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Commentary on John 15 (1)
Let's go to John 15.
John 15 explains the principle of dwelling in the Father's house.
So Lord says, " I am the true vine, my Father is the husbandman, and you are the branches."
John 15 is a realistic expression of the spiritual state in the Father's house, that dwelling place.
So even if the prince of this world comes to capture us, if we follow the Lord's words, "Abide only in me and abide in my love," no one can touch us. They absolutely cannot touch us.
However, we should not stay in the place where the prince of this world still exists and go out to the battlefield to fight the devil.
The best way to fight the devil is to hide in Jesus Christ.
For example, confronting North Korea does not mean going to North Korea alone and catching Kim Jong-un.
Doing our job in South Korea is the way to confront North Korea.
In South Korea, doing well in the military and doing well in economic activities is confronting North Korea. It is not confronting North Korea to shout to the 1st Army Commander, "remove the ceasefire line and I will alone go up. I will catch Kim Jong-un. Let's catch Kim Jong-un."
Peter says that humbly submitting to God is the way to confront the devil.
The way to confront North Korea is the same as living as a complete member of South Korea.
So at the end of chapter 14, He says, “Arise, let us go hence.” (John 14:31), and where is he going?
He goes into chapter 15.
In John 14:30, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, comes, and the prince of this world comes.
However, the world always follows Satan.
Those people have nothing to take from Jesus Christ.
There are many believers who say they believe in Jesus but do not obtain the attributes that are in Christ at all.
They still remain under God’s wrath and anger, and they suffer from various hardships and diseases due to tribulation and hardship.
And yet, they firmly believe that God loves them and gives them grace.
In fact, chapter 14 of John is a very difficult word.
The question of Thomas, Philip, and Judas, not Iscariot is an extremely human question.
It is still a question of those who belong to the flesh.
Chapter 14 is where Jesus Christ gives a spiritual answer to a human question.
But it is the same for us.
Even though we say we know Jesus Christ, if we try to know a lot of the knowledge of the Bible and use our belief in Jesus Christ as a way to show the world that we are superior, John 14 is difficult.
However, those who are taught and reminded by the Holy Spirit will gradually come to know that Jesus Christ is ‘the way’ to the Father.
In the Holy Spirit of truth, we know Jesus Christ, we know the Father, and we are different from the world because the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, reveals and teaches us Christ, and we become one with the Lord and enjoy true peace.
This is the true blessing we receive.
It is an amazing grace.
If you look at John 14:31, it says, “That the world may know that I love the Father; and do as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.”
In other words, when the Holy Spirit of truth comes, He will fulfill the law and make you a person who loves God and love your neighbor.
However, God makes his chosen people with his zeal, but what will the world do? In the end, it ends the moment they say, “Oh, that’s right.”
Take a look at the wicked, foolish, and lazy servant in Matthew 25.
At the end, when the master finishes explaining, at that moment, the servant says, “Oh, I made a mistake,” and the master says “throw this servant out, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
There is no opportunity to repent.
The five foolish virgins were also thrown out in an instant, saying, “Oh no!”
The chosen people are just like the world in that they don’t know at first.
We and the world are the same in that we don’t know, but because we are caught up in God’s plan and zeal, God makes us complete this law of loving God and loving our neighbors.
However, the world enters judgment at the last moment when it says, “Oh no! I did wrong.”
At that time, there is no time to hear the Word, realize, and repent.
It enters judgment right away.
Therefore, we must know that it is a blessing to be able to realize and reflect on our daily lives.
However, if the Holy Spirit of truth does not dwell in us, we only realize, “Oh no! I did wrong!” but do not change. There is “ enlightenment” but no “change”.
Could it be that we are extinguishing the Holy Spirit in our lives and that is why this happens?
The Holy Spirit teaches and reminds us of the message of the cross, and moves us from sin and death to the righteousness and life in Christ, so we know that we have crossed the cross and return to our original place through the merit of Christ's death and raising.
At each time, the blood of His Son Jesus forgives all our sins and cleanses us from unrighteousness.
However, if we say, "Oh no! I did something wrong," but do not correct ourselves, it is evidence that we have quenched the Holy Spirit.
Without the Spirit of truth, we may realize that we were wrong, but we will never be able to change ourselves.
Our flesh does not have the ability to change itself.
This kind of person is Saul in the Old Testament and Judas Iscariot in the New Testament.
Saul also realized, “Oh no!” but he could not change himself.
He pushed on and died miserably.
Judas Iscariot is the same.
He did not turn back and become a disciple of the Lord at the moment he realized that he was wrong, but he ended up committing suicide and ended up on the path to destruction
That is why we must know that it is a blessing that God gives us a heart of repentance every day so that we can mourn over ourselves (Matthew 5:4).
However, to be honest, what I feel when I meet many people is that there seem to be many who realize, “Oh no! I am wrong,” after hearing the Word, but there seem to be not many who pray in mourn as the Holy Spirit teaches and reminds them because they have extinguished the Holy Spirit who is present within them for too long.
Because the Holy Spirit has been extinguished, there is realization, but no change.
That is why many people think that realizing their mistakes is repentance.
They only confess, "Oh no! I was wrong. Oh no! I spoke wrongly.,” but do not pray and mourn before the Lord over their essential problems.
They only cry, “Lord, we did wrong. Please forgive us.” They do not find the way to enter Christ according to the Lord’s words, “Arise, let us go hence.”
Because of ignorance or extinguishment of the Spirit of truth who dwells within us, the church on this earth is becoming more and more barren and desolate.
Everyone feels a sense of crisis in the Korean church and says in their own way that this should not be the case, but no one can come up with a solution.
Written by Ptr. Yohan Kim.
Translated by Nancy Chung
COME AND SEE WORLD MISSION
To God be the glory.