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1 Timothy 2:5

READ:

1 Timothy 2:5

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

EXHORTATION:

The apostle Paul presents this statement as a reason for his earlier advice on the need to pray to God for all men, even for kings and people in authority. Such praying is good and acceptable in the sight of God, “Who will have all men to be saved, and come unto the knowledge of the truth” (v. 4). The reason for such prayers for all men is because “there is one God”. He alone is the Creator and the sovereign God of all classes, races and nationalities; without coming to Him through the Mediator whom He has appointed, no man shall be saved.

A mediator is one who stands as an agent of reconciliation between two parties or persons that are at odds with one another. His task is to bring them together and make peace between them. God has appointed such a Mediator, that man (who has been alienated from Him) may be reconciled to Him. Explaining man’s alienation from God in Ephesians 4:18, Paul said, “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart”. In Romans 8:7, he said, “the carnal mind is enmity against God”. He told the Colossian Christians, “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled” (Colossians 1:21). Without a mediator, no man could find his way back to God.

The only One whom God has appointed to be the Mediator in order to reconcile men (estranged from God by their sins) to Himself, is “the man Christ Jesus”. God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who became a man, is His appointed Mediator between God and men. Scripture also makes it plain how Christ, as our Mediator, reconciles us to God. Paul affirms in Romans 5:10, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Paul again said in Ephesians 2:16, “And that he might reconcile both (Jews and Gentiles) unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby”. The believing penitent is now “accepted in the Beloved”. In this high office, Christ stands alone because He alone is both God and man. To join Mary and the saints to Christ in His Mediatorship – which is what the church of Rome does – implies that Christ is unable to accomplish His own peculiar work. We must reject Rome’s error and only trust in Christ as our Mediator in order to be reconciled to God.

 

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Annual Congregational Meeting & Election to Board of Elders

Dear brethren,

Since the church was constituted and registered, our Annual Congregational Meetings have been times when we reflect with gratitude on God’s blessings and renew our commitment to serving Him with holiness and zeal. As we prepare for the ACM on the next Lord’s Day (Nov. 3), let us pray that we will gather with reverence and gratitude before our God. He has graciously blessed us with His patience, unwavering guidance, provisions, and oversight over the past year, which is a truly wondrous display of His faithfulness to our church. Let us come together with hearts full of thanksgiving and prayer.

As previously announced, the ACM documents, including the annual report and audited accounts, are available on our church website. If you encounter issues accessing them, please contact Dn Norefel promptly.

If you have any questions regarding the report or accounts, we encourage you to submit them as soon as possible, as mentioned in the past two Sundays. This will allow the respective elders to prepare answers ahead of time, ensuring a smooth and efficient ACM.

During this upcoming ACM, we will also hold the election of the Board of Elders, as required by our church constitution, to lead the church forward for the next three years, God willing. We thank the Lord for providing us faithful men to serve as elders. Pastor Prabhudas Koshy, Elder Mah Chin Kwang, Elder Ng Poh Kok, Elder Francis Lee, and Elder Low Boon Siang are willing to continue serving on the Board of Elders, according to the Lord’s call and direction upon them. Additionally, the BOE has approved Dn Lim Ah Sang as a new candidate for the Board of Elders.

We have been praying for these candidates in our church prayer meetings for the last three weeks, and we encourage you to continue praying for them earnestly. Please join us this Tuesday night (Oct. 29) for prayer as we prepare for the ACM and the BOE election. May the Lord’s Word concerning the ordination of elders to set things in order in the church (Titus 1:5), and their role to feed and rule the church (1 Tim 5:17; 1 Peter 5:1-4), be gloriously fulfilled in our midst – for His glory and for the strengthening of our church’s ministry.

Heartily in the service of the Lord,
Pastor

Testimony of Lim Ah Sang: A New Candidate for the Office of Eldership

I thank God for leading me and my family to Gethsemane B-P Church, and for enabling me to serve along with the brethren here. I also thank God for enabling me to serve as a deacon in various areas the Board of Elders assigned me.

Sometime last year, Pastor Koshy, on behalf of the BOE, called and asked me to consider standing in for the office of an elder. With my many challenges, I hesitated, but Pastor advised me to pray about it and talk with my family.

Months of prayer and waiting upon the Lord for His confirmation were difficult and testing. The fear of failing to do the Lord’s work weighed heavily on my heart, especially now that I am no longer young. The growing responsibilities of caring for my ailing son and my wife in the years ahead added to the burden.

During one of the Sunday Evening Teaching Services, I was deeply convicted as Pastor expounded from 1 Samuel 22 on how King David, despite his own burdens while in the cave of Adullam, willingly accepted the additional responsibility of caring for his brethren and all his father’s house who came to him. I was reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:37 – “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” The good Lord also reminded me that He has delivered and cared for my family through many trials over the past 24 years. It is not who I am but who He is. He is the great I AM that I AM. I must trust Him to do His bidding to serve Him. 

The call to the office of an elder is a high calling. As I am relatively new to Gethsemane B-P Church, there is much timidity, a sense of inadequacy and unworthiness in me. The Lord once again spoke to me through Pastor’s daily devotion taken from Jeremiah 1:7a – “But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child…”

The Lord also reminded me how He had seen me through my inadequacy and fear since 2005, when the pastor of Foochow Methodist Church left me alone in the Prison Ministry only after a few months. Being young in faith, I found it difficult to continue in this ministry when external voices discouraged me. The Lord has helped me hitherto to serve in the Prison Ministry and to regularly bring His Word to the prisoners. 

Through His Word and the reminders of His glorious works in my life and ministry, I was comforted and strengthened to yield to His calling to serve Him as an elder in Gethsemane BPC. With the Lord confirming His calling in my heart, my resistance wilted, and my heart has been at peace to yield to serve Him along with Pastor and elders of Gethsemane. When Pastor asked me again about my response to the BOE’s invitation to serve as an elder, I shared how the Lord led me to accept the call. 

Since then, the Lord has helped me study the Scriptures to write my answers to the questions the BOE has given me on doctrines, my convictions, and my commitment to the Lord and the church if I am appointed as an elder. I thank God for His grace that has helped me to undergo the interviews with Pastor and (later) with the elders. I also praise God for the Biblical instructions and godly counsel I received from them from time to time, which prepared me to serve the Lord in the BOE, if confirmed during the ACM and election. 

May God help me to serve Him humbly and faithfully.

Testimonies of Brethren Appointed to be Deacons by BOE

Bro. Tan Eng Huat

Deuteronomy 8:2-3: “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.”

As I look back over the past 40-plus years as a believer, I am deeply thankful for how God has elected and kept me and my family faithfully despite my countless shortcomings and failures. The above passage from Deuteronomy (and also Ps 63:5-7) reminds me of the importance of remembering how God has led me since my conversion, and hence of always being mindful of His longsuffering, grace and mercy, that I may submit to Him and His ways as revealed in His preserved Word. While God’s hand upon me was unbeknown to me in my earlier years, I have become progressively more conscious of the Holy Spirit’s patient guidance and instruction in my later years through the studies of His precious Word. I am thankful to God for leading me to Gethsemane B-P Church, that I may be further moulded through the faithful preaching and teaching of His Word. 

When Pastor Koshy told me of the BOE’s consensus to nominate and appoint me as a deacon of the church, I was filled with much apprehension and uncertainty regarding the appropriateness. I could think of multiple reasons why I shouldn’t accept the appointment, namely the brevity of my membership and my personality. Being a reserved and taciturn person by nature, I would require more effort and time on my part compared to the current deacons, who seem gifted with ease of interaction and joy in serving the members of the church. I felt that I am not in the same mould, and would not be able to fulfil the role well. Moreover, I felt that I may not be sensitive or patient enough to meet the needs of others. 

I conveyed my self-assessment to Pastor as reasons for declining the appointment. Pastor was moved to speak and counsel me further regarding the BOE’s unanimity in their desire to appoint me. After spending 3 weeks praying, ruminating, and meditating on God’s Word, the Spirit placed this burden on me to accept the nomination and appointment, and convinced me that I should not resist His prompting through the elders. Subsequently, I purposed in my heart to serve Him in this capacity. God has taught me that He will enable His children as He directs them and will reveal His grace and goodness as we step forward by faith and in faith. As I have enjoyed – and continue to enjoy – His innumerable grace, it behoves me to be a good steward “of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). Hence, it would be a sin on my part to disobey His calling and will. While I would prefer to serve without the title of “deacon”, however, I should not succumb to my personal preference but to yield humbly to His will. May the LORD enable me to be faithful in serving Him (1 Cor 4:2). 

Bro. Lijoy K George

I am grateful to have been raised in a Christian family, where my parents guided me to walk in the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ from a young age. It was a simple faith in Christ, nurtured with morning and evening devotions, which laid a strong foundation for my spiritual growth. As Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” My grandfather was a true inspiration to me, demonstrating dedication and purity in life as a true believer.

God’s providence led me to work in Singapore and worship at Gethsemane B-P Church, which was a special blessing. I am thankful for the faithful teaching of our Pastor, which has helped me grow and be rooted in God’s Word. I also thank God for Dn Benny, who has been like a brother to me. Our mutual fellowship, together with our families, has encouraged us all to serve the Lord in Gethsemane BPC. The fellowship has nourished and supported my family as we navigated the challenges of our life. 

Learning Covenant Theology has deepened my understanding of the richness of God’s promises and faithfulness to His people, and it helped me to realise how I need to continue to grow in the knowledge of His Word. God has also helped my family grow in faith as we continue to trust in His grace and learn from the Word to rejoice in worshipping and serving Him with the brethren in the church. As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reminds us, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

In Gethsemane, the LORD has guided me to serve Him in several areas, and taught me more about service so that I may humbly surrender to His sovereign will always as He shows them to me. God’s work must be done in His way, and all we need to do is submit faithfully to Him. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I also thank God that my family has been a constant source of encouragement and support, even as I had yielded to serve Him wherever He had been directing me thus far.

When Pastor approached me about the role of deacon, I initially felt unworthy of the position. I shared my inabilities and fears. However, through prayerful consideration and encouragement from our elders and Pastor, I have found strength in God amid my imperfections. Their support and prayers have been invaluable, helping me to see that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. As 2 Corinthians 12:9 states, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

The LORD alone is God, and His mercy is sufficient. I trust that He will equip me to serve according to all His will. May the Lord help me always be willing, humble, and ready to fulfil my calling to serve Him for His glory.

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Colossians 1:14

READ:

Colossians 1:14

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

EXHORTATION:

Here our salvation is referred to as “redemption” in Christ. The word “redemption” refers to the securing of one’s release or freedom by the payment of a price, which is known as “ransom”. Redeeming slaves and prisoners-of-war by paying a ransom was common in the ancient world. So, “redemption” is freedom purchased. It also presupposes the condition of detention from which there is no escape until the ransom is paid.

We are under the wrath of God because of our sins. As Ephesians 2:3 says, “we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” The condemnation of God was upon us, detaining us under His curse.

But Christ came, “blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Colossians 2:14). There on the cross, Christ shed “his blood” and died. He appeased the wrath of God by the shedding of His blood in His death on the cross. Jesus Himself said, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). Paul said in Romans 5:9, “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” The apostle Peter, in describing our redemption, wrote, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

It is important to note that Christ paid the ransom not to Satan, but to God, whose just wrath was against our sins. God was pleased to accept Christ’s blood as the ransom for our sins. The blood of Christ was the sufficient price for our redemption. God’s justice being thus satisfied, we are reconciled to God, thereby releasing us from our obligations to punishment. By reason of what His Son underwent for us, God had pardoned our sins, His justice having been fully satisfied. The forgiveness of our sins was once and for all accomplished by Christ through His suffering, the shedding of His blood and His death on the cross.

 

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Colossians 1:13

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Colossians 1:13

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

EXHORTATION:

Our salvation is a demonstration of God’s matchless, triumphant power. We are now “delivered” from the tyrannical power of Satan and sin by God the Omnipotent. The Greek word for “delivered” (rhúomai) means “rescued from danger or great peril”. If God had not rescued us, we would have remained subjugated forever by satanic tyranny.

We were under “the power of darkness”. The word “power” denotes authority or jurisdiction. “Darkness” denotes moral and spiritual ignorance and evil that pervade Satan’s domain. The hosts of demons reign in this world as “the rulers of the darkness of this world” (Ephesians 6:12). Satan keeps people in the spiritual darkness of ignorance (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 4:18), vile passions and deeds (John 3:19-20; Ephesians 5:11- 13), as well as misery, fear and death (Luke 1:79). We were once locked up in Satan’s corrupt and vile domain, having no power to break free.

But God sent His Son to deliver us. In 1 John 3:8, we read, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” Jesus illustrated His power to cast out the demons and free a soul from their sway in Matthew 12:29 – “how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man?” Christ, the mighty Conqueror, has snatched us from the clutches of Satan and brought us out of his control and dark influences.

God not only delivered us from the power of darkness, but He also “translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son”. The word “translated” in Greek (methíst?mi) has the idea of removing people from a place to another. Christians have been transferred from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of Christ, God’s dear Son. Our salvation removes us from spiritual and moral darkness, and places us in the pure and glorious light of Jesus Christ. Zechariah prophetically announced concerning Christ before His birth, that He would appear “to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79). Jesus Himself said, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46).

What a glorious freedom we have been granted in Christ! No more to be under darkness, but evermore with Christ in His glorious kingdom of light!

 

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Colossians 1:11

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Colossians 1:11

11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.

EXHORTATION:

This is a portion of Paul’s prayer for the Colossian Christians. What a needful prayer! Paul was aware that a Christian would not be able to persevere in his life of faith and service unless he is endued with strength from his Almighty God. Every Christian needs to be empowered with the Omnipotent’s strength, which is infinitely greater than his own strength. A Christian’s personal strength is not equal to his challenges. Jesus said, “without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Our God is able to strengthen us. The psalmist said, “God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God” (Psalm 62:11). All kinds of strengths belong to Him – spiritual, physical, intellectual, moral, etc. He declares, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). Scripture also repeatedly declares, “Nothing is too hard for the Lord.

He promises us not little strength but “all might, according to his glorious power”. Moreover, such supreme, immeasurable, eternal power of God will be continually made available to us. The Greek verb for “strengthened” is a present participle, and hence it suggests continued strengthening. He will continually strengthen us by His Spirit. In Ephesians 3:16, we are told “that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man”.

Like Paul, we too must covet greater strength from the Lord so that we might be stronger in our faith, hope and love. We need divine strength to be steadfast, useful and fruitful as Christians. When we are tempted and tried, let us pray for His strength, that we may be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (cf. Ephesians 6:10). When we have much to accomplish, let us appeal to the Lord for His strengthening grace. He will grant us the strength that we need to be good and kind, compassionate and loving, patient and forgiving, longsuffering and fervent, for His glory.

The result of His strengthening is “unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness”. “Patience and longsuffering” are most needful in this hostile world. Christians need His glorious power to forbear their sufferings. His strength will help us not only to patiently endure all difficulties, but also to endure them joyfully. Let us ask for His power to be patient and joyful.

 

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Colossians 1:5

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Colossians 1:5

5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.

EXHORTATION:

This is a portion of the apostle Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving for the Colossian believers. He was thankful to God for the hope that was laid up for them in heaven. He was assured of their hope of heaven because it was evidenced by their faith in Christ Jesus and love to all saints (v. 4).

They were once sinners, “without Christ” and “having no hope”, as Paul highlighted to the Ephesians in Ephesians 2:12. Oh, what a great act of grace it is that God has given hopeless sinners a well-founded hope through faith in Christ! Their hearts were once filled with many a false hope that led them astray into misery and meaningless pursuits in life. But now in Christ, their lives are directed towards a blessed hope that is laid up in heaven for them. Christian hope is not some sort of wishful thinking. It is a blessed assurance, a confident anticipation, and a patient waiting for the fulfilment of God’s promises guaranteed by Christ.

How marvellous it is that every Christian’s hope is associated with heaven! He is no more a hell-bound sinner, but a heavenward saint of Christ! Concerning the Christian’s hope, the apostle assuredly says that it is “laid up for you in heaven”. No earthly calamity or attack would destroy the hope of Christians. There is no cause for anxiety about the certainty of our hope. It is laid up in heaven, “where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6:20), as our Saviour has said. No process of decay will cause the Christians’ hope to become stale or corrupt. In the apostle Peter’s language, the Christians’ hope is a “lively hope” and it is “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3, 4).

The hope in Christ is extraordinary, for it gives us eternal and unparalleled prospects, such as triumph over every enemy (even Satan); perfection that will cause us to be like Christ; full freedom from sin, sorrow and death; perfect rest from earthly labour; joy beyond compare; everlasting fellowship with Christ; eternal rewards; etc.

Such a glorious hope is not an invention of any human mind. It is, as Paul said, that which “ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel”. It is revealed by God in His Word and received through the hearing of the God-ordained Gospel of Christ, even the truth of His Word.

 

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John 1:17

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John 1:17

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

EXHORTATION:

In the preceding verses, John presented Christ as “full of grace and truth” (v. 14), and pointed out that “of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace” (v. 16). Christ, in whom the fullness of grace dwelt, has come to this world to give grace to those who are in need of grace. He supplies grace to all those who trust Him.

Today’s verse gives us further understanding about the condescension of Christ as the provider of grace for all who are in need of grace. The first word in verse 17, “for” (hóti), is a demonstrative conjunction, explaining how Christ’s fullness of grace benefits those who are in need of grace.

It was for the purpose of bringing man to the fullness of God’s grace that “the law was given by Moses”. In other words, the law of God (given through Moses) makes men realise that not only are they sinners, they are also not able to escape His just condemnation without divine grace. Thus, God’s law leads us to Christ so that we may find God’s grace and truth for our salvation. We are today reminded by the law of Moses that we are condemned sinners, as people were in the Old Testament times. Thus, the law causes us to look to Christ for grace. He then shows us the true way of salvation, which He has accomplished through His death on the cross.

Though Moses was a great prophet of Israel by whom the law was given, he could only make the people realise their need for God’s grace. He couldn’t give them the grace. So by the law, he pointed them to their need of grace which Christ alone can provide. Thus Christ is presented here as infinitely greater than and superior to Moses, who was one of Israel’s greatest prophets and one of the greatest men in biblical history.

Some argue that this verse teaches that the law was contrary to God’s grace. Some even wrongly claim that there was no grace of God in the Old Testament. Such ideas are not even implied in this verse. Rather, it tells us that the law was “given” (an act of God’s grace) to direct the Old Testament people to look towards God’s grace in Christ, who was promised to them (e.g. Isaiah 53). The truth that Christ is God’s gracious provision for their salvation, was symbolically presented in the blood sacrifices of the animals. Christ was indeed the actual provision of God’s grace for man’s salvation in the Old Testament, as it is so today to all those who repent of their sins and turn to Him by faith.

 

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John 1:14b

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John 1:14b

14b (And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

EXHORTATION:

Notice that John did not say “I beheld”, but rather “we beheld”. He was incorporating all the apostles and other believing men who were with Christ during His earthly ministry as witnesses of Christ’s glory. By appealing to the testimonies of many, John strengthened his claim that Christ is indeed God who has come in the flesh.

The Greek word used for “beheld” (theáomai) does not refer only to “seeing with the physical eye”, but also to viewing continually and attentively with contemplation of what is being observed as something unusual in order to interpret it. It denotes gaining perception of the nature of what one sees with one’s physical eye. Though many who saw Christ did not perceive His divine nature, John and his fellow apostles did perceive that what they saw in Christ was the glory of God indeed.

John testified that the glory of Christ was the glory of “the only begotten of the Father”. The phrase “only begotten Son” denotes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God by an eternal generation. In other words, Christ was one in nature and essence with the Father. The nature of the glory of Christ was the same as the glory of the Father. Jesus was God walking in the streets of Israel’s villages as a man. Christ the Nazarene was Christ the Creator! Christ the man was Christ the true God!

When John said they saw His glory, he was certainly not referring to the brightness of His appearance. When He was incarnate, He did not appear in all the splendour of His glory. If He did appear so, nobody could have come face to face with Him without being consumed! So, John was saying that he understood Christ as the glorious God because of His teachings and works. John spiritually discerned the teachings and works of Jesus Christ as the true reflection of His glorious deity.

John also said that Christ was “full of grace and truth.” Only God can be “full” of grace and truth. Man can perform acts of grace and truth, but no man in his natural state is “full of grace” nor “full of truth” in the sense that God is. If Christ manifested only human grace and truth, then He would have been of little value to others’ spiritual needs. But Christ “was” (nay, “had always been”) full of grace and truth. What a wonderful divine Saviour and Shepherd is our Lord Jesus Christ!

 

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Testimonies of New Membership Candidates—Part 2

Jeremy Cheah

My Journey of Salvation

I thank God for godly Christian parents who sought to bring me up in the ways of the Lord and baptized me as an infant. My journey as a Christian began as a young boy in Bethany Independent-Presbyterian Church, learning God’s Word in Sunday School and various camps the church organised. The messages preached and taught were just mere interesting stories then, and I only enjoyed church because I could play with my friends.

As I entered secondary school, my heart became more sensitive to the Spirit’s moving and became convicted of the sinful life I led. As a young child, I was often quick to anger, fast to pick up foul language, led a double life and committed many other sins. During one church camp message – taken from Colossians 4:6, which reads “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” – God convicted me of how wrong it was to indulge in using foul language with my friends in school. I knew that I was a wretched sinner, lost in sin and darkness, and needed spiritual cleansing in my life.

However, since then I was struck with another problem of inadequacy and pride. For the longest time as I was trying to “work out” my faith, I felt that I could never match up to the standard God had set. I thought I was not worthy of the salvation Jesus gave. Therein lies pride, thinking I could ever work my way to Heaven. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” (Ephesians 2:4-5). When I finally realised “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9), God struck my heart and convicted me of the wrong idea I had of Christianity. Man can by no means work his way to Heaven. Salvation was given freely by God, and one only need to have faith in Him to receive salvation. So, at 19, I reaffirmed my faith in the Lord.

Seeking Transfer

It was in 2022 when I felt spiritually dry in my faith and needed growing. By God’s providence, He worked through a friend at my internship place. Through our fellowshipping in the Lord, I first came across the 5 points of Calvinism. At first, I grappled with the “U” and “L” of TULIP – Unconditional Election and Limited Atonement. How could God choose to save some and not others? Does that not make God unloving? As I sought counsel from several pastors (including Rev. Koshy), I finally understood this doctrine and became convicted of it. Man is totally depraved, destined for eternal damnation. But out of His love, God gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to give us salvation. Furthermore, His salvation is sufficient for all, but only efficient for the elect who were predestined according to the foreknowledge of God. It is through this new conviction and belief in Calvinism that the Lord moved in my heart to seek transfer of church membership.

Through the Catechism and FEBC classes, I came to understand theology systematically. It is through these teachings that God revived me and helped me to increase in my understanding of Him, causing me to be in awe of Him and then, desiring Him more.

Since coming to Gethsemane slightly more than a year ago, I particularly love how the Word of God is expounded deeply and accurately. Furthermore, the teachings here at Gethsemane revealed to me much more sin problems in my life that I have to get rid of. One particular lesson taught during Youth Fellowship was from 1 Corinthians 6:12 – “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” Paul was teaching the Corinthian church to prioritise expediency over a Christian’s exercise of lawful liberties. That reminded me that I needed to lead a more spiritually excellent life and not just one that is merely lawful, to edify brethren and witness to non-believers.

Over time, the Lord also graciously granted me opportunities to serve within the church in the YF, YAF and Lions Home Ministry, which made me feel welcome and at home. By God’s grace and leading, I hope to transfer my membership to learn, serve and grow with the brethren here in Gethsemane BP Church. I pray that the Lord will grant me more opportunities to fellowship with all of you.

Clara Lim

I thank God that He led me to attend Gethsemane BP Church in June 2023 through my sister, Celine. I previously worshipped at a charismatic church from 2019 to 2023, but decided to leave as I disagreed with certain doctrines, such as speaking in tongues and the need for a second baptism of the Holy Spirit. I also found it difficult to have a deeper understanding of God’s Word, as sermons were often brief, lacking in depth and clear exposition from the Bible.

I thank God for the sound and biblical preaching in Gethsemane, where I have gained a deeper understanding of God’s Word and critical Bible doctrines. Over the past year, I have learnt a lot and I am thankful for the warm fellowship extended by many here. I thank God for His grace and mercies, and I look forward to growing in my understanding of His Word and in my spiritual walk with Him.

Leong Wei Chen

At the mere age of 8 years old, I already knew about the Saviour Jesus from my maternal grandmother while she was lying on her sick-bed, as she was a professed Christian. She had never failed to share Bible stories with my cousins and I despite her illness. However, my mother did not believe but embraced Buddhism instead. I was so young back then and unsure of what to do, so I remained neutral until my grandmother died. I was not keen to embrace Buddhism as I felt in my heart it was wrong. So, I pretended anyway whenever my mother would ask me to go with her for temple prayers and visits, just for the sake of not being reprimanded. I continued to do this till I have almost forgotten the Lord.

Not much later, a senior in my secondary school shared the Gospel with me and invited me to church. From this encounter, I remembered my grandmother and was elated to go to church with him. For a while, I was intrigued by the people “speaking in tongues” and the bands playing dramatic music. I found it interesting and decided to be more active by joining a cell group. As I actively participated in their fellowship, I thought I had accepted the Lord as my Saviour. But after a few months later, all those whom I fellowshipped with started showing their true colours. They had no restrictions in dress codes, BGRs were commonly encouraged, and there were a lot of ungodly behaviours. Sadly, my senior backslided and was involved in crimes. As I witness one by one of my friends backsliding, that led me to “lose my faith” and not attend this church anymore. I tried to go to other churches but it felt the same, so I went back to my usual lifestyle with my mother.

“Fast forward” to my adulthood: I have known Sis Ayn since we were in the same secondary school. Somehow I got to know that her mother (Aunty Jean) was reaching out to my best friend’s mother to evangelise. I told my best friend and his mother to attend church with me, but they declined as they said they were Catholics. I decided to go regardless. Upon coming to Gethsemane, I was shocked at how solemn and reverential this church is. I have only truly started to learn the Word of God, understanding it with so much clarity, compared to the churches I have attended before. 

By God’s divine will and timing, He has led me to Gethsemane to know that I am sinful, and in need of Him and true salvation. I was pricked from every sermon through Pastor Koshy. Thank God for Aunty Jean and her family in encouraging me, and for the fellow brethren who have prayed with me and for me. I am edified and blessed to witness the labour of the brethren for the Lord’s work as I attend the English Service, Filipino Fellowship, Evening Teaching Service and Tuesday prayer meetings. Praise God for enabling me to attend these services on the Lord’s Day despite my busy work schedules. As Matthew 6:24 says, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Please pray that I may be granted day off on Sundays, and that I myself may desire to learn more of God’s Word and attend more church meetings for my spiritual growth.

I can now safely proclaim unashamedly, with confidence, that I am truly a child of God, saved through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen. I pray that this Good News which my mother has heard before, will cause her to turn to the Lord and believe as I did, according to God’s will and grace. May I grow more in the Lord to be a channel of blessing to others, and to be able to share the Word of God with more souls. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

Read More
A Worshipper’s Exultation in God

Sermon Text: Psalm 92:1–15
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 20th October 2024

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