Mystery of Being Revealed

2004-01-28 21:43

Whoever reveals himself has come on his own, and whoever is revealed has been sent. Those who read the Bible--the Scriptures that were written about the Son of God--in words which man's wisdom teaches think that the Son, Jesus came on his own to save the world. However, those who read the Bible in demonstration of the Spirit and of power don't think that he came on his own; they believe God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.

It is written, "For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit (John 3:34)." And again, "'My food,' said Jesus, 'is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work (John 4:34).'" And again, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life (John 5:24)." And again, "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day (John 6:38-39)." And again, "Jesus answered, 'My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him (John 7:16-18)."

The Bible testifies again, "Jesus said, 'I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me (John 7:33)." And again, "Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say (John 8:42-43).'" Jesus made it clear that he had not come on his own.

Those who read the Bible by the mind of man, not by the mind of the Spirit, cannot know that Jesus did not reveal himself but was revealed. At last their way to salvation will be blocked by their own knowledge.

Jesus clearly said, "The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him (John 8:29)." And again, "Then Jesus cried out, 'When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me (John 12:44-45)." And again, "I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me (John 13:20)."

Anyone who has not been sent cannot preach the gospel, the voice of the Son. The gospel is not just words, but the voice of the Son. The voice is power. The Bible says that the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

Therefore, the Lord himself said, "If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own." And also he said, "He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him."

Likewise, the children of God, who are born of God and belong to Christ, are made manifest by the true light, not by the false light which reveals itself. It is written, "But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light (Ephesians 5:13)." They are revealed with Christ, the true light.

As it is written, "Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me (John 6:57)," only those who feed on Christ, the Word whom God has sent into the world, and drink into one Spirit will live forever.

Therefore, only he in whom Christ the eternal life lives will live forever with him, as it is written, "For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself (John 5:26)."

The Bible testifies, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us (1 John 1:1-2)." This life did not reveal himself on his own but "was manifested."

The Bible says, "My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ(Colossians 2:2)." It refers to Christ as "the mystery of God." Christ testified, "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. (John 5:30)." The Lord who gave up his own will entered before us through the torn veil, that is, his body.

Therefore, the Bible says, "Then he said to them all: 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23).'"

Lord, please now bring back the captivity of Zion, being revealed. Amen. Thank you, Lord.

The least brother, Kim Yun-gu