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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).

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

READ:

John 1:14a

^14a And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.

EXHORTATION:

The Word, which was divine and eternal (v. 1), “was made flesh”. This is an amazing summation of Christianity’s grandest doctrine, namely the Second Person of the Trinity, i.e. the Son of God, became a man in order to be mankind’s Redeemer. Jesus Christ was the Word who, being both with God and being God Himself, revealed Himself to us as a man.

The term “flesh” (sárx in Greek) has various meanings in the New Testament. Here it denotes human nature. The Greek word translated “made” literally means “became”. So the message it conveys is that God became a man! In English theological terminology, the truth that God became a man is expressed by the word “incarnation”. Christ was God incarnate or “manifest in the flesh”.

It must be stressed that the term “flesh” here carries no idea of sinful nature. He donned humanity, but without sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that He “knew no sin”. The writer of Hebrews tells us that Christ “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). The apostle Peter presented Christ as the One “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22).

It must also be emphasised that the Second Person of the Trinity assumed the human nature without laying aside His divine side. When He became a man, He did not cease from being God. Christ is now a man, in addition to being God. Christ is fully God and fully man. To combat the heresies that were infiltrating the early church, the church fathers met together at the Council of Chalcedon in AD 451. They studied the Scriptures and defined what has been known as “the hypostatic union” – the union of the two natures of Christ. The council then declared Jesus Christ to be one Person with two natures, without any confusion, change, division or separation.

John also said that He, who became flesh, “dwelt among us”. The Greek word for “dwelt” literally means “pitch a tent”. It carries the idea of temporary dwelling (since tents are not pitched for a permanent purpose). Though Jesus took on a permanent human nature, He dwelt among men only for a short time. He came for a definite time and purpose. He was here on earth for approximately 33½ years before He ascended to heaven, having accomplished our redemption by suffering in His body and shedding His blood in His death on the cross.

READ:

John 1:12

¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

EXHORTATION:

Though the common response of the Jews and Romans to Christ – the incarnated eternal Word – was derision and rejection, there were some who “received him”. John points out to us at the end of the verse what it means to receive Him. It is to “believe on his name”.

The “name” is more than a word or set of words by which a person is known. Here it denotes Christ’s purposes, will, works and all that He is. Believing on His name is to trust and yield to Him completely, acknowledging His claims and confessing Him with gratitude. That is what it means to “receive” him. Those who receive Christ are those who believe on His name.

So, genuine believing is not merely having a mental recognition of Christ, but a hearty acceptance of Christ, His redeeming work and His sanctifying truths. Genuine believers desire and rejoice to have the Lord’s presence always with them. They would never want the Lord to be far from them. As Paul said in Colossians 2:6, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him”. Their life is no more separated from Christ. Their life is hid with Christ in God (cf. Colossians 3:3). They have Christ as their Saviour and Lord to guide them by His presence and truth.

To all who receive Him or believe on His name, “gave he power to become the sons of God”. The word “power” indicates “authority” or “right”. To those who received Christ by faith, He gave the right to be children of God. Is there anything nobler and higher than being sons of God? Oh, what an exalted privilege Christ gives unto us all who believe!

This exalted honour of being God’s children is granted to any who would believe on Christ’s name, regardless of his ethnicity, social status, financial condition or family background. None of his earthly conditions could prevent him from receiving the honour and privilege of being the child of God, if he would receive Christ as his Saviour and Lord and accept His truth by faith. It must then be emphasised that becoming God’s children is not based on human terms, but on Christ’s terms. Christ must be received by faith. If one would not heartily approbate Christ, one cannot be God’s child. But to all who sincerely receive Christ by faith, there is the exclusive, free and unchanging promise of being the children of God.

READ:

John 1:10

¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

EXHORTATION:

According to John, Jesus Christ, who has been with God from all eternity (v. 1), “was in the world”. This certainly refers to Christ’s incarnation, His coming to this world in the form of a man and His dwelling among men. The One who was invisible to men, has revealed Himself to them. What great wonder it was that the eternal Son of God has come into this world! He was in the world which was “made by him”.

Though His great power and wisdom have been seen through all His magnificent creatures since the days of Creation, John here emphasises the fact of His remarkable presence in the world. The Creator of the world was in it like one of its dwellers. He appeared like every other man, yet He was unlike them. He was God in human form, dwelling in the world.

It was most wonderful that the eternal God would condescend to this world to dwell among a people who cared not for Him. The Son of God, who was with the Majesty on High, has descended into this poor and miserable sin-cursed world. He who has been the light eternal has come into this dark world.

This was the greatest divine favour this world had ever received. Oh, how great was His condescension! How marvellous was His love that caused Him to stoop down to this world! From the glory of heaven, He came to live in this world of dust. From the celestial world of ceaseless praise and worship by innumerable angelic creatures, He descended to a world of rebellion and wickedness. How amazing was His love that accepted the most appalling of conditions – being born in a stable, being poorer than birds and foxes, having no place to call as His own home. Homeless and poor was He, wandering from place to place!

Though the world had the greatest honour of the visitation and the hallowed presence of the eternal Son of God, “the world knew him not.” The worst tragedy of this world is that it did not acknowledge its Creator who was in its midst! It was the greatest neglect, the meanest conduct of the world. The world did not accept His loving words and actions. They wickedly rejected Him and put Him to death! As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:8, “had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” Rejection of Christ proves the world’s tragic condition of sin and pride.

READ:

Colossians 1:17

¹⁷ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

EXHORTATION:

While declaring the greatness of Christ, the apostle Paul talks about His existence before the world and His role in maintaining it. Paul has already introduced Christ as the Creator of all things in the preceding verses (cf. vv. 15-16). Because Christ is the Creator of all things, it is a forgone conclusion that He precedes all things.

Christ has no beginning as He is not a created being. His birth as Mary’s child was not His beginning. His birth was His incarnation, coming in human form. He co-existed with God the Father through all eternity past. So the apostle John said of Christ, the Word, in John 1:1-3 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” How could He have created all things if He were not before all things?

During His public ministry, Jesus Himself declared that He was before all things. In John 8:58, He said to the Jews, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” In Revelation 1:8, Jesus said, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Jesus further said, “I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen” (Revelation 1:17-18). In Revelation 2:8, He declared that He is “the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive”. As “the first”, Christ is the First Cause, the beginning source of all things. Again in Revelation 22:13, He said, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” Then in verse 16, He declared, “I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” In other words, Christ, “the son of David”, is also the Creator of David!

Since the creation of all things, He holds them all by His power. So Paul said, “by him all things consist.” Hebrews 1:3 says that He is “upholding all things by the word of his power”. Christ is the Sustainer of everything in the universe. The coherence and continuity of the world around us, as well as the things above us and in the depths of the oceans, are all under Christ’s purview. The continued existence of the universe and all that are in it, though full of unexplained complexities, is Christ’s work of providence. Oh, how lofty should our praise and adoration of Christ be!

READ:

Colossians 1:15

¹⁵ Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.

EXHORTATION:

The verse begins with a relative pronoun “who” that connects the content of the verse back to the Person mentioned at the end of verse 13, “his dear Son”. According to verse 14, He is the One in whom we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins through His blood. Undoubtedly, Paul is describing Jesus Christ when he said, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature”. Paul here presents to us Jesus Christ in His relation to God, as well as in His relation to the universe.

In His relation to God, Christ is “the image of the invisible God”. God is invisible as He is an eternal Spirit (cf. John 4:24). 1 Timothy 6:16 says concerning God that He “only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see.” But the invisible God has been made visible in Christ, for He is the “image” of the invisible God. The Greek word for “image” (eikon) denotes an exact replica, a precise copy, an actual representation, etc. Christ, the eikon of God, has revealed to us the invisible God! Jesus Himself said, “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). So in John’s Gospel, we are told that “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:18). Jesus Christ was the visible expression of God. He manifested God. He is not a lesser God, as some cultic groups say about Him. “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell” (Colossians 1:19). Christ is the fullness of God; hence He is fully God. He is not, as some say, less than God, or one of many gods, or a high angel or a created being.

In His relation to the universe, Christ is “the firstborn of every creature”. Some have falsely interpreted this to mean that Jesus was the first created being. They have mistaken the word “firstborn” to mean born or created first. The Greek word for “firstborn” (prototokos) means the rightful heir or the one in authority. In the following verse, Paul clearly shows that Christ is the Creator and not the first among the creation – “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible” (v. 16). So, Christ is the Creator and Heir of everything. He wields “all power” in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18). He is sovereign over all of creation. Oh, what a great divine Saviour is Jesus Christ our Lord!

READ:

John 1:3

³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

EXHORTATION:

Jesus Christ was introduced to his readers by John as the Word, who was the eternal God (cf. vv. 1, 2). Now in verse 3, John gives further clarity and emphasis to the fact that Jesus was eternal and divine by declaring that He is the Creator of all things.

John said, “All things were made by him”. It is, first of all, stated positively here that Christ created everything. All things, one after another, came into existence through the creative acts of the Word. John is not alone among the New Testament writers to declare that Christ created everything. It is a common theme in the New Testament that Jesus Christ is the Creator.

Colossians 1:16 testifies, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” Hebrews 1:2 states that “by whom (i.e. Christ) also he (i.e. God) made the worlds”. In Revelation 4:11, we read about Christ being worshipped in heaven as the Creator of all things – “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 3:14 refers to Christ as “the beginning of the creation of God”, exalting Him as the beginner or the originator of God’s creation. In Revelation 22:13, Jesus says, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”

To reiterate that Christ is the Creator, John also stated negatively: “and without him was not any thing made that was made.” There was not a single thing, however minute or invisible, which was not made by Christ. Every created thing came into existence through Jesus Christ. Thus John confirms that Christ was not a created being, but the Creator of all things. Since all the created things were created by Christ, He could not have been a created being.

Let us also note that John presents Christ not merely as God, but also as One who did the works of God, even the creation of all things. By doing so, John attributes supreme, full divinity to Christ. There is no exception to that truth. Christ is the eternal God who created all things.

READ:

John 1:1

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

EXHORTATION:

The apostle John began his Gospel by affirming the divinity of Christ. He introduced Jesus Christ as “the Word”. In this Gospel and also in his other writings, John referred to Christ as “the Word” (John 1:1, 14; 1 John 1:1; 5:7; Revelation 19:13). According to John 1:14, “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us”; this clearly indicates that the Word is Christ, the Incarnate or the One who is embodied in human form.

Much as our words reveal to others our personality and purposes, so Jesus Christ, as God’s “Word”, reveals God and His purposes to us. Jesus Himself said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). Jesus Christ is the ultimate divine revelation (cf. Hebrews 1:2). Being “the Word”, the faithful Witness of the mind of God (cf. Revelation 1:5; 3:14; 19:11), He is also the Truth and the Amen (John 14:6; Revelation 3:14). God’s ultimate self-disclosure to man is the Person of His own Son, Jesus Christ.

Because Christ, the Word, is the divine self-expression, He must have existed through all eternity past with God, which means He must be nothing less than God Himself. John insists the Word is divine. Jesus Christ is eternal, as indicated by his opening words: “In the beginning was the Word” (v. 1a). The words “in the beginning” point to a time prior to the Creation. When all things were created, Christ was there. His presence “in the beginning” proves His eternality. He existed even before the Creation.

Jesus Christ, the Word, is God. John said, “and the Word was with God” (v. 1b). The term “God” here is a reference to the First Person of the Trinity, God the Father. Jesus Christ is presented here as a Person distinct from the Father in the Godhead. He was always “with” God the Father. In verse 2, John reaffirmed the Son’s co-existence with the Father when he wrote, “The same was in the beginning with God.” The Father and the Son are not one Person, but two distinct Persons who co-existed from eternity past. The Word is God’s eternal Fellow!

The identification of the distinct Persons, namely “the Word” and “God”, suggests neither inequality nor polytheism. Such notions are refuted by the statement, “the Word was God.” In respect of essence and substance, the Word was God, and yet a distinct Person. To all who deny the deity of Christ, it must be plainly asserted that Christ is fully divine!

Esther Tay

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

I thank God that I am a second-generation Christian, who was baptised as an infant and who reaffirmed my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord in 2005. I started attending Gethsemane BPC since 15th July 2023. Prior to that, I was unable to attend church for some time due to COVID and other unforeseen circumstances. During that time, I had been praying for the strength and courage to attend church, as I missed the company of like-minded brethren and would love to bring my then 3-year-old child to church, for the first time. We thank God that we can attend the 8.30am Sunday Service faithfully in Gethsemane BPC, and listen to the truths of the Bible preached by faithful ministers. I pray that the Lord will continue to strengthen me, and allow me to serve Him more, together with my child soon.

Ho Shirley

I was baptised in the Roman Catholic faith upon the sudden death of my mother when I was young. However, there was no change in the way I lived till the day I was invited to join a BP Bible-study group gathered at a friend’s home. 

On hindsight, I believed that it was the Holy Spirit who opened my heart and mind to the truth of God’s Word, answering all the numerous questions which I was not allowed to ask in the Catholic faith. I started attending Calvary Pandan and True Life BP Churches, and also started studying at the night classes held at FEBC.

Praise God for the way God’s Word was so unwaveringly expounded at FEBC night lectures by Pastor Koshy and for how God’s Word was also unapologetically expounded at all worship services, retreats, gatherings and church camps at Gethsemane. All these convicted me that I ought to be found in a church where God is highly exalted and His Word faithfully taught. The preaching of the Word frequently pierced and penetrated my thoughts, constantly confronting my sinful and defiant ways. I feel very uncomfortable whenever I have inadvertently done anything that reminds me that I have not been a good witness for Christ. In John 6:63, Jesus said, “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” And I testify that God’s Word exhorts, rebukes, corrects and instructs me all the time because it is the living Word.

I thank God for all that He has blessed me with, and I pray that I shall do all that God has purposed for me in my life. All glory be to God!

Matilda Tay

I’ve always been exposed to Christianity since my earliest memory. My mum taught me to pray; she taught me that Jesus is God. I attended Sunday School regularly, and even studied in a missionary school. So, for the longest time, I’ve always been surrounded by Christianity.

However, I never knew God personally or my need for Him till later on. I got baptised at the age of 10, thinking that baptism would cleanse me and would dub me as a Christian. I recall vividly thinking to myself: “Oh, I must behave now, I must be good, especially now that I am baptised”. For the first week, it went well; the second week was not too bad, but after that, I failed terribly.

Since baptism till my teens, I tried to be a “good Christian”, which came through the “façade” of being a good student and a good friend. But deep down, I was still beset with pride and anger, which were often displayed at home.

After my ‘O’ Levels, I attended a church camp that prompted me to reflect deeply. The preacher challenged us to consider how we would live our life once we returned “to the world” after the camp. That question made me rethink the consistency of my faith. As a result, I began dedicating more time to reading the Bible and also joined a Christian fellowship group in polytechnic (called Cru). Through this group, I was exposed to a clear presentation of the Gospel for the first time. I came to understand my fallen nature and its consequences (Romans 3:23; 6:23), and how we could only be redeemed through Jesus’ death and resurrection (Romans 5:8).

Of course, I still sin. But through daily repentance and reliance on Christ’s completed work on the cross, I have hope that He will grant me the grace, through the Spirit, to live as “a new creature” (2 Cor 5:17), in response to His goodness towards me.

I am joining GBPC in preparation for my marriage to Bro Galen, trusting that I will continue to grow in knowledge and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, and serve God together.

Clement Tan

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether” (Psalm 19:7-9). 

Through the lessons taught in the catechism programme, I have learnt many things about God – who God is to; what He has promised in His Book, the Bible; how Christians should conduct their lives, etc. These lessons made me realise how perfect our God is, and how imperfect I am. This makes me want to study God’s Word even more, in order to learn more of His precious truths. The promises of God also make me hopeful that the prophecies of God will soon be fulfilled, and that Christians can become “incorruptible” after Christ’s second coming, whereby we are able to praise God and serve Him forever. 

Additionally, the statutes of God have set the guideline as to how I should live my life as a Christian, and how I can stay away from sin. Lastly, learning about God’s judgment against sinners and His punishments, deters me from committing sin as I live in hope of joining Christ in Heaven. These lessons have helped me understand the purpose of a Christian, which is to study more of God’s truths, in order to serve Him more and eventually join Him in Heaven. I am convinced that I’m saved by Christ. This is why I want to reaffirm my faith, that I may commit to serve God more and learn more of His truths, allowing me to mature as a Christian.

I thank God I was born into a Christian family. Since I was young, I have attended church with my family, but did not fully understand what Jesus did for us. However, after encountering some setbacks in my life, I felt down and lonely. This made me realise how important Christ is to our lives, and how He is like a friend to us.