Shincheonji Bible: The Value of Grace

Did you know that there is one thing free of cost that all of mankind has equally received?

As stated in Ephesians 2:8, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."

We have all received this precious, free gift of grace.

When people receive something that is free of cost, it's difficult to really appreciate the full value of what's given. This is because no amount of effort or work was taken to earn this free gift, which decreases the value of the item. To take this even a step further, some could eventually even be disillusioned into thinking that they actually did something to deserve this gift, when in actuality, they didn't do a thing.

We who are beyond undeserving, we who sin day after day, have been saved because of an act of love from God. There is nothing favorable or impressive that we did to warrant receiving this free gift. This grace is beyond comparable value to any physical thing on this earth, because it is the gift that has spiritually saved us, through the precious blood of one who never sinned, Jesus Christ.

When someone gifts you something incredibly huge, what is a normal person's reaction? Even just saying the words "thank you," is not enough. An average person would try to think of a way to repay this gift, either with a similar gift of value or through actions. Don't our actions have to surpass those of "average" people? We are believers, children of God set apart from this world. Then, we need to work towards repaying this grace in a way that is truly acknowledged by God.

Let us be those who are truly doing the work of God, according to His will, so that we can repay even a tiny percentage of this huge gift of grace that he has saved us with. Amen.

Shincheonji bible: Light of the World

Thomas Edison was one of the greatest American inventors who invented the lightbulb. Why did he try to invent the light bulb? Did you ever think about living in a world without light? What if the lighthouse didn’t exist to flash light onto the sea at night? What if the streetlights didn’t exist to light the roads we walk on? Therefore, we can’t do anything from the moment the sun goes down because this world is too dangerous without the sun’s light.

Thomas Edison realized the importance of light in everyday life. Everyone acknowledges that Thomas Edison was a genius and he said, “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Then let us ask ourselves, where did he get the inspiration to invent the light bulb? Don’t you think he was inspired through something that provides light? Surely if I was in his shoes, I would have been inspired by the light that shines from the sun that God created.

Let’s think about the world without the sun. Without the sun, we won’t be able to live on the earth. Why? Because the earth would be a frozen ball without radiant heat of the sun. Moreover, the earth revolves around the sun while the sun provides the energy and life through its radiance.

In the bible, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor;” (Psalm 84:11). We can understand through this verse that God is like the sun who give us life and we need to receive the light of His word in order to live. Therefore, let us constantly hear and put the words of light within our hearts to shine like the stars of heaven. Amen.

Shincheonji Bible: Grace

What is grace to you?

There are many definitions of grace and some may simply define it as a heart of gratitude. Others define just by a movement of elegance. However in the Bible, we are able to define grace through the pain and suffering of God and the many people who saw their lives as nothing in comparison to the word.

Within the history of the Bible, there are many events where we see grace in reality. For example, the sinful woman who washed Jesus' feet perceived grace. How? She understood that she was a sinful woman yet she was forgiven despite her sins. In her act of being thankful for the grace, she washed and put perfume on Jesus' feet. If we were in the situation of sitting with Jesus, would we sit next to him like a friend, or would you be face down in tears while washing his feet?

Today we live in grace. What is that grace? It is truth. For it says in John 1:17 that grace and truth came through Jesus. The words that Jesus came with were the words fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies and also the prophecies of the New Testament. We have to be thankful for these words because the disciples gave up their lives thinking of people in the future who may have the words of Jesus. Then if the words of truth we have today came with so much grace, what could we do in thankfulness? The best we can honestly do is obey the words that were given. In fact, God wants us to have these words in our hearts and our minds (Hb 8:10-12).

If we cannot obey these words, how can we show God we are thankful? If we don't even understand, how can we obey? Therefore, let us remember that understanding follows with obedience and obedience leads to action that can repay the grace God has given us. Amen.

Shincheonji Bible:What does life mean to you? Part 2

Do you remember the question that I asked about your life? Do you think your life is precious? If so, what is your plan with your precious life?  We have to think about our lives in the perspective of God because God is one who gave us life. For example if someone falls into the ocean, they struggle and flounder in the ocean in order to live. A lifeguard who sees that individual struggle will dive into the ocean to save their life. Do you think that individual should just walk away from the lifeguard because after surviving from the treacherous ocean waves? Shouldn’t the individual be thankful to the lifeguard who saved their life? Like this story, we have to think about God who is root of all life. If we are still breathing at this time, we have to think about God with every breath that we take.  

In the bible, there are lot  people who sacrificed their lives  for God. In Hebrews chapter 11, many prophets were stoned, put to death by the sword,  persecuted and mistreated when they spread the gospel. How were they able to sacrifice their lives for God?  It was because they understood God’s heart through His Word that they were able to dedicate the most precious thing to God, which were their lives. Then in this era, what can we do with this precious life? We have to keep God’s Word in our hearts and our minds that came from prophets who sacrificed their lives for His Word.  God is looking for a person who has His Word because God’s heart is recorded within the Word. (John1:1-5) Those who think God’s Word as life will keep hold to their precious lives forever and ever. Amen.

 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” –Ecclesiastes 3:11