Chapter 8: Of Christ The Mediator (Part 1)

Understanding The Westminister Confession of Faith
Chapter 8:
Of Christ The Mediator (Part 1)

In order to mine the wealth of rich teachings of this chapter of the WCF, I will do it in two parts. Part 1 this week will focus on “mediation” and the “mediator”. In Part 2 next week, I will touch on the “offices” of the mediator.

The revealed word of God vividly presents Christ under several themes: He is the Head and Saviour of the Church, He is the Heir of all things, He is the Judge of the world, He is the Mediator between God and man, He is the Prophet, the Priest, and the King, and much more. We meet Him as one of these in various places in the Bible.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia defines “mediation” (in the broadest sense) as “the act of intervening between parties at variance for the purpose of reconciling them … for the purpose of leading them into an agreement or covenant.” Theologically, this means as an act, mediation refers to the method by which God and man are reconciled through the instrumentality of some intervening process, act or person. More particularly, it refers to reconciliation through the atoning work of the Person of Jesus Christ.

The term itself does not occur in the Old Testament, but the idea it expresses is found in the word “daysman” in Job 9:33, “Neither is there any daysman between us, that might lay his hand upon us both.” The word daysman means a person who is appointed “to prove, decide, judge, rebuke, reprove, correct, to make right.” The phrase, “lay his hand upon us both” pictures a person – an umpire – who has the power to adjudicate between two parties – in our case, between a holy God and sinful and unholy man. One who comes between God and man to remove their differences.

“Mediator” and its verb form are used six times in the New Testament. (See Gal 3: 19 – 20; Heb 6: 7; 8: 6; 9: 15; 12: 24.) And Christ Jesus is forcefully presented as the one and only mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2: 5). This means only He is able to make reconciliation between God and man possible by His all-perfect atoning sacrifice.

Such a mediator must be at the same time both divine and human: divine such that his obedience and sufferings are of infinite worth; and human such that His work might represent man, and be capable of rendering obedience to the law and satisfying the claims of justice; and that in His glorified humanity He might be the head of a glorified Church.

An infinite distance separates fallen men and God. An adequate and satisfactory mediator is needed if a harmonious relation is to be established. Sin, the moral offence, separates all people from God and requires reconciliation on the grounds of the atonement of the promised Messiah under the Covenant of Grace. The Bible reveals Jesus Christ as that Mediator between God and man. If you don’t go to Him, if you are not in Him, then you are not reconciled to God.

In Him,
Rev Robert Chew

News & Announcements

1. Pr Mathews Abraham brings the Lord’s message to our 1st and 2nd worship services today.

2. The Children Ministry is commemorating Chrildren’s Day today. Junior Worship on this day will be from 9:30am to 11:30am. All children (pre primary and primary) are to assemble in the courtyard at 9:30am for a briefing. There will be no Junior Sunday School. All teachers (Junior Worship and Sunday School), song leaders and musicians, please attend a meeting on that day at 11:30am in Grace classroom.

3. There will be NO Adult & Youth Sunday Bible Classes today. Teachers of Adult & Youth SBC meeting today 11:15am @ Prayer Room 3rd Flr.

4. There will be NO Junior Sunday School today. The classroom is closed for sterilization at view of the HFMD outbreak.

5. Nepal Mission Inititative: Please note, there will be a slide presentation on a mission initiative at the Wednesday Central Prayer Meeting on 10 Oct Sept.

6. Photos Collection.... We are almost 10
In preparation for Moriah’s coming 10th anniversary & for archiving purpose, we are now requesting for photographs taken throughout all 10 years and earlier.
You can submit your photos via the following: - 1. Collection box at table outside Main Sanctuary, 2nd Flr.      a. Save your photos in a CDrom     b. Hard copies 2. Email your photos to moriahphotos@gmail.com
Photographs can be from special events, gatherings, fellowship, outings, trips, camps..anything at all. as along as they are clear, appropriate & meaningful.
Pls provide the following along with your photos/CDrom/emails submission:-
1. A short description of your photos.
2. You name, contact no & email.
3. Pls let us know if you would like your photos back.   You can start sending us your pictures right away, thank you!
Pls contact Gideon 97700773 / Zhi Wei 91189884 / Sharon 97953088 for further inquiries.

Dealing With God's Delay (Acts 24:22~27)

Title: Dealing With God's Delay (Acts 24:22~27)
Speaker: Pr Mathews Abraham

Who Is A Christian? (Acts 11:15~26)

Title: Who Is A Christian? (Acts 11:15~26)
Speaker: Rev Jack Sin

Chapter 7: Of God's Covenant With Man

Understanding The Westminister Confession of Faith
Chapter 7:
Of God’s Covenant with Man

A covenant is an agreement or contract between two parties.

However, as Andrew Fausset, a noted Bible commentator explains, the word “in the strict sense, as requiring two independent contracting parties, cannot apply to a covenant between God and man. His covenant must be essentially one of gratuitous promise, an act of pure grace on His part.”

Hence, in Psalm 89:28, “covenant” is explained by the parallel word “mercy” - “My mercy will I keep for him forevermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.”

While the covenant is gratuitous on God’s part, Fausset says it “requires man’s acceptance of and obedience to it, as the consequence of His grace expeerienced, and the end which He designs to His glory.”

The principal covenants are: a) the covenant of works - God promising to save and bless men on condition of perfect obedience; and, b) the covenant of grace - or God’s promise to save men of their believing in Christ and receiving him as their Master and Saviour.

Describing this latter covenant, the WCF says, “Man by his fall having made himself incapable of life by that (first) covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second, commonly called the covenant of grace: wherein he freely offered unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in him that they may be saved, and promising to giving unto all those that are ordained unto life his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe.”

To put this in simple terms: man by his fall has made himself incapable of life by the first covenant. The Lord is pleased to make a second, commonly called the covenant of grace, and sovereignty imposed it. He did not consult man to see if he would like such a covenant and then institute it. God consulted only Himself. The covenant of grace was an agreement not between God and man but between the Persons of the Godhead. God the Father agreed to give His son. Christ agreed to give
His life a ransom for many. And the Holy Spirit agreed to make actual application of this redemption to those whom the Father had chosen.

Knowing this, how can we not thank God our Saviour and obey His word?

In Christ,
Rev Robert Chew

News & Announcements

1. We welcome Rev Jack Sin of Maranatha BP Church as the Lord’s messenger to our 1st and 2nd worship services today.

2. The Children Ministry is commemorating Chrildren’s Day on 30th September. Junior Worship on this day will be from 9:30am to 11:30am. All children (pre primary and primary) are to assemble in the courtyard at 9:30am for a briefing. There will be no Junior Sunday School. All teachers (Junior Worship and Sunday School), song leaders and musicians, please attend a meeting on that day at 11:30am in Grace classroom.

3. There will be No Adult & Youth Sunday Bible Classes on 30th Sept. Teachers of Adult & Youth SBC will be having their meeting on 30th Sept, 11:15am @ Prayer Room 3rd Flr.

4. Are you burdened with a load of cares? Ask God for spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental assistance. We invite all members and friends to join our Central Prayer Meeting, every Wednesday 8:15pm. God answers prayers. Turn your cares into prayers.

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our refuge
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

5. Watch out for this space for more details on
Youth Camp 2007 - ABIDE.
Date: 11th ~15th Dec.
Speaker: Pr Mark Chen.

Chapter 6: Of The Fall Of Man, Of Sin, And Of The Punishment Thereof.

Understanding The Westminister Confession of Faith Chapter 6:
Of The Fall OF Man, Of Sin, And Of The Punishment Thereof.

All Bible-believing evangelical Christians are agreed that we have an eternally true account of the way sin came into the world in the Genesis 3 story of the fall of Adam. The essential thought of this narrative is that both Adam and Eve disobeyed an express command of God not to eat the fruit of a particular tree in the Garden.

God said that disobedience would bring death. The tempter working on the woman by the method of the half truth urged that disobedience would not bring death, implying that the command of God had meant that death would immediately follow the eating of the forbidden fruit. Our first parents were fooled, and the rest, like they say, is history.

From this we can see that the central idea of sin is the wilful disobedience to the law of God. The apostle John tells us that those who sin are practising “lawlessness” for sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4). So, a simple definition of sin is: it is a transgression of the law.

Sin is an act - and from the very beginning it has been known that acts have effects - not only in the outward world of things and persons, but also upon him who commits the act.

The 6th chapter of the WCF teaches us that our first parents “fell” from their original righteousness and communion with God. And because they are the “root of all mankind”, the guilt of their sin is “imputed...to all their posterity”. From “this original corruption” we are now “indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil.” This chapter further goes to point out that subsequently, our “actual transgressions” flow out of this original corruption.

On this corruption of nature, the WCH states that it remains during this life in those that are regenerated. That is, it remains even in thosse who are saved. In other words, our nature and all its inclinations (the WCF calls it “motions”) are “truly and preperly sin” although we are by grace through faith in Christ pardoned and saved.

On the punishment of this disobedience, the language of the article in WCF is so apt and beautiful that it is best to quote it fully for you. The article says, “Every sin, both original and actual, being a transgression of the righteous law of God, and contrary thereunto, doth, in its own nature, bring guilt and upon the sinner, whereby he is bound over to the wrath of God and curse of the law, and so made subject to death, with all miseries spiritual, temporal, and eternal.”

By His grace and mercy we are spared the “wrath of God and the curse of the law.” Let us therefore, emulate the desire of David the psalmist to “publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all [His] wondrous works.” (Psalm 26:7)

In Christ,
Rev Robert Chew

News & Announcements

1. We welcome Elder Chin Hoong Chor of Life BP Church as the Lord’s messenger to our 1st and 2nd worship services today.

2. The Children Ministry is commemorating Chrildren’s Day on 30th September. Junior Worship on this day will be from 9:30am to 11:30am. All children (pre primary and primary) are to assemble in the courtyard at 9:30am for a briefing. There will be no Junior Sunday School. All teachers (Junior Worship and Sunday School), song leaders and musicians, please attend a meeting on that day at 11:30am in Grace classroom.

3. Rev Robert Chew is in Nepal to teach and preach the word of God there to about 50 seminary students. Rev Goh Seng Fong will join him there to teach another course. Please uphold them in your prayers. Rev Chew will be there till Sept 22.

Gospel In Miniature
Luther called John 3:16 “the heart of the Bible - the Gospel in miniature.”It’s so simple a child can understand it; yet it condenses the deep and marvelous truths of redemption into these few pungent words:

“God” ...................................The greatest Lover
“So loved” ...........................The greatest degree
“The world” ........................The greatest number
“That He gave” ..................The greatest act
“His only begotten Son” ....The greatest Gift
“That whosoever” ..............The greatest invitation
“Believeth” ..........................The greatest simplicity
“In Him” ..............................The greatest Person
“Should not perish” ...........The greatest deliverance
“But” ...................................The greatest differrence
“Have” ................................The greatest certainty
“Everlasting Life” .............The greatest possession

Amazing Faith (Luke 7:1~10)

Title: Amazing Faith (Luke 7:1~10)

Speaker: Elder Chin Hoong Chor

Following Jesus (Matthew 8:18~27)

Title: Following Jesus (Matthew 8:18~27)
Speaker: Dr Robert Rapa

On Chapter 5: Of Providence

Understanding The Westminister Confession of Faith
On Chapter 5: Of Providence

Psalm 145:9 says, “The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.” This and many other scriptures speak of God’s providence. In the simplest terms, providence refers to His care over all His works.

Literally, the word means foresight or forethought. When it is used of God, it expresses His never ceasing power exerted in and over all His works. It is the opposite of “chance,” “fortune,” and “luck.” The apostle Paul says, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

The method of God’s providence is hard to explain, but the Easton Bible Dictionary says, “We only know that it is a fact that God does govern all his creatures and all their actions; that this government is universal (Ps 103:17-19), particular (see Matt 10:29-31), efficacious (Ps 33:11; Job 23:13), embraces events apparently contingent (Pro 16:9, 33; 19:21; 21:1), is consistent with his own perfection (2 Tim 2:13), and to his own glory (Rom 9:17; 11:36).”

A. R. Fausset, a noted Bible commentator says God’s providential acts have a threefold aspect: it preserves, it co-operates, and it governs. This means He controls all things for the highest good of the whole, acting upon every creature and every thing and event. Hence, God’s providence displays His omnipresence, holiness, justice and benevolence.

The first clause of chapter 5 of the WCF on providence says, “God, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold (Heb 1:3), direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things (Ps 135:6) from the greatest even to the least (Matt 10:29-31) by his most wise and holy providence (Ps 104:24), according to his infallible fore-knowledge (Acts 15:18) and the free and immutable counsel of his own will (Ps 33:10-11), to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy (Gen 45:7; Rom 9:17; Eph 3:10).”

The last clause (No. 7) of chapter 5 of the WCF teaches that providence, in general, reaches to and governs all creatures. And so, “after a most special manner, it taketh care of his Church, and disposeth all things to the good thereof.”

Daniel 4:32 says that “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” We His children who believe and trust His providence should therefore “fear not” and should be able always to “take courage”. His providential care is so minute as to be concerned about “the very hairs of our head.” Hence, the smallest saint will not be forgotten amongst the countless multitudes.

We should therefore be confidently comforted and apply ourselves only to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, knowing that “all things shall be added” to us.

Rev Robert Chew

News & Announcements

1. We welcome Dr Robert Rapa of Asia Baptist Theological Seminary of Cornerstone University as the Lord’s messenger to our 1st and 2nd worship services today.

2. Baptism & Church Membership Class starting today @ the Church Library - 1:00pm. Last call for those who are keen to join to contact Rev Chew or any of the Elders by this week.

3. Youth & Adult Sunday Bible Classes resume today.

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I Love Thy Word, O God

I love Thy Word, O God:
Its pages brightly shine,
A beacon light along the road
That leads to truth divine.

I love Thy Word, O God:
For comfort freely given;
For inner peace that keeps my soul,
And gives me thoughts of heaven.

I love Thy Word, O God:
For songs of purest joy,
That fill this pilgrim heart of mine,
And lips of praise employ.

I love Thy word, O God:
That tells me of Thy Son;
Of His redemption on the cross
For needy sinners won.

I love Thy Word, O God:
It ne’er shall pass away,
Till earth’s dark night of sin shall turn
To God’s own perfect day.

~*~ By: J. Harold Gwynne ~*~

Humanity, Humility & Hope (Acts 22:30~23:11)

Title: Humanity, Humility & Hope (Acts 22:30~23:11)
Speaker: Rev Robert Chew

Of Creation - Chapter Four

Understanding The Westminister Confession of Faith
On Chapter 4: Of Creation

Scripture begins with an assertion: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” The World is created, not self-existent, and it is God, the true God, who caused it to be.

The first clause of this chapter says, “It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, in the beginning, to create or make of nothing the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good.

G.I. Williamson in his commentary of the WCF for study classes says this section teaches us:

(1) That the world is not self-existent or eternal,
(2) That it derives existence from the true God,
(3) That He made all things of nothing,
(4) That He formed the universe through process until it was “very good” in His sight, and,
(5) That He did all this for His own glory.

Note that this world view, which as born-again Reformed Christians we must fully accept, wholeheartedly believe, and robustly defend, has no room for the “scientific” dogma and theory of “evolution”.

The second and last clause of chapter 4 of the WCF teaches that:

(1) That man was God’s crowning work of creation,
(2) That the whole human race descended from one human pair,
(3) That man was made in the image of God,
(4) That God furnished Adam with sufficient knowledge of His will (the law written in his heart, plus a special directive to test his obedience), and,
(5) That Adam was capable of due obedience but also of failling.

The Bible superficially agrees with “Scientific evolution” in regarding man as the highest creature on earth. But there can be no yielding on one point: man did not “gradually emerge” from the slime, but was created by an immediate divine act in which matter and spirit were fused together and given existence as living soul. All Glory to God !

Rev Robert Chew

News & Announcements

1. Rev Robert Chew brigns the Lord’s message to our 1st and 2nd worship services today.

2. Marriage Counselling Course: The first session will begin today at 1pm in the Library Room.

3. Baptism & Church Membership Class starting 9th Sept @ the Church Library - 1:00pm. A 12-week membership course to prepare for baptism, reaffirmation of faith and transfer of membership will commence on 9th Sept. Those who are keen to join can approach any of the Elders.

4. Church Constitution Revision: After a long period of deliberation the Church Session has finished a draft comprehensive revision of the Church Constitution. It seeks to update/improve, harmonise and reflect the true governance and practices of Sembawang & Moriah. In the coming months, presentations will be made and discussed, with the view to adopting a new Constitution at the next ACM in March 2008.

5. Youth & Adult Sunday Bible Classes are having their rest week today. Classes will resume next week on 9th Sept.

6. Sembawang & Moriah Church Session members convey their deepest condolenses to the family of late Sis Florence Wong on her home going on 26th August. We also thank Moriah members and friends for their support towards Sis Florence over the last few months.

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When To Be Alarmed

If you find yourself...
¨ coveting any pleasure more than your prayer times,
¨ enjoying a book more than your Bible
¨ reading the newspapers for relaxation more than the Bible or some spiritual book,
¨ reverencing any house more than the House of God,
¨ satisfied with any table more than the Lord’s Table,
¨ loving any person more than that of the Holy Spirit,
¨ or delighted with any prospect more than that of the return of Jesus,
¨ THEN TAKE ALARM !!!
By: Osterhus Publisher