GOSPEL FAITH

SUNDAY SERVICE: 27 OCT 2013 
SPEAKER: DAVID TAN 
TEXT: ROMANS 1:16-17

SUMMARY
Gospel faith is founded on the doctrine that our salvation is COMPLETELY an act of repentance of sin, and turning to Jesus in faith. The good news is, Jesus died to save us “while we were still sinners ” and not on the basis of our own righteousness. By God’s grace we are now accepted and justified – we now live in obedience as the fruit of our repentance and a testimony of our love for the Lord who loved us first.

Rom 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” 

It was in 1513 that Martin Luther came to this radical realization as he read Paul’s letter to the Romans . In 1517 he set off a movement that would revolutionise Christianity and changed the world.

What is the gospel? It is  good news concerning Jesus whose coming was foretold in the Old Testament, who was born, died and rose again (Rom 1:3,4) to save all humanity, both Jew and Gentile (Rom 1:16,17). We see 4 key teachings regarding the gospel in this text:

1. God has the power to save
Salvation is the act of being delivered from a disaster or death or both. Human life is already under judgment because of sin (Ro 3:23) and one day we shall all face death. Only God who created life has the power to save, and He alone can be our savior.

2. God’s salvation is for everyone
God desires all people to be saved. How are we saved? By believing. ‘Believe’ and ‘faith’ are key words in Paul’s letter. “It is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (v16).  To believe is to put complete trust in Jesus whose death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead promises salvation . It is not mere agreement with a set of doctrines but trust in a person. Like the thief on the cross, to have faith is to “come and with the mouth of our soul open to seek God’s grace” (Calvin).

3. It is God’s righteousness revealed
As Paul declares, the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel first and last (v17). Firstly, salvation reveals God’s righteousness, and lastly, salvation makes the unrighteous righteous by his grace. It is not God’s righteousness working together with us offering up our record of righteousness. Salvation is from start to end, the work of God. Douglas Moo defines God's righteousness "as the act by which God brings people into right relationship with himself"

4. The righteous live by faith 
Faith believes and receives God’s righteousness that is displayed on the cross of Jesus and by his resurrection. By trusting in Jesus’ finished work, we are counted as righteous.

Rom 3:25, 26 “…because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” 

God does not magically transform us into morally perfect persons at the point of belief. It means God’s Supreme Court has found us ‘Not Guilty’ and we have been acquitted, as if we have not committed sin.

The first step towards faith is illustrated by Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14) who both went to the temple to pray. It was the Tax Collector who cried out, “God have mercy on me, I am a sinner!” Jesus said the Tax Collector and not the self-righteous Pharisee who went home justified before God.

In conclusion, as a people who have found grace and forgiveness, Gospel faith rightly motivates joyful obedience. Because we have been accepted in Jesus, Gospel faith drives our service because we have experienced the love of God.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DAVID TAN is Chairman and Elder of Hope EFC and the proprietor of an advertising agency.

HABAKKUK

SUNDAY SERVICE: 20 OCT 2013
SPEAKER: DR CHEN BOON TAI
TEXT: HABAKKUK

SUMMARY

The question of evil troubles many people. Why is there evil in our world? Why is there so much injustice? Why do the wicked get away and why do the righteous suffer? The Old Testament prophet Habakkuk was a man who was also troubled by similar questions. In Habakkuk 1:2-4, we read:

How long, LORD, must I call for help, 

   but you do not listen? 

Or cry out to you, “Violence!” 

   but you do not save? 

Why do you make me look at injustice? 

   Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? 

Destruction and violence are before me; 

   there is strife, and conflict abounds. 

Therefore the law is paralyzed, 

   and justice never prevails. 

The wicked hem in the righteous, 

   so that justice is perverted. 

The book of Habakkuk records Habakkuk’s cries and God’s answers.

During Habakkuk’s prophetic ministry, Judah was ruled by four kings who led the nation astray. Josiah, who was Judah’s last good king had instituted many reforms following a national revival. But his reforms did not last and the four kings who succeeded him namely Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah, did evil. This eventually led to the fall of Judah and destruction of Jerusalem by the invading Babylonians.

What were the sins of Judah? 

•They practised impure worship by honouring both the one true God and the pagan idol Molech (Zeph 1:5) •They set up numerous altars to foreign gods (2 Ki 21:3,5)

•They adopted unacceptable pagan culture (Zeph 1:8)

•There was widespread violence and deceit (Zeph 1:9)

•There was indifference towards God (Zeph 1:12)

•There was no obedience or trust in God (Zeph 3:2-7)

How did God respond?

God said He would do an ‘amazing’ thing that would appear unthinkable. In vs6-11, we read that God would bring judgment upon Judah through military conquest by the Babylonians (or Chaldeans, who are from modern-day Iraq). But why would God raise up an evil empire known for their ruthlessness to do his work? 

Scripture seems to tell us that God does admit responsibility for bringing about good as well as bad. 

Isaiah 45:7 says:

I form the light and create darkness,
I bring prosperity and create disaster;
I, the Lord, do all these things.

But as Habakkuk records it, God justifies his impending discipline by spelling out the sins of his people in Habakkuk 2:6-20 - all of which deserves judgment. While God acts, the righteous are called to remain faithful, for “…the righteous person will live by his faith” (Hab 2:4)

Sometimes God answers our prayers in surprising ways. We are troubled by injustice and cry to God to deliver. And God replies by using instruments of evil to fulfil his purposes and to discipline his people. This is hard to comprehend but the believer must live with such mystery. We ought to be struck by the way sin offends God and cry as Habakkuk did:

Hab 3:2 O LORD, I have heard the reports of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.

Even as God used the wicked Babylonians as a tool of judgment He will surely judge the evil that they do.

Indeed, history does record the destruction of Babylon - 60 years later. Meanwhile the righteous must trust in God's sovereignty and wait faithfully until God acts.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Though the fig tree does not bud

   and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails 

   and the fields produce no food, 

though there are no sheep in the pen 

   and no cattle in the stalls, 

yet I will rejoice in the Lord, 

   I will be joyful in God my Savior. 

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; 

   he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, 

   he enables me to tread on the heights.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr Chen Boon Tai is an Elder of Hope EFC. He is also the Director of Project Development, IGB Corp/Mid Valley City Developments and Industry Professor of Management, Malaysia University of Science and Technology

EFCM JUBILEE SERVICE

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY…IT’S A RICH MAN’S WORLD

SUNDAY SERVICE: 13 OCT 2013 
SPEAKER: DATUK KENNY NG 
TEXT: JAMES 5:1-6

Money, money, money,
Must be funny, In the rich man's world
Money, money, money
Always sunny, In the rich man's world
Aha-ahaaa All the things I could do
If I had a little money, It's a rich man's world 

So goes the 1980s hit song by ABBA.

James does not say it is a sin to be rich. In fact, money per se, is neither a blessing nor a curse. Abraham was a wealthy man who walked with God and blessed the whole world.

But James is against unlawfully accumulated riches and advises the immoral rich to “weep and wail” in v1. 

James expresses three concerns.

1. How The Rich Got Their Riches (v4, 6a)
They got rich by not paying workmen their due wages. This includes not paying just wages to foreigners and migrant workers. Such failure is sin.

Deut. 24: 14 – 15 Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns. Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because they are poor and are counting on it. Otherwise they may cry to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin. 

Other similar references include Lev. 19: 13; Jer. 22: 13.

The rich are also guilty of controlling the courts and subverting justice (v 6a). A number of scripture passages point to the importance of judges of integrity (ref: Deut. 17: 8 – 13; Ex. 18: 21; Lev. 19: 15; Deut. 19: 16 – 21; Isa. 33: 15; Micah 3: 11 & 7: 3). God is highly displeased at such unjust practices.

Amos 5: 12 For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.

2. How The Rich Use Their Riches (v3 – 5) 
Instead of laying up treasures in heaven by using their riches for God’s glory (Mat. 6: 19), the rich hoard them for their own pleasure. However, a rich man who is a good steward of his wealth would help others to benefit from his riches.

1 Corinthians 4: 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 

In the Old Testament, Boaz deliberately instructed his workers not to completely harvest his fields but to leave some grains behind for the needy. Another example was Joseph who kept faith as a responsible steward in Potiphar’s house.

Scripture speaks against greed and excess  but not accumulating wealth to provide for one’s family (1 Timothy. 5: 8).

3. What Will Happen to the Rich and their Riches (v1 – 4) 
Since riches will not last forever Scriptures such as 1 Timothy 6: 17 has this to say:

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 

The immoral rich will be judged, both in the present (their wealth decaying and their character eroding in v3) as well as in the future (v4 & 9). In Warren Wiersbe’s words, “Luxury has a way of ruining character.”

Conclusion
God’s church must be thankful for the blessing of material wealth, gifts, and opportunities for success. In light of James’ warning against greed and indulgence, we should guard against covetousness (Exodus 20:17) and seek to be more generous with what God has entrusted us. Thanks be to God who is our Jehovah Jireh. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DATUK KENNY NG is the Senior Partner in Lee Swee Seng & Co and an elder of Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church

ARE WE SUCKING UP TO THE RICH?

SUNDAY SERVICE:  6 OCT 2013 
SPEAKER: DATUK KENNY NG 
TEXT: JAMES 2:1-13

A Summary:

All people have a natural prejudice against another person simply because of his origin, race, ethnicity, nationality, colour, creed, religion or gender. It is also not uncommon for us to discriminate based on class and socio-economic considerations. Invariably we tend to suck up to the rich and powerful but despise the poor and the marginalised!

James warns in 2:1 that we are not to show ‘favouritism.’ What does he mean? He is certainly not saying that it is wrong to make appropriate distinctions (i.e, Philippians 2: 3 – 4) or to defer to those in authority (1 Timothy 5: 17 and Romans 13: 1 – 7). Such distinctions are a necessary part of life.

What James is writing against is discrimination that is based on shallow externals for self-serving ends. To illustrate his point, James gives the example of the way a rich man may be welcomed to the best seat in church while a poor man is overlooked or despised. James says this attitude is opposed to our professed faith in Jesus our Lord (v1). Indeed in v9 James even says such behavior of ‘favouritism’ is a sin.

James goes on to list 7 reasons why showing favouritism or favouring the rich while despising the poor does not make sense.

• It makes us improper judges of people (v 4).
• It dishonours those whom God honours (v 5, 6).
• It is often the rich who exploit the poor (v 6).
• It is often the rich who blaspheme the Jesus’ name (v 7).
• It goes against the royal law to love our neighbor as ourselves (v 8 - 11).
• It reveals a faith that is in error and inconsistent with God’s law (v 8 – 11).
• It overlooks the fact that just as we need mercy, we too need to show mercy (v 12 - 13).

In conclusion we were challenged to check ourselves more closely:

Are we showing kindness to a person who is not of the same race? Are we more kind to the young and the good-looking and reject those who aren’t? Do we favour the rich over the poor? Do we give the “cold shoulder” to “foreigners”? The words of Jesus in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats in Matthew 25:40 are timely.

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

May God forgive us for self-serving partiality based on externals. And may God help us to honour him by honouring all people equally according to the royal law of love.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DATUK KENNY NG is the Senior Partner in Lee Swee Seng & Co and an elder of Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church

Sir, we want to see Jesus.

SUNDAY SERVICE 29 SEPT 2013
SPEAKER: AAMIR SHAHZAD
TEXT: JOHN 12:20-25

It is Palm Sunday, after Jesus has entered Jerusalem to a welcoming crowd waving palm branches. John’s Gospel reports:

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 

Aamir Shahzad who hails from Pakistan introduced himself and his ministry to provide a context for the morning’s message. In a Muslim country with a population of some 180 million of which only 2% is Christian, the challenge of pointing people to Jesus is real.

The minority Christian population occupies the bottom rung of society, largely involved in menial jobs. A dominant Islamic culture, blasphemy laws that are known to victimize the innocent (Aamir shared his own family experiences), and frequent outbreaks of violence have led the Church to adopt a ‘ghetto mentality’ (a feeling of alienation and powerlessness; withdrawal from the mainstream) leading to less and less interaction with the Muslim majority.

In addition, the recent bombing of All Saints’ Church in Peshawar that killed dozens has widened division and deepened fears.

What is the one thing that can be done to show Jesus then?

“The only way is to live like Jesus,” Aamir said.

Christians set themselves apart when they display a transformed worldview, live as Jesus did, show compassion, act justly and are loving towards their neighbor.

Referring to the Peshawar bombing, some Christians resorted to violence which was not right as it did not reflect Jesus. In light of this, Aamir encouraged the church to teach and train people how to live out a transformed worldview.

Aamir spoke of a Christian security guard who once offered to help an old man with physiotherapy massage. Eventually even Muslims came to him for his expertise and he would wash their feet, asking permission to pray before he began.

Going back to the text, Aamir commented on Jesus’ reply to the Greeks.

Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 

Jesus’ words appear cryptic, but it is because he does not want to encourage curiosity seekers. What is more important is his example of loving sacrifice.

Aamir highlighted 2 ministries in Pakistan that sought to show compassion: a drug rehabilitation programme where 80% of its clients are Muslim, and a literacy programme that provides schooling to mainly Hindu children.

In these ways Christians show Jesus to the world. They demonstrate that they have died to self; they do not follow the culture of the world but are living sacrificially.

May the Lord encourage us to do likewise.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aamir Shahzad is a qualified drugs worker and experienced project manager based in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. He manages the Samaritan Strategy for AsiaCMS which works with local churches to be mission focused and help launch local community initiatives.