May 2024
Leongsy:
Do you know the Grace Reformed Church? Do you
know Peter Kek?
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Sing
Serdang RBC was the first church planted by Dr Poh. He ordained Ho Eng Ghee to continue the work when he moved to a new work
in Sri Hartamas Church (I was a member here for 2 years)- later renamed as
Damansara RBC when it relocated to Damansara.
Grace Reformed Church was formerly Puchong
Grace Church - an outreach work from Serdang Grace Church (formerly Serdang
RBC) under Ho.
Peter Kek, the last time I knew him, was an
Arminian clothed in a Reformed tuxedo - all documented in my Pruning Seven Deformed
Branches.
https://pruning-deformed-branches.blogspot.com/
BUT, a big BUT, that was 20 long years ago.
Leongsy
Arminian clothed in Reformed coats. 😥
Sing
How far is Subang RBC from your home?
Leongsy
14km.
Sing:
Is 14km far (from Klang Valley's traffic
perspective?
Leongsy
No
Sing
Good. Let us meet there tomorrow, the Lord
willing.
Leongsy
U know SRBC?
Who is the pastor there? They start their
worship service at 9am
Sing
I know some older people there, from the
early days.
They had a young pastor like Martyn...
similarly under the shadow of Dr Poh. I have never met him. After some years, he
moved on. No idea why.
Now the church is overseen by Elder Kenneth
and assisted by Deacon Han.
The KL couple who comes to SDC worship with
Subang RBC when in KL.
Leongsy
Are you speaking in Subang? Who will preach
for you in Penang?
Sing Lau
I'm already in Subang. My wife is attending
her company's annual functions (Public Mutual) at SunwayPCC. Driving her makes travelling
convenient for her.
Subang RBC won't risk having a heretic to
fill her pulpit. I'm glad they guard the pulpit well. I am just making an
effort to have the bridge open. I still love them.
The Lord has blessed SDC with men who can
take the pulpit when I'm away, 2-3 times a year at most.
Every Sunday, one man will introduce the 1st
service... he will choose a passage and open it up and exhort the congregation for around 15-20 minutes.
Good training ground for handling the word of God.
Leongsy
Whew, praise God that I checked with you on
Grace Reformed Church.
Maybe it's all arranged by God ðŸ¤
Sing
Our God is the God of providence. Nothing
happens by chance.
========
#distinctaspectsofjustification
Leongsy
Did I
grasp the gist of what James Buchanan was trying to lay out in his book?
Justification is Christ's work, but our own faith is AFTER v hv been given the
Holy Spirit?
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I'm delighted that you are looking at Buchanan's
magnum opus. Too many reformed people don't have a clue of the distinct aspects
of justification pointed out by Buchanan in this classic work on justification.
We need to be clear on the distinct role each
Person of the Triune God in relationship to the justification of an elect in
his native state of condemnation and death and alienation.
1. It's God who justifies.
A. God himself purposed justification for
those He had elected out of the fallen race of Adam. The Decretal Aspect of
Justification
B. God himself provided the basis/ground for
the justification of His elect - by Christ's righteousness and blood.
- This is the Legal Aspect of Justification.
- This is justified by the faith OF Christ.
Romans 3:22, Gal 2:16,20; 3:22, Ph 3:9)
C. God Himself freely applies the
righteousness of Christ to the elect when they are dead in trespasses and sins,
at His own appointed and approved time.
- This is the Vital/Personal Aspect of
Justification.
- This is justification by the grace of God.
Romans 3:24.
- When the righteousness of Christ is freely
applied to an elect, the Holy Spirit has the divine warrant to regenerate the
spiritually dead.
- Those regenerated by the Spirit are adopted
by the Father, and are given the Spirit of adoption to dwell in them.
- This indwelling Spirit of adoption works
the fruit of the Spirit in them, including faith. Romans 8:15.
D. God Himself provides His children the
means/ instrument to experience the blessedness of their justification by God's
free grace (C above).
- the indwelling Spirit of God works faith in
God's children, enabling them to believe. BUT they must do the work of
believing.
- Believing is an activity of man, it's work.
- John 6:29 KJT — "Jesus answered and
said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath
sent."
- This is the Practical/Experiential Aspect
of Justification. This is what is described in Gen 15:1-6.
E. God Himself will consummate the
justification He has purposed before the foundation of the world.
- The consummation shall take place at the
general resurrection to glorification.
- Glorification is the Final Aspect of
Justification
I hope the above makes sense. If not, ask.
