The Christian’s Dual Citizenship
(Message delivered by Pastor at the True Life Church 10.30 am Service, Aug 8, 04)
Text: I Tim. 2:1-4; Ps. 122:6
This year’s National Day happens to fall on a Monday, so it behoves us to preach on our citizenship this Lord’s Day. What has the Bible to say on this? St. Paul says, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (I Tim. 2:1-4)
First of all, we are exhorted to supplicate, pray, intercede and give thanks for all men. On this 39th National Day of Singapore we must thank God for all races because we are in peace with one another. Especially for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
We should pray not only for the majority of 76% Chinese population on our side but for the minority 15% of the Malays and the 7% of the Indians. Christians should love all other races. Do you know there are only 15% Christians in Singapore?
And we should pray for Mr. Lee Hsien Loong especially as he is newly coming to his office as our third Prime Minister. With Mr. Lee Kuan Yew his first Prime Minister father remaining as Senior Minister and Mr. Goh Chok Tong, second Prime Minister also as Senior Minister we see clearly God’s special grace upon Singapore for stability. But let us not discontinue to supplicate and intercede to God to bless Singapore.
Do the authorities feel blessed with these Christians best wishes? When Singapore came under Japanese occupation I remember that the authorities sought the conquered people’s prayers for their Emperor Hirohito. The people prayed for long life for him and he became the longest living Japanese ruler. When our ruler lives long we are blessed to live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. When we supplicate and intercede for the authorities, surely they will treat us kindly. For example we have two B-P Churches that have renovated two former British Army Churches now with Singapore Government’s consent. With the consent and more people attending, more are receiving Christ as Saviour and coming to the knowledge of the truth. All this that we have according to Paul’s teaching is our first citizenship.
As a Christian we have dual citizenship. We have a citizenship on earth and a second citizenship in heaven. This is stated in Ps. 122:6, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”
This second citizenship that talks about Jerusalem shall lead us to heaven our final destination when we will live with Christ a thousand years, in the golden millennium. From events happening today that point to our Lord’s Second Coming it is nearer than you think! Should the Millennium arrive in ten years’ time, but the greatest joy is I’m already saved in Him, then I am entered into my second citizenship.
Our visit to the Holy Land in our 11th Pilgrimage from Aug 26 to Sep 11 of Jerusalem will find us there again when Christ comes and the Rapture occurs. Will you be caught up to meet Jesus in the clouds and live with Him in the golden millennium?
THE GOSPEL OF LIFE:
Chapter V
John 5:19-30
The Oneness of Son and Father in Decision and Action
The Jews’ accusation of Jesus for making Himself equal with God becomes the occasion when our Lord reveals His relationship with His Father. What relationship? Perfect love (v. 20)! Perfect love brings oneness of Son and Father in decision and action. Equality merely speaks of rank, and for the Son to occupy such a position is no usurpation on his part (Phil 2:6) because the Son is God inasmuch as the Father is God. The Christian readily worships the Son as he worships the Father, which gives recognition to the Son’s honoured position. “He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which has sent Him” (v. 23). By this statement Christians are accepted, and Jews who reject Christ are condemned.
What we are more interested in this long passage, v. 17-30 is the relationship between Son and Father, as noted above. Because the Father loves the Son and the Son loves the Father we see a oneness of decision and action between the two Persons. Moreover the Father delegates His authority to the Son (v. 22 and v. 27), reveals His plan to the Son (v. 20) and “he will show him greater works than these that ye may marvel.” On the other hand, we see the Son carrying out all the Father’s plans in perfect harmony with His will (v. 30).
What are the greater works that the Son will do as the Father sheweth Him? Greater than healing the invalid of 38 years? The saving of our souls, the raising of our bodies to life everlasting and the condemnation of the wicked.
Christ is Saviour to the believing (v.24) and Judge to the unbelieving. All in perfect oneness of decision and action with the Father. If the Jews know this they will not be offended when Jesus makes Himself equal with God the Father. Memorise 5:24.
Larger Catechism Q.11: How doth it appear that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father?
A. The Scriptures manifest that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father, ascribing unto them such names, attributes, works, and worship, as are proper to God only.
John 5:31-47
Argument From the Law of Evidence
One vital principle of the Law of Moses in the trial of a person involving life and death is the requirement of corroboration by two or three witnesses (Deut. 17:6). This principle has become a universal law of evidence. Jesus uses this law of evidence to silence the Jews who refute His Sonship and equality with the Father, for they do not believe that Jesus is God.
Jesus proves His Sonship and equality with the Father, that He therefore is God, by calling on a four-fold witness. (This is twice the number required by the law of evidence).
- John the Baptist. If the Jews believe in John the Baptist, why then do they doubt his word that Christ is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world? (v. 33-35).
- His miracles, that transcend John’s witness (v. 36).
- The Father. (At Jesus’ baptism, He spoke from heaven while the Spirit of God descended in the form of a dove. Matt. 3:17).
- The Bible, the Old Testament written by Moses and the prophets are sacred to the Jews who believe it to be God’s infallible and inerrant Word. Moses wrote of the coming of a Prophet who is the Christ. Why did they not believe Moses’ testimony of the Christ?
What a warning to us all, third and fourth generation Christians by tradition, but not by the new birth. “Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God” (Jn. 3:13).
Another fourfold witness to Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, are the Four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. (The first three are called Synoptic Gospels. Synoptic comes from “Synopsis” which means a “collective or general view on any subject.” Thus John’s Gospel is written from his own angle. John, the beloved disciple and one of “the three” gives us his testimony of Christ from closest range).
The Rock in the Mosque of Omar upon which, it is said, Abraham was to have sacrificed Isaac
