Gospel Light Christian Church

By Pastor Jason Lim

We must grow if we are to remain firm amidst falsehoods. The goal is godliness, which is devotion to God that leads to a life pleasing to Him. And God has given us all things needed for this growth. Let's look at God's Gracious Gifts for Growth. He has:

1) REACHED out to you

He called you to savour His beauty & worth via the precious & very great promises

2) RESCUED you

He has saved you from the destruction due to sin

3) RENEWED you

He has made you a partaker of the divine nature

4) RESOURCED you

He has granted you all things that pertain to a life of godliness according to His divine power...

By Pastor Jason Lim

Arriving safely home in God’s Kingdom matters. That is why Peter wrote to strengthen believers to remain unshaken in faith. While 1 Peter calls Christians to “Holiness in Hostility,” 2 Peter urges them to stand “Firm Amidst Falsehoods.”

Peter begins by reminding believers of their precious faith, received through the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and the grace and peace God multiplies to sustain them. Such blessings must never lead to complacency.

Throughout his letter, Peter calls Christians to GROW in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, GROUND themselves in God’s sure Word, and GUARD against false teachers and their teachings.

His message remains urgent: cherish your faith, stand firm in truth, and persevere until you arrive safely home with Christ.

By Elder Jeffrey Pang

Is worship singing, gathering, serving, or daily living? What is true worship?

1. WHAT IS WORSHIP?

“Worship” conveys worth. The biblical words proskuneo (bowing in reverence) and latreia (service) show that true worship treasures God above all, expressed through praise, obedience, and service.

2. WHY WORSHIP?

We were made for worship (Psalm 147:1). Sin redirects our devotion towards idols such as money, sex, and power. Only true worship of God transforms us.

3. HOW DO WE WORSHIP?

In spirit, from hearts transformed by the Holy Spirit; in truth, according to Scripture (John 4:24); and together as His people.

4. CORPORATE WORSHIP

When the church gathers, we come not merely for advice, but to meet God, who dwells among His people.

By Pastor Jason Lim

God answered Job from the whirlwind, revealing His greatness and humbling him.

1) THE CONFRONTATION

God led Job through creation, asking whether he could understand, care for or govern it. Though Job never learned why he suffered, he recognised his place before the good God, and repented.

2) THE CLEARING

God vindicated Job before his three friends. His suffering was not punishment for sins, as they had claimed.

3) THE COMPASSION

God approached Job, brought him to repentance, forgave him and restored him. James 5:11 highlights God’s compassion.

Job teaches us that God remains worthy of worship amid suffering and mystery. Though His ways surpass our understanding, His goodness stands. God is vindicated before Satan in heaven and Job on earth.

By Pastor Jason Lim

Of Job’s friends, Elihu alone was not rebuked by God. His words bridge the debate and prepare for God’s appearance.

1) THE GOODNESS OF GOD

Suffering is not always punitive. God may use it protectively and restoratively. Even in suffering, God remains good.

2) THE GREATNESS OF GOD

Job questions God’s justice, but Elihu insists that God always does what is right. Job must humble himself before Him.

3) THE GOVERNANCE OF GOD

God is sovereign and cannot be manipulated or placed in our debt. He governs all things and is not merely reacting to us.

Elihu leaves us with a choice: will we fear and obey God, or sin in suffering? Then, as truths settle in, God Himself appears.

By Pastor Jason Lim

Job pleads his innocence while affirming fear of God and rejection of evil.

In him we see:

1) A VIRTUOUS LIFE (PAST)

A clear conscience does not mean God owes us comfort; it keeps us from adding unrepentant sin to suffering.

2) A VIGILANT LIFE (PRESENT)

We may not know why we suffer, but we can choose to live faithfully through it.

3) A VINDICATED LIFE (FUTURE)

We do not need to secure our vindication; we can entrust it to God.

In Christ, we have more than a Judge—we have an Advocate.

He knows us, bears our guilt, stands for us, and is our righteousness.

Our confidence is not, “I have lived well enough,” but, “Christ is my righteousness.”

By Pastor Jason Lim

Job's friends intensified their accusations against Job, compounding his grief.

We see their Affliction of Job, their Assumptions and their Aberration in theology.

We learn that true comforters:

ask more, assume less;

are humble to say “I don’t know either”;

cure sometimes, relieve often, comfort always.

Theologically, comforters hold a high view of God & His sovereign goodness; believe God ordains good even in suffering; and look to the Cross.

By Pastor Jason Lim

Job’s friends accused him of sins that caused his suffering. Job disagreed, yet none of them understood the real reason — though we, the readers, do. They wrestled with the “mystery of suffering” that we still face today. We may not always know why we suffer, but we know who stewards our suffering.

Danger — Do not assume every suffering is directly caused by personal sin.

Discernment — Examine yourself honestly. Suffering is not always caused by sin, but sometimes it may expose it. Pause, pray and ponder.

Deliverance — Job looked toward renewal beyond death. We look to a clearer hope because of Jesus.

So do not assume why others suffer. Examine yourself, trust God, and look to the final hope in Christ.

By Pastor Jason Lim

When Job lamented after months of suffering, his friends accused him of causing it through his own sin. They wrongly applied “retribution theology” to him.

Retribution theology teaches that God repays people according to their deeds: do good and receive blessing; do evil and receive punishment. Scripture affirms this principle (Rom. 2:6; Gal. 6:7), but with important caveats:

• Do not assume it explains every suffering.
• Do not assume all justice is settled in this lifetime.
• Do not assume that doing good means God owes us anything.

The greatest news is that although divine judgment is real, Jesus became our substitute. On the cross, He bore the punishment our sins deserved, and freely gives us instead His righteousness and eternal life.

By Pastor Jason Lim

“Given the right price, everyone can be bought.” Satan believes Job will compromise and curse God.

1. APPROVAL FROM GOD

Satan receives permission to strike Job again.

2. AFFLICTION BY SATAN

Job’s suffering becomes truly severe, as later passages reveal.

3. ALLEGIANCE OF JOB

Even when his wife urges him to curse God and die, Job remains steadfast.

Acknowledgment: everything he has came from God by grace; God owes him nothing.

Acceptance: the God who gives may take away, yet remains good, great and trustworthy.

God is still worthy of worship—even unto death.

May we follow Job’s steadfastness, seeing God’s goodness in creation and supremely at the Cross, where the greater Job, Jesus, suffered sinlessly and accomplished far more.