On the Place Where the Son of Man Died

2004-03-29 21:07

The son of God is raised on the place where the son of man died. That does not mean that I died and is alive again. The son of God is raised on the place where I died. Therefore, the kingdom of God is not mine but his--the son of God. The Bible says "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33)."

The dead Jesus is different from the raised Jesus. The dead Jesus is the son of man, but the raised Jesus is the son of God. The Bible refers to the dead Jesus as "the Son of Man." It is written, "concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:3-4)."

The Bible testifies, "This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world (1 John 4:2-3)."

The dead life is the life of man, but the raised life is the life of God. The Bible says about it, "...being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit (1 Peter 3:18)." And again, "So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 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 15:42-44)."

The Word of Truth says, "We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body (2 Corinthians 4:10)." The life that was crucified on the cross is the life of man, but the new life that was raised is the life of God. Therefore, the Bible says, "For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself (John 5:26)."

The Bible refers to the raised life of the Son of God as the new life. That is because the life of man was the old life. The Bible testifies to it, "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life (Romans 6:4)."

We are raised with Jesus the son of God on the place where we the sons of man died with Jesus the son of man. That is the will of God and will be accomplished as it is written, "In bringing many sons to glory..." The Bible testifies to it, "Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: 'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, 'Here I am--it is written about me in the scroll--I have come to do your will, O God (Hebrews 10:5-7).'"

The son of God lives in the place where I died. It is written, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21)." If I am removed, it is gain to God. It is because I am darkness and God is light. Christ put on the son of man--darkness, the flesh--in the world of darkness so that he should fulfill the will of God to remove the darkness.

To fulfill this will, God let his only begotten Son put on the form of the body of darkness and sent him into the world of darkness. In the true light, there is no darkness at all. To remove darkness is the message of the cross. Therefore, the Bible says, "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5)." The Lord said, "It is finished," and gave up his spirit, fulfilling this will of Father.

God's only begotten Son Jesus had been made perfect through suffering from the son to the son. It is written, "For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings (Hebrews 2:10)." And again, "For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever (Hebrews 7:28)."

Therefore, Jesus the son of man finished his work and through the Spirit of holiness became the firstborn among many sons, the firstfruits among much fruit. And he became the radiance of God's glory. It is written, "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 (Romans 8:29)." And also, "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (Hebrews 1:3)."

If I lose my life in the kingdom of the world, I will find his life in the kingdom of God. The Truth says, "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:39)." To lose is myself, and to have is Christ. How great glory it is? There is no kingdom of God for those who ignore such a great salvation.

It is written, "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Galatians 6:14)." And also, "The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever (Revelation 11:15).'"

Everyone who knows this truth will be set free: The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever. When God brings his firstborn into the world again, he will come in the form of the glorious body like the Son of Man. Therefore, the Bible says, "If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body."

The Bible says about it, "So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him (Matthew 24:44)." And again, "...However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8)." That is because the new Jerusalem is not of the world. The present Jerusalem of the world will be desolate, but the new Jerusalem of God will be adorned in heaven. Amen. Thank you, Lord.

The least brother, Kim Yun-gu.