My dear readers,

Answering Remaining Questions from Calvary Pandan Church Camp 2024 (7)

Question 1: If Singapore is involved in World War Three, and past and present NSFs are called up to fight, how should they approach this fight? The Bible states that thou shalt not killed?

Answer 1: If Singapore enters World War Three and God’s children are called to serve and fight, they must go, provided it is a just war and the defence of our country and families. If it is not a just war but one of aggression and involves slaughtering, then Christians cannot participate and will have to bear the consequences of their disobedience to the government. Believers are not to obey all earthly authorities blindly. According to the Holy Scriptures, they are always to obey all authorities in the Lord and not to sin against God in their obedience.

The command “Thou shalt not kill” (Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17) does not mean that Christians cannot go to war or defend themselves or their loved ones and friends in the face of mortal danger. Didn’t God send Israel into the Land of Promise to kill the Canaanites whose sins were full in the sight of God (cf. Gen 15)? Didn’t David kill Goliath in time of war? Have we forgotten the utter and total destruction of the city of Jericho where only Rahab and her loved ones were spared because of her faith? “Thou shalt not kill” does not mean no killing at all because we live in a wicked world where capital punishment is God’s law to protect society from turning into anarchy and chaos.

The perfect justice of God for man is clearly delineated in Deuteronomy 19:20-21: “²⁰ And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you. ²¹ And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” When sinful man distorts the just law of God for their personal vengeance, it results in mockery. Sadly, the rejection of this blessed God-given law by many nations has turned their societies into lawlessness, where criminals are protected, and victims are left to suffer more injustices.

“Thou shalt not kill” is to be applied in times of peace like all the other Ten Commandments. Even though this is true, it does not mean that a soldier can enjoy killing in times of war. There must never be any delight when others are hurt or when God judges them for sin committed, including the ones who persecute Christians. Christ explains the understanding of this commandment in Matthew 5:21-22: “²¹ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: ²² But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” The truth of Christ’s explanation is seen in the first murder when Cain killed his brother Abel. It began with unjust anger in Cain’s heart. God warned him to rule his unjust anger. He did not. His unjust anger overwhelmed him, and he killed his brother Abel (cf. Gen 4:1-10).

Question 2: Am I truly not a born-again Christian if I used to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies and have attempted suicide?

Answer 2: A born-again believer is one who has genuinely received Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour. Christ baptised him with the Holy Spirit, who dwells within him forever. He can never lose his salvation once he is born again in Christ, for the Holy Spirit will never leave him, no matter what sins he might commit. Suicidal thoughts are part and parcel of the temptations of the evil one. When you have them, repent immediately like all other sins and rebuke the evil thoughts and the evil one. Jesus used the clause, “Get thee behind me Satan” (Matt 16:23) and so can we.

Attempted suicide is a more serious transgression. Like for any sin, one must repent sincerely and ask God to stop one from acting on such sinful thoughts. If you are born again, you have to stop any attempts immediately, as suicidal people are people in a hopeless state. Christians are the most hopeful people on earth because their hope is anchored in God's holy and perfect Word promised by the Almighty God who cannot lie! Study God’s Word daily to ensure your salvation is rooted deeply in God’s promises and not in your feelings, and beware of wrong understanding. In this manner, thoughts of suicide will have no room in your heart and mind. Fill your mind with godly thoughts as taught by God in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” The memorisation of and meditation on God's Word will help significantly in overcoming suicidal thoughts.

Question 3: How do we know we are elected by God? Is it possible to be fervent in our Christian walk but still be unelected?

Answer 3: All genuinely born-again believers in Christ are elected or chosen by God in Christ. The doctrine of election and the experience of genuine salvation cannot be separated. A person who knows he is born again will know that God has elected him before the foundation of the world, that God ordained his existence and salvation based on His sovereign election! Ephesians 1:3-7: “³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: ⁴ According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: ⁵ Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. ⁷ In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

A sinner who is not born again is dead in sin and spiritually blind. He cares not for such doctrines about whether he is elected because he has no power to understand them! A person who worries about doubting his faith has a faith to doubt. It means that he is born again. Every believer’s faith grows from infancy to maturity. Doubting one’s faith is common among believers (especially at infancy). It is part of the devil’s work to cause doubt in every born-again believer’s life of holy witness. A person who never doubted his faith might be in serious trouble before God as he might not have any faith to doubt! 1 Corinthians 10:13: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

How does a person know that he is alive? He knows he is alive because he asks, “How do I know I am alive?” How do I know God has elected me? I know God has elected me because I am born again to understand the doctrine of election and also worry whether or not I am elected. An unbeliever will use the doctrine of election (that he cannot understand, though he thinks he can) to reject Christ and blame God for his rejection! The unbeliever has abused the blessed doctrine of election that is meant to comfort every believer.

A child of God is concerned about his election because he wants to make sure he is elected! The logical sequence of salvation is depicted clearly in Romans 8:29-30: “²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

You will undoubtedly be saved once God has chosen you for salvation, for He has sovereignly elected you.