Like a chestnut tree

But where can wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding? (v. 12)

And to mankind He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
And to turn away from evil is understanding.’ (v. 28)

Job illustrates that no creature has wisdom except God alone. When anyone glimpses wisdom, they begin to fear the Lord.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverb 9:10)

This wisdom is Jesus Christ. It is also the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. (Isaiah 11:2)

This wisdom is found in Jesus Christ and also in the Holy Spirit, bringing understanding and knowledge of God’s work through Jesus Christ and the purpose of creation, including its eventual end.

Jesus Christ is perfectly human without blemish, and also the Son of God with wisdom.

For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and the weakness of God is stronger than mankind. (1 Corinthians 1:22-25)

Once we receive the Holy Spirit, we cannot lose salvation. For this reason, many false Christians claim to have the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues, or assert they can impart the Holy Spirit to their followers. True recipients of the Holy Spirit know it’s not acquired through human works. Some misuse Bible passages to support evil intentions.

False teachers suggest Adam possessed the Holy Spirit, but Jesus Christ’s temptation tells us otherwise. Adam had knowledge but lacked the fear of the Lord, demonstrating his wisdom differed from that given to Jesus Christ and us.

Job states that we cannot know God because we do not possess wisdom. He does not yet know that God created the world to allow us to have wisdom, know and understand Him through His only begotten Son. Job does not yet fathom the depth of God’s plan.

In Job’s understanding, there is no need for Christ. He sees God as dwelling in holiness, separate from humanity. He cannot imagine that a saint could one day live with God and see Him face to face. Job lived a life that, in his own eyes, did not require Jesus Christ, as he considered himself righteous among other men. However, he will eventually come to understand the true meaning of wisdom and how feeble his own righteousness truly is.

… 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 3:16-19)

As God lives, who has taken away my right,
And the Almighty, who has embittered my soul,
For as long as life is in me,
And the breath of God is in my nostrils,
My lips certainly will not speak unjustly,
Nor will my tongue mutter deceit.
Far be it from me that I should declare you right;
Until I die, I will not give up my integrity.
I have kept hold of my righteousness and will not let it go.
My heart does not rebuke any of my days. (vv. 2-6)

In this chapter, we witness Job steadfast in his self-righteousness, accusing God of misjudgment. Job speaks from his limited understanding of God, acknowledging God’s judgment upon the wicked but struggling to comprehend why human righteousness through works alone falls short. Job even invokes God’s curse upon his adversaries, seemingly viewing his friends as enemies for accusing him of deserving divine punishment.

May my enemy be as the wicked,
And my opponent as the criminal.
For what is the hope of the godless when he makes an end of life,
When God requires his life? (vv. 7-8)

I will instruct you in the power of God;
What is with the Almighty I will not conceal.
Behold, all of you have seen it;
Why then do you talk of nothing? (vv. 11-12)

Some people are praised by others for their good deeds. They help the poor and dedicate their time and money to helping others. However, those deeds are not considered righteous before God if they are not from the Holy Spirit. I am not saying their deeds are evil. The word “righteous” belongs only to God.

Churches have enjoyed prosperity and peace for hundreds of years. Christians are not persecuted as in the time of the Apostles. But it appears the church era is ending soon. God sent many prophets to warn, but the Northern Israel and Judah went down. Their most noble people did the most outrageous things when they were under siege.

The refined and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because of her delicateness and tenderness, will be hostile toward the husband she cherishes and toward her son and daughter, and toward her afterbirth that comes from between her legs, and toward her children to whom she gives birth, because she will eat them secretly for lack of anything else, during the siege and the hardship with which your enemy will oppress you in your towns. (Deuteronomy 28:56)

Even though someone like Job holds onto his own integrity and innocence, his love is towards only himself. There is no self-sacrificing love in our genes. Only God has and shows self-sacrificing love. And this love is the essence of the law.

You have not desired sacrifice and meal offering;
You have opened my ears;
You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.
Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
It is written of me in the scroll of the book.
I delight to do Your will, my God;
Your Law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:6-8)

Can anyone become Jesus Christ by works? Could Adam give us eternal life and make us God’s children? The answer is no. However, this is what churches teach. They say they follow the TULIP doctrine and believe in predestination. The Covenant of Works and the Active Obedience of Christ show that they believe in Adam’s integrity and works. God is showing Job that this isn’t right.

I know your deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. (Revelation 2:2-4)

How then can mankind be righteous with God?
Or how can anyone who is born of woman be pure? (Job 25:4)

Bildad and Job rebuke each other in these chapters. Bildad asserts that no one is righteous before God. Job acknowledges God’s greatness but argues that there is no point in doing good.

Behold, these are the fringes of His ways;
And how faint a word we hear of Him!
But His mighty thunder, who can understand? (Job 26:14)

Job understands that God is mighty, but he seeks an answer. From his point of view, God does not speak—and even if He does, no one can understand Him. Job seems frustrated that he cannot comprehend God. When it comes to righteousness, he did everything he believed God required. Yet everything has been taken away. Job is mocked and ridiculed. His closest friends accuse him of wrongdoing. His wife and his servants despise him.

When the law was given, the Israelites tried to follow it outwardly, but their hearts were far from God. The law opposed everything that humans are naturally inclined to do—such as making and serving idols, theft, murder, and sexual immorality. Keeping the law goes against our human nature. Most people serve idols, believing they will bring prosperity on earth. When disasters strike, they quickly abandon one idol and turn to another. We often assume that people in the modern world make rational decisions based on reason and science, but in reality, they are no different from the Israelites in the wilderness.

The law does not make us righteous before God. The law was given so that we would understand that we cannot live by keeping the law. Even if there is someone who keeps the law perfectly, he is not righteous because righteousness requires the knowledge of God. Therefore, it is absurd to say that Adam and Eve were righteous. They were blameless like Job was. But they did not understand God like Job didn’t. Righteousness that we have in Christ is true righteousness because we understand why God has sent Christ to die and resurrect for us.

People go to churches but are not satisfied because they are confused. The Book of Job explains why people feel void even when they do all the right things that their church leaders have taught them. Interestingly, church leaders mention the Book of Job when others go through difficult times in their lives. The Book of Job is not about regaining prosperity after trials. People only mention Job’s happy ending in the last chapter. Likewise, the books of Ruth and Job are sometimes used to give people false hope that their suffering will be followed by earthly rewards. But neither Ruth nor Job received blessings as a direct result of their good deeds. It is misleading to use these books to assure people that everything will turn out well. In fact, no one will be “alright” when Christ returns if their hope is in the works/law. Both books are wisdom books, giving us insight into why God has made the world and what His plan is.

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)

From the city people groan,
And the souls of the wounded cry for help;
Yet God does not pay attention to the offensiveness. (v. 12)

In this chapter, Job continues to rebuke God with his words, asserting that God does not intervene for the poor and needy. Evil people persist in their wicked deeds without facing consequences. Job implies that he could manage things better if he were in God’s position.

Because I saved the poor who cried for help, and the orphan who had no helper. (Job 29:12)

We see many unjust acts every day. It appears as if God does not want to punish the wicked. But God is not like us—He is eternal. The things we believe should happen now are, in fact, better if they happen later.

Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the wrongdoing of the Amorite is not yet complete. (Genesis 15:16)

Those who reject predestination assert that God merely reacts to whatever we do. According to this view, God does not make plans and fulfill them; rather, He foresees events like a fortuneteller and responds to what will happen. People reject the doctrine of predestination because it means their actions are not counted as merits. Some individuals perform many “good” deeds, such as supporting charities, donating money to churches and seminaries, and more. However, they cannot earn their way into the kingdom of God. If salvation were based on merit, then the poor would be the most pitiful, as they cannot perform as many “good” works as the rich.

Interestingly, many Christians—even those raised in Reformed churches—believe that material prosperity is a sign of God’s blessing. Within their small communities, they compare themselves to one another in terms of children, careers, and wealth. The rich, having the means to do more “good” works, are often appointed to church offices.

However, the truly good work in God’s eyes is faith in Him—believing that God chose us before the foundation of the world, watched over us, cared for us, and made us His children by giving us the Holy Spirit so that we are righteous before Him. Despite various challenges and trials, we are not discouraged, because God is always with us. This assurance is so precious—it is incomparable to the riches that the wicked boast about in this world.

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)

With our limited knowledge and insight, we often make mistakes by acting as if we were God—judging situations and people. All we can truly do is pray. We must not tell God what to do, as if He were a genie. Instead, we should ask Him for faith, wisdom, love, and patience. In our pride and ignorance, we are foolish and boastful.

As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years,
Or if due to strength, eighty years,
Yet their pride is only trouble and tragedy;
For it quickly passes, and we disappear.
Who understands the power of Your anger
And Your fury, according to the fear that is due You?
So teach us to number our days,
That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:10-12)

My foot has held on to His path;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
I have not failed the command of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
But He is unique, and who can make Him turn?
Whatever His soul desires, He does it. (vv.11-13)

Job continues to claim that he is righteous while asserting that God is not. He acknowledges that God can do whatever He wants, yet Job does not perceive God as just. There are times in our lives when we feel mistreated by God, leading us to complain more than to thank Him. Our perspectives and understandings are often limited and narrow. Despite this, we sometimes boast of our knowledge, comparing ourselves favorably to others and even passing judgment on God.

God, who is patient and merciful, understands the depths of our hearts. He listens to all our complaints and unjust accusations against Him. Through His words and the trials He places before us, He teaches us His ways, prompting us to confess our sins and ignorance.

Job and his friends inhabit a one- or two-dimensional world, while God resides in a realm vastly beyond our comprehension.

When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. (1 Corinthians 13:11)

Being God is righteousness. Anyone who is united with Him is righteous because of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us faith in God and His promise of the Saviour. However, theologians deny this. They say that our righteousness is from works. There is only one kind of righteousness. And it is not from the law. The law will be fulfilled and will be no more.

Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished! Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-20)

If our righteousness comes from the law, it disappears the moment we break the law. Like Adam and Eve, we would be cast out. But we are no longer slaves—we are children of God because we have been reborn. We uphold the law, yet we are no longer enslaved by it. My righteousness comes from being one with God. I do not see myself as equal to God, but God has given all authority to the Son. As the Church, we are one body with Christ. Therefore, we confess:

… whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; if somehow I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:7-11)

Is it because of your reverence that He punishes you,
That He enters into judgment against you?
Is your wickedness not abundant,
And is there no end to your guilty deeds? (vv. 4-5)

In this chapter, Eliphaz accuses Job of wrongdoing and concludes that Job is being punished by God.

If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored;
If you remove injustice far from your tent,
And put your gold in the dust,
And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,
Then the Almighty will be your gold
And abundant silver to you. (vv. 23-25)

God made Job suffer not because Job did something wrong.

The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” (Job 1:8)

God did not make Job suffer as if He was tricked by the devil. Before the suffering, Job had the same idea about suffering as his three friends.

I too could speak like you, If only I were in your place. I could compose words against you And shake my head at you. (Job 16:4)

Job and his three friends had the wrong idea about righteousness. Righteousness does not come from one’s actions. Righteous people love God’s law, and their actions reflect their love for God. However, their actions do not make them righteous. This is why we reject the doctrine of the Active Obedience of Christ. Our righteousness does not come from perfectly keeping the law.

Christ has always been blameless before the law because He is God. God is not judged by His own law. He is not like the kings of the earth. Christ did not need to earn righteousness through works—neither for Himself nor for us. If He had, our righteousness would come from the law.

Christians go through various trials and sufferings. These are part of the training we must endure as children of God. The new world is coming, and we will live forever with God. And we are already living forever with God.

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (vv. 16-17)

We do not lose our righteousness because of our actions. By the seal of the Holy Spirit, we are confirmed as God’s children. The Holy Spirit rebukes and admonishes us if we go astray.

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

No one was given the promise of eternal life based upon his/her actions. However, theologians and ministers believe and preach that Adam could earn it by his actions. This theory is called the Covenant of Works, which the Bible denies.

Every day, we are reminded that we received eternal life through Jesus’ resurrection through the words of God. The Roman Catholic Church and most (if not all) Protestant churches deny this. While they gather money and celebrate Easter, they do not preach the true gospel. They believe in the human will to earn grace. Grace of God is freely given to anyone God has appointed before birth. If I have the knowledge of God, I did not earn it by reading many theology books or spending time on church activities. The knowledge of God is given to God’s people through His words.

“For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord: “I will put My law within them and write it on their heart; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their wrongdoing, and their sin I will no longer remember.” (Jeremiah 31:33-34)

His sides are filled with fat,
And the marrow of his bones is wet,
While another dies with a bitter soul,
Never even tasting anything good.
Together they lie down in the dust,
And maggots cover them. (vv. 24-26)

In this chapter, Job reflects on the lives of the wicked and the blameless. The wicked seem to prosper, while the blameless receive no reward. Neither can escape death. Job speaks as though there is no point in keeping the law or living a blameless life.

The Book of Job is a story rich in wisdom. It is one of the Wisdom Books in the Bible and raises profound questions about life on earth.

Is there truly no point in keeping the law and striving to live a moral life? God punishes all, for no one can fully meet His demands. Job speaks as if it would be better to live the life of the wicked than the one he has tried to live.

I repeat these thoughts again and again because the answer to Job’s question is simple—yet, in real life, we often fail to see it. In Christianity, the central message is the Kingdom of God. Every word written in the Bible points to that Kingdom.

Many believe in Christ so that their sins may be forgiven and they will not go to hell. They believe in Him to gain entry into heaven after death. Since Christ’s sacrifice, this has become the dominant message. However, many have forgotten—or turned a blind eye to—the true reason Christ became a man.

From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)

Without preaching about the Kingdom, ministers cannot preach the true gospel. I see that many ministers have become more like counselors to their church members, spending much of their time going from house to house, listening to personal problems. While we live on earth, our true life begins when the Kingdom comes. Our hope is placed entirely in that Kingdom. As we live in this world, we face various trials and challenges. Through them, we are trained as children of God.

Many churches today are no longer preaching about the coming Kingdom. They have become merely social communities. People participate in various activities together, but these do not bring true satisfaction. Some do these things believing that good works will earn them points to enter heaven. Others seek praise from fellow church members. Many are obsessed with church office roles, thinking those roles guarantee entry into heaven. Anyone who speaks the truth in churches often becomes unpopular because they speak of things others do not understand or do not want to hear.

In some ways, Job’s words ring true: the wicked prosper, and people who strive to keep the law fall short. God punishes both, because no one is truly righteous. When it comes to earthly prosperity, it can seem as though living a lawless life is better, since keeping the law appears to offer no benefit. Job speaks this way because he does not yet understand what true righteousness is.

God does indeed save the righteous. But who are the righteous? The righteous are those who are united with God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Are they blameless in terms of morality? No, they are not. Yet, they are declared blameless and righteous because God has promised to forgive their sins and give them a new heart.

They will not teach again, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their wrongdoing, and their sin I will no longer remember.” (Jeremiah 31:34)

So how should we live a life as God’s child? Should we go back to our old ways as a dog returns to its own vomit?

It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:22)

For he has oppressed and neglected the poor;
He has seized a house which he has not built. (v. 19)

All of Job’s friends appeared to care about him, but they revealed what was truly in their hearts from the beginning. They had no understanding of God or His purpose in all of creation. Job was also in the dark, yet he began to question the reason behind his suffering.

Many Christians today have little understanding of God, even though they actively participate in church activities, including attending services every Sunday. Some go twice, or even three times. Yet they still do not grasp the purpose of creation. In their minds, God is merely a supernatural power who grants them wealth, health, and happiness on earth. They want to believe in heaven and eternal life, but deep down, they cannot. Their obsession with wealth, family, and health reveals that they believe this life on earth is all there is.

Zophar’s logic applies only to those who do not know the kingdom of God. The words of God have no place in their hearts. Most of them do not even have a favorite Bible verse. Some may quote this or that, but they have no real understanding of what the Bible teaches. The most condemnable, however, are the theologians, ministers, and elders.

Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you people do not accept our testimony. (John 3:10-11)

I do not believe in any minister who gets involved in politics. Politics is for the general population; Christianity is for a small number of people—the remnants of God. Those who think they can turn the world into a Christian world are plainly mad. They have no understanding of God. They are merely busybodies, going from place to place, enticing others.

When Jesus came, He found that the Israelites had no one to explain God’s words.

Seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36)

If all my sufferings were the result of my own actions, I would be living in fear. I would constantly question my thoughts and behavior. But God has freed us from the bondage of sin and death. Yet churches continue to teach that we can lose our salvation because of our actions or thoughts. They overemphasize the law and are filled with hypocrites who believe they are keeping it.

On the other hand, there are people who claim to be Christians and yet commit all sorts of crimes openly. Hypocrites and criminals have the same father—the devil. That is why hypocrites cover up the sins of criminals within the church. They are partners in crime. Hypocrites are criminals, and criminals are hypocrites.

But they cried out all together, saying, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas!” (He was one who had been thrown into prison for a revolt that took place in the city, and for murder.) (Luke 23 :18-19)

Evil people rejoiced when Christ suffered and died.

“He saved others; He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. HE HAS TRUSTED IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE TAKES PLEASURE IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” And the rebels who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him in the same way. (Matthew 27:42-44)

Job went through great suffering because God wanted to teach him that righteousness does not come from works. Job’s three friends accused him of things he had never done. They, too, believed that righteousness came through one’s works.

Today, churches are not teaching about the Kingdom. They abandoned sound doctrine a long time ago. True righteousness comes from faith, which is given by God. We believe in God, who sent His only begotten Son to become human like us—yet without sin—to offer Himself as a ransom for our sins and to rise again, giving us new life in Him. There is no other righteousness.

He who was delivered over because of our wrongdoings, and was raised for our justification. (Romans 4:25)

If you say, ‘How shall we persecute him?’
And ‘What pretext for a case against him can we find?’
Then be afraid of the sword for yourselves,
For wrath brings the punishment of the sword,
So that you may know there is judgment. (vv. 28-29)

Many Christians, even theologians and ministers, believe that righteousness is tied to morality – specifically, to the law. As we read the Old Testament, the punishment caused by lawlessness is mentioned repeatedly.

The earth is also defiled by its inhabitants, for they violated laws, altered statutes, and broke the everlasting covenant. (Isaiah 24:5)

And now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have abandoned Your commandments, which You have commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land which you are entering to possess is an unclean land with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from end to end, and with their impurity. (Ezra 9:10-11)

However, we must understand that God wants mercy, not sacrifice.

Now go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, RATHER THAN SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. (Matthew 9:13)

Does that mean there are two different Gods in the Bible? No, there is only one God. Did God speak two different things? No, God did not and does not change. True Christians understand that the law was given as a tool to understand God. But it is not the way to know God. Through the law, we know that we have many blemishes.

Even though we are God’s creation, we cannot stand before Him unless we are born again. The first humans chose to rebel against God. Even if we were to become as blameless as Adam and Eve before their rebellion, we would still rebel against God as they did. Our struggle on earth is to understand God’s plan for establishing His kingdom. We must be born again through the only begotten Son of God in order to become His children. There is no hope without Christ’s death and resurrection. We do not become righteous through the law. In this evil age, all churches fight against this truth, claiming that they are righteous by perfectly keeping the law. Christ did not earn righteousness through works of the law, nor did He keep the law perfectly in order to impute righteousness gained by law-keeping. We are children of God because we are one with Christ, the only begotten Son of God. As Christ died, we died. As He was resurrected, we were resurrected and now have new life as adopted children of God.

God shows mercy and desires for us to show others His mercy. However, showing mercy is beyond our natural ability—it is, in fact, impossible. Only God can truly do this. Yet evil people forgive other evil people and claim they are showing mercy. This is happening rampantly in churches worldwide. Evil individuals take leadership positions and are praised by many. Why do they keep adulterers in their churches and claim they are showing them mercy? They assert they are following what the Bible says. They protect other evil people and tell others that it is acceptable to break the law. They teach that it is permissible to steal, murder, covet, and commit adultery. And when anyone opposes them, they accuse that person of breaking the law.

Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said. (Matthew 22:15)

God has sent, and is still sending, His prophets to the churches. However, they are mocked, ridiculed, and ostracized. The kingdom of God is coming, yet evil people do their best to convince others that righteousness comes from the law.

Then the kings of the earth and the eminent people, and the commanders and the wealthy and the strong, and every slave and free person hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the sight of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to stand? (Revelation 6:15-17)

Indeed, the light of the wicked goes out,
And the spark from his fire does not shine. (v. 5)

We read in the Book of Psalms about wicked people, those who live immoral lives and hate God’s law. In this chapter, Job’s friend Bildad talks about the life of the wicked.

Certainly these are the dwellings of the wicked,
And this is the place of him who does not know God. (v. 21)

Indeed, there is no place for wicked people in the kingdom of God. However, we must remember that God does not hate sinners who repent. God hates hypocrites who pretend to know Him and lead others astray. Their destination was set even before they were born, like Judas Iscariot.

Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” (John 6:70)

These hypocrites claim to know God, yet they deny that righteousness comes from the cross of Christ. They overemphasize the law, as if keeping it perfectly makes us righteous. When criticized, they say that Christ has kept the law for us to make us righteous. In doing so, they nullify the power of the cross. They preach a false doctrine called the “Active Obedience of Christ.” Anyone questioning this doctrine is accused of being a heretic, when in fact they are the heretics.

These wicked people in churches live relatively pain-free lives. They boast about their positions in their churches and do not care if wrong messages are preached. They pretend to know and serve God, but in fact, they are their own masters.

For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things. (vv. 18-19)

Job did not understand that God created the world to train His people for His kingdom. Job focused on life on earth, and God gave him suffering to show that earthly life is only a shadow. Righteousness does not come from works. Job’s three friends rebuked him, but they also did not know God. In God’s eyes, they were worse because they pretended to be righteous but were not.

True prophets suffer from deprivation (not depravity—I apologize that it was mistyped in the previous post) and mockery. Prophets do not always understand what is happening to them or why. False believers pretend to know God. They appear to be kind to us, but they make us feel more miserable.

In this evil age, we must rely solely on God’s words. It sometimes takes time to understand what is going on, but we learn through suffering and our mistakes. I regret my former days. I spent too much time participating in church activities. I put my time, money, and effort into church life. But I now know that it was necessary for me to go through that in order to understand why God is angry at the churches.

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. Now the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. (John 8:31-36)