That Which Ye Have Already Hold Fast Till I Come (Rev 2:25)
All the joy and contentment we may feel today at Moriah’s ninth anniversary are, of course, due solely to the grace of our merciful God. The catalogue of His rich blessings over the years is quite evident for all to see. Therefore, let every heart in Sembawang and Moriah gratefully thank and humbly praise Him today!
As we mark this occasion, we are standing on the threshold between the past and the future. On this, I recall some very good advice given by Jean-Pierre de Caussade in his book, The Joy of the Saints. He wrote, “the best rule to follow is to leave the past to the infinite mercy of God, the future to His good providence; and give the present wholly to his love by being faithful to his grace.”
How are we to be “faithful to his grace” in the present?
I believe we do this by giving ourselves wholly, faithfully and diligently to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3)
We are a church which seeks to be the humble torch of His light. Lest we neglect that, allow me on this occasion to invite you to reflect with me on our need to be vigilant about the future.
Much of the Christendom today is suffering from an advanced case of spiritual decline. It’s not widespread throughout the “body” of Christ, but is concentrated along the spine – the “church” is losing its theological backbone!
We see this in any number of ways. For example, some have begun to fudge on the ethical status of homosexuality. Fearful of being labelled “homophobic,” they’ve adopted a “live and let live” approach to the issue. Others who do not want to appear elitist or exclusive, no longer insist on personal faith in Christ as essential for salvation. Then there are those who have gone “soft” on the very concept of doctrine itself, believing that theological orthodoxy is both elusive and divisive and should be minimized for the sake of some ill-defined unity.
In one of the letters to the seven churches of Revelation, Christ says, “That which ye have already hold fast till I come.” This is a clear clarion call to contend and uphold without compromise the faith which was once delivered to the saints.
All too often, especially in charismatic circles, the penchant for novelty or the chasing after some “fresh” word from God dictates the ministry or mission of a church. The frequency with which a pastor or teacher offers heretofore unknown “insights” into Scripture is made the measure of his “anointing” and favour with God. I’m not saying there is nothing more to learn from the Bible than what we now know. Far from it! But we must be careful lest the allure of “newness” detract us from focusing on the “old, old story of Jesus and his love” (I fear that few will recall that hymn!).
By the way, I do not mean for you to think that the church should not seek to make progress or improve. Jesus says in Revelation 2:19, “I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.” The “last” being more than the “first” means making progress and improvement. And, I would hasten to add that this is compatible with holding fast to what we already have, which was once delivered to the saints; “holding fast” meaning perseverance and stability.
When we uphold and maintain with vigour the theological backbone of the church, perseverance and stability is not incompatible with progress and improvement.
Let us on this day of joyous celebration renew our desire to hold fast the faith that was once delivered to the saints. And may God help us to do so. Amen.
As we mark this occasion, we are standing on the threshold between the past and the future. On this, I recall some very good advice given by Jean-Pierre de Caussade in his book, The Joy of the Saints. He wrote, “the best rule to follow is to leave the past to the infinite mercy of God, the future to His good providence; and give the present wholly to his love by being faithful to his grace.”
How are we to be “faithful to his grace” in the present?
I believe we do this by giving ourselves wholly, faithfully and diligently to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3)
We are a church which seeks to be the humble torch of His light. Lest we neglect that, allow me on this occasion to invite you to reflect with me on our need to be vigilant about the future.
Much of the Christendom today is suffering from an advanced case of spiritual decline. It’s not widespread throughout the “body” of Christ, but is concentrated along the spine – the “church” is losing its theological backbone!
We see this in any number of ways. For example, some have begun to fudge on the ethical status of homosexuality. Fearful of being labelled “homophobic,” they’ve adopted a “live and let live” approach to the issue. Others who do not want to appear elitist or exclusive, no longer insist on personal faith in Christ as essential for salvation. Then there are those who have gone “soft” on the very concept of doctrine itself, believing that theological orthodoxy is both elusive and divisive and should be minimized for the sake of some ill-defined unity.
In one of the letters to the seven churches of Revelation, Christ says, “That which ye have already hold fast till I come.” This is a clear clarion call to contend and uphold without compromise the faith which was once delivered to the saints.
All too often, especially in charismatic circles, the penchant for novelty or the chasing after some “fresh” word from God dictates the ministry or mission of a church. The frequency with which a pastor or teacher offers heretofore unknown “insights” into Scripture is made the measure of his “anointing” and favour with God. I’m not saying there is nothing more to learn from the Bible than what we now know. Far from it! But we must be careful lest the allure of “newness” detract us from focusing on the “old, old story of Jesus and his love” (I fear that few will recall that hymn!).
By the way, I do not mean for you to think that the church should not seek to make progress or improve. Jesus says in Revelation 2:19, “I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.” The “last” being more than the “first” means making progress and improvement. And, I would hasten to add that this is compatible with holding fast to what we already have, which was once delivered to the saints; “holding fast” meaning perseverance and stability.
When we uphold and maintain with vigour the theological backbone of the church, perseverance and stability is not incompatible with progress and improvement.
Let us on this day of joyous celebration renew our desire to hold fast the faith that was once delivered to the saints. And may God help us to do so. Amen.
In Him,
Rev. Robert Chew
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posted by Moriah Bible-Presbyterian Church @ 08:00
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