A Holy Nation in a Hostile World
(Message delivered by Dr Jeffrey Khoo at the True Life Church 10.30 am Service, Aug 6, 06)
Text: I Peter 2:9-17
August 9th is Singapore’s National Day. God has showered our nation with His grace, mercy and peace. I believe God has blessed Singapore with prosperity and peace so that we might have the means and resources to do good. With the peace and prosperity that Singapore enjoys, the Church can do much good by helping people make peace with God and find their way to heaven. What does God want the Church to be in this lost and sinful world? In 1 Peter 2:9-17 we are told that God wants us to be:
Witnesses (2:9-10)
The Apostle Peter described the Church as “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people” (1 Pet 2:9). These names were given not only to the Church but also Israel. In fact, God gave these names to Israel first. In Exodus 19:6 and Deuteronomy 7:6, Israel is called a “chosen,” “royal,” “holy,” and “peculiar” nation and priesthood of believers. God ordained Israel to be His evangelist in the Old Testament. The Lord told Israel in Isaiah 43:10-12, “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.”
Israel was the Old Testament evangelist, testifying to the Gentiles that the only living and true God is the invisible God of Israel—Jehovah Himself. This privilege of missions and evangelism is now given to the New Testament Church “to show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” The Church is the New Testament evangelist witnessing not only to the Gentiles but also to the Jews that the only Saviour of the world is Jesus Christ—the Son of God Himself (John 6:68-69). So there are Messianic Jews today. One day when Christ returns there will be a great revival in Israel, and Israel shall be a great nation once again to the glory of God (Rom 11:1-27).
God will not leave the world without a witness to His power and grace. He has made the Church the bearer of His light of truth and life. Israel witnessed the power and grace of God by remaining true to God in the land of promise (Isa 43:10-12). The Church, on the other hand, bears witness by going out into the world of sin to preach the power and grace of God in Jesus Christ (Matt 28:18-20, Acts 1:8).
True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church is involved in missions and evangelism. Locally, we are supporting the Far Eastern Bible College to train pastors and missionaries for the worldwide harvest fields. We also have the Evangelistic Band and fellowship members distributing gospel tracts monthly. We are supporting mission stations in Bethlehem (church), Brisbane (church), Kemaman (church), Kuantan (kindergarten and church), Myanmar (orphanage and churches), Kenya and Tanzania (Bible Colleges). The Lord is opening doors in Sarawak, and $1,000 has been designated for the purchase of Iban Bibles. While we have time, before the Lord returns, let us do good by sowing the gospel seed in as many lands as possible. We must print more tracts and more books. Scroll calendars for the year 2007 with Bible verses will be out soon. Make sure you buy some to give away to friends and relatives, and welcome them to church. A new gospel bookmark will be out soon. FEBC will be holding a Gospel rally on September 16 in this auditorium. Let us take this golden opportunity to invite our friends and relatives to come and hear the gospel. Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew will be the Lord’s messenger.
Pilgrims (2:11-17)
As Christians, we are but “strangers and pilgrims” in this world. I remember when I went to the USA in 1989 for further theological studies, I was welcomed into America as an “alien” and not a “citizen.” Although it was not very nice to be seen as an alien, yet it was a good reminder that USA was not my home, Singapore was. I love my country, and when I was in America, I always referred to Singapore as my home, and told my American friends that I had every intention of returning home after my studies. The familiar song young people usually sing, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through” expresses this “alien” thought well. We are not PRs, only TRs—Temporary Residents.
As “strangers and pilgrims,” let us “abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (v11). Our treasures are not here on this earth, but above in heaven. “The friendship of the world is enmity with God” (Jas 4:4). Let us practise separation in our lives by keeping ourselves from everything and anything in this world that would hinder us from putting Christ first in our lives. 1 John 2:15-17 says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
All of us know in the innermost recesses of our heart that it is not the material but the spiritual that satisfies, that brings true joy and peace in life. John Rockefeller for instance said, “I have made many millions, but they have brought me no happiness.” Andrew Carnegie, another multi-millionaire, said, “Millionaires seldom smile.”
What is happiness? Happiness is to know the Saviour—Jesus Christ. Happiness is godliness with contentment. The Bible says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Tim 6:6-10).
When we have made peace with God and He blesses us with His peace that surpasses all understanding, we will know how to conduct ourselves in a holy manner in a hostile environment. In verse 12, Peter encouraged the believers to endure the slander from unbelieving pagans who have wrongly accused them of evil deeds. It is possible that Peter wrote this epistle during the time when Nero persecuted the Church in AD 64. Nero put the blame on the Church for the burning of Rome, and put many Christians to death.
Peter urged the believers to do good to those who do them evil. Jesus taught, “love ye your enemies, and do good, … and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil” (Luke 6:35). Jesus also said, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven” (Matt 5:43-45). Our faithful, godly life shall put to shame and to silence the faithless and ungodly on the day of the judgement of the great white throne. If believers obeyed Christ’s command, their accusers would have to glorify God on the day of judgement. Yes, as Christians, we do not care for our own vindication but God’s glorification. As His children, we want Him alone to receive all the glory and honour in and through our lives.
Therefore, let us not fight evil with evil, but fight evil with good. Paul says in Romans 12:17-21, “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Christians are commanded to submit to every human authority. The Christian’s duty to the government and to government officials is clearly taught in Romans 13:1-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-2, and Titus 3:1-2. Note that the Lord’s command to Christians to submit to their state applies to both good and bad governments. In the days of Peter, the Roman government was not good. In fact under Nero, it was evil. Nevertheless, Peter told the believers to submit to the authority of the government. We do this not because an evil government is worthy of submission, but because it is God’s commandment and as believers we desire to obeyGod.
We thank the Lord that in Singapore we have a just and clean government. Our government is doing its level best “to build a democratic society, based on justice and equality, so as to achieve happiness, prosperity, and progress for our nation.” We ought to pray for our nation, we ought to pray for our leaders. Pray that we might continue to have the freedom to believe and practise our faith with a good conscience before God.
What if the government one day makes it illegal for Christians to believe and practise their faith? God forbid that this should happen, but if it does, the choice is clear, we must obey God rather than man, even if it means imprisonment and execution. When told by the Sanhedrin never again to preach Christ, Peter made it very clear that he ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). Peter and his fellow apostles were unjustly flogged by the authorities, but did they retaliate in kind or resort to violence? Not at all! The Lord rebuked Peter when he used the sword in the name of religion: “Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (Matt 26:52).
On non-spiritual or civil matters, the government has full jurisdiction. We must pay our taxes dutifully, whether GST, COE or ERP. Jesus commanded, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s” (Matt 22:21 cf Matt 17:24-27, Rom 13:6-7). Let us not neglect to give our tithes and offerings to God as well.
“Honour all men (because they are made in the image of God). Love the brotherhood (those who are in the family of Christ). Fear God (for He is our Lord and our Saviour). Honour the king (because he is appointed by God, and it is God’s command that we do so).”
God bless Singapore! Have a happy National Day!
