Title: Wandering and Restoration of Faith
Contents
Wandering and Restoration of Faith (John 20:24-29)
In Luke 13:30, Jesus said, “Behold, the last are some that will be first, and the first are some that will be last” (Matthew 19:30; Mark 10:3), and Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Therefore, stand He who thinks that he is, beware lest he fall.”
Just as a person is born and grows and develops throughout his or her life, faith also grows and develops. What should we do when our faith is shaken while we are living our life of faith and our faith is weakening and the wandering of faith begins? Looking at the case of Thomas appearing in today's text, I hope that there will be a history of restoration by examining my faith.
I. Thomas was separated from the community of faith (24)
The other disciples were gathered in one place and met the risen Lord. Thomas had departed from there and lost the opportunity to meet the resurrected Lord. When you are separated from the community of faith and are alone, your worries and skepticism are amplified and your despair is further magnified. It is very precious to spend alone time alone to pray. However, it is dangerous to break away and be isolated on your own. The more difficult and difficult, the stronger and stronger the trial, the more we have to stick with the community of faith and deal with it together. (Ecclesiastes 4:12) Dear saints! I hope that you will live a life of unity and fellowship with your family of faith while living your life of faith.
Ⅱ. Thomas was doubting the resurrection of Jesus (25)
Even when the other disciples testified that they had met the Lord, they did not believe it. It is unfortunate that I fell into the position of grace, but I became a person of unbelief, unable to believe even the testimonies of those who met the Lord. If we too leave the Lord's community, we lose the opportunity to receive grace and become people of complete unbelief. His appearance is also that of scientists, positivists, and realists who have left the faith. However, before Jesus died on the cross, there are statements that show Thomas' faith. ① John 11:16 and ② John 14:5 Just as Peter denied that he did not know the Lord after the promise, Thomas had an adventurous spirit and heroism to the point of going to die with the Lord. Usually, he seemed to have good faith, but after the arrest of the Lord, his faith was shaken by the surrounding environment and shock. People's beliefs are usually good. True faith is revealed in times of crisis or tribulation. So, as Jesus said (verse 9), he did not understand the truth: “If you walk during the day, you will not stumble because you see the light of this world.”
Ⅲ. Jesus Appears to the Community of Disciples (26)
When Jesus was arrested and put to death by the enemies, Thomas fell into discouragement, pessimism, and skepticism, leaving the community of faith and returning to the community of faith. There Jesus came. Thomas heard the voice of the Lord at that time and his faith was restored. When he came out to the community of faith, he met the Lord and received grace. Doubts and doubts overtook Thomas because they did not meet together on the first Sunday after Jesus was resurrected, but faith was restored by meeting together in a faith community on the second Sunday (Hebrews 10:23). Faith is restored when we also gather diligently. and receive grace.
①Jesus speaking to doubting Thomas (27)
The belief in the resurrection of Jesus is so important that it can be called the core of Christianity. The Lord's clear requirement is to become "believers." This is a command, not a simple request. Belief is not an option. It is mandatory. Because we are born anew by faith and receive a new life. However, this command was not a mere rebuke for the skepticism he had shown, but it was filled with regret for not reaching full faith and the Lord's longing for him to have firm faith. The word of the Lord was strict and loving. It was terrifying and trembling, but it was also pleasant and joyful. It was a burdensome but necessary word. This attitude of the Lord finally influenced Thomas, which led to a great confession of faith (v. 28). Thomas's wanderings ended with meeting the Lord, and with one word of the Lord, the fog of doubt was cleared and he made a confident confession.
② Thomas’ confession of faith and restoration (28)
When Thomas heard the words of the resurrected Lord, his great confession of faith and his faith were restored. When your faith is shaken and confused, lying on your back with a blanket is not going to help you recover. If you leave the community of faith, you must return to the community of faith and listen to the word of God. When we listen to the Word, faith is restored, wounds are healed, doubts and doubts disappear, and sensuous faith is restored. The wanderings of faith come to an end. In Romans 10:17 Paul said, “Therefore faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
The way to dispel doubts, to restore faith, and to have confident faith is in hearing and obeying God's Word. Saints! Is your faith shaken? Are you confused? If so, I hope that there will be a history of being healed and restored by longing for the Word of God more and more, reading it, studying it, meditating on it, and listening to it.
③Jesus’ request (29)
Even now, the positivists try to believe what is rationally reasonable, and the mystic sees what satisfies the emotion. But the blessed man believes without seeing anything. True faith is believing without seeing. (1 Peter 1:8)
Thomas met the Lord, heard his words, and made a great confession of faith. Thomas the coward, Thomas the skeptic is completely different now. Became a brave evangelist. He witnessed the love of Jesus Christ until his death in India. Saints! Do you want your faith to be restored? I hope you work hard. And while longing for the Word, accept the Word with Amen. Then you can restore your faith and please God by making an amazing confession of faith.