Recent Posts

A pastoral exhortation in view of the upcoming Kuching Mission

“For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:5).

Although Paul was imprisoned and separated from the church in Philippi by a great distance, his memory of their fellowship with him had not diminished. He could write, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you… for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:3–5).

Their “fellowship in the gospel” was far more than warm friendship. The biblical idea of fellowship is about sharing, participating, and having something in common. Paul and the Philippians were bound together by their common faith in Christ and their shared commitment to advancing His Gospel.

Although the Philippians could not accompany Paul wherever he preached, they participated in his ministry by praying for him and supporting him materially. They sent Epaphroditus to minister to his needs. They remained concerned for the progress of the Gospel, even when Paul was far from them.

This is beautifully illustrated in Paul’s testimony about the churches of Macedonia. Though they endured “a great trial of affliction” and “deep poverty”, their generosity “abounded unto the riches of their liberality” (2 Corinthians 8:2). Remarkably, Paul says they gave “to their power” and even “beyond their power” (v. 3). What produced such generosity? Paul explains: they “first gave their own selves to the Lord” (v. 5).

There lies the heart of true missionary fellowship. Before we give our money, our time, or our strength, we must first give ourselves to the Lord. When our hearts belong wholly to Christ, we will care about what Christ cares about. We will desire His Gospel to be preached. We will rejoice when sinners hear of the Saviour. We will pray for missionaries and preachers labouring far away. We will willingly support the Gospel works in places which we may never personally visit.

The Philippians understood that those who remain at home can have genuine fellowship with those who go forth. Paul later commended them: “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel… no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only” (Philippians 4:15). 

Their fellowship was practical and enduring “from the first day until now”. This should also characterise our church. The Lord has graciously opened doors for Gospel ministry in various places. Brethren labour in different fields; churches need strengthening; preachers need encouragement; Gospel works require support; and souls still need to hear about Jesus Christ.

Those who travel go as representatives of a congregation that stands behind them in prayer, encouragement, giving, and love. Some may preach. Others may teach. Others may serve in practical ways. But the whole church can participate through “fellowship in the gospel”.

Therefore, the upcoming Mission Trip to Kuching should never be regarded as the undertaking of only those whose names appear on the travelling team. It is our church’s Gospel work.

Let us then pray earnestly for those who will go, that the Lord will keep them spiritually strong and physically well; that He will grant wisdom, courage, humility, and love; that His Word will be preached faithfully; that believers in the mission field will be strengthened; that sinners will hear the Gospel and turn to Christ; and also those who labour there will continue to do so after the visiting team has returned home.

We should always ask ourselves: What has the Lord entrusted to me that can be used for the furtherance of the Gospel? Perhaps we can give financially, encourage a missionary or preacher, help meet a practical need, and regularly remember a particular mission work in prayer. Perhaps the Lord may even be preparing some among us to go forth and serve Him more directly in the days to come.

Missionary concern must never belong only to pastors, missionaries, or mission committees. It belongs to the whole church.

Campus Bible Study Thanksgiving 2026

On Thursday evening, the youths of Campus Bible Study gathered for dinner and fellowship. It was a time to share the Lord’s goodness and mercies that they had experienced throughout another academic year. We also welcomed new friends from various tertiary institutions.

Amidst the demands of academic rigour and the pursuit of secular aspirations, many Christian youths are increasingly overwhelmed by responsibilities that can gradually divert their attention from the Lord. This gathering was planned to urge the participants to consecrate their hearts to the Lord, deepen their love for Him, and begin the new academic year with their priorities rightly ordered before God. We pray that each youth entering or attending tertiary education will commit to the weekly Campus Bible Study and fellowship sessions, which are carefully curated for their spiritual growth. It is essential to meditate constantly on God’s Word throughout the week, for this strengthens our hearts to remain steadfast and guarded against worldly influences.

Join us for our Campus Bible Study Sessions, held weekly on Thursdays (6pm to 7pm) via Google Meet! God willing, we will be studying the wise counsels from the Book of Proverbs.

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

In Psalm 32:1–2, David sang, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile”.

Whether it be health, security, prosperity, companionship, or freedom from trouble, none compares with the blessing that David celebrates at the beginning of Psalm 32: the forgiveness of sin. A person may possess much in this world and yet remain miserable under the guilt and condemnation of sin. Conversely, one may suffer affliction, deprivation and sorrow, but be truly blessed because he knows that his sins are forgiven and he has peace with God.

Forgiveness is a matchless blessing because only God can forgive sin. Daniel confessed, “To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses” (Daniel 9:9). Forgiveness belongs to God because every sin is ultimately committed against Him. Sin is far more than a small mistake or a human weakness. It is rebellion against the holy God, such as violating His righteous commandments and doing wrong against others. This is clear in David’s confession of sins to the Lord, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight” (Psalm 51:4). In the story of the prodigal son who returned to his father, he said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight” (Luke 15:21), acknowledging that his rebellion was ultimately against God.

We cannot grasp the blessedness of forgiveness unless we first recognise the seriousness of sin. God is perfectly holy and He cannot be indifferent to iniquity. His righteous anger visits unrepentant sinners: “God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11). Every sinner is therefore exposed to divine judgment. No human effort can erase one’s own guilty conscience, appease God’s wrath, or restore fellowship with God. If the Lord were to deal with us according to our sins, none could stand before Him.

How wonderful, then, are David’s words: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven”. The word translated “forgiven” conveys the idea of something being lifted up and carried away. Sin places a crushing burden on the conscience that the sinner cannot remove. But when God forgives, He lifts that burden and takes it away. David had experienced the misery of concealing his sin. He testified that when he kept silence, his bones waxed old, and the Lord’s hand was heavy upon him day and night (Psalm 32:3-4). But when he acknowledged his sin and ceased hiding his iniquity, he received the Lord’s gracious pardon.

David also declares that the forgiven man’s sin is “covered”. Certainly, this does not mean that God pretends sin never occurred. Sin can be covered only because its guilt has been fully dealt with. In the Old Testament sacrifices, God pointed His people towards the perfect atonement that would be accomplished by Jesus Christ. On the cross, Christ bore the punishment for His people’s sins. He, the sinless One, suffered in the place of sinners, thereby satisfying the righteous demands of God’s law. Therefore, God is both perfectly just in punishing sinners, and merciful in forgiving repentant sinners.

Next, we read the astonishing words: “Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity”. The divine record against the believer has been cancelled! Scripture declares that Christ has forgiven us of all our trespasses, “blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us”, and has taken it out of the way, “nailing it to his cross” (Colossians 2:13–14). The charges that condemned us have been settled by the blood of Christ which is the ransom/payment of our sins. The sins that testified against us cannot rise again to condemn us before God.

The apostle Paul quotes Psalm 32:1–2 in Romans 4:6–8 to describe the blessedness of justification which is received by faith. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are justified. Christ’s righteousness is reckoned to the believer. This forgiveness is not a reward earned by good works, or religious observances. It is God’s gracious gift, received through faith in Christ.

Perhaps someone may ask, “Can God forgive me after all that I have done? I have resisted His Word, taken His patience for granted, and repeatedly returned to the same sins. Am I not too guilty to be forgiven?” Hear the Lord’s gracious declaration: “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:25). The ground of forgiveness is not our worthiness but God’s mercy in Christ. No sinner who truly repents and comes to Christ will be cast out.

Psalm 32:2b also says that the blessed man is one “in whose spirit there is no guile”. This does not describe a man who has never sinned, but one who no longer tries to conceal, excuse or minimise his sin. He comes honestly before God. True repentance rejects every deceitful attempt at self-justification. It accepts God’s verdict, confesses sin and seeks mercy. As long as we hide our sin, we remain restless and spiritually burdened. But when we confess it, we discover that “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Dear brethren, do not carry a burden which Christ is willing to remove. Do not allow shame to drive you away from the only One who can cleanse you. Let guilt drive you to Christ, not from Him. Come with a contrite heart, confessing your sin without guile and trusting wholly in His finished work: “There is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared” (Psalm 130:4).

Those who have received such mercy must never respond casually. Forgiveness should produce reverence, gratitude and renewed obedience. The pardoned sinner does not say, “Because grace abounds, I may continue in sin.” Rather, he asks, “How can I live for Him who loved me and gave Himself for me?” Forgiveness brings joy in worship and in service to God.

Let us rejoice, for the wrath we deserved has been turned away. Truly, blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered, and unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity.

2 Peter 2:1–2 “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

Peter writes with pastoral urgency to warn the church that false teaching is dangerous not only because it is wrong, but also because it can become extraordinarily popular. “Many shall follow”, he declares. Error does not always repel people; it frequently attracts them. Therefore, crowds, widespread influence, impressive platforms, and enthusiastic followers are never reliable proofs that a teacher has God’s approval.

The immediate context makes the danger unmistakable. Peter warns that false teachers would “privily bring in damnable heresies” (v. 1). The word “privily” indicates that error is commonly introduced subtly and gradually. False teachers do not always begin by openly denying every Christian doctrine. They never announce, “I am bringing heresy into the church”. They may continue to use biblical expressions, speak affectionately of Jesus, quote Scripture, and identify themselves with the church. However, beneath this Christian appearance, they alter the meaning of biblical truth and introduce teachings that ultimately deny “the Lord that bought them”. They may claim to have a new insight, or a recent experience of God. They reinterpret Scripture to remain culturally relevant while quietly weakening biblical teaching. They remove the necessity of repentance from God’s grace, and diminish the importance of holiness when speaking of God’s love. 

Peter calls such erroneous teachings and conduct “pernicious ways”. “Pernicious” means destructive, ruinous, or morally corrupting. False teaching is never an innocent intellectual mistake when it directly contradicts essential biblical truths and turns people away from obedience to Christ. Some doctrines may appear harmless at first, but their ultimate result is spiritual destruction. These false doctrines damage the mind and corrupt the conscience, thereby imperilling the soul, and weakening the fidelity of the church to God’s truth.  

The present-day church must take this warning seriously because false teaching has an  unprecedented ability to spread rapidly. Through television, livestreams, social media posts, podcasts, videos, online conferences, and short quotations detached from their context, a false teacher can influence millions around the world within hours. A captivating but erroneous teacher may thus enter Christian homes and churches without ever being examined by local pastors or elders. Believers may gradually place greater confidence in an online personality than in the faithful shepherds whom God has appointed to watch for their souls.

One of the deceptions and dangers of digital popularity is that it also creates an illusion of authority. A teacher with millions of followers, professionally produced programmes, bestselling books, celebrity endorsements, and stories of remarkable success may appear highly credible. However, none of these things prove his faithfulness to Scripture, for biblical truth is not ascertained by view counts, book sales, emotional testimonies, or the size of a congregation. 

The prophets of Baal greatly outnumbered Elijah—450 prophets against one prophet of the LORD—but their sheer numbers did not make their religion true (1 Kings 18:19, 22). Many followed Christ when they desired His miracles and bread but withdrew when His teaching offended them (John 6:60–66).

Peter’s words, “many shall follow”, warn us not to assume that serious error will attract only a small and insignificant following. The popularity of a message may sometimes indicate that it appeals to fallen human desires because people welcome preaching that promises divine blessing without submission to divine authority. They readily embrace a gospel that offers health, wealth, success, self-esteem, or emotional comfort while saying little about sin, judgment, repentance, self-denial, and the cross.

Peter explains that false doctrine and immoral conduct frequently accompany one another (2 Peter 2:12–19). A teacher’s false theology cannot remain hidden in the way he lives. Pride, greed, sensuality, dishonesty, and the misuse of spiritual authority reveal the corrupting tendency of his teaching. Peter describes false teachers as those who exploit people “through covetousness” and “with feigned words” (v. 3). Their ministry becomes a means of personal enrichment and self-exaltation.

The church must therefore examine both teaching and conduct. Does the teacher explain Scripture faithfully in its context, or use isolated verses to support his own ideas? Does he exalt Christ or continually draw attention to himself? Does he preach the holiness and sovereignty of God, the guilt of sinful man, Christ’s substitutionary death, justification by faith, repentance, and sanctification? Is he accountable to a sound church? Does his life exhibit humility, purity, honesty, and servant-heartedness? How does he respond when his teaching or behaviour is biblically questioned?

The consequences of false teaching extend beyond those immediately deceived. Peter says, “by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of”. When professing Christian leaders manipulate followers, accumulate wealth through false promises, engage in immorality, or make false claims, unbelievers often attribute their wickedness to Christianity itself. The world then mocks the Gospel because those who claimed to represent Christ have disgraced His name.

“The way of truth” is God’s plan of salvation and godliness taught in Scripture. Scripture is the truth of God (John 17:17) and all that it teaches directs us “the way of truth”. The truth is perfect and cannot be corrupted in itself, but its reputation among men can be damaged by those who falsely profess it. Sound teaching adorned by godly living commends the Gospel; distorted teaching joined with moral compromise gives Christ’s enemies occasion to blaspheme.

Pastors and elders must therefore protect the flock. They must preach the whole counsel of God, refute error, train believers in sound doctrine, and warn them of influential teachers who endanger their souls. Parents must know what preaching, music, books, and online materials are shaping their children’s theology. Beware also of secular education that promotes atheism, evolution, gender confusion, and other unbiblical ideas.

Church members must not forward or share every inspiring quotation or dramatic testimony without examining its source and message. Christian love cannot remain indifferent when truth is being corrupted. Love “rejoiceth in the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). To warn someone against spiritual poison is not unkindness; it is truthful love.

The church’s first question must never be, “Is this teacher popular?” It must be, “Is this the way of truth?” Faithfulness to Christ may not always attract the many, but it will honour God, preserve His people in the truth, and maintain a clear testimony before the world. Let us therefore hold fast the faithful Word, test every teaching by Scripture, follow only those who follow Christ, and refuse to exchange eternal truth for popular but pernicious error.

Remembering God’s Calling as We Prepare for the 21st Thanksgiving Anniversary of TGCM

God has graciously called and equipped our church to bring the Gospel, biblical counsel, and Christian fellowship to ex-convicts and those delivered from addictions. For this purpose, The Gethsemane Care Ministry was established twenty-one years ago. Through the years, hundreds have received care, instruction, encouragement, and the ministry of God’s Word.

As an extension of this ministry, we have also been given opportunities to bring the Gospel to prisons through our preachers and brethren, who make weekly visits to minister to inmates. We are now prayerfully considering another avenue of ministry, a special Gospel and fellowship meeting for ex-convicts, perhaps once a month, with the aim of encouraging them to continue steadfastly in the Lord and in the fellowship of His people.

This Tuesday, a Thanksgiving Service for the 21st Anniversary of TGCM will be held in conjunction with our weekly church prayer meeting at 8.00pm. I warmly encourage all our brethren to come and join us in giving thanks to God for His sustaining grace, and in praying for the future of this ministry. May the Lord renew in us a compassionate concern for those struggling with the consequences of sin, and strengthen our confidence in the transforming power of the Gospel.

As we prepare for this thanksgiving, Philippians 2:15 provides a fitting exhortation: “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”

The opening words, “blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke”, describe what God expects His children to be in a world darkened by sin. There ought to be a discernible difference between the conduct of God’s children and that of those who remain without Christ. Christians are called to shine as lights, and such shining requires a life consistent with the Gospel we proclaim.

First, we are to be “blameless”. The Greek word carries the idea of being above reproach. This does not mean that Christians will never be falsely accused. Our Lord Himself was falsely accused, as were His apostles. Rather, our conduct should give no legitimate occasion for accusations of wrongdoing. We must not be professing Christians while living contrary to the faith.

Paul could testify of himself, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23:1). Such ought to be our desire to maintain a conscience that is clear before God and men. Especially when we seek to help those whose lives have been scarred by sin, our own testimony must commend the holiness and grace of the Saviour whom we proclaim.

Secondly, believers are exhorted to be “harmless”. The same Greek word appears in Matthew 10:16, where Christ commanded His disciples to be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves”. The word conveys the idea of purity, sincerity, and freedom from corrupt mixture. There should be no deceitful or harmful spirit in the children of God. Our testimony must be sincere and untainted.

Those who have been justified by faith will desire a sanctified life. Salvation is entirely by grace through faith, but the grace that saves also begins the work of holiness in the believer. God’s children do not become sinless in this life, yet the Holy Spirit produces in them an increasing hatred of sin and desire for righteousness. They seek to put away “the sin which doth so easily beset us” (Hebrews 12:1) and to walk in a manner pleasing to their heavenly Father.

We are also commanded to be “without rebuke”. Christians ought to take great care that their words, conduct, relationships, dealings, and attitudes do not bring legitimate reproach upon the name of Christ. We live in a world filled with temptations, provocations, and opportunities for compromise. Therefore, watchfulness and prayer are indispensable to every Christian. A careless Christian can easily damage, in a few moments, a testimony that took years to establish.

Paul then reminds us where this holy testimony must be maintained: “in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation”. Those words are striking. They echo Moses’ description of a rebellious generation in Deuteronomy 32:5: “They have corrupted themselves… they are a perverse and crooked generation”. Scripture does not flatter the moral condition of a fallen society. Human philosophies may speak confidently of moral progress, but God’s Word describes a world whose thinking, desires, values, and ambitions have been utterly distorted by sin.

Christians therefore must not blend in with the world so completely that no one can recognise them as Christians. If our ambitions, entertainment, speech, morality, values, and conduct are indistinguishable from those of the unbelieving world, how shall we fulfil the command to “shine as lights”?

God calls us to something altogether different. The word “light” in Scripture is rich with spiritual significance. It is associated with divine truth, holiness, wisdom, salvation, joy, and the glory of God. To shine as lights is therefore to manifest something of God’s truth and holiness in a darkened world. Through our words and deeds, we are to point others away from sin and towards Christ.

Our Lord Jesus declared: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14–16).

Notice that Christ does not command us to manufacture light of our own. We shine because we have received His light. The Gospel has opened our eyes, brought us out of darkness, and called us into fellowship with Christ. Therefore, the light we bear must direct attention not to ourselves, but to our heavenly Father and to the saving grace of Christ.

Neither does shining as lights require us to withdraw from society. Christianity does not call us to live as hermits, avoiding all contact with sinners. Light is most needed where darkness is greatest. Our calling is not isolation, but a holy engagement with sinners. We enter the world without becoming like the world. We speak to sinners without embracing their sins. We show compassion without compromising truth. We extend friendship without abandoning holiness.

This principle lies at the heart of ministries such as TGCM. Men and women who have suffered the consequences of crime, addiction, broken relationships, and destructive habits do not need merely social assistance. They need the light of the Gospel. They need to hear that Jesus Christ saves sinners, breaks the dominion of sin, forgives the repentant, and gives newness of life. They also need to see that Gospel displayed through patient Christian love, faithful counsel, examples of holy living, and steadfast fellowship with like-minded brethren in the church.

The designated place for light is darkness. May God therefore keep us from shrinking back from difficult ministries or difficult people. May He give us a courage and compassion without pride and self-righteousness. May we shine before those who are struggling in the darkness of sin, directing them to the Saviour who declared, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).

As we commemorate twenty-one years of TGCM, let us thank God for every life touched by His Word through this ministry and every opportunity He has given us to minister to those in need. There are still many who need the Gospel, many who need encouragement after release from prison, many who need Christian fellowship to help them resist old temptations, and many who need brethren willing to walk patiently with them. Therefore, let us also look forward to more opportunities of ministry. 

May the Lord make us faithful luminaries in this dark world, shining through our words, our conduct, our compassion, and our steadfast proclamation of Christ. And may many who presently grope in darkness be led, through the light of the Gospel, into the salvation, wisdom, joy, and peace that are found in our Lord Jesus Christ.

“But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention” (1 Thessalonians 2:2).

The apostle Paul reminds the Thessalonian believers that the Gospel first reached them through faithful servants who refused to be silenced by suffering. Before arriving in Thessalonica, Paul and Silas had been publicly beaten, unjustly imprisoned, and shamefully humiliated at Philippi (Acts 16:22–24). Humanly speaking, such cruel treatment would have been reason enough to abandon their mission. Instead, having been strengthened by the Lord, they pressed on to proclaim Christ with even greater resolve.

Paul writes, “we were bold in our God”. Their courage did not arise from natural bravery or self-confidence, but from an unwavering trust in the Lord. They knew that the God who had called them was also able to sustain them. Christian boldness is not the absence of fear but the presence of a steadfast faith that obeys Christ despite fear, hardship, or hostility.

Paul also says that they preached “the gospel of God with much contention”. Gospel ministry has always been accompanied by spiritual conflict. Satan fiercely opposes the advancement of God’s truth. Those who faithfully witness for Christ should not expect universal acceptance. Ridicule, misunderstanding, rejection, and even persecution have often been the lot of God’s people throughout history. Yet none of these can hinder the saving power of the Gospel or frustrate the sovereign purposes of God.

As our church continues to fulfil the Great Commission, every member must remember that witnessing for Christ is not the responsibility of a few but the privilege and calling of all believers. Whether in our homes, workplaces, schools, neighbourhoods, or mission fields, we are Christ’s ambassadors. The world today desperately needs the unchanging Gospel, but many remain silent because of fear of rejection. Let us not allow such fears to rob us of opportunities to point sinners to the Saviour.

Beloved, let us pray earnestly for the same holy boldness that strengthened Paul and Silas. May we never be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. Let us lovingly, wisely, and faithfully bear witness to Him whenever He opens the door. Though opposition may come, our confidence rests not in ourselves but in our sovereign Lord, whose Word shall never return void. May He grant us courage to stand for His truth, and compassion to proclaim His saving grace until Christ comes again.

GBI, Vizag: Ministry Update and Prayer Requests

(The following report is sent by Pastor Sujith Samuel.)

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

We had the opening of our new semester this past Monday (27 July). This semester, the Lord has blessed us with six new students, five of whom are local pastors. They will be attending classes at our city campus. One is a residential student from Odisha and, God willing, he will arrive in Vizag this weekend.

Thank you for taking the time to teach Biblical Covenants and The Names of God on Mondays and Wednesdays through GBI, Singapore. Most of our students have enrolled in these subjects. In addition, several students have registered for FEBC’s online courses. This semester, I will be teaching Calvin’s Institutes and the Westminster Confession of Faith, while Pr Jonathan will be teaching Ancient Heresies and The Life of Christ. Please pray that the Lord will grant us wisdom, strength, and grace to prepare diligently and to teach His Word faithfully.

The renovation work at our city office is almost complete. We thank the Lord for providing additional space for Sunday worship services and GBI classes at our city campus. Our office rooms and bookroom have now been relocated to the middle floor of the building, making the facilities better suited for our ministry.

We are still waiting for permission from the city authorities for our permanent campus in the new airport area. Please pray that the Lord will help us to obtain the permits as soon as possible.

Thank you very much for your faithful prayers and the generous support of GBPC, Singapore, for the Lord’s work here. We are deeply grateful for your partnership in the Gospel.

Sermon Text: Genesis 17:7
Speaker: Rev. Sujith Samuel
Date: 1st June 2025

Sermon Text: Isaiah 60:1–4
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 23rd March 2025

We know that it is the Great Commission of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ unto His followers to: “Go … and teach all nations” (Matt. 28:19), emphasising the need to spread His Biblical truths across linguistic and national barriers. One of the most effective ways to do this is by translating sound Biblical materials into different languages. Good translation of Biblical materials ensures that people from diverse linguistic backgrounds can receive the truths of God’s Word in a way that speaks to their hearts and minds.

The following are reasons why we should attempt, as the Lord enables, to make sound materials available in local languages within mission stations.

• Millions still do not speak English around the world. Without translation, they may never fully grasp the depth and richness of Scriptural truths.
• Translating Gospel tracts and other evangelistic materials helps to spread the Gospel to the unregenerated in the non-English-speaking world.
• Translating Biblical materials gives non-English-speaking people access to the foundational teachings of Biblical Christianity. It helps individual believers grow in their knowledge and service of God. When people can read and understand Biblical truths in their own language, they are more likely to engage with the message and apply it to their lives.
• Translating sound Biblical materials ensures that God’s people are warned and equipped against fast-spreading false teachings worldwide. Misinformation and misinterpretation lead to doctrinal errors and unbiblical living, which destroy churches.
• Translating sound Biblical materials equips missionaries, indigenous preachers, evangelists and churches with excellent tools for evangelism, discipleship and equipping of future church leaders. When discipleship materials are available in their native tongue, believers will be better equipped to share the Word to edify local congregations.
• Translated theological materials provide pastors and church leaders, who may not have access to formal theological education, an opportunity to learn and benefit thereby. For this purpose, theological books, study guides, and sermons must be accurately translated. 
• Translated Christian materials help to quell the idea that Christianity is a foreign religion, and also to instil the understanding that God’s message of salvation is meant for all the peoples of the world.

So, in our humble ways, we also try to make our Bible Witness Literature available to non-English speakers in our mission fields. Several brethren in our mission stations are trying to translate our Gospel tracts, devotional books and other materials, that these may be printed in the coming years. 

• Let us pray to God for this ministry:
• for faithful and skilled men and women, who are willing to labour in the translation of Biblical materials sacrificially.
• for funds needed to support the translation and printing of Biblical materials.
• for the Spirit of God to comfort and embolden those who serve in translation work to overcome obstacles and difficulties, and complete the works they have undertaken. 

“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.

All Ways Lead to God

(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.

All Ways Lead to God

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)! 

The Blessed Way

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.

Jesus asked, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26; cf. Mark 8:36; Luke 9:25). 

Jesus here used hyperbole, an exaggerated statement, to emphasise the value of man’s soul. Even if a man could somehow possess the whole world but failed to inherit the salvation of his soul, his ownership of the whole world would be worthless. No matter how wealthy he becomes, being mortal, man can only own them temporarily. At his death, he gains nothing from his earthly possessions. As far as his standing before God is concerned, his super-wealthy status has no value. By means of his wealth, he cannot purchase his redemption from eternal damnation in hell. His wealth cannot provide a worthy transaction for his redemption. 

If not for Christ’s blood shed on the cross, what can provide us with justification and freedom from guilt and damnation? If Christ had not laid down His life as an offering for sin, our souls would have been forever damned. As the apostle Peter wrote, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). To possess every precious thing in this world and yet be without Christ, is to be a pauper forever! Jesus said in Luke 12:21, “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” 

The riches, royalty and respect this life could offer cannot liberate us from eternal destituteness. The world and all its glories shall pass away (1 John 2:17). 2 Peter 3:10 says, “…the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” But each person’s soul will live forever – those who die in their sins shall live forever, tormented in the eternal fire of hell. But those who cast their trust in Jesus, the Redeemer, and forsake the world to follow Him shall have an eternity with God in heavenly joys and blessings. So why lose your soul’s eternal blessing for a few fleeting decades of self-indulgence in this life? 

How sad it is that most people are enamoured by worldly gain at the expense of the heavenly rewards. Dear reader, there is nothing below heaven so precious and noble as your souls, and therefore, do not forsake the eternal salvation of your souls for the transient glory of a perishing world. Will you not care for your soul more than the body? John Flavel, a puritan minister, wrote: 

“Two things a master commits to his servant’s care,” saith one: “the child and the child’s clothes.” It will be a poor excuse for the servant to say, at his master’s return, “Sir, here are all the child’s clothes, neat and clean, but the child is lost!” Much so with the account that many will give to God of their souls and bodies at the great day. “Lord, here is my body; I was very grateful for it; I neglected nothing that belonged to its content and welfare; but as for my soul, that is lost and cast away for ever. I took little care and thought about it.”

Remember: all you labour to gain for your body is transitory, and what you lose in your pursuit of material gain is eternal. So, abandon your fascination with this world and its riches for Christ’s sake, that you may gain eternal riches.

Anniversary Thanksgiving

Dear Pastor, Board of Elders, and Members of Gethsemane BPC-Singapore,

Greetings in the blessed Name of our Risen Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

It is with much joy and thanksgiving to the Lord that I greet all of you, on behalf of the church here in Cebu, Philippines: “Blessed 36th Anniversary!”

Praise and glory be to the Lord for the work He has accomplished, and is accomplishing, in each and every one of you – we are bound to give thanks unto Him. Under the leadership of Pastor Koshy, alongside the Board of Elders, and with the team of committed full-time workers, as well as the united support of the members, Gethsemane BPC (Singapore) has been extending the ministry of the Gospel far and wide. Yes, we rejoice in the Lord on the recent development and progress of the Gospel work in India, and in other parts of the world!

Likewise, we are greatly encouraged by how the ministries within the church have flourished from strength to strength for the edification of the saints, even the salvation of the lost. Truly, the Lord has done great things in your midst, and we rejoice together with you! 

In this joyous occasion whereby we also remember the glorious resurrection of our Lord, consider the words of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:57-58, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

All glory be to God!

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Reggor B. Galarpe
Gethsemane BPC (Cebu)