November 24, 2019 The Love of God

Coming Soon

Long ago, a 24 year old young man went bravely around the country as a revivalist, having nothing but his faith. This young man started his work as minister at the age of 25, having only one copy of the Bible as he went to Seoul. At the age of 26, he became a chief speaker for the Seoul United National Salvation Assembly, ministering by the Holy Spirit. Afterwards, he conducted circuit revivals using super-sized tents. But when I was 25 years old, I went under denominational trial in the Methodist church because of the issue of baptism by immersion. So I left the Methodist church and diligently devoted myself to independent missions. Once I joined in fellowship with the American Independent Missionary Association, they ordained me as pastor in 11^th August 1966. In 30^th November 1969, I founded Sungrak Church as an independent Baptist church. This is Sungrak Church we see today.

The difference between the Presbyterian and Methodist church is doctrine. Presbyterian churches believe in predestination, whilst the Methodist church believe in free will. This is how they are different. Baptist churches have no doctrine or constitution. They hold the Bible alone as the standard of faith. This is their absolute teaching. The law of the Baptist church and the law of their faith is the Bible. They believe the ideal that Jesus Christ alone is the Lawgiver.  

This is the difference between the Baptist church and the Pentecostal church: the Pentecostal church (or the Evangelical church) regard the experience on the day of Pentecost as imperative value to their faith. But the Baptist church fiercely opposes this. They teach that a person receives the Holy Spirit when he believes in Jesus Christ. The healing of sickness was limited to the past. Believing this responsibility reverted to medical doctors, they regard healing sicknesses as heresy and condemn it. This is how members of the Baptist church left and founded the Pentecostal church. Therefore, Pentecostal churches accept both baptism in immersion and the gifts of the Spirit.

This is the difference between the Baptist church and the Catholic church. The Catholic church gives baptism by sprinkling but the Baptist church gives baptism by immersion (as commanded by the Lord Jesus). Baptism by immersion is Baptists’ confession of faith. Some groups claim they are Christian churches but they still hold to the faith confession of the Catholic church. Presbyterian churches and Methodist churches are examples of those who give baptism by sprinkling. The Catholic church, the Presbyterian church and the Methodist church all persecuted Baptists. As many as 50 thousand of them were martyred. Those who survived were called ‘Anabaptists’.

The Catholic church, the Presbyterian church and the Methodist church have constitutions to maintain their religious authority. They have a General Assembly and Assembly Members below it. They place religious authority above the Bible. Our church has Jesus alone as Head of the Church, and the Church is its body. An independent church refers to a church not governed by religious authority. We believe in Jesus’ name through the only God, Jesus Christ whom He sent, and the sent Holy Spirit. We must fully understand the value of the independent church. We must protect the church. Amen.

Semuon,

24th November 2019

Coming Soon

Outline translated by John Kim
Letter translated by John Kim
Interpretations by John Kim
Korean Summary by Ki-Taek Lee