O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

WE ARE SAINTS!

“Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours” (1 Corinthians 1:2)

In Paul’s epistles to the churches, he often called his readers saints! We on the other hand are often willing to call someone a saint only when he has been godly and very spiritual. Only those who have attained the status of ‘super Christian’ status deserve to be called saints.

Is our definition of sainthood the same as what Paul had in mind? Did Paul have in mind that only the truly godly, very Christ-like Christians are to be called saints? What is GOD’s definition and instruction regarding sainthood?

Who is a saint?

We know from the rest of Paul’s letters to the Corinthian Christians (1 & 2 Corinthians), that his readers in Corinth were anything but the kind of super saints that we have in mind.

The Corinthians were actually ungodly and this can be seen in their infightings and divisions in their church. They were also saved from an immoral lifestyle and some of that sinfulness were clearly issues Paul had to address in his letters to them. I am sure we cannot forget how the church in Corinth was tolerant of a brother who had his father’s wife! (1 Corinthians 5:1)

Who then are the saints that Paul had in mind according to GOD’s definition?

We have to go back to 1 Corinthians 1:2 for the answer. There Paul said, “to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints.” In Paul’s mind sainthood is first conferred in Christ and then lived out! We are saints because we are sanctified in Christ. The work and life of Jesus has saved us and made us into the saints of GOD. The LORD Jesus lived a perfect sinless life so that He could die to confer on sinners that status of sainthood. We are only made into saints by the perfect payment of Christ so that GOD could redeem us from sin.

We are saints because of Christ and not because of anything we did. Jeremiah reminded us about who we are when he said, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) Paul echoed this fact that was revealed by GOD when he said, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) GOD has made it clear that we could never be a saint by our own efforts.

Live Like a Saint!

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:1)

In another letter of Paul, the Ephesians were also called saints. They had the same status of sainthood as that of the Corinthian Christians. In the eyes of GOD, our King and judge, we, like the Christians of Ephesus and Corinth, are saved from sin and He dresses us in the righteousness of Christ (Revelation 19:7-8).  GOD has made us into saints so that we can live like saints.

Now that we are saints, we can be faithful and live out our sainthood! We do not live GOD-pleasing lives in order to become saints. We live GOD-pleasing lives because we are His saints.

GOD has many instructions and exhortations on how we can be saints. Let us look at the instructions in 1 Peter 1:14-16.

Be ye holy

“As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16)

As saints of GOD, we are to be obedient children of GOD. Peter tells us that we can do that by not conforming to our former lusts - a lifestyle that came out of our ignorance. When we were unbelievers we did not know GOD, and in our ignorance we did all the wrong things.

The first step then, after we are saved is to know GOD and to know what He has declared as either holy or unholy. That knowledge of right and wrong can come from learning the 10 commandments of GOD. In these 10 commandments, we can have a very good start to our journey of knowing and obeying GOD.

The LORD Jesus gave a summary of those 10 commandments when He was asked which of the 10 was the great one. The Pharisees were asking Jesus to tell them which is the most important commandment that must be obeyed while the lesser ones could be ignored (Matthew 22:34-40). The audience knew there is no such teaching of the 10 commandments as all of them are great and important. The Pharisee’s question was meant to trap Jesus into giving the wrong answer.

A Summary of the 10 Commandments

Jesus, who is GOD and the author of the word of GOD (John 1:1-5, 17) summarised the 10 commandments by saying that all the commandments are important and warning those who want to pick and choose which to obey, to remember that the true spirit of obeying GOD is to love GOD with all their heart and soul. Loving GOD with all our heart, soul and might produces an obedience that is not done merely out of compulsion.

When we can truly love GOD out of a willing spirit, it will be natural for us to love our neighbour. Those who love GOD will also love their neighbour. We cannot love GOD and hate our neighbour at the same time. (1 John 4:20) In our ignorance, we may believe that we can love GOD and not love our neighbour. But as saints, we are enlightened to know that we can and should live according to Jesus’ summary of the 10 commandments.

“But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:34–40)

We are saved by GOD according to His love so that we would love Him wholeheartedly and love each other sincerely.

Conclusion – Are you a Saint?

Can you love GOD willingly because He loves you? Are you a willing living sacrifice to GOD (Romans 12:1-2) or are you an ignorant Christian who does not know how much GOD loves you in Jesus Christ?

To be holy because GOD is holy is about GOD making us into saints so that we are able to obey Him and be faithful as saints. A truly born-again person or saint will understand GOD’s love for him in Christ Jesus. That person willingly submits to Jesus his LORD and Saviour, and trusts GOD to enable him to love his neighbour the way he loves himself.

The Bible reminds us that we can love GOD because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). GOD has shown His love for each one of us at the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:33-34).

– Joel Seah

Appointments for the Week

Monday, Feb 19

        7.30 pm     ERBL: OT Prophetic Books (Rev Charles Seet)

Tuesday, Feb 20

        8.00 pm     Prayer Meeting (Eld Ng Beng Kiong)

Thursday, Feb 22

      10.00 am     Ladies’ Prayer Group

        7.30 pm     ERBL: Bible Geography (Ms Lilian Lee)

Friday, Feb 23

        7.30 pm     MM Meeting

Saturday, Feb 24

        2.30 pm     Ladies’ Tea Fellowship

        3.00 pm     LTF / YLM / MM

Sunday, Feb 25

  8.00 am The Apple of His Eye Zechariah 2:1-13 (Rev Ho Chee Lai)

  8.00 am Choir Practice

  9.15 am Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  9.30 am Exploring Christianity (Rm 2-1)

  9.40 am Sunday School / Catechism Class

10.15 am Coffee Corner

11.00 am The Apple of His Eye Zechariah 2:1-13 (Rev Ho Chee Lai)

11.00 am Children’s Ministry

11.00 am Chinese Service (MPH)

11.00 am Filipina Service (Rm 1-6)

12.15 pm Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  2.00 pm Session Meeting

  2.30 pm Thai Service (LMH)

  4.00 pm Indonesian Service (Rm 1-6)

Announcements

Infant Baptism on Easter Sunday, 31 March 2024.

Parents, please email the church office, with your full names, contact numbers, and your child’s name and date of birth by 10 March 2024.

Life BPC Job Vacancies

1. Estate Management Officer (EMO)

Responsibilities:

EMO plans, oversees and coordinates all property management and preventive maintenance activities associated for the church premises. Coordinates facilities usage for a range of Church activities and Church’s authorized users using the premises. The EMO reports to the Church Operation Manager.

Qualifications:

• Diploma or equivalent
• 5 years’ experience in real estate management and maintenance
• Certification in real estate management and maintenance is an added advantage
• Lifers are preferred 

2. Administrative Executive (AE)

Responsibilities:

The Administrative Executive reports directly to the Administration Manager (AM) to provide administrative support for the Church office and ministries.

Qualifications:

• GCE ‘A’ level or higher
• 3 years’ experience in administrative support
• Skill in Microsoft Office, database and general computing is mandatory
• Lifers are preferred 

Candidates with relevant qualifications and experience may submit your application and CV to the Church Operations Manager at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Vacation Bible School 2024

for N2-P6 children will be held on 29-31 May (Wed-Fri). Theme: Champions for God.

Registration will open soon.

Staff Movement

Matthew Tan, Senior Care Coordinator, had tendered his resignation. His last day of work was 16 February 2024. We thank him for his ministry to the seniors and pray that the Lord will bless him in his future endeavours.

Holy Communion Elements Preparation

Lifers are invited to serve in the Holy Communion elements preparation, clean-up and washing.

Those interested may contact Jenny or Wendy 

Door to Door Evangelism

18 Feb 2024 (Today) Meet in Beulah Room 2-11, 12.30pm Contact: Desmond or Amos 

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.

Mailbox Club Bible Correspondence Course (MBCC)

Another Church Outreach Ministry invites Lifers to register their young children, teens, or grand-children 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

Church Camp 2024 will be held from 10 June to 14 June (Mon to Fri) at Resorts World Awana, Malaysia. 

Speaker: Pastor Tan Soon Yong

Theme: Truth Matters

Registration for Church Camp 2024 is now open. You may go to the church's website at www.lifebpc.com/church-camp-2024 to register online. Availability will be on a first come first served basis. Please do register early! If you require assistance, please contact Josiah Seah at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Seniors Fellowship Seminar: Bones of Contention: Osteoporosis

Date: 27 April 2024

Time: 4-6 pm (followed by dinner)

Venue: Beulah MPH

Register at https://lifebpc.com/sfseminar

Seminar: Pornography & Sexual Lusts

Date: 6 April 2024

Time: 2-6.30 pm (followed by dinner)

Venue: Beulah MPH

Register at https://forms.gle/Kf1aZefXGTvU3ojFA

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