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READ:

Romans 8:2

² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

EXHORTATION:

The freedom that Jesus offers (John 8:32, 36) is not an unworkable optimism, but a most wonderful and powerful experience in every genuine believer. In our text, the apostle Paul describes Christian freedom as a powerful and enduring operation of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.

The word “law” here indicates the governing influence or operation of the Spirit. The Spirit is also characterised as “the Spirit of life”, that is, the life-giving Spirit. Jesus said in John 6:63, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” The phrase “in Christ Jesus” tells us that the Spirit is sent by Christ and also that He exercises His influence on the believers in accordance with Christ’s will and purposes.

This mighty working of the Spirit is only in Christ Jesus. Without coming to Christ, none can enjoy the liberation of soul that the Spirit of God administers. Christians’ freedom from sin and its condemnation is administered only through the vital union with Christ Jesus, which is empowered and sustained by the Spirit of God.

The Spirit not only gives believers new life in Christ, but also dwells within believers, nurturing, leading and empowering their lives in Christ. Without the Spirit’s enabling, spiritual life cannot be sustained. Because of the Spirit’s indwelling and constant empowerment, all true believers can draw strength to live triumphantly over the lust of the flesh and every temptation of the world. By the operation of “the law of the Spirit of life”, we become free from “the law of sin and death”. The governing power of the Spirit cancels the operations of sin and death in our lives. The Spirit helps the believers to defeat the power of sin.

The Spirit alerts us to the presence of sin. He makes us very sensitive to the presence of sin, and cautions us against it. He empowers us to fulfil the law of God through obedient lives. He testifies and assures us that we are the children of God. He also drives away fear from our hearts by energising us to call on God as “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). He Himself intercedes for us in our infirmities (Romans 8:26). The Spirit’s presence and special operations in us will liberate us from the shackles of sin’s bondage.

READ:

John 8:36

³⁶ If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

EXHORTATION:

Here, Jesus first of all directs our attention to the fact that He is the “Son”. By using the title “Son”, He wanted to draw us to the fact that He is the undisputed Heir of all things, who wields the ultimate authority and power concerning all matters, even to free a man from his servitude. So in the preceding verse, He had said, “And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever” (John 8:35). As the only begotten Son of God, Christ enjoys unchallenged, eternal right to exercise the full authority vested in Him by the Father to liberate slaves. Jesus Himself said in John 3:35 - “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.” Only Christ, the Son, has the power and freedom to liberate us from everything that shackles us.

In fact, the Old Testament prophet Isaiah had predicted that when the Messiah, the Son of God, comes, He will liberate those who have been under the repression of Satan, sin and death (cf. Isaiah 61:1-3). Jesus, citing that prophecy, said in Luke 4:18 that He was sent in the power of the Spirit “to set at liberty them that are bruised”.

Christ alone has the right of freedom. Since the Fall of Adam, all men are born slaves to sin, without the power to deliver themselves. Only by the gracious bestowment of freedom by the Son of God could one ever obtain one’s freedom. So our freedom is a benefit conferred by Christ, and we obtain it by faith. By His Spirit, He liberates our souls that we may gain freedom from sin and continue in that freedom. Thus, Paul testified in Romans 8:2, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” About the freedom He grants us, Jesus says, “ye shall be free indeed”. An emphasis is placed on the word “indeed”. His freedom is not some unreal, foolish figment of imagination.

Many today are like the Jews whom Jesus rebuked for claiming that they were never in bondage and had always been free. They boastfully say that they are free to do whatever they like to do. They do not acknowledge that they are actually under the wretched bondage of sin.

Nonetheless, we who follow Christ and His truth rejoice to take heed of the admonition of the apostle Paul to “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).

READ:

John 8:32

³² And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

EXHORTATION:

Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth”. What then, is “the truth” that we shall know? In the Gospel of John, the word “truth” frequently refers to Christ and His words. John wrote about Christ in John 1:14 that “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Again, he affirmed in John 1:17 that “grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” When Jesus spoke concerning John the Baptist who had prepared the way for Him, He said that “he bare witness unto the truth” (John 5:33). The truth that John the Baptist bore witness unto was Christ. Jesus Himself said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”.

The words of the Lord Jesus Christ are also referred to as “the truth”. Just before assuring the believing Jews that “ye shall know the truth”, He had told them in v. 31, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed”. Hence, it is continuing in Christ’s words that help believers to know the truth. Christ is the Truth, the truth personified! He is the source of all truth, the embodiment of the truth, and His words grant His people the knowledge of His truth.

Continuing in Christ’s words brings us into a relationship with Him as His disciples, which enables us to truly know Him who is “the truth”. As true disciples of Christ, we are to walk in the truth (3 John 1:3), love the truth, and believe the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). We are also to speak “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). When we abide in the knowledge of Christ and His words, we possess the truth that shall make us free.

Later in His conversation with the Jewish hearers, Jesus told them that they needed freedom for they were under the shackles of sin. In no uncertain terms, Jesus told them in John 8:34, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” The servitude to sin is the most grievous bondage, far worse than any other kind of political or social servitude (cf. v. 33). Hence, freedom from sin’s influence and guilt is the greatest freedom.

As we abide in Christ and His truth, we shall experience true freedom from the slavery of sinful cravings, inordinate passions, degrading vices and all carnal propensities. Our yielding to the truth of Christ will grant us deliverance and freedom from all awful errors that once subjugated us.

READ:

John 8:31

³¹ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.

EXHORTATION:

Jesus was being challenged by some Jewish Pharisees concerning His claim that He is the Son of God. However, Jesus quashed their attempts to discredit Him. He never sought to conceal the truth, even in the face of most fearsome opposition. With greater boldness and determination our Lord declared the truth, even though the Jewish leaders were fuming with anger. The more they opposed, the more He testified.

His answers and assertions were so convincing that some of the Jews who heard Him speak believed at once that He was the Messiah, the Son of God. They received His doctrine. Though many of the Jewish leaders became more obstinate and cynical despite His preaching, there were also many who repented and believed on Him upon hearing His irrefutable, cogent and compelling proclamation of truth.

The unbelieving and recalcitrant Pharisees often followed Christ to engage Him in debates, and to denounce His teachings. They also wanted to dissuade the people from following Him. Jesus was acutely aware of their intentions. So He declared to the believing Jews what true discipleship means: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed”.

It is not uncommon to see some hearers, being moved by the reasoning and earnestness of the preacher, manifest lots of sympathy and even excitement about the truth expounded. However, their enthusiasm soon vanishes, and they are no more to be found among the adherents of Christ. Such fleeting fervour is not the mark of a true disciple.

The true evidence of a genuine disciple of Christ is that he continues in the Saviour’s Word. This is the true test of Christian character. The apostle John said in 1 John 2:4, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” So the apostle also reminds us in 1 John 2:24, “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.” It is to those who persevere in His Word with obedience whom Jesus says: “then are ye my disciples indeed”. True Christians will always delight in the Word of their Lord; and only such will have the attestation and assurance from the Lord that they are His true disciples.

A testimony by Ricky and Stella Yang of God’s saving grace working through their witnessing! 

“Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, Lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.
Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.”

These words from the hymn echoed in my head as we witnessed, with solemnity and rejoicing, the ordination of one of the preachers at the conclusion of our church’s 7th Missionary Conference on 14 June 2024. The passion for souls and the testimonies from the missionaries to preach Christ even amid oppression and in custody, did not deter or distract them from the call to preach and win some to Christ; they spoke of how these things reminded us of the greater urgency and burden to rescue the perishing and care for the dying, and be truly Proclaimers of Faith “Under Fire” – which was the theme of the Missionary Conference. 

On 17 June 2024, shortly after our return from the Missionary Conference, we received a call that one of our relatives, Mr Louis Lee, was taken to hospital and was in critical condition. With the Missionary Conference messages still freshly imprinted and warmly glowing in our hearts, we visited Mr Lee at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. Though Mr Lee was intubated and in discomfort, he was lucid and was able to respond in short breaths and nods. We praise and thank God for the timely treatment he received and, more so, for the timely reminder of the urgency to rescue the perishing and care for the dying. We shared the Gospel message with him and pointed him to Jesus, who is mighty to save. By God’s amazing mercy and grace, Mr Lee readily said, “Amen”, and acknowledged his faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation and expressed his readiness for baptism in the presence of his wife, Ailene. We immediately informed Pastor Koshy and he, together with Sis Carolyn and Eld Mah, visited Mr Lee and reaffirmed his faith that evening. It was such a relief to see Mr Lee’s condition stabilised and such a joy to see how his heart has been prepared by the working of the Holy Spirit, especially through times like this, to turn to Jesus Christ. All praise and thanks to God for saving Mr Lee, and for his confession of his faith in Jesus Christ through his baptism at the hospital. 

In our subsequent visits to Mr Lee, initially at the hospital and later at the nursing home, we prayed with him and regularly reminded him of the day he trusted Jesus Christ for salvation. We also learned during these visits of Mr Lee’s deep concern for his daughter, Marilene, who had Stage 4 cancer in her intestines and had been receiving treatments. Mr Lee repeatedly requested that we reach out to Marilene, and we said we would try. We also encouraged him to pray for the salvation of both his wife Ailene and his daughter Marilene.

We attempted to reach Marilene, and the opportunity came when we were informed that she was hospitalised recently in early February 2025. The Lord again reminded us of the call to rescue the perishing. We were so happy to receive a warm and hearty welcome from Marilene when we visited her at the hospital on 22 February. Though in pain and discomfort, Marilene was open to sharing with us the issues and concerns in her heart as she pondered over the uncertainty concerning which treatment option she should take for her cancer. We offered to pray for God’s direction and peace as she considered the options. At the same time, we asked if she would be open to us sharing the Gospel of peace and salvation. Again, through God’s amazing mercy and grace, she readily responded and said she had been considering doing Bible study with her neighbour. Praise the Lord for His perfect working and timing – her heart and soul have been prepared. Clearly and affirmatively, Marilene prayed with us, and confessed her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! 

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Rom 10:9). What a joy and assurance it was when she also readily expressed her desire for baptism, and encouraged her mother, Ailene, to come to Christ, too!

Marilene’s condition took a sudden turn on 24 February when there was a rupture in her intestine, causing excruciating pain and intense discomfort. Her condition suddenly became critical, and necessitated an emergency surgery that evening. All praise and thanks to God for seeing her safely through her surgery, which thus resolved the burden of the treatment options that were weighing on her heart.

This also impressed upon us the urgency of arranging for her baptism. We arranged for Pastor Koshy and Elder Mah to visit Marilene at the Intensive Care Unit on 25 February, the day after her surgery. Though drowsy in the morning, she was alert and responsive when Pastor and Eld Mah visited that evening. Though the plan was to affirm Marilene’s faith in Jesus Christ and conduct her baptism, what a happy day and double joy it was when Ailene also opened her heart to the Gospel’s call and expressed her desire for salvation in Jesus Christ and baptism. All glory be to God for His redeeming grace through the precious blood of Jesus Christ! Mother and daughter were baptised in Marilene’s hospital that evening.

“O happy day that fixed my choice, On Thee, my Savior and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice And tell its raptures all abroad.
 Happy day, happy day, When Jesus washed my sins away!
He taught me how to watch and pray, And live rejoicing every day;
Happy day, happy day, When Jesus washed my sins away!”

Salvation is indeed of the Lord. Through His marvellous and providential working and perfect time, salvation has been brought to Louis, Ailene and Marilene in these trying times and on beds of afflictions. Please continue to pray for the Lee household, that the joy of the Lord and the sufficiency of His grace may be their strength through this trying season and in their growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

All glory and praise to God! May the Lord be pleased to use us to “rescue the perishing”, “care for the dying”, and “tell them of Jesus the mighty to save”.

Sermon Text: Psalm 105:1–7
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 2nd March 2025

READ:

2 Corinthians 5:17

¹⁷ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

EXHORTATION:

What is depicted here is the real prospect of a genuine Christian, i.e. any man who is in Christ. His relation to Christ is so entrenched that he is portrayed to “be in Christ”. He is united to Christ, just as the branch is to the vine. The Christian is one who abides in Christ. So Jesus said to His disciples, “Abide in me, and I in you” (John 15:4).

Being in Christ or being so united to Christ, a Christian “is a new creature”. While the word “new” marks the beginning of something, the word “creature” carries the idea of a life created. In Galatians 6:15, Paul referred to the Christian as a “new creature”. The genuine Christian, who is in Christ, will certainly be a new man. In Ephesians 4:24, the apostle Paul described the Christian as “the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Being in union with Christ, a Christian is given the life of Christ, which is a life of righteousness and holiness. Now being a new creature, the Christian is moved to live with holy aspirations, and is empowered to live a renewed life.

As Paul continued to depict the nature of a genuine Christian, he said, “old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” The “old things” refer to the ungodly, sin-plagued life which a Christian led before he came to Christ. All kinds of Christ-less thinking, beliefs, speech, customs and conduct that once existed in his life are now passed away. There has been a decisive break with the old way of life since he came to Christ. The passing away of the old Christ-less way of life, and the arrival of the newness of life in Christ, even a sanctified life, are fundamental facets of being in Christ or being a genuine Christian.

Furthermore, it is said about a genuine Christian that “behold, all things are become new.” Being in Christ will bring about spiritual and moral renewal that will affect the entire life of the Christian. “All things” point to all aspects of the converted man’s life – the passions and feelings of his heart, the principles for his decisions and actions, the motivation and purpose in doing all things, etc. His friendships and pursuits in life would be realigned. His habits, interests, perspectives in life would also change for the glory of Jesus Christ. Everything in a Christian’s life changes when he abides in Christ. And as he lives for Christ, all of his life will be Christ’s.

READ:

Psalm 100:5

⁵ For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

EXHORTATION:

What should God’s people think of Him all the time? Oh, let them remember that the Lord is good, full of mercy and ever-faithful. Herein, we have a very concise and yet comprehensive declaration concerning an infinite God whose attributes are unfathomable.

The very first declaration in our text is that “the LORD is good”. The statement that “the LORD is good” reminds us of the absolute goodness of His divine nature. According to Exodus 34:6, the LORD is “abundant in goodness”. In Psalm 145:7, the psalmist speaks of the memory of the LORD’s “great goodness”. The Bible further affirms that “the goodness of God endureth continually” (Psalm 52:1).

The declaration that the LORD is good also emphasises the fact that He is a benevolent God. In other words, the LORD is not only good, He also always “doest good” (cf. Psalm 119:68). Psalm 145:9 says, “The LORD is good to all”. Psalm 33:5 records that “the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD”. He shows His goodness even to those who are evil, for Jesus said in Matthew 5:45 that “he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Through Jeremiah the prophet, the LORD promised: “my people shall be satisfied with my goodness” (Jeremiah 31:14).

Believers of yesteryear could not have lived a victorious and fruitful life unless, as Psalm 27:13 says, they “had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living”. So when they forged a renewed strength and made significant progress, they confessed, “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee” (Psalm 31:19)!

Because the LORD is good, “his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations”. Wherever the LORD shows His goodness, His mercy shall also be found continually. Where His goodness is bountiful, His mercy is also plentiful. So just like David, we also can say, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6). These truths about our LORD God are the same in all generations, for our text assures us that “his truth endureth to all generations”. We also can say, with unwavering certainty, that He who has been good to Abraham, Moses, David and Daniel shall also be good to me.

READ:

Psalm 100:4b

^4b Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

EXHORTATION:

To be thankful to God is the Christians’ great moral and spiritual duty. Just as in Psalm 100:4, the apostle Paul also encourages us in Colossians 3:15 to “be ye thankful”. Paul further says, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17).

Thankfulness to God is composed of many holy emotions towards God. In thankful hearts, there are lively feelings of pure joy for the gifts they have received, and fervent love for their benevolent Giver. Those stirrings of holy sentiments will gush out in songs of thankful praise, and their strong feelings of indebtedness will be manifested in joyful service.

Every genuinely thankful heart is irrepressible and ebullient when it comes to the worship of and service to God. They rejoice to be with all those who hasten their way to praise Him in the courts of His house. They raise their voices to sing hymns of praise unto the LORD.

Thankfulness leads to praise of God. Thankful people will bless His name. We bless the LORD by acknowledging that He is the One who blesses us with salvation, forgiveness, spiritual joys, grace, peace, wisdom, strength and all spiritual and material blessings, as well as by ascribing praise to God for all that we have received from Him. To God we give thanks, for He gives us all things richly to enjoy. We bless Him because His goodness is freely bestowed on us.

Thankful hearts will be stirred to contemplate the ways and works of God deeply, for He has been their greatest Benefactor. When we consider the favours we have received from Him, we will be compelled to think of His person and nature.

Profound gratitude must always fill our hearts in such a way that constant praise may be raised unto Him. We must praise God for every blessing that He adds to us. It must be our souls’ habitual exercise to bless His name. Paul says in Ephesians 5:20, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. We should never cease to give thanks to our God. Just as Hebrews 13:15 reminds us, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

READ:

Psalm 100:4a

^4a Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise.

EXHORTATION:

First of all, here we have an invitation to come to the place of God’s worship. Secondly, here we also have an instruction on how we should enter His place of worship.

The verb “enter” is a strong imperative, commanding all His people to be in the place of worship. It is not merely a suggestion that it is good to be in the church, though that statement is wholly true. The divine intention of this command, unquestionably, is that every believer ought to gather together in the appointed place of worship to praise Him.

The words “gates” and “courts” evoke strong memories of the temple of the LORD. While “gates” denote the entrances to the compound of the LORD’s temple, “courts” refer to the open spaces which surrounded the temple, where the people of God would gather to worship God. Only the priests were allowed to enter the temple proper; thus the “courts” denote the places around the temple marked out for the gathering worshippers. The courts of the tabernacle and the temple were the most yearned-after place of the saints. In Psalm 84:2, the saint of God says, “My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.” Similarly in another place, a saint of the LORD says, “I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, In the courts of the LORD’S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 116:18-19). They knew that there are special blessings attached to those who delight in the public worship of God in the courts of His house. Psalm 92:13 declares, “Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.”

Attached to the LORD’s invitation to His house of worship is the clear instruction to come with “thanksgiving” and “praise”. No other disposition of heart is better suited for His worship than thanksgiving. The praise of the LORD proceeds from thankful people. The offer of praise is the most befitting thanksgiving to God. Let us be eager to enter His house to praise Him with songs and prayers of thanksgiving. Let His praise fill your heart and be upon your tongue. It is the common heritage of God’s people to praise Him in His house. May it be our greatest pleasure to be found in His presence with all of God’s people. Let us also encourage others, and be an example in the matter of public worship of our God.