Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
Imagine standing before a judge and being sentenced for a crime committed. The penalty has to be paid. Whatever the punishment the criminal realized the dire consequence. How to get out? In some lands, the head of state has that power to override the court’s ruling (Matt. 27:15). Barabbas, a notable prisoner was freed by Pilate at the behest of the Jewish chief priests and elders over Jesus, who did not commit any crime.
I applaud the effort to bring about a less violent world. I submit to our readers that it is only possible in the gospel of Jesus Christ by the gift of God’s grace that man can be transformed to love one another. This love comes from God supernaturally when we repent of our sins and receive Jesus Christ into our lives. The sin nature that man inherited from Adam can only be rid of and curtailed through the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer. When our sins are forgiven through Christ, then will God give us the capacity to truly forgive others and love them with an unconditional and sacrificial love for God’s glory alone.
God’s free gift of salvation is through Jesus Christ. Sinful men bound for hell can find deliverance from spiritual and physical death. When Adam sinned, his posterity was plunged into perpetual misery. Death became a painful reality for all men. But in Jesus Christ, the curse of sin and death was lifted. All who trust in Jesus finds salvation.
Patience, Comfort and Hope
Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
“Whatsoever things” in this verse has the meaning of whatever that God has revealed to us in His Word is for our instruction. “Written aforetime” has the innotation that what was previously written continues to stand written today to bear witness of the truth.
Do not neglect reading and studying the Bible. It is God’s written revelation to help us especially when we are going through trials and tribulations in life.
The Bible teaches us cheerful endurance in times of afflictions. It lifts our ailing hearts in the midst of our disappointments. It keeps the fire of hope burning in whatever challenging circumstances we may be facing. If our Christian life is to grow, we must apply the Scriptures to our daily living.
The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:22 “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” He speaks of the victory over death and sin when Jesus Christ’s rose from the dead. Because of Adam’s sin, all his posterity must die. Because of Jesus’s victory over sin, all who comes to Him in faith, repenting of their sin, receive eternal life.
Death passed upon all men as a result of one man’s sin. A grim reminder of the consequence of yielding to temptation. Adam, the first man, yielded to the lie of Satan, defying God’s warning, ate of the forbidden fruit, sinned against God! God said, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest therefore thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. 2:17). Satan contradicted God’s Word, “Ye shall not surely die.” (Gen. 3:4).
As I reflect upon my life before becoming a Christian and after, I felt a sense of relief. God had not left me an orphan but through His Son brought me back to Him. Christianity is a relationship. A relationship between God and man. A familial relationship. Sin is a broken relationship. Jesus Christ solved my sin problem when He shed His blood upon the cross to wash away my sins and died to carry the weight of all my sins. Three days later, He rose from the dead conquering sin and death on my behalf.
I saw my neighbour going to work. I understood he is not a believer. I saw that life for him seemed to have a sense of accomplishment. After struggling hard at work, he now has financial stability. But I could see a sense of emptiness in his life because there is still something greatly missing. I felt that lack in my heart acutely before I became a Christian.
1 Kings 18:1-16 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. 2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.
The sixth blessing of being a child of God is joy in God. It describes an attitude of confidence in God, to rejoice in, glory in, boast in the stability of life with God. The psalmist testified of this joy in God as he made God the centre of his devotion:
Psalm 16:5-11 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. 6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. 7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. 8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Life with God dispels fear and anxiety. We can trust in His care, provision and protection. When we look are unable to rejoice in our circumstances, we can rejoice in the Lord under those circumstances. We can rest in His love and meditate upon His goodness. It brings strength to our soul.
The fifth blessing of being a child of God is God’s preservation in this present life and forevermore (v10b). After Christ’s resurrection from the dead, He appeared to His disciples for 40 days before He ascended to heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father. In heaven, Christ function as Intercessor.