Matthew 3:7-12.
The Lord Jesus said of John the Baptist what we should ever remember.
“And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he,” Matthew 11:7-11.
With such a matchless commendation of John, I dare say we can make him an example in preaching that we may safely follow!
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Matt 3:7.
1. Please notice that these men thus rebuked professed faith and repentance. “Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism,” verses 5-7.
Sadly, many who act in this very proper way do so hypocritically. They lack the evidence in their lives that indicates true faith and repentance.
John, under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, was made aware of this and called for evidence to be produced by them. “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance,” verse 8.
2. He rebuked them in a very public fashion. The Pharisees and Sadducees were engaged in a very PUBLIC act so John rebuked them in keeping with the environment in which the Pharisees and Sadducees were acting!
Private acts, if sinful, will be rebuked privately for they have not been observed by others and there is therefore no requirement that the mind and will of God be declared to any observers, regarding this private sin.
In the case of John rebuking the Pharisees and Sadducees, he was rebuking their very public show of repentance WITHOUT any evidence of it being genuine, therefore he must let the observers know God’s mind on what was happening.
Paul
This is in keeping with Paul’s directive to Timothy. “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear,” 1 Timothy 5:20. Without a pubic rebuke observers might think that the behaviour being reprimanded was acceptable.
3. How we act testifies to the truth or otherwise of the profession we may make! In the controversy that is central to the present disagreement within the Free Presbyterian Church, is the issue of whether the actions of some ministers and elders are in keeping with that professed at their ordination.
Here is the wording of that agreed to and embraced by ministers and elders at their ordination.
‘Will you maintain with all the strength God shall give you the position on Biblical separation from apostasy as taken by the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster in 1951 at the time of its secession from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland?
As God helps you will you expose and resist the continued apostasy from Christ manifested within Irish Presbyterianism, Methodism, Episcopalianism and other visible church bodies; exhorting God’s people to obey the teaching and commandment of 1 Timothy 6: 3-5?’
The swearing of this oath is a very public act before the gathered Free Presbyterians and members of the general public at the ordination service.
Now, is this oath in keeping with fellowshipping with clerics of the ecumenical denominations mentioned above and which the one being ordained has sworn to uphold?
I ask this again in the light of a series of pictures sent to me. They were very publicly mounted on Facebook and tell of what are recent activities by Rev William McCrea.
It is stated that Rev McCrea has been partaking in this service for the past 45 years, likely in company with a member of an ecumenical denomination, as was the case on June 21st. The Church of Ireland minister, Rev David Luckman, the speaker on this occasion, may be seen seated behind Rev McCrea in the third photo.
The question I ask is this: ‘Would Rev William McCrea have been asked back after his first time, if he had kept the oath he made before God when he was ordained?
The oath required him to:
‘ . . . maintain with all the strength God shall give you the position on Biblical separation from apostasy as taken by the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster in 1951 at the time of its secession from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland?’
And . . .
‘As God helps you will you expose and resist the continued apostasy from Christ manifested within Irish Presbyterianism, Methodism, Episcopalianism and other visible church bodies; exhorting God’s people to obey the teaching and commandment of 1 Timothy 6: 3-5?’
Do we for a moment believe that had there been a faithful adherence to these solemn undertakings there would have been a second invitation extended to Rev William McCrea.
As it is, he was back each year for the last 45 years and congratulated for doing so!
I tremble to think how the Lord will see these 45 occasions when I would consider that his ordination oath was set aside and ignored. I do not believe there will be any heavenly trophy presented then!
May the Lord hear and answer the prayers of the faithful remnant, who grieve and mourn over the sellout of the separatist stand of the Free Presbyterian Church, presided over by its recent leadership
Rev Ian Foster (Rtd)
Tuesday 23rd June 2026