The Word of God gives assurance of faith

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The word of God gives assurance of faith (Romans 4:17-22)

People say that when Abraham heard the word of God, he left his native land, his relatives, and his father's house, and when God commanded him to sacrifice Isaac, he had the faith to walk a three-day road without hesitation and willingly offer Isaac on Mount Moriah.

Then they say, 'Why are you hesitant and unable to believe the Word of God?'

Such people do not yet properly know the faith of receiving the word of God.

For example, the Lord said to the sick man who had been lying by the pool of Bethesda for 38 years, 'Get up, pick up your bed and walk' (John 5:8). This sick man held on to the word by faith and got up and walked.

If there are preachers like this, please tell me. I'm going to slap him in the face.

Why? It is not that he has wronged me, but because he is a false teacher who covers the glory of the Word (Ho Logos), when the Lord says, all things will be fulfilled.

Take a closer look at the case.

Did the sick hold on to the Word and get up and walk? Or did the sick man immediately get well, pick up his mat, and walk, just as the Lord said? (John 5:9)

As he said, the sick man got up and walked regardless of his own will.

There are many people who seem to have faith in the word of God, but do not have it.

Q. Who is the subject of Abraham's faith in raising the dead?

“As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickenes the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were.” (Romans 4:17)

A. In conclusion, it is God who called Abraham.

Faith is not to squeeze the will to believe, but to hear and accept the word of God in front of Him.

When you hear it, you believe it.

In other words, it is a mysterious mechanism between God and creation.

Look at all things in the universe.

There is no language, no speech, no voice heard, but are they moving according to God's will without an inch of error? (Ps. 19:3-4)

However, only we humans have fallen in Adam and are in the midst of sin, so we have not been able to understand the Word.

For example, if the king's messenger says, "It's the king's order." ; he doesn't just listen to the words, "It's the king's order," but thinks of the king who issued the edict.

Of course, he thinks of the king, and regardless of his servants, he obeys the order without moving.

The word of God comes to us as if it is a commandment  comes running.

Only when we receive the Word in front of God and in front of His name will we have right faith.

Understanding the Word with reason does not mean that it becomes faith.

In front of the existence of God who gave the Word, when we receive, serve the Word, the Word becomes our faith.

So it is the word of faith that is believed (Romans 10:8).

Therefore, do not play around with the Word of God who lives and works, saying that it is induction or deduction.

Abraham said that when God spoke, he did not believe the word, but he believed God (Genesis 15:6)

So he is a father of all who believe in the word of promise before God.

The word “before God” is very important. This is called 'Coram Deo'.

It is to receive God as it is with the word of promise.

So, to receive Jesus Christ means to receive the existence of Jesus Christ, His words, and His work as Amen.

For example, when Jesus spoke in Luke 10, it was Mary who received the word in front of Jesus.

Mary received the word with Jesus.

Now, receive the Word in front of God, not just the knowledge of the Bible.

Only then will it seep into you.

That's why, with God's words, don't pass by thinking that this is like this and that is like that.

Do not study the Bible like a pastor who says he is looking into the Word, but study the Bible thinking how to receive the Word.

And apply the Word over and over again in your life.

Look at Israel when they came out of Egypt.

God told Israel  to put on the blood of the Passover and eat the lamb.

And immediately prepared to leave.

Food is eaten to move.

You must eat unleavened bread.

We must receive the Word in order to receive it before God and apply it to our lives, not just to know it.

Then you will only speak fluently and there will be no self-development at all.

What kind of faith was Abraham's faith?

It is the faith that believes in God who gives life to the dead and calls things that do not exist as though they were.

Who is the dead one? Abraham himself.

How does he have kids at 99? It's like being dead.

But what is God's promise?

God was telling him that he would be the father of many nations.

Abraham had only one child, Ishmael, who was born to Hagar.

But God says he will make him the father of many nations.

Many nations that did not exist to Abraham became reality through faith.

This is the living faith that has received God and His Word.

Abraham against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall your seed be. (Romans 4:18)

It is God who made Abraham the father of many nations.

It is the verse in the Bible that best explains God's promise and our faith.

'To be the father of many nations' is passive to the present participle of the past perfect.

This is the right interpretation of our faith and our accurate salvation.

It is our salvation that the event that was already completed before the foundation of the world continues in the present progressive form in Christ and through Christ.

Even in a situation where all hope is gone, Abraham believes.

Hope is gone This means that neither Abraham nor Sarah can give a baby.

Nonetheless, he hoped and believed. No, it is more accurate to say that he was believed.

It means that he believed in the word that he would be the father of many nations, and in God, who raises the dead and calls things that do not exist as being.

When the Word enters into us, this kind of faith is born.

In reality, there is no hope. But the faith is steadfast.

Reality is as it is without hope. But faith is always alive.

Reality is reality and faith is faith.

That is the faith that received the word.

God wants us to have the faith of Abraham.

Abraham was believed because the word made Abraham to be true to Abraham.

In order for a person to become great, his beliefs are different.

Faith includes signs and gifted faith, but there is also faith in which the word of God enters into us and becomes like Abraham.

It is the belief that He is the God who gives life to the dead and makes things that do not exist.

Because the word of God makes it so, Abraham believed the fact that he will be the father of many nations regardless of the circumstances.

In fact, salvation is already complete on God's side. It's over.

When he starts, he finishes.

However, we are passive and currently in progress, becoming by Him.

Although Abraham now has only one child from his concubine, Abraham came to have the faith that this word would be fulfilled.

Therefore, if you want to do great things, let the Word come into you and grow your faith by the Word.

“And being not weak in faith,  he considered not his own body now dead,  when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the  deadness of Sarah’s womb” (Romans 4:19)

Faith is true faith when it is believed even after grasping the reality rationally.

It is not faith that he makes himself drowsy and runs away from reality.

People of faith accept the facts as they are.

Whether it's your handicap, what happened in the past, what's wrong with your current life, or what ugly stains you have in your life, you don't avoid it, you accept it as it is.

Reality is reality, and faith is faith...

First of all, you need to rationally establish the facts.

Even though I seem to be dead, I believe that 'I am not dead because of God.'

Abraham did not have the concept of being 100 years old.

He knows Sarah's menstrual period is over, but he doesn't accept it as it is.

He believes in God's promises. This is faith.

The Apostle Paul also says that I am like nothing, but I have everything.

The Bible made the apostle Paul a great man.

In fact, the apostle Paul was never a great person from a human point of view at that time.

As a human being, he is a complete failure.

Nonetheless, I will rejoice. I know that in the future I will go and die in Rome, but still I will praise God. This is Paul's faith.

It is not the faith that I believe in, but the faith that is believed by the Word coming into me.

The Lord said, if you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you might say unto this sycamine tree, and be you planted  in the sea, and it should obey you. (Luke 17:6)

Who doesn't have a mountain of problems for every human being?

There is no person who does not have a fateful problem in life that I can't live because of this mountain.

However, to command, "What are you, mountain?" is faith.

It is the faith that the word gives.

It is long said that even though Abraham knew all about his condition, he did not think about it at all and firmly believed in God's promise.

In fact, it is believed.

Furthermore, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Rom. 4:20)

Abraham did not doubt God's promise and believed it.

So the power of faith is important.

Faith must be more stronger in our hearts and give glory to God.

This is the amount of work God's word does.

Finally, in Genesis 22, Abraham is confirmed.

Abraham's faith was confirmed by the offering of Isaac on Mount Moriah.

From then on, God called Abraham a friend.

You say you are my friend and now I will tell you everything openly. Now I know that you fear me, and I will be a blessing to you and to your descendants.

In other words, God says that He will fulfill everything He has promised.

In the parable of the vine and the branches, I do not call you a servant, but a friend. (John 15:15)

He promises to have a close relationship through the commandments of the Lord.

That's why when Jesus comes again, he tells us not to become winter faith.

He is telling us not to stand at a distance and boast about our shadows.

If you have faith at noon, there is no shadow of yourself.

The shadows are all under your feet, but if you are far away from the Lord, your shadow is longer than you are.

There are many people with long shadows now.

“And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” (Romans 4:21)

It means you are confident. "What he had promised, he was able also to perform.."

He is the one who will surely fulfill his promise.

Even if I do not confess with my mouth, he is the one who works within me.

The living Word means that His promises continue to work.

If the word continues to work in me over time, it will gradually become full.

“Therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.” (Romans 4:22)

At first, there is a faith that is considered as righteousness through faith, and then there is a faith of righteousness that the Lord recognize because that faith is full.

Therefore, do not urge, like many people, 'Behold Abraham, imitate his faith. We must become ministers who serve God by accurately preaching the word of promise so that Abraham believes in God and attains righteousness, and the word works in him so that God's promise develops into faith that can be believed regardless of circumstances.

Written by Ptr. Yohan Kim.

Translated by  Nancy Chung

COME AND SEE WORLD MISSION