Faith and the Arm of the Lord

2004-10-11 00:08

Jesus Christ, whom God has sent, is the gospel that God has given to this world. Precious faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Lord Jesus Christ, the word of God that became flesh.

The prophet Isaiah said, "Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed (Isaiah 53:1)?"

The apostle John also said, "This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: 'Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed (John 12:38)?'"

The above passage says, "to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed," as well as "who has believed our message."

The word of the prophet will be fulfilled not only by faith, but also by the revelation of the arm of the Lord. Faith without the revelation of the arm of the Lord is dead.

Faith means our heart, and the arm means the works of God. Our faith without the revelation of the arm of the Lord is empty. It is written, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also (James 2:26)."

The faith with the revelation of the arm of the Lord is "faith working through love." It is written, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love (Galatians 5:6)."

Those who have faith working through love are the children of God, because God is love. 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)."

Therefore, "faith" and "the arm of the Lord" are fellow workers, as the Son and Father work together for good.

It is written, "As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1)."

The Bible says, "Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven (Psalms 85:11)." Wild animals, which eat fruits fallen from trees, search only the ground, not knowing that the fruits were fallen from above. They are unreasoning animals who only know about faith but do not understand the arm of the Lord.

The Bible said about it, "Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals--these are the very things that destroy them (Jude 1:10)." And again, "These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm--shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted--twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever (Jude 1:12-13)."

The Bible warns the foolish men who have faith but do not have the arm of the Lord, "These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity--for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him (2 Peter 2:17-19)."

Therefore, it is written, "You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did (James 2:22)." And again, "let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22)."

Faith is in my heart, but I am what I am by the grace of God, the arm of the Lord. Therefore, it is written, "Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"

Blessed are those who are gathered in the arms of the Lord by their faith in the Lord Jesus. It is written, "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young (Isaiah 40:11)." Amen. Thank you, Lord.

Brother of the End, Kim Yun-gu.