Tag Archives: god

The Temple of God

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Titles of The Church (#2)

Sermon by Pastor Sylvia Chan

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The original meaning of the word “church”

Today we continue to study the titles of the church. First let’s look at the meaning of the word “church” :

NASB Acts 5:11 11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things. (Act 5:11 NASB)

The original Greek word for “church” in this passage is “ἐκκλησία” (ekklēsia); it consists of two words: “ἐκ” (ek) which means “out of,” and “καλέω” (kaleō) which means “to call”. The original meaning of the word “church” (ekklēsia) is a group of people being called out. Indeed the Lord Jesus said that he chose us out of the world:

NASB John 15:19 “19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. (Joh 15:19 NASB)

When we talk about the church, we are not talking about the church building, but are talking about a group of people who are called out (or chosen out) of this world by the Lord Jesus.

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The Body of Christ

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Titles of The Church (#1)

Sermon by Pastor Sylvia Chan

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Today I want to talk about “Titles of the Church”; it doesn’t mean that I have finished the series of messages on “The Titles of Christians”. Indeed, there are so many meaningful and important titles of Christians in the Bible, so from time to time I will still talk about “The Titles of Christians”.

The Church is the body of Christ

First of all the word “church” does not mean church buildings nor the local churches; it refers to the spiritual church that includes all the Christians. The title that we are going to study today is: The body of Christ.

NASB 1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you [plural] are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. (1Co 12:27 NASB)

The word “you” in the original Greek language is plural; it refers to all the Christians in the church. The verse says that Christians form the body of Christ, which means that Christ is the head of the church, and each individual Christian is a member of that body.

NASB Romans 12:5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (Rom 12:5 NASB)

Here this passage says that we Christians are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. It means each individual belongs to one another. Not only do we belong to Christ, we also belong to one another.

This point is important. Nowadays many Christians like to emphasize a “personal relationship” with Jesus Christ. It is true that each Christian needs to know Jesus Christ personally, but too much emphasis on the “personal relationship” with Christ gives people the impression that all we need is to have a personal relationship with Christ and we can just ignore all the Christians. No, that is not what the Bible teaches. We are one body in Christ, but we are also connected to individual members of the body.

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Stewards of The Manifold Grace of God

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Titles of Christians (#16)

1 Peter 4:10 – 11

Sermon by Pastor Sylvia Chan

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Today we continue to study the titles of Christians in the New Testament. Let’s look at a passage:

 NASB 1 Peter 4:10 – 11 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1Pe 4:10-11, NASB)

 According to this passage, 1 Peter 4:10 – 11, Christians are compared to stewards of the manifold grace of God. As stewards have to take care of their masters’ property, business and even family matters, so Christians should use the grace that has been granted us to serve one another so that Yahweh God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

First of all, please take notice that the grace that Yahweh God has granted us is not for our own benefit, but to serve one another so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

For example: Some people are granted the gift of preaching; they can preach with power and clarity, so they ought to preach the word of God. Some people are granted the gift of doing administrative work, they should take care of the administrative work in the church. Some people have the gift of music, they should serve God in the area of music. Some people have the gift of encouraging people, they should encourage those who are sad and discouraged.

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Disciples

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Titles of Christians (#15)

John 8:31

Sermon by Pastor Sylvia Chan

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Some time back we studied the title of Christians, “The Sheep of Jesus Christ”; today we are going to study another title of Christians:

ESV John 8:31 – 32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31 – 32 ESV)

To “abide in” means to “live in”. Here the Lord Jesus says to the people who have believed in him that they are truly his disciples if they live in his word.

“Disciple” was the main title of those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ

Now let’s look at this word “disciple”. In the New Testament, the followers of the Lord Jesus were called “disciples”; the word “disciple” (singular) appears 29 times in the New Testament, and the word “disciples” (plural) appears 239 times, together they appear a total of 268 times.

By contrast, the word “Christian” or “Christians” appears only 3 times in the New Testament. Here are the 3 passages:

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We Live for Him Who Died and Rose Again on Our Behalf

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Resurrection Day Message (#2)

2 Corinthians 5:14 – 15

Sermon by Pastor Sylvia Chan

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Today as Christians commemorate the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ and his resurrection, let’s also reflect on our own lives. Do you see that the life you are living now is meaningful or meaningless? The Lord Jesus has chosen us out of this world, that means we no longer belong to this world; therefore our lives should be entirely different from the lives of the people in the world.

How is the life of people in the world? Most people in the world don’t know the purpose and direction of their lives, they just eat, drink and enjoy, but do you know the purpose and direction of your life? What is the purpose and direction of your life?

NASB 2 Corinthians 5:14 – 15 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. (2Co 5:14-15 NASB)

Here it says that the Lord Jesus Christ died for us so that we will no longer live for ourselves, but live for him who died and rose again on our behalf.

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Four Tasks for Christians

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The Book of Romans (#6)

Romans 2:17 – 29

Sermon by Pastor Sylvia Chan

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Last time we studied Romans 2:1-16, and saw that judgment is based on works, which means that God will judge each person according to his deeds. Today we continue to study Romans 2.

Four Tasks for the Christians

NASB Romans 2:17 – 20 But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God, 18 and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth (Rom 2:17-20 NASB)

Verse 17 says “But if you bear the name “Jew”…”, which shows that Paul has in mind the Jewish Christians in the Roman church. Paul says that you know the will of God and are instructed out of the Law, since Yahweh God gave the Law to Israel through Moses, and the will of God is embodied in the Law. That’s why the Jews know the will of God and are instructed by the Law.

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Judgment is Based on Works

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The Book of Romans (#5)

Romans 2:1 – 16

Sermon by Pastor Sylvia Chan

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Last time we studied Romans 1:18 – 32, where we saw that when men in their ungodliness and unrighteousness suppress the truth of God, that will lead to God’s wrath against them. But men did not repent, but went deeper and deeper into sin, and they also approved those who practice sin. Therefore God gave them up to their sins. When people keep on sinning beyond a certain point, there is no more repentance for them. That is a warning to all of us.

Romans is a letter that Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome. In this letter, the word “you” refers to the Christians in the church, not to the non-Christians. Let’s keep in mind that Apostle Paul is speaking to Christians. Today we are going to study Romans 2.

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The Wrath of God is Revealed

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The Book of Romans (#4)

Romans 1: 18 – 32

Sermon by Pastor Sylvia Chan

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Last time we finished studying Romans 1:1 – 17, in which the Lord Jesus Christ was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. The Lord’s disciples were given the task to proclaim the gospel to all people, because the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. And it is in the gospel that the righteousness of God based on faith is revealed to the one who has faith.

Today we continue to study the rest of Romans chapter 1, from verses 18 – 32.

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The Righteousness of God is Revealed to The One Who Has Faith

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The Book of Romans (#3)

Romans 1: 17

Sermon by Pastor Sylvia Chan

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Last time we studied Romans 1:7-16, in which Paul says that the gospel is the power of God for salvation. When we listen to the gospel, the power of God goes into our heart and changes us! Today we continue to look at the next verse:

NASB Romans 1:17 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” (Rom 1:17 NASB)

Here the word “it” refers to the gospel, so we can read the passage like this: “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.”

What does “from faith to faith” mean? From whose faith is the righteousness revealed and unto whose faith?

Here I am not playing with words. These are important questions, and through the centuries many articles have been written on this verse, Romans 1:17. Many people have expounded this verse and debated on its meaning. You can go to read all those articles in different commentaries if you want, but I will not follow those commentaries. I will try to explain this verse in very simple language so that even young Christians and non-believers can understand it. My aim is to preach the gospel to all people to the ends of the earth, that’s the command of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Introduction to the Book of Romans

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The Book of Romans (#1)

Romans 1:1 – 6

Sermon by Pastor Sylvia Chan

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Today we begin to study the book of Romans, but from time to time I may still talk about the titles of Christians and even the titles of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible mentions many titles of the Lord Jesus and of Christians, but I don’t want to dwell on a certain topic for too long. I am also eager to start the book of Romans as soon as possible. But if the Lord permits, I will still talk about some titles of Christians once in a while.

The book of Romans talks about “righteousness,” “faith,” “justification” and Yahweh God’s salvation plan.

(To justify means to make righteous; for example, to justify someone means to make him righteous. The noun “justification” is the action of making righteous; for example, the justification of someone means the action of making him righteous.)

Studying the book of Romans helps us to examine our own faith to Yahweh God and to the Lord Jesus Christ. When we preach the gospel to non-believers about righteousness, faith, justification and salvation, we can follow the method and the steps in the book of Romans step by step, point by point.

NASB Romans 1:1 – 6 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ. (Rom 1:1-6 NASB)

The meaning of this passage is very deep; let’s study it verse by verse.

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