16 April 2017

My dear readers,

(Extracts from RPG, Jan – Mar 1998, Edited by Dr SH Tow)

1. REALITY OF THE RESURRECTION
Luke 20: 27-40, Exodus 3:1-6

Like the Sadducees of old, many intelligent people today do not believe in the immortality of the soul and the resurrection of the dead. The Sadducees came to Jesus with a hypothetical problem of a woman who had been married in turn to seven brothers (each husband having died one after the other – a highly imaginative proposition). Their question (framed to ridicule the doctrine of the resurrection) was this: "Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? For seven had her to wife." The implication was: if there were a resurrection (which they denied) it would create an impossible situation of one woman with seven husbands!

Woeful ignorance! These men of the priestly aristocracy, and supposedly very learned, were devoid of some elementary truths concerning the resurrected state. Our Lord expounded to them some basic facts about the resurrection.

(a) Those who are accounted worthy of the next world and the resurrection from the dead are elevated to be equal with angels i.e. the marriage relationship does not exist anymore.
(b) They are the children of God, children of the resurrection.
(c) They cannot die any more, neither do they marry.

Obviously the Sadducees had not studied their Scriptures well, for if they had, they would have noticed that Moses, meeting with God at the burning bush heard him say, "I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Ex 3:6). This means that the LORD was still the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. If they were dead then God would have used "I was" instead of "I am." Then our Lord added: "For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living." The souls of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all believers are not perished or annihilated, but are gathered unto God in eternal bliss. They are living and not dead! The resurrection of their bodies will come later, at our Lord's return (1 Cor 15:52; 1 Thess 4:14).

Hear the truth from God's word: "If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain ... But now is Christ risen from the death, and become the firstfruits of them that slept ... For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Cor 15:14, 20, 22).

THOUGHT: "He that believeth in me shall never die."

2. SIGNS OF HIS RETURN
Luke 21: 25-38, Matthew 24:3-14, 24-42

The certainty of our Lord's return is matched only by the scepticism of "Christian" scoffers of the last days walking after their own lusts (2 Pet 3:3). The ridicule of unbelievers merely confirms the accuracy of Bible prophecy! If we believe, then we must also be alert. We must daily watch for the signs of His return. For a more complete description, read Matthew 24.

False Christs and false prophets. This is the major sign which we must not miss, and we cannot miss – if we would study God's Word faithfully with Holy Spirit illumination. There are literally dozens of references to this sign in the New Testament which only the blind do not see. Then consider the Church at large everywhere swarming with false Christs and false prophets (preachers, pastors, "reverends", priests, bishops, etc) who deny Christ and His Word; who preach "another gospel"; who deny His deity, virgin birth, resurrection and return; who preach a false "social gospel", a marxist gospel of "liberation", an ecumenical gospel of religious "unity".

Sign of the fig tree, symbol of Israel. The rebirth of the nation Israel is nothing but the hand of God. On May 13, 1948, after some 2,000 years without a homeland or nation, a people dispersed and despised suddenly declared itself the state of modern Israel, against a world of hostile Arabs. In 40 years the nation has grown by unprecedented "leaps and bounds" to become a major world power. When this tree shoots forth its branches we know that the summer of our Lord's return is nigh at hand.

Seeing then these major signs of Christ's return appearing before our very eyes, what manner of men ought we to be in all holy conversation (lifestyle) and godliness?
QUESTION: Do you doubt? Pray for spiritual eyesight and discernment.

3. IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME
Luke 22: 7-23, Exodus 12:11-17

(a) A place. For this most important event on this night of nights our Lord had ready (by divine pre-arrangement) a large upper room furnished for Him to eat the passover with His disciples. It was a solemn and sacred historic last meal together before He went to His suffering and death. "A place prepared" tells us of how our Lord looked forward to the occasion, in the right setting and atmosphere leaving us an example to follow.

(b) A people, the twelve apostles, including the thief and traitor Judas. Not all and sundry were welcomed to this "feasts of commemoration" – only the twelve. So we too should gather as a family of God's people (even though we cannot exclude a Judas or two) with solemn purpose and hearts prepared, to express our intimate union with our Lord. To this blessed sacrament all who belong to Christ should come, often.

(c) A purpose. It is sacred to the memory of Him who first loved us and gave Himself for us: we do it in affectionate remembrance of Him. The bread and the wine are a solemn reminder and a symbol, not a repeated sacrifice, for Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more (Rom 6:9). For by one offering or sacrifice he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified (Heb 10:14).

(d) A prospect, most joyous and enriching, assuring and comforting. Our Lord says, "I will raise you up at the last day" (John 6:54). Today though faintly we see and feebly we feel, nevertheless the day will reveal it, when we shall drink it anew with the Lord in the Father's Kingdom (Matt 26:29). By this sacrament we do shew the Lord's death "till He come".

THOUGHT: Remembrance is the hallmark of gratitude.

God bless all readers.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,
Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor