Title: I am not who I am
Contents
The apostle Paul, who was sent to the Gentiles as a light of the Gentiles, put off completely the old man Saul, became an apostle of Christ only by the grace of God, and clearly testifies to the fact that it was accomplished in him, saying, “I am dead, and Christ lives in me.”
He testified, “I am the least of the apostles, and I am not worthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God. They labored harder than the apostles, but not I, but the grace of God who was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:9-10).
I have longed for Paul all my life and I follow him so that just as Paul set an example for Christ, so I also want to set an example for Paul. This is because Paul was a type of person who was modeled as Jesus Christ, the mediator between God and men. Therefore, it is written, “Be imitators of me, just as I am imitators of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Therefore, he testified, “I am zealous for you with the zeal of God, because I have arranged to offer you pure virgins to one husband, Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2).
The apostle Paul, who became a teacher to us, the Gentiles, certainly put off the old man when he was called. As it is written, “I did not consult with flesh and blood when it was pleasing to reveal the Son in me, to preach the Son to the Gentiles…” (Galatians 1:16). Because it can never be revealed in a living person.
The gospel of that country can never be discussed with flesh and blood. If it is the gospel that was discussed with flesh and blood, then this gospel will be another gospel, another Jesus, and another spirit. So Paul, when God was pleased to reveal the Son in him to preach the Son to the Gentiles, immediately he did not consult with flesh and blood, but followed the Spirit to Arabia and then to Damascus.
This is because Damascus is the starting point for preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. So Paul went back to Damascus. Paul made clear the beginning of the gospel of Christ. In order to follow Christ, we have come to know the way of the cross through the Holy Spirit, which we cannot follow without first denying ourselves.
The way to God the Father through the Lord Jesus is by no means possible without first denying self, that is, flesh and blood. As it is written, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).
However, many people, including myself, discuss the gospel with flesh and blood to establish the righteousness of God with words, but in reality, there are many times when they do not try to establish God's righteousness, but try to establish my own righteousness with the flesh.
Even though it should not be me, I was not able to offer whole burnt offerings on the Lord's altar at the beginning, and I died with the Lord. The Bible shows us well about this.
It is written, “God showed me that Joshua the high priest stood before the angel of God, and Satan stood at his right hand against him.
And God said to Satan, "Satan, God rebukes you. The God who chose Jerusalem rebukes you. Isn't this a charred wood taken out of the fire?" Joshua was clothed in filthy clothes and stood before the angel.
And God commanded those who stood before him to remove their filthy garments. And he said to Joshua, "I have taken away your guilt, and I will put on you a beautiful garment." And I said, Put a clean crown on his head. and put on his head and clothed him, and an angel of God stood by.
An angel of God testified to Joshua, saying, “Thus says the God of hosts, if you walk in my ways and keep my statutes, you will rule over my house and guard my courts, and I will make you come and go among those who stand here
High Priest Joshua, you and your companions who are sitting before you will listen to me; these are men of typology, and I will bring forth my servant Shun.
Behold the stone that I have set before Joshua, says the God of hosts, for a stone has seven eyes, and I will engrave an inscription, and in one day I will take away the iniquity of the land, says the LORD of hosts. We will invite each other under the fig tree” (Zechariah 3:1-10).
How much effort must Joshua, the high priest of God's people, Israel try to perfect himself? However, his clothes of righteousness were not those of Christ, but of his own, so no matter how much he tried to make them clean, they had no choice but to be dirty before God. Also, because he exists, his sins remain the same.
Therefore, the beginning of the gospel is self-denial. This is the way of the cross. Those who have themselves say that Christ lives in them and that they boast only in Christ, but in the end they exalt (defile) themselves, and in the end, they boast only of themselves. This is because there was no complete denial of self in the beginning.
Therefore, the Bible says, “Because of the long days of your life, you should be teachers. But again, from whom you must teach you what the basics of the word of God are, you have become barren of milk and of solid food” (Hebrews 5:12) Says. Again, he said that someone must teach us what the basics of God's word are.
In order to be taught what the basics of God's Word are, we must have ears to hear. These ears are not the ears of flesh. As it is written, “As to the word of life from the beginning, which we have heard, and which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands” (1 John 1:1), these are “ears to hear” that can hear the word of life.
The living stones of the house of God, which are built on the foundation of the prophets and apostles, will unite with that foundation and become one with the headstone. Therefore, I am not who I am, but only new living stones made by the grace of God who was with me will be built together with the headstone to become a house for God to dwell in.
It is written, “I have heard for sure that Ephraim groaned himself, saying, ‘You have punished me, and I have been punished as a calf unaccustomed to a yoke. You are my God; bring me back, and I will return.’” (Jeremiah 31) :18) This is my appearance like Hashim.
But the Lord foretold, “God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in mercy; he will not always reproach, nor will he cherish wrath forever. as the heavens are high on the earth, so great is his mercy toward those who fear him. As the east is far from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us; as a father has pity on his children, so God loves those who fear him. He has compassion on us, because He knows our constitution and remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:8-14).
It is not I who forsake self and become who I am, but by the grace of God who was with me, being formed in the image of Christ, to those who fear the Lord... Thank you Lord.
little brother kim yoon-goo