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READ:

Psalm 3:8

⁸ Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

EXHORTATION:

David knew that his deliverance from those who sought to destroy him was entirely in the hand of the LORD. Neither he nor his friends had the power to deliver him from his enemies. Though he saw no scope of deliverance by his or his friend’s efforts, he was confident about the LORD’s power and wisdom to save him from all his troubles.

God’s people have repeatedly been warned that nothing that they put their trust in – except the LORD – shall have the power to deliver them. For instance, Psalm 33:17 teaches His people that “An horse is a vain thing for safety”. Proverbs 21:31 reminds them, “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.” Psalm 147:10 also instructs them that the LORD “delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.” Israel’s great victories over their powerful enemies did not come by their military strength, but by the LORD’s providential interventions. The LORD delivered Israel from Pharaoh’s powerful Egyptian army by opening a path through the Red Sea. He miraculously brought down the wall of Jericho to give victory to Israel, that they may possess it as their promised land. Often, God saved His people by His quiet, unseen yet devastating actions against their enemies.

Even David, when he went against the Philistine giant, Goliath, announced to him, “And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands” (1 Samuel 17:47). Hence in Psalm 20:7, David also confessed, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

The deliverance and protection of His people stem wholly from the LORD alone. Psalm 37:39-40 reiterates this very assuring truth when it declares, “But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.” The LORD should always be trusted and praised for saving us from all our distresses. Psalm 68:20 declares, “He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.” Let us not fear our adversaries or adversities, for God will give us wisdom and strength to lead us safely at all times for His own glory.

READ:

Psalm 3:5

⁵ I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

EXHORTATION:

King David was in a time of great distress of heart when he wrote Psalm 3. He was being pursued by his rebellious son, Absalom. He was driven from his throne, his palace and his city. He was forced to roam as a fugitive with a few loyal friends. As the battle raged, he became weary in his body and heart. The nights were extremely dangerous for him out in the open. Any evil could have happened to him in the dark of the night, especially as his ferocious enemies were hot on his heels. However, David trusted the LORD’s protection and cast all his burdens upon the LORD when he prepared to lay himself down to rest in the night. He prayed, “But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah” (Psalm 3:3-4).

David, though full of trouble and fatigue, decided to lie down to sleep. He was unlike many who lose sleep over their troubles. Like a child in the arms of his mother, he leaned on the LORD’s arm and slept. As Scripture says, the LORD “giveth his beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:2). David trusted the Keeper of Israel, who “neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4), to preserve his life. Notwithstanding all the dangers and troubles that beset him, David slept quietly and securely.

Though the night was filled with danger, the LORD granted David safety through the night. So when he awoke from his sleep, he said, “I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.” He woke up in the strength of the LORD, with his fatigue gone, and was “recharged” to fight his battle.

When we go to sleep or when we awake from sleep, we must, like David, commit ourselves to the LORD in faith and thanksgiving. We have no power to awake ourselves. Sleep has been referred to as “death’s twin sister”. We hear of many who laid down to sleep in the night but awoke no more; they died in their sleep. Oh, how we ought to be thankful to the LORD when we rise from the bed of repose! May our first waking thought be one of gratitude to our Lord who has sustained us through the night.

Let us daily acknowledge the LORD as our great Preserver. It is the LORD who sustains us when we quietly fall into death-like deep sleep. He keeps us from all dangers and also preserves us from death. The LORD has kept us alive today to praise Him.

Sermon Text: Psalm 90:1–17
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 29th September 2024

During his recent visit to Singapore, the Pope made a statement that has been widely reported: “All religions are paths to God.” He added, “I will use an analogy, they are like different languages that express the divine.”¹ This view, however, stands in stark contrast to our Christian belief. 

As followers of Christ, we recognise no authority beyond what Christ Himself and the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God, have revealed to us. 

Salvation to Come to God is Only through Jesus

Let’s listen to Jesus’ words on how to be saved and come to God. (To stress the importance, the relevant portions are underscored.)

• “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:7-11).
• “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6)

As shown in the statements above, Jesus has clearly emphasised that He is the only path to God, the embodiment of truth, and the Giver of eternal life. For further evidence of Jesus’ insistence that He is the Saviour whom God sent for sinners to come to Him, please refer to the following Scripture passages: Matthew 1:21; 11:27-30; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 5:32; 19:10; John 3:16; 5:36-47; 6:35-39; 11:25-26.

Now, let us hear the emphatic declarations of Christ’s apostles, as recorded in the New Testament, that reiterated Christ is the only Saviour whom God had prepared for sinners:

• Peter declared, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
• “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) that word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:34-43).
• Paul declared, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).
• “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” (Hebrews 2:3-4).
• “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:14-15).
• John proclaimed, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:11-12).

Condemnation to Those who Reject Christ, the God-Appointed Saviour

Now consider Jesus’ warning of eternal damnation for all who reject Him as the One whom God the Father has sent to this earth to save sinners and to provide the way to heaven:

• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).
• “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).
• “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:22-24). 

The apostles also warned that those who deny Christ will not come to the Father but perish forever:

• “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction” (2 Peter 2:1). 
• “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also” (1 John 2:23). 
•  “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:10-12).
• “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 4).

Receive Not Those Who Reject Christ as the Only Way to God

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (2 John 9-11).

¹ https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/september/documents/20240913-singapore-giovani.html

READ:

Romans 15:33

³³ Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

EXHORTATION:

Our God is the “God of peace”. Earlier in this epistle, He has already been revealed to us as the God of patience (Romans 15:5), and the God of hope (Romans 15:13). Here and once again in Romans 16:20, He is described as the “God of peace”. Through such names in His Word, God has revealed unto us who He is. The names of God in the Bible are the personal disclosures of His person and perfections. They also reveal various aspects of His relationship with His people. By the designation, “God of peace”, He reveals Himself to us as the author, giver and lover of peace.

In Romans 3:17, the apostle Paul said concerning fallen, sin-plagued mankind, that “the way of peace have they not known”. Man has been utterly ignorant of true peace and the way to obtain it. So, how wonderful it is then that the LORD has revealed Himself to us as the “God of peace” and welcomed us to His perfect peace!

He has declared unto us “the gospel of peace” (Romans 10:15; cf. Ephesians 6:15; Acts 10:36), that “being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). In Romans 5:10, we read: “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” (cf. Colossians 1:21-22). By faith in Christ who died for us, we are no more at war with God, but heirs of His kingdom of peace. Oh, what a blessing it is that God has called us, through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, out of our wicked ways to walk according to His godly ways! “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).

Moreover, the “God of peace”, who has called us into His kingdom, wants us to enjoy and promote peace, particularly in the church. No schism is to be brought into the church, whether it be caused by racial or cultural or dietary or any such differences. “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17). In his epistle to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul said, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33). As God’s people rejoice in the peace that they have inherited in Christ and promote peace in the church, the apostle fervently prayed that the “God of peace” will be with them. God’s presence will sanctify us and show us the way of peace.

READ:

Romans 15:32

³² That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

EXHORTATION:

This was one of the several personal requests that Paul made to the believers in Rome for their prayer. He appealed to them for prayer (vv. 30-32). Though he was a man of great faith, abundant wisdom, astounding courage and extraordinary success in his Gospel endeavours, he constantly solicited prayers of fellow brethren (Ephesians 6:18-19; Philippians 1:19; Colossians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1- 2; Philemon 1:22; Hebrews 13:18-19). Paul was acutely aware of his needs and weaknesses, and humbly sought the co-operation of his brethren to fulfil his desires in the LORD. Like a thriving businessman dependent on those around him, the apostle in his increasing “business” for the Lord sought the prayers of fellow Christians.

Paul asked them to pray for his upcoming ministry in Jerusalem, where there were many hostile unbelievers who could cause him serious harm. So he would have them to pray for his deliverance from the violence of the hostile unbelievers, and for his service to be accepted by the saints in Jerusalem. He then desired the earnest prayers of the believers in Rome concerning his plan to visit them. Even as he yearned to have the joy of seeing them and of being refreshed by their fellowship, he knew there were many obstacles that could impede his intended journey to Rome.

To God’s servants like Paul, nothing is more reviving and refreshing to their hearts than the loving presence and communion of God’s people. How we ought to pray that we will be used of the Lord to minister joy and comfort to His servants who labour in His vineyard! We should not only pray for safety and success in their ministries, but also for us to be a means of spiritual and physical refreshing to His faithful servants. There is no better way to show our brotherhood and solidarity with the ministers of the Gospel than our prayerful availability and refreshing fellowship.

Though Paul desired the joy and comfort of their fellowship, he remained submissive to God’s sovereign will. So he asked them to pray that he “may come … by the will of God”. He trusted in the wise disposing of God’s providence. For Paul, God’s will mattered more than his own desires. He only finally arrived in Rome as a prisoner for the Gospel to testify before Caesar (cf. Acts 21:17-28:16; Philippians 1:12, 13; 4:22). Truly, man proposes, God disposes! God’s greater purposes must prevail in and through us.

READ:

Romans 15:11

¹¹ And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.

EXHORTATION:

Paul was particularly mindful of his special calling as “the apostle of the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13), and hence his joy in seeing thousands and thousands of Gentiles turning from idols to worship the living and true God through the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:9). He rejoiced that God had shown such great mercy towards the Gentiles and received them into His kingdom. He wanted the believing Jews also to rejoice in the salvation of Gentiles and receive them into the church to worship God together with them.

So Paul said in verses 8-9, “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.” Though Jesus Christ was “a minister of the circumcision” (i.e. being born a Jew according to the promises of God to the forefathers of the Jews and ministered among the Jews), His atoning death benefited not only the Jews but also the Gentiles. Paul then reasoned that the Old Testament Scriptures pointed out that God had always planned to call the Gentiles unto the worship of God. The apostle did so by referring to four Old Testament portions: Psalm 18:49 in verse 9, Deuteronomy 32:43 in verse 10, Psalm 117:1 in verse 11, and Isaiah 11:1, 10 in verse 12. All of those verses show that it was God’s design that the Gentiles should join the Jews to worship God.

The verse for our meditation cites Psalm 117:1, where the Gentiles are beckoned twice to praise the LORD. The word “laud” means praise. All people, both Jews and Gentiles, must gather to praise the LORD. He is worthy of the praise of all the peoples of the world. There is no other Saviour for man (whether Jew or Gentile) to be saved from his sins so that he may be reconciled to God.

The blessing of salvation comes with the responsibility of glorifying God among all people. We must declare His Gospel so that people from all nations, tribes and languages may call on His name and praise Him. Let us therefore serve the Lord, with the prayer “That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee” (Psalm 67:2-3).

READ:

Romans 15:7

⁷ Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

EXHORTATION:

In the early churches, disagreement and disputes did arise for varying reasons. Tensions were caused by Jewish and Gentile differences in matters such as dietary practices and other ceremonial observances. With the growth of Christianity, problems inevitably also increased. Unpleasant disturbances did arise in the life of the early church from time to time. It was not easy to get every new believer to understand and cast aside the errors of his traditions and habits. So often the apostles had to deal with discord and strife, even as they pressed forward with the preaching of the Gospel near and far.

When the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome, he was very concerned about the peace and unity of their fellowship. He would have all believers show mutual love and care. He wanted the brethren to please one another instead of staying aloof and distant from one another.

Christians must be warm and friendly. We must interact with people in the church with a welcoming, approving disposition. Warm-hearted treatment of others will help us quell any anxiety, suspicion or even resentment. Though trivial differences can at times estrange us from one another, let us not become hostile and unfriendly. Let us be conciliatory and seek to resolve matters with the guidance and help of fellow brethren, if necessary.

Our mutual acceptance must be pivoted on our adoration and emulation of Christ, our blessed Saviour and Lord. The exhortation is that we receive one another “as Christ also received us to the glory of God”. Our treatment of others is to resemble Christ’s behaviour towards us. Christ’s tender affection towards us must be the pattern, motivation and inspiration for our conduct towards one another. When we feel rather uncertain about being friendly to someone, let us consider how our Lord has first shown mercy and love towards us.

Christ has accepted us freely and heartily, though we were once hostile and guilty. He welcomed us right away into all His glorious inheritance and has made us joint-heirs with Him. So let us deal with others kindly, with a willingness to forgive and overlook their infirmities and offences. May we always be ready to show Christ-like receptiveness to fellow believers.

READ:

Romans 15:2

² Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

EXHORTATION:

No Christian is exempted from the exhortation given in this verse. Every Christian is urged to “please his neighbour”. In the light of the context of this verse, the word “neighbour” denotes a fellow church member or a Christian brother. To “please” another is to conduct oneself in a polite or courteous manner towards another.

Many biblical admonitions, if carefully implemented, will enable us to be “pleasing” towards one another. Some of such admonitions are briefly enumerated below:

• We must greet one another, showing respect and love. 1 Corinthians 16:20 says, “Greet ye one another with an holy kiss” (cf. Romans 16:16; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14).
• We must be kind-hearted to all, showing love and compassion. “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love” (Romans 12:10; cf. John 13:34).
• We must show respect to all, even to those who are younger and immature, as we are admonished: “in honour preferring one another” (Romans 12:10; cf. Philippians 2:3; 1 Peter 5:5).
• We must be welcoming to others in the church. Romans 15:7 urges us, “Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God” (cf. Romans 14:1-3; Matthew 10:40).
• We must be helpful and caring towards one another, even to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2; cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:14).
• We must be patient towards others. Ephesians 4:2 instructs us, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love” (cf. Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13).
• We must “consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24).
• We must encourage and edify one another. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (cf. Romans 14:19; Ephesians 4:16, 29; 1 Thessalonians 4:18).

In a word, it is for the expressed purpose of edification that we ought to “please” one another.

READ:

Romans 15:1

¹ We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

EXHORTATION:

Every Christian is called to be a member of the church, where he renders himself for the edification of other Christians. Paul stated this truth earlier in Romans 12:5 – “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” In 1 Corinthians 12, he further emphasised “that the members should have the same care one for another” (v. 25). It is God’s design that we edify one another through mutual care.

The first counsel that Paul gives in our text is let the strong help the weak. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak”. Paul’s use of the word “ought” (opheilo in Greek), which means “owe” or “be a debtor”, suggests that the strong ones must feel an indebtedness to God to help His weak children. The word “bear” (bastazō in Greek) has meanings such as “carry”, “endure” and “support”. Hence, it is the duty of every Christian to bear patiently with the weaker ones around him and help them to walk and grow along with him. He who is spiritually strong should neither despise nor neglect those who are weak. Instead, he graciously renders himself available to support and help them. “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye” (Romans 14:1). In 1 Corinthians 12:22- 24 we read, “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: and those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked”.

Paul’s second counsel for Christians is “not to please ourselves”. A Christian should not be self-centred if he is to help others as God expects. A person’s spiritual maturity is evidenced in his willingness to give up his rights so that others may be helped. We must be willing to deny ourselves if we can promote others’ happiness in doing so. Our conduct should not be motivated by our personal happiness or gratification, but rather by the welfare of others. We must, like Paul, be able to sincerely say, “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more... To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:19, 22).