Here is a Trustworthy Saying!

2005-03-07 21:49

If anyone says he has been saved without denying himself, it is a lie. This is salvation: When a man died with Jesus, he can be raised a new man with Christ by God.

Not only Jesus died on the cross, but also I died there. Jesus did not come into the world to die alone. He came to die with all men, the sinners. Only if it is that way, we can be raised with him and be saved.

It is written, "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).

Many people are being deceived by Satan. Being tempted by Satan, they believe in the false gospel that they have become righteous only by faith in the fact that Jesus died alone.

It is written, "The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

Therefore, if a sinner says he has been saved, it is a lie. It is written, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst." (1 Timothy 1:15). And again, "Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him." (2 Timothy 2:11). The saying means that Jesus came to die with sinners to take away their sins. Sinners must die with Jesus because anyone who has died has been freed from sin and has been declared righteous.

This is the salvation: If the body of sin dies with Jesus who has come in the flesh, and a spiritual body can be raised with Christ. The Bible says, "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." (Hebrews 9:27-28).

Therefore, the man Christ Jesus died once as man is destined. It is written, "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." (Hebrews 2:17). However, Jesus' death is to make us holy, and our death is to be made holy.

The Bible says, "Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers." (Hebrews 2:11). And again, "...by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." (Hebrews 10:14).

This is the mystery of Christ and the church: Jesus' death to make us holy and our death to be made holy become one. It is written, "'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5:31-32).

This is the false salvation: "Jesus died alone, and I have been saved." The Lord's body, which is the church, cannot be formed in it because I, the body of sin, still remain and cannot become the holy body of Christ.

Therefore, The testimony says, "If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection." (Romans 6:5).

If we died with Jesus and have been raised with Christ, we are children of light, not children of darkness, and we are children of God with Christ Jesus. Thank you, Lord.

The Last Brother, Kim Yun-gu.