The 42nd Bible Study Meeting 2       This sermon is taken from the evening sermon on July 25, 2010 during the 42nd Bible Study Meeting for All from Home and Abroad.   Him who is the head-- Christ-- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:15-16       God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of Jesus Christ.Let's read 1 Corinthians chapter one verse two.   To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:   And verse 9.   God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.   Verse nine says, "By whom you were called," and verse two," "(those who are) called to be saints." In the Korean version these two verses are slightly different in the way they are expressed,  but their meanings are the same. If you read the verses in the English version, you will see that the two verses, "by whom you were called into the fellowship," and "(those who are) called to be saints," are closely linked. It says, "You were called into the fellowship with Jesus Christ our Lord."Some people may misunderstand the verse, "by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." When it says, "you were called," does it mean that on a Christmas day a passer-by was called into a church because there was a special Christmas service going on? Do the words, "by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord," really mean that the passer-by who was called into the church sang a Christmas carol with other people and enjoyed himself? We have to think about whether doing this is an appropriate behavior and  experience to the words we find in 1 Corinthians chapter one verse nine, "by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." When it says, "You were called," does it mean that God calls us randomly, saying, "Here is my Son, Jesus, have fellowship with Him,"  just as a school teacher calls his students to come to class when the bell rings?  What is the "fellowship" of which religious people of this work speak? They may say it means, "to associate with God, or with Jesus." However, 1 Corinthians says, "(God) by whom you were called," which is the premise of " into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." This premise, "by whom you were called,"  does not mean that God calls you out and lets you in at will. God had completed everything on the cross 2,000 years ago, and has been calling us and waiting for us. We individually come to have a certain time of a certain day when we receive the truth that God has been calling us and waiting for us, and truthfully turn to Him, while reading the Bible.  Have you ever with certainty had an experience of change in your heart by the word of the Bible? Have you ever had an experience when the word of God was planted in your heart not by your own effort, but by the power of God? There was a  day when I acknowledged God deep in my conscience, and that without God no life would be planted in me.  It is not like the calling of God or meeting with God when a man happens to pass by a church building and opens the door and comes in. People cannot understand these verses with such superficial belief. The apostle Paul wrote to those, who had this experience of acknowledging God, that they had been called. For what were they called? It says they were called to have fellowship with Jesus Christ. God, who called us into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. He is believable and worthy of putting all of our trust in.    Become as little childrenLet's read Luke chapter 10 verse 21.   In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight".   When you read this verse, you may think that it may be difficult for an educated and smart man to find God. Previously we read in 1 Corinthians that since there is no way to know God through the wisdom of the world, God was pleased to save us through the foolishness of the message preached. And 1 Corinthians chapter 14 verse 20 says, "Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature." When the Bible says, "in malice be babes," and "You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes," what do they mean? Everything is relative. We live our lives arrogantly, feeling that we have obtained some knowledge and intelligence. However, the Bible says, "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men" (1 Corinthians 1:25). Whenever I read this verse, I wonder whether there is anything foolish in God. What weakness God may have, still it is much stronger than any men. What foolishness God may have, still it is by far wiser than men.  What message does God mean to give to us with such expressions?Let's say that there is a doctor who lives his life with pride in having graduated from a good school, having studied a lot, having mastered medicine, and feeling no need to study further. However, if he is placed among workers in a factory that makes water bottles and is asked to make a water bottle as the workers do, he won't be able to make one. He may be proud of being a good doctor, but in some ways he is not as good as the factory workers. Like this, everything is relative.  When Jesus said, "You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes," He said these words to those who are said to be wise and smart, but far beyond the wisdom and power of God. Their thoughts and ideas are so shallow that they are not even remotely compared with those of God. No matter how much knowledge or wisdom men have, they are all the same to God's eyes. When we read the Bible, we have to be as pure as children who take and eat what is said to be tasty, and consider bad what is said to be bad. The verse announces that God reveals something to those who are like children when it comes to God's wisdom.      In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight". (Luke 10:21)   Who does the verse say has done all of these? It says that God has hidden and revealed these things. It says that God has revealed these things to those who are as humble as children. Though Jesus Himself came to this world as the Creator, He glorified God who is His head.   That you also may have fellowship with us"All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see;  for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it." (Luke 10:22-24)   Let's think about the verse in the passage that says, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see." The book of Isaiah says, "Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man" (Isaiah 52:14), and  "He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him" (Isaiah 53:2). Jesus who came in a form of an ordinary young man, said to those who were looking at Him, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see." Some young people say to their friends when they see a movie star on the street by chance, "I saw the famous movie star. He was really good-looking. And I saw again another movie star there. My eyes are blessed today." People talk about such "blessings" that happen around them.  However, Jesus tells those who are looking at Him, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see;  for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it." Some simply look at Jesus superficially, and others look at Him and recognize who He is. The destiny of these two different kinds of people differs greatly.     The fisherman Peter was not a man of knowledge, but when he saw Jesus, he recognized that Jesus was the Messiah for whom the Israelites had been waiting since Old Testament times, and who was prophesied as a messenger of promise. When he recognized Jesus, the words "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see" became alive in his heart. However, when the Pharisees, the scribes, and the chief Priests saw Jesus, it was as if they were looking at Him through thick clouds. They looked at Jesus with prejudiced eyes, through the tradition of the elders, their own thoughts, and the laws. That is why they nailed Him on the cross. Many Christians in this world say that they have fellowship with Jesus, or that they live in the fellowship with Jesus. They use the word, "fellowship" often. They sit around, reveal their hearts, taking turns in giving their stories, or sometimes they force each other to talk. Is this the fellowship?    People may have misunderstanding about  fellowship. If they do not know what "being called into fellowship" means in the verse, "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord," they may think that going in and out of the church door means having fellowship with God.Then, did everyone who saw Jesus among the Israelites have fellowship with Jesus? That is not so. When Jesus simply said, "Follow Me" (John 12:26), they followed. When He described Himself, those who simply accepted and believed followed Him saying, "He is truly the one we have been waiting for." Their fellowship with Jesus was established. They were the disciples who received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and tried to establish the Church with Jesus, who is the cornerstone.Compared to such historical facts, the attitude of Christians of today towards the Bible and the doctrines in it has been drifting away little by little from the right path. This is the nature of human beings and religion. I think that religious people are those who set their own standards and then try to fit God into it.Let's read John chapter 17 verse 17.   "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And  for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." (John 17:17-21)   The words, "I do not pray for these alone," are not only meant for those who were there with Jesus. "But also for those who will believe in Me through their word." Jesus prayed for those who will receive Him by hearing the words passed onto them. We can see similar words in 1 John. Let's read from 1 John chapter 1 verse 1.   That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life.   Who is this "we"?  All of us who are saved? Of course, we learn about Jesus and get to know Him through the Bible. However, the apostle John who wrote this gospel, and other apostles saw Jesus with their own eyes and heard His voice directly and touched His body with their hands. Here this "we" refers to the apostles.  "... which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled." Then who is this one that the apostles saw, heard and touched? It is said, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life."   The life was manifested. (1 John 1:2)   "The life was manifested." This verse  means that the life which was from the beginning appeared.   And we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you. (1 John)   It said that "We", who had witnessed, declared to us who have not seen.   Eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; (1 John 1:2-3)   It says here that this was written so that those who would read this later on might have fellowship with those who lived earlier times than them.   And truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. (1 John 1:3-4)   Verse 4 in the Korean version says "our joy," whereas in the English version it says "your joy", but it's the same. When it says "And these things we write to you that your joy may be full", the word "your" includes both "you" and "us", who are associated with each other. That is, "The word of life which was from the beginning appeared, we have seem Him, heard from Him

정회원으로 가입하시면 전체기사와 사진(동영상)을 보실수 있습니다.