Let Us Go Forward to the Salvation in Christ

There is but one God. There are many people on the earth, but none of them have the same appearances, character or home backgrounds as one another. It is natural that people born in the far east are different from those born in the far west in various respects. Each has his own environment, culture, tradition and language. Even people born in the same region have different levels of knowledge and experience. Nevertheless, those who have come into Christ overcome all differences, come together as one body, and draw near to God. Just as many branches are nourished and sustained by one trunk, so many men also receive the nourishment and Life that God provides.

God is invisible. However, He has made us see, hear and touch Him. It was made possible because the Word that had been with God from before eternity became flesh and came to the world. He is Jesus Christ whom God the Father sent and who bestows salvation to us.

Those who believe in and rely on Jesus Christ’s promise join churches and live out their faith. We must clearly know as we practice our faith that our faith has not been perfected yet, it is incomplete. When Jesus Christ came to this world the first time, it was to bestow grace, but He will come as the Judge when He comes back to earth again. Men will be judged by their deeds, even those who have been saved, when Christ returns. On that day, our faith will be perfected. Until then we must always be prudent before God.

Let’s Return to God’s Word

Recently some people in Korean churches have strongly insisted on what they call reformation. The word ‘reformation’ appears in the Bible only one time. Hebrews 9:10 says “Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation”. Those who were under the law regarded the rituals and the ordinances that the law prescribed for serving God as the truth. However, they were all parables that had been used until the law of the Holy Spirit came. The Law is not truth but rather Jesus Christ is truth, so then the Holy Spirit of truth testifies of Jesus, not the law.

In the world, the word ‘reformation is most often used in the political arena. The world constantly insists on reform, and in fact, many reforms happen as a result. At every election time, politicians offer various ideas on reformation, and after elected, they carry out the reform by their policies. In this way, the world is constantly changing, and it is regarded as a virtue by most people. However, the church must not pursue reformation. What we need is to return to God’s Word. Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s Word will by no means pass away. (Matthew 24:35) As the world is constantly changing, even the church could move away from God’s Word if it doesn’t resolve to keep God’s Word as one of its highest priorities. Therefore the church must always struggle to return to God’s Word.

The Bible records that the Jews in Berea were fair-minded. (Acts 17:11) Why is that? When Paul testified of Jesus to the Jews in Berea, the law was the truth to them. Paul said to them that all the rituals in the law were just a parable, and Jesus Christ is the reality. Paul’s message was very shocking to them. However, they did not reject his message outright, but rather, they searched the Scriptures to find out whether his message was supported by the prophecies of Moses and the prophets. As a result, they came to realize and believe that Jesus is the truth. They broke free from the ideas that were generally accepted by Jews in those days and they returned to the Word.

Society that is based on a worldview founded on humanism trends toward reformation. But this does not conform to God’s will. When you hear the voices of those who insist on reform, you can recognize that the direction and means they want are as numerous and varied as those who advocate in favor of it. If the church carries out reforms according to the will of the people, there will be no end to conflicts in the church. However, no church member will be opposed to the proposition to ‘Return to the Word’. If the souls of church members return to the Word, and their lives and households do the same thing, there will be no fighting among the members.

There are various denominations in Christianity. Because of their political and organizational structure, denominations cannot help but to constantly change their doctrines according to people’s preferences.  This is the reason that I established an independent church without joining any denomination when I started the church. In the case of the broadly accepted Christian denominations, they constantly try to reform at each general meeting. But the church does not need to pursue constant change and reforms, but rather a return to the Word.

We have to obey what the Word commands us to do, no matter how much difficulty it may bring to us. And we have to refuse to do that which the Word forbids us to do, no matter how beneficial it may seem to us. Reformers in the church may have good intentions but the church is not the place for reformation. What the church needs to do is return to the Bible. Each member must bow down before God and be obedient in order to accomplish that.

Let Us Overcome the Trials That Alienates us from the Word

The recent outcries for reform in many Korean churches are characterized by personal attacks on the pastor, gossip and slander, so it is very upsetting. Even more frustrating is that it makes church members close their minds to their pastors, although they need to hear God’s Word through their sermons, and receive blessings and grace by obeying God’s Word. Once they hear the rumor about the ones that they love and are led astray by that, their love can turn into resentment and anger in an instant. If their minds are closed to their shepherd, the sheep cannot receive his spiritual words, no matter how hard the shepherd may try.

The Lord said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me”. (Revelation 3:20) The Lord knocks, but the hearer himself must open the door. And if he can’t even hear the sound, how can he open the door, and when the door is not open, how can the Lord come in?

Jesus said, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”. (Matthew 26:41) Who is the devil? He is the one who brings temptation. Temptation comes without warning. Therefore, we must always watch and pray. The Lord said, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him”. (1 John 3:15) If you just hate your brothers, it is like murdering them. Who is the one that murdered from the beginning? Who is it that causes division and keeps God’s Word from entering the hearts of men? If you are harboring hatred in your heart towards your pastor, you must change your attitude immediately. You must remove the sin that is preventing you from receiving God’s word.

We must return to the Bible. No matter how good it may look, you must not do that which is forbidden by God’s Word. One may say that he does not give offerings because he hates the pastor. You must know that you do not give offerings to the pastor, but to God. When you come before God, you must not come empty-handed. Paul instructed people to prepare their offerings on the first day of the week when they come before God, and the offerings were used in many ways for the preaching of the gospel. Likewise, we get together and have worship services on Lord’s Days, and we run the church and do many other things for the spreading of the gospel with the offerings given to God. Therefore, do not misunderstand and believe that you give your offerings to men because men use them. And you must not regret giving your offerings to God or ask them to be returned to you.

The church must not seek reformation, but rather to return to the Bible. Although many churches cry out for reforms and follow worldly customs, the church whose mission is the Berea Movement must work ever harder to return to the Bible. Sungrak Church was established from the beginning as an independent church for that purpose. Therefore the mission that the church had when it was established must not change. In changing the organizational structure of the church, we must not move away from the Bible. The church can grow and thrive when it strives to return to the Bible, even if there is no formal organizational structure. Let us return to the Bible! As the prodigal son returning to his father and as sinners to the Lord let us return to the Word!

   Dear Sungrak people, I love you. As it is written, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”(1Corinthians 1:18) I hope all of you may be loved by God. We kneeled down before the name of Jesus Christ, repented, and were baptized. Thus, as the Lord Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to our hearts, we no longer belong to flesh, but to spirit, becoming the children of God. So, we comfort and encourage each other with an attitude of thanksgiving and hope, struggling to fulfill God’s good will that He has revealed to us.

Even though I am inherently foolish and lack praiseworthy qualities, I have spent the last sixty years praying to receive the inspiration for my ministry. But, now our church, which we have made grow with our loving and peaceful hearts, is in trouble. We have been seriously hurt by distrust and even hatred for each other, but is this God’s gift to us? Rather, is it not the result of us not devoting ourselves to prayer and being tempted? Our faith originates from the Lord Jesus. Do we really have the faith and hope that the Lord gives us?

In the second coming of the Lord Jesus, He will come back to judge whether there is good or evil in the hearts of all the people, including even those who are saved. At that time, every one of us must be prepared to welcome the Lord, having been washed and wearing our white clothes. Therefore, we should consider the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who took our burdens and died on the cross.

The situation that we are going through now is not manifesting the love for the Lord. The Lord’s church, His body, should be characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Right now however, our church seems to have none of these fruits at all. I feel responsible for resolving this situation. So, please encourage me with your love. Do it for the sake of our church, for your own sake, and for the sake of your family and your children.

I feel so sorry for making you hurt and for causing you distress due to the recent situation. I am also sorry for not taking care of poor assistant pastors financially. I want to apologize to the assistant pastors for the economic hardships that I caused you while only taking care of the management of the church and neglecting your situations. From now on, I promise to give sufficient supports for your living expenses.

I feel ashamed because I have often stressed that I had never received a stipend from the church. I said that, because I considered a stipend as private living expenses. I have never used the monthly ministry expense for my private life. But, I am recently embarrassed to learn that many people have considered the monthly ministry expense to be included in a stipend, and I feel ashamed for not knowing it.

Beloved, I apologize to you for causing you trouble due to the situation in the church. I will change the things that are wrong. I will surely do it. Thank you.

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Outline translated by Sarah Lee
Letter translated by Sung-In Hong
Interpretations by Sarah Lee

Chief Editor: Helen Nam
Korean Summary by Ki-Taek Lee