TheYoung People’s

MagazineIssued by the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland

Reformed in Doctrine, Worship and Practice

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, northe years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” Ecclesiastes 12:1

February 2013 Vol 77 • No 2

The Young People’s MagazinePublished by the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Scottish charity number SC003545.Editor: Rev Kenneth D Macleod BSc, F P Manse, Ferry Road, Leverburgh, Isle of Harris,HS5 3UA; tel: 01859 520271; e-mail: kdmacleod@gmail.com. All unsigned articles are bythe Editor.Material for the magazine should reach the editor by the beginning of the previous month.Subscriptions, Renewals, Changes of Address should be sent to the General Treasurer:Mr W Campbell, 133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6LE; e-mail: wc.fpchurch@btconnect.com; tel: 0141 332 9283. The subscription year ends in December, and subscriptions shouldbe sent in January each year for the following 12 months. Subscription rates, including postage,are: F P Magazine £26.00 (£2.00 per copy); Y P Magazine £15.00 (£1.00 per copy); bothmagazines £39.00. All queries should be directed to the General Treasurer, not to the printer.Free Presbyterian Magazine: The Church’s main magazine is The Free PresbyterianMagazine. Send to the General Treasurer at the above address for a free sample copy. Seeabove for subscription rates.

ContentsWhat is Most Important? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

The Bible’s Teaching on Justification:5. How is the Sinner to Be Delivered? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

God’s Work in Ness:2. Some Gaelic Teachers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

“Really I Had Forgotten” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

The Apostle John’s Life and Ministry:4. His Teaching About God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

For Junior Readers:Boy Saved From Deadly Serpents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

For Younger Readers:Morita’s Bad Son . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Through the Alphabet with the Bible:Instruct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Looking Around Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Scripture and Catechism Exercises 2012-13:Exercise 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

UK Youth Conference 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Cover Picture: Sea and sand at Ness. See page 26.

The

Young People’s MagazineVol 78 February 2013 No 2

What is Most Important?

When you say, Good night, to someone, what do you mean? Perhapsvery little; it is just the appropriate thing to say at that time of day. But

if you think about it, you may be wishing them, for instance, a good sleep oreven a safe drive home.

Or the next day you may say to someone: Good morning, or, Have a goodday. Again, you may be using a fairly meaningless form of words. But, ifyou think about what you are saying, you may be wishing the other persona feeling of well-being through the day, success in his work and hoping thathis relationships with others go well.

These may be good things to hope for and they reflect a kindly attitude onyour part. But it is good when all our thinking is influenced by the Bible.Yes, the Bible requires us to love our neighbour as ourselves. But it alsoshows us that we ought to think about spiritual things – not just aboutsuccess in our everyday activities, about matters such as health andhappiness. These last things are important, but the needs of our souls areeven more important. For one thing, the things of this life will soon come toan end, but our souls will exist for ever. And if our souls are not healthy, ifwe are not born again, we cannot be happy in eternity.

Again, someone may express good wishes to a friend in a more preciseway. Perhaps she is getting married, or going for a job interview, or sittingan exam, and it is perfectly clear what you mean. You wish that her marriedlife will be happy, or that she will be offered the job after the interview orthat she will pass the exam.

But if our thinking is under the influence of the Bible, we will rememberwhat the source of every blessing is; we will remember that “every good giftand every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father oflights” (James 1:17) – that is, from God Himself, who created the sun andthe moon and the stars. It is He who gives us everything that is good, and weought to thank Him for all our blessings. So we are to ask Him for our “dailybread”. But that is just one example of what we need; we should ask God foreverything we need and thank Him for everything we receive.

The Young People’s Magazine24

But let us remember that, because we are sinners, we deserve nothing –we have no right even to the least of the good things that God gives us. Hehad been good to Jacob, and Jacob knew it. He recognised that he deservednone of the blessings he enjoyed; he said, “I am not worthy of the least of allthe mercies . . . which Thou hast showed unto Thy servant” (Genesis 32:10).It was because he knew that he did not deserve them that Jacob called theseblessings mercies. So we should realise that all the good things we get aremercies because God gives them to us in His kindness, although we sinnersdo not deserve any of them.

The greatest of God’s mercies is salvation, which we certainly do notdeserve. What we deserve for our sins is to suffer in hell for ever. But God,in His kindness, sent His Son into the world to suffer and die in the place ofsinners, so that they might not have to suffer. This is what the Bible tells us:“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, thatwhosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”(John 3:16). How great then must this salvation be, when it has beenprovided by God’s own Son! No blessing can be greater than this; so weshould seek it earnestly. If we should ask God for our daily bread – and foreverything we need day by day – then how much more necessary it is toseek the salvation of our souls!

Jesus knew the questions that people were asking during His time in thisworld: about food and drink and clothes. And no doubt the wish of the richfool who had such a wonderful harvest was the wish of many others at thattime: to “eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:19). It is the same today. Peoplewant plenty to eat and to drink; they want lots of fashionable clothes;they want endless entertainment. But they forget that they have souls; theyforget that they must die and spend eternity either in heaven or in hell. Mostpeople expect to be better off year by year and may be annoyed if theirspending power drops, but they never ask themselves if they deserve moremoney; they never wonder if they deserve anything at all.

The wonderful fact is that, although we deserve nothing, God calls us tocome to Him through Jesus Christ to receive salvation. But, in our thinkingabout our lives, we must put everything in the proper order. That is why theLord Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness;and all these things [food, drink, clothes and much more] shall be added untoyou” (Matthew 6:33).

So what is a good night or a good morning? One in which we enjoy God’sfavour because our sins have been forgiven for Jesus’ sake. And if we haveGod’s favour, He will give us everything we need – but we must realise thatit is He alone who knows properly what our needs really are.

The Bible’s Teaching on Justification 25

The Bible’s Teaching on Justification5. How is the Sinner to Be Delivered?

Charles HodgeThis series comes from The Way of Life and has been edited. For God to justifysomeone is to pronounce him or her righteous. Last month’s article emphasisedthat, unless we are freed from the law, we can never be justified.

So it is clearly the doctrine of the Bible that believers are freed from thelaw as prescribing how they can be accepted with God. God no longer

demands of them that they obey the law perfectly in order to be justified, orelse endure its penalties. But how is the sinner to be delivered?

The answer to this question includes the fourth great truth the Scripturesteach about the way of salvation. It is not by putting away the law; it is notby lowering its demands. We have seen how constantly Paul teaches that thewhole law still demands perfect obedience. He also clearly teaches that deathis as much the wages of sin for us as it was for Adam.

How then is the sinner to be delivered? By the obedience and suffering ofa substitute. This is the gospel of the grace of God. This is what was a scandalto the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks, but to those that are called it is thepower of God and the wisdom of God. The Scriptures teach us that the Sonof God, who thought it not robbery to be equal with God, took human nature.He subjected Himself to the very law to which we were bound; He obeyedthat law perfectly and suffered its penalty. So, by satisfying its demands, Hedelivered sinners from bondage to the law and brought them into the gloriousliberty of the sons of God. This is how the teaching about redemption ispresented in the Scriptures.

“God”, says Paul, “sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under thelaw, that He might redeem them that were under the law” (Galatians 4:4,5).Many are declared to be righteous through His obedience. Those who areunited to Christ are said to be righteous before God, not having their ownrighteousness, but that which is by the faith of Christ (Philippians 3:9). TheBible teaches in various ways that sinners are redeemed from the curse of thelaw because Christ endured that curse in their place. There was all the moreneed for this point to be presented clearly, because it is the one which anenlightened conscience lays hold of at once.

Because people deserve to die, they become afraid of death. And theycannot get rid of this fear of death, until they see how they can be freed fromthe righteous penalty of the law while God’s justice is satisfied. How is thisto be done?

In the most definite way, the Scriptures teach us: “Christ hath redeemed

The Young People’s Magazine26

us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).Paul had just said, “As many as are of the works of the law are under thecurse”. But everyone is naturally under the law, and so all are under the curse.So how are people redeemed from it? By Christ being made a curse forthem. Such is the simple answer to this most important of all questions.

This teaching is just as plainly presented in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “He [God]hath made Him [Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might bemade the righteousness of God in Him”. This is set out as the only groundon which men may preach the gospel. “We are ambassadors for Christ,” saysPaul, “as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead,be ye reconciled to God.”

Then follows a statement of the ground on which this offer of reconciliationis presented. God has made effective provision for the pardon of sin. ThoughChrist is “holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners”, God madeHim to be sin in the place of sinners, so that they might be made righteousin Him. The iniquities of many were laid on Him; He was treated as a sinnerin their place, in order that they might be treated as righteous in Him.

God’s Work in Ness2. Some Gaelic Teachers

Rev Angus SmithThe first article, last month, told about the beginnings of Christianity in this districtof the Isle of Lewis.

Among the Gaelic teachers were John Macleod, John Macrae and FinlayMunro. John Macrae was later a minister in Ness. As a young man he

was in charge of a gang of men constructing the high road over Ratagan Hill.One day the workmen were eating their midday meal when they saw astranger approaching, and they invited him to join them. He was FinlayMunro. He sat down and asked God’s blessing on the meal. It was thebow by which the arrow of conviction entered John Macrae’s soul. Thisconviction was deepened through a sermon which John Macdonald, ministerof Ferintosh, preached in the open air at Lochcarron. His text was Song ofSolomon 3:11, “Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion”. Macrae felt as if he hadlost his senses, but later on, listening to Angus Mackintosh of Tain, libertyflooded into his soul. “If John Macrae is a new man, surely the latter dayglory is not far off ”, remarked a godly woman neighbour.

John Macrae was known as Macrath Mor, or Big Macrae, possibly becauseof his powerful preaching. One day, Lachlan Mackenzie of Lochcarron and

God’s Work in Ness 27

John Kennedy of Redcastle heard his rowdy, powerful voice, as he orderedhis sheepdogs about. Mackenzie remarked that he seemed to hear a meekand quiet voice behind those rough words, and said that no one would in histime surpass that young man when he began proclaiming the grace of Godto perishing sinners.

Macrae felt the call to preach the gospel. He began studying and sometime afterwards became a teacher in Glenelg. Later he went to a theologicalcollege and was licensed to preach in 1830. He succeeded Finlay Cook inNess in 1833. At the age of 70 he went to Carloway, Lewis, where he spentseven years. He was buried in Greenock. In his last letter to his daughterJane, he says, “What a meaning the word grace has for such as I am!” Thishad been the keynote in his preaching.

Finlay Munro, whose grace before a meal convicted John Macrae of sin,was greatly used by God in the early part of the 1800s. As a boy he wasemployed as a minister’s servant in Tain. After his conversion he becamewell known as the man who gave the minister’s seed to the poor of the areaand who then sowed the chaff instead, expecting the Lord to work a miraclein producing a field of corn from it. This was the ignorance of the youngconvert, who lacked teaching.

He was employed as a teacher by the Scottish Society for PropagatingChristian Knowledge, in Latheron, Caithness. The parishes were small andscattered, and Finlay then went from place to place as a preacher. Manysuspected a little simplicity in Finlay, yet he became a Gaelic teacher. In1817 he began his work in Caithness, and was notable as a great man ofprayer. His great friend, blind William of Halladale, thought that he must tellFinlay to confine himself to prayer. He and Finlay had been discussing thelabours which were about to begin, and Finlay had gone out for a while.William heard a knock at the door, and someone came in. “Is that youFinlay?” he called. “Yes”, answered Finlay Cook, the minister, who had justdropped in. “I have just been thinking,” said William, “that it would be betterfor you to stick to praying and to give up preaching.” The minister thenstated that he was inclined to that opinion too, but William was upset whenhe realised that he had made a mistake.

Munro came to the Isle of Lewis in 1818; a fishing boat landed him in anisolated district. He was given hospitality by Marion Macritchie of Port ofNess, who was in her sheiling, a summer house on the moor. She gave himfood, and, as in the case of John Macrae, the words of his grace pierced hersoul, and shortly afterwards she found spiritual liberty.

Later Finlay crossed the moor on the way to North Tolsta, where he wasgiven a drink of milk by a young married woman named Margaret Gunn,

The Young People’s Magazine28

from Ness. He asked her to show him her wedding ring, and remarked, “Itis like eternity – no beginning and no end”. His remarks brought her undergreat concern of soul.

He used an English Bible, translating into Gaelic as he went along. Hepreferred sleeping in barns to sleeping in houses, as this gave him morefreedom for prayer and meditation. He travelled throughout Lewis andHarris in that way, preaching as he went.

On one occasion Finlay visited John Macleod, who was then the Gaelicteacher in Galson, Ness. John noticed that one knee of Finlay’s trousers wascompletely worn through. He made him lie in his own bed while he repairedthe trousers. As he did so, John remarked, “How honoured I feel in beingallowed to mend the trousers of a Christian brother!” Finlay replied, “Howhonoured I feel in being allowed to lie in the bed of a Christian brother!”

Angus Morrison, from Dell, Ness, was set free from his spiritual chainsunder Finlay Munro’s preaching, and during the next five years he followedFinlay around and eventually became his precentor. Finlay would often, whilepreaching, slam his hands down on Angus’s shoulders, and Angus wouldsometimes say, “Should there be no witness against me but the many blowsI received from Finlay’s hands, it would be enough to condemn me, if lost”.Another of Finlay’s converts in Ness was Donald Morrison from Fivepenny,who was taken by his mother, at an early age, to hear Finlay preaching onthe hill Muirneag, between Ness and Tolsta. Strangely enough, Finlay keptreferring to the boy of 15 years of age. Donald took it to himself, and in oldage would say that from that day he never ceased to pray. Finlay’s last sermonin Lewis was at Muirneag, on Isaiah 25:6-9.

Friends in Ness bought Finlay a new suit and put in one of the pockets thesurplus money that had been collected. While crossing by ferry to Skye orUist, Finlay was asked for his fare. In some perplexity he put his hand in hispocket and came across the five shillings which had been placed there, theexact fare. He then realised the brotherly love which had put it there. He laterrebuked those who had left the money there, saying that it was only becausethe money was there that the Lord made the men charge him for his passage!

Many people opposed Finlay, saying he had no call to preach, includingAlexander Macleod, minister of Uig, but the Lord used him. After Finlaydied, his brother Alasdair proposed to print his writings. John Macrae wasconsulted and said that, if they were written before a certain date, it wasworth printing them, but if they were written afterwards, he advised againstit, for in that year Finlay’s mind became less stable.

Lachlan Mackenzie of Lochcarron asked Finlay what kind of godlinessthere was in the district he came from – was it that of the memory or of

“Really I Had Forgotten” 29

the pocket? “Neither,” said Finlay, “what godliness there is, is from handto mouth.”

Finlay had his farewell service on Muirneag (which means, the little,pleasing one). He called out, “Muirneag, Muirneag, it is you that will feelpleased today, with your new coat on” – so many people being gathered onits sides. He went through the Gaelic-speaking parts of Scotland preaching.In Applecross he had much fruit; there was a father and son, both calledDonald Macbeath, in the township of Fernamore, who constantly prayed forhim. One night the son woke up the father saying, “Wake up, Finlay Munrois dead,” for he felt he could not pray for him. The father told the son tosleep, but after a while he turned to his son and said, “Yes, Finlay has died”.This shows the fellowship of prayer which then existed among some.

“Really I Had Forgotten”Alexander Stewart was just a young lad when he ran away from home in

Fife without telling his parents. He could not have had God’s blessingin doing so; he was breaking the Fifth Commandment, which requires every-one to honour their parents. Alexander soon reached Sunderland and joinedthe crew of a ship. But to be at sea was not as exciting as he had expectedwhen he left home. “I enjoyed nothing,” he said; “I hated myself.”

Some time later Alexander was sailing on a ship which left Plymouth andmade its way along the English Channel. Britain was then at war with France.Off Brighton, a French ship came in sight and caught up with them. ArmedFrench sailors boarded Alexander’s ship and made them all prisoners. Theywere taken to France and held in various prisons.

A long time afterwards, Alexander and a large number of other men wereon a lengthy march from one French prison to another. Soon after they startedout one morning, Alexander noticed a very quiet man who usually walkedalone, not speaking to anyone. Alexander decided to have a chat with him.But his “light conversation” was not welcomed; the man asked him: “Youremember, no doubt, this is the Lord’s Sabbath, don’t you?”

“No,” Alexander replied, “really I had forgotten.” He had been living athoroughly godless life; so the Sabbath did not matter to him. Each day wasthe same as any other.

“Forgotten!” the man exclaimed. “Forgotten what God has so expresslytold you to remember!” And he went on to give Alexander quite a lecture.And Alexander knew in his conscience that the man was right; he had beenbrought up well, though he had long since abandoned all his parents’ religion.

The Young People’s Magazine30

After listening to the man for some time Alexander tried to argue with him,but he confessed afterwards: “He mastered me every time”.

At last Alexander thought he had found an excellent way of putting anend to the man’s rebukes. Time was passing and they were approaching aninn. So Alexander said, “We must get some refreshment”.

The man quietly answered, “That’s necessary”.Encouraged by the answer, Alexander suggested that the man should go

into the inn with him.“Friend,” the man told him wisely, “we should enter such places as seldom

as possible, especially on the Sabbath.”“But we must have some refreshment.”“Very true, and we shall have it.” And the man pulled some bread out of

his bag, and from his pocket he produced a flask containing something todrink. He told his young companion: “We can rest ourselves very comfortablyhere on the roadside”.

Here was a man with a wise biblical understanding of Sabbath observance.He was walking this long distance on a Sabbath only because he was underthe authority of the French, who had captured him. But, even in these difficultcircumstances, he wanted to keep the Sabbath as well as he possibly could.It was a day he wished to remember as the Fourth Commandment told him.He had prepared for it. And, no doubt, when he had been walking along theroad on his own, he had been thinking profitably about what he had learnedfrom the Bible. And when he had to speak to someone else, he made everyeffort to speak in a way appropriate for the Sabbath and which might beuseful to the other man. Alexander never forgot the impression that his fellowprisoner’s words made on his mind that day.

The Apostle John’s Life and Ministry4. His Teaching About God

Rev G G HuttonLast month’s part of this Youth Conference paper focused on John’s writings. Itemphasised that John was always providing evidence so that people might believeon Jesus.

It is first-hand evidence that John uses all the way throughout his writings.Not only is John selective in choosing the details that he writes about, he

concentrates on essentials. It is in John’s Gospel that we have the three greatmusts of the New Testament: “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7); “And asMoses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man

The Apostle John’s Life and Ministry 31

be lifted up” (John 3:14); “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him mustworship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

There is nothing woolly about the way John presents doctrines. He doesnot set out a number of options from which we may choose, but he puts hisreaders under solemn obligations as they are confronted with essential, un-changing truths. The sovereign work of regeneration in the soul is essential.Christ’s work of atonement is essential. The spiritual worship due to Godfrom His creatures is essential.

As we consider what John wrote and why he wrote it, we readers of theBible should realise that we are indebted to him for an instructive andsearching written ministry. He has provided us with one Gospel – a recordof the life of the Lord Jesus – three General Epistles, and one book we identifyas “The Revelation” or “The Apocalypse”. Some of the apostles were notauthors; they left no writings to the Church. But John was both an apostleand an author. Next to Paul, John shows outstanding ability as a skilfulwriter of divinely-revealed doctrine, and yet his modesty shines through –for example, in the fact that his name does not appear once in his Gospel.

Although, as we have already seen, love was not the only subject Johnfocused on, it has to be acknowledged that no other Bible writer concentratedso much on love, divine and human, spiritual and practical. When we readthrough his writings, we can almost see his delight as he focuses on the loveof God for sinners. Throughout the history of gospel preaching, probably noother text in the Bible has been more used than John 3:16, “For God so lovedthe world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth inHim should not perish, but have everlasting life”. In the whole of Scripture,there is no more profound statement than“God is love” (1 John 4:8).

Not only was the existence of God a reality to this Apostle, but how Heexists, and what He is, were also of great importance to John. God’s characterand what is true about Him influenced John greatly. In fact, it is from John’spen that we have the clearest explanations of the majestic self-revealingdeclaration of God Himself to Moses as to who He is: “I AM THAT I AM”(Exodus 3:14). As well as explaining that the One who calls Himself, “I AM”,is love, John also tells us that He is light (1 John 1:5). It is from the recordof John that we have the words, “God is true,” (John 3:33). Again Johnrecords the words of Jesus, “God is a Spirit” (John 4:24). It is obvious that thegreat matter of who and what God is was of first importance to John.

Since John believed that Jesus was God “manifest in the flesh”, he knewthe significance of the Saviour’s claims as to who he was, and the vitalimportance of recording these claims. It is in the Gospel of John we havemost of the “I am” claims of Jesus. Jesus was asserting that He is God when

The Young People’s Magazine32

He stated: “I that speak unto thee am He [the Messiah]” (John 4:26); “I amthe bread of life” (John 6:35); “I came down from heaven” (John 6:38); “Iam the light of the world” (John 8:12); “I am the door” (John 10:9); “I amthe good shepherd” (John 10:11); “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30);“I am the resurrection, and the life” (John 11:25); “I am the way, the truth,and the life” (John 14:6); “I am the true vine” (John 15:1). These examplesof Jesus’ claims help us to understand the all-sufficient fullness about whichPaul writes to the Colossians. “It pleased the Father that in Him should allfullness dwell” (Colossians 1:19); and “in Him dwelleth all the fullness ofthe Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).

For Junior Readers

Boy Saved From Deadly SerpentsKyle Cummings is not yet four years old but he is very interested in

wildlife. Recently he was excited to find a clutch of nine yellow eggsin the sandy earth. They were in the long grass on his family’s property inTownsville, Queensland, Australia. He put the eggs into a clear plastic foodcontainer, closed the lid, took them home and put them in his bedroom –something his mother did not know about.

Soon the eggs broke apart and little creatures were born. What appearedfrom the eggs? Not little birds, but baby snakes! In fact, they were easternbrown snakes, the world’s second most venomous kind of snake. Kyle toldno one, but he could have been killed if he had handled them.

Then his mother found the container in the bedroom – but what a shockshe got to see in it a bundle of little snakes twined around each other! Shecalled the local Wildlife Care centre to take them away; so Kyle was no longerexposed to terrible danger. Was it not good that his mother found the snakes!

Of course, he did not know that the eggs he found were dangerous snakes’eggs. Many people do not realise that sin is really dangerous – they areattracted to it as Kyle was to the eggs of the snake.

Indeed, sin is like the eggs of snakes, adders, vipers or serpents. God saidabout wicked people who lived in Israel long ago, “They hatch cockatrice’[or adders’] eggs . . . he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which iscrushed breaketh out into a viper” (Isaiah 59:5). This means that those wickedpeople made plans to do wicked things; they actually did those wicked things,with terrible results for themselves and others. It is bad to plan to sin (likedangerous serpent’s eggs waiting to hatch), but it is worse actually to sin(like the poisonous serpent coming out of the egg).

Morita’s Bad Son 33

The worst thing about sin is that it causes death. As surely as the bite ofthe eastern brown snake is fatal (if not treated quickly with anti-venom serum)so sin will result in eternal death for the sinner. The Bible says, “Then whenlust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringethforth death” (James 1:15). There is only one remedy – to go to Christ, thegood physician, to save us from the deadly poison of sin.

When the Israelites were bitten by the fiery serpents in the wilderness andwere dying one by one, there was only one hope for them – to look at theserpent of brass that Moses made. He then lifted it up on a pole so that theycould look at it. God said, “It shall come to pass, that everyone that is bitten,when he looketh upon it, shall live” (Numbers 21:8). And that is just whathappened. “It came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when hebeheld the serpent of brass, he lived” (Numbers 21:9).

Their looking to the brazen serpent is a picture of the sinner looking toChrist – or believing in Him. Christ said about Himself: “As Moses lifted upthe serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: thatwhosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John3:14,15). If you have not yet believed in Christ, ask God to make you willingand able to do so. NMR

For Younger Readers

Morita’s Bad Son

Morita was an old Christian woman who lived in the big city ofTokyo. She had a son who was very wicked, he wasted his

mother’s money. He did so many bad things that he was sent toprison seven times in just 10 years.

But Morita still loved him. She told him about Jesus Christ andtried to get him to turn from his sins and to do what is right.

He would not listen to his mother. He would not give up his sins.He just said, “It is all right for you to be good and to go to heaven.But I am so used to evil ways that I cannot stop.” He wanted to goon in his bad ways even though he knew they would take him tohell. Yet Morita went on praying for her wicked son.

About a year later he was sent to prison again. Then his wifebecame ill and died. They had four children, and the youngest onewas just a baby. Who would look after them now?

Morita was very upset. She was afraid there would be nothing for

The Young People’s Magazine34

them to eat and that they would all starve. She thought that Godmight not be able to give them what they needed. Then she toldherself that she was making a big mistake. She said, “He who hascreated us is also able to supply all our need”. So she took the fourchildren into her home and looked after them all.

At last Morita’s son came out of prison and found his old motherlooking after his four children. God melted his hard heart. The sonturned from his bad ways and began to seek after Christ. And hefound Christ to be the Saviour from sin.

One day he was reading the Bible. He turned to chapter 2 ofPaul’s letter to the Ephesians. How surprised he was to find that itseemed to be all about himself ! The chapter speaks about great sin.But it speaks too about God’s great love to sinners. I am sure thatmany others have thought the same about this wonderful chapter.

Through the Alphabet with the BibleHere are five verses from the Bible using the word:

InstructThou gavest also Thy good Spirit to instruct them (Nehemiah 9:20).Precept: Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go for she is thy life(Proverbs 4:13).Promise: I will instruct thee and thee teach the way that thou shalt go; And, with Mine eye upon thee set, I will direction show (Psalm 32:8).Prayer: O Lord, instruct me in Thy way, to me a leader be in a plain path, because of those that hatred bear to me (Psalm 27:11).Encouragement: He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction (Proverbs10:17). S

Satan Is not All-PowerfulSatan has used many methods to try to prevent the Bible from having a

good effect on people. One such method was the Roman Catholic Churchstopping its followers from reading God’s book; until quite recently, ordinarypeople first needed authority from a bishop if they were to read it.

The town of Champlain is in the north of New York state, just across theborder from Canada. Over 100 years ago a large number of French Canadians

Looking Around Us 35

moved there. Some Protestants had distributed copies of the Bible amongthem. But among those who moved to Champlain were Jesuits (a RomanCatholic order, mostly of priests) who were afraid that if the people wouldread the Bible, they would become Protestants. They could not have beenvery confident that the teachings of Rome could be found in the Bible!

These Jesuits ordered the people to bring in the Bibles they had been given.The Protestants wanted the Bibles back if the Roman Catholics were notallowed to keep them. But no, the Jesuits made a bonfire of them.

A tall Canadian stood by the bonfire with a long pole. He had given up hisBible to the Jesuits. Now, having helped to light the fire, he used the pole topoke the fire so that it would burn better.

Some time later a minister called Dr Cote was in a little Protestant churchnearby. He noticed a visitor, whose face he seemed to recognise. “Have I notseen you before?” he asked.

“Yes,” the man answered, “it was I who aided in the burning of theBibles, and my heart has never ceased to reproach me. If I had known thevalue of that book, I would never have taken part in that horrible act. I havefound another copy of the Holy Scriptures, and I have prayed God, forChrist’s sake, to forgive me my sin.”

Satan is very powerful, but he is not all-powerful. Although he had suchpower over this man when he burnt the Bibles, God rescued him from Satan’sclutches. The Holy Spirit applied the truths of the Bible to the man’s souland he believed in Jesus as the Saviour of lost sinners.

Satan tries hard to keep people from reading the Bible today – persuadingthem, for instance, that it is not relevant for this modern age. But, as Jesustells us, he is a liar; so we must not believe him. May God work powerfullyto bring many people everywhere to read the Bible and believe the truth!

Looking Around UsA Call to Read the Bible

The Archbishop of Wales is asking people to read the whole Bible in 2013.Dr Morgan has launched what he calls a “Bible Challenge” to encouragethose who belong to his Church to become more familiar with the book. Hehas written to them inviting them to spend 20 minutes each day readingpassages from the Old and New Testament.

He wrote: “How much of your busy and hectic day is spent watching TV,listening to radio, scanning newspapers, social networking, and reading (oreven writing) blogs? How much is spent reading the Bible?”

The Young People’s Magazine36

He asked appropriate questions which you too would do well to answer.If God speaks to us in the Bible – and He does – then obviously we shouldtake time to listen to Him. God tells us what kind of people we are – sinnerswho need to be put right. He tells us how we can be put right: by faith inJesus Christ, who died bearing the punishment of sinners. Dr Morgan added:“If, like me, you feel guilty about the comparatively little time spent readingGod’s Word, you will welcome the Bible Challenge, which sets out asimple-to-follow scheme to cover the whole Bible in a year”.

He said it was his “earnest prayer” that daily reading of the Bible this yearwill “enrich and transform our faith and lives”. His call is very welcome, butit is a great pity that he did not make clear that what most people need is afaith which they do not yet have – a faith which is the gift of God and maycome through reading His Word. Let us ask Him to bless it to us.

Scripture and Catechism Exercises 2012-13Exercise 2

All answers from overseas should be sent to Miss C E Dickie, c/o Free PresbyterianChurch of Scotland, 133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6LE, UK. The correctorsshould have your answers before the end of March. These exercises are based on2 Kings 7 to 2 Chronicles 18, and James 1 to Revelation 22 and Matthew 1-11.

Senior Section (15 years old and over)UK answers to Miss S M Gillies, 5 Balnabeen Drive, Dingwall, Ross-shire, IV15 9LY.

Old Testament1. Read 1 Chronicles chapter 22.

(a) What preparations did David make towards the end of his life? (2)(b) Why was David himself not permitted to carry out the work? (2)(c) Who was appointed by God to do the work? (1)(d) What advice did David give him? (verse 11 onwards) (2)(e) What advice did David give to the princes? (3)

2. Now turn to chapter 28.(a) What advice did David give to the people? (3)(b) What advice did he give to Solomon? (3)

3. Now look at chapter 29. (a) Name the four metals donated by the people. (4)(b) Why was it that David “rejoiced with great joy”? (2)(c) For how long did David reign over Israel? (1)

New TestamentLook at Revelation chapters 1-3.1. Where was John when God gave him this revelation? (1)2. Complete the following quotations from these chapters and, in each case, say to which church theywere spoken:

(a) “be thou faithful unto death,”(b) “I know thy works, that thou hast a name,”(c) “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee,”

Scripture and Catechism Exercises 37

(d) “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:”(e) “and will give him a white stone,”(f ) “hold that fast which thou hast,”(g) “But that which ye have already”. (14)

3. Now turn to Matthew chapter 4.(a) For how long was Jesus in the wilderness? (1)(b) Jesus answered each of the devil’s three temptations with the Word of God. Quote each

of the verses from the Old Testament which Jesus used, and give the scripture referencefor each. (Note that the Old Testament wording may not be exactly the same). (6)

(c) The devil also quoted from the Word of God. Quote from the Old Testament the versehe used in his second temptation and give the scripture reference. (2)

Memory ExerciseLearn by heart and write out from memory the answer to question 106 in the Shorter Catechism:What do we pray for in the sixth petition? (3)

Intermediate Section (13 and 14 years old)UK answers to Mrs E Couper, 17 Duncan Street, Thurso, Caithness, KW14 7HU.

1. Read 2 Kings chapters 18 and 20.(a) Name Hezekiah’s mother and father. (2)(b) How old was he when he began to reign? (1)(c) How do we know he was a good king? (4)(d) What was Isaiah’s message to him? (3)(e) On hearing the message, what did Hezekiah do? (3)(f ) In what practical way did Isaiah help Hezekiah? (2)(g) What sign did Isaiah give to Hezekiah that he should recover? (2)

2. Read 1 Chronicles chapter 22.(a) Who wanted to build a house for the Lord? (1)(b) Why did the Lord not allow him to do this? (2)(c) Who was chosen for this great work? (1)(d) What does this teach us? (2)

New Testament1. From your reading of the Epistle of James, answer the following questions.

(a) What advice is given to those who “lack wisdom”? (2)(b) What has the Lord promised to those that love Him? (2)(c) How is “pure religion” defined in chapter 1?” (2)(d) What is the “royal law”? (2)(e) When is a person’s faith described as dead? (2)(f ) In what way is “your life” like a “vapour”? (2)(g) Quote a verse which reminds you of the Third Commandment. (2)

2. All of the following quotations are from the Gospel of Matthew. In each case:state (1) to whom, (2) by whom and (3) why they were spoken.

(a) “Thou shall call his name Jesus”. (3)(b) “Go and search diligently for the young child”. (3)(c) “Let your light so shine . . . .” (3)

Memory ExerciseLearn by heart and write out from memory the answer to question 86 in the Shorter Catechism:What is faith in Jesus Christ? (3)

Junior Section (11 and 12 years old)UK answers to Mrs C M Sutherland, Inchure, Saval Road, Lairg, Sutherland, IV27 4ED.

Old Testament1. Read 1 Chronicles 2: 13-17 and then fill in the blanks with the correct relation;

for example, Obed was Jesse’s father:

The Young People’s Magazine38

(a) David was Eliab’s _____ (b) Jesse was Abinadab’s _____ (c) Zeruiah was David’s _____ (d) Abigail was Amasa’s _____ (e) David was Joab’s _____ (f ) Asahel was Amasa’s _____ (6)

2. Read 2 Chronicles chapter l4.(a) Who came to fight against Asa? (1)(b) How many soldiers had Asa? (1)(c) How many soldiers were in the enemy’s army? (1)(d) Asa’ s prayer is in verse 11. Which words of the prayer tell us that his trust was in God

rather than in the number of his soldiers? (2)(e) What was the outcome of the battle? (1)

New Testament1. Read James chapter 1.

(a) What are we to do if we lack wisdom? (1)(b) Where does every good and perfect gift come from? (1)(c) How is God described in the first part of verse 17? (1)(d) Write out the part of this verse (9 words) which tells us that God does not change. (2)(e) What sort of person is compared to someone looking in a mirror and then turning

away and forgetting what he saw? (2)(f ) Whose “religion is vain”? (2)

2. Read Matthew chapter 2.(a) What led the wise men to the place where Jesus was born? (1)(b) How did the chief priests and scribes know that Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem? (1)(c) Herod said to the wise men, “When ye have found Him, bring me word again that I maycome and worship Him also” (verse 8). Why did the wise men not do this? (2)(d) Some verses in this chapter refer to Old Testament prophecies. Look up these Old

Testament verses and then match each reference to the correct verse in Matthew chapter 2:Hosea 11:1 – Matthew 2 verse ___ Micah 5:2 – Matthew 2 verse ___Jeremiah 31:15 – Matthew 2 verse ___ (6)

Memory ExerciseLearn by heart and write out from memory the answer to question 22 in the Shorter Catechism:How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? (3)

Upper Primary Section (9 and 10 years old)UK answers to Mrs M Schouten, 58 Fairfield Road, Inverness, 1V3 5QW.

Old Testament1. Read in 2 Kings 8:1-6 about a wonderful prophet.

(a) Which prophet is spoken of in these verses? (1)(b) What did he prophesy to the woman, and what advice did he give her? (2)(c) How do we know she believed his words? (1)(d) Which of his miracles did Gehazi tell the King about? (1)

2. Read in 2 Kings 22:8-14 about a faithful high priest.(a) Give the name of the high priest? (1)(b) What had he found in the house of the Lord? (1)(c) Why did the King think that “the wrath of the Lord” was against the nation? (2)(d) How did the King show his fear? (1)

3. Read in 1 Chronicles 16:1-12 about a happy king.(a) Why was King David so happy and thankful? Chapter 13:3 will help you. (1)(b) His psalm of thanksgiving is full of lessons for us. Complete the missing

words in the following sentences:“Give thanks _________________ name”

Scripture and Catechism Exercises 39

“Sing unto Him _______________ works.”“Seek the Lord _______________ continually.”“Remember __________________ done.” (2)

New Testament1. Read 1 John 1: 5-10 and 2: 1-10. Each of the phrases on the left can be matched withone on the right. Write out the complete, correct sentences.

(a) God is light abideth in the light.(b) If we walk in the light and in Him is no darkness at all.(c) He that loveth his brother the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth

us from all sin. (3)2. Read Revelation 21: 22-27.

(a) Why does heaven need neither sun nor moon? (2)(b) Is there darkness in heaven? (1)(c) Who shall enter heaven? (1)(d) Who shall not enter heaven? (3)

3. Read Matthew 4:12-16. These verses remind us of the prophecy in Isaiah 9: 2.Who was the “great light” which those in darkness saw? (1)4. From the “sermon on the mount” in Matthew 5:13-16, tell:

(a) What the light of the world is compared with? (1)(b) Why should we live like shining lights in this world? (2)

Memory ExerciseLearn by heart and write down the answer to question 23 in the Shorter Catechism:What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer? (3)

Lower Primary Section (8 years old and under)UK answers to Mrs R J Dickie, 11 Churchill Drive, Stornoway, Lewis, HS1 2NP.

Old Testament1. What did David want to build for the Lord? (1 Chronicles 22:7)2. Did God say that David could build it? (1 Chronicles 28:3)3. Who did God say would build it? (1 Chronicles 28:6)4. Who gave Solomon the pattern for building the house of God andeverything in it? (1 Chronicles 28:11)5. Who gave David the pattern? (1 Chronicles 28:19)6. Name two things David prepared for God’s house. (1 Chronicles 29:2)7. How did the people offer their gold and precious things to the Lord?

(1 Chronicles 29:9)New Testament

Write down the missing words in these verses from the “Sermon on theMount”:1. Blessed are the p___ in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of h_____.

(Matthew 5:3)2. Blessed are they that m____: for they shall be c________.

(Matthew 5:4)3. Blessed are the m___: for they shall inherit the e____. (Matthew 5:5)

Price £1.00

Printed by Pioneer Press Limited • Skipton • North Yorkshire • BD23 2TZ

4. Blessed are the p___ in heart: for they shall s__ God. (Matthew 5:8)5. But seek ye f____ the kingdom of G__, and his righteousness: and a__these things shall be a____ unto you. (Matthew 6:33)6. A__, and it shall be g____ you; s___, and ye shall f___; k____, and it shallbe o_____ unto you. (Matthew 7:7)

UK Youth Conference 2013The Conference will be held, God willing, in Gartmore House, Gartmore,Stirlingshire, FK8 3RS, from Tuesday, April 2, to Thursday, April 4. Thelower age limit is 16. The cost is £40 for those in full-time employment and£20 for others. Cheques are payable to the Free Presbyterian Church ofScotland. Further details are to follow later. I would appreciate if the youngpeople hoping to attend would let me know their intentions by Friday, March15 at the latest (if necessary, by phoning 01876 510233 or by e-mail todmacdclashmore@aol.co.uk). We look forward to meeting the youngpeople again. (Rev) Donald Macdonald

1. The Young Christian TodayFollowing Christ in a Secular Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev K D Macleod2. The Pilgrim’s ProgressThe Doctrine of Salvation Illustrated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev Roderick MacLeod3. The Apostle PeterA Man of Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev J R Tallach4. Historical Tour Around Stirlingconducted by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev Roderick MacLeod5. The Biblical view of Creation

A Sure Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr Alexander Ross6. Samuel RutherfordThe Life of Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr Matthew Vogan

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2013 Youth Conference ApplicationTo Rev Donald Macdonald, F P Manse, Bayhead, North Uist, HS6 5DS.

I/we wish to enrol as residential/non-residential. I enclose my/our fee.

Name(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .