Title: People who act unconditionally
people who act unconditionally
Text/ John 7:37-38
1. Introduction
For the past few weeks, we've been meditating on "以信稱righteousness (justification of faith) - people who do not believe and cannot stand strong - people who believe and live unconditionally - people who are unconditionally grateful". Today I would like to talk to you on the topic of “People who act unconditionally”. But what does “unconditional” mean when we say “unconditional faith-unconditional gratitude-unconditional action” here?
*The incident in which Abraham, who was commanded to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering and fell into the torment of absolute despair-absolute hopelessness-absolute emptiness, nevertheless believed unconditionally in God who is on the other side of absolute emptiness and acted unconditionally (Gen. *Wealth-sons and daughters-wives-friends, etc., lost, and even his own body was literally destroyed, but the LORD gave and the LORD took away. The name of the LORD Job's confession, "Blessed be this praise" (Job 1:21-22). *If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Bible says, out of his belly will flow rivers of living water (John 7:37-38). *Do not let your heart be troubled, because you believe in God, believe also in me... In that day you will know that I am in the Father, and you in me, and I in you. He who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me, who loves me. He will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him (John 14:1, 20-21).
The meaning given to us by these words is “unconditionally”. “Unconditional” is 永遠 (eternity), ultimate, truth, freedom, and river of living water. The “river of living water” that Jesus is talking about here is not a river of living water that can only be seen after we go to heaven after we die (Rev 22:1-2), but it is a river of living water that flows profusely here and now on this earth where we live. It is a river of living water. In this real world in which we live, before-in-time-after-time transcending time, unity with God, present participation in God's life, and divination of God's full power in the universe. , is to live while experiencing the presence of God not only during the Sunday worship service, but also at every moment of our secular life.
<Reference: Paul Tillich, Translated by Ki-deuk Song, History of Protestant Thought in the 19th and 20th Century, Korea Theological Institute>
My soul has been blessed with the burden of heavy sins, and I see that this sorrowful world is transformed into heaven. The high mountains and rough fields, the cottages or palaces, or wherever my Lord Jesus is enshrined, the kingdom of heaven. Hymn 495 reveals the “unconditional realm” well.
2. All beings in this world act (work)
Behavior (work) has two aspects. One is an inner action (work) such as faith and gratitude. The other is external actions (work) that are concretely manifested in the body, such as service - dedication - good work - relief work - serving the church - practice of love.
3. What is the unconditional action?
first. Let me ask you one question. Jesus' parables (the parable of the mustard seed, the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the good Samaritan, the parable of the expensive pearl, the parable of the lost coin, the parable of the prodigal son, etc.), what do all these parables have in common?
The answer is “one”. Not just a mustard seed, but a mustard seed, not just a lost sheep, but a lost sheep, not just a son, but a second son, not just a pearl, but an expensive pearl, met a robber, not many people, but one... all “one” is.
This means that Jesus did not come to save this world, but He came to save only me. Therefore, you must also go and act (work) unconditionally for the one person you met. Oh, what a gracious and terrifying word!
Every beginning is very small - insignificant - out of shape - no one notices - nothing to look at - but with mana - trivial. However, if you pay tribute to the smallest thing (loyalty: act faithfully with the center of your heart, at least 10 years or more), amazing things will happen.
From the son of thunder to the apostle of love, the apostle John kept the faithfulness of serving the mother of Jesus for the rest of his life and left a great Gospel. The Apostle John clearly set an example for each of us to act (work) unconditionally in the realities of our own lives. That is, it is the attitude of change of personality - human loyalty - 徐徐無慾速