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1 Corinthians 15:20-23 declares, "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming."

Among the many wonderful benefits of Christ’s resurrection, one timely benefit for us to remember in these days of disease and death is that His resurrection is a sure pledge and guarantee concerning our own resurrection. This passage above reveals to us various truths about this assurance that the risen Christ provides to all His people.

Firstly, it is said concerning Christ who is risen from the dead, that He is "the firstfruits of them that slept" (v. 20, cf. v. 23). Paul’s usage of this agricultural metaphor in the said text was meant to affirm the believers of their own bodily resurrection. Now, before the ancient Israelites began the full harvest of their crops, they were to bring the first crops that farmers had gathered – called the firstfruits – to the priests as an offering to the LORD (Lev 23:10). The significance of the firstfruits was that they not only preceded the harvest, but were also a pledge of the harvest. Thus, the firstfruits served as a foretaste and an assurance of the full harvest to come. When Christ rose from the dead, he became "the firstfruits" of all who die in the Lord concerning their bodily resurrection. By pointing to Jesus’ resurrection as "the firstfruits", Paul was affirming that like Him, all believers who die will also rise from their graves. The believers’ resurrection will be of the same kind as our Lord’s. That is to say, the fact of the bodily resurrection of Christ, the "firstfruits", also guarantees the believers’ bodily resurrections in the final harvest of their resurrection. Like Jesus, believers will rise with a glorified body. Like Jesus, they will live in their resurrected bodies eternally.

While affirming that believers have the assurance of their own resurrection in Christ’s resurrection, Paul also said that "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (v. 22). Though Adam, the first man, brought death upon this earth through his disobedience, through Jesus who became a man and died, we have the blessed hope of resurrection. Jesus’ humanity was inextricably linked to His resurrection as well as ours. It was because Jesus died, was buried, and was raised as a man, that He could become the firstfruits of all His people who would be raised to glory.

John Calvin wrote, "As … Adam did not die for himself alone, but for us all, it follows, that Christ in like manner, who is the antitype, did not rise for himself alone; for he came, that he might restore everything that had been ruined in Adam." Redemption involves the rescue and renewal of our souls, as well as our bodies. Our hope for eternity is anchored on our Redeemer’s resurrection. Our hope of a blessed, celestial life begins with His resurrection and consummates, at His coming, with the resurrection of all who died in Christ.

Because Christ’s resurrection is firmly connected to His people’s resurrection, we must not think of Christ’s resurrection in isolation from ours. As we remember that our Lord has arisen from His grave, let us rejoice that His resurrection also promises our own bodily resurrection and our eternal dwelling in heaven with our great Redeemer-King.

Upon our death, our bodies dissolve in the grave and return to dust, but our souls shall be with Christ in heaven. The apostle Paul speaks of this in 2 Corinthians 5:8 – "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." When Jesus returns and calls our bodies out of the graves, our souls will be united with our glorified physical bodies, and we shall be with the Lord forever! 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 affirm this glorious truth: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (cf. Dan. 12:1-2; Rev. 21:1-4).

Written by J.C. Ryle
(Today we publish an article by John Charles Ryle (1816 –1900), the first Anglican bishop of Liverpool, who was a faithful witness to the Gospel of Christ to the end.)

"In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, 3 And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore" (Isaiah 38:1-3).

Sickness, disease, decay, and death are the common lot of all mankind without exception.

You have a striking proof of this in the chapter from which my text is taken. The Holy Spirit shows us a king and ruler of men, a dweller in palaces, a possessor of all that money can obtain, a good man, a holy man, a friend of God — laid low by disease, like the poorest man in the kingdom. Hear what the Holy Spirit says, "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death"!

This is the old story. It is the history of every child of Adam for the last 6,000 years — except for Enoch and Elijah. It is as true of the infant who only lives a few hours as it is true of Methuselah who lived 969 years. The story of every patriarch in the fifth chapter of Genesis concludes with the simple words, "and he died".

There is no discharge in this war.

Sooner or later, all die. There is no exemption for any rank or class or condition. High and low, rich and poor, gentle and simple, learned and unlearned, kings and their subjects, saints and sinners — all alike are liable to disease and all must submit to the "king" of terrors. The admirals and generals who have left behind a world-wide reputation, the statesmen who have swayed senates and made indelible marks on the history of their own time — are all carried, one after another, to the grave. Rich men, in spite of all their privileges, enjoy no immunity from sickness and death.

No medical skill can prevent death.

Our physicians and surgeons are unwearied in their efforts to find new remedies and modes of treatment. They compass sea and land in order to prevent disease, discover remedies, diminish pain, and lengthen life. But in spite of all that medicine and surgery can do, there is something which the ablest doctors find beyond their reach. When the time appointed by God comes, they cannot keep men and women alive.

After all, there is nothing amazing in this. The tent in which our soul lives — the human body — is a most frail and complicated machine. From the sole of the foot to the crown of the head, there is not a part of us which is not liable to disease. When I think of the variety of ailments which may assail our frame, I do not so much wonder that we die at last — as that we live so long.

But whence comes this liability to sickness, disease, and death?

How are we to account for it? This is a question which will arise in many minds — and it is one which ought to be answered. Perfection is the ordinary mark of all God’s handiwork — perfection in the heavens above us, and the earth beneath us, perfection in the movements of the planets, and perfection in a fly’s wing, or a blade of grass. Look through a telescope or microscope at anything which God created — and you find nothing defective. How then can we account for the power of disease, decay, and death over the body of man?

There is only one book which supplies an answer to this question. That book is the Bible. The fall of man at the beginning, has brought sin into the world — and sin has brought with it the curse of sickness, suffering, pain, and death. These are not things which God created at the beginning. They are the consequences of man’s transgression. To suppose that a perfect God would deliberately create imperfection, is a supposition too monstrous to be believed. It is man who is to blame — and not God. The countless bodily sufferings that we see, are the just consequence of man’s original disobedience.

Here, to my mind, lies one among many proofs that the Bible is given by inspiration of God. It accounts for many things which the atheist cannot explain. When I see a little infant convulsed with bodily pain and hovering between life and death in a weeping mother’s arms, I would be utterly puzzled and confounded, if I did not believe the Bible. But when I turn to the Book, the mysterious problem is solved. I learn that suffering is the result of Adam’s fall. That infant would not have suffered — if Adam had not sinned!
I ask you to learn from this chapter of Isaiah, that:

Sickness is not an unmixed evil.

That King Hezekiah received spiritual benefit from his illness — I think there can be no doubt. The good man saw things in his sickness, which he had never seen clearly and fully in the days of health.

I do not say that sickness always does good. Alas! We ministers know to our sorrow, that it frequently does no good at all. Too often we see men and women, after recovering from a long and dangerous illness — more hardened and impious than they were before. Too often they return to the world, if not to overt sin — with more eagerness and zest than ever. The impressions made on their conscience in the hour of sickness, are swept away like children’s writing on the sand of the sea-shore when the tide flows in.

But I do say that sickness ought to do us good. And I do say that God sends it in order to do us good. Affliction is a friendly letter from Heaven. It is a knock at the door of conscience. It is the voice of the Savior knocking at the heart’s door. Happy is he who opens the letter and reads it, who hears the knock and opens the door, who welcomes Christ to the sick room. Come now, and let me show you a few of the lessons which He by sickness would teach us:

1. Sickness is meant to make us think. It is to remind us that we have a soul, as well as a body, an immortal soul — a soul that will live forever in happiness or in misery — and that if this soul is not saved, we had better never have been born.
2. Sickness is meant to teach us that there is a world beyond the grave — and that the world we now live in is only a training-place for another dwelling, where there will be no decay, no sorrow, no tears, no misery, and no sin.
3. Sickness is meant to make us look at our past lives honestly, fairly, and conscientiously. Am I ready for my great change — if I should not get better? Do I truly repent of my sins? Are my sins forgiven and washed away in Christ’s blood? Am I prepared to meet God?
4. Sickness is meant to make us see the emptiness of the world and its utter inability to satisfy the highest and deepest needs of the soul.
5. Sickness is meant to send us to our Bibles — that blessed Book, which in the days of health is too often left on the shelf, and is never opened from January to December. But sickness often brings it down from the shelf and throws new light on its pages.
6. Sickness is meant to make us pray. Too many, I fear, never pray at all, or they only rattle over a few hurried words, morning and evening, without thinking what they do. But prayer often becomes a reality — when the valley of the shadow of death is in sight!
7. Sickness is meant to make us repent and break off our sins. If we will not hear the voice of mercies — then God sometimes makes us "hear the rod".
8. Sickness is meant to draw us to Christ. Naturally we do not see the full value of the blessed Saviour. We secretly imagine that our prayers, good deeds, and sacrament-receiving will save our souls. But when flesh begins to fail — then the absolute necessity of a Redeemer, a Mediator, and an Advocate with the Father, stands out before men’s eyes like fire, and makes them understand those words, "Simply to Your cross I cling!", as they never did before. Sickness has done this for many — they have found Christ in the sick room.
9. Last, but not least, sickness is meant to make us feeling and sympathising towards others. By nature we are all far below our blessed Master’s example — who had not only a hand to help all, but a heart to feel for all. None, I suspect, are so unable to sympathise — as those who have never had trouble themselves. And none are so able to sympathise — as those who have drunk most deeply the cup of pain and sorrow.

Brethren, when your time comes to be ill, I beseech you not to forget what the illness means. Beware of fretting and murmuring and complaining, and giving way to an impatient spirit. Regard your sickness as a blessing in disguise; a good — and not an evil; a friend — and not an enemy.

No doubt we would all prefer to learn spiritual lessons in the school of ease — and not under the rod. But rest assured that God knows, better than we do, how to teach us. The light of the last day will show you that there was a meaning and a "needs-be" in all your bodily ailments. The lessons that we learn on a sick-bed, when we are shut out from the world — are often lessons which we would never learn elsewhere. Settle it down in your minds that, however much you may dislike it, sickness is not an unmixed evil.

Beloved Gethsemaneans and friends,
It was with heavy hearts that we announced three days ago the suspension of our usual gatherings, such as Sunday worship services, Bible studies, prayer meetings, fellowship meetings, evangelism sessions, etc., until further notice. The recent measures that we have taken to maintain our coming together for worship services in smaller groups of 50 to 100 people, are no more feasible with the new advisory from the government. So the Board of Elders (BOE), having no other options, decided to suspend all church meetings for now.

The Sunday worship services have been pivotal in the spiritual nurture of our members and the ministries of our church. Those solemn assemblies of our church have provided us with many marvellous blessings of His presence, truth, love and communion. During our gatherings, the brethren have been channels of His gracious work towards one another. How blessed were those times of singing, praying, and hearing of God’s Word as a church!

The worship of God is the most sincere and passionate expression of our hearts’ love for God. The public worship of our God is to be maintained as much as possible, for it is our highest and foremost duty. King David has said, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD" (Psalm 122:1). Likewise, Psalm 84:1-2 express the deepest desire of a child of God for the public worship of God: "How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God." It is also declared in the same psalm that "a day in thy courts is better than a thousand" (Psalm 84:10a).

Lack of public worship, prayer meeting, Bible study and fellowship gathering can lead to spiritual deterioration of the people.

That is why Scripture commands us: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25).

The live streaming of Sunday worship services (10 am & 6 pm respectively), and Tuesday prayer meeting (8 pm) are temporary measures that the BOE has put in place, with the prayer that the Lord will help us to resume our regular gatherings soon. In the coming weeks, the preachers and I will do our best to be in touch with you and minister to you, whenever it is

Advice to maintain the sanctity of worship

The words of Psalm 42:4-5 are the thoughts of a godly man who was prevented from going to the house of God for public worship. He was kept away from the LORD’s house by the hostility of his enemies. From far, he fondly remembered his previous participation of the worship in God’s house, and prepared himself to worship God with great devoutness. He wrote, "When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."

Likewise, we, with reverence and love for our God, must eagerly prepare to worship God in our present situation. Let us be ready in our homes (or other convenient locations) and, like the psalmist, be stirred with joyful memories of worshipping with other believers in the church.

• Though you may be worshipping from home or another conducive place, remember that you are participating in the public worship of our great God. So, make every effort to have an uninterrupted, solemn time of worship (just like it is in the church).
• Call your family members (if they are Christians) to join the worship. (If you are the only Christian at home, and it is not conducive to worship at home, you may want to consider another location or a fellow believer’s home). Please make preparations early.
• Instruct your children to maintain the sanctity of worship by participating in the whole worship with seriousness and solemnity.
• Do not move about within the house.
• Be appropriately attired for the worship of God.
• Be respectfully seated and prepare your hearts in prayer 10 mins before the worship service starts.
• Be ready with the Bible and hymnal in your hands (Revival Hymns and Choruses). If you don’t have the hymn book, follow the lyrics on the screen and sing aloud reverentially to God whom we worship.
• Be participative in the order of worship - join in the reading of Scripture, singing and prayer.
• Avoid a casual or leisurely attitude. Do not approach the time of Sunday worship (or Tuesday prayer meeting for that matter) like the way you would watch TV or some video clips on your computer / mobile phones. Refrain from munching titbits or eating your meals, drinking coffee, etc.

Advice for streaming the webcast of the services

• Prepare your streaming devices (computer or TV screen) early and test them out.
• Ensure that your device is sufficiently charged or connected to the power supply.
• Turn on to audio/speaker mode (unless you are using an earpiece).
• If you plan to project / ‘screen cast’ the live streaming of the worship/prayer meeting, please ensure early that all your devices are connected and properly working.

Let us heed the exhortation of Psalm 96:9 – "O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth." May we draw nigh to God with hearts that are prepared and guided by His Word and Spirit.

Beloved family of God in Gethsemane,

Like all the world around us, we too face a very difficult time which adversely affects our regular assembling for worship, prayer and fellowship. Though we are eager to continue with our regular programmes, we are constrained to make changes because of the instructions from:

1. the government to limit gatherings to 250 people or less, and
2. the SingPost authorities to suspend our activities in their auditorium.

Therefore the Board of Elders has decided to rearrange our programmes – from 23rd of March until further notice – as follows:

Sunday Worship Service

There will be five smaller gatherings, namely (i) 8.30am–9.30am, (ii) 10.00am–11.00am, (iii) 11.30am–12.30pm [Mandarin Service], (iv) 4.00pm–5.00pm, (v) 6.00pm–7.00pm.

We would advise members and friends to follow the timing suggested to you. Please refer to the groupings placed at the reception area, and note the suggested timing for your participation of worship.

• Sunday’s children’s activities and Sunday’s fellowship groups (Filipino & Malayalam Fellowships) will not be held until further notice. Likewise, the Catechism Classes, Bible Studies, Ministry to the Lions Home for the Elders are also suspended.
• Upon arrival for the worship, all worshippers (members and visitors) are advised to register themselves via QR code made available, for the purpose of contact-tracing if necessary.
• Please follow the instructions provided earlier to prevent the possible infection and spread of the virus.
• We advise those who are unwell and susceptible to infections, not to attend the services.
• We regret to inform you that entry will not be allowed if you –
  • have fever or any respiratory infection symptoms, such as cough, runny nose or sore throat; or
  • have travelled overseas in the past 14 days, or
  • are currently serving a Quarantine Order or Stay-Home Notice.

God willing, the recordings of the sermons will be made available through our church’s website and YouTube account (from next week onwards).

Prayer Meeting & Fellowship Groups

Prayer meeting will be incorporated in the various fellowship gatherings. Tuesday night’s prayer meeting will not be held in SingPost.

• The fellowship groups will be meeting at GMC as follows – Youth Fellowship (1st Saturday), Men’s Fellowship (2nd Saturday), Ladies’ Fellowship (3rd Saturday), Adults’ Fellowship (4th Saturday), Young Adults’ Fellowship (3rd Friday), and Seniors’ Fellowship (2nd & 4th Week).
• Children’s programme will be available on 2nd, 3rd and 4th Saturdays.
• Church Choir and the Youth Choir will not be meeting, until further notice.

We would advise that more stringent measures may be implemented to ensure our physical well-being owing to the fast-changing circumstances.

Your Spiritual Needs

We are looking forward to the restoration of our usual Sunday worship services and various fellowship group activities. While we wait for the resumption of all these regular events, our preachers, elders, deacons and I are committed to ministering to you. Our church office will remain open Monday–Friday during the regular hours of 9.30am–5.30pm. We encourage you to call us if you have any spiritual need.

Bible Witness Media Ministry and Gethsemane Bible Institute will continue to provide you with more spiritually edifying contents through their websites and web-radio. Sunday sermons will be available in our church’s websites.

Make every effort in your homes along with your family, friends, and neighbours, to make full use of the edifying materials available through the internet. Feed on God’s Word and pray together.

Please attend weekend ministries – but only if you are in good health – and stay in touch with our church and fellowship leaders. Let’s remember the words of Hebrews 10:24, 25 – “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

The present uncertain times provide us with opportunities to encourage and strengthen the people of God, as well as to spread the Gospel in our community. So, render yourselves continually to minister to others according to the Lord’s leading. Be not anxious, but be strong in the knowledge of the Lord’s presence and His love for you, and serve Him diligently.

Finally, remember the words of the apostle Jude: “And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen” (Jude 22-25).

The epidemic COVID-19 is spreading fear across the globe. Only a few places on earth are unaffected by this scourge. In Singapore, though our government has been taking appropriate measures to control its spreading, fear is a real factor that is unsettling many of her citizens. Even Christians are not spared from panic.

Fear Plaguing the Heart

God has warned in His Word that when He would scourge the earth for its wickedness, the hearts of people would melt and be troubled with anguish and dismay. He might use various means, such as war and pestilences, to strike the hearts of men with terror (cf. Leviticus 26:18-29). The punishments included sudden terror, resulting from calamities of a biological nature like contagious and infectious diseases. To the children of Israel, He said that when they would rebel against Him, He would “send a faintness into their hearts" (Leviticus 26:36) and that He would give them "a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind" (Deuteronomy 28:65).

When Jesus spoke about the terrifying end-time events, He referred to them as "the beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:8). Luke records Christ as saying, "…upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity… men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth…" (Luke 21:25-26). These words of Christ forewarn us that in the days prior to His second coming, people will experience severe emotional stress that overwhelms and overpowers their senses. Acute, unrelieved fear and torment will plague people's hearts everywhere. The end-time situation will be a lot worse than what is experienced today. No effort of man would alleviate such fear. People will be scared to death because of what is happening around them. The events during the end-times will be calamitous, and there is no escape from such terrifying times as described by Christ.

Concerning humanity of the last days, Isaiah 13:8 says that "they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames." People will writhe in fear, and with astonishment they will look at one another, with their faces “aflame” (cf. Revelation 6:15-17; 9:6; 16:11; 18:8-23). Undoubtedly, the catastrophic end of human history will shock and terrorise the unbelieving world!

Overcoming Fear

On the other side of the coin, "fear not" is an oft-repeated exhortation in the Scriptures. It is mentioned about 60 times throughout the Bible. God wants His people not to be consumed by fear which adverse circumstances will attempt to instil in them. He wants all His people to know that they do not need to be anxious and fearful. Rather, they must teach themselves that it is their Heavenly Father's desire concerning them that they will not give in to fear. To ignore God's will concerning us is a sin. So, we as God's people must encourage ourselves in His love, care, protection and the glorious hope He promises to all who have trusted Christ as their Saviour and Lord.

Jesus has taught us how God, our Father, cares for us: "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Luke 12:6-7). If God knows and cares for a tiny, cheap bird which would probably be eaten by the poor, how much more will He care for His children, whom He counts very precious to Him. He even knows the number of hairs on every one of His children's heads. Such is the meticulous care that God gives to His people. If He takes notice of such an insignificant thing as a strand of hair of His children, which we seldom pay attention to, how comforted and consoled we should be even when adverse and frightening situations arise!

When turmoil and tragic scenarios arise in the public and personal realms of our lives, we must know that these things are already foretold by the LORD – "In the world ye shall have tribulation"; to comfort and strengthen us, He also added, "but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). We may find ourselves having no ability to control our circumstances. Our best efforts may not prevent catastrophic events. Deadly situations may suddenly fall upon us. But our Lord wants us to know that He will never leave us and will always be with us.

We should never despair of trials and death. The apostle Paul teaches us to rhetorically ask in times of tribulation, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Romans 8:35). He then assures us, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). Note that Paul begins his list with death, which is the last adversity that we will experience in our earthy life. Even that final trial will not separate us from our God, because through Christ whom we have trusted, we shall enter eternal glory that He has prepared for us!
Therefore we can testify with David that "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4). Indeed, with Paul, all the believers can say about their final trial – even death – that "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Whether we be in life with many of its trials or in death, we should courageously say, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Romans 8:37). The knowledge of God's loving care of our soul should cast all fear out of our hearts – "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love" (1 John 4:18). Because His love has removed our judgment and made us His children and heirs of His eternal kingdom, we fear not even our last enemy, death.

So, let all fear be far from us. "For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living" (Romans 14:8-9).