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The Grace of Being Forgiven

Without this grace from God, life is meaningless.

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“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, W

Whose sin is covered.

Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity…”

(Psalm 32:1-2a)

When was the last time you felt the grace of being forgiven by someone? 

Perhaps it was a word spoken hastily; a moment’s burst of anger; an unintended wounding of someone’s feelings; the near loss of a relationship… and yet, the person graciously chose to forgive you, while giving you another chance to be a better friend or family member. And just like that, your relationship was saved.    

Such is our relationship with God – because of our sins, we lost our connection with God, until He chose to forgive us. How? By Jesus’ propitiation with His blood, which washes away our sins during our baptism (Rom 3:23-25). Moreover, Jesus chose to die for us while we were still ungodly sinners who did not acknowledge Him (Rom 5:6, 8). So, it is by God’s grace that we have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph 2:8). 

As we recall God’s salvation grace, let us ponder: When was the last time we felt the grace of being forgiven by God?

Perhaps before believing in Jesus or receiving the Holy Spirit, we doubted God’s existence, power and goodness; we were steeped in our anxieties, sorrows, and worldly pleasures; we were uncertain, or in denial, about where we were heading after death… yet now, God has graciously called you back to Him, and has replaced your heart of stone with a heart of flesh that can be moulded by His words and Spirit. Although we nearly rejected God’s salvation grace to our eternal detriment, because of God’s faithfulness despite our faithlessness (2 Tim 2:13), we are now saved and enjoy peace with God through Jesus Christ (Rom 5:1).

Can you imagine your life if you were never forgiven by God? 

Romans 6:23 spells it out clearly: the wages of sin are death.  

And for believers who sin willfully until they can no longer be forgiven by God, the author of Hebrews 10:26-27 describes their life as such:

“… a certain fearful expectation of judgement, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.”

Without God’s forgiveness, everything in life is meaningless. 

What is the point of having a beautiful house, a beautiful family, a great career and great health, if you can only spend your life fearing the punishment of God that awaits you after death? How can such a life be considered ‘blissful’? 

As Jesus has said: “What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mt 16:26)  

Therefore, while we are alive, let us always treasure the grace of being forgiven by God. 

Every day we get to wake up in the morning, every prayer we get to utter in the Spirit, every church service we get to attend – these are God’s extra chances for us to come to our spiritual senses, repent of our sins, and be a better Christian for Him. 

Every day of our busy lives, never forget to stop and survey the wondrous cross, and remind ourselves: I am forgiven; now I owe Him a debt of love. 🩸 

See Also

Should We Conduct Infant Baptism?

Should We Conduct Infant Baptism?

Some argue that as infants are unable to believe, they should not be baptised. They quote the incident of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, where Philip told him that if he believed with all his heart, he could get baptised (Acts 8:36-37). However, the True Jesus Church believes that we should, in fact, conduct infant baptism! While it is true that water baptism is an act of faith, it is more than just a confession of one’s faith, but also carries with it important spiritual implications. Let us look at it from a few angles. Firstly, water baptism is necessary for salvation. We can see this from Jesus’ command to the disciples to preach the gospel and baptise people. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16 NKJV Some argue that it is the faith that saves and not baptism. However, in 1 Pet 3:21, Peter mentions explicitly that baptism saves! “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” I Peter 3:21 NKJV Baptism saves, because through it we now have a good conscience before God. That means our sins are forgiven! And this is corroborated by Acts 2:38 and Acts 22:16. “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 NKJV “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’” Acts 22:16 NKJV From these verses, we can see that water baptism is necessary for salvation, because our sins are washed away through baptism. The Bible tell us that death came into the world through the sin of Adam. And death spread to all man, because all sinned! Death is a result of sin, and all are condemned because of Adam’s offence. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—” Romans 5:12 NKJV “And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.” Romans 5:16 NKJV All humans, from the point of their birth, are subject to death. That is a reflection of the sin that is in us. We are, by default, because of Adam’s sin, sinners as well, and subject to eternal condemnation. That means that if an infant dies, he/she will also be condemned eternally! As such, water baptism should also be conducted for infants for the remission of their sins. Infants also need salvation! Secondly, it is through baptism that we become part of the body of Christ. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” I Corinthians 12:13 NKJV “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” I Corinthians 12:27 NKJV Paul also links the idea of the body of Christ to salvation, saying that Jesus Christ has reconciled both Jews and Greek, in one body, to God. “and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” Ephesians 2:16 NKJV Without baptism, infants are not part of this body of Christ that is reconciled to God. How then, can they be saved without baptism? Thirdly, baptism in the new testament, is likened to circumcision in the old testament. “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Colossians 2:11-12 NKJV Interestingly, circumcision was also a requirement to be considered a part of God’s people! Even foreigners who want to be included as God’s people, and keep the Passover, also have to be circumcised. “And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”” Genesis 17:14 NKJV “And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it.” Exodus 12:48 NKJV We can see from the above verses that circumcision was very important, and was a requirement to be the people of God. But, what was the significance behind the action? Was it just a physical act, or a work of the law? “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.” Romans 4:11-12 NKJV Paul explains that circumcision was a sign given to Abraham of his righteousness, as a result of his faith in God! And that he might be a father of faith, to those who believe (but are uncircumcised), and those who are not only circumcised, but walk in faith! That is to say, circumcision is actually a sign that one is a descendant of Abraham, the father of faith, and likewise walks in faith in God. When then is circumcision performed on the Israelites? When they are merely 8 days old! “He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant.” Genesis 17:12 NKJV Even though it is a sign of faith, we can see that God commanded the Israelites to be circumcised when they were only eight days old, an age where it is basically impossible for these neonates to show any signs of faith. God wants these children to be part of His people as early as possible! Since baptism is likened to circumcision in various ways, namely an act required to be part of God’s people, and also a sign of faith in God, why should infants be denied baptism, the way of entry into the body of Christ, simply because they are too young to confess their faith? The Bible places an importance on parental faith. In the case of the Philippian jailer, by his faith, his whole household was saved. That would have included his children as well. “So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.” Acts 16:31-33 NKJV We can also see how Jesus saved the children of the nobleman and the Canaanite woman, because they both had faith in Jesus. “The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.” John 4:49-50 NKJV “Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” Matthew 15:28 NKJV The Bible also tell us that it is the parent’s responsibility to train up children in fearing God. “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 NKJV “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 NKJV Therefore, children of believers, who are not old enough to understand the concept of faith, should still be baptised, if their parents have faith. In fact, they need to be baptised to be part of the body of Christ and to have their sins forgiven! The responsibility of teaching them how to fear God and walk in faith thereafter, lies with their parents. In conclusion, let us remember that Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God (Mk 10:13-16).” Let us not deny these children from being a part of His body and salvation.

Back To Basics

Back To Basics

Anyone starting university will immediately appreciate the increase in autonomy and independence. For any university student, it may be tempting to join in hall activities and university societies, to pursue even greater academic heights like joining competitions, or to start building up a portfolio for our careers. If throughout our academic journeys we have always felt overshadowed, university may seem like the time to finally shine and show our worth. Moreover, a common feature of the “university experience” is being able to live alone away from home, regardless of whether you study abroad or locally in Singapore. The newfound independence and freedom can be both intimidating and exciting. If we are serious about our faith, we must consider how to ensure our time in university is something beneficial to our faith. Too many youths have lost their faith whilst in university. As Christians, we have a higher purpose and calling in this life. We have been empowered to transcend all the frenzy and chaos our peers may find themselves in. With a larger portion of your time under your control, the question is, how should we best use it? As we continue to further our education, many classes often start with a "Back to Basics" introduction, going through and reviewing some of the key concepts that one needs to know to be able to understand the subsequent lessons fully. Likewise, in our faith, it's often helpful to return to the basics and grow in these things. With the increased independence and freedom, many are caught up with the allures of university life and drift away in their faith. And quite a key deciding factor on whether we grow or drift is our daily cultivation routine. How much time do we spend each day in prayer? Practical tip number 1: Even amidst the busy university term, you must fight the temptation of setting a limit on your cultivation time. Don't just pray for 15 minutes because that is your habit. When your alarm rings, if you feel like you are having a good conversation with God, keep going! If you realise you've been distracted the whole prayer, quieten your heart, resolve to focus, and try again. And if you've been praying for 15 minutes for the past year, why not make it 20 minutes? And if 20 minutes is your current routine, why not work towards 30 minutes? Just as we go through university hoping to grow in knowledge and skills, as Christians we must also strive to grow in our prayers. The independence and flexibility of university life greatly aid and enable us to grow in our daily cultivation. (And if you aren't already using a timer to ensure you pray for a minimum amount of time, I highly recommend using one) Practical number 2: To set your prayer life in order, you must set the rest of your life in order. If we are often out late having supper, if we always return home late, we will struggle to find time to pray before we sleep. If we are doom scrolling on social media past midnight, when it’s time to pray, we will be tired and just say a short and quick prayer. And because we sleep late, we wake up late in the morning and say a hurried prayer (if any) before rushing to start our day. It’s called “life of prayer” for a reason - if we are serious about our prayer life, we must be willing to adjust the rest of our life around our cultivation habits. We must esteem our daily cultivation time and do our best to protect it. Practical tip number 3: On top of our routine prayers, make spontaneous and unscheduled prayers. Don't limit yourself to a fixed routine of "X minutes in the morning" and "X minutes before bed". Bow the knee whenever you're stressed with deadlines. Call out to God whenever you're feeling stuck with your work. Pray while you prepare for church work. God is faithful, and if we put in the effort to seek after Him each day, we will surely find Him. A sister from the UK testified how she would pray for a total of two hours through the day whilst living alone during her difficult university days. It got to a point where prayers were the highlight and joy of her day. And though those days were decades ago, her encounters with God back then still play an important part in her journey of faith even today. She actively serves in church and still runs around actively attending various church events despite no longer being so "young". A brother from the US did something similar, and he shared how each day when he returned to his college dormitory, it was as though God was waiting for him there because he had spent much quality alone time with God on his knees in his room. His relationship with God was something so real and living. He could clearly feel the presence of God in his life. University life isn't easy. Living alone, whilst liberating, can also be lonely and sobering. You will face new challenges that you may have never faced before. You will face even greater lows in your academic journey. But it is precisely these times when we learn to turn to God and pour out our hearts to Him in prayer. When we are alone in the dormitory, when it feels like no one around us understands or has time for us, God allows us to gain a slightly deeper understanding of what Psalm 46:1 says, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (You see, many of the teachings we've learnt from RE since young, about God being our refuge, about praying and entrusting to God, about God's love towards us... these are lessons we continue to learn for the rest of our lives. Time and time again, God teaches us these same lessons, but each time, we have a slightly deeper appreciation for His precious words. This precisely is what it means to grow as a Christian, to grow in our relationship with God and His words.) Unlike everything else from university that will end one day, your relationship with God is eternal . And all your encounters with God during your university days will become your own personal testimony and experience which no one can take away from you. We see this in Job chapter 2. Everything can be taken away from you, but no one can ever take God away from you. Most of the above can also be said of our Bible reading. How much time do we spend on the Word of God? You will have to do a lot of reading in university, be it papers or textbooks. We probably have experienced times where we dedicate hours trying to read and understand something, but still glean nothing out of it. The Bible is different. Unlike all other books, Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the word of God is living. The Bible is the only text in the whole world that is living. What does it mean for it to be "living"? Imagine each time we read the Bible, God is before us, feeding us with His teachings! After all, man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord, and His words truly are spirit and life. Essentially, this means that whenever we quiet our hearts and put in the effort to read the Bible, we will always gain something and be edified. And this is even more so for those of us who have the Spirit of truth dwelling in us! This assurance that no time spent reading the Bible will ever be spent in vain (unlike that extra hour you might try to spend on your assignment) should naturally motivate us to spend more time reading His word. Practical tip number 1: Don't stop reading until you are edified. Just like for prayer, it's helpful to train ourselves not to set a "limit" on our daily Bible reading (e.g. one chapter or 15 minutes) but rather to read until we are edified. Perhaps initially, we are a little distracted, but we need to muster up that resolve and determination to read through the passage and meditate on His words slowly. And just like how when we are full we will naturally know to stop eating, when we are edified from the word of God and have received our daily spiritual bread, we will know when we have read enough for the day. It's a hard feeling to explain, but a very spiritually satisfying one. And as shared above, all of us can experience this spiritual satisfaction each day. Practical tip number 2: Do not treat church work (e.g., preparing RE) as a substitute for your daily Bible reading. As university youths, chances are we are taking on more church work, be it as an RE teacher or in leading fellowships. However, church work is not an excuse to slack in our Bible reading. In fact, being diligent in our daily Bible reading is often what makes it easier to prepare for our church duties. By storing up the word of God in our hearts and actively meditating on His words, we have more to draw from when preparing for fellowships or lessons. On top of reading His words (emphasis: "on top of"), listening to sermons is worthy of our pursuit. One of the biggest blessings from the pandemic is the plethora of sermons on YouTube that we can listen to. Many of our peers in church do actively listen to sermons as part of their daily routine, and they can all testify of how much it has benefitted their spiritual lives. Living alone greatly enables this. While we head out to buy groceries, cook in the kitchen, eat our meals, do the laundry, why not listen to a sermon? The flexibility that comes with university life makes it the best time to grow in our service and fellowship attendance. By God's grace, the church provides us with many services and fellowships for us to attend. While attending all of them may seem like a tall order, we should be constantly pursuing to attend more. And as we become more present in the church, naturally, there'll be more church works for us to begin serving in. While studying in university, many youths grow to be actively involved in church. Practical tip number 1: It takes faith to make time to do church stuff Some may quote Luke 14:25-33 to say that we should carefully plan our time and say "no" to church services or church work if needed. And yes, that is true, but often, the problem is that we are too quick to turn down. For the record, the start and end of that passage in Luke 14 talk about the necessity of bearing our cross and forsaking all that we have to become Jesus' disciples! We must remember that we walk by faith and not by sight. If we only agree to church works when they can clearly fit into our schedule, then perhaps we will only be walking by sight. Walking by faith means saying "yes" to church work even if we do not know how our schedule will work out, but we still say "yes" because we know that serving God is the purpose of our lives. And by faith, we know that somehow, God will provide. By faith, we know God will give us the gifts we need to do His work. By faith, we know that God will guide us to finish all our deadlines on time and to get the grades we need for whatever path He wants to lead us on. Yes, there will be times when we feel overloaded and overwhelmed, but these are all good opportunities for us to once again pray to God and reflect on our purpose and direction in our lives, to once again remember the great love and grace of Jesus towards us, shown to us by His death for us on the cross. Remember, God will never shortchange you for the time that you offer up to Him. And more often than not, what we need to sacrifice to make time for church activities and church work is not the time for our studies, but our leisure time. Is it really the case that we have no time to take on additional church things, if we spend hours doom scrolling on social media each night? Practical tip number 2: Use our hobbies and interests to serve God. If you like writing, why not write articles and devotionals for the church? If you enjoy filming and video editing, the internet ministry welcomes you with open arms. If music is your thing, you can consider writing hymns (especially hymns for children, hymns based on Bible passages, hymns based on our basic beliefs, etc.). If planning activities give you satisfaction, why not help to plan activities for the RE students? If you have an eye for design, the church greatly needs you. Our gifts and talents all come from God, and the most satisfying way to use our gifts is to use them to serve and benefit the house of God. As we navigate university and are exposed to more allures of the world, it is always good to return to the basics. Though we always hear these things while growing up in church, each time we transition into a new phase in our lives, our resolve to hold fast to these "basics" are challenged. Yet, each transition into a new phase is also an opportunity to renew our conviction and grow in these fundamental aspects of our faith. In particular, university life gives you much more freedom and independence, possibly more than ever. Many end up getting really involved in campus life, taking on many extracurricular activities, building up a portfolio, and crafting their dream lives. And with whatever time we have left, we often would want to have time for ourselves, to have "alone time", time to unwind and relax. To be clear, I don't want to present a false choice here: you still can do all those aforementioned things. But as you pursue those things, there will be times when you experience the vanity that's described in Ecclesiastes. In these moments, readjust and realign yourself. We can lead a more meaningful life beyond just chasing after things in this world. And our leisure time, alone time, self-care time, etc., does not need to be mutually exclusive from faith time, church time, and God time. Make God a bigger part of your life. Pray more, read the Bible more, be more present and active in church. God wants to give you a life where you can experience His true joy and peace. You'll find that, indeed, there's none but Christ that can completely satisfy.

Who Are We

We're the True Jesus Church, a global, non-denominational church built upon the teachings of Jesus and His apostles. Founded by the Holy Spirit, our mission is to spread the complete gospel of salvation to the ends of the earth.

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