|
Who Is John the
Baptist?
<John 1:19-42>
“Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent
priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He
confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ.’
And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’
He said, ‘I am not.’
‘Are you the Prophet?’
And he answered, ‘No.’
Then they said to him, ‘Who are you, that we may give an answer
to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?’
He said: ‘I am
‘The voice of one crying
in the wilderness:
‘Make straight the way
of the LORD,’
as the prophet Isaiah said.’
Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And
they asked him, saying, ‘Why then do you baptize if you are not
the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?’
John answered them, saying, ‘I baptize with water, but there
stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who,
coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am
not worthy to loose.’
These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where
John was baptizing.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold!
The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This
is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before
me, for He was before me.’ I did not know Him; but that
He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with
water.’
And John bore witness, saying, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from
heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not
know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon
whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is
He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen
and testified that this is the Son of God.’
Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.
And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, ‘Behold the Lamb
of God!’
The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them,
‘What do you seek?
They said to Him, ‘Rabbi’ (which is to say, when translated, Teacher),
‘where are You staying?’
He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where He was
staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth
hour).
One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew,
Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother
Simon, and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated,
the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.
Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, ‘You are Simon the son
of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas’ (which is translated, A Stone).”
Through today’s Scripture passage, especially verses from 20 to
31 John the Baptist bore witness to himself and Jesus. Before baptizing
Jesus, John the Baptist testified, I baptize with water, but
there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming
after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy
to loose” (John 1:26-27). He also witnessed that his ministry
was to reveal Jesus Christ to Israel by saying, “I did not know
Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came
baptizing with water.”
In order to witness that Jesus Christ was truly the Messiah, the
Savior whom all the people of Israel had been waiting for, John
the Baptist gave people the baptism of repentance, and he also baptized
Jesus at the Jordan River. After giving the baptism to Jesus, he
also testifies in the Gospel of John chapter 3 verses 33-34 saying,
“I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water
said to me, “Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining
on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have
seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”
Actually, John the Baptist knew about Jesus from the beginning.
When the priests and Levites were provoking a quarrel with him,
John the Baptist bore witness to Jesus Christ. He witnessed that
“Jesus Christ, He is the Savior that all the people of Israel have
been waiting for, and He is the Savior of all humankind.” Also,
he gave witness to them about Jesus Christ by saying, “Having seen
the Spirit descending upon His head, I knew He is the Son of God.”
But, among the Pharisees, there wasn’t anyone who could understand
the things that John the Baptist was preaching about. It was because
these people fundamentally thought that Jesus was neither the Son
of God nor the Messiah. However, whether they did or did not believe,
John’s witness about Jesus continued on. The next day of Jesus’
baptism, as John the Baptist was standing with two of his disciples,
upon seeing Jesus passing by, he witnessed by saying, “Behold!
The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
His account was true because he had transferred all the sins of
humankind by baptizing Jesus Christ. When Jesus came to John to
be baptized, John was at a loss about what to do at first. But,
Jesus ordered him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it
is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness,” (Matthew 3:15)
and John then laid his both hands on the head of Jesus to pass over
all the sins of the world according to His command. Then, he bore
witness to Jesus Christ as the Savior of humankind who has taken
on the sins of the world. This means that he is the servant of God
who had transferred the sins of the world to Jesus Christ. Through
this witness given by John the Baptist, we have come to know that
Jesus is the Lamb of God who has taken all the sins of the world.
As such, John the Baptist bore witness to Jesus and His ministry
for us as well as to himself. When John the Baptist was willing
to bear witness to Jesus, it happened to be that Jesus was about
to pass by John the Baptist, who was standing with two of his disciples.
Then, he witnessed to them saying, “Behold! The Lamb of God”(John
1:29). He testified that this man, Jesus Christ, is precisely
the Lamb of God. Due to his witness, two of John the Baptist’s disciples
followed Him and became disciples of Jesus.
After that, Andrew brought his brother Peter to Jesus, and Peter
also became a disciple of Jesus. And the following day, Jesus met
Phillip who also became one of His disciples, then Phillip went
to Nathanael and said, “We have found Him of whom Moses
in the law, and also the prophets, wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the
son of Joseph.” And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything
good come out of Nazareth?” Philip requested Nathanael to “Come
and see” (John 1:47).
As Nathanael was coming toward Him, Jesus spoke of him, “Behold,
an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” (John 1:47) Nathanael
was surprised to hear these words. He said, “Well, who would know
everything inside of me? How do you know me? You truly are the Son
of God. And, you are the King of Israel.” Then, Jesus said to him,
“Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven
open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son
of Man” (John 1:51).
As such, John the Apostle also went on to say that Jesus is Messiah
the Savior, as was written by the prophets of the Old Testament.
Because God had the Savior of humankind born from the body of a
woman and also, because he had sent Him to us as promised, Jesus
Christ was more than sufficient to be proclaimed as the Savior of
humankind, the Son of God, and the Creator who created the entire
universe and all the things in it. Jesus Christ was the Son of God
and the Savior of humankind.
Therefore, even if we has nothing else in our hearts, there has
to be the faith of believing in the baptism that Jesus Christ received
from John the Baptist and the blood of the Cross. Even if we don’t
have any material, power, or prestige of this world, we must have
the faith of believing in the baptism that Jesus had received and
His blood shed on the Cross. Why is this so? It is because by believing
that Jesus Christ received the baptism by John the Baptist and shed
His blood, we attain the faith which brings true cleansing of our
sins.
When our Lord came to this earth, He was born in a barn and laid
at the manger of a stable, but why was He born there? It was because
there was no place to stay, for there were too many guests at places
like hotel or inn where people usually eat and sleep. This means
that if people keep so many things in their hearts, they actually
lack room in their hearts to receive Jesus. Jesus has to be seated
at the center of everyone’s heart, but people usually fill their
hearts with the things of this world. Therefore, they have no place
in their hearts to invite Jesus to stay.
Dear fellow believers, do you think we could be well off without
Jesus in our soul? If we have some necessities of life, we could
go on living in this world on a basic level. However, if we did
not have the faith of believing in the baptism that Jesus Christ
has received and the blood shed for your life, as well as mine,
what would happen? If this were the case, your life, as well as
mine would be nothing. Even if we have everything that is needed
for our flesh, our souls will wither away and die if we do not have
the faith in the baptism that Jesus had received and the blood that
He has shed on the Cross.
Jesus Christ is God, the Son of God, the Creator of all things
of the universe, and our Savior. He has saved those of us who believe
in the gospel of the water and the Spirit from worldly sins by taking
our sins once and for all by receiving the baptism, going to the
Cross, and vicariously dying on the Cross. Jesus is our Savior who
has carried away the sins of this world. We must go on living by
faith embracing Jesus Christ who came by the water and the Spirit
in our hearts. Even if you and I have nothing else, we must go on
living with one single Person in our hearts, Jesus. If we go on
living our lives with Jesus Christ in our hearts, then He will provide
us with things that we lack. Just as our Lord did miraculous works
at a wedding in Cana, He will provide you with the Word of truth
and other necessities that you need to live. But, if you go on living
without the Lord within your hearts, He will not be able to help
you when you are in a time of need.
Therefore, through the work of John the Baptist, we must learn
how we must live before God by faith, and also how to believe in
Jesus Christ. Although we are living in this declining and complex
world, we must go on living by having faith in the gospel Word of
the water and the Spirit. We must know what kind of life is wise
and blissful to live before God. God wants us to live with the gospel
of the water and the Spirit in the center of our hearts.
Through the witness of John the Baptist, you and I now are able
to believe that Jesus has become our Savior by fulfilling the gospel
of the water and the Spirit. If we were to disregard John the Baptist’s
role and his ministry, would we have been able to know the great
secret of salvation hidden in the gospel of the water and the Spirit?
Have we ever seen Jesus with our bodily eyes? Are you able to see
Jesus taking on your sins once and for all by receiving the baptism
with your eyes of the flesh? We have not been able to see these
physically. Nevertheless, by the written Word of God, we are able
to fully see that Jesus is our Savior.
Let us read the Gospel of John chapter 1 verses 6 and 7: “There
was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for
a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might
believe.”
By these words, John the Baptist bears witness to the truth that
Jesus is our Savior. The Bible had foretold John the Baptist as
the one who would properly bear witness to Jesus. People today who
believe in Jesus as the Savior are able to find out the true salvation
through the ministry of John the Baptist and the account of the
baptism that Jesus received from John the Baptist. Therefore, we
have to know the ministry of John the Baptist and the account of
the baptism that Jesus had received from John the Baptist as it
is written in the Scriptures. And so, we must believe in the fact
that the Lord has remitted us from all sins by the gospel of the
water and the Spirit.
Unfortunately, most people continue to be unaware of the power
of Jesus’ baptism and His blood. We see people putting efforts into
boasting of their own righteousness, without even knowing the significance
of Jesus receiving the baptism from John the Baptist. They only
try to raise their own righteousness. Sometimes, with Jesus as the
pretext, they try to exalt their righteousness even higher. Therefore,
they become separated from God even when they profess Jesus as their
Savior.
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man
came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through
him might believe” (John 1:6-7).
God the Father sent a servant who would witness that His Son Jesus
is the One who would save all the sinners, and that servant was
John the Baptist. John the Baptist, was the witness to salvation
who could bear witness to Jesus as the Savior. We, who have received
the witness of John the Baptist, are the disciples of Jesus who
also have to witness to others that Jesus is the Savior who came
into this world by the gospel of the water and the Spirit.
However, many people still say that John the Baptist was a failure.
The reason is they misinterpret the context and meaning of Matthew
11:2-3, by concluding that John the Baptist doubted Jesus was Messiah.
Did John really doubt Jesus when he sent his disciples to Jesus?
No, absolutely not. John the Baptist was eager to send his disciples
to Jesus, saying, “He must increase, but I must decrease”
(John 3:30), and he actually sent his disciples to Jesus one
by one. Then, who were those who still remained beside him until
he had finished his ministry? They were followers who were reluctant
to believe his witness about Jesus to the end.
If we were to disregard the witness of the baptism that John the
Baptist had given to Jesus, how would we be able to realize the
gospel Truth of the water and the Spirit? Without the gospel Truth
of the water and the Spirit, how would we be able to believe in
Jesus as our Savior? If we are to believe in the gospel of the water
and the Spirit, we must first believe that John the Baptist is the
servant of God who was promised to precede the Messiah in the Old
Testament. With this faith, we can believe in all the testimony
of John the Baptist. Only then can we believe in the Savior by seeing
the baptism to Jesus, the vicarious death of Jesus on the Cross,
and the resurrection of the Lord.
Dear fellow believers, if so called servants of God today were
to refuse the witness of John the Baptist and Jesus, their followers
would never be able to know the gospel of the water and the Spirit.
We see that certain ministers today try to fulfill their own objectives
by emptying the pockets of their church members. Such places where
people gather should not be called a true church. These people do
not know the true ministry of John the Baptist or of Jesus. Yet,
how could they know about the gospel Truth of the water and the
Spirit? These ministers today are liars if they do not believe and
bear witness to the truth that Jesus has come by the gospel of the
water and the Spirit.
We have to know about John the Baptist well. In Matthew 11:11,
it is said, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born
of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist.”
Truly, Elijah, who was prophesized in the Old Testament to come
again before the Lord, is John the Baptist in the New Testament
era (Malachi 4:1-3, Matthew 11:14). This is because John the Baptist
completed the mission of Elijah of the Old Testament. Such a faithful
servant of God was John the Baptist, and he had the true heart of
a servant of God. John the Baptist, the servant of God, did the
good work of giving Jesus a baptism, that is, the work that Jesus
had to bear in order to save sinners from sins by the gospel of
the water and the Spirit (Matthew 3:13-17).
Let us read together the Gospel of John chapter 1 verses 9 through
11. “That was the true Light which gives light to every man who
comes into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made
through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own,
and His own did not receive Him.”
The true Light, that is, the light that shines upon every man by
coming into the world refers to Jesus. It is said that Jesus is
the true God, who came to this earth in human flesh, and He is the
true Light of salvation. These words, “the true Light,” means that
Jesus is God, Jesus is the God of salvation, Jesus is the Master
of life, and Jesus is the Savior who has saved us from the sins
of the world.
John the Apostle continues to witness, “That was the true Light
which gives light to every man who comes into the world. He was
in the world, and the world was made through Him” (John 1:9-10).
This universe was made by Jesus. This universe wasn’t made through
human beings. It didn’t appear naturally, contrary to the evolutionists’
claim. Never did this universe come into being in an evolutionary
manner.
People of Israel did not believe in Jesus as God, the Son of God,
or the Savior who came by the water and the Spirit. Of course, it
is not the case that everyone did not believe, but many people did
not believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Thus, God abandoned
them for some time because they did not believe in the Savior of
humankind. And because of their sins, they were put to death, and
they had to live in agony as international orphans for nearly two
thousand years. Captured by German Nazis, millions of Jews had died
in gas chambers. It was because of just one reason that they did
not believe in Jesus to be their Messiah, as well as God.
Because they did not know or believe the true identity of Jesus,
not only did they not accept Jesus, but also they captured and handed
over Jesus to Roman soldiers to crucify Him. All the more, they
cried out to crucify Him. “Crucify Him! Crucify Him! He says that
He is God. Such a man must be crucified!” At the time, when Pilate,
the governor of Jews, tried Jesus, he found no guilt in Him. Even
so, people shouted out loud to crucify Him. Just
as the crowd shouted out those words, the governor Pilate washed
his hands and said, “I am innocent of the blood of
this just Person” (Matthew 27:24) .
I shall crucify Him, for you request the crucifixion of Jesus.”
Because the people of Israel, in a voice even louder asked for Jesus’
death, and said, “His blood be on us and on our children,”
(Matthew 27:25) they received the consequence of their actions
in the future.
According to those words, the land of Israel was burnt to the ground
completely and the people were sold as slaves in AD 70 by Titus,
the Roman general. Although they resisted the Roman Empire and started
independence movements during those times, General Titus of Rome
took his army there and killed many people, regardless of age or
sex. Also, he destroyed completely all the buildings of the Temple
of God, and he even dug up and scattered the foundations of the
Temple. In doing so, he destroyed the faith of all Israelites and
eliminated every single ritual that they once performed. Furthermore,
he scattered the people of Israel all over the Mediterranean world.
And that is why the Jews have been living scattered all over the
world.
Due to their sins of standing against God and not believing in
Jesus as God and their Savior, they suffered massacre by the Nazi
army, and they have lived so miserably, scattered all over the world.
This is because of the sin they committed of not accepting Jesus
Christ, who is the true life, as their Savior. Even now, those who
do not accept the true Light will suffer from the same consequence.
Even among the Christians, there are those who have been ruined.
Why have they become so? It was because they did not believe fundamentally
in Jesus who has come by the gospel of the water and the Spirit.
Also, they have suffered such exploitation and have fallen into
a truly blind faith because they did not believe in the witness
given by John the Baptist, and they had professed that John the
Baptist had failed. Most importantly, they have suffered because
they did not believe Jesus to be the true Savior who blotted out
our sins completely with the gospel of the water and the blood.
We must believe that Jesus is the true God, the true Savior, and
the One who gives true life. We must surely know and believe the
fact that the number of Saviors of sinners in this universe is only
one, Jesus. No matter how great and competent a person may be, that
person can never be able to save anyone from all sins. No matter
how holy a pastor may be, without the gospel of the water and the
Spirit, the pastor cannot save even a single person from sin. You
can receive salvation only by believing in Jesus who has come by
the gospel of the water and the Spirit. And you can believe this
Truth only when you accept the witness of John the Baptist to Jesus
Christ. It means that there is no other way to salvation, except
through the gospel of the water and the Spirit.
Let us read the Gospel of John chapter 1 verse 12. “But as many
as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of
God, even to those who believe in His name.” Jesus has saved
those of us who believe in Him, that He came to this earth in the
flesh of man, took on all the sins of humankind once and for all
through the baptism received from John, shed all His blood having
both of His hands and feet nailed to the Cross, and gave up His
life on our behalf as the judgment for our sins. To those of us
who believe in Jesus, God gave us the right to become His children.
But you have to pay attention to the words, “But as many as received
Him.” Whoever accepts Jesus and believes in Him with thanksgiving
can be a child of God for free, but if anyone does not do so, the
person will be condemned.
For you to be able to hear the Word of God is something truly great.
It is a great blessing before God for you to be able to hear the
Word of God in this hour of service. There are great many treasures
within this Bible Word. The Word of God is so beautiful that nothing
can compare with it. Even masterpieces such as the works of Shakespeare
of England are not comparable to it. When we eager to listen to
His Word with a believing heart, these Bible scriptures can fulfill
our ears, our thoughts, our hearts, our souls, and even our bodies.
However, in believing the gospel of the water and the Spirit, there
is this provision, ‘only those who receive Him.’
Then, what does it mean to receive, that is, to accept Jesus Christ
who has come by the gospel of the water and the Spirit? It means
for us to believe and accept in our hearts that Jesus is God, the
Creator, the Savior who has saved us from sins, and the Lamb who
has received and taken on the judgment for the sake of our sins.
Our Lord gives the right to become children of God to those who
accept the salvation of Jesus by believing in the Word of Truth,
which says that our Lord has come to this earth and saved us by
the water and the blood. Those who receive God’s gospel of the water
and the Spirit become filled with the blessing of the remission
of all sins and other heavenly treasures.
The word, ‘Jesus,’ means ‘Savior.’ To those who truly believe the
Truth that Jesus has saved us, our Lord gave the right to become
the children of God. By believing in the name of Jesus, one is able
to receive the right to become a child of God.
Now, let us read the Gospel of John, chapter 1 verse 12 and 13.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born,
not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
but of God.”
Dear fellow believers, many people think that one would one would
unconditionally receive salvation if the person believes in Jesus
somehow. They hold fast onto the Bible passage, “Whoever
calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Others
believe that they will be saved if they believe the doctrines of
their denomination, and yet others argue that by relying on Calvin’s
doctrine of predestination one cannot be convinced of one’s salvation
until the person stands before God.
But, it is written, “Who were born, not of blood, nor of the
will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” What
people say is not important. What the Bible says is important.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God” (John 1:1). The Word itself is God. If we
believe God’s Word before God, we get to receive salvation. I mean
that the Word itself is God, and therefore, if we believe in it
as it is written, we are allowed to receive salvation from all sins
before God. People who have received salvation from sins are not
born of the will of a human. And, only those who believe in the
Truth of salvation that was spoken by God get to receive salvation.
To be born of the will of man means to try to become born again
by relying on one’s own denomination or by provoking the will of
one’s own flesh and emotions.
Certain hair-raising feelings, the speaking of tongues, and vibrations
in the body, are all things that you get when you pray, and are
examples of human emotions. We receive salvation neither by desires
of the flesh nor by blood lineage. It is never the case that we
arrive at salvation on our own accord just because we are pastors
or because we are the children of a pastor. No matter position,
class, gender, or age, salvation is something individual, and no
matter who you are, you have to accept the Word of God to receive
true salvation. Only those who believe in the fact that Jesus is
God, the Son of God, and their Savior and that Jesus has saved them
by the water and the blood, receive the right to become the children
of God.
Christianity today is moving in the direction of provoking the
will of the flesh. People today who do not believe in the gospel
of the water and the Spirit are like that. Thus, the hour of service
gets very noisy. These people, speaking with tongues, only disturb
others’ ears. What do these people try to do with the gift of tongues
and the abilities that they receive from God? They try to make money
or exalt themselves. That is why, in this day and age, we must spread
the gospel of the water and the Spirit in the language of people
of every nation.
If one becomes a pastor, a deacon, or an elder, without the gospel
of the water and the Spirit, it is the case that the person has
believed in Jesus according to his desires of the flesh. They are
proud of their duties and pretend to have received the remission
of sin without knowing the gospel Truth. Even if your son were ordained,
he would not be able to receive salvation from sins without the
knowledge of the gospel of the water and the Spirit. It is absolutely
useless to lead a life of faith without having first received the
remission of sins by believing in the gospel of the water and the
Spirit. Our true Truth of salvation comes only from the gospel of
the water and the Spirit.
The salvation that God gives us is not of the will of the flesh
nor of the will of man, nor of blood. It is only of the faith of
believing in the gospel Word of the water and the Spirit, which
is God’s Truth. Is your faith based on the gospel of the water and
the Spirit? These Bible scriptures testify that the gospel of the
water and the Spirit is the only and original gospel. The Truth
recorded in the Bible states that Jesus Christ has come by the gospel
of the water and the Spirit and this Truth has not changed for thousands
of years.
It is reported that over 90% of the remarkable scientists of the
modern world history believe that these Bible scriptures are the
Word of God. As you may know, Isaac Newton, one of the greatest
scientists of world history, was a faithful believer in this Bible.
If one wants to be a man of success or a man of value, the person
has to know and accept the Word of God, for it is the Truth itself
and it gives us wisdom and insight (Proverbs 1:2). Only through
the Word of God, are we able to hear God’s voice and know His will,
and also, we are able to know and believe in the Savior who has
come by the gospel of the water and the Spirit.
Let us look at John 1:14. It is said, “And the Word became flesh
and dwelt among us, and we behold His glory, the glory as of the
only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
The fact that the Word became flesh means that God who had created
us came into this world as a human being. And it means that all
the people on this earth are able to meet Jesus through the Word
of God. Upon seeing Jesus, John, who had seen and touched Him with
his eyes and hands (1 John 1:1), said that He was full of grace
and truth. It means that we get to see the glory of God through
Jesus, who is the incarnation of the glory of God. We get to see
the glory of God through Jesus. Through the Bible scriptures, we
are able to see how Jesus has saved us from sins, and we see that
He has saved us by receiving the baptism from John, then vicariously
dying on the Cross, and finally resurrecting from the dead. We are
able to see how righteous and full of love the grace of God is.
Jesus Christ is the Master of love who has saved us from sins unconditionally.
Through Jesus, God has shown us all the glory of His divine power
and how just and merciful He is. Jesus Christ was full of grace
and truth.
We have come to receive salvation from all sins by believing in
the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ, who has come by the water
and the Spirit. The truth that our Lord has saved you from sins
is the greatest gift in the world. Just as the word ‘grace’ means
to be thankful, the grace of salvation is a gift that God gave to
us without price. Jesus Christ has saved us from the sins of the
world once and for all by being born on this earth, receiving the
baptism from John the Baptist, shedding His blood, and resurrecting
from the dead. This is God’s grace of salvation. God has given to
you and me the gift of salvation from the sins of the world, which
enables us to be born again. By spreading the gospel of the water
and the Spirit throughout the entire world, God has bestows His
grace of salvation to all living creatures.
The gospel of the water and the Spirit is the only Truth of salvation
in this world. This Truth blankets the world with salvation and
fills it with the grace of God. This Truth of salvation, which has
not left us the least bit in want, is something that was accomplished
according to the promises of the Old Testament. And, it has allowed
anyone that believes in their heart in Jesus Christ, who has come
by the gospel of the water and the Spirit, to receive full salvation
from all sins. After believing in this gospel of the water and the
Spirit, there is no concern for us to become a sinner once again
due to our weakness. If we truly believe in this gospel Word of
the water and the Spirit, we are blessed to receive full salvation
through Jesus Christ and His Truth. Through this Truth, not only
do we fully become the children of God, but also, we fully become
just. And, we get to receive His abundant blessings.
Let us look at John chapter 1 verse 16. “And of His fullness
we have all received, and grace for grace.”
You who believe in the gospel of the water and the Spirit are now
complete in Jesus, and should feel no spiritual thirst. Jesus is
your Savior. Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is the Creator of the
universe and all things in it. Would the One who has completely
built the universe be in want of anything? Jesus, our Savior who
came to save us from sins, is the One who has created the entire
visible and invisible world; humans, animals, plants, angels and
all spiritual beings.
“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace”
(John 1:16).
The entire Bible talks about no other Messiah other than Jesus.
In the Bible, a great deal of Jesus’ ministry is described, but
only a little is shown about the ministry of God the Father, as
well as the Holy Spirit. It is certain that people get to salvation
from sins through Jesus, the Savior, and because of this, the Bible
places relative importance on Jesus Christ. It is said that, through
Jesus, God the Father made all creations and saved you and me from
the sins of the world. Because Jesus is the Omnipotent God, it was
sufficient enough for Him to save humans from sins. For us to receive
salvation from the sins of the world is the gift of salvation given
to us from Jesus.
Now, let us look at the Gospel of John chapter 1 verse 17. “For
the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through
Jesus Christ.”
The Law that God gave to humankind was given through Moses. But,
the true Life, the true Way, and the real Truth of salvation came
through Jesus Christ. He said, “I am the way, the truth,
and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John
14:6). The true Way to our salvation came through Jesus Christ.
Through Moses, God’s Law entered into this world, but Moses could
not save us with that Law. The Law shows us how lacking our actions
are and what grave sinners we are. However, Jesus Christ came to
this earth with the Truth, the true salvation, and the Life. The
reason why Jesus Christ came to this earth was to save you and me,
and He did save us. It is written that the law was given through
Moses, but the truth came through Jesus Christ. There is no other
true Savior, except Jesus. Except for God, there can be no one else
who could truly be the Savior of humankind. There can be no one
else.
In the future, our world will be under a situation where hostile
policies against Christianity prevail. If that happens, people who
believe in Jesus will be under great persecution. Even so, the fact
that only Jesus is the God of salvation and the one true Savior
and will not change, and our faith will therefore be unfailing.
And yet, some “Christian authorities” say that there is salvation
in other religions, but in fact they are wolves and robbers, who
just exploit the money of their followers. Only Jesus has saved
you and me from our sins and the sins of all humanity. Do you believe
that only Jesus is our true Savior?
We must only believe in the one and only God, Jesus, and His Word.
When we preach a sermon, we must deliver the Word spoken by Jesus.
People speak of what Socrates is like, what Hegel is like, what
Kant is like, and what Confucius or Mencius said. But, do these
figures have something to do with your salvation? No, absolutely
not. If possible, it is better not to speak such things in the hour
of sermon. This hour of sermon is a time to preach the Word of God,
and it would be useless and even evil to preach anything else besides
the Word of God. If others were to preach words or long to listen
to words that stand against the Word of God in God’s Church, these
people would be going against God, and they would become enemies
of God.
We have received salvation by believing in Jesus. And many people
who haven’t yet received salvation must listen to and believe in
the gospel Word of the water and the Spirit. Our thoughts and hearts
become clean only when we believe in the Word of God. If we were
to interpret the Word of God in a worldly perspective, there would
be no benefit for us at all. Humans can tolerate people’s words,
but when we view it in connection to our souls, such human thoughts
we cannot simply tolerate. It is because human thoughts can block
or degrade Jesus’ Words.
Dear fellow believers, although we may change, the gospel of the
water and the Spirit given by Jesus will never change. Jesus is
the absolute Savior, and the Word spoken by Jesus will stay forever
until the end of the world. The Lord said, “For assuredly,
I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle
will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew
5:18). And for this reason, we must believe in the Word of God,
and believe and spread the gospel Word of the water and the Spirit.
Also, we must cherish this Word of the water and the Spirit within
our hearts.
We must not keep a single piece of dirty dreg, which is of human
thought, inside our heads and hearts. We have received salvation
by believing in the gospel of the water and the Spirit and the truth
that Jesus is the true Savior and that Jesus is the true God. We
believe that Jesus is the true God and the true Savior. We must
continue to believe in the gospel of the water and the Spirit until
we meet the Lord.
Back
|
