My dear readers, 

(Extracts from RPG Workbook Vol II No. 12, December 1989, edited by Dr SH Tow)

1. REDEEMED FROM YOUR VAIN CONVERSATION (1 PETER 1:18-25; EPHESIANS 4:17-32)

The Apostle here presents a final and most compelling argument why believers should live a holy life in the fear of God: because we were not redeemed with corruptible things from the bondage of our former sinful lifestyle “received by tradition from our fathers” (1 Pet 1:18b). Rather we were redeemed (i.e. bought back), ransomed - with a heavy price paid by the Father, even the precious blood of His only begotten Son. Nothing but the blood of the sinless Lamb of God could redeem us.

Now consider this: Jesus our Saviour shed His blood not merely to redeem us from the eternal misery of hell to come, but also from the degrading practice of a “vain conversation” (1 Pet 1:18) in this present world. Christians must no longer continue in those offensive, soul-crippling activities “received by tradition from your fathers” (1 Pet 1:18b). Traditions die hard! But in Christ, we have a way out. Paul the Apostle’s own experience gives hope to all Christians:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20). The true Christian has yielded up his old sinful self to be “crucified with Christ”, put to death. If so, sin shall not - must not - have dominion over him. Henceforth we should not serve sin, but be servants of righteousness.

In our new life in Christ, let us reflect His beauty and loveliness in our dealings one with another. “Seeing ye have purified your souls ... see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Pet 1:22). Our Lord who paid the price for our redemption says to us, “That ye love one another; as I have loved you ... By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (Jn 13:34,35). This means also that we ought to pray for one another, and to forgive one another, “even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph 4:32). Let the redeemed live to the glory of their Redeemer.

THOUGHT: “Forgiven, be forgiving.”
PRAYER: Lord, thank You for Your redeeming love.

2. NEWBORN BABES (1 PETER 2:1-3; JOHN 3:1-7)

God has no spiritual grandchildren, only sons and daughters. A person does not become a Christian by being born of Christian parents. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (Jn 1:12,13). Neither does a person become a Christian by any personal merit. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).

Every Christian starts his Christian life as a “newborn babe” (1 Pet 2:1-2a). As infants and children in Christ we ought to conduct ourselves with child-like simplicity and innocence, “laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes...” This quality must be evident in the true believer. Ponder our Lord’s teaching: “ …Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 18:3). Then, consider the words of the Apostle Paul: “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men” (1 Cor 14:20).

Then, there must be the love for God’s Word. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby”(1 Pet 2:2).  Every newborn babe loves milk: no coaxing or persuasion is needed. With regular feeding, the child grows and matures. But many Christians fail to grow and mature because they have not been feeding on the “pure milk of the Word.” A Christian of 20 years’ standing may in fact be a spiritual infant or a dwarf, all because he has not desired the sincere milk of the Word. Such a person is a discredit to the Name of God and a reflection on the spiritual nurturing he has received. He desperately needs the Holy Spirit’s instruction, so that he will not always remain a newborn babe.

CHECK ON YOURSELF:  Am I still a newborn babe?

3. A LIVING STONE ( 1 PETER 2:1-8; DANIEL 2:31-35)

Writing of the Messiah, 700 years before His birth, the prophet Isaiah said, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief ...” (Isa 53:3a). “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (Jn 1:10,11). In His own country, his own folks were offended in Him, saying: “Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?” (Matt 13:55; 57). Sadly, the very people Jesus came to save rejected Him and crucified Him.

But, “ The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner” (Ps 118:22), “... a precious corner stone, a sure foundation ...” (Isa 28:16). On this Stone refused by the Jews is built the Christian Church: Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone, the sure foundation, and we the believers the superstructure. “LIVING STONE” is a metaphorical description of our Lord Jesus Christ. It denotes the vital everlasting power of our ever-living Head.

See then the Church as the LIVING TEMPLE OF GOD not made of lifeless “brick and mortar,” but of “LIVING STONES” meaning the whole BODY OF BELIEVERS together making a SPIRITUAL HOUSE built upon JESUS CHRIST our LIVING HEAD. Now if Christ is the Chief Corner Stone and our sure foundation, the question arises, what will you do with Him? Believe or reject is a choice you have to make. To the believer He is precious; to the unbeliever He is a stone of stumbling, a rock of offence. Our Lord says, “And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Matt 21:44).

QUESTION: Do you have Jesus as the “Rock of your Salvation?

God bless you dear readers.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,
Dr SH Tow, Founding Pastor