September 22, 2019 Receive first the forgiveness of sins
/in 2019 Lord’s Day /by Youhyun Chang
Senior Overseer Kidong Kim
[Mark 2:1-12]
God
is righteous.
He decided in accordance to His will
to justify us.
This was the revelation determined before eternity past (Rom 16:25-26).
Just as there is no darkness when one comes to the light (Mark 4:16),
those who come to God’s light will become a person of the light (John 8:12).
God’s word is God’s light. It refers to His blood (John 1:4).
Abel sought God’s light with his own convictions
and obtained the witness that he was righteous (Heb 11:4).
Abraham received a promise concerning God’s light.
He received God’s revelation commanding him to dwell in righteousness (Gen 15:6).
We are those who have received the light. We are children of the light (Eph 5:8).
We have been justified.
To testify to this, God has put the Holy Spirit in our hearts (2Cor 1:21-22).
The Holy Spirit testifies to Jesus’ name (John 15:26).
The name ‘Jesus’ means ‘He will save His people from their sins’ (Matt 1:21).
If we bow down before the name of Jesus and come to God,
God will receive glory
and Jesus Christ will do the work of salvation (John 14:13-14).
Those who believe in Jesus will receive forgiveness of their sins.
○ Receive first the forgiveness of sins.
Man does not cleanse away his own sins.
He receives it through the grace of God.
○ If this order is confused, one cannot be saved.
Receive first the forgiveness of sins.
Then you will receive salvation.
○ Throw off your old self, since you have received baptism by immersion.
Fleshly lust comes from fleshly desires.
If this grows into sin, one becomes an enemy of God.
※ Receive first the forgiveness of sins.
Then be healed of your sicknesses.
This is faith and this is obedience.
Coming Soon
We are not one of the many religious churches that spring up everywhere. We are Sungrak Church. This is a church set up from the very beginning as an independent Baptist church. I founded my own ‘Healing Gospel Mission Association’ as an independent mission, and I preached the word of God for several decades. I finally received ordination as pastor from the Independent Mission Association of Korea and started an independent Baptist church. Without realizing, half a century has gone by. During that time, I have been fulfilling ‘The Return to the Word Berea Movement’ with all my dying strength. This movement is completely different from the established denominations, which consist of churches centered on religious ecclesiastical doctrine. This is a movement that regards the Bible alone as the ultimate authority. Placing authority on the Bible, I have poured all my soul and strength in making disciples based on the Rock of our faith and theology, known as ‘The Picture of God’s Will’. This teaching has been systematized into ‘Berean Theology.’ I have likewise established the ‘Berea International Theological Seminary’ and had it founded to train those who will bear the Berea Mission. The seminary has been set up, and I now focus on making disciples. For the purpose of globalizing the Mission of Berea, I have prepared two of the largest church buildings in the world – the Christian World Mission Center and the Christian World Leader Center. One will not have any difficulty spotting these buildings. So that we do not thirst in our souls, I have written about 260 books, which serve as Mediators of the Gospel. They are like springs of living water, and these are to be used as our spiritual foundation. Christianity is not a religion, which gives no salvation whatsoever. It is not like the religion of the past which called on ‘Jehovah’ as God. Rather, we believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, become born again. This fulfills our ‘reformation’. The religion of the past, also known as the Old Testament Church, consisted of the gathering of the people of Israel. They tried to fulfill their own righteousness, but Christianity only seeks and believes in God’s Righteousness. We do not believe in Jehovah, who came down from Mount Sinai to be their Lord and Savior. We believe in Jesus, the Son of God, as Lord and Savior. He came into the world as ‘Immanuel’. Jehovah demanded the wages of His people’s sins. He did not take their sins upon Himself. But our God, Jesus Christ, has taken up the faults, curses and death of mankind and placed them upon His own body. Therefore, we regard our own righteousness as non-existent and receive the righteousness of Jesus Christ alone as grace. The Holy Spirit does not lose any of those who have been purchased by Jesus’ blood. Instead, the Holy Spirit gives His seal and guarantee to those souls who been baptized by immersion: He enters into our hearts and works in us by His power and grace. What is ‘reformation’? It is being united with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through baptism (in immersion) in the name of Jesus. This is what we call ‘reformation’. But people amongst us are now trying to reform the Christian Church itself, which is founded on the salvation of God the Trinity, who is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The term ‘Church Reform’ is a great fraud, which goes against common sense. What they aim for is not reformation. They are trying to drive out Pastor Ki Dong Kim and his son from Sungrak Church. They desire to steal the property of the Church and share it amongst themselves. What kind of reformation is this? Their true intentions have been revealed. But Pastor Ki Dong Kim and his son will never be driven out. How could they dare seize the church’s property for their own personal desires? These liars scheme to do this driven only by their own personal desires. Berea and Semuon and Sungrak Church are one. This church is an independent church. I, Semuon, am a vessel, called to be a spiritual leader. I, Semuon, have gathered countless souls around me, whilst these liars divide and destroy the church. Witness God lengthen Semuon’s life to great old age! I, Semuon, am awake night and day for the sake of absolute victory. People of Sungrak Church! Be like Aaron and Hur, who supported Moses! This is my lifelong request to you! Semuon, 22nd September 2019
Coming Soon
Outline translated by John Kim
Letter translated by John Kim
Interpretations by John Kim
Korean Summary by Ki-Taek Lee