Pastor Joo Gi Chul (1897-1994), who during the Japanese Occupation refused to worship the Japanese emperor and kept his faith to the end, is someone whom I respect the most. Pastor Joo Gi Chul gave his all to obey the Second out of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:4,5), and this kind of faith, determined and ready to die for his faith, is what we desperately need in this generation where religious pluralism is becoming more common.
When I first believed in Jesus, I thought that if I just had the heart, I could obey his Word. But one day, I read the verses 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and it said “rejoice always.” This rejoicing was not sometimes but always. And what is more it says to ‘give thanks in all circumstances.’ Even in the worst circumstances, even in situations where giving thanks is impossible, it says to give thanks. Furthermore, it says to love one another with all our lives just as Jesus loved us (John 13:34). Once I realized this, I thought, “Can I really live this kind of life?”
I found the answer to this question in Ephesians. In Ephesians 3:6, the apostle Paul says that through the gospel, the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. By being united with Jesus, I have been made into one who always rejoices, one who gives thanks in all circumstances, and one who ought to lay down my life for my brothers. I who lived for myself have died on the cross with Jesus Christ, and I have been born again as one who lives only for the Lord.
Therefore, Christianity is not a religion that says, “Do this!”, but instead, “It has been done”. Because I have been born again as one who is united with Jesus, I could confess “Amen” from the bottom of my heart to all the words that I could not say “Amen” in the past.
Therefore, Christianity is not a religion that says, “Do this!”, but instead, “It has been done”. Because I have been born again as one who is united with Jesus, I could confess “Amen” from the bottom of my heart to all the words that I could not say “Amen” in the past.
Why must I live according to the Word? How can I live according to the Word? This was all solved through unity.
As I saw the power of the gospel in Ephesians 3:6, I was so deeply moved beyond compare. Through the gospel I became one who possesses everything (2 Corinthians 6:10), through the gospel the church was born, and through the gospel I was born again as one who can live according to the Word of God. When the Holy Spirit leads us to believe in all the Word through the resurrection (John 2:22), then unity fulfills all the Word (John 15:5).
The difference between trying to live according to the Word by my own efforts and by walking with Christ who lives within me is as great as the difference between heaven and earth. If we don’t know the mystery of unity, we can only fall into a faith of self conviction in which we try to fulfill the law by our own strength, and due to the sins that come from the old self, our identity can only be shaken and ultimately, even the assurance of salvation shakes. As it says in Galatians 2:20, when Christ, who is united with and lives in me, lives through me, we live according to the Word of God.
In order for this unity with Jesus Christ to be revealed through me who is living in the flesh, we must receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit. While we live in the flesh (body), in us are the old habits, the former way of life (Ephesians 4:22). Therefore, within me, there is a battle against these old habits. Even though we have been united with Jesus Christ, if we do not win this internal battle, we cannot live a life of walking with Christ.
Unity with Jesus Christ is walking the same path as Jesus, the same path as Pastor Joo Gi Chul. And in this unity, there is power to live out the Word of God as reality in my life. I pray that this great power of unity will come upon the Korean Church.
In order for this unity with Jesus Christ to be revealed through me who is living in the flesh, we must receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit. While we live in the flesh (body), in us are the old habits, the former way of life (Ephesians 4:22). Therefore, within me, there is a battle against these old habits. Even though we have been united with Jesus Christ, if we do not win this internal battle, we cannot live a life of walking with Christ.
Unity with Jesus Christ is walking the same path as Jesus, the same path as Pastor Joo Gi Chul. And in this unity, there is power to live out the Word of God as reality in my life. I pray that this great power of unity will come upon the Korean Church.
