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— A brief exposition of Psalm 15 —

One Commentator introduced his thoughts on this Psalm 15 with these words: ‘This psalm refers to a single subject, but that the most important which can come before the human mind. It is the question. Who is truly religious? who will enter heaven? who will be saved? The psalm contains a statement of what real religion is; one of the most explicit and formal of the statements which we have in the Old Testament on that subject.’

There indeed can be no more important subject than how a sinner can be right with God!

Job

In his contentions with his ‘comforters’, Job asked the question and gives an answer: “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one,” Job 14:4.

This question comes up again and again in the book of Job.

“What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?” Job 15:14.

“How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?” Job 25:4-6.

A Guide Needed

Man is at a loss to find the way of redemption in and of himself. He needs a guide, a guide and teacher! The Saviour said: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit,” John 3:6. The plain implication of these words is that there is a great chasm between the ‘flesh’ and the ’spirit’, that is, the Holy Spirit. (more…)

This is an article that was written and distributed in 1986. Therefore its data is somewhat out of date but I might suggest that it is was almost prophetic in its warnings regarding the failure to meet the dreadful challenge facing children under ungodly education within the State school!

Sadly, I think that it must be conceded that few Free Presbyterian parents took any heed to the dangers facing their children back in 1986 and, sadder still, there are even fewer taking any heed to the warnings of the even greater threats children face today in State schools.

Many Free Presbyterians will acknowledge that there has been a decline from the position occupied by our church on the matters of worldliness, separation from apostasy and contending for the faith, back some 40 years ago. That is evident in the lack of concern amongst Free Presbyterian parents regarding the dangers their children face.

Such a decline augurs ill for our church unless the Lord, in mercy, stirs our people and awakens them to their backsliding.

May we hear the voice of Christ in those words He wrote to the church at Ephesus: “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent,” Revelation 2:2-5.

Might I just add that if there are any ready to respond to the appeal at the end of this article that they contact the Convenor of the Presbytery Education Board:

Rev Brian McClung,
8a Boltnaconnell Road,
Crumlin,
Co. Antrim,
BT29 4SZ.

(bdmcclung@btinternet.com)

Or the Principal of Kilskeery Independent Christian School:

Mrs Pamela Foster, BA(Hons), MEd,
Kilskeery Independent Christian School,
Old Junction Road,
Kilskeery,
Co. Tyrone,
BT783RN.

(pj.foster@independentchristianschool.org)

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS and the FUTURE of FREE PRESBYTERIANISM

by Rev. Ivan Foster

In 1978 the Presbytery of Ulster of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster heard a request from Rev. Ivan Foster to consider the need for Christian schools. Following a discussion a delegation of ministers and elders met officials of the Department of Education. The outcome of that meeting was a recommendation to Presbytery that permission be granted to any church that wished to start a school. The Presbytery agreed in principle and appointed a Presbytery Education Board, chaired by Rev. Foster, to supervise the new missionary enterprise. (more…)