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Blessed … What Is It?
Is it to receive many red packets? Is it to have a prosperous business? Or is it to have health and longevity?
Everybody seeks to be happy, and at the end of all the festivity and merriment, we must finally ask ourselves if we are truly happy. True blessedness is a supreme joy given by God, a joy that is independent of one’s circumstances, a joy that comes about because we have peace with God.
‘Blessed’（福）
The word ‘blessed’ (福)
comprises four characters, an iconographic record of the original
blessedness
Blessedness Lost
Alas! When Adam disobeyed the command of God to abstain from the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, this communion was broken. As much as children bear the likeness of their parents, all we who are children of Adam have been born in sin. Even at a tender age we have already known how to lie, be jealous and disrespectful. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We may claim to have done many charitable deeds but even these good works fall so far short of God’s holiness that God condemns them as filthy rags: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6).
Condemned!
God is holy and will not tolerate sin. He is righteous and hence must punish sin. Before the all-seeing God, we are all condemned! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18). This condemnation is to die physically and spiritually, here on earth and then in hell—a death with weeping and gnashing of teeth, a death of everlasting torture in the Lake of Fire. “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.” (Rev 20:13-15). The only way to escape this condemnation is to find a replacement to bear this penalty. However, all sinners are immediately disqualified—for every one of us is guilty, justly deserving our own punishment.
Blessedness Regained in Christ!
Unable to meet God’s requirement, God in His divine mercy and love sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to be born of a virgin, live a sinless life and die for sinful men. He perfectly fulfilled every condition of righteousness required by God. Finally He willingly laid down His life for sinful men such as us. He gives this blessed hope to all that trust in Him: that as He rose from the dead, so shall we. Hear His words of eternal life: “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:39-40).
Christ has fulfilled the justice of God on our behalf by paying the penalty for sin with His blood. We cannot add to His perfect work. However, we are commanded to turn away from sin, believe in Christ and receive Him into our lives. To have forgiveness of sin and be at peace with God—this is true blessedness!
Red for Blessed!
This red packet contains no money but something far more valuable—the message of salvation. The red of the packet may be likened to the crimson blood of Christ, shed to purchase the eternal blessedness of hopeless sinners.
May you be a new creature, with a new life in Christ this Lunar New Year!
(Source: Chinese New Year gospel tract from Calvary Pandan BPC.)
*****
“Ye Must Be Born Again”
It is only when a man is born again can he enter the kingdom of heaven. Nicodemus wrongly thought that to be born again meant going back into his mother’s womb. As a Pharisee—a doctor of theology—Nicodemus should have known what Jesus meant when He said, “Ye must be born again.” This concept that Jesus was propounding was not new. It is as old as the Old Testament. The word “again” can also be translated “from above” (see John 3:31, 8:23; 19:11). To become a citizen of God’s heavenly kingdom, one must be born from heaven, born spiritually. Jesus explained, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” The phrase “of water and of the Spirit” must be understood as a whole; one explains the other. The water refers to the regenerative water of the Spirit that cleanses a soul from sin. Titus 3:5 makes clear, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
Nicodemus as a Pharisee had always thought that salvation came by way of keeping the Law and doing good works. However, for a person to be saved, he must be indwelt by the Holy Spirit which is received at the moment of faith as applied by the grace of God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. … Ye must be born again. … born of the Spirit.”
The Apostle Paul has an excellent exposition of what it means to be born of the Spirit, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Rom 8:1-16).
Since “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17), Jesus preached to Nicodemus the good news of salvation in Himself; “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14). Obviously Jesus was alluding to His death on the cross. On that cruel tree, Jesus was made a curse for us. He as our Substitute bore the penalty of our sins. He took our place, and did all that had to be done to redeem us. Thus, it is only a matter of simply believing in Jesus Christ and in Him alone if we are to be saved. JK
*****
Greetings from Overseas
From Rev Paul Cheng, Pastor, Bethel BPC, Melbourne
Dear Dr Khoo,
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord!
It has been a while since I last visited Far Eastern Bible College, I hope everything is well and good with you, the lecturers and all the students. As I reflect upon the year 2011, I cannot help but marvel at God’s faithfulness in every aspect of the ministry and His goodness toward FEBC.
FEBC has and will always be dear to my heart, and it is my earnest prayer that past and present students will learn to appreciate what we have learned in the college, being likeminded in doctrine, to stand and earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints (cf. Jude 1:3, 4).
Here in Melbourne, sometimes I do feel a little lonely, away from Singapore where we can get our mutual support and fellowship easily but the Lord has never failed to send His people here for visitation to remind us that we are not alone. Hopefully one of these days, you will be able to avail yourself to come over to teach and preach to us. Thank you so much for sending to me the 21st Century Reformation Bible Resource DVD, it has been a great blessing for me to listen to all the messages. Especially whenever I listen to the messages of the late Rev Timothy Tow, it would not fail to bring back wonderful memories of him and my days in FEBC. Dr Khoo, rest assured that we are always praying for you, True Life and FEBC here at Bethel, may the Lord continue to strengthen your hands as you labor in His work.
With love in Christ, Paul Cheng
From Dr D A Waite, President, Dean Burgon Society, USA
Dear Jeffrey,
The large box of DVD’s arrived today. Praise the Lord! Many thanks. We are indeed grateful to you and your fellow believers for these valuable gifts to us in the USA and in other parts of the world.
I have given 5 away already to some of our people in our Bible For Today office.
As soon as I get a chance, I will announce their availability without charge (except for $8.00 S&H) to be available to those in our Bible For Today and/or our Dean Burgon Society friends in this country and around the world. I trust these truths will be received warmly by those who get the DVD and that it will promote the cause of both VPI and VPP and the sound defense of our King James Bible to thwart the false defense of Ruckman, Riplinger, and their devoted followers.
May your work in the FEBC by theses and dissertations on Bible themes continue as the months, and years go by.
In Christ, Pastor D A Waite
January 20, 2012
VERSE FOR THE WEEK
The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Prov 23:24
*****
Sunset Gospel Hour tonight at Calvary Pandan BPC, 201 Pandan Gardens, 6 pm. Message: “Do you not think that the NIV is more readable than the KJV?” by Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew.
Brisbane BPC will hold its 5th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service on the Lord’s Day, Mar 11. Bible Seminar on “Growing the Church God’s Way” will be held on Sat, Mar 10. Speaker: Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo. True Lifers planning to attend can write to Rev Hien (hien7ng@optusnet. com.au) for information.
Church Camp 2012 (June 11–15) at Paradise Sandy Beach Resort, Penang, Malaysia. Theme: “Knowing the Will of God (Romans 12:1-2)”. Speaker: Pastor Jeffrey Khoo. Book your leave early!
The Session wish all members a blessed Lunar New Year. Remember to offer a thanksgiving Ang Pau to the Lord in grateful worship.
Free RELC Parking Coupons. Only 66 available today. Please see Dn Charles Kan. First come first served.
Mon and Thu night classes, 7.30-9.30 pm, are held at the FEBC, 9A Gilstead Road.
Ladies Fellowship 8th Anniversary this Wed, Feb 1, at RELC Room 602, 7.45 pm. Speaker: Pastor Jeffrey Khoo. All are welcome. Contact Judith at 96729973 for details.
Family Worship cum Prayer Meeting this Fri, Feb 3, at 8 pm in the home of Mr and Mrs Bernard Tee. Address: 11 Greenwood Lane, Singapore 287001. Tel: 67609069.
Young People’s Fellowship Meeting this Sat, Feb 4 at 3.30 pm. Program: Bible Study on Colossians by Pastor Jeffrey Khoo. Venue: Berean BPC, 28 Petain Road. Transport leaves FEBC at 3 pm. For details, visit www.tlypf.com. Contact Herbert at 94377715 for any queries.
Door-to-door HDB flats evangelism session this afternoon at Toa Payoh. Meet at Blk 155, Lorong 1, Toa Payoh at 2.30 pm. For details, contact Dn Charles Kan at 98310468.
Preaching appointments: Pastor at Truth BPC this afternoon, 2 pm and at Kemaman Life BPC this Friday, Feb 3, 8 pm.
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).
Adam was this man, created in the image of God, to keep the Garden of Eden.
He had fellowship with God, thus glorifying and enjoying the Creator. This
was true happiness.