Pastoral Letter 12 Mar 2023

My dear readers,


Answering Remaining Questions from Calvary Pandan Church Camp 2022 (6)

Question 1: Reference Jude 1:16. Sometimes others may put this instead of complain as giving feedback. Eg. Instead of complaining or giving feedback to the boss that the driver does not know the way. Biblically what is the best intent to inform the boss?

Answer 1: Jude 1:15-16: “To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.”

Jude 1:15-16 describes complainers against Christ. These complainers are false teachers, false preachers, false Christians and all who misrepresent Christ in word and in deed. The example cited in this question is about daily work life issues that need to be addressed to have a more efficient business. Pray for the right words, the right time and the right place to speak to the right people about these work issues. Murmuring and complaining about it will not get any work done and will not improve the conditions of the work place.

Question 2: In Matthew 11:21-22, the cities Chorazin and Bethsaida seem to be given more severe judgment as compared to Tyre and Sidon. Do these two verses imply that there will be differences in punishment in God’s judgment? If yes, does this mean that there will be different sections in the lake of fire since there will be different punishment?

Answer 2: Matthew 11:20-22: “Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.”

John Gill rightly commented on this incident in his exposition of the whole Bible: “Their punishment in another world will be more mild and moderate; they will not have such severe stings of conscience, nor have reason to make such bitter reflections on themselves, as those will who have had the advantages of a Gospel revelation: all sins are not alike, nor will the punishment of them be the same; there will be degrees of torments in hell, and which the justice of God requires. These words suppose, that the men of Tyre and Sidon will be punished for their many abominable sins, committed against the law and light of nature; but that the inhabitants of Chorazin and Bethsaida, having rejected the Messiah, and the doctrines of the Gospel, against all the evidence of miracles, and convictions of their own minds, and probably sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost; as their sins are aggravated, their condemnation will be the greater, and their punishment the more intolerable.” This observation of John Gill is supported by Revelation 19:20-21 that states clearly that the Antichrist and the false Prophet will be cast into the Lake of Fire in their mortal flesh to suffer forever. “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”

Whether the greater severity of punishment means that the Lake of Fire will be segmented into different levels of punishment is not stated. However, the sinner who endures the suffering in the Lake of Fire will experience greater pain. This means that those who have been attending conservative churches and have heard the gospel and tasted the truth of God but reject them all and do not believe in Christ as their Lord and Saviour will also be judged more severely compared to those who have not heard of the gospel. Does this mean that we ought not to attend sound and fundamental churches? Of course not! It means that we thank God for bringing us to a sound church to hear God’s Truth and that we need to believe and not reject, knowing it is a privilege to be brought to the entrance of heaven by the gospel. We need to take the step of faith and enter in!

Question 3: If a family member from a Charismatic church gives thanks for a meal, is it in vain for us? Should we quietly give thanks on our own, and avoid a confrontation?

Answer 3: Whenever a prayer is said (whether by a Charismatic or a fundamentalist), the other believers who are listening must pray as well. They can either agree with the words spoken or pray their own prayer. If it is the former, then they can say amen at the end of the prayer. If not, then they can pray their own prayer of thanksgiving. It is unwise and unkind to confront a Charismatic who is asked to give thanks for a meal.

Question 4: Will our rewards in heaven vary based on how much we have done (or suffered) for Christ whilst we are on this earth? Or will all of us get the same rewards?

Answer 4: The only acceptable and biblical motive for service that is pleasing to God is the love of Christ. When we serve for rewards, there will be no reward, because the motive is wrong. We become like the elder son in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. It is always a privilege to serve the Lord who is the King of kings and Lord of lords. To be saved for service is to serve in holiness as unprofitable servants.

Even though the Lord wants us to serve because we love Him and seek no other reward, He says that He will reward us. Revelation 22:12: And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” What the nature of the reward is, we are not told expressly other than that believers will receive certain crowns.

[Emphasis added below in verses]

1 Thessalonians 2:19: “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?”

2 Timothy 4:8: “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

James 1:12: “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

1 Peter 5:4: “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

Notice that these crowns are all intangibles. These are crowns given to all faithful believers in Christ who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

I believe that it does not matter what the nature of the reward Christ will give to His faithful disciples is; otherwise He would have revealed to us in the Bible. I believe that to see the blessed face of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ when we arrive in heaven is all the reward we need.



Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,
Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew
Advisory Pastor


  © Copyright 2018 Truth Bible-Presbyterian Church     PDP