Easter Message from Bishop's Commissary,
Rev Herbert Tong



FROM DEATH TO LIFE – THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY

Greetings to you all in the Name of the risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

The Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the core substance of the Good News of Christ's Saving Grace, without which nothing is genuinely Christian.

 

Why then is the Crucifixion and the Resurrection so important? It is the only power and authority that is able to revert the inevitable death sentence of the sinner. The working of that power and authority has now become a gift to every believer ("…for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life…"). This gift was acquired by the sacrificial love of God at the price of the death of the only Son of God. It is given by grace, not as a reward to human works, but through the mercy and forgiveness of God in Christ Jesus. It is received by faith with repentance on the part of the believing sinner. He who was without sin offered to bear our sins and was condemned in our place so that we who now believe may be justified and set free to live.

By the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, a redeemed People of God is now birthed forth. As the redeemed People of God, we now carry a new identity. We are forgiven. We have passed from condemnation to justification, from death to life, and from darkness into God’s marvelous light. We have come under the righteousness of Christ, and now stand as People of God set apart for His purposes. We have all entered into a covenant with God to serve Him and to live for Him, with Jesus having already become Lord and Savior. Jesus the divine Son of God was born into this world, and by the same way every redeemed of the Lord is now born into the Kingdom of God. For this reason we are no longer of this world, though still in the world, but are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.

But, having turned back to God, been forgiven, obtained mercy and saved from eternal condemnation, and having obtained citizenship of Heaven, why are we still in this world? We are sent back into the world, not only to be light and salt as channels of blessings to the souls of men, women and children, but also as witnesses bearing the mark of the work of salvation which Christ has already done in us. While we are still in the world, we are to put on the whole armor of God, not only to safeguard our redeemed position in Christ, but also to answer the call of God to rescue and defend the souls of people who are being brought into the Kingdom of God.

Jesus warned that the thief (in this case the devil) comes with no other purpose than to "steal, and kill and destroy." We are to zealously guard our hearts in order to safeguard our new standing in Christ, and having in our possession that priceless gift of redemption bought with the Blood of Jesus. If this gift of grace is stolen, the hearts will turn back into that of carnal people who will slander and accuse others of the things they themselves have done. They will want to stone those who are truly caught in the act. They will put forth false witnesses to justify their accusations. They will obstruct justice by resorting to blackmail, "If you release Him, you are not a friend of Caesar," and proceed to stir the crowd to turn it into a mob, demanding, "crucify Him, crucify Him."

Not so with the people of God under grace and mercy. We are to take after the manner of Jesus “who, having been reviled, did not revile in return; suffering, He did not threaten, but gave Himself up to Him who was judging righteously” and then pleading for those who slandered, hurt and persecuted Him, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

The undisputable Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has ushered in a new era. Jesus has completed His work, "I must work the works of the One who sent me while it is day. Night is coming, when no one can work." Now as the redeemed People of God we are being commissioned and sent forth, by the Resurrected Christ Himself, to do the works of a new day. We are urged to focus on the urgency of our mission on earth. At the same time we are to pay attention to our personal sanctification (which is maturity in progress) to bear the fruit of repentance, and be filled with the hope of the resurrection at the last days.

May the risen Lord renew your vision and empower you for the good works which God has already prepared that we should walk in them. May the joy of the Lord be your strength as you seek to serve Him and to live for Him. To God be the glory.

(1 Cor 15:1-4, Ro 6:23, John 3:16-18, Hebrews 9:28, Eph 2:19, Philippians 3:20, John 10:10, 1 Peter 2:10, Matthew 26:60, John 19:12, Mark 15:14, John 17:17, Ro 6:22, John 9:4, 1 Peter 2:23, Eph 6:11-18.)