Love Gives Birth to Love

2003-07-31 14:39

A man gives birth to a man; a sheep gives birth to a sheep; a dog gives birth to a dog. In the same manner, the children of love is love. The Bible says in Romans 8:29, "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." This is the thoughts of God who gives birth to the Son he loves.

It is written in Psalms 87:5: Indeed, of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her." Those who are not born there--in love--are not the children of God and have nothing to do with salvation, the inheritance of the kingdom of God, just as it is written in Mathew 7:23: "Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

God is love. All the children of God are also love. Whoever does not love is never children of God. Only love can live in love forever, just as it is written, "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him (1 John 4:16)."

The message of the cross is about the process in which the children of love are born and Christ is formed in them. The Lord already testified about it in Isaiah 49:20-21, "The children born during your bereavement will yet say in your hearing, 'This place is too small for us; give us more space to live in.' Then you will say in your heart, 'Who bore me these? I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. Who brought these up? I was left all alone, but these--where have they come from?'"

In God there are an old commandment and a new commandment. The old commandment is for the old self, and the new commandment is for the new self. The Bible says, "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment (Mathew 5:21).'" It also says, "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord (Mathew 5:33).'" The former regulation that was said to the people of old time was the law and commandments which were given through Moses. That is the commandment of cursing, which was given to the old self who sins and is a slave to sin. That is the law of condemnation, through which sin might become utterly sinful.

Therefore, the law has something to do with the pains of childbirth, in which the children of love are born again. It is absolutely right that to do the work for the first time, God sent his firstborn, Christ Jesus, in the likeness of sinful man, born under law. The Bible says in Hebrews 2:9, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone." The Bible also says in Hebrews 2:17, "For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people."

If the old self of sin has not died, the new self of love cannot be born. Those who do not follow Christ's image and has not died with him and are not born again of God with him are not children of God. Anyone who has died has been freed from sin, being a child of love, as it is testified in Romans 6:6-7, "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--because anyone who has died has been freed from sin."

The new commandment is for the new self. The old self can never keep it because the old commandment is for the slaves, and the new commandment for the sons.

The commandment for the slaves is different from the commandment for the sons. The Lord himself said, "If you love me, you will obey what I command (John 14:21)." And again he said, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him (John 14:21)." And again he said, "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love (John 15:10) ."

Those who are without love are not children of God. The Truth says, "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him (1 John 3:1)." And again it says, "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death (1 John 3:14) ." And again it says, "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (1 John 4:11) ."

The commandment for the slaves is heavy, but the commandment for the sons is light. 1 John 5:3 says, "This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome." Mathew 11:30 says, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." It is really right. Now the children of God who are not of the world have the peace of Christ.

The Bible says in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." It says again in 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." All the words found in the Bible are of the Son of Love.

Therefore, It is also written: "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love (John 15:10)." Thank you, Lord.

The least brother, Kim Yun-gu