BETHESDA CATHEDRAL – SUNDAY SERVICE
WORD EDIFICATION (OIKOS ON 10th AUGUST 2012)
1. Prayer and Praise, Every Wed, at 8pm, Chapel.
2. Pre- Baptismal Class, Every Sun, 12pm, Classroom 3, 2nd Floor.
3. Newcomer’s Lunch, Sun, 26 Aug, 12pm, Jacob Room, 4th Floor.
Word Released
“For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3
Word Edification – Assurance of Salvation Speaker: Elder Cecil Ang
1. Disciple vs Convert. Jesus requires us to make disciples and not merely win converts.
A convert is one who changes religion based on conviction or due to external pressure.
A disciple on the other hand, is a learner or pupil who accepts and follows a given
doctrine or teacher.
a. When Jesus asked His first disciples to follow Him, He invited them to a living
relationship with Him. They had to identify with His cause which is to become
fishers of men (Matthew 4:18–22).
b. There was a cost to following Jesus as they had to forsake family and personal
ambition. Following Jesus was to be a long term commitment whereby a disciple had
to take two decisive actions: deny oneself and take up his/her cross daily (Luke
9:23b).
2. Disciples had to guard against succumbing to “occupational habits” of the flesh or risk
being excluded from God’s kingdom (Galatians 5:19–24). Disciples are expected to:
a. Abide in the Word (John 8:31).
b. Know their Purpose, which is to conform to Jesus’ image (Romans 8:29).
c. Follow in Jesus’ Footsteps, achieving victories and undergoing sufferings just as He
did (Jn 14:12; 1Peter 2:21-22).
3. Who is a Disciple? He is a person who is:
a. Committed to a living relationship with Jesus.
b. Renounces the self-life.
c. Carries his/her cross daily.
d. Abides in God’s word.
e. Exemplifies the Christ-life.
4. Salvation in the early Church. In the early church, people received salvation through
repentance, faith in Christ and water baptism. These 3 actions were acted on by the new
believer on conversion (Acts 2:38, Acts 16:31-33, Acts 10:44-48). Today, we say the
sinner’s prayer as a symbolic act of faith in Jesus. Through the prayer, we confess not just
our sins, but also acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Saviour. There is thus a deliberate
declaration of the new believer’s transfer of allegiance to Jesus. From this confession of
faith, the new believer is then disciple (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:36 -38).
5. Believers’ Assurance of Salvation. Peter explained that the main indicator of salvation
is in the life of the new believer. He should possess the qualities listed in 2 Peter 1:5-7 in
increasing measure. We can summarise the assurance of salvation into 3 key points:
a. The Holy Spirit is the key to salvation. We need to receive the Holy Spirit when we
believe in Christ. His inner promptings lead and guide us and His inner witness
assures us that we are God’s children (Acts 19:2, Romans 8:14, 16).
b. The Word of God provides us with written promises that we are adopted as God’s
children (John 1:12) and there is forgiveness of our sins when we sin against God
(1John 1:9).
c. Living a Transformed Life. With the Holy Spirit in us, we go on to live transformed
lives (Luke 19:8-9). As we co-operate with the Holy Spirit in obedience to God, we
will grow and mature into Christ-likeness. This walk with the Holy Spirit enables us
to counter false teachings in how we conduct our lives (2Peter 2:19).
6. Peter’s Ladder of Virtues for the disciple may be summarized as follows:
a. Faith as the basis of our salvation (Ephesians 2:8);
b. Goodness through the activation of our faith (James 2:20);
c. Knowledge to build our faith (Hosea 4:6);
d. Self-control allowing us to overcome trials and temptations (Galatians 5:22);
e. Perseverance to overcome trials and temptations for the long haul (Hebrews 10:36);
f. Mutual affection to fulfill the great commandment (Matthew 22:39);
g. Agape love, the manifestation of the highest expression of true discipleship (John
13:35).
Application.
1. How do you know you are saved? Share your thoughts with the group.
2. What would you need to do to be a good disciple?
3. An exemplary walk is important to disciple new converts. What must we do to walk the
exemplary walk?