The people of heaven
Who are born again
There are two kinds of seed: the seed of heaven and the seed of the
earth. There are people born in heaven and people born on the earth. The one who
comes from above speaks of what he has seen and heard in heaven, but the one who
comes from the earth speaks of what he has seen and heard on the earth (Jn
3:31-34). This is how those who are born of the holy spirit are
different from those who are born of the flesh.
It is through God’s seed and holy spirit that Christians are able to
believe in Jesus and be born again (Jn
3:5-6; 1 Pt
1:23). People who have not been born again yet claim to believe are
mere flesh born of the world (i.e. the earth). The mind of a sinful person
cannot know the work of the holy spirit (Rom
8:5-11).
Buddhist monks shave their heads and go to temples in the mountains;
they leave the world behind for the sake of their faith. The monks spend their
days together at the temples, praying and committing themselves to live with
Buddha. We can see similar devotion in Catholicism. Catholic priests and nuns
make a similar commitment to leave the world behind them. They devote their
entire lives at a monastery or a nunnery, praying to and meditating on the Lord
of heaven. Their lives of faith are different from the way they lived before
making such a spiritual commitment. Both groups live a new life, and they are
“born again” as they commit themselves to Buddha or to the Lord of heaven. If
their commitment is what the Lord of heaven wants, the Lord must be with them,
and they, too, will be in the Lord.
Jesus sent out 70 disciples for evangelism purposes (Lk
10:1-2). The disciples returned with joy saying, “Lord, even the
demons submit to us in your name!” Jesus replied, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice
that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names stand written in
heaven,” (Lk
10:17-20). Jesus also said, “If you belonged to the world, the world
would love you as its own. However, because you do not belong to the world, but
I chose you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you,” (Jn
15:19). God, the kingdom of heaven, and the angels came to Jesus
during the time of the first coming (Mt
13:24, 3:16; Lk
3:22). For this reason, going to Jesus was the same as going to
heaven and to God (Jn
14:6). Let us consider what the New Testament declares about God,
Jesus, and the kingdom of heaven. The New Testament says that God, Jesus, and
the kingdom of heaven descend upon the one who overcomes (Rv
3:12). If this is what the scriptures state, where must we go to meet
God, Jesus, and heaven at the time of the second coming? Everyone who truly
believes in the Bible should judge for him and herself and believe the
truth.
Protestants today should stop denouncing Buddhism, Confucianism,
Catholicism, and other newly rising denominations as “cults.” Instead of
throwing stones at others, they should examine themselves whether their
knowledge and actions surpass that of those whom they call heretics.
In their hearts, true believers must leave the sinful world and dwell
in the Lord of heaven. The scriptures declare that friendship with the world is
hostility toward God (Jas
4:4). We must resemble Apostle Paul and Apostle John, who received
the revelation from heaven instead of the words of the world. Persecuting,
criticizing, cursing, insulting, committing spiritual murder, lying to deceive
others, and carrying out lawless acts must stop. These kinds of actions must be
prohibited. Instead, through justice, love, forgiveness, faith, modesty, and
mercy, let us become the light which reveals God’s truth to all people. Let us
willingly offer our service and bless others to become believers acknowledged by
God.
If we call Buddhist monks and Catholic priests and nuns heretics
while our actions prove to be no better than theirs, what will God think of us?
Just look at the Internet, it is obvious that the sheer volume of insults,
curses, criticism, and persecution out there outweighs the words of truth. How
can all these words of persecution be the words of righteousness? How can they
be the Lord’s teaching?
Shouldn’t we speak words of righteousness and blessing instead of
words that promote curses and persecution? Anyone who does not yet know the
truth about righteousness can easily acquire the proper knowledge by asking and
learning. How can we talk about others while we ourselves are not yet perfect?
No one can pass judgment without verifying for themselves first. We must regard
God’s point of view and his word as our standard for judgment rather than
relying on our own standards.
To fulfill the Lord’s will, true believers must become citizens of
heaven born again through the word and the holy spirit. We must leave the sinful
world behind and live in the Lord. We must become people who do the work of the
Lord on his behalf.
Shincheonji: Healing All Nations
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