My dear readers,

Answering Remaining Questions from Calvary Pandan Church Camp 2022 (14)

Question 1: What does the Bible mean by “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin”? Does it mean we must do everything in faith? What does it mean by doing everything in faith?

Answer 1: The text from which this doctrine is found is Romans 14:22-23: “Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” This is to be understood literally that whatsoever that is done by anyone that is not of faith is sinful in the eyes of God, and it must also be in every believer’s eyes too. Hebrews 11:6 puts it in another way but it means the same. Hebrews 11:6: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Faith is directly related to the Word of God. It means to live a life according to God’s Word. If the believer did something that is right in his own eyes but not according to the Bible, even when he did it in sincerity, it is still a sin in God's eyes because it was not done according to Scripture, i.e. it was done against the Word of God. Even when it was done according to the Bible but without believing that it is true, then it would also be a sin. It was done legalistically or perfunctorily without believing that it will come to pass. For example, a parent prayed for God’s help in choosing a school for his son, and then he lied to get his son into the school. He obeyed the Bible by praying to God for help. But he did not believe in what he prayed because he took matters into his own hands and lied to get what he wanted.

Every act that a believer does must be based upon the Word of God. It must be done according to Scriptures out of a heart that believes that God has the power to, and will, bring it to pass in His time.

Question 2: A believer attends Calvary Pandan and personally struggles with the sin of homosexuality. The believer is aware and accepts the Bible’s position of homosexuality and is active in a lifelong spiritual battle with this sin. How do I or we as Christians and members of the church minister and encourage such an individual to keep up the fight, as we all do with our own carnal struggles in life? Is there a difference in the way we fellowship with the individual given the taboo nature of the sin?

Answer 2: If he is truly born again in Christ he would have overcome this sin by the grace and mercies of God upon salvation. The Bible is very clear on this transformation. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” There were some believers in the church in Corinth who were homosexuals and fornicators and idolaters but they were soundly delivered by the power of God in Christ. These sins cannot return and be re-committed if the person is born again in Christ. They will be stopped in the inner man and not be allowed to be actually committed. Can a person say that he is born again and yet he keeps on committing adultery (not lust after, but the actual act) repeatedly? God forbid!

Yes, the Bible does say that every believer will struggle against the flesh but these are struggles within the heart and must be stopped before they become a reality. Perhaps sins like failure to keep our Quiet Time faithfully and some sins that are committed in reality, but the believer will repent and return to the Lord. These are sins of not drawing nigh unto God, and not sins that the LORD expressly forbids such as “Thou shalt not commit adultery”, “Thou shalt not bear false witness” and “Thou shalt not kill”. When these latter sins are committed at heart level they will be thoroughly repented of by the child of God with great brokenness of spirit and soul so as to flee from all youthful lusts! Matthew 5:28: “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

We can reach out to them the same way we reach out to all sinners struggling with all kinds of sins. We pray for them and share the gospel with them without condoning their sins.

Question 3: 1) Are the people who persecute Christians for their faith considered enemies of God? 2) What does it mean to hate God’s enemies in today’s context?

Answer 3: Every sinner is born in sin, thus making them enemies of God in the general sense. There are the enemies who do not attack the Bible or Christ, for they do not care for the Christian faith or have never heard of Christ. Then there are the enemies of Christians who persecute Christians because they hate their witness for Christ. These are personal enemies whom God has taught His children to turn the other cheek, go the second mile and pray for them even when they despitefully use them. Of these personal enemies, our hope is that they might see Christ in us when we suffer for Christ and they become believers. Matthew 5:38-42: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” Christ will be clearly seen in the lives of these believers in the face of persecution.

Lastly, there are the enemies of God who deliberately attack the Bible and the name and person of the Lord Jesus Christ. These are the enemies that believers are commanded to hate. Psalm 139:19-24: “Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” The reason for this genuine hatred is because they hinder others from believing in Christ by their attacks. For example, they teach that the Lord Jesus Christ was not born of the virgin Mary; that there are no miracles in the Bible; that Christ is not God; that Christ did not rise from the dead; that the Bible has mistakes. These are direct attacks on the Bible and on the Person of Christ and His holy works which prevent sinners from coming to know Christ as their Lord and Saviour. These enemies are extra evil, for they reject the gospel and stop others from receiving the gospel by their attacks.

We are to hate them as in Old Testament times. Believers must not associate or have any fellowship or be seen with them. Psalm 1:1-2: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” To be seen with them is to be identified with them, making believers partakers of their evil and sin. Believers need to expose them for what they are – enemies of God, who undermine the truth and cause sinners to not believe in Christ or to believe in a false Christ. If they are found in churches, they have to be disciplined. By God’s mercies, the practice of biblical separation by believers may help them realize their sinful ways and repent and be saved.