Boaz—Malaysia

WHAT IS A SACRAMENT?

For True Jesus Church members, the mention of “sacraments” usually brings to mind either the lessons shared with truth-seeking friends or theological seminar lectures on the efficacy of these sacraments. We tend to perceive the spiritual efficacies of these sacraments as one-off phenomena, occuring at the moment the sacrament is administered. We may also view the teachings behind these sacraments merely as Bible knowledge we discuss with truth-seeking friends. Unwittingly, we have separated these sacraments from the life we are to lead as saints. Let us reconsider the teachings behind the sacraments and reflect on how their spiritual efficacies should transform and echo throughout our lives.

THE SPIRITUAL EFFECTS OF BAPTISM

1. Forgiveness of Sins: Constant Self-reflection

            But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word in not in us. (1 Jn 1:7–10)

By God’s grace and through faith, our sins are forgiven through the baptism of water. After baptism, if we continually reflect on a deep and genuine level, this effect of forgiveness is amplified. The Lord’s precious blood covers not just the sins we commit outwardly but also cleanses away the evil deep in our hearts. True reflection is based on two components: the standard of right and wrong found within God’s truth and godly sorrow when faced with one’s own sin. Both of these are critical and interconnected. The knowledge of right and wrong evokes “intellectual repentance,” but we must not stop there. Instead, we must take one step further to feel deep sorrow when we realize our sins. Such godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation (2 Cor 7:10). Believers should thus put aside a daily time for reflection. At the very least, before we turn in for the night, make time to reflect on the day’s events; review our conduct and thoughts (even passing thoughts) to see if we have fallen short of the glory of God. In this way, we will be able to confess and repent of our sins, lest we treasure up for ourselves God’s wrath in the future (Rom 2:4–5).

            “The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?” (Jer 17:9)

There is a Chinese idiom, “Deceiving oneself as well as deceiving others,” which implies that deceiving others is preceded by self-deception. When we make crafty excuses to appease our seared consciences, we deceive ourselves and become ensnared in our own lies, remaining blind to our true state or situation. Only the Lord searches the heart, tests the mind, and is willing and able to help (Jer 17:10). As believers, we ought to pray to God to uncover our hidden faults and secret acts. David also prayed in this way to make sure he had a clear conscience (Ps 19:12). When David committed a great sin in a moment of folly and was unaware of his transgression, God instructed the prophet Nathan to awaken and rebuke him right away. When his sin, committed in the dark, was pointed out and made public (and recorded for generations of people to read), David did not deny it or make excuses for himself. Neither did he fly into a shame-fuelled rage. Instead, he sincerely confessed and repented of his sins (2 Sam 12:13). This was God’s mercy towards David, turning him back in a timely manner so that he would not continue in his sin.

In defiant arrogance, people may argue, “Wouldn’t grace abound where sin abounds?” (Rom 6:1). This would be equivalent to believers who are too afraid to commit mortal sins and yet persist in endless so-called “minor” sins, thinking that God’s boundless grace would similarly persist for them. Such believers tread the grey area between righteousness and unrighteousness. They fail to reflect thoroughly on why they continue in these minor sins. Do we, too, assume that the precious blood of Jesus is sufficiently generous that it covers—or even condones—our refusal to change or our slackness in getting rid of these minor sins? Do we think that the lack of immediate judgment is a manifestation of God’s great grace for us? These minor sins committed wilfully will one day cause us to lose our spiritual life. This is because “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal 5:18–21). Here, Paul lists “lesser” sins, such as envy and selfish ambitions, alongside murder, while the verb “practice” is in the present continuous tense. The author of Hebrew sternly warns that there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins for those who sin wilfully (Heb 10:26).

As a merciful and loving Father, God does not leave us struggling alone. He helps us examine our hearts in several ways. First, He provides His word to help us discern the thoughts in our hearts (Heb 4:12). In this case, we proactively use God’s word to filter ourselves. Second, the grieving of the Holy Spirit awakens our sleeping consciences (Eph 4:30). In this case, God personally calls out to us through His indwelling Holy Spirit. Third, the teachings spoken on the pulpit advise and examine us (1 Cor 14:25). In this case, God reminds us through a third party. Under the last two circumstances, God is the active initiator, while we are the passive recipient of His exhortation. Being passive, however, does not mean that we take no action. At the very least, our hearts should be moved. In all three circumstances, God is helping us to constantly reflect on ourselves so that we will stop being stiff-necked and covering our ears in rejection of God’s reminders.

2. Put on Christ: Constant Vigilance

            Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. (Rev 16:15)

Baptism allows us to put on Christ (Gal 3:27). But beyond the moment of our baptism, we must watch and keep our garments of salvation. In other words, we must ensure that we have properly put on Christ as our garment of salvation, and be justified by relying on Christ. Otherwise, when trials and temptation come, we will be like the anonymous young man who was seized by his garment and fled naked, leaving his linen cloth behind, because he was terrified of being arrested together with Christ (Mk 14:52).

Why do believers become naked? Revelation 16:13 describes the temptation from three mouths: that of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. These three mouths use both hard and soft tactics, as well as performing great signs, so that people might let down their guard and be persuaded to take off their robes of salvation. While these three mouths often appear in the stories of the Bible, they do not manifest themselves in recognizably detestable forms. On the contrary, they use different ways to camouflage themselves; deceitful words from these three mouths impacted the saints of old who had lost their vigilance, deceiving those who based their discernment on their physical eyesight, instead of spiritual eyesight.

The mouth of the dragon (Rev 12:15–16) can be seen in Delilah’s honeyed lips. Stronger than Samson’s muscles, her sweet words broke Samson’s last line of defense, and he gave away the secret of his strength (Judg 16:15–17). Today, the dragon’s mouth signifies the world’s mainstream ideologies. Erroneous at the core, these are whitewashed, wrapped in elegant apparel, and adorned with jewels (Rev 17:4). This alluring world arouses the desire of all those who lay their eyes on it. The honeyed dragon’s mouth makes countless and irresistibly beautiful promises so that people are seduced into offering their youthful life to the world. Let us emulate Joseph, who guarded himself against the sweet words of his master’s wife. Although he lost his garment, he remained clothed with the salvation of his soul.

The mouth of the beast (Rev 13:6) can be seen in the threatening lips of the high priest’s servant girl (Mk 14:66–70). Greater than Peter’s nerve, these words exhausted what little courage he had left. Today, the mouth of the beast signifies everything that intimidates and threatens. An overwhelming and powerful appearance (Rev 13:2), it strikes fear in all who witness it. The threats spewing from the beast’s mouth are meant to cause us to give up our faith. Consider the time when Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. The enemies tried to obstruct this holy work by using words in different ways. This included threatening to report their “rebellion” to the king (Neh 2:19; 7:6), mocking the “poor quality” of their work (Neh 4:2–3), and conspiring to attack them (Neh 4:8–11).

Let us emulate David’s fearlessness in the face of Goliath’s great stature and barbarous threats, and be determined to fight to the end for our faith.

The mouth of the false prophet (Rev 13:11, 13–15) can be seen in the tempting mouth of the serpent. So brilliant were its words that it breached Eve’s defenses and even swallowed Adam. The false prophet’s mouth signifies great signs that deceive. In the Book of Revelation, the elder John saw a vision of a beast with the appearance of a lamb, but the voice of the dragon (Rev 13:11). People worshipped him wholeheartedly because of the great signs he could perform. Jesus warned of false prophets who hide their true colors under innocuous sheep’s clothing (Mt 7:15). The mouth of the false prophet may even deceive the elect because he could call the wind and summon the rain (Mt 24:24). His words are misleading (1 Tim 6:20), and he affirms his words by the signs he performs. Those with itching ears and whose faith is not built on the teachings of Christ will be drowned by this spiritual deceit (2 Thess 2:11–12).

To survive such devious attacks, we must have the right armor. The head is the most important part of our body. Survival is possible when other parts of our body are damaged; however, an injury to the head can be fatal. Paul describes salvation as a helmet that protects the head (Eph 6:17), an indication of how important salvation is to a person’s soul. We must thus guard the garment of salvation from the Lord with vigilance, lest we be deceived by the three deceitful mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. Once we lose this garment of salvation, our eternal life will also be lost.

3. Born Again: Constant Renewal

            Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. (2 Cor 4:16)

Aging is a natural and irreversible life process. Facing death is an inevitable battle (Eccl 8:8). However, for those reborn in Christ, there is another possibility beyond physical life. Their souls do not suffer from sin-induced aging. On the contrary, they can be renewed daily by relying on the Holy Spirit. This constant renewal is not a natural or necessary process; it requires a conscious and concerted effort to resist the law of sin and submit to the law of God (Rom 7:23–25; 8:2).

Those who receive baptism are born from above (Jn 3:6), and born of God (Jn 1:13). This is the first resurrection (Rev 20:5). We should cherish this blessed opportunity to be reborn as a new creation and ensure that this new man matures and becomes strong in spirit, growing into the full stature of Christ (Lk 1:80; 2:52). Our model ought to be the holistic development of the infant Jesus, who grew not only physically but also spiritually at the same pace. If a person’s cognitive development lags behind his physical development, he is considered immature. Conversely, a child whose cognitive development outpaces his physical development is deemed precocious. Neither case is ideal; cognitive and physical development ought to be synchronized.

How do we ensure holistic growth? From the moment we are spiritually reborn, we must, like a baby, desire the pure spiritual milk of the word (1 Pet 2:2). To build a solid foundation on God’s holy word, we must pursue the truth—the common belief of our church (including the Ten Articles of Faith). If we consume erroneous teachings from outside the church, we may suffer indigestion or worse, food poisoning. As we grow, we can proceed to solid food. In fact, only full-grown, mature Christians can take solid food, because they have the ability to discern the truth of God (Heb 5:14). Rigorous training in God’s word helps us become adults who are independent and mature in thought. We are not easily deceived, and our judgment not easily swayed (Eph 4:14).

“Putting on the new man” requires a transformed mind (Eph 4:22–24). The apostle Paul describes it as being “transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2), which means a change emerges in a believer’s values and ideology because of his knowledge of Jesus. Paul changed drastically from before to after he believed in the Lord (Phil 3). These include changes in his:

         Worldview (Phil 3:5)—the scope of his concern widened beyond the chosen “Jewish people” to include “Gentiles.”

         Moral view (Phil 3:6)—his mission changed from persecuting the church to serving the believers in all ways.

         Values (Phil 3:7)—things he once considered as profit were now disdained as loss.

In a nutshell, the apostle Paul intentionally forgot all he had once deemed precious. His new and sole motivation was to press on toward the reward from Jesus (Phil 3:13–14). What man treasures derives from his perception of its value. Paul letting go of what was precious to him in the past was a fundamental change—he completely discarded his past value system.

Therefore, a person who is born again must be deeply rooted in the teachings of the Bible. His soul will then grow as he relies completely on the nutrients absorbed from God’s word. When every cell of one’s life becomes filled with these teachings, his perception and values will be gradually transformed to be more and more like those of Jesus.

CONCLUSION

When the sacraments are conducted, the Holy Spirit, through tangible substance (lowly and eventually corruptible), bestows great spiritual grace upon those who believe. Similarly, if we submit to the Holy Spirit’s movement, we will be continuing the effects of forgiveness, putting on Christ, and spiritual renewal that were started at the point of baptism. Therefore, let us constantly reflect and repent, vigilantly holding on to our garment of salvation, and being transformed and nourished by God’s word. In this way, this humble and dying life of ours can become a channel between God and man; to bring grace and joy to the people around us.