2014.02.16_The Christ Who Is to Come to the World

That We May Discover the One Being Sent by God

God is the true Father. He sent His Son into the world to rescue man oppressed under curse. Man must discover the One He has sent in order to receive salvation. For that reason, man has to be prepared in his heart to recognize God who approaches him with a heart of the Father. God had sent the prophets ahead of time so that man would be able to discover the One He is sending. While He sent numerous prophets one after another, God maintained His heart as a Father who wants to save His children. However, after the final prophecy of the prophet Malachi, no other prophet appeared in Israel. This was the beginning of an age of darkness when no news was given from God.

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse” (Mal 4:5-6). With these final words, Israel could not listen to God’s word for more than 400 years. Then suddenly appeared John the Baptist, breaking the long silence.

If We Rely Only on the Visible…

There is a wicked divider between God and man, and he is man’s enemy. Man cannot escape destruction while he is under the control of the enemy. The Devil is greater than anybody in this world, just as Jesus described him as the prince of the world (John 12:31). People only want to acknowledge what they can see. Especially in the present day society, if anything cannot be proven with science it is hardly accepted as an actual entity. In this sense, it is quite natural that man cannot resist the attack of the Devil and is trampled by him, since man is only after what is visible.

The invisible power of the prince of this world independently forms its kingdom. Jesus said, “If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?” (Matt 12:26) Thus, He made known of the clear hierarchy present in that kingdom and how its members are working together in an integrated relationship. Matthew 12:43-45 says, “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” We can see that unlike humans, the forces of the prince of this world do not try to monopolize anything but are cooperating with each other.

Man seeks to be happy, healthy and at peace in his heart. However, the invisible forces of the enemy are extremely violent. While man’s heart is only set on what he sees, for him to stand against the enemy’s forces that arbitrarily infiltrate and perpetrate unlawful acts is quite far-fetching.

While the story of Job in the Bible does demonstrate his model faith, a more crucial role of the book of Job is in revealing the reality of the spiritual world by uncovering the work of the Devil. The Devil intervened in Job’s family and inflicted some pain, but instead of backing down he continued to torment Job. Considering Job’s condition, one cannot but pity him as he was simply waiting to die, having no more energy left to even feel the pain. Not only that, the utterly inconceivable cruelty of the Devil is enough to arouse our anger. Philanthropy or humanitarianism has nothing to do with him. It does not cross his mind to even think, ‘I’ll stop now since I’ve caused enough pain to this person’. The book of Job clearly shows the cruel and violent nature of the Devil, who takes pleasure in man’s destruction.

Who could have imagined that a single misdeed committed in the Garden of Eden would chronically bring trouble to man? And who could have guessed that man would become a slave to the Devil as a result? However, while man has to know whom it is that holds the keys to his suffering, he does not try to find out about this reality. And when someone does tell him, he does not try to even check if it is true. Likewise, how can man, who only wants to accept the visible, then overcome the invisible enemy?

The Testimony of the Prophets, the Testimony of Earlier Believers, and the Testimony of the Holy Spirit

The Word of God appeared in a visible form not to condemn and harass humans, but to destroy the enemy who had been tormenting their hearts and bodies and had poisoned their spirits. However, it is impossible to recognize Him with our eyes once He appeared on the earth as a man. Therefore, we must first read the testimony of the Prophets in order to recognize Him. Secondly, we have to listen to the testimony of the people who believed before us. Thirdly, we need to receive the witness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit bears witness to the works of Jesus and His words, and thus bears witness to God’s will automatically. Moreover, He bears witness to Himself by manifesting power as He testifies about Jesus. Hence, receiving the testimony of the Holy Spirit is receiving the testimony of the Triune God.

The Testimony of the Prophets

We cannot discover the Christ without having the testimony of the Prophets. Anyone who comes independent of the Prophets’ testimonies is not the Savior. In the Judean wilderness, John the Baptist said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matt 3:2) and pressed the people to repent. Among the crowd that came to repent were also the Pharisees who carried a sense of superiority in their godly and holy lives. John the Baptist nullified their superiority and described their self-opinion as arrogance. And the point he stressed most of all was that One greater than he was to come and judge the people with great power. The people feared John the Baptist and even King Herod was nervous at the sound of John.

God gave the Law and the Prophets so that Israel would wait for Christ, the Savior. However the advent of the Messiah became a distant dream in the people’s hearts, as they did not receive any news from God for over 400 years. Instead Moses, David, Elijah and such distinct great men took over much of their hearts. Especially since the final prophecy of the Old Testament was concerning the coming of the Elijah, it was natural that the people yearned for Elijah.

The One that people should have been waiting for was actually the Messiah who was to take away man’s suffering. However, without having any clear information about the Messiah, the people regarded Elijah, who had defeated 450 prophets of Baal and guided them to the correct faith, as the Saviour they needed at once. The people’s attention was focused more on Elijah than Christ. Moreover, the people remembered Elijah all the more when John the Baptist mentioned ‘fire’ as he spoke concerning the One coming after him, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matt. 3:11), because Elijah had called down fire from Heaven and defeated those people.

Meanwhile, the Jews in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to John and asked, ‘who are you?’ They were asking about his role rather than who he was. John answered frankly, ‘I am not the Christ’. The people again asked, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ but John answered, ‘I am not’ (John 1:19-21).

Actually John the Baptist was the Elijah. The role of Elijah as prophesied by the prophet Malachi and John’s duty as explained to John’s father by the angel were identical (Luke 1:17). Despite that, John denied being the Elijah. The people from Jerusalem were actually mocking John when they asked, ‘are you Elijah?’ The people remarked, ‘are you saying that the powerful Elijah who was taken up to Heaven has come back down and is standing before us?’ but John did not answer, ‘Yes. I am Elijah’. Although he was surely the one who came with the heart of Elijah, he did not have Elijah’s power and thus could not present himself to the people as Elijah.

The people from Jerusalem then continued and asked, ‘are you the Prophet?’ ‘The Prophet’ was the one about whom Moses had prophesied, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear” (Deut. 18:15). Peter had once boldly testified that this Prophet is actually Jesus Christ (Acts 3:20-23). When John answered that he was not ‘the Prophet’, the people pressed him saying, ‘who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself? To this John said nothing except quote the word of Isaiah 40:3, “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord”’ (John 1:21-23).

Then the men sent by the Pharisees asked, ‘Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?’ John explained, ‘I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose’ (John 1:24- 27).

We see in Matthew 3:11-12 that John the Baptist said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire”. He noticed that he himself was constantly making reference to fire and could not help but relate the One coming after him with Elijah. He would have been very confused. He knew for certain he was not the Christ, and he also somewhat acknowledged that he was the Elijah prophesied about in the Scripture. However, he was not the Elijah who was taken up to Heaven and had returned, and whom the people were yearning for. On the contrary, he was in confusion about Jesus who was later to baptize with fire, whether He was the Elijah. Although John knew that Jesus was the Lamb of God who is to take away the sin of the world, as the one preparing His way John seemed very lowly even in his own eyes. On the other hand, Jesus was performing great power never witnessed since the time of Elijah, that it was not so unnatural to accept Him as Elijah. John was confused as to who he was, and what is more, some of the people at the time actually believed Jesus as Elijah (Matt 16:14).

Out of frustration, John sent his disciples to Jesus and asked, ‘are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ By this he was asking, ‘are You really the Messiah? If not, are you Elijah?’ Jesus said to John’s disciples, ‘Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them’. By quoting Isaiah 61:1, Jesus Himself revealed that He is the Savior of whom Prophet Isaiah had prophesied. Like this, Jesus relied on the testimony of the Prophets.

The Testimony of the Prior Believers

Peter testified that the prophecy of prophet Isaiah was concerning Jesus Christ. Thus, the prophets’ testimony and the believer’s testimony were united. The testimony which Peter gave to the household of Cornelius is written in Acts 10:36-38, “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him”.

The Testimony of the Holy Spirit

Peter also revealed that God desires the testimony of the believers. Acts 10:42 says, “And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead”. Then verse 43 says, “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins”. Peter testified that the One whom the Prophets had testified about was Him who he believed in. At this, Cornelius’ household believed in the One the Prophets had testified about, whom Peter first believed in and bore witness to. Then the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 10:44). God had granted the testimony of the Holy Spirit to those who had already received the testimony of the Prophets and that of the prior believers.

John the Baptist, the Last Prophet to Prepare the Way for Christ

‘I am the Messiah, you are the Elijah!’ was Jesus’ answer to John’s question, ‘who are You?’ Jesus revealed the truth about John once John’s disciples left. Jesus said, ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? Isn’t he greater than that? Did you go out to see a man clothed in soft garments? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But the one who went out to see is greater than that. Was it a prophet? Yes, you went out to see a prophet. Yet he is greater than a prophet. He is the one who is to come ahead of the Messiah and prepare His way, as the Scripture prophesied. Among those born of women there has not risen one greater than him. He was prepared from the womb as the one who will recognize the Messiah, and he finally found the Messiah and introduced Him to Israel, and brought an end to the role of the Prophets as the last prophet. But anyone who is saved through me and is a child of God, is greater than him. A change has taken place since the days of John. Now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. Remember these words’ (Matt 11:7-15).

Many prophets had prophesied the advent of Christ, and Jesus finally came after a long wait. However He waited and did not begin His work until it was His time. It would have only been a few months or two to three years at the longest when John, the last prophet began preparing the way for Christ before Jesus began His ministry. John had found Jesus and testified about Him to Israel. So after waiting silently for thirty years, Jesus finally started His public ministry as the Christ for man’s salvation. In other words, the Kingdom of Heaven began advancing from the day John testified about Christ, and Jesus began the ministry as Christ according to God’s promise.

John had fulfilled his duty. He was in prison when Jesus started His ministry, and eventually his life ended there. He was not able to witness the resurrection, ascension and glorification of Jesus, nor the advent of the Kingdom of Heaven through the Holy Spirit. After he had handed over his disciples to Jesus, John lost his life. With that, the account of the Law and the Prophets, which lasted 1500 years, came to an end.

Before John had died, his disciples once came and appealed to him out of envy, “He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him’. Then John answered, ‘A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease’ (John 3:26-30).

Those Who have Received the Testimony of the Holy Spirit

Jesus Christ is not one of the numerous great men who existed in the world. Yet up to the moment He ascended, it seems that the disciples were still somewhat longing for Elijah as they watched Jesus. The disciples asked Him, Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth’ (Acts 1:6-8). After saying these words, Jesus ascended, and the disciples who witnessed this received the Holy Spirit ten days later. From that time, they had the authority of God’s Son and experienced in their bodies the power to vanquish the work of the Devil, which they could not overcome before. They possessed the Kingdom of Heaven.

Receiving the testimony of the Holy Spirit is an indication of our spiritual status. We are equal to the Apostles, we do not fall behind them in any way as the saints who have authority and power, and we have taken the Kingdom of Heaven by force. We are not wanderers going after civilization that sway like the reeds, nor are we trying to become or seeking powerful men dressed in fine clothing. We are not even looking up to John the Baptist who is greater than the prophet Elijah who had punished 450 prophets of Baal. We have met and possessed Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came to destroy the Devil and set us free, and we are His witnesses who have drunk His blood and eaten of His flesh. When asked, “Who are you?” we should be able to answer, “I am a witness of Jesus!” We have become the great ones who testify about Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ who has come into the world is our Savior. He is the Savior who delivers us, who is our strength, who wipes away our despair, who liberates us and who lifts us up without limit. Since the days of John the Baptist, the opportunity to gain the authority of God’s Son is open to anybody. The invasion of the Kingdom of God that has since begun will continue until the end of the world. We do not rely on the testimony that causes doubt and confusion, as it was with John the Baptist, rather we have received the testimony of the Holy Spirit. When we had received the testimony of the Prophets and that of the prior believers, the Holy Spirit has indwelled us. Through the Holy Spirit, we rely on the testimony of God the Father and the testimony of Jesus Christ, and at the same time we receive the testimony of the Holy Spirit Himself by receiving His power. We have met the Christ who is to come into the world, that is our Savior.

We Must Fight and Overcome by the Power of Christ

By the power of the Holy Spirit, we must overcome every scheme and interference of the Devil, regardless of the trouble we have before us. Though our battle will never end so long as we are on the earth, God will thoroughly help us. It is utterly foolish not to use the power God has given us while we are living in this world. God will lead us to Paradise, and ultimately take us to His Kingdom to have eternal life. Before long, the Devil who is already condemned will be thrown into the eternal lake of fire.

The violent take the Kingdom of Heaven by force. The people who have received the Holy Spirit possess the Kingdom of Heaven, and they are great people who witness Jesus. Therefore, we should not look for another Savior even in the face trials in the world. Also, we must not be doubtful of our rights to receive the Savior’s help, instead we should pray, “Lord, give me the power to destroy the enemy!” A sick person should pray, “Lord, I want to be healed. Give me Your power!” A person who has family troubles ought to pray, “Lord, remove the enemy who has sown suffering in our family!” rather than thinking about his fate. Though the work of the Devil is violent, we need to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit and use the apostolic authority of the saints, and win our battle through the name of Jesus.

We are the members of the Lord’s body. Thus, we have to serve and be loyal to the church, love and dedicate for the church with a grateful heart. Every person, family and pastoral field that relies on the Lord’s power, should not suffer hardship, pain, despair, sadness, curse and sickness. We should not sit still and suffer when the Devil attacks. Every member must join forces to overcome the enemy. In any circumstances, we must not shrink back, blame fate, give up or despair but fight to the end. We must fully rely on the power of Christ our Savior who came into the world to destroy the enemy.