Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
The essence of God’s law is nothing less than the expression of God’s character – His holiness and His love. True holiness and true love begins with a transformed heart. There is an inner holiness and love present in the heart. It is not a mechanical outward obedience of the Pharisees. That’s not true righteousness, Jesus pointed out.
2 Kings 5:1-15 (KJV)
1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.
2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.
Today, we see the gospel is truly preached throughout the world. With the advancement of modern technology, travel has been revolutionalized. Unreached regions now become accessible for the spread of the gospel. Yet, the world seemed to be oblivion of their Saviour. Many still reject God in Jesus Christ. There is coming a Great Tribulation that the world has never experienced. This world will be destroyed. Comparing scripture with scripture, we see this judgement recorded by the Apostle Peter in
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
The Apostle Paul revealed the spiritual state of the Israel, that though there is a multitude, yet only a remnant shall be saved. Jesus said that in the days prior to His coming, the spiritual state of the church will be cold, faith will be wanting. There is a remnant of His people whom God will use to prepare the world to meet their Christ.
The Apostle Paul is citing the prophet Isaiah’s prediction in Isaiah 10:22 of God’s judgement upon Israel by the Babylonians because her sins. However, God will preserve for Himself a faithful remnant though Israel was a great multitude. By quoting this text, he is calling attention to the parallel that among the Jews of Jesus’ day, many rejected Him but there is a remnant who received Him. Truly, Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman army and the Jews scattered in A.D. 70.
Matthew 27:50-56 (KJV)
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
The Apostle Paul quotes the prophet Hosea who was called by God to declare His Word to Judah concerning her unfaithfulness in departing from her God. At the time of Hosea’s ministry to the south, the North Kingdom has already been destroyed in 722 B.C. by the Assyrian invaders 12 years earlier. God’s judgment to the Southern Kingdom will come later in 586 B.C.
Joy Amidst Trial (1 Peter 1:3-9)
Christians are to expect trials and tribulations. The Bible tells us in no uncertain terms that suffering is a normal part of a true Christian life (Behind a Frowning Providence, Murray, 12). It is the Christians’ response to trial and tribulation that authenticate the Christian’s faith.
When Christians exercise faith in God during trials, there is a joy which can subsist in the midst of sorrow (Leighton).
True Christians are called of God to be vessels of mercy reflecting the glory of God. When God warned Noah of an impending global flood, He instructed Noah to build a great boat that will house the living when death will come over the entire earth by a global flood. Noah hearkened to God and experienced God’s mercy. There is an impending flood of fire coming upon the entire earth. The only escape is “up”, to be caught up to heaven to meet Jesus at the rapture.
Christians are named by the Apostle Paul as vessels of mercy to underscore their great privilege to reflect the glory of God. By our faith in God through Christ, we experienced God’s power to overcome sin to reflect the beauty of holiness in our lives. Indeed, it is a blessed life that God’s wants His people to cherish! Amen.