Like a chestnut tree

In this passage, Christ continues to teach on the Kingdom and how saints live on the earth by the power of the Holy Spirit. The earth was made as a training place for saints. John the Baptist started his ministry before Christ. He gathered people who were thirsty in spirit to tell them about the light, Christ (John 1:6-8). Although the Jews had the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, many were not taught truths of God. Instead, they were oppressed by the system. While the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law emphasize the Law, they did not keep the Law. They thought they kept the Law and were righteous before God. But Christ denied they kept the Law. They did not know God. From their point of view, Christ was a Law breaker.

“Did Moses not give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why are you seeking to kill Me?” (John 7:19)

So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” (John 8:19)

It is important to understand what the Law indicates. God will judge people by their actions (Psalm 62:12). But it is not the actions that matter but the heart where the actions come from. Therefore, the new covenant promises the change of the heart (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

In this passage, Christ warns His people of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, who loved money and reputation. Others also served money instead of God. They were enslaved by sins. The people were living the life of a slave again just as their ancestors did in Egypt. God looks after even the reprobate people. In fact, the Bible talks about the evil people living a prosperous life. Although they receive wealth from God, they do not seek God or thank God. They serve money. God does not want His people to follow their ways. Our future is in the coming Kingdom.

Christ mentions two creatures in v.26 and 27 – birds and lilies. Many people boast that we are made in the image of God. But we are secondary products. The soil was made first. Then first man was created from the soil. But men were given authority to rule other creatures by God. This is God’s divine power. God gives the weakest and the least important in the world the authority to rule by His Spirit. Christ also lived as a poor man who was considered uneducated by the Pharisee and the teachers of the Law.

For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we would look at Him, nor an appearance that we would take pleasure in Him. He was despised and abandoned by men, a man of great pain and familiar with sickness; And like one from whom people hide their faces, He was despised, and we had no regard for Him. (Isaiah 1:1-2)

Adam’s authority in the garden of Eden was only a shadow of the real authority that saint will have in the coming Kingdom. The distinctive feature of humans is that we constantly need to change our clothes. Any earthly garments wear out. We need to wear garments to keep ourselves warm and protected. Garments remind of Adam’s sin in the garden. No earthly garments can hide us from his sin and our sins. Christ came to give us the eternal garment – Himself. Garments also represent a status of a person who wears them. We are clothed with Christ.

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Galatians 3:27)

Because Christ knew all plans of the Father and came to fulfill all His righteousness, He assures His people that there is nothing to worry about. He warns us not to be like the Pharisees who boast about their position in the society and wealth and yet, are afraid of losing their authority (John 11:48). The position of saints is guaranteed by Christ’s death and resurrection. Saints all die someday but our real life begins when the end comes. Therefore, Christ emphasized on the Kingdom and God’s will.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (v.33)

It is not that food and clothing will be provided if I do God’s works. The Kingdom is not conditional but unconditional. Christ shows here what is the most important in the life of saints. Saints must seek to understand God’s will and pray. It is God who does all good works for His Kingdom. God uses His people at proper time for specific tasks. The Lord’s prayer summarizes all God’s will in saints. Firstly, we praise God for everything that He has done and will do. We praise Him for giving us the right to call Him our Father. Secondly, we understand God’s ultimate aim of creation is the Kingdom. We pray all His divine will to be fulfilled by the power of the Spirit. Thirdly, we thank God for providing us food for our physical and spiritual needs. We also devote ourselves to reading and studying God’s words by the Holy Spirit. We confess our idleness and stupidity and pray for God’s mercy and wisdom. Fourthly, we pray God to make us forgive those who sin against us by His power and wisdom. We confess we ourselves do not have the heart to forgive anyone. We pray that those who oppose our message may come to know God in future. Fifthly, we pray God to save us from temptations and trials. We confess our pride makes us go astray. We thank God for putting us in humble circumstances. Lastly, we confess that everything God planned before time began will come true for His glory, power, and His Kingdom. Saints will serve Him forever and ever.

Seeking God’s Kingdom and His righteousness is not doing something grand in the eyes of the world. Knowing and understanding God and His plans, and praising God for His righteousness is the most important work of saints. All God’s righteousness is summed up in Christ.

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (John 6:29)

There are many writings on how to pray and you have likely heard many sermons on this particular passage. Calvin wrote extensively on prayer in his book the Institute. Heidelberg catechism also explains on the Lord’s prayer. They are useful tools to understand how we should pray.

Prayers is the only direct communication channel with God. God gave us the right to pray. God only listens to the prayers of His people. Therefore, it is the most privileged gift of saints. Prayers is also associated with the burning of the incense in the OT (Exodus 30:1-9; Leviticus 16:11-13; Numbers 16; Psalm 141:2). Burning incense is mentioned in Revelation 5:8 and 8:3, indicating prayers of saints.

Numbers 16 is particularly important to understand prayer. There is much to talk about regarding Korah’s rebellion. Korah was a Levi and gathered some men and said to Moses and Aaron:

“You have gone far enough! For all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?” (Num 16:3)

And Moses reply to them:

“Hear now, you sons of Levi: Is it too small an honor for you that the God of Israel has singled you out from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to perform the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them; and that He has brought you near, Korah, and all your brothers, sons of Levi, with you? But are you seeking the priesthood as well? Therefore you and your whole group are the ones gathered together against the LORD; but as for Aaron, who is he, that you grumble against him?” (Num 16:8-11)

At the end this rebellion, God accepted the incense of Aaron but did not accept the incenses of Korah and his companions. The Korah’s group and the Israelite people who supported them were annihilated by God. The earth opened and swallowed the Korah’s group, 250 men who burned incense were killed by fire, and the plague killed the rest. Aaron burnt the incense for the people and made atonement for them and the plague stopped. God said, “a reminder to the sons of Israel so that no layman, anyone who was not of the descendants of Aaron, would approach to burn incense before the LORD; then he would not become like Korah and his group—just as the LORD had spoken to him through Moses.” (v.40)

This is not about the authority of Aaron and his biological descendants. Although Moses was a shadow of Christ, it was Aaron who represented Christ’s priesthood. Christ as the only eternal high priest, enables His people to be God’s priests with Him as written in the Book of Hebrews and John 17. Therefore, only the prayers of God’s people are accepted. God’s elect people understand God by receiving the knowledge of God. God knows His people and gives His Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of God and His words.

Like Korah, there are many people who think God would listen to their prayers just because they go to a church or call themselves Christians. Sometimes they think that their prayers come true. Their aim of praying is to get what they want for their life on earth. When they get what they want, they are satisfied. Their knowledge does not grow, and they say the same kind of prayers again and again. With the Ecumenical Movement, Christianity accepted many people in different religions who do not believe in God of His words. They say they are serving the same God with different names, and anyone can pray to God. They are only repeating Korah’s rebellion.

The Kingdom is the priestly Kingdom. Each saint is a priest who can pray to the Father in the name of Christ, and the prayers of saints are accepted as sweet aroma.

And on that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. These things I have spoken to you in figures of speech; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. On that day you will ask in My name, and I am not saying to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father. (John 16:23-28)

To enable us to pray to the Father directly and to make us into the Kingdom, Christ came as a man and went back to the Father. As the Father loves the Son, those who are united with the Son are regarded as adopted sons. We pray as Christ prayed to God on the earth. As our knowledge grows, our prayers mature. We no longer pray like the pagans do.

And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. (Matt 6:7-8)

Thoughtless people do not consider the Lord’s prayer important because they think they have the Holy Spirit and can pray better than Christ. While they say they are holy, they pray like unbelievers. They also like singing in men’s words more than in God’s words during public worships. It is not surprising because they do not have the knowledge of God. Luther once said the Book of Psalms is the summary of the Bible. The Book is a prayer book. And the Lord’s prayer is summary of all prayers. Our knowledge of God grows by the power of the Spirit. God accepts prayers of all saints although we sometimes utter meaningless words without knowledge. God forgives us because of the only eternal High Priest, Christ. And God teaches us about Him and corrects our misunderstandings. We must not forget that our prayers are accepted because of Christ. Many Christians believe all people are holy because we are made in the image of God. They are walking the same path as Korah.

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sisterwill be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. (v.21-22)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (v.27-28)

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (v.20)

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (v.48)

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (v.17)

In this passage, Christ surprises people with the true meaning of the Ten Commandments. Those people gathered around Christ were mostly (if not all) Jews who thought they kept the Law pretty well. Some came thinking Christ would free them from the Mosaic Law.

God foresaw the coming issue with antinomianism and legalism within churches and preached on the meaning of the Law. In a nutshell, God’s words deny both antinomianism and legalism.

Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. (Proverbs 4:27)

Going a straight way, not turning to the right or to the left was repeatedly mentioned in the OT. All the Apostles tried to teach people on this matter because there were the libertines who promoted antinomianism. On the other hand, there were the Jews who hold legalism – salvation by works. Among all the Apostles, Paul spent much time writing on this issue.

In this passage, Christ’s messages are the reflections of why He came to the world – There is no good works without being united with God. All good works are from the Spirit.

Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:1-11)

Under the Reformed Puritanism, people are often forced to do things that their churches define as good works. They are given false assurance that they have the Holy Spirit and are persuaded that they must do good works to prove they are saints before others. Without having any understanding of God, they falsely believe they are saved and do works as they like. Thus, false teaching produced many hypocrites.

All good works, even repentance unto life, are initiated by God. Even after we are reborn, we continue to struggle with sins as written in Romans 7. There are many speculative theories on Romans 7. Romans 7 reflects the life of saints after being born again. Through the temptations and trials, saints rely on God alone and confess that there is not a good thing in us. Even Adam, who was sinless, became sinful. There is not a good thing that we can do apart from God. We cannot overcome temptations without God. We cannot even start good works without God. It is not that we do the half of the works and God does the rest. God does 100% of our good works. And we do not even remember that we did something good.

I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ (Matthew 25:44)

the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and they will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they [g]existed, and were created.” (Revelation 4:10-11)

Not to us, LORD, not to us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, because of Your truth. (Psalm 115:1)

There are many churches in the world who give false assurance to their people and say that they can do great things of God. Even in the Reformed denomination, churches say that they can make people disciples. Those who were fooled by their messages now work as ministers and professors in seminaries. Because they do not have understanding, they rely on human philosophies and go after Aquinas’ teachings when he stopped writing at the end of his life saying all his writings were like straws.

Christ tells people their righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees. Christ is not talking about strict law keeping. Christ talks about being clothed with God’s righteousness. Again, the Book of Job gives much knowledge on this matter.

even though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only save themselves,” declares the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 14:14)

Here, the word righteousness is tsedaqah (Strong 6666), not yashar (Strong 3477). The Book of Job shows us how Job’s mere uprightness (yashar) becomes righteousness because of God. Without grace of God and without being united with God, there is no true righteousness.

Christ goes on and says that we must be perfect like Father. How can a man’s righteousness be like that of the Pharisees and be perfect? Does Christ want to hear from our mouths, “Yes, we are able.”? No. Christ wants to hear from us, “No, we cannot. We cannot do anything from the beginning.”

What God wants from us is our total reliance on God alone. From the beginning, God wants us to believe in Him alone.

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)

The issue with the Protestant churches from the 17^th century is that people disguise themselves as Christians by good works shown to the world and try to get saved by works. They say they are justified by faith, but their words and actions deny it. They often have no understanding of the Bible, do not read the Bible, and are busybodies. They go from house to house to slander and use both God and the devil to keep their power within their churches. This I saw in my dream.

Another important thing Christ teaches us here is that sin springs from our heart. Therefore, it is not that Eve and Adam ate and everyone sinned. More accurately, the original sin started from their heart even before they ate the fruit. God did not condemn their heart and stopped them from eating the fruit although He knew what was in their heart. It is because God wants to teach us this very truth – “apart from Me you can do nothing”.

Again, the original sin is not about one’s will. Eve and Adam were bound to fall into temptation and fail. In their pride, they thought they could reach God and be like Him by their own power and will. Their failure teaches us what God wants in His saints is not mere uprightness but righteousness of God. Uprightness may seem to result in a moral life. All religions promote this moral life. But, uprightness produces only pride and rebellion.

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-12)

There are many interpretations on the Beatitudes. Many Christians (and also non-Christians) consider this as some kind of law. This is NOT a list of things that a believer must do to be included in the Kingdom of God. These are the features of Christ and His elect people of God.

What I’d like to focus on is the suffering of saints. God’s people are persecuted because of God. Everywhere in the world, especially in the Western countries, you can see many churches who claim they are true orthodox churches. Most Christians live a peaceful life in terms of religious freedom. But the elect people continue to be persecuted within churches. Those who do not know God hate the elect people without a reason.

But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ (John 15:25)

In their depraved mind, they hate God and His people.

Their throat is an open grave;they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood;in their paths are ruin and misery,and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Rom 3:13-18)

The Apostles wrote about those who claim to be Christians and yet, oppose to them in NT. To understand more about the sufferings that the elect people go through, you need to read the prophets’ writings in the OT.

In the NT era, Christians are the Israel people in the OT. Through ceremonial baptism, we join a church and call ourselves Christians. Yet, just as in the OT, many of us do not know God and rebel. It is not about immorality. Immorality comes as a result of spiritual idolatry. Many of us are Christians and yet, are not Christians because they do not know God.

I think the Book of Jeremiah and the Book of Ezekiel show the current situation of Christianity. The two kingdoms(systems), Judah and the Northern Israel, existed in the OT. And we have the two systems – the Protestant churches and the Roman Catholic church. Many people in the OT rejected the prophets’ messages. They thought they were God’s people, and God would protect them despite their idolatries. But God rejected them. God poured wrath on them not as He trained them like silver but as dross. Only the remnant survived. But those remnant in the OT were not real remnant. Isaiah’s prophecy talks about the end time.

And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” And as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah.” (Romans 9:27-29)

Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your wrongdoings have caused a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. (Isaiah 59:1-2)

Christians say that they live in the era of grace. But they reject Sola Gratia and divine election. They reject sound doctrines of Christianity. God does not change. Whether in OT or in NT era, the way God saves His people is the same. God gives His Spirit to His elect people, and they believe in God by the power of God. Even now, many Christians go through persecutions not only in the world of the unbelievers but also in churches.

In this passage, Christ starts His public ministry and says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (v. 17) The very reason that the Son of God became a man was to save His people and make them into the Kingdom. Christ appoints 12 disciples so that they can continue God’s work by preaching the good news to His elect people even after He ascends to heaven. Christ started His ministry around the age of 30 (Luke 3:23). It is commonly believed that Ezekiel also received his prophetic role at this age. Even if it is not true, the age 30 is associated with the Levites (Numbers 4:3,35,39,43,47). King David was also 30 years old when he became a king, and he reigned for 40 years. David, as the shadow of the real King, also hold the three offices – king, prophet, and priest. He was the king of whole Israel. He wrote prophecies as we read them in the Psalms. And he wore the linen ephod when he inquired of the Lord, which only the high priest wore (Exodus 28:4).

Christ started His ministry at 30 and Jerusalem fell in AD 70. In this passage, Christ’s public ministry was His reign. He was the King of the Jews (John 19:19). As any other worldly leaders, He appointed His officials. Although Judas betrayed Christ, he was replaced by Matthias in Acts 1:12-26. Therefore, the number twelve remained intact according to God’s words.

The distinctive features of the disciples are that they actively sought God’s will, prayed, understood God’s words written in the OT, preached the good news, and fulfilled His prophecies by His Spirit. They were also the features of the prophets in the OT. But it became clearer in the NT. The disciples were given the authority to interpret God’s words in the OT.

In this passage, Matthew talks about the miracles Christ performed. Miracles were used to draw people’s attention so that they would come to see Christ and hear the good news. Miracles are the shadows of the Kingdom where there is no sickness or pain.

Jesus was going about in all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. (v.23)

Many churches use this healing power to draw people. But most of them (if not all of them) do not teach the good news. They deny Sola Gratia. Christ spent much time on teaching the knowledge of God. By His words, we discern who is from God and who is not from God. There are the sons of the devil in sheep’s clothing.

You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)

We were all once idolaters and followed false teachers. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we now understand God’s words and discern. There is no doubt, the anti-Christ will perform many miracles at the end. Many will follow him as destined.

they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” A mouth was given to him speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority was given to him over every tribe, people, language, and nation. All who live on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slaughtered. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints. (Revelation 13:4-10)

In this passage, Christ is tempted by the devil after fasting forty days and forty nights. Here, I’d like to focus on the two natures of Christ.

Forty days and forty nights remind us of Moses and Elijah, symbolically they are the laws and prophecies of God. As I mentioned earlier, Christ came to fulfill the laws and the prophecies. This is not only the work of the Son of God but also the Son of Man with the Spirit. Christ’s two natures cannot be separated, the two natures do not contradict to each other. Christ often refers Himself as the Son of Man, the title that was used for Ezekiel.

He gave Him authority to execute judgment because He is the Son of Man. (John 5:27)

If I remember it correctly, the Reformers including Calvin interpret this passage that Christ as a human overcame the temptation and thus, separating Christ’s two natures. In terms of suffering, I do not deny that Christ felt every bit of pain, powerlessness, and anguish that any men would feel after fasting for forty days and forty nights. But we must not separate Christ’s two natures because they are inseparable. There is no difference between the Son of God and the sinless man with the Spirit. Christ as the Son of Man is the final stage of the elect people. Christ Himself showed why God chose some to be His Kingdom. Saints are made and trained to become like Christ – king, priest, and prophet by becoming one with Christ (See John 17)

This good news was rejected by the Pharisees. Although they said God was their Father, Christ denied them because they rejected Christ.

They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham. But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born as a result of sexual immorality; we have one Father: God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came forth from God and am here; for I have not even come on My own, but He sent Me. (John 8:41-42)

Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? (John 10:34-36)

There are always evil people who think they can be above God and misuse this good news. God tells us that we are His children through Christ. We cannot bear fruit apart from God. As John 15 tells us, we are nothing if we do not remain in the Son. However, it is God’s good pleasure that we become like Him as His good children. This is the work of the Triune God.

A student is not above the teacher; but everyone, when he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. (Luke 6:40)

Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. (John 13:16)

Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well. (John 15:20)

There are many churches who misuse this good news and indulge themselves with delusions. Earlier I mentioned about the Protestant churches selling indulgence like the Roman Catholic church. They think they can rule the world and want to be praised by others. They think they are the elect people of God. They think their decisions are God’s decisions. They think they have God’s authority. They think their words are better than God’s words. They are no better than the Pharisees. They are white-washed walls. There are many evil people in churches who distort and misuse God’s words. The Apostles struggled with these people in churches as we read the NT.

The Kingdom is made of people who are made humble and serve one another by the power of the Spirit. Saints do not claim they are Christ. We are all servants and brothers of Christ.

I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you. (John 13:15)

Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked. (1 John 2:6)

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. (Philippians 2:4-8)

Paul emphasized on the Son of Man. But those without knowledge made Adam as equal to Christ using Paul’s letters. That is the error of the Covenant Theology and the active obedience of Christ. Paul was not talking about a great man. He was talking about the Son of God. He did not separate Christ’s two natures. But he understood that the Son of God is the Son of Man.

This does not mean that we need to decide to become like Christ today. This is not from a man’s will. Many false teachers give delusional ideas to their followers. They say we should go out and conquer the world. They say we should overthrow the civil governments and build God’s Kingdom on earth. We must discern that the Kingdom is far from the ideas of a kingdom in the world.

In Matthew 4:1-11, Christ also shows that He is different from Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve did not have any defense system. They were naked. They wanted to become like God by their own work – eating of the fruit. God showed them His way of making them one with Him – the Seed. Adam was from the dust and must be reborn from heaven through the Son. Adam and Eve could not overcome the temptation of the devil in the garden. Therefore, it is important to understand the true meaning of Total Depravity. It is not that people became unable to obtain eternal life by works because of their sin. The fundamental issue is their inability to overcome the temptation. The knowledge of God is the biggest difference between Christ and Adam. The Son knows the Father. Adam did not.

No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the arms of the Father, He has explained Him (John 1:18)

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world. (Hebrews 1:1-2)

In this passage, Christ receives John’s baptism to show the world He is the one that John prophesied about. And His public ministry starts with the baptism. The verse I’d like to focus on is v15.

But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. (v. 15)

Those who follows the Covenant Theology (CT) and the active obedience of Christ (AOC) interpret this as Christ’s obedience to the Law. A bad theory has many faces. Among those theologians who consider the CT and the AOC orthodox, their interpretations of the Law differ. Therefore, it is difficult to pinpoint where they are wrong. Instead of criticizing individual ideas of different theologians, I will explain what is right. There is a difference between fulfill and keep. I will try to explain this righteousness without making it complicated.

There are many interpretations of the Law. But it is simply God’s will. However, not all the Mosaic Laws are intended for keeping forever, but it is important to know what the Laws were pointing at. All the Laws of God in the OT are pointing at Christ. They have been fulfilled or are being fulfilled by God. The Son was given the power of fulfilling them by the Father. And it is important to understand the Son and His works on the earth. In verse 15, righteousness can be interpreted as God’s prophecies, laws, and will. All these three words can be used interchangeably.

Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all the things that are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” (Luke 24:44)

The important word is “fulfill”. There is no man on the earth, including Adam and Eve, who can fulfill God’s will except the Son of Man, Christ. The word “fulfill” is different from “keep”. One may externally keep God’s command(s). But fulfillment of God’s prophecies, Law and all other commands are done by God alone.

The biggest problem with the AOC is that it sees keeping the Law as the source of righteousness. Some say the Law is the Mosaic Law and others say it is all God’s commandments. At the time the AOC became a doctrine of the Protestant, the Protestant churches of England faced two issues, which are antinomianism and legalism. They saw that the antinomians were more dangerous to the society than the legalists. Even now, those who holds the AOC doctrine accuse those who do not as antinomians because the AOC was made to reject antinomianism. Some Reformed ministers think people in churches will become antinomians without this doctrine. This is a serious misunderstanding of the work of the Holy Spirit within saints. The doctrine emphasizes on obedience to church authorities and on a moral life. I do not consider that a mere externally pious life indicates a holy life as many Christians think. But that was the aim of the Reformers in the 17^th century England. Since then, Christians focus on doing good deeds externally to show others they are righteous and the elect people. How are churches different from the Pharisees in the NT? Historically, King JamesⅠ did not allow the Westminster divines to include the doctrine because it was a new matter. The divines did not include it in the Westminster Confession of Faith. But the Congregationalists like John Owen included it in their Savoy Declaration later.

Those who holds the doctrine say it is from Calvin. It was considered a new idea in the 17th century because it had a face-off from Anselm’s original idea. The origin of the doctrine is focused on keeping of the Law externally. The AOC is wrong because it takes us back to work-based salvation. All Protestant churches who take this doctrine sooner or later promote work-based salvation.

The right understanding of this righteousness is that only God is righteous. Adam was incomplete. He was made to be clothed with righteousness later. Therefore, he was naked. God wants us to admit that we cannot be righteous until we become one with God by being one with the Son. People who lived in the OT era are saved because they believed in the promise of the Savior. Adam and Job before suffering were only upright (Yashar, Strong 3477). Those who are united with God are clothed with God’s righteousness and consequently, does righteous deeds. The Son who are one with the Father and knows the Father’s will fully, fulfills all Laws, prophecies, righteousness. Therefore, the Lord is our righteousness.

In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will live securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The LORD Our Righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 23:6)

Christ did not need to earn righteousness by keeping the Law to impute it onto saints. Righteousness does not come from keeping of the Law from the beginning. Adam’s righteousness (rather uprightness) was removable. His righteousness was that of a slave. God’s righteousness does not come from works. The Son does not have such righteousness that can be removed. And the Son does not give such righteousness to His people. If our righteousness is from the Law, then one rebellious action should remove us from salvation. Logically speaking, if God wants us to keep everything He says and that is His ultimate aim of creation, our righteousness depends on keeping of His commandments. Then we can fall again. Then we will live in terror for eternity. But that was not God’s aim of creation.

On that day you will ask in My name, and I am not saying to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. (John 16:26)

He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to Me; when he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and with strokes of sons of mankind, but My favor shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from you. Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever. (2 Samuel 7:13-16)

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (Hebrews 12:5-6)

By being one with the Son, saints become children of God, a holy City of God, the bride of Christ. God’s love will never depart from the Son nor from His people. Obedience comes as the result of being one with God. What Christ did for us on the earth changed the status of His people. And all the Apostles say that the work of Christ was on the Cross. Christ’s all other works were leading to this final act of righteousness. Christ became a man to fulfill God’s will by the power of God to redeem His people. Indeed, the fulfillment of the Law is love (agape). Only God loves. Only God fulfills.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. (Romans 5:18)

Straight after explaining the arrival of the King, Matthew talks about the Kingdom of heaven. There are talks regarding why Matthew referred the Kingdom as the Kingdom of heaven, not the Kingdom of God. They are the same Kingdom.

What is important is the Savior’s mission is the Kingdom that will become God’s eternal dwelling place. Because the Kingdom is God’s people, the Savior’s mission is to gather and teach them about God and His Kingdom. Many ministers emphasize on Christ’s miracles when talking about Christ’s works. In the Reformed, ministers emphasize on Christ’s obedience to the Law. The most important work of Christ was to give knowledge to His people. He spent most time on teaching. Miracles were to show His authority given by the Father. Miracles were given as the shadows of the true characteristics of the Kingdom – forgiveness of sins, full of knowledge of God, no death, no suffering, etc. There are many churches who say they can heal people’s diseases but deny Sola Gratia.

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles? (Matt 7:22)

These false disciples perform miracles in Christ’s name but are denied by God. It is because they do not know God. They do not preach truths of God. Therefore, the Lord says to them, “I never knew you.” (Matt 7:23)

In this passage, there are a lot to talk about. First one is repentance.

Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance (v.8)

Earlier, I talked about the Protestant churches selling indulgence like the Roman Catholic. When people are beaten by the Law continuously, they feel guilty and falsely confess that they now accept Christ as the Savior. I believe this was done in the 17^th century England by the Protestant churches. What we now call the Reformed theology has been influenced a lot by the theologians in the 17^th century England. It is not surprising there are many who have falsely repented and act just like the Pharisees in the NT. The result is bad fruit. Most Protestant churches have abandoned Sola Gratia and made speculative theories about Adam and the covenants.

I heard the Protestant Reformed Churches America (PRCA) has this issue of understanding repentance. And the Reformed Protestant Church (RPC) came out of the denomination. Can repentance be initiated by a man’s will or by God alone? In God’s dictionary, good fruit is always associated with the work of the Holy Spirit. It is not that a man does some portion of good works, and the Spirit does the rest. Producing good fruit is completely and totally done by God alone. Without the Holy Spirit, there is no good fruit. Therefore, the repentance accepted by God is initiated by God alone. That is true repentance. From the beginning to the end, God does all the works to make His Kingdom by Himself. There is false repentance, which produces either no fruit or bad fruit. John 15 and 16 explains about the work of the Spirit. It is impossible for a saint to produce bad fruit or no fruit. God refers Himself as a farmer who does not tolerate fruitless trees.

And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matt 3:10)

About a fruitless vine, its end was already told in Ezekiel chapter 15. Many people think the conditional covenant is eternal because the OT was written first. But the OT needs to be understood through the NT. The end was already planned before creation. Eternal God is not limited to time. Therefore, interpreting and understanding the Bible chronologically pose risks of misinterpretation and misunderstanding.

The next thing I’d like to talk about is John the Baptist. John was considered as Elijah, the prophet in the OT. Elijah rebuked Israel people in the OT. He was against the kings of Israel and their false prophets. There are a lot to talk about Elijah. Elijah’s experience in the Mt. Horeb in 1 Kings 19 is very important in understanding God. After walking to Mt. Horeb for 40 days and 40 nights, Elijah hears God’s voice. This is a similar experience as Moses in Exodus 24. What Elijah experiences is the contrast to what many churches preach. God is not in the strong wind, in the earthquake, or the fire. God is a gentle and quiet voice. People should not seek after some grand experiences to know the presence of God. God is everywhere but most importantly God is in His words. The Holy Spirit teaches God’s words. He is like a private tutor. There are people in the world who say they hear the voice of God and say something different from what the Bible teaches. Saints must discern. But how can we discern if we do not read the Bible?

Thirdly, John’s baptism is different from the ceremonial baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. John’s baptism is limited to a certain time (before Christ’s public ministry) and a certain place (Israel).

Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” (Acts 19:4)

Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. (Acts 18:24-25)

John’s baptism was a sign or a shadow of the true baptism.

… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matt 3:11)

A question rises regarding “fire”. I interpret it as suffering or tribulation. Christ mentions of the baptism of suffering.

But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. (Mark 10:38-39)

God speaks a few times about refining His people by fire in the OT.

This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’ (Zechariah 13:9)

In contrast to God’s people, some (the reprobate) are treated as dross, not silver.

Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me; all of them are bronze and tin and iron and lead in the furnace; they are dross of silver. (Ezekiel 22:18)

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. (Isaiah 48:10

Saints are refined that way as in the case of Job. The others (the reprobate) go through sufferings as dross of silver. Such sufferings do not result in the knowledge of God.

Regarding the ceremonial baptism, as I talked about it earlier, it is a substitute to ceremonial circumcision. It does not indicate the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is like a birth certificate. When a child is born, the parents register the baby as a citizen of the country the baby was born in. A visible church is a shadow of the Kingdom and issues a birth certificate to include the baby into the visible church. God was pleased to build a system on the earth to educate His people, that is the visible church system. Many do not know the work of the Spirit. Therefore, they do not know the presence of the Holy Spirit in a person. No one knows who has received the Holy Spirit. We can only discern by the words and the actions coming from a person. Yet, false believers can fool themselves and others very well. When one receives the Holy Spirit, the understanding of God dramatically changes. False prophets, even though they fool others very well with their words and actions, their true identities are revealed eventually because they have wrong understandings of God especially regarding the Trinity and grace of God. We all were once idolaters and rebellious people. By the grace of God, our knowledge of God grows and we depart from false teachings.

In this chapter, Matthew continues to explain that Jesus is the Savior. The prophecies and the Law in the OT foretold about the coming Savior. What I’d like to focus on is verse 18.

A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more

This is quoted from Jeremiah 31:15. Jeremiah talks about the new covenant and hope in the same chapter. We understand that Matthew 2:18 shows the evilness of the ruler Herod who tried to kill our Lord. When he failed, he murdered innocent children. This verse can be interpreted that God gives hope after suffering. People who suffered under the evil ruling of Herod will be saved by Christ.

Thus says the Lord: “Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. (Jer 31:16)

Another interpretation is possible. If we connect Matthew 2: 16-18 with Jeremiah, who foretold the judgement of God on Israel, the verse 18 can be interpreted as God’s judgement on His people (at that time the Jewish people) because no one recognized or welcomed Christ’s coming. Instead, the three foreigners looked for Jesus. They came to know about the birth of the King by God’s grace. This is very important. From the beginning, God decided to save some to make His kingdom regardless of their backgrounds. We all have Adam as a biological father. God built Israel as a shadow of the visible church. Therefore, salvation comes from the Jews (John 4:22). And the visible church is a shadow of the invisible church, the eternal kingdom. The three magi thought the Jews would know about the King’s birth and asked Herod. But no Jews knew about it. There was no guest room available for our Lord as we read Luke 2:7. The three magi found the King lying in a manger. His humble birth indicates the kind of life Christ lived as the Son of Man.

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Matt 8:20)

What we learn from Matthew 2 is that His own people did not recognize Him. Since Adam’s fall, all humans became spiritually dead. (That does not mean Adam was perfect as I mentioned before.) No one can hear or see unless one receives God’s total grace. All who call themselves Christians are the new Israelite.

He came to His own, and His own people did not accept Him. (John 1:11)

God is still rejected by His own people who call themselves Christians. They do not accept the total and only grace doctrine. The judgements told in the OT will be repeated in the last days.

For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)

In this passage, Mathew starts to explain why Jesus is Truth.

…for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (v. 20)

Our Lord became a human by the power of the Holy Spirit. From the beginning, building the Kingdom was God’s mission not a man’s mission. But Christ was made a man. Christ refers Himself as the Son of man and also the Son of God. It is God’s will that His creatures are made into sons through the only begotten Son. God wanted one of us to pay for our sins on behalf of us. Therefore, Christ became a man.

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins (Matt 1:21)

God could have made another upright man like Adam as He did in the beginning to do this task.

… I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. (Matt 3:9)

But He did not because the task must be fulfilled by His Son and the woman’s Seed. In this, we can see a glimpse of God’s will in creation.

Then Matthew quotes Isaiah 7:14 where it says,

… the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel (God with us).

Christ fulfils prophecies spoken in the OT, which only God can do. As God’s Word (Truth), He has fulfilled and fulfils all prophecies.

Adam was not made to become Immanuel. It is not because Adam unexpectedly failed in the garden of Eden. God’s plan has always been in His only begotten Son and the church (bride of Christ).

Matthew, like other Apostles, emphasizes on the salvation from sins. It is not only about the past sins committed by Adam and ourselves, but Christ changes the status of His people by His death and resurrection. He bought us with a price and unite with us by the Holy Spirit. This is the will of the Triune God. Salvation is the work of the Triune God. So, we are no longer rejected and hated by God. Rather, we are now the children of God and God never stops loving us despite our weaknesses.

On that day you will ask in My name, and I am not saying to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. (John 16:26)