O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

THE UGLY SIDE OF CHRISTMAS

Most people, when they think of Christmas, think of the heart-warming Christmas carols, Christmas trees decorated with beautiful lights and ornaments, beautifully wrapped gifts, sumptuous food, merry-making and laughter.

However, there is an ugly side to Christmas and that is sin.

Sin Entered the World

Sin entered this world when our first parents, Adam and Eve, tempted by Satan, disobeyed God to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The action was one of defiance and willful rebellion against God’s explicit command that they are not to eat the fruit lest they surely die (Genesis 2:17; 3:6). This death is not just a physical death but also a spiritual death which is an eternal separation from God. Mankind will perish and be condemned forever by Him (John 3:16, 18).

The Effects of Sin

From the Garden of Eden till today, man continues to sin. Man is born in sin (Psalm 51:5). It is therefore not a surprise that man “loved darkness rather (to a greater degree) than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

To sin is to transgress God’s laws. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4).  When we sin, we are breaking the moral laws of God and practising lawlessness. In addition, sin is an attitude of defiance against God and His commands. Committing sin is like striking against God’s face.  It is defiantly telling God, “I will do what I will do, I do not care what Your claims are or who You are.” David depicts the wicked as such in Psalm 12:4, “Who have said, with our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?”

Furthermore, sinning against God is showing ingratitude before Him. In spite of God literally surrounding us sinners with His providential care (Matthew 5:45), we continue in sin. We are not thankful for His love, mercies and grace upon us. The apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 3:1,2, stated that in the last days perilous times shall come and men shall be unthankful.

Sin affects the whole human race. Romans 3:23 declares, “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God…For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10, 11, 23 cf. 5:12). Thus, “the fall (disobedience of Adam and Eve) brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery (WSC Q17). We are in misery because we are alienated from God, spiritually dead in our sin, under bondage to Satan and the very object of God’s wrath (see Ephesians 2:3).

Therefore, sin is the ugly side of Christmas. As John MacArthur puts it, “it stands behind the scene and is the reason the Saviour came.” The reason is found in the first gospel, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

The Beauty of Christmas

It is from the ugly side of Christmas that we are able to appreciate the beauty of Christmas. Jesus came to save and deliver us out of our estate of sin and misery. Paul declared, “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:21).

Jesus is the reason for the beauty of Christmas. God’s promise to Adam and Eve at the Garden of Eden was fulfilled in Jesus’ incarnation (Genesis 3:15). He saved us from the penalty of sin by justifying us. We are forgiven and washed of our sins by His precious blood that was shed on the cross. We are declared righteous and pardoned before God (Romans 5:1; 8:1).

Moreover, He sanctifies us through His Word that we may be conformed to His image by His grace and power working in us. We are responsible to present ourselves a living sacrifice to Him by growing in Him and progressing in our faith in Him (Romans 6:19). Finally, He glorifies us when we die, and we pass from the earth to the heavenly shore because Jesus is alive. Death and the grave have no more sting and victory over us because of Him (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

George Whitefield (1714-1770) a revivalist, instrumental in the Great Awakening in America said, “It was free love that brought the Lord Jesus Christ into our world. What shall we not remember the birth of our Jesus? Shall we yearly celebrate the birth of our temporal king, and shall that of the King of kings be quite forgotten?...God forbid! No, my dear brethren, let us celebrate and keep this festival of our church with joy in our hearts: let the birth of a Redeemer, which redeemed us from sin, from wrath, from death, from hell, be always remembered; may this Savior’s love never be forgotten!”

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! May you take this opportunity to share with your loved ones and even strangers the good news of salvation that Jesus is the reason for the season.

– Rev Quek KK

Appointments for the Week

Monday to Friday, Dec 18 to 22

                         YF Camp

Tuesday, Dec 19

        8.00 pm     Prayer Meeting (Shawn Lim)

Thursday, Dec 21

      10.00 am     Ladies’ Prayer Group

Saturday, Dec 23

        3.00 pm     LTF / YLM

Sunday, Dec 24

  9.00 am     Combined Bilingual Christmas Service:The Birth of Christ Foretold Isaiah 9:6,7 (Rev Charles Seet)

10.30 am     Coffee Corner

  2.30 pm Thai Service (LMH)

  4.00 pm Indonesian Service (Rm 1-6)

  8.00 pm Christmas Eve Service: A Gracious Promise Fulfilled Genesis 3:15 (Bro Mok Chee Cheong)

Announcements

24 Dec (9am)
Combined Bilingual Christmas Svc: The Birth of Christ Foretold (Isaiah 9:6,7) by Rev Charles Seet

24 Dec (8pm)
Christmas Eve Svc: A Gracious Promise Fulfilled (Genesis 3:15) by Bro Mok Chee Cheong

Note:

The offering for the Christmas Eve Service at 8:00pm is designated for the poor,  needy and underprivileged. Any online offerings made for this purpose should indicate "Christmas Eve Offering" in the remarks/reference.

31 Dec (10.45pm)
Watchnight Svc: Behold, I Make All Things New! (Revelation 21:1-5; 2 Corinthians 5:17) by Rev Charles Seet

* * * 

Parking Arrangements and Shuttle Service on 24th Dec 2023

For the Combined service on Dec 24 at 9am and 8pm, we will fully utilise both Sanctuary and Beulah House carparks.
Please also note that parking is allowed along single yellow lines on Sunday and public holidays along Gilstead and Buckley Roads.
For 9am combined service, there will be coffee corner after service. Please note:

- Main sanctuary parking for those staying for coffee corner
- ⁠Beulah house for those not staying for coffee corner.
Appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation and we will do our best to accommodate everyone’s needs.

Mailbox Club Bible Correspondence Course (MBCC)

Another Church Outreach Ministry invites Lifers to register their young children, teens, or grandchildren with our MBCC. Those whose loved ones, friends or colleagues who are either young in their faith or being non-believers, are interested to know and explore more of Christianity, are also invited to register with us by filling in the registration forms which are now available at the Church front counter and post them to:

Life B-P Church

No.10, Gilstead Road

Singapore 309064

Attention: Mrs Ong Chuay Ying

Traffic Wardens

Lifers are invited to serve our Lord as Traffic Wardens on Sunday. Kindly contact Dn Choong or Bro Kelvin if you are available.

Registration for 2024 Pre-Nursery Sunday School Class

is now open for children aged 18 months to 3 years old. Parents who wish to enrol their children, please email Ling Ling 

ERBL Evening Lectures

Two evening lectures offered from January-May 2024:

1) Old Testament Prophetic Books by Rev Charles Seet (Monday @ 7.30pm)

2) Bible Geography by Ms Lilian Lee (Thursday @ 7.30pm)

It will be conducted on-site at No. 10 Gilstead Road. It is compulsory for all Credit Students to attend lectures on-site and Audit Students can either attend lectures via Zoom platform or on-site. Interested parties can register for the courses online at https://www.lifebpc.com/erbl/

Deadline for registration: 1st January 2024.

Thanksgivings

(1) Sis Elsie would like to thank Lifers for their condolences and support to her and her family during the homegoing of her mum. 

(2) The family of sis Lorene and Shirleen would like to thank church members who attended the wake and funeral of their father and grandfather, Mr Chee S K (93 years old), who passed away on 10 Dec 2023.

Condolence

Our condolences to bro Victor and family on the homegoing of his mother, Mdm Lee SC (87 years old), on 15 Dec 2023.

Seminar: fAIth in AI?

Date: Saturday, 30 Dec 2023

Time: 10.00am to 12.30pm

Venue: Calvary B-P Church

Speakers: Rev Ho Chee Lai, Rev Isaac Ong

Registration closes on 25 Dec 2023. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcr06nknRhFDhdRHJ8EnmPR8-EFULD0p1V34FTkW-ZBqQnWw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Young Lifers Ministry 2nd Anniversary

Date: 31 Dec 2023

Time: 7pm

Venue: Beulah MPH

Speaker: Eld Michael Ong

Sign up at: tinyurl.com/ylm2ndanni

Ladies’ Fellowship

Invites all ladies to join us in our new series based on the book of Genesis. “Building our trust in a faithful God”

Date: 27/1/2024, 24/2/2024, 23/3/2024

Time: 3.30pm

Venue: Beulah House Rm 1-6

Speaker: Sis Chin Wai Peng

Please contact Sis Sally for more information or if you are interested.

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