2017.03.26_The Words of Eternal Life

Behold The Son of Man At the Right Hand of God

God is eternal. The word He speaks to us is eternal, and His life, His name, and His grace are also eternal. God does not take back His grace once He has given it to us. Once He gives grace to us, then that grace does not change, nor disappear.

John 1:18 says, “No one has ever seen God, but the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” No one has ever seen God, because God is invisible. That is why many people consider God to be abstract. Still others, wanting so much to ascribe a form to God, create an image of Him in their mind when they pray. However, the faith of a Christian is not at all abstract like that.

The Old Testament records that there were some people who had seen God before the time of Jesus. But, strictly speaking, what they saw was angel. Acts 7:35 says, “This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush.” God who appeared to Moses was, in fact, an angel. Stephen pointed out before the Jews, emphasizing that, in order for them to see God, they had to see the Son of Man at the right hand of God. God is invisible, He who is at the right hand of God revealed Himself to the people as the Son of Man. The people in the Old Testament saw an angel, but when Jesus came into the world, people could see the image of God.

Jesus is the Word become flesh, who was with God in the beginning. He abode in Nazareth for a time, preached in Galilee, died in Jerusalem, was resurrected, and ascending to heaven. He is now sitting at the right hand of God. Although God is invisible, we rely on Jesus Christ whom God sent. Of course we cannot see Him now because He is in heaven. However, we can still see Him in the spirit.

Do you want to see God? Then, look at Jesus Christ whom God sent! Even though you cannot see Him with your eyes, behold Him who is in heaven through eyes of faith. Do not pray to some abstract being when you pray, but rather bow down before Jesus Christ in heaven. He came into the world as a man, stepping into human history, atoned for our sins, was seen by many, ascended into heaven, and sent the Holy Spirit. The Bible was written by those who were inspired by the Holy Spirit and it bears witness to Jesus Christ.

The Words of Eternal Life to Those Who Have Seen the Son of Man

Jesus said to His disciples, “I am the bread that came down from heaven, and anyone who eats of this bread, will have eternal life.” Then on hearing it, many people left Jesus, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” because they did not understand it.” (John 6:51-52) And Jesus asked the Twelve, “Will you also go away?” Then Peter answered, “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:67-68)

The reason that the people left Jesus is that they only regarded Him as a great person while they followed Him. Even Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples did so. He sold Jesus to the high priest even though he knew Jesus was innocent. He thought Jesus would be proven innocent in the court. Instead, Jesus was sentenced to death, and Judas was cursed.

Jesus said, “I do not receive testimony from man. There is the One who testifies in my favor, who is God, and the Holy Spirit testifies about me” and “When you receive the Holy Spirit, you will be my witnesses.” Before the Holy Spirit came upon the people, no one could know Jesus for sure, or testify about Him. That is because only those who received the Holy Spirit can know who Jesus is and testify about Him.

Jesus said, “The Spirit gives life and the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” Only those who receive the testimony of the Holy Spirit, those who know Jesus as the Son of God, can understand the words of Jesus and be granted life through the words. Those who saw Jesus as a mere man were astonished when Jesus said to them, “Eat my flesh”, thinking, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat? However, the words of Jesus can be understood only when they are received in spiritual way, thereby giving life to those who receive them. Faith does not lie in flesh but in spirit. That is the reason that we call a life of faith a spiritual life. Even if you have attended the church for a long time, if you receive the sermon as merely a man’s word, there will be no change in your life, your soul will not experience spiritual life. You must receive the word of God through inspiration.

The Church That Has the Words of Eternal Life

When the word is preached by the overseer in the church, you must listen to it by inspiration. Even though the word comes out of the mouth of a man and goes into the ears of listeners, the word is not of worldly knowledge or the wisdom of men, but a spiritual word from God. Only a spiritual word can save our souls. It is very difficult for those who cannot receive spiritual words in church to sustain their faith. It is because we received spiritual words that we repented, were baptized and became men of God. It is also the reason that we can receive the Holy Spirit and His gifts, manifest God’s power, and experience miracles. The very reason we gather and listen to the preaching in the church each Lord’s Day is so that we may receive the words of eternal life.

There are those who stop attending the church because they become disappointed and stumbled because of a deficiency or failing in the church. But, in spite of the shortcomings of the church, the saints must still gather and listen to the words of eternal life. Of course, what you do in church varies, but receiving the words of eternal life is an essential feature of your church life! There are many buildings in the world that are better than churches, but only the church has the words of eternal life. The words might not convince and satisfy men’s logic, but we do need the words for our souls.

For us to hear to the words of eternal life, there must be no hatred in our heart. Where hatred abounds, God’s word cannot enter. The Bible says that anyone who hates is a murderer. Just as God’s word could not enter into Cain’s heart, God’s Word cannot enter into the heart of a person who hates others. Some people say that they cannot listen to the sermon because they hate the pastor. If they cannot listen to the sermon, it means that their soul cannot hear the words of eternal life. This is very dangerous. That is why Jesus warned, “Watch and pray so that you do not fall into temptation.” You should not consider this warning for others. No one is exempt. All of us must watch and pray so that we will not to fall into temptation.

Listening to the words of eternal life is not for someone else, but for each of us. God has called us to the church in order to give us his words of eternal life. Since the church is the place where various people gather, there is always a possibility for conflict to arise. Nevertheless, many various people can come together and become one when the words of eternal life are at work among them. We give our devotions and services to the church because the words of eternal life are there. We must confess with Peter, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.