Like a chestnut tree

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the willingness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For this is not for the relief of others and for your hardship, but by way of equality— at this present time your abundance will serve as assistance for their need, so that their abundance also may serve as assistance for your need, so that there may be equality; as it is written: “The one who had gathered much did not have too much, and the one who had gathered little did not have too little.” (vv. 9-15)

God is love, and He pours His love into our hearts so that we may share with others what we have first received from Him. Paul and the other apostles did not live for themselves; they devoted their time, strength, and even their bodies to proclaim the good news so that others might be saved. They cared for brothers and sisters who were suffering persecution and supported those in need.

Many Christians continue to share this love faithfully. Yet it is sorrowful to see that some churches are more concerned with constructing buildings than nurturing living faith. The church is not a structure we enter once or twice a week. It is the people of God. Too often believers are led to think that a church building is the temple of God, but Scripture teaches that God’s temple is our body, where the Holy Spirit dwells.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19)

This does not mean that the Holy Spirit physically resides in my physical body in a material sense. Rather, it means that through the Holy Spirit, God and I are united. We belong to Him, and He abides in us. In this way, we share a spiritual union that cannot be separated. There are theological terms that attempt to explain this mystery, but we do not need to master technical language to grasp its truth. This union is reflected in the passages about the Lord’s Supper and in John 17, where Jesus speaks of believers being one with Him as He is one with the Father.

What I am saying is that many churches seem more concerned with constructing impressive buildings to display the greatness of their community than with caring for the poor. They collect tithes and various kinds of “offerings,” often directing large sums toward construction projects. A healthy Christian community is indeed vital for spiritual growth. However, it is troubling when excessive amounts of money are spent on buildings while genuine needs go unmet. In such cases, it can appear as though they are building their own kingdom rather than serving God’s.

When churches focus heavily on fundraising for physical structures, many problems can arise—division, pressure, pride, and misplaced priorities. A physical building is not the temple of God.

And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? (Luke 12:42)

I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. (vv. 9-11)

Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. (Revelation 3:19)

Our first ancestors, Adam and Eve, were created innocent, but they did not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them to know and understand God fully. They were called blameless, but not righteous, because righteousness is associated with the knowledge and wisdom of God. Until the Holy Spirit permanently resides in us, we are not righteous. Indeed, we all need to ask for the Holy Spirit to come to us, but this is not initiated by us. God prepares and guides us throughout our lives. When the Holy Spirit comes, we gain the knowledge of God. We then know the difference between lies and truth. We begin to understand God and confess our faith in Him.

However, we continue to sin because that is our nature. We pursue our old self until we realise that we are like pigs swimming in mire. God invites us to be His children, washes us, and clothes us with a white robe, which is Christ.

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all the tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands. (Revelation 7:9)

Sometimes we forget God’s grace and chase after lust and the desires of the world like mad people, only to realise that we are back in the pig pen. Visible churches exist for our education and training. Attending a church service on Sundays helps us stop the madness and reminds us of our changed status through Jesus Christ.

However, many churches have become corrupt. They no longer preach the grace of God and the coming Kingdom. They preach half-grace, which is no grace at all. They appear to promote a morally upright life, but many churches have become pig pens full of pigs. They do not want to be criticised for their actions. Any rebuke is considered unloving and cruel. The leaders respond to rebukes by saying, “Aren’t you also dirty? Christ forgave us,” and they continue accepting immorality.

Those churches that call themselves “fundamentalist” have created their own kingdoms. They are often led by a few families. Anyone who questions their decisions is isolated and even considered a threat to their communities.

Even though the apostles of the first century are no longer physically present, their words—written through the Holy Spirit—remain with us. However, many churches turn a blind eye to immorality and, by doing so, end up promoting it.

Let us be clear: love is not remaining silent about immorality in the church. If the leaders refuse to listen, then shake the dust off your feet and leave. Why stay in a pig pen and be swept away with the rest when the Lord comes?

When you rebuke someone, remember that anyone can fall into temptation. How people respond to a rebuke is ultimately up to them. You have done your duty by speaking the truth. Do it with love and prayer, and ask for God’s guidance. People with the Holy Spirit will eventually turn away from sins. But evil people try to justify immorality by misusing Bible verses. Their judgment will be severe. However, we must not take vengeance into our own hands. God is the judge, and we only do our duty.

You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may certainly rebuke your neighbor, but you are not to incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor hold any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:17-18)

Do not be mismatched with unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness share together, or what does light have in common with darkness? Or what harmony does Christ have with Belial, or what does a believer share with an unbeliever? (vv. 14-15)

We live in a strange time when many can no longer distinguish between good and evil. People call something good if it benefits them and evil if it disadvantages them. In this way, they act as their own god, judging everything by their personal standards.

This tendency is even stronger in some churches. The line between good and evil becomes blurred. Churches welcome false Christians who no longer follow sound doctrine, as long as there is financial gain. Some even claim that unbelievers will be forgiven and enter heaven regardless of faith.

Or what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL AMONG THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty. (vv. 16-18)

At the present time, it is often better not to argue about religion. Many people are weary of disputes about whose god is better or true. I avoid unnecessary debates. If someone asks about Christianity, I am ready to share what I believe. But I do not want to spend my time arguing with those who have no interest in reading the Word of God and are only curious about different ideas.

Those chosen by God will eventually seek His Word. The Bible is widely available—sold everywhere and freely accessible online—except in places where Christianity is banned or in isolated communities. Even there, the gospel reaches people according to God’s plan. What is saddening is that some who receive the gospel with joy are later misled by people in churches who call evil good and good evil.

Paul the Apostle was alarmed, as we read in First Epistle to the Corinthians chapter 5, that the church in Corinth tolerated serious wrongdoing. Even today, some churches allow those living in open adultery to take part in the Lord’s Supper, telling others that Christians must simply forgive and move on.

Many people do not want to live morally. Movies and books often portray lawbreakers as admirable. Freedom is frequently misunderstood in the media. True freedom is not doing whatever we want; it is being released from a sinful life. We are no longer slaves to sin. If we are truly free, why would we continue to pursue immorality and be consumed by sinful desires? Many call themselves free but keep sinning. Truly free people hate sinning. They uphold the law.

Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now that you maintain, ‘We see,’ your sin remains. (John 9:41)

Those whom God has chosen and loves seek to live in ways that please Him. We do not repay evil for evil. We endure suffering until Jesus Christ returns. However, we must still call evil what it is. Do not be enslaved by anything or anyone. Our souls are free, whether we are in chains or not.

Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. (Romans 12:17)

For if we have lost our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf. (vv. 13-15)

There are good doctrines and bad doctrines. Good doctrines strengthen our understanding of God and help us avoid meaningless arguments. Bad doctrines lead to confusion and eventually to a misunderstanding of God. Since the knowledge of God is closely related to our righteousness, bad doctrines mean unrighteousness. We all know that the unrighteous are not saved. By this, I am not saying that those who study Christian doctrines diligently will be saved. Rather, those who are elected (saved) know what is right and what is wrong.

Many theologians and ministers follow doctrines that proclaim universal salvation or salvation by works. They often quote Paul’s words, but their teachings are full of paradox. They want to believe something that is not true. When other Bible verses say things that differ from what they assert, they simply ignore them. They try to please others, meaning they seek money and fame. We should always be on high alert when they speak falsely about God.

Paul used metaphors here and there to make his message easier for readers to understand. As a highly learned man, his letters have a logical flow. However, it is not easy to grasp the whole picture if one does not know what the entire Bible teaches. Paul’s message is simple: those who are united with Christ died with Him and were resurrected with Him. This applies not only to those who participated in the Lord’s Supper, but to those who are spiritually united with Him by the Holy Spirit and have new life. Physically attending the Lord’s Supper does not, by itself, mean anything. Judas Iscariot participated in the Lord’s Supper but was rejected.

The Son of Man is going away just as it is written about Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born. (Matthew 26:24)

We know that some are saved and others are rejected by God. We do not know who is truly saved, but we know that God loves those who are humble. We know that there is nothing good in us that deserves the Kingdom of God. We struggle and stumble every day as we carry our own cross. God’s words sustain us, and we trust entirely in His guidance. God does not reject such people, and they are humble because of the Spirit.

For indeed, we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a pledge. (vv. 4-5)

Those who receive praise from people and hold high positions cannot be humble. They may pretend to be humble, but they simply cannot be. God gives them wealth and fame, and as a result they cannot remain humble. However, people follow them like flies to light. It is sad to see that some ministers and theologians receive much praise and have many followers. Together, they preach false doctrines, and their followers become just like them.

As we read the Bible, we must remind ourselves of the true gospel. Paul, under much suffering and many challenges, wrote letters so that we would not be enticed. Churches must preach the Kingdom of God, but most ministers and their followers are not interested. This is because the Holy Spirit is not in them; they have not been given hope. Without the Kingdom of God, a sermon is a dead sermon.

Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (vv. 14-15)

But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who live are constantly being handed over to death because of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written: “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that grace, having spread to more and more people, will cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. (vv. 7-15)

The core messages of Christianity are the Kingdom of God and eternal life—a new world and a new, everlasting life without sickness or suffering. The law, sin, and punishment were given to us so that we would eagerly wait for the Kingdom of God. Through all this, God wants us to understand the immeasurable depth, width, and height of His love for us.

For this reason I bend my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19)

Those God loves, He gives them greater suffering on the earth. I am not lying and this is written in the Bible.

Because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

This is different from what most churches teach—that God will make people prosper on earth and bless them with wealth and children. The prosperity of the patriarchs shows the blessings we will receive when Christ comes. Abraham, Joseph, and Job received wealth after much suffering, but their earthly wealth is only a symbol of the eternal blessing in Christ.

Many churches claim that they do not preach the prosperity gospel, yet they praise members who have wealth and fame, whose children are healthy and successful in the world. Such people often take up leadership roles and hold authority in their churches. I rarely hear sermons about the Kingdom of God because their interests are earthly. False Christians are not interested in the Kingdom of God because all they care about is themselves and their possessions, including their children.

We cannot entirely blame them, because they have not been shown the hope of the Kingdom of God. God has not opened their eyes to see that the Kingdom of God is coming. Christians already live the life of eternity, even under the harshest conditions on earth. The body may perish, but our spirit lives forever with God.

People who are not given the wisdom to know and understand God through the Bible cannot have the hope of eternity. Any church that does not preach the Kingdom of God is false. The Kingdom is not the place you go when you die. The Kingdom will replace our world when Christ comes.

Those who are content in this world want to live forever in their bodies. With the development of AI, some even speak of eternal life through technology. But we look forward to the new world in the Kingdom of God. Our bodies must decay so that we may long for the Kingdom and for a new body that does not decay.

Those who suffer for the Kingdom will be greatly rewarded. Such suffering is not self-inflicted; only those to whom God has chosen can suffer for the Kingdom. Not everyone can become like Paul. We all work for the Kingdom according to the tasks given to us. We pray to God that we may do our best and not remain idle. When we suffer, we do not suffer for ourselves but because of our love for fellow Christians. And that love is not from us but from God.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (vv. 16-18)

Such is the confidence we have toward God through Christ. Not that we are adequate in ourselves so as to consider anything as having come from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (vv. 4-6)

There is a movie called 12 Years a Slave. I have mentioned this film once or twice to illustrate the nature of the new covenant. If a person is born free, that person cannot truly be enslaved, even if it may appear so outwardly. Others may attempt to enslave a free person, but a man who is free by nature cannot become a slave in essence.

In the same way, Christ—who is naturally free as the only begotten Son of God—cannot be enslaved by becoming a man. Although He was born under the law, He was not subject to the law in the same way the rest of humanity is, because His origin is not that of a slave. He became man in order to free those who were naturally born slaves. Death cannot rule over Him who is life itself.

Some theologians and ministers claim that Jesus could have fallen like Adam if He had failed to keep the law perfectly. If I am not mistaken, Louis Berkhof expressed this view in his writings. This reflects a serious misunderstanding of both Christ’s nature and the new covenant. It raises the troubling question of how someone can so fundamentally misunderstand the person of Christ and still be regarded as a faithful teacher of the faith.

For us to be set free, we required a free man—not another slave like ourselves. And we did not need another creation like Adam, who was capable of unfaithfulness. Adam’s failure stemmed from his limited understanding of God. Though he was given knowledge and wisdom, and was innocent and blameless, he was not righteous. Righteousness is often misunderstood as mere moral excellence, but in Scripture it goes far beyond that. Righteousness belongs to God alone. Only God is righteous and holy. Only God fully understands God.

Therefore, our salvation required God Himself to become man—not merely a blameless man under the law, but God in the flesh, who alone could redeem those born in bondage.

Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave, although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. So we too, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters. Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. (Galatians 4:1-7)

Moses in the Old Testament was a shadow of Jesus Christ. He served as a mediator between God and the Israelites. In the same way, Christ is the mediator of the new covenant. However, Christ is not merely a repetition or exact counterpart of Moses. He is far superior to Moses because He is God, the second person of Godhead.

This was the true Light that, coming into the world, enlightens every person. He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not accept Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God. (John 1:9-13)

Therefore, having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and we are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not stare at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. (vv. 12-14)

We humans tend to follow other humans and believe that we can become like them. Buddhism, for example, idealizes Buddha, and those who follow his teachings believe they can attain what he attained. Christianity, however, is not like other religions. God became man not so that we could imitate Him in our own strength, but so that He could make us His children. He gives us eternal life and a new world.

Yet many Christians do not truly want to see God face to face. Instead, they prefer Moses with a veil over his face. Many still believe—or want to believe—that their good deeds can earn them eternal life and rewards. This is what many churches teach today. They deny absolute grace and replace it with conditional grace, which is no grace at all.

Our good deeds do not earn life; they flow from the love given to us by God.

But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts; but whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. (vv. 15-18)

But if anyone has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not for me, but in some degree—not to say too much—for all of you. Sufficient for such a person is this punishment which was imposed by the majority, so that on the other hand, you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a person might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. (vv. 5-8)

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and sexual immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, namely, that someone has his father’s wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. (1 Corinthians 5:1-2)

According to the First Letter to the Corinthians, there was a man who had his father’s wife. We are not given the details of the situation, but it is clear that the man was engaged in an immoral sexual relationship with his father’s wife.

The new covenant frees us from the old covenant, which required perfect obedience to the law. Under the law, we are all condemned to death. Christ did not free us by perfectly keeping the law on our behalf, as many theologians and ministers claim. Our salvation does not come from the law but from one person—Jesus Christ—who purchased us at a price and freed us from bondage. Only the Son of God could save us by dying for our sins and raising us to new life. In Him, we are a new creation.

Although we are free from the bondage of sin and the law, this freedom does not permit us to pursue immorality. The essence of the law has not changed; it is fulfilled in sacrificial love. We now live under the guidance of the new law—the “law of freedom.” We are not under the law that kills but under the new law that strengthens us.

But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:25)

This love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13, is the foundation of Christianity. It is not rooted in physical desire or human temptation.

The Reformers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries insisted that the moral law still remains. Strictly speaking, however, the law of the Old Testament has been fulfilled and perfected by Jesus Christ. The former written code no longer stands; instead, the new law of freedom now governs our lives.

Is the man’s sin, then, a violation of the new law of freedom? Yes, it is. Even the law of the Old Testament was only a shadow of this new law. God gave us fathers, mothers, husbands, and wives to reveal a greater truth: that we have one Father who created all things, and that the Church alone is the bride of Jesus Christ. When a person violates this created order for the sake of sexual desire, such an act stands against both the old law and the new.

These who trample the head of the helpless to the dust of the earth Also divert the way of the humble; And a man and his father resort to the same girl So as to profane My holy name. (Amos 2:7)

What, then, about other forms of sexual immorality? We must examine whether the love we claim to feel for someone or something stands in conflict with the new law of freedom. Adultery, in any form, is a violation of this new law. Although we are no longer judged by the law as in the Old Testament era, judgment comes where the Holy Spirit—who produces Christian love—is absent or ignored.

Anyone can fall into temptation. King David did, and he suffered the consequences of his sin. Falling into temptation should be avoided at all costs, yet it does occur in our lives. Even so, God continues to teach us, even when we are at our most treacherous and corrupt. David was humbled, and through his story we learn how sinful and vulnerable we are apart from God. Some believe they are keeping the law simply by attending church every Sunday and avoiding outward transgressions, yet we are constantly wrestling with our physical desires.

The Ten Commandments remain—not as a law we must keep for righteousness, but as a mirror that exposes how weak and sinful we truly are. They drive us to seek God’s mercy and to give thanks for the salvation granted to us through Jesus Christ.

It is deeply troubling that some Reformed churches insist the moral law still stands and publicly recite the Ten Commandments each Sunday, while their leaders tolerate sexual immorality and turn their backs on victims and the exploited.

In what may be called a new Reformation, we do not claim that the moral law continues in the same way as the old law of death. Instead, we affirm that the new law of freedom is the foundation of Christianity. We do not encourage or excuse immorality, but we fix our eyes on the law revealed at the cross. We do not pretend to be keepers of the law; rather, we acknowledge our sinful nature and pray for God to give us love for others. True keepers of the law do not boast in keeping it. Their good deeds arise like a fragrance through the work of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we rely on God, not on ourselves.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? For we are not like the many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God. (vv. 14-17)

For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you. For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end; just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, on the day of our Lord Jesus. (vv. 12-14)

In the era of the early church, there were no formally established church doctrines. The apostles themselves were the living witnesses and, in a sense, the embodiment of doctrine. Although many people heard of miracles, there were no tested doctrinal formulations to consult when beliefs were challenged. The devil took advantage of this situation to deceive many. As a result, numerous false teachings and self-proclaimed prophets arose. God made Paul and the other apostles aware of this danger, and their letters were written to teach, admonish, and protect believers from false teaching.

Throughout history, there has been much speculation about Christianity. Even ministers and theologians often show interest in matters where they should not. Yet the core doctrine of Christianity is simple and clear. Many hear the good news with joy, but some quickly fall away because their understanding is not rooted in the Holy Spirit. They are easily enticed, as described in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13; Mark 4; Luke 8). It would be better if such false Christians left their churches, but they often remain, take up offices or leadership roles, and lead others astray. Nevertheless, salvation is not in our hands but in God’s. Those who are not anointed by the Holy Spirit will eventually reveal their true identity as children of the devil.

Today, we have the core doctrines of the church—the Three Ecumenical Creeds and the Three Forms of Unity. They may not be so perfect that anyone who reads them automatically understands the core doctrines, but they can help us to stand firm. Some say the Heidelberg Catechism supports Covenant Theology and the active obedience of Christ, but this is not true.

False Christians continue to speculate and invent stories that are not true. These stories diminish the joy believers first experienced when they understood the gospel. Worse still, they promote immorality because they are not grounded in sound doctrine. Therefore, the corruption seen in churches around the world should not surprise us.

---

But I have a few things against you, because you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. (Revelation 2:14)

I know your deeds, and your love and faith, and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. (Revelation 2:19-20)

Today, many churches place their focus on people and community rather than on truth. As a result, their messages are no longer pure, because church leaders are more interested in pleasing people than in proclaiming the gospel faithfully. False teachings are received with joy, and false doctrines become deeply embedded. Gradually, churches lose their identity, and their interests shift toward money and politics. Many politicians, in turn, use churches for their own gain.

At the same time, theologians and ministers are often more concerned with personal benefit than with feeding God’s sheep. In contrast, people like Paul—who endured great suffering for the sake of truth—are despised. Paul’s primary concern was to preach the gospel and help believers stand firm in the truth. Yet it is precisely such people who are rejected.

Should God not be angry? Should He not send the four horsemen?

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. But I call God as witness to my soul, that it was to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth. Not that we domineer over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm. (vv. 21-24)

True Christians hope that their fellow believers stand firm in truth and faith. We spend our own time and resources teaching and admonishing one another so that, as a whole, we are not enticed or led astray by false doctrines and teachings. We do not admire ministers or theologians who boast of having read many books and who think of themselves as great thinkers. Christianity does not require “great thinkers” who invent stories from their own imaginations. We simply say yes to what is true and no to what is false.

For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no, but has been yes in Him. (v. 19)

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. All that you do must be done in love. (vv. 13-14)

The Letter to the Corinthians contains practical guidance on church matters as well as theological teaching. Paul is not asking believers to become experts in theology. No one needs to be educated like the Pharisees, as Paul was, in order to experience what he experienced or to understand what he understood through the Holy Spirit. Paul was given the task of building churches in different regions, and he was granted great wisdom and knowledge for this purpose. What he asks of the Corinthians is not burdensome. Paul emphasises love, and this love is found in the cross of Christ. When one understands what the cross of Christ means through the power of the Holy Spirit, that love will be manifested in the church.

Many people think love is merely about sharing food or helping the sick and the poor. Non-Christians can do these things as well, and some do them better than many Christians. We often hear news of church leaders exploiting members of their congregations. Some collect large sums of money for their own advantage. As a result, many people have turned away from churches because of the evil deeds of corrupt leaders. The worst thing these leaders do is teach lies about God. As shown to me in my dreams in 2017, people happily go back to slavery. The gospel is no longer presented as good news but as bad news. Churches enslave people and send them back to Egypt.

The conditional covenant was given so that we might honour and uphold the unconditional covenant. The new covenant does not exist for the sake of the old covenant.

By believing that Christ died for us and was raised to eternal life, we receive that eternal life. Christ is the only begotten Son of God from eternity. He became human so that He could die and rise again as our representative. He is our representative only when we believe in Him. Christ cannot be your representative if you do not know Him or understand what He has done for you. The cross is the core of Christian love because it is the ultimate act of self-sacrificial love—something only God can accomplish.

All good deeds flow from the love revealed at the cross. Without understanding the cross, there is no true love. How can there be love when lies are proclaimed from the pulpit every Sunday? False Christians proclaim that the cross is not enough for our eternal life. They trample truth under their feet and show no shame.

Only those anointed with the Holy Spirit can truly believe in God and love fellow believers. Receiving the Holy Spirit is not initiated by human effort but by God Himself. God chose His people before the creation of the world. This choice is not based on our good works; therefore, no one can boast.

---

If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. (vv. 22-24)

Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain. Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ only in this life, we are of all people most to be pitied. (vv. 12-19)

Theologians and ministers often insist that the cross is only for the forgiveness of sins. They argue that Christ needed to keep the law perfectly in order to give us eternal life, claiming that this theory is derived from Romans 5. However, we know this is not true. Their argument is flawed, and the proof can be found in 1 Corinthians 15.

We must understand that everything Christ did was for the kingdom of God and its people. Even before creation, God planned His kingdom and the church.

As true Christians, we do not believe that we earn salvation by works. However, some believe that eternal life is earned through good deeds. They think this is possible because their sins have been forgiven. They believe Adam was holy and could earn eternal life by works, and that now, having returned to Adam’s original status through Christ’s death, we too can work to earn eternal life. This, in a nutshell, is Covenant Theology. Theologians and ministers present this theory in a polished way, but salvation by works is its true nature. It is no different from Arminianism.

Systematic theology has become the mainstream approach to theology, and I believe it has caused significant harm. We must have a bird’s-eye view of Scripture. Revelation was planned before creation, and the new covenant was planned before the old covenant.

When we speak about Adam, we should not speculate about his nature. Many insist that he was holy, but I do not believe this to be the case. He was sinless, yet he did not truly understand God; that is why he rebelled. Holiness belongs only to God, and all holy people both understand God and have faith in Him. Paul’s point is simple: through one man, all died, and through one man, we live.

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. (v 22)

We live by faith in Christ, which is given by God. We did nothing and do nothing to earn our salvation.

The cross is the complete work. We died to sin and were raised to eternal life with Christ, who is the representative of all believers. Christ’s work cannot be separated: without the resurrection, there is no forgiveness of sins, and without His death on the cross, there is no eternal life.

The old covenant was given so that we could understand the new covenant. The old came first, and the new came later, but the new lasts for eternity. You do not need to read theology books or the words of philosophers to understand the gospel. God did not choose the learned to be apostles. Read God’s Word with a simple and humble understanding. Do not follow those theologians and ministers who delight in philosophical arguments and speculative theories.

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So also it is written: “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” The last Adam was a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second Man is from heaven. As is the earthy one, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly One, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. (vv. 42-29)