Sermon Text: Psalm 93:1–5
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 3rd November 2024
Sermon Text: Psalm 93:1–5
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 3rd November 2024
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
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.
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.
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
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.
Sermon Text: Psalm 91:7–16
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 13th October 2024
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). In the immediate context, Paul elaborated on his indebtedness to preach the Gospel to the Greeks and the barbarians, to the wise and the unwise. He also wrote about his longing to be in Rome to preach the Gospel there. Though the Gospel was then unpopular in those areas of the world, as it is today, Paul was not ashamed of it.
To the wise of this world, the Gospel was foolishness, yet it was Paul’s joyous passion to preach it (cf. 1 Cor 1:23). He preached it with unashamed boldness. Paul was not embarrassed to suffer for the Gospel (2 Tim 1:8, 12; cf. 1 Cor 4:10-13; 9:12b).
The Gospel’s unpopularity has compelled many preachers to compromise its content and delivery. They try to make the Gospel inoffensive. However, such a Gospel is not the “gospel of God” (1:1) or the “gospel of Christ” (1:16; cf. 1:9), but the gospel of man, which cannot save sinners. Unlike many modern preachers, Paul was undeterred in proclaiming the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the rest of Romans 1:16, Paul explains to his readers the crucial truths about the Gospel – “for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” The word “for” introduces the reason why he was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, and the reason he gave was: “it is the power of God unto salvation” (v. 16b). The word “power” comes from the Greek word dunamis, from which we get the English word “dynamite”. It refers to the power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature. The power inherent in the Gospel is “the power of God”.
Through the Gospel, God’s infinite power works to save sinners from the bondage of sin. The Gospel is the means by which God exerts His omnipotent power to quicken souls dead in trespasses and sins. It is God’s efficacious (or mighty) plan by which His power goes forth to save sinners who once may have resisted the Gospel. (Read Paul’s words in 1 Cor 1:18, 24-25).
The phrase, “it is the power of God”, implies that the Gospel is God’s plan, not man’s device. Furthermore, nothing can make the Gospel void from saving God’s elect. The phrase, “it is the power of God unto salvation”, guarantees that the Gospel has the power to grant complete deliverance from sin and hell.
Salvation is offered to everyone who believes in the Gospel of Christ: “to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (v. 16c). Salvation is bestowed freely and fully on all who receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ by faith. The phrase, “to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”, indicates that the Gospel came to the Jews before the Greeks, through Christ (Matt. 10:5-7) and through the apostles (Acts 3:26). The Gospel is not an exclusive message for either the Jews or the Gentiles; it is to be preached everywhere, that people from every nation and tribe may believe and be saved. Praise God that the Gospel has reached us and granted us salvation. And now, may it spread to others for their salvation, through each one of us who has already believed in the Gospel.
(A recent reflection from Bro. Seraph McGregor, a Bible teacher at GBI, India. Serving alongside him is his wife, Ribka, who supports the students’ well-being and prepares their meals.)
I grew up in a very pluralistic context, where people would talk much about religious harmony and unity in diversity. A commonly propagated notion was that all religions are but different paths that lead to the same God. At school, a teacher who would lead the morning prayers often taught us the same thing, citing the example of the structure of a particular temple, which has four entrances and this, according to him, could be equated to different religions; no matter which one of the four entrances you choose, you would enter into the same temple. Similarly, he said that there is but one God. No matter which religion you follow, it will ultimately lead you to Him. As a school-going boy, I admired this concept of pluralism. But when I became a Christian, I knew that I could not accept what I had been taught in school.
Pope Francis recently remarked, “All religions are paths to God.” Christians around the world are upset about it. But as I ponder the issue, I think I can agree with my music teacher and the Pope, but not in the sense that you are probably thinking right now. I am convinced biblically that you will have to meet God, no matter what way or religion you pursue. We are told in the sacred Scriptures: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
The Bible clearly tells us that when we die, we will have to face judgment. But who is going to judge us? Acts 17:31 says that it is Christ who will judge the world - “… he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained”. Jesus said that the Father has committed the judgment to Christ, the Son of man. God has appointed Christ to be the Saviour of all who trust in Him, and the Judge of all who reject Him. Yes, He will judge the living and the dead, those who believe and those who do not. Revelation 20:11–15 declares, “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it... And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Regardless of the way one has chosen to walk on, he shall one day find God at the end of that way as the Judge of all men! So, as the prophet Amos said, “…prepare to meet thy God, O Israel” (Amos 4:12)!
But does the Lord Jesus disagree with what is being said here? Did He not say, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6)? Yes, He did, and that makes the whole difference. Jesus said no one comes to the Father, but by Him.
Those who have come to appear before God through the blessed Way, Jesus, would find God to be their gracious heavenly Father and shall be received into His gracious and blissful presence. He shall be their God, and they shall be His people who were otherwise His enemies. Christ – and Christ alone – has made peace between us and God, and brought about the reconciliation of all things through His atoning death on the cross and His resurrection. This is the very message that we are called to preach: that Christ – and Christ alone – is the Author of our reconciliation with God.
It is through Christ that we have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry out, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15)! It is to them who believe in Jesus that He has given the “power to become the sons of God” (John 1:12). It is through the only begotten Son of God alone that we can truly become the children of God.
Sermon Text: Psalm 91:1–6
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 6th October 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.
Let’s listen to Jesus’ words on how to be saved and come to God. (To stress the importance, the relevant portions are underscored.)
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:
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:
The apostles also warned that those who deny Christ will not come to the Father but perish forever:
“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
Sermon Text: Psalm 90:1–17
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 29th September 2024