Title: False Faith and Perfect Faith
Contents
Abraham is God's friend. Therefore, we can see the invisible circumstances of God in Abraham, the friend of God.
There were three men whom Abraham wanted to appoint as his heirs. There were two in Abram's time and one in Abraham's time. In Abram's time, the first was Eliezer from Damascus, the second was Ishmael from Hagar the maid, and the third was Isaac from Sarah, a free woman in Abraham's time.
Eliezer of Damascus believed that Abram would inherit because he loved him. This belief is a false belief. Also, Ishmael, born of Hagar the maid, is a slave (sinner) and believes that he will inherit Abram's son. There are many of these Ishmael today. This faith of Ishmael is also believing a lie.
The Bible clearly speaks about the first Damascusite Eliezer, saying, “…this man will not be your heir, but one born of your own body will be your heir…” (Genesis 15:4), and Hagar the second maid Regarding Ishmael, the son of Esau, he said, “Cast out this slave girl and her son, for the son of this servant shall not inherit with my son Isaac...” (Genesis 21:10).
And the Bible says about Isaac, born to Sarah, the third and last free woman, "...your wife Sarah will surely bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac, and I will make my covenant with him, an everlasting covenant with his descendants. shall be” (Genesis 17:19). But the Bible says, "Abraham and Sarah were old, and they were old, and Sarah's hard water was cut off" (Genesis 18:11).
Therefore, it is clear that the Isaac to be inherited cannot be born according to the flesh and is only born of God. It is written, "Abraham hoped and believed in hope, so that he might become the father of many nations, as it was said, 'So shall your descendants be.' When he was a hundred years old, he realized that his body was dead and that Sarah's womb was dead. Knowing this, his faith did not grow weak, nor did he doubt the promises of God through lack of faith. But being strengthened in his faith, he glorified God and became convinced that he was also able to accomplish what he had promised. Therefore, it was counted as righteousness to him.” (Romans 4:18) -22) And it is the same as saying, “These are those who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13).
Therefore, the evidence is, “I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor do perishables inherit incorruption” (1 Corinthians 15:50).
Therefore, the false belief that I who was born in the flesh will inherit (save) the kingdom of God is Satan's temptation.
It is written, “The coming of the evil one, according to the works of Satan, will come on those who are perishing with all powers and signs and false miracles and all deceitfulness of unrighteousness, for they do not receive the love of the truth, and they will not be saved. He caused temptation to work in them to believe a lie, so that all who do not believe the truth and love unrighteousness may be judged” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). No, only the children of God who are born of God are the heirs of God with Christ.
The Bible clearly testifies about this, saying, “If children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, for we must suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:17).
Therefore, Abraham had three objects of inheritance, but he gave up two and only one child of the promise.
It remains. As it is written, “The children of the flesh are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring” (Romans 9:8).
Regarding this, it was prophesied in the writings of the prophets, “Two-thirds will perish from all this earth, says the LORD, and a third will remain there; I will call, and I will hear; I will say, This is my people, and they will say, The LORD is my God” (Zechariah 13:8-9).
Also, the apostle said, “I will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus, and these will be punished with everlasting destruction from the face of the Lord and the glory of his strength” (2 Thessalonians 1). :8-9) It is the same thing.
“Those who do not know God” and “those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” will be punished with eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and the glory of His might. This is the second death.
If you do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus, your body of sin remains. If the body of sin remains, you are not a son, but a slave to sin. This is because the body of sin commits sin. It is written, "...Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. A slave does not remain in the house forever, but the son abides forever. Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you will truly be free." (John 8:34-36) It is the same thing.
Therefore, obedience to the gospel means, as it is written in the writings of truth, “We know that our old self was crucified with Jesus so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and that we should no longer be enslaved to sin. has been set free from sin and justified” (Romans 6:6-7).
To be justified, as it is written, “For the dead have been set free from sin,” and only those who are dead to sin are freed from sin. Those who are alive to sin are still in sin. As it is written, “...how long shall we, who are dead to sin, live in them” (Romans 6:2).
Being born of the flesh is a body of sin. Therefore, flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. This is because the kingdom of God is not “a dwelling place of sin”, but a new heaven and a new earth, “a dwelling place of righteousness.”
The gospel is not used to cover up evil. The gospel is the power of God to take away sin. He exhorted, “Brothers, you were called to freedom, but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). Do not use it as a covering, but act as a servant of God” (1 Peter 2:16).
Therefore, there must be obedience to the gospel. This obedience is the “remaining sufferings of Christ.” It is written, “For it is written that grace has been granted to you for Christ’s sake, not only that you believe in him, but also that you should suffer for him” (Philippians 1:29). He gave us “perfect faith” through suffering that makes us perfect through suffering, which we must also suffer with in order to be glorified with him” (Romans 8:17).
This perfect faith is "...the faith of God's elect..." (Titus 1:1). The Bible has a lot to say about this. He who has ears will hear.
Therefore, it is not “I” who is flesh and blood, but “He” who is born of God who will inherit the grace of salvation, which is life. Therefore, “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20) has a testimony. We thank the Lord for making this possible for us. Lord! Thank you.
Therefore, “Everyone who is born of God does not sin, because the seed of God abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9) is true and “For he is born of God.” Everyone overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). Those who have this testimony are holy brethren, called in heaven with Christ. I bow down before this call and worship. (Thy kingdom and power and glory be forever. Amen.)
little brother kim yoon-goo