December 25, 2018 Immanuel (Christmas Celebration Service)

/in /by

  • Senior Overseer Kidong Kim

[Acts 7:30-60]

God
is truthful.
He
was a friend of Abraham to the extent that He swore an oath:
that his descendants would possess the gate of their enemies (Ge 22:17).
In accordance with His spoken word,
He nurtured the Israelites in the land of Egypt,
and through Moses commanded His people to come out of Egypt.
At that time, the angel who appeared to Moses said (Acts7:30),
“I am the God of your forefathers—
the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – Jehovah.“ (Ex 3:15)
He also said,
“Jehovah is to be the sign of my name to be remembered forever.” (Ho 12:5)
He gave the people the Law from Mount Sinai (Ac 7:53),
and He was with Moses in the church of the desert (Ac 7:38).
Stephen had the esteem as a renowned and powerful saint.
He laid down His life for the sake of His people,
who relied on the name of Jehovah, the name given to the angel,
by which one could not reach salvation.
He shouted out that it was Jehovah that condemns us,
while Jesus was the one who saves us from sin and death.
He did this to amend the central faith of Israel.
◌ By Stephen preaching this word,
Stephen finished the work he needed to do and became a martyr.
He was a true witness of Jesus.
◌ Even today,
some people do not distinguish between Jesus and Jehovah,
and, therefore, they are still bound by the Law.
◌ Jehovah was the one who gave the Law,
while Jesus gave His grace and His blood.
He then, finally, sent the Holy Spirit.
※ Let us strive again and again to know God.
To know God and Jesus is eternal life.
In this way, we are all witnesses.