Commentary on John 7 (3)
In John 7:38, the Lord says, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow within them .”
The question is when does this happen?
It is time for the Holy Spirit to come into us.
“By this he meant the Holy Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive. (for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:39)
When Jesus is glorified, it is three days after he died on the cross.
Therefore, it is said that all the prophets of the Old Testament testified in advance about the Lord who suffered and His glory after His suffering, and searched to know who He was referring to and at what time (1 Peter 1:11).
The forefathers of faith in the Old Testament received evidence and testified, but we believe that the Holy Spirit has come within us according to the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ to send the Holy Spirit. (Hebrews 11:39)
In the Acts of the Apostles, there are ministers like Apollos who were witnesses to Jesus, and ministers like Peter and Paul who acknowledge, confess, and prophesy that the Lord's promise has come true.
A person who receives the word of promise and acknowledges and confesses it through the inner work of the Holy Spirit can prophesy about salvation and judgment.
So someone like Paul is clear about life and death.
Even a very small person like me, who cannot even lift the Lord's sandals, is adamant about salvation and judgment.
The Bible clearly says that if you believe in the Lord, you will receive the Holy Spirit (John 7:39)
The emphasis that we who believe in Jesus must receive the Holy Spirit is already biased towards a gift or a sign.
The purpose of the Lord redeeming us from the curse of the law by being crucified is to enable us to receive the blessing of Abraham and the promise of the Holy Spirit through faith, through which God's promise is fulfilled (Galatians 3:13-14)
Peter also explains the method and procedure without saying, ‘Do you believe in Jesus? Then receive the Holy Spirit.’
He said, "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)
This is the immutable principle of receiving the Holy Spirit.
When we who believe in Jesus do not strive to receive the Holy Spirit, but follow the process of believing in Jesus as Lord and Christ, the Holy Spirit comes into us along with the forgiveness of our sins.
This is called the baptism of the Holy Spirit, becoming one body with Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).
Then, why should one believe in Jesus and try to receive the Holy Spirit? It is because he says he believes in Jesus, but has not established the starting point of faith in Christ within him.
This is because he only tried to believe in Jesus as if he were worshiping him, but did not hear the words of the gospel that received Christ as the Lord of his salvation.
The words that when the Holy Spirit comes, rivers of living water will flow from within the belly of anyone who believes in me, is connected to the incident of wine made of water at the wedding feast three days later in John 2, the body temple in John 3, and the living water, God's gift, in John 4.
Next, look at John 7:40 and below.
Among the crowd who heard these words, some said, “This is truly the prophet,” others said, “He is the Christ.” Some asked, “How can the Christ come out of Galilee?” and it was prophesied that the Bible said, “The Christ will come from David’s seed and be born in Bethlehem, the village where David lived.”
There is a lot of talk about it.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but he fled to Egypt and lived in Nazareth.
Bethlehem means house of bread.
The house of bread is related to the manger where Jesus was born.
In other words, the fact that Jesus was born in a manger means, ‘I am the bread of the world.’
Eat and live on me. Eat me and gain eternal life.
Then eat and eat until you reach the stature of the fullness of Christ. It means to be filled by me.
God never makes us his slaves.
He makes you his son.
For that, He called us into Christ.
Don't forget this.
The fact that I have been moved into Christ means that the Word will definitely come true.
While listening to the Word, we realize that we entered the promised state of spiritual rest and experience that blessing.
That is why the Bible tells us to listen to the Word.
That is why it is said that faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)
Now you understand what it means to listen to the Word, right?
While listening to the Word, I crossed the cross and followed 'three days later', where I received the forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit, became a temple, tasted life with living water flowing in my heart, and true worship in the Holy Spirit and truth; following the truth to reach the glory of God.
Therefore, we reach the end. (John 13:1)
Written by Ptr. Yohan Kim.
Translated by Nancy Chung
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To God be the glory.