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Immanuel Presbyterian Church
Sermon by Rev. Ryu Kwang-su
Translated by Sung-Ahn Choi
May 4th, 2008
First Service
The Truth Will Set You Free
John 8:31-38
Introduction: “And you will know the Truth…”
There are many important principles in the Book of John. There are important things to
do and important things to say. One day, Jesus saw a fruitless fig tree and cursed the
tree for lacking fruit. Yet, the reason it lacked fruit was because it was not season for
the fig trees to bear fruit. The disciples should have asked why He cursed the tree when
He knew it was not the right season. But because no one asked the question, Jesus just
went to sleep. If they had asked why, an amazing message would have been given.
When Peter saw it the next day, he was surprised to see that the tree had withered.
Similar to this, we find ourselves dismayed after problems come, though the signs
leading to it were there long before. Jesus would have said that the fig tree symbolized
Israel, and that the leaders and the people of Israel would perish. He would have warned
the disciples to be ready for the coming future. While it was God's will that Jesus would
be crucified, it was the evil intent of the Jews, who crucified Him. The same people who
crucified Him said, "Let His blood be on us and on our children." After 40 years, the
Temple was destroyed, and the Israelites were taken captive by 23 nations. Later on,
Hitler brought great massacre upon the Jews.
A missionary came on a ship to preach the Gospel. However, because the leaders in
Korea were so focused on nationalism when the man came with the Gospel,
Daewongun, a Korean leader, shot cannon onto the ship, and this ship was steered away
and ended up in Japan. This is why the Gospel first went to Japan. From then, Japan
quickly adapted to the western culture. This is why Japan is now 100 years ahead of us.
And it is with this strength that they attacked Korea.
(1) There are many truths in the world, but what is the “True Truth?” Jesus gave them
the life-changing message. But what Truth was He talking about? Many people claim to
speak of the truth. Siddhartha Gautama, or Buddha as most of us know him, was a
respectable man. He left his position as the crowning prince, and pondered upon why
suffering, poverty, and pain existed in the world. He was an amazing man in that while
there are people who do not even care for the truth, he sat under a tree for six years to
seek after the answer. His final answer was "nothing." Hence, we can also conclude that
Buddhists today go directly against Buddha's own beliefs [since they claim that the goal
in life is to reach buddhahood, or nirvana]. Socrates said, "Know thyself." Most of us do
not know who we are. If you really knew who you were, you would know that you are a
sinner and that you deserve be destroyed. German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer
said that mankind is meant to suffer, and it is better not to be born. But he said if you
are born, it is better to die early. So many people committed suicide because of his
philosophy. But he himself lived up to 83 years. Everything these exceptional people
say is true.
(2) We all strive for success, but this is not what the Truth that we are talking about.
Why do the successful still suffer? Why do they keep hiding their inner afflictions?
Studying hard or working hard is not the point. This is not why Jesus came. Why do
people suffer from spiritual problems despite the success?
(3) Why are people unhappy? Why do we continually face suffering? Why does
suffering grow greater when the world is so much more advanced than ever? Mental
illnesses are only growing worse and worse. One can reasonably assume that criminals
are mentally afflicted because they cannot control themselves.
In a story from Greek mythology, a servant told the king that he was envious of his
throne. So the king allowed the servant to be king for three days. When he sat down, he
realized that there was a great sword high above his head. The sword was hanging by a
single strand of hair. The sword was spinning as if it was going to fall any minute. The
servant thought his blood would all dry up while he was sitting under the sword.
There is another story of a young man who faced a tiger in a mountain. He tried fighting
against the tiger to the best of his abilities but could not overcome the tiger. Somehow,
he latched onto the tiger’s back, but could not let go because he knew that he would die
the moment he let go. The tiger struggled to get him off his back, but when he could not
shake him off, the tiger just walked slowly. But the people who were watching the man
were so impressed that he was able to ride on a tiger. Success is not what it seems.
1. What exactly is the truth?
Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.” You must first
know the Truth. You can summarize what Jesus said and did in three ways with three
verses.
(1) Mark 10:45 says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life as a ransom for many.” God sent His Son for Him to be a ransom
for all the sin and curses for which mankind must be punished. He took on the work of a
priest.
(2) 1 John 3:8 says, “He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has
been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy
the devil's work.” Jesus had the authority as the King because he destroyed the powers
of the devil.
(3) John 14:6 says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me.” He is the Prophet who opened the way. The three roles together are
called the Christ. If you know this Truth, it will set you free.
2. What does “The Truth will set you free” mean? What are you free from?
(1) Verse 33 is talking about freedom for the Israelites. The Jews perished because they
did not understand. There is one way to be free from your own destiny. If you know this
Truth, the Truth will set you free immediately.
There are many famous sorcerers in Korea. These people are actually possessed by
demons. They will recognize you as soon as they see you. They know that you have
been set free from all fate and curses. They know your present situation immediately.
But if you have been completely freed from your fate and destiny, you have no fortune
to be told. Rom. 8:2 says, “Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set
me free from the law of sin and death.” You will know the Truth, and the Truth will set
you free.
1) This is freedom from the fate of Gen. 3,
2) The curses of Gen. 6, and
3) The disasters of Gen. 11.
Ever since I realized that, everything is finished. All we have to do now is to follow the
Word and His plan. So many unbelievers who were caught in different kinds of
superstitions are now completely free.
We once met a woman whose mother-in-law went to a shaman. The shaman told her
that her son and his wife had to be separated because her son would die otherwise. She
was quite distressed because her husband was afraid for his own life and wanted to be
separated. I told her, “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name,
He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12). I tell you the truth, whoever
hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be
condemned; he has crossed over from death to life (John 5:24).” The woman believed,
and her mother-in-law also eventually believed in Jesus. Unbelievers have no choice.
When real problems come, no matter how learned you may be, you will panic and go to
the wrong sources. Faith in Jesus itself is utterly amazing. Hence, you will know the
truth and the truth will set you free. There is no mistake about this. If you just hold to
the Word, answers will come. You are not under the power of your fate. More than 500
sorcerers came to the Lord. There is no other way for them to be free except by Jesus.
Tragedies in life occur at the most ultimate moment for them.
When I first began serving Immanuel Church, I met a woman who was told by her
mother that she would die in September. This mother received this information from a
sorcerer she had visited. That sorcerer was from Junla Province, so they visited another
sorcerer in Busan, though she said the same thing about her. One of our sr. deaconesses
went to buy noodles at this woman's store and told her, "Believe in Jesus." This woman
became desperate to find out what would happen if she believed in Jesus. So, the sr.
deaconess comforted her and told her to come to church that night, which was
Wednesday. But the woman was scheduled for a shamanistic ritual the next day, and
was nervous that she would suffer a great deal if she did not perform the shamanistic
ritual with the shaman. So, the senior deaconess comforted her and said, “Don’t you
worry. I’m an ex-shaman.” She accepted Christ trembling and sweating, and twenty
Septembers have passed since then. She is alive and well.
(2) Verse 34 says, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” Curses flow
down your family line, even though you did absolutely nothing wrong. Many curses
result if your parents or ancestors practiced idol worship, but the Gospel has freed you
from your curses.
(3) Verses 36-39 tell us about the state of slavery. Original sin is not sin that you
committed, in the same way that you’re a slave if your father is a slave. You will find in
yourself the problems that your father and mother have as well. But Jesus set us free
from the powers of sin. You are set free from the state of slavery.
3. The meaning of freedom
(1) You were set free because you cannot solve this problem and free yourself.
(2) This is why God gave you atonement by law because Jesus was your ransom.
(3) Rom. 8:2 says, “Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free
from the law of sin and death.” When the president endows presidential pardon, the
criminal is pardoned for good. You have been completely freed from your fate, destiny,
and curses. The Jews, many churches, and other religions do not understand this.
Conclusion: Verse 31 says, “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you
hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.’” Even if it is a few, all we need is
people who truly believe.
(1) If you really believe in this, all the hidden curses in your family line and your life
will be completely finished. In my family, my mother and my uncle believed, and
eventually, the entire extended family came to believe. But because of these two people,
the Gospel movement proliferated all throughout my family and relatives. All you need
is to believe in Jesus.
(2) You must come to several conclusions.
1) First, you must come to the conclusion that the Gospel is the solution to every
problem. All problems are finished if you believe in Christ. All darkness is finished
because you are the Light. The darkness in you is finished because the Christ came as
the Light.
2) God has given the Light to the family, and the reason we exist is to shine and enjoy
this Light in the world. If you have these answers, you will see everything.
Up until 20 years ago, I thought money was the greatest thing. Many of you probably
agree. You can do anything with money, buy anything, and go anywhere. I realized
twenty years go that I was wrong. If I am in the position for blessings, money will
follow. Remnants must remember that you will be destroyed if you follow money.
There is no more worry for me because God will work where He needs to. Enjoy this
Light, and allow the Light to shine. This is prayer.
3) You live to shine the Light in the world, and there is nothing more important. This is
evangelism. Then, you can shine this Light unto the people in the darkness. This is
evangelism. If this becomes the conclusion of your life, everything is finished.
Then, you will see something of the future. You will see the answers and strength
coming to you. I saw the Remnant movement from ten years ago. I believe our church
[Immanuel Seoul Church] is going to be built in Deokpyeong [where the Remnant
Unity Training Center is being built].
If you have the important answer, you do not have to worry about the future. When we
say that the world is in the midst of darkness, it makes no different how much wealth
one has. He is still in complete darkness. This is salvation. Therefore, shine the Light.
This is prayer. Continuing to shine this light is evangelism. This is what it means when
it says that Truth will set you free. You shall gain answers for the generations that
follow. May this day be the day of greatest blessings in the name of Jesus Christ.