Dear BPCWA worshipper, God has brought death to the forefront of our minds in recent weeks. Just 2 weeks ago, we commemorated Good Friday and Easter. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ triumphed over the sting of death, the judgement for man’s sin, through His humiliating vicarious death on the cross and victorious resurrection. On the world stage, we have also witnessed the death and funeral of a major religious figure who was publicly mourned and whose funeral was broadcast live by multiple news stations across the world. Knowing about the Good Friday and Easter story and performing religious acts doesn’t guarantee entry into heaven. Religious acts are not what will buy you an entrance ticket to heaven. Also, closer to home over the past month, some of us attended the funerals of 2 ex-members. They slipped from this life into eternity without any aplomb, but their faith in Christ as their God and only Saviour was what mattered most. Faced with all this, there is certainly much reason for everyone reading this to look beyond this short life which we are often too focused on, and think of where and how we will spend eternity instead. 

Eternity begins after death. God declares in His inerrant and infallible Word, “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb 9:27). Everyone who is reading this now will one day stand before God, where “he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left” (Mt 25:33). The goats are those who were never saved, for “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Mt 25:41), “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Mt 25:46). This is not just an interesting story. It is a reality that will undoubtedly happen one day. And the course of the eternity of the lost cannot be changed at that point. Man calls it destiny or fate. But it is far from that. Your eternity depends on whether you have fallen at Christ’s feet in faith, asking Him to forgive, wash away your sins, and save you from the penalty of your sins with a repentant heart before Him. God says, “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Heb 9:28). Christ’s sufferings and death were to bear the sins of those who would turn to Him in faith for salvation. God is a God of love who sent a Saviour. God reveals Himself when He says, “God is angry with the wicked every day.” (Ps 7:11). God further warns of His wrath upon the wicked, “If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready” (Ps 7:12). This does not yet begin to describe His judgement upon unbelievers. I do not delight in writing such strong words, but it is because I certainly do not want any in the congregation of BPCWA to be among the goats to incur God’s wrath and judgement for sin. Turn to Christ today.

Respond in repentance. Christ’s first coming is that of a lamb, in meekness, gentleness, and humility. “A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory” (Mt 12:20). This is not to mean that Christ accommodates and saves even those who are vacillating and unwilling to commit in turning themselves to Him in repentance. What it does mean is that, when faced with God’s Word, the heart responds with repentance, contrition, and humility when the Holy Spirit works and convicts man of sin. This is the promise of our gracious Christ when He says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:3).  In drawing a person to salvation, the Holy Spirit “will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (Joh 16:8). So, respond in humility, not stubborn refusal. Are you just having head knowledge? Be honest. The knowledge of the gospel must be responded to in your heart with the essential element of repentance. Outward religious observance does not save you. You must turn to Christ with a humble and repentant heart, acknowledging your sinfulness and need for forgiveness. Jesus preached the message, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt 4:17). Turning to Christ for salvation is more than just mouthing a prayer that gets you into heaven. I am not promoting salvation by works. Salvation is purely by faith in the grace of God, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph 2:8-9). However, for one who wants to be saved but without genuine repentance, then such a faith is a false faith, not saving faith. Biblical repentance is a change of one’s view of sin, resulting in a natural desire to make amends with abhorrence of one’s past sins. Repentance is a change of one’s way of life resulting from a complete change of thought and attitude about sin and righteousness.

Be honest. There may be some who claim to be saved but live with little to no transformation of their lives. Why? Christ explains, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (Joh 3:6-7). There is no repentance (and hence no salvation) without a genuine conviction of sin, which is evidence of the new birth. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2Co 5:17). The Gospel cannot be dismissed. Every man must one day stand before God. Be honest now or be forever lost. You can reject Christ in this life, but one day you will still stand before Him, whether as your Saviour or your Judge. Salvation is “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” (Tit 3:5). Salvation is always accomplished by washing and renewing when we become children of God. The believer’s response to sin is different. It is an obvious change that you know within you. Honestly, have you known that within you? The persistent denials, excuses, blame, and hiding of sin are not regular characteristics of a Christian.

A Christian isn’t just troubled about the consequences of sin. Sin troublesthe Christian because the fellowship with the Heavenly Father is broken. There is a difference in the person internally when there is genuine salvation, where “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Ro 8:16). Don’t fool yourself into thinking that a true Christian can be one who throughout your life consistently attends church on Sunday, but at all other times lives like a heathen without thought or any high regard for God. If you live a life that you know is just getting by as a “Christian” because you can fool others with your lies and deceptions, you need to check your salvation urgently.  Even if you live a “religiously good” life outwardly, be sure that that is because of your inward transformation. A saved child of God has the Holy Spirit Who will be an internal witness of your salvation. This is the “renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Tit 3:5). Such a child will depart from sin because he wants to, not just to keep up with appearances.  There will inevitably be good works, i.e. obedience to God’s commands to please God, manifested because the indwelling Holy Spirit has transformed the heart.  If this is your experience, then also remember Christ’s reminder,

“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:  21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Mt 6:20-21)

Yours in our Lord’s service,
Pastor