What is the Truth?

2004-02-24 10:12

The law was given to the old man, the man of the flesh, through Moses; grace and truth were given to the new man, the man of the Spirit, through Jesus Christ. The old man, who was born of blood, of the will of the flesh or the will of man, belongs to this world; the new man, the man of God, who died and was born again of the Spirit, belongs to that world.

There should be a mediator between God and men. Everyone who sins cannot come to God in person. No sinners may see God and live. Therefore, a mediator between God and men has been needed. It is written, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5)."

God gave two mediators to all people on earth. One was given as a servant, the other as a son. No one may come to God except through these two mediators.

The Bible says about it, "And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. (Hebrews 3:5-6)."

The meaning of the phrase "for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward" can be found in Galatians 3:24, "Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." The law of a fleshly commandment, which was given through Moses, is our tutor to bring us to Christ.

Without dying to the law through the law in the law--the former commandment, no one can come to Christ the eternal life. Only those who submitted to the curse of the law and were crucified with Christ are given the grace and truth of God raising them with Christ.

The one who had experienced it himself testified, "For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God (Galatians 2:19)." This testimony is the truth.

No man can be freed from the law of a fleshly commandment--the former commandment, as it is written, "he is indeed flesh." The law says, "All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one (Psalms 14:3)." And also, "As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one (Romans 3:10).'" It is written, "All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law (Galatians 3:10).'" All people are under the curse and are already dead before God.

Therefore, the Son, faithful over the house of God, was sent as a man so that we shall not perish in death but have eternal life. He was born under the law to fulfill the righteousness of God. It is written, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree (Galatians 3:13).'"

Now it is important for me to be united with him in his death. Only in that case, I can be united with him in his resurrection. It is the mystery of God that will be fulfilled only by faith in the truth. This faith saves the soul. It is testified, "Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him (2 Timothy 2:11)."

This is the substance of faith: The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Anyone who is not acquainted with it knows neither what the law is nor what the grace and truth are. In the end, those who don't know the truth will be hurt by the second death, whatever they know naturally.

The ministry of Moses is for killing, but the ministry of Christ is for giving life. "The former commandment" kills, but "the new commandment" gives life. Under the old covenant, there is the old man--the man of the flesh who did not die, but under the new covenant, the new man--the man who died and was raised again with Christ.

Through Moses dies the man of the flesh, but through Christ lives the man of the Spirit. The Bible says, "it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body (1 Corinthians 15:44)." The Lord himself said, "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)."

Therefore, if those who did not die--who did not obey the gospel--try to enter the kingdom of God, they are thieves, robbers, and the enemies of the cross of Christ. This is the truth: The old commandment to the old man, the new commandment to the new man. Amen. Thank you, Lord.

The least brother, Kim Yun-gu.