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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. (more…)

“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die,” Revelation 3:2.

The role and duty of those in the position of leadership within the Church of Christ are clearly set forth throughout Holy Scripture, and nowhere more succinctly than in the words set down by Moses.

“Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment,” Deuteronomy 16:18.

The outcome of the special Presbytery in Dungannon, 20th June, convened to hear the report of the ‘Commission of Inquiry’ set up after  Revs R Johnstone and M Lecky were permitted to make statements of complaint before the Presbytery against Rev David Linden and myself on May 1st, has left a lot of questions unanswered and probably aroused many more!!

From the very beginning of the process, fairness and proper procedure were set aside and it was indicated, for any with eyes to see, that there was something very wrong within our ranks!

The whole episode has highlighted for many Free Presbyterians that there has been a drift away from the position, principles and philosophy of the witness and stand of our church as it was first formed, by God’s grace, in 1951.

It appears that there are those amongst our ministers and elders who are opposed to the command of Scripture to denounce sin, but who are prepared to misuse and misapply Holy Scripture to support their position.

Yet such denunciation of sin and backsliding is what the Free Presbyterian Church was brought into existence to do, irrespective of who is the guilty party.

Was it not the custom for the following verses to be read out, if not preached upon, at every minister’s ordination?

It would appear that of late few have heeded the words or noted their significance!

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables,” 2 Timothy 4:1-4.

On the day of my ordination, some fifty-eight years ago, Dr Ian Paisley preached on Jeremiah chapter 1.

There you find a definition of that prophet’s call and it embraces every minister’s calling, as was pressed home upon my soul that night!

“But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant,” Jeremiah 1:7-10.

Paul echoed these sentiments:

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled,” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

NO CHARGES

Whatever some might have desired as the outcome of this Commission, it would appear that no disciplinary proceedings will be taken against myself and Rev Linden.

It must be stated that there never were any grounds for proceeding against us since what we did was fully supported by the Word of God. (more…)