Title: True Freedom/John 3:31-36
Content True Freedom
Text: John 3:31-36
It is also true that the US military leaders analyze the situation every day and grasp the dynamics of North Korea, and it is not understandable that the enemies who may be fighting in less than an hour are demonstrating in front of their noses. However, the demonstration is possible because the young people who were demonstrating are looking at it from a different point of view. From person to person, from country to country, from nation to nation, from group to location, what we think, see, and understand is different. This leads to misunderstandings, prejudices, and even misjudgments. Therefore, in the human world, conflict always exists. For humans living within limits, human thoughts cannot but be limited, and human knowledge and experience are bound to be limited. When we see everything within the limits of human beings, it already has limits. When you live within that limit, dissatisfaction and complaints always dominate your life. That limit is formed by believing in yourself. In life, everyone lives in self-isolation. When I think of the other person as what I think, I can never understand and share true love.
Two cross necklaces and encouragement cards were made and presented to the short-term mission team going on a mission from Sunday School. One was made by the children to wear around their neck, and the other to give as a gift at the mission field. I wore it around my neck when the missionary teams came and went and asked not to put it out when I went to the mission field. The reason is that many people in South America are Catholics, but everything is idolized in connection with indigenous beliefs rather than Catholicism. Therefore, there is a phenomenon in which religious leaders avoid being embodied if possible. The mission field love should be focused on understanding and helping people in the mission field. Sometimes, giving love can be a burden to the other person. Love should be centered on the other person. In today's text, we are showing the way to live with true freedom to those who are bound by these limitations and lose their freedom. We are going to find out the way through today's text.
1. You must meet the One who comes from above.
2. You must receive the evidence of the one who comes from above.
You must receive the evidence of the one who comes from above. The proof is the assurance of love. "He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one receives his testimony, and he who receives his testimony has sealed him, saying that God is true" (verses 32, 33). What is the story that Jesus proved with certainty? You have clearly demonstrated love. How did you prove your love? He proved it with the love of the cross. Those who believe in the Son's atoning love have eternal life. The evidence of love was the evidence of eternal life. Because without a sacrifice for God's wrath, there is no escape from the wrath of God. Without passing through the cross, we cannot live the kingdom of God, which is eternal life. There is no way to live unless God gives you life. This is the love of the cross. The only way to live is to meet with love with Him who is the Absolute, Creator, and Ruler.
In other words, one's own concrete conviction of God's love is the way to go. When will the thrill of love happen? It's time to meet someone who sacrifices on your behalf. It appears when you sacrifice material things on your own behalf, and sacrifice your pride on your own behalf. When I was in middle school, I felt the thrill of love from the teacher who slapped me on the cheek because he had made a mistake in education while looking at us talking in the classroom. Above all else, if you sacrifice your life, the thrill of that love will reach its peak. Nevertheless, life gets ahead of God, trying to lead God, and commits the folly of living a more and more confined life by being trapped in one's own frame. A foolish life that narrows oneself down and narrows down a neighbor leads a life of condemnation and criticism without forgiveness and tolerance. A life that is far from the assurance of God's love is a life without grace. Those who enjoy grace live a life of generosity, embracing neighbors while having a leisurely time. It is a life that enters into the mind of the Absolute, not into my heart.
Do not listen to the earthly words of the one who is born of the earth, but receive the love of God testified by the one who came from above, that is, the grace of forgiveness on the cross by faith. There is the joy of eternal life in that faith, and you will come out of the frame you made and become truly free and live a life that enjoys God's grace more and more abundantly as the years go by. True freedom lies in freedom from the fear of death and the joy of eternal life.