be still and know that I am God the Psalmist
reminds us. When we know these great truths about God,
surely our feet are on firm ground. The truth can keep us from
slipping.
The times in which Habakkuk lived were confusing and
perplexing, but the truth hadnt changed. He could continue to
confess his faith in the eternal, holy, faithful, Almighty God.
2. SEEING EVIL (1 v. 13-17)
We come then to the heart of the problem. Because Habakkuk
knows and is convinced that God is holy, and perfect, and
faithful in all his ways, he cannot understand how the wicked
can grow in strength and prosper.
Habakkuk is well aware of the sins of Judah. He cries out to
God because of the violence and injustice that he sees. He
knows the Lords response is to appoint the Chaldeans to
bring judgement, as we see at the end of verse 12. This is
what God has said he will do.
But its perplexing because he knows of the wickedness of the
Chaldeans.

The prosperity of the wicked is always something which

has baffled Gods people. Where is justice? The Psalmist
in Psalm 73 says his feet had almost slipped when he saw
the prosperity of the wicked. They acted corruptly, violently,
proudly. And yet they had good health; their riches increased.
Whats wrong? the Psalmist is saying. Why is it like this?
Habakkuk is facing the same difficult question as he looks at
the strength of the Chaldean army approaching why does
God allow the wicked to devour someone more righteous than
he?
Its not that the people of Judah were particularly righteous
- we know they werent - but compared to pagan Babylon,
Judah did have Gods word and there was still a faithful
remnant who served the Lord. They werent ruthless like the
Chaldeans. The Chaldeans were much worse.
Habakkuk gives us a close picture of the Chaldeans. They
had risen to such power over the nations that they could
gather people up like fish into a net. They were tyrants; they
did with their captives what they wanted to do. They had
no conscience about the cruelty they carried out. They could
easily overwhelm their enemies.
They celebrated and gloated over their military successes.
They worshipped their weapons. They had no thought for
the true and living God, but instead venerated their own
successes. They could enjoy plenty, have sumptuous feasts as
the fruits of their actions.
Its still the case today that people will celebrate their own
unrighteous actions, glory in things that should be their
shame. People boast about their cleverness in deceiving
someone; talk about the malicious things theyve done to
someone they dont like. People want to let everybody in the
office know how they lived it up at the weekend.
The Chaldeans boasted that they could ruthlessly plunder
the nations around them. This is Habakkuks question: Shall
they therefore empty their net, and continue to slay nations
without pity? How long will they carry on?
Habakkuk is troubled and perplexed by the evil he sees around
him and so he brings a powerful plea to God about the
things that are happening.
Thats something we too can do when were troubled.
Our instinct at times is to complain to one another and yet
be slow to pray. But the example of Habakkuk here is that
the things we dont understand we leave with the Lord, our
faithful, Almighty God.
Why, Lord, why? We dont know but you know and we
leave it in your mighty hands. Prayer waits on God even when
we dont understand; even when we dont see immediate
answers.

Of course, its picture language because Habakkuk isnt

waiting for a messenger as such, but waiting for the Lords
response.But he goes apart to do that, confident that the Lord
will give an answer. The reply may not be immediate but hes
confident in the Lord and is looking to him. He says he will
watch to see what he will say to me.
Now were not quite in the same position as Habakkuk.
Were not waiting upon the Lord for revelation in the same
sense that Habakkuk was as a prophet. We have the complete
Scriptures; we have Gods word. Yet we do need to come to
Gods word with that readiness to see what he would say to
us, with that desire that he would show us his ways. We need
to have ears that are ready to listen to all that he would say
to us, and be ready to embrace that word in faith, and find the
peace that it brings. We need to place our feet on that solid
ground.
Like Habakkuk, we face our own perplexities at times, perhaps
through difficulties that we have to struggle with. Perhaps like
Habakkuk we are concerned about the things that are going on
around us, perplexed that wickedness seems to prosper in the
land, and that the church of Christ is all too weak. Where do
we go in that perplexity? Like Habakkuk we must wait upon
God in prayer.
We go to the true and living God with faith and expectancy.
But we should never see prayer as some magic formula where
we just come with a list of things that we want to happen.
The Lord would have us bring our petitions and concerns to
him and leave them with him - like Habakkuk, wait upon him.
We need to remember that God does speak to us through his
word, that this isnt just a book for us to know, but that the
Lord uses it in our lives. It is a lamp to our feet and a light to
our path. It does point us to certain truths.
And in a world of injustice when the wicked devours a person
more righteous than he, we remember that God speaks of
how his Son suffered, the just for the unjust to bring us to
God: that great mystery that the sinless Son of God should
be put to death by lawless hands for sinners like you and me.
We have that great truth of Gods word to hold on to in all our
times of perplexity.
Habakkuk knew what to hold on to. He didnt come up with
pat answers but he confessed his faith in the eternal, holy and
faithful God. He waited upon God with expectant faith.

3. WATCHING IN FAITH (2v.1)

But the prophet then sets himself apart to watch. Hes prayed
and pleaded with God about whats happening, and now hell
watch and wait for the answer. He doesnt pour out his heart
to God and then forget it in faith he continues to look to the
Lord.
So Habakkuk describes himself going up into the watchtower
to see what will happen, like someone waiting to see if there is
a messenger coming from far away in the distance.

Marcus Hobson has been minister of the Finaghy

EPC congregation since May 2014, having previously
served as an assistant in Durham Presbyterian
Church. He is married to Alison, and they have one
son, Edward.
13

 Fulfilment of the
Prophetic Pictures of
the Old Testament
(Matthew 26:17-35)

Atonement, Part 3:

In these studies on the cross of Christ we have already seen two

glorious pictures of the cross on which Jesus died.
Firstly, the death of Christ on the cross was in absolute
conformity to the Fathers will, and secondly, the death of Christ
on the cross was in absolute conformity to the prophetic word
concerning his cross.
But there is something else in the Old Testament that pointed
to the cross; the Old Testament pictures, types and shadows
concerning his cross.

i) The picture of Isaac on Mount Moriah.

Here we have one of the most moving stories in the Old
Testament. In Genesis 17, we discover the prophecy of the birth
of Isaac. It is quite an amazing prophecy, because Abraham is
100 years of age, and his wife Sarah is 90 years old. But it is the
covenant keeping God who makes this promise of a child, a son,
and his name would be called Isaac. Then, God tells Abraham
that his covenant would be established with Isaac and it would be
an everlasting covenant.
In chapter 21, we have the birth of Isaac, just as God had
promised. But then we are faced with a very dramatic and
unexpected situation in chapter 22. God tests Abraham and calls
him to go to Mount Moriah and offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice
there. God stresses the fact that Abraham loves his son Isaac.
Abraham will remember not only his love for his son, but that all
14

the promises made by God revolved around Isaac.

The promise of a covenant, and the blessings that
would come from the covenant, would all come
through Isaac. That everlasting covenant would be
with Isaacs descendants after him. He would be a
great nation, he would beget twelve princes.
All this would come through Isaac; that was
Gods promise! Yet now, God asks that
Abraham offers Isaac as a sacrifice!
Amazingly, Abraham, while not understanding what God was
going to do, obeyed God.
We can just imagine the scene. A servant goes along with them
for most of the journey. But then he is left and Abraham makes
an amazing statement: Stay here with the donkey, I and the boy
will go over there and worship and come again to you.
Abraham was convinced that they would both return, but how?
He did not know, but he trusted God. Hebrews 11:19 says, he
considered that God was able to raise him from the dead.
But that was something that had never happened in the history of
the world.
As the story continues we find Isaac asking his father, Where
is the lamb? The reply was, God will provide for himself the
lamb for a burnt offering, my son. Many scholars believe that
Abraham and Isaac were at Mount Moriah, which in Christs
day was called Mount Calvary; the very place where Christ was
crucified. Mount Moriah was actually a range of mountains
including the Mount of Olives and the temple mount. The
picture here before us is that of the Father willing to offer his
beloved son as a sacrifice; exactly what God did in Christ Jesus.
The great difference was that God stopped Abraham from
making a sacrifice of Isaac, and a ram took his place. But at
Calvary, no one took the place of Christ. The first was a picture,
the second the reality.

ii) The picture of the Passover lamb.

In Exodus 12, we read of the institution of the Passover. Then
in 1 Corinthians 5:7 the apostle Paul reminds us, cleanse out
the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are
unleavened. Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
Here is another great picture from the Old Testament which is
fulfilled by Christ on the cross.
Again, Luke in his gospel takes up this picture telling us what
happened at the institution of the Lords Supper and how the
Lord himself made this connection between the Passover and
himself (Luke 22:19, 20). The significance was that the events of
the cross took place at the time of Passover. That was why the
disciples were in the upper room with the Lord, to keep
the Passover.

There are a great number of parallels between the Passover

lamb and the Lord himself. The Passover lamb had to be a lamb
without blemish. No defects whatsoever. It had to be a male and
a year old or less. Thus it was in its prime. It was essential that
it be kept from the 10th day to the 14th day. Then it had to
be killed.
Next, the blood of the lamb must be applied on the doorposts and
lintel of the home. The lamb had to be eaten that night roasted,
with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. God promised that when
he would see the blood he would Passover that house and those
in the house would be safe.
What a glorious picture this is of the Lord Jesus, the Lamb of
God who died for us. In Egypt, the judgement of God fell upon
the Egyptians, but those sheltered by the blood of the Passover
lambs were safe, totally safe. Christ, our Passover lamb, shed his
blood so that we would be kept safe, sheltered by the precious
blood of the Lord Jesus.
The Passover meal was to be kept through their generations by
Israel; it was a memorial to be kept every year. In a similar way,
we have the sacrament of the Lords Supper to remind us of the
dying of the Lord on the cross for us. Here is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world. Here is safety from the
wrath and judgement and condemnation of a holy and righteous
God on sinful men and women. Jesus was our Passover lamb
sacrificed for us. He cried on the cross, finished! He was the
reality of the picture shown to men and women for hundreds of
years.

iii) The picture of the brazen serpent.

This is a very strange picture of the Lord Jesus Christ! The
background was that the people of Israel, having left Egypt, were
now on their way to the Promised Land. Moses was now 119
years old, Aaron and Miriam were both dead, and Moses would
also die a year after this. Serpents came on the people because of
their sin, as they grumbled against God and against Moses.
It seems that the people spent a lot of time murmuring and
complaining. They had manna and water as well, but they were
longing for something more exciting, something different. How
natural, and how sinful! In actual fact, they should have been in
the Promised Land already, but they had turned back and refused
to enter, not trusting God.
Because they had turned aside from Gods way, he had sent
serpents among them. They were called fiery serpents. Either
this could have been because of their colour, or else, most likely,
because of the burning sensation of their poison and the terrible
thirst that accompanied a bite from these serpents. They are also
called flying serpents. Not that they actually flew, but because
they would coil themselves and suddenly spring at people.
Apparently they exist in that area to this very day.
But the lesson to be learned is that of rebelling against God.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon speaks of the fiery lusts which tempt
us and do so to make us rebel and sin against God.
Amazingly, this picture is taken up by Christ himself in John 3.
He is speaking to Nicodemus and says, as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted
up.
This is another glorious picture. The people had sinned, and
they should have died for their sin. But this serpent was made
of bronze and placed on a pole. All who looked were saved from
this painful death. Christ himself would be lifted up at Calvary,

and those who looked to him, in faith, would be saved. This is

the simple message of the cross of Jesus. That is exactly what
Jesus says, that whoever believes in him might have eternal
life. There was a picture; Christ on the cross was the reality.

iv) The picture of the rent veil

When Jesus was on the cross, some amazing things happened.
One was the three hours darkness. Another was that when he
yielded up his spirit, after crying finished, Matthew tells us that
the veil in the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.
This was a very significant thing to happen. This veil was a large
heavy veil, not a thin curtain like we might have in our homes.
Its purpose was to divide the holy place from the holy of holies.
In the holy of holies, there was the Ark of the Covenant, and in
it were the tablets of the Law. Above it, the golden mercy seat,
and watching over the mercy seat and the tablets of the Law
were the cherubim. Only the high priest could go into that place,
and only once a year, bearing the blood of the sacrifice on the
Day of Atonement. That veil was there to remind the priests and
the people that there was this great barrier between God and
themselves. Only the blood of a sacrifice would allow the high
priest to enter that place.
But when Christ died, that massive veil was torn from top to
bottom. This was Gods doing, not the work of man. Here we
must emphasise that it occurred when the Lord Christ cried
in triumph, Finished! Listen to the writer to the Hebrews:
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy
places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he
opened for us through the curtain, that is his flesh. (Hebrews
10:19, 20)
What a wonderful word is tetelestai: Finished!
Christ finished the work the Father gave him to do. He finished
all the prophecies concerning the cross. He finished all the
pictures of the Old Testament on the cross.
Surely the Christian must rejoice at such a wonderful saviour and
such a wonderful salvation. Our response must be, for all the
Lord has done for me, I never will cease to praise him.
I am aware that there might be those who read these words and
yet are still in that dreadful condition, a sinner before a holy and
righteous God. You have seen something of the work of Christ
here. What is your response? Surely it must be, God be merciful
to me, a sinner.

Jim McClatchey has been in the ministry for the past 45

years, and has served in Lancashire, Lincolnshire, and
Scotland. He now lives in Fermanagh and is a member of
Omagh EPC. He still preaches regularly at home and in
England and Scotland. Jim is married to Irene, and they have 4
children, 9 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

15

FROM THE CHURCHES

Banner of Truth
Around 12 noon on Thursday 14th April,
the Banner of Truth ministers conference
concluded with the singing of the closing verses
of Psalm 72.
Why, you might ask, is such a non-event
being reported in the pages of the Evangelical
Presbyterian?
Simply because it was an historic moment.
The conference has met at the university of
Leicester since 1962, but from next year will
be moving to a new venue. Over these years,
numerous EPC ministers have benefited
from the excellent ministry that has been a
hallmark of the conference. Rev WJ Grier was
closely associated with the conference from its
beginning, and even at this years conference
was referred to on several occasions with
obvious affection and respect. Serving ministers continue to enjoy the teaching and fellowship of the Banner Conference. Please
pray for the work of the Banner of Truth Trust and especially for the ministers conference as it moves in 2017 to Yarnfield Park.

YPA Missionary Project

Each year young people from Ballyclare congregation
raise money for the YPA missionary project by laying
on a meal after a morning service late in June (fondly
known as Stew Day). Other efforts have included
taking part in the Belfast Marathon, Fun-run and
Walk, and significant amounts of money have been
raised which have been of help to the people and
projects supported.
Let us introduce you to the man who has been
chosen to benefit from this years missionary
project. His name is Samuel Cowan and he doesnt
travel more than a few miles from his home in
Bangor to reach out to the nations of the world.
How can this be? Samuel is a friend to the seafarers
who enter the port of Belfast, mainly as crew on
board cargo ships, but increasingly on board the
cruise ships which stop off in the city. He serves with
SCFS, the Seamens Christian Friend Society, and
his work is truly a labour of love in the Lords name
as he climbs the gangplanks of newly docked boats,
offering friendship, practical help, Bibles and gospel literature, prayer, fellowship and Christian teaching.
Ballyclare young people have not been the only ones supporting the missionary projects over the years, but what about your
YPA? Is there something they could be doing to help? And wouldnt they profit from learning what God is doing in our own
country among the sailors who pass through for only a few days?
If you want to learn more about the work this years money will be supporting, visit www.scfs.org/supporters/ports/belfast or
ask Samuel to come to speak at a meeting in your church.
16

FROM THE CHURCHES

United Beach Missions

United Beach Missions (UBM) is an organisation running

We have both been involved in UBM teams at various places

missions for the whole family on beaches throughout Ireland,

throughout Ireland since our teenage years. It has been great

England, Wales and continental Europe during the summer

to see God working in peoples lives through simply sharing

months. In addition Christian Answer teams (involving open

the gospel with people on the beach. UBM has also been of

air outreach) and International Student Outreach teams run in

great benefit to us, helping us to grow in our faith, to learn

various cities in the UK and Ireland.

how to clearly explain our faith and share our testimonies,

UBM first started in summer 1950 in Blackpool and came

teaching us to trust Him when we feel inadequate, unworthy

to Ireland not long after. For summer 2016, 90 separate

and fearful sharing the message of Jesus with others.

missions are planned including 18 weeks of mission in Ireland

at 7 locations (Downings, Portnoo, Tramore, Ballybunion,
Kilkee, Rosscarbery, and Ardmore) and a Christian Answer
mission in Galway.
Over the years the work of UBM has changed to adapt to a
changing society but the aim of sharing the good news of
Jesus with those we meet has always remained the same.
Beach Missions are family outreach, our activities geared to
children, teenagers, parents, friends and onlookers. During
the day we run lively programmes on the beach including
games, quizzes, memory verses, singing, competitions, telling
Bible stories and teaching Gospel truths. Specific family
events are held in the evening/afternoon where the Gospel
is shared publicly, and a range of Christian literature is given
out, but the real value of a beach mission is the opportunity
for the team members to get to know the people we meet
and to have individual conversations about the gospel and to
share their testimony. It is great to see many of the people

This summer we plan to go on a team with our children

we meet wanting to know more, accepting Bibles and other

Esther and Nathan to Downings, Co. Donegal, from 2nd to

literature, and some coming to trust Christ.

9th July.
We thank God for his blessing on the work of beach missions
over the years and we would ask for prayer that this summer
there would be enough leaders and team members to run
the planned missions. Please also pray for the ongoing
preparations including stories, gospel talks, literature and
planning of events. Pray that God would bring families along
to the activities to hear the good news and trust Christ.
If you would like to be involved in a beach mission team this
summer you can find out more at www.ubm.org.uk. United
Beach Missions (UBM) provides a great opportunity for
Christians to serve, whether old or young, extrovert or quiet.
All that is required is a desire to share the Gospel. UBM is a
great way of reaching people today, but more than this, your
faith will grow as you share fellowship in Gods work.
Anyone who is a Christian and aged 15 or over is welcome.
Paul & Rachel Brockbank - Stranmillis EPC

17

FROM THE CHURCHES

By Honour and Dishonour

By Honour and Dishonour,
the book telling the
story of the Evangelical
Presbyterian Church, was
launched on Monday 14
March in our Knock church.
The launch included a
lecture on The Confessional
Church given by the author,
Ernest C Brown. The event
was repeated on the
following evening in our
Omagh church.
But these were no dry
and academic events.
The opening praise and Bible reading were followed by Rev.
Robert Johnston preaching on 2 Corinthians 6:1-10. He
spoke of five marks of workers together with Christ, marks
which distinguished Pauls life, which were present in the
forefathers of EPC and which we should look for in our own
lives. This was followed by the singing of All hail the power of
Jesus name, the hymn sung on 28 January 1928 by the 26
people who gathered in the early days of what is now the
EPC. Ernests lecture then captured our interest, stretched
our thinking, challenged our living and warmed our hearts,
before leading us into the singing of Psalm 87, a psalm which
presents an Old Testament picture of the Christian church and
speaks of the love of God for all the nations.
Presentations were made to Ernest and Shona, in
appreciation of the work undertaken in the writing of the
book. At the conclusion of each launch, books were available
for purchase and fellowship was enjoyed by the many who
remained for supper.
Altogether, these were memorable evenings. We trust that
many people will have been inspired to read By Honour and
Dishonour, to study the Westminster Confession of Faith, and
to recognise the Christian life as a life of constant learning.
Copies of By Honour and Dishonour are available from the
Evangelical Bookshop or through EPC congregations.

18

FROM THE CHURCHES

PRESBYTERY DAY CONFERENCE
Where would you go to find...

140 people of all ages

Hearts and voices united in praise
Biblical preaching
A busy crche
Fun & learning in the childrens meetings
Coffee, scones and fresh cream
Wise words from an outgoing Moderator
Reports on a year in EPC
Wise words from an incoming Moderator
Greetings from kindred denominations
Prayer for grace, unity and expanded vision
An extensive book stall
Good food in good company
A mission report from Cork
Time for new friendships and the renewing of old ones
A sense of Gods presence
A reminder of the unity and fellowship in Christ that is
ours in EPC?

Answer: the Presbytery Day Conference held in Belfast

Bible College on 23 April 2016, when Prof Carl R Trueman of
Westminster Theological Seminary was the guest speaker
and Mr Mervyn Langtry installed as Moderator for the
coming year. Recordings of the three preaching sessions are
available from Stranmillis EPC.
To quote from Prof Truemans blog:
The highlight of (my Belfast) trip..., was preaching at the
EPC family day/general assembly on Saturday... Any general
assembly that does its work in one hour -- yes, one hour!
-- has to be a model for the rest of the Presbyterian world.
And the EPC is like the OPC a small, no-frills Presbyterian
denomination. It is a reminder that Christianity is at its best
on the ground, where ordinary people simply believe and
seek to live as Christians.

The first person to correctly identify the wearer of this sock

will win a chocolate bar, paid for by the Editor!
19

FROM THE CHURCHES

Peter Grier Interview
It has become customary
at the Presbytery Day
Conference to interview one
of our EPC members involved
in mission.
This years interviewee was
Peter Grier, a member in
Hope Fellowship.
Peter, where are you working, with whom & for how long?
Im living in Cork and working in universities and colleges in
the whole Munster area with Christian Unions Ireland. Ive
been there for four years and expect to continue for a few
more.
Tell us about a typical week, if theres such a thing.
Im not sure that there is. In general, my work is inspiring
and equipping students to reach out as mission teams. That
sometimes means teaching evangelism skills, but also Biblehandling skills. Through Bible study, students will grow in
their own faith and this in turn will fuel them for mission.
I am often involved in 1:1 discipleship, perhaps with leaders
in the CU or with new Christians. I also liaise with churches

- there has been astounding growth in the number of

Christians in the region, but that means church life is messy
and help is needed.
Can you share some encouragements with us?
It is encouraging to see what God is so graciously doing,
especially outside the more secular Dublin towards the west
of Ireland. I am conscious that I stand on the shoulders of
those who have gone before, who sowed the seed through
difficulty and hardship. Now is a reaping time, with people
coming to faith. We have seen encouragements through
gospel projects as we bring Gods word to students for whom
to be Irish is to be Roman Catholic. We use resources such as
Uncover, which invites people to see for yourself what the
gospel of John says about Jesus. We have seen individuals,
initially suspicious of the Bible, coming to meet with the Jesus
of the Bible. Chinese and Arabic versions of Uncover are
also being used among students.
And finally, how can we help?
By praying. The Christian Unions and churches are all made
up of first generation Christians. Often they look to me for
help which I feel unequipped to give. Please pray.
(If you would like to receive Peters prayer letter, contact him
on peter@ifesireland.org or 07840117278)

Some of the wives who were present on the evening

of Monday 8th February for an informal gathering of
ministers and wives to recognise the retirement of
Robert and Doreen Beckett. After a meal in the Yum
restaurant we returned to the Stranmillis hall for
desserts, games and presentations.

Congratulations to the following children who won prizes in the 2016 Sunday school
project. Projects were on either Samuel Bill or Brother Andrew.
Prize-winners:
Pre-school & P1
1. Katie Graham
2. Sophie Johnston
3. Jonathan Wright & Amy Nelis

P2- P3
1. Joshua Graham
2. Juliette Hall
3. Noah Fitzsimmons & Daniel McMullan

P4- P7
1. Joel Beattie
2. Peter Wright
3. Emma Watson & Lauren Wright

Highly commended
Esther Brockbank, Timothy Hawkes, Benjamin Johnston, Luke Johnston, Sarah McMullan, Isaac Nelis, Joshua Schmidt, Rebekah
Woolsey, Elijah Underwood, Ezra Underwood, Joseph Underwood, Moses Underwood
Thank you and well done! to everyone who took part. A special thank you to Marcus and Alison Hobson and Karen
Langtry who marked the entries.
20

FROM THE CHURCHES

Licensing Service for Trevor Kane
On the evening of Thursday 3rd March 2016 Trevor Kane
was licensed as a Probationer for the Christian Ministry by
the Presbytery of the EPC. Licensing is the recognition by
Presbytery that a candidate for ministry has successfully
completed his college course as well the various other
requirements which the church lays down, such as Presbytery
exams and pastoral placements.
Rev Robert Johnston, Moderator of Presbytery, presided
and Harold Gibson (Clerk of Presbytery) put the prescribed
questions. A comprehensive report detailing something of
Trevors experience in Christian work and his sense of call to
the ministry, as well as detailing for us Trevors successful
completion of his theological studies, was given by Rev Dr Sid
Garland, Convenor of the Training and Ministry Committee.
The highlight of the evening was an excellent exposition of
Gods Word by Rev Prof John Angus MacLeod, Vice Principal
of Edinburgh Theological Seminary. John Angus was an
appropriate choice as preacher, for Trevor had studied at ETS
and had greatly benefited from the fellowship and teaching
there. The sermon on 1 Timothy 3 v 116 is available on the
Stranmillis website www.atstranmillis.com and will be a
blessing to your soul if you download it today.
Please continue to pray for Trevor, Suzanne and the family as
they seek to know the Lords will in future days.
GNB

Pray for blessing and guidance for

Trevor and Suzanne Kane and the
boys as they discern Gods will for
the future
Thank God for enabling John Roger to
complete his first year of training for the
ministry successfully. Pray that Johns
summer placement in Omagh will be
very useful to him and the congregation
and for safety as he travels
Pray for David Burke as he approaches
the end of his three years as youth
evangelist at Hope Fellowship and
seeks Gods guidance for his next
steps. Pray too for the future of
Hope Fellowship.
Praise God for calling young men into
the ministry and pray that they will be
faithful servants of God and of His
church
Pray for the work of UBM this summer,
around Ireland and further afield. Pray
that families would hear the gospel and
respond in faith. Ask God to uphold
Paul and Rachel and all those who
serve on UBM teams
Thank God for every child and young
person attending our church camps this
year. Pray for safety and happiness
and a sense of Gods presence. Pray
for hearts to be open to the word of
God and for young lives to be delivered
from the evil one. Praise God for
leaders who want to serve in this way
21

FROM THE CHURCHES

OMAGH OFFICIAL OPENING

Thank God for the freedom we have

to run Holiday Bible clubs and pray for
His strength and enabling for every
leader. Pray for the outreach week in
Knock in August
Praise God for the regenerating work
of His Spirit in lives in the South of
Ireland. Pray for Christian students as
they reach out with the gospel and for
Peter Grier as he teaches and
equips them
Thank God for the time of teaching
and fellowship enjoyed at the
Presbytery Day Conference. Pray
for Mervyn Langtry as he takes up
Moderatorial duties. Pray for Godgiven unity, wisdom and vision in a
new season of Presbytery meetings
Praise God for His faithfulness
to us as a denomination over the
generations. Pray that the publication
of By Honour and Dishonour will
prove helpful in individual lives and
congregations and will bring glory to
His name
Thank God for the Banner of Truth
conference and the help it is to
ministers every year. Pray that our
ministers will know refreshing times
over the summer

22

The newly extended and refurbished sanctuary of Omagh

EPC was full to overflowing on the afternoon of Saturday 26
March as friends from around the province joined Rev. Andrew
Lucas and his congregation to mark the official opening of
their building. Hearts were raised to God in praise and prayer,
after which Mr William Johnston reported on behalf of the
deacons board. He traced the project narrative from the origin
of the church in 1990 to the purchase of the present site and
opening of the original building 10 years later (at a total cost
of 62000). As the congregation grew, however, so did their
requirements; plans were made and approved for a hall, a
larger sanctuary, a crche and a ministers room, and the work
was given to church elder Mr Kenneth Condy of Cornerstone
Developments Ltd. William thanked the Gibson Primary School
for accommodating them during the renovation which began
late summer, 2014. Sincere gratitude was expressed to Ken
Condy for the hard work, diligence and expertise which he had
demonstrated during the construction. Thankfulness was also
expressed to Crumlin EPC for their generous funding and to all
who have given towards the cost.
Everyone present accorded with Williams closing words:
Above all, we must be thankful to God for His grace and
goodness to us His people. We acknowledge His guiding in all
the decisions that had to be made, we praise Him for His caring
hand upon all the workers who entered the site, we are grateful
for His provision to meet the costs of the extension. God has
blessed us with a new building suitable for worshipping Him
and for reaching out to others. Our prayer is that we His people
will, by His grace, use the extension of this meeting house
to further the extension of Christs Kingdom in Omagh and
beyond and to the glory of His name.
We were then taken on a tour, not of the church building, but
of the Old Testament tabernacle, as Rev. Robert Johnston
preached from Exodus 26. Our attention was drawn to the
Contrast (so dull, but so beautiful), the Presence of God (so
near and yet so far) and to the Salvation Christ Provides (so
narrow, but so wide). But never be satisfied with a tour of the
tabernacle, we were told. Look to Jesus. With these words
in our ears and in our hearts, it was a joy to sing together O
Lord of hosts, how lovely is your dwelling place and to enjoy
refreshments and fellowship together following the service.
If you are holidaying in the Omagh area this summer, why not
join the folk there for worship in their new building?
(Sunday services at 11:30am and 7pm)

BOOK REVIEWS
Title: The Incomparable Christ
Author: John Stott
Publisher: IVP
Published: 2001
Pages: 250
RRP 10.99 Our Price 6.75
Regardless of what anyone may
personally think or believe about
him, Jesus of Nazareth has been
the dominant figure in the history
of western culture for almost 20
centuries. So begins John Stotts study of the life of Christ
and of his influence on history.
This book is based on Stotts London Lectures in
Contemporary Christianity series given in 2000. In the
introduction Stott notes that Christ is the centre of history,
the focus of Scripture, and the heart of mission. Stott then
elaborates this by attempting to answer four questions: How
does the New Testament bear witness to Christ?, How has
the church portrayed Jesus Christ down the centuries?, What
influence has Christ had in history?, and What should Jesus
Christ mean to us today?
In answer to these questions, Stott structures the book in
four parts: the first, The Original Jesus, considers the witness
of New Testament writers, both in the Gospels and epistles.
The second part, The Ecclesiastical Jesus, considers how the
church has presented (and at times misrepresented) Christ
through the centuries. Stott gives brief critiques of writers
as diverse as Justin Martyr and NT Wright. In part three, The
Influential Jesus, Stott considers how Christ has inspired
people through history - from Francis of Assisi to William
Wilberforce. In the final section, The Eternal Jesus, Stott
presents a series of studies of Christ as portrayed in the book
of Revelation - from his rule over the church to his coming in
glory - and considers how Christ challenges us today.
This book is interesting, informative and scholarly with a clear
devotional element - especially in the first and final sections.
Despite its length of 250 pages it is easy to read, as the main
sections are broken down into several short chapters, many
of which are self-contained, allowing the reader to dip in and
out. However, the person and influence of Christ remain the
overarching theme which holds the book together.
Growing up as a Christian in the 1980s the works of John
Stott were essential reading. IVP have recently reissued a
number of titles including this volume. The reissued book
benefits from a clear typeface and font size.
For those unfamiliar with Stott I would encourage them to try
this volume. For those who already have some of his books
in the bookcase, this would be a welcome addition from a
reliable author.

Title: Developments in Biblical Counseling

Author: J. Cameron Fraser
Publisher: Reformation Heritage Books
Published: 2015
Pages: 124
RRP 7.99 Our Price 6.75
Cameron Fraser hails from the
UK and from the Scottish Free
Presbyterian denomination. He
was a contemporary of mine at
Westminster Seminary in the
1970s. After seminary, Fraser
stayed in north America, serving
in Canada with the Christian
Reformed Church. He was at
Westminster in the days when Jay Adams was having a
big impact across the evangelical world in advising pastors
(through Competent to Counsel and other titles) that they had
the tools in the Scriptures to help
their members.
As a pastor I endeavoured to make use of the insights
of Adams and the training we received at the Christian
Counseling and Education Center.
I have also seen Nigerians appreciate the Bible-based
approach of Adams and his colleagues. But like Cameron
Fraser I have even more appreciated the second generation
of teachers and counsellors who have modified and
strengthened the Adams approach. The work of David
Powlison, Paul Tripp and Ed Welch has been widely
appreciated. This second generation have changed the
terminology to biblical counselling rather than nouthetic
counselling. David Powlison, Elyse Fitzpatrick and Tim Keller
have very helpfully drawn attention to the idols of the heart,
those wrong desires that warp our lives. Alongside LloydJones, J. I. Packer, Sinclair Ferguson and Tim Keller, todays
school of biblical counselling shows more appreciation than
Adams, for the beneficial influence of the Puritans.
The work of the demonic was too hastily dismissed by
Adams and from my experience both in Ireland and in Africa
I appreciate the more balanced approach of Martyn LloydJones, John Nevius, Fred Leahy and David Powlison. In the
African context the pastor must depend on the Word and
Spirit in a way that the counsellee will understand, and so
exorcism cannot be ruled out.
Many are sure to benefit from understanding the history and
ongoing development of the biblical counselling movement. I
welcome the growing appreciation of CCEF in the UK.
I also commend the irenic spirit and practical suggestions of
this book.
Rev Dr Sid Garland

Michael Trimble
23

Best of the Blogs

A selection of online blogs and articles to challenge and
encourage you in your walk with God and his people
Everyone has a Regulative Principle (David Murray)

Reformed Theology is Covenant Theology (Richard Pratt Jr.)

(http://theaquilareport.com/109660 )

(http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/reformed-theologycovenant-theology)

Every Christian believes that there is an acceptable and an

unacceptable way of worshipping God. Every Christian has
a regulative principle, a rule (or rules) which regulates the
content and conduct of worship. Even the most extreme
worship leader has some limit on what he or she deems
acceptable in the worship of God.
Theological Primer: The Holy Spirit (Kevin De Young)
(https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/
kevindeyoung/2016/04/19/theological-primer-holy-spirit)
Many Christians rarely think about the Holy Spirit. God the
Father we know about. God the Son we think about all the
time. But God the Holy Spirit? There are fewer songs to him,
fewer meditations about him, and fewer churches named
after him. But this may not be altogether a bad thing
18 things to pray for your church (Jonathan Leeman)
(https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/18-things-topray-for-your-church)
Its comparatively easy for you and me to pray for ourselves,
our families, and our friends. But how can we learn how to
pray more fervently and consistently for our local churches?
For one, we just need to start doing itand encouraging
others to do so.

Is Infant Baptism a Roman Catholic leftover? (R. Scott Clark)

(http://heidelblog.net/2016/03/is-infant-baptism-a-romancatholic-leftover)
I began my Christian life in an evangelical (Southern) Baptist
setting. As part of my initiation into that culture I was
given an explanation for why there are other approaches to
reading Scripture, beyond those I saw and experienced in my
evangelical Baptist circle. E.g., I was told that Roman Catholics
baptized infants but that was purely out of tradition. Ours, I
was told, was the biblical practice. When I learned that there
were Protestants, however, who baptized infants that was
more difficult.

24

Reformed theology is often associated with covenant

theology. If you listen carefully, youll often hear pastors and
teachers describe themselves as Reformed and covenantal.
The terms Reformed and covenant are used together so
widely that it behooves us to understand why they are
connected.
The Belfast Job (Carl Trueman)
(http://www.alliancenet.org/mos/postcards-frompalookaville/the-belfast-job#.V26XG5X2YWw)
The highlight of the trip, though, was preaching at the
EPC family day/general assembly on Saturday and then at
Stranmillis EPC in Belfast on Sunday. Any general assembly
that does its work in one hour -- yes, one hour! -- has to be
a model for the rest of the Presbyterian world. And the EPC
is like the OPC a small, no-frills Presbyterian denomination.
It is a reminder that Christianity is at its best on the ground,
where ordinary people simply believe and seek to live as
Christians.