Dearly Beloved,

The fact that Christianity is very different from other religions lies in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The eyewitnesses’ accounts of the Apostles are overwhelming evidence to the resurrection of Christ. However, some in the Corinthian Church were doubtful about the Lord’s resurrection.  And to such, Paul would give them the scenario of what a life of gloom and misery is, if Christ had not been resurrected. We are not just referring to Corinthian Church but we in Tabernacle would be in a sad state if Jesus had not been resurrected.  And Paul would give us the assumptions of what would be true, if there was no resurrection. If there had been no resurrection of Christ, then we would have :

1) No Foundation. 1 Corinthians 15:13, “But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen.” If Christ had not risen, everything which we believe in the Bible is no better than another religion that offers no hope to men.

2) Our preaching and faith is vain. 1 Corinthians 15:14, “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain and your faith is also vain.” If Christ had not risen, all preachers from the Apostles to the least of preachers would have wasted their words and time. Our faith in vain would mean our prayers, reading and listening of God’s word, serving and witnessing would be a waste of time.

3) We are false witnesses. 1 Corinthians 15:15, “Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.” We are false witnesses to intimate that whatever we testify, preach and witness in the name of Christ is next to nothing but falsehood.

4) No forgiveness.1 Corinthians 15:17, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” ‘If Christ had not risen’ means that we are still lost and heading to hell.

5) We lived our lives in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:18-19, “Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” If Christ had not risen, everyone including our loved ones who have died in Christ are lost forever.

Dearly beloved, the above negative assumptions are changed to a positive promise in verse 20, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” Because Christ lives, we live. Because He lives, we have everlasting life. Because He lives, life is worth the living.

Elder Douglas Ho

Reaffirmation of Faith
Matthew Teng Jing Xun
Javan Koh Wei Shen

Testimony of brother Matthew Teng Jing Xun

Since young I was brought to a children Christian meeting by aunty Ai Boon.  She taught us bible stories. We had quizzes and we could win ‘monopoly money’, this was to encourage us. So at the end of the year we had our “prize money”, the monopoly money to redeem prizes. My mother also came with me so she knew a little about it. However, once Aunty Ai Boon stop teaching, my mother look for churches in Bedok area as we lived in Bedok.

In year 2006, at Bedok interchange, we received a tract from sister Limei and she invited us to Tabernacle BP Church’s Vacation Bible School (VBS). I went to the VBS together with my mother and my younger brother James. I was 6 years old at that time, and since then our family began attending Tabernacle BP Church.

In the Christmas of year 2006, I received child baptism during the baptismal service. I vaguely remembered that Uncle John or someone who led me in saying the sinners’ Prayer. Thank God for salvation rich and free, and thank God for keeping me in the faith all these years.

I am 13 years old now, I pray that I can continue to grow in the Lord and serve in Tabernacle BP Church.

Testimony of brother Javan Koh Wei Shen

I first prayed the sinner’s prayer when I was about 6 years old. It was at a children’s camp. That was where my brother first prayed the sinner’s prayer too. I still remember it was aunty Dorcas that prayed the sinner’s prayer with him. I also went up to her and asked her to pray the sinner’s prayer with me. She gladly agreed. However, I continued to live like a non-Christian. I dreaded going to church and I only went because I had to go with my parents. It was only about 2 or 3 years ago when I went to a children’s camp where sister Sharon Phoon preached. It was there when the LORD told me it was time to start living a Christian life. It was there that I truly believed and not at the children’s camp when I was 6 as I did not truly believe in Jesus then. Since then, I have continued to grow in the LORD. Sometimes we do not see the change and we become disheartened and question our faith, but we must remember if we have been saved we are always God’s children. God will definitely change us for the better if we have truly believed; it just depends on how long the change takes.