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Greetings are ways to channel God’s blessing to those that are worthy. Once after church service, I casually asked an elderly member sitting next to me how she had been. I had no idea my asking would elicit a lengthy and personal account of a surgery that she recently went through. It was gory and detailed. She then showed me photos of what the doctor had removed. For a second, I was bewildered. I wasn’t prepared for someone to share something so personal. But I also felt glad that I asked. Had I not asked, she would have been wandering around church the whole Sabbath, all pent up.  I knew I couldn’t help much, but I listened. Why do Christians greet one another? Paul’s greetings are often called ‘greetings of grace and peace’. Romans 16 marks the end of Paul’s letter to members of the church in Rome. If we go through Paul’s letters, we see him always begins his letters with greetings of grace and peace and concludes with blessings of grace, peace, mercy, and the abidance of Lord’s presence. He would greet, even if the purpose of the letters were to severely admonish the church.  We often greet by saying ‘peace’ to one another. Peace, or ‘Shalom’ in the Hebrew language, means more than a lack of obstacles or just smooth sailing in life. It means the full abidance of God that preserves the spirit, the soul, and the body (1 Thes 5:23), leading to a state of comprehensive wellbeing.  Without greeting, it is difficult to begin showing concerns for others. In Philippians 2:4 and 5, Paul admonishes, “ Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” We should certainly quietly mind our own business and not to be nosy (1 Thessalonica 4:11). Yet we need to show concerns for others just as Christ did. Greetings help us to begin to understand the state of others.  What happens when we greet? Two possibilities. The other party may respond or may not. Either way, we get to learn something about their current state of being. In the former, the needs and concerns of the other party are made explicit to us. In the latter, silence could mean that the other party is not yet ready to share, for various reasons. It could be they are too burdened for words at the moment. Or perhaps there is not yet a strong enough rapport established between ourselves and the other person for such sharing to take place. In that case, let it be and leave some time and room for privacy. Whatever the outcomes of our greeting, we bless; the blessing we give will come true. In Numbers 6:22-27, God instructed Moses to instruct the priests to bless His people. At the end of God’s instruction, He promises, “…and I will bless them” (27). In other words, today like the priests in the Old Testament, when we bless, the blessing will be realised. In Matthew 10:12-13 Jesus further explains, “As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.” In other words, if the other party is worthy of our blessing, the blessing will come to them. If not, the blessing will return to the one that blesses.  Ultimately, we want to be a blessing to those around us, even if they are strangers. When God called Abraham, He explained to him, “ I will make you into a great nation and will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Gen 12: 2 and 3). True enough, we see that promise unfolds, from Genesis until this day and age.  Next time, when meeting someone that we don’t normally talk to at church, ask them, “How have you been?” We may be surprised by the transformative power of greetings.  1 1 Cor 1:3; 2 Cor 1:2; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; Phil 1:2; Col 1:2; 1 Thes 1:1; 2 Thes 1:2; 1 Tim 1:2; Titus 1:4; Phile 3. 2 .1 Cor 16: 19, 23; 2 Cor 13:14; Gal 6:18; Ephe 6:23, 24; Phil 4:21-23; Col 4:18; 1 Thes 5:28; 2 Thes 3:18; 1 Tim 6:21; 2 Tim 4:21 and 22; Titus 3:15; Phile 25.

Paul is not one to sugarcoat and withhold information he has been called to speak. His assertiveness and boldness in repaying God’s grace can be attributed to the fact that he has surrendered almost all regard for himself and thrown himself into the upward race towards the crown of life and righteousness. Unwavering in his daily endeavours after Christ’s example, his central hope is for others to learn from him, and in turn, be testaments of the almightiness of God themselves. Here, one point for our learning and reflection is our single-mindedness, as a church, the body of Christ, in our service, worship, and fellowship. In his writing, Paul consciously and repeatedly uses first-person possessive pronouns, i.e., we, us, our, and addresses the members of the church as a whole using singular pronouns, i.e., you, to highlight the importance of growth as one body.  Much as it is easy to be encouraged and stirred up by Paul’s urging, putting his exhortations into action is sometimes near impossible. As long as this world exists, unbreakable unity within the church remains a perpetual pursuit. Well aware of the imminent challenges that lie in wait, in his parting words, Paul’s deliberate mention of the power of prayer and the Holy Spirit reminds the members that it is only by God’s will that His mission for us can be fulfilled. A church earnestly devoted in prayer and the good of each other is a church that strives and stays together. May God, through His Holy Spirit, continually abound in us and move us to actively do His work, to further the reaches of His kingdom, and to walk worthy of the calling with which we were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Without this grace from God, life is meaningless.

When we truly love someone, we seek to understand their heart, empathise with them, and feel what they feel.  We who love God are called to know His heart. God’s heart is for humanity, having so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son to save them (John 3:16). But even more so, God’s heart is for His beloved people, the holy ones whom He has chosen and redeemed (Colossians 3:12).  One of the things that constitutes loving our Lord is loving His people, and ensuring they do not stumble. This is one of the key ideas of Romans 14. The chapter encourages us not to judge or look down on our brethren who are weak in faith. In its context, “weak in faith” refers to a person whose conscience would rebuke them if they didn’t abide by certain rules and thought they weren’t making God happy (see 1 Corinthians 8:9-12).  During the time that Paul wrote this, there were believers who abstained from certain foods or observed certain days, thinking that doing so would please God (Romans 14:6). By extension, their consciences were pricked when they did not abide by these standards, as we see from the word “unclean” in this verse: “I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.” (Romans 14:14) In our society today, this could be believers abstaining from eating meat, choosing not to watch movies to keep themselves sanctified from worldly influences, or even determining to fast on certain days. Some may also believe that they should only consider a future spouse recommended to them by the church’s Marriage Facilitators.  Our instinctive reactions to someone who holds different standards from us may be that of shock or judgment.  “Huh? You mean you make yourself do that?”  While such a response may be natural, Romans 14:1 reminds us to do what is counterintuitive and welcome the weak. This means not to despise this individual (Romans 14:3), and not to cause him or her to stumble over these matters (Romans 14:13).   In fact, from 1 Corinthians 8, we can see that welcoming someone who is weak includes being sensitive to his conscience. For instance, if we are around believers who do not eat meat, we should be considerate, not compelling them to eat meat or make condescending remarks about their beliefs.  God does not wish for us to despise or judge our brethren because it divides the body of Christ. And so, Romans 14:1 teaches us to stay away from quarrelling over opinions. It’s important to note that these are not rules strictly etched in the Bible, unlike the Ten Commandments or the teachings of salvation. Instead, these are people’s individual standards of practicing their faiths. In our opinionated society, it may be challenging to for us to meekly accept the perspectives of another. For some of us, it’s even a default practice to stand up for our opinions and immediately “correct” someone we think is wrong.  However, these believers who may not practise their faith in the same exact manner like ours answer to God, not you and me.  “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14:4)  If we make our brethren grieved by what we eat, we are no longer walking in love (Romans 14:15). And God has called us to love both God and our neighbor too (Mark 12:29-31).  At the end of the day, “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17) There are things that have little relevance to our relationship with God, such as our dietary choices, and then there are spiritual qualities that God delights in—what truly matters. 

How should Christians conduct ourselves in society?

How can we live as a living sacrifice, pleasing to God?

Some time ago, I visited one of our churches. Despite its years, the church stood as a testament to faithful care. The floors were spotless, the Bibles and hymn books arranged neatly, and the flower arrangements by the pulpit thoughtfully done. You could see that love was poured into caring for the house of God. However, one thing stood out. When service began, there were only a handful of members present. I later learned that this had been the norm for quite some time. Silence settled into the rows of empty pews, and it was a stark contrast to the full pews I was used to seeing back home. And yet, in that quiet hall, there were still those who continued to show up, worship, and care for His house with faithfulness.  I could not help but wonder what it must be like to walk our journey of faith with few companions. Or perhaps the endurance required to keep showing up week after week, worshipping in a place where silence often outweighs the singing, and the absence of others is felt more than their presence. At that moment, I realized how we oftentimes underestimate the power of support.  There are many instances where we assume our presence does not matter. We think to ourselves, “ Someone else will be there,” not realizing that our very presence might be the comfort or encouragement someone is quietly praying for.  Our care and support should shine brighter than the loneliness that quietly tries to take root. We are to be the light and salt not only to the world (Matthew 5:13–14) but also to our brethren. Let our words and presence wash away the sense of solitude, soften the weight of discouragement, and remind our brethren that they are not alone.  We must be the outstretched arms that hold one another up. When Moses’ hands grew tired while praying during Israel's battle against the Amalekites, Aaron and Hur stood beside him, one on each side. They shared his burden by holding his hands steady until sunset, and Israel emerged victorious (Exo 17:8-13).  “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” ( Prov 16:24) Let us not underestimate what a kind word, a visit, or even our quiet presence can do. Sometimes, the simplest act of support echoes the loudest in the heart of someone who is bearing their burden in silence. Perhaps one day, we may find our hearts in need of such light and encouragement as well. So do not underestimate your role of companionship. May we grow and mature into the kind of support our brethren need and be someone who can strengthen the hands that hang down and lift the hearts that are growing weary.

What have you given Him?

What does it truly mean to be chosen by God—and how can we remain in His grace amidst a world of unbelief and distraction?

At the point that he wrote Romans 10, Paul likely had a lot of people on his mind.  Some studies estimate that Paul was on his third missionary journey when he wrote Romans, addressing Christians who lived in Rome, where he hoped to visit eventually.  Being on one’s third missionary journey naturally means having gone for a first and second. Indeed, he had.  Unlike some of our church’s missionary journeys today that are limited to one country, Paul’s journeys were peppered across the region of Asia Minor. There were hence many different cities he visited, hundreds or possibly even thousands of believers whom he edified. Not only was Paul’s heart sincere towards these Christians whom he met, Paul also took significant actions for them.  Paul wrote of how he affectionately longed for the members in Philippi (Philippians 1:8-9). To the church in Thessalonica he wrote, “So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives . For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil…” (1 Thessalonians 2:8-9). Additionally, he explicitly shared that he prays for the churches in Corinth, Philippi, Colossae, Thessalonica (2 Corinthians 13:7; Philippians 1:9; Colossians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:11).  Paul knew that God had called him to be “an apostle to the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13), and he set an exemplary example for us of how to be a good shepherd for Christ.  But this was not all. Still, his heart’s desire was for even more people to know our God. In Romans 10:1, Paul writes: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.” This is fascinating, especially since Paul had tried to preach the gospel to the Jews previously but was redirected to the Gentiles by God’s hand.  He had done above and beyond what many of us may not even consider attempting with regards to preaching the gospel. And yet zeal to see the Jews saved still compelled him.  This makes me think about our congregation’s heart for evangelism. How often do we channel God’s love for humanity into the action of sharing His word? How much do we burn with desire to see souls saved? Or do we feel languid about our own salvation in the first place? For those of us who yearn to preach but feel helpless that others don’t respond well, we can have our faith renewed with Paul’s perspective. He saw the might and personal efforts of the Lord. ‘But Isaiah is very bold and says: But to Israel he says: Whether to Jew or Gentile, God makes Himself known to them. (See also Romans 1:20; Acts 17:26-27).   In God’s salvation plan, He wants to save all mankind (John 3:16).  Paul saw this unity regardless of race and ethnicity that comes through belief in the one true God, Jesus Christ. Moreover, he saw and was motivated by the blessings that would come to one who followed Christ and submitted to the righteousness of God (Romans 10:3). Do our cultural prejudices seep into our evangelical work, such that we only share the gospel with people of certain races, ethnic groups, tribal identities, or nationalities?  Have we forgotten the goodness of God, the hope of His calling, the power of God to salvation in His gospel?   In Christ, there is no distinction between the Chinese, Singaporean, Indian, Burmese, Iraqi, Austrian, Finnish, the Algonquin people, the Māori, Ghanaian… This year, where will your work of evangelism begin?

In the previous chapter, Paul declares that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ: Yet in chapter 9, out of love for his brethren, Paul expresses a willingness to be accursed and cut off from Christ for their sake: As God’s chosen people, the Israelites had received great privileges: However, in their pride, many Israelites rejected and despised God’s calling. But their rejection does not mean that the word of God has failed. Not all who are descended from Israel are truly Israel. Rather, it is those whom God has elected who are His children. Throughout the Bible, we see examples of God’s sovereign election: how Isaac was chosen instead of Ishmael (Galatians 4:22–23; Romans 9:7–9), how Jacob was called instead of Esau, the firstborn, and ultimately how God calls not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles. Some of us today may wonder: How then can we become His people and receive His mercy? Let us remember that God delights in our obedience to Him. The Bible reveals His commandments clearly: to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38), to partake in His Holy Communion (John 6:53–58), to keep the Sabbath holy (Isaiah 58:13–14), and to keep all His commandments. This list is by no means exhaustive—other important teachings include receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 8:17) and the practice of footwashing (John 13:14–15), among others. As we grow in faith, we must continue seeking His will through Scripture and be diligent in observing all that He commands. Furthermore, having become part of His people, let us remain vigilant and humble, lest we fall:

Written approximately between the late 55 and 57AD, the book of Romans is considered one of Paul’s most complete epistles in its doctrinal discussion. At the time of writing this epistle, the Christian community in Rome were confronted by external persecution from the Roman emperors and internal discords between Jewish and non-Jewish Christians. Paul was therefore eager to visit and strengthen them (Romans 1: 13-15).  Rome at Paul’s time was a major city and political center of 1 million inhabitants, where emperors and the senate resided. Its inhabitants consisted of slaves, freedmen, official Roman citizens, as well as military and political nobilities. The population was mostly polytheistic. Influenced by Greek mythology, they worshipped gods, demigods, as well as Roman emperors. Until the appearance of Judaism and Christianity, the authority tolerated most religions so long as the emperors were included in people’s worship. By 40 AD, Christianity had become a major presence in Rome. Although it was unclear how the churches first started in Roman, many believed that it began with the Jews who visited Jerusalem and brought back the gospel. Some even believed that the gospel was preached to Rome by the Jews as early as during the Pentecost.  The Christians at the time were not collected into a single congregation. They were small groups of Christ-followers that gathered in house churches to worship, such as exemplified by the mentioning of Priscilla and Aquila (Romans 16:3-5). It was also believed that the early church was mostly led by Jewish Christians. However, the Jews were banished from Rome between 49AD-54AD under the rule of Roman Emperor Claudius (1 Aug 10 BC-13 Oct 54 AD). For five years, during the banishment of Jewish Christians, non-Jewish Christians took over the church’s leadership. By the time Jewish Christians were allowed back to Rome, they found the church a different one from the one they left behind. As a result, the two groups conflicted as Jewish Christians struggled to incorporate Old Testament law into their daily Christian living, such as the practice of circumcision. Paul therefore spent a great portion of the epistle expounding on the relationship between the Jews and the non-Jews (Romans 9: 1-5, 30-32; 11: 11-16), as well as between being justified by faith and by the Mosaic law (Romans 3:22; 4: 6-12; 5: 1).  In addition to internal conflicts, Christians of Pauls’ time also confronted great persecution. Paul wrote the book of Romans during the early reigns of Emperor Nero (Dec 15, 37AD-June 9, 68AD). Despite his short reign of 14 years (54-68AD), Nero was infamous for oppressing Christians that first started with the Great Fire of Rome (18-23 July of 64AD). The fire destroyed two thirds of Rome. Many believed Nero was the masterminder who set Rome on fire in order to build a new city named after himself. However, responding to mounting political pressure, he made Christians the scapegoat. As punishment, Christians were set on fire daily as human torches to lit up Nero’s gardens. During gladiator matches, Christians were fed to lions. The oppression of Christians continued and worsened well into the reign of Emperor Diocletian (303-311AD), lasting altogether 250 years after Jesus’s death and resurrection. Christians were subject to mockery, crucifixion, decapitation, extreme torture, eaten by wild beasts at amphitheatre, and burned at the stake. John was banished to the island of Patmos, Paul was decapitated in Rome, and Peter was crucified upside down. It is then of no wonder that Paul likened Christians’ experience to that of putting on a highly theatrical entertainment, “For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men” (1 Corinthians 4: 9 and 10).  It was in these extremely inhuman circumstances, Paul repeatedly reassured the Christians in Rome, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8: 18). Despite Jesus’s physical absence, Paul comforted the believers, “…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express (Romans 8: 26). In spite of their daily hardships, Paul pinpointed that sufferings could work for rather than against those who are faithful to God, “[a]nd we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (8: 28). Paul finally ended his exhortation with a series of rhetorical questions to profess his love for Christ, “[w]ho shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?.... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8: 35 and 37).  2,000 years after the ascension of Jesus, 5 years after the outbreak of a global pandemic, the world rapidly changes more than ever. Are we still able to boldly and confidently assert, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Social media? Shifting paradigms? Information explosion? Artificial Intelligence? Financial adversity/prosperity? Health issues? Relationships? Loved ones? Wars and rumors of war? References