Lord’s Day, Vol. 4 No. 41

(1) Scripture Is the Rule of Life
– Humble Obedience, the True Imitation of Christ

The goal of the new life is that God’s children walk in the beauty of God’s law. In doing so, we become sure of our adoption as children of the Father. A sincere repentance from the heart does not guarantee that we shall not wander the straight path and sometimes become bewildered. Let us then search the Scripture to find the root principle for the reformation of our life.

Holiness is the key principle
The plan of the Scripture for the Christian’s walk is twofold: first, that we be instructed in the law to love righteousness, because by nature we are not inclined to do so; second, that we be shown a simple rule that we may never waver in our race. Holiness is not a merit by which we attain communion with God, but a gift of Christ, which enables us to cling to Him, and to follow Him. It is God’s own glory that He cannot have anything to do with iniquity and uncleanness; therefore, we must keep this in mind, if we desire to pay attention to His invitation.
The imitation of holiness means obedience to Christ. Scripture does not only show the principle of holiness, but also that Christ is the way in it. Because the Father has reconciled us to Himself in Christ, therefore He commands us to be conformed to Christ as to our pattern. The Scripture points us to the perfect Christ as our example.

Self-Denial
It is the duty of believers to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” (Rom. 12:1); this is the only true worship. The principle of holiness leads to the exhortation, “Be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:2). It is a very important consideration that we are consecrated and dedicated to God; it means that we may think, speak, meditate, or do anything only with a view to His glory. For that which is sacred cannot, without great injustice to God, be applied to unholy usage. We are not our own, but the Lord’s. We are God’s own; therefore let His wisdom and will dominate all our actions.

Let us surrender our mind to God! The service of the Lord does not only include obedience, but also a willingness to put aside our sinful desire, and to surrender completely to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The transformation of our lives by the Holy Spirit, which Paul calls a renewal of the mind, is the real beginning of life!

For when the Scripture tells us to discard all personal and self considerations, it does not only exclude from our minds the desire for wealth, the lust of power, and the favour of men, but it banishes false ambition, and hunger for human glory. A Christian will measure all his deeds by God’s law, and his secret thoughts he will subject to God’s will. The denial of ourselves which Christ has so diligently commanded His disciples from the beginning will at last dominate all the desire of our heart.

The Apostle Paul gives a brief summary of a well-regulated life when he says to Titus, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:11-14)

Paul reduces all the actions of the new life to three classes: sobriety, righteousness and godliness. Sobriety undoubtedly means chastity and temperance, as well as the pure and frugal use of temporal blessings, and patience under poverty.

Righteousness includes all the duties of justice that every man may receive in his just dues. Godliness separates us from the pollutions of the world, and by true holiness, unites us to God. Nothing is more difficult than to forsake all carnal thoughts, to subdue and renounce our false appetites, and to devote ourselves to God and our brethren, in a world of corruption. To deliver our minds from every snare, Paul calls our attention to the hope of a blessed immortality, and encourages us that our hope is not vain. As Christ once appeared as a Redeemer, so He will at His Second Coming show us the benefits of the salvation that He has obtained for us. Christ dispels the charms that blind us and instead equips us with the right zeal for the glory of heaven. Christ also teaches us that we must live as strangers and pilgrims in this world, that we may not lose our inheritance.

[Extracted and edited from Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life by John Calvin]

(2) Webcast & Audio Ministry Update
There were 940 webcast listeners in September 2016 covering 35 countries and 44 states of the USA. 420 listeners were from US, 203 from Singapore, 138 listeners from UK, 82 from Canada, and others. The total MP3 audio and video downloads in September 2016 are 853 and 136 respectively. Viewers can tune into the live stream via the “Live” tab of BHBPC website www.blessedhope.sg or through the Church Mobile App. Alternatively, using www.sermonaudio/blessedhope . May the Word of God be sounded forth to the uttermost parts of the earth! Amen.

Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee