Let Each Family Establish Conditions for Forgiveness (Cancellation of Debt) Genesis 32:22-32
Let Each Family Establish Conditions for
Forgiveness (Cancellation of Debt)
Genesis 32:22-32
When the Word is preached, God does not remain still toward the earnest and longing heart that desires to receive it. Through His Holy Spirit, He works powerfully and gives us wisdom, understanding, and the knowledge of God. Through the person who realizes God’s will, He quickly accomplishes the work of redemption—that is, His providential will of salvation.
Suppose you have a vision in your heart to build a house. If you tell the architect to include a basement, storage room, guest room, and so on, then the architect will take care of it all. If they show you a blueprint sample and ask for your input, you might say, “Change this section to this.” After that, once the design is finalized, the carpenters and all the workers will simply follow the blueprint and work accordingly. But imagine if the person entrusted with the work becomes lazy, complains, and does not carry out the job sincerely. They firmly promised to finish by a certain date, yet even after one or two months, they have not worked as much as they were paid. Then arguments and disputes break out. If you give up on getting your money back, you will first have to dismiss the contractor, search for someone who can do the job really well, and start over.
Why am I saying this? Because what God has planned, what has been determined in His heart, and His predestination never changes.
God’s predestination is unchanging.
The heart to build a house remains constant from beginning to end. When we read the Bible, even when it speaks about the life of a single prophet, there is also a deeper message behind it. When you come to Pyungkang Cheil Church, we teach Romans 2:28–29 during the newcomer’s Bible study.
This passage speaks of the outward Jew and the inward Jew. It speaks of those who believe outwardly and those who believe inwardly, referring to the flesh and the spirit. The inward pertains to the spiritual, while the outward pertains to the fleshly.
Romans 2:28–29 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
The Bible was not written merely as a historical record. When the name of a prophet appears, it is not speaking only about that person’s life. Behind it, the Bible accurately teaches us about the work of paving the way for God’s coming and the path of mankind’s salvation. As stated in Acts 13:27, because the people of Israel did not understand the words of the prophets that they recited every Sabbath, they asked the Gentiles to kill the Messiah who was to come.
Acts 13:27 For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by con- demning Him.
We must establish conditions for forgiveness.
The word the chinese word for “forgiveness” (“debt cancellation,” 蕩減: cancellation/re- mission) uses the first character “tang” (蕩) meaning “to sweep away completely.” It means to wipe everything away. The second character “gam” (減) means “to reduce” or “lessen” (Neh 10:31; Matt 18:21–35). So what does this signify? The debt is so great that there is no way to repay it. Yet the master takes pity and treats the debt as though not even a single cent were owed. God com- pletely forgives our sins through the blood of Jesus on the cross. We have received our cancellation of debt. We Christians must establish conditions for cancellation: prayer, praise, Bible study, serving the church, lov- ing only God—these kinds of conditions. “For the forgiveness of my sins, I will pray.” Things like this are conditions for forgive- ness. Have you truly lived your life of faith while establishing conditions for forgiveness? We ask unconditionally without setting any conditions: “Please bless me. Please give me grace. Please help me understand the Word.” Yet we establish no conditions for ourselves.
The Conditions for Forgiveness Ja- cob Established at Bethel
To help us understand, let us look at Genesis 28.
Genesis 28:20–22 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the Lord will be my God. This stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”
Did he not establish conditions for forgiveness? “If He will keep me, give me food to eat and garments to wear, and return me safely to my father’s house, then the Lord will be my God.” Look at the condition Jacob set. In your life of faith, have you established conditions and then carried them out faithfully? “If You give me a son, I will dedicate him to the Lord. If You give me a daughter, I will have her work for God. If You grant me financial stability, I will live a life of tithing, serve the church faithfully, help the poor, and devote myself to good works.” Have you done this? Jacob went to his uncle’s house and lived there for 20 years: 14 years because of two women, and 6 years because of material possessions, which symbolize all things—20 years in total. Then he came out leading his wives, children, and possessions. Jacob had gone empty- handed, but because he lived according to the conditions he had established, he returned with four women, eleven sons, and great wealth.
Abel-Type Faith That Carries the Family
Abraham, the forefather of faith; Isaac, the forefather of obedience; Jacob, the forefather of action. Jacob did not stand on Cain’s side, but on Abel’s side, establishing the foundation of faith with an Abel-type faith (Eph 3:17). In this way, he prepared the way for the coming Messiah. All the prophets throughout history came because of Jesus. “When the Lord comes, He will live like this, speak like this, work like this, and carry out the work of mankind’s salvation like this.” Therefore, we must not look only at the names of the prophets throughout history. Behind them, God clearly revealed through Jesus the work of the Father. But those who do not spiritually understand the Word have darkened spiritual eyes. If they see Moses, they see only Moses, and they do not realize the work God carried out behind Moses for redemptive history and the providence of salvation. As mentioned earlier, Jacob established conditions for cancellation while possessing Abel-type faith and preparing and paving the way for the coming of Jesus. It was prayer that carried the burden of the family. You also must carry your family and pray that all the sins of your family may receive forgiven. When we look at Daniel 9, Daniel fasted while carrying upon himself the sins committed by the forefathers and the sins committed by the nation and people, pleading for their sins to be cancelled out. It is impossible to read it without tears.
Daniel 9:5 We have sinned, committed iniq- uity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turn- ing aside from Your commandments and ordinances.
Daniel 9:15 And now, O Lord our God, who have brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have been wicked.
When did the forefathers and the people of Israel ever make such a request to the prophet Daniel? This is an awakened faith, a living faith, that sincerely carries the burden of one’s ancestors and family with an Abel-like faith. Look at Jacob praying while carrying his family and establishing conditions for forgiveness with that faith. That is why he became one who reached the completion of entering Canaan, not one left unfinished. His faith was so deep that he could not help but become complete in regard to his family— staking his very life on it. In today’s passage, Jacob wrestled at the Jabbok River with the angel—though it was an angel, it was truly God—and he fought with his life on the line, and prevailed. “What is your name?” He answered, “Jacob.” Then God said that he would no longer be called Jacob (“heel- grabber,” “deceiver”), but would be given the name Israel (“one who has struggled with God and prevailed”), as Hosea 12 tells us. It was another name, a title. God granted Jacob a “commemorative title,” a title that would remain forever in remembrance. Therefore, you also must know how to pray for your family by risking your very life and soul.
Hosea 12:3-5 In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his maturity he contended with God. Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor. He found Him at Bethel and there He spoke with us, even the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord is His name.
Holding a church office means that if you throw away the cross, you cannot establish conditions for for- giveness.
Holding a church office means that if you throw away the cross, you cannot establish conditions for forgiveness. Because of the IMF crisis bringing national bankruptcy, families and businesses fell into terrible hardship. Husbands lost their jobs, and even daughters, sons-in-law, and daughters-in- law suffered. As housewives went out to work, people said in 1999 that there were no district leaders or parish leaders left. They said, “I won’t take a church office because survival comes first,” but such things bring a curse upon generations to come. How can you say you will go on without carrying the cross? Then before the IMF crisis, did you properly fulfill the duties of district leader or parish leader? Do not judge according to the flesh. Look at the Apostle Paul: when even the hope of survival was cut off and he had received the sentence of death, the more he heard the voice saying, “Come near to Me! Come near to Me! Trust only in Me!” And he realized this and gave thanksgiving and praise. “Do you believe Me?” “I believe.” If you truly believe and follow, you must carry the cross.
Church offices are not assigned according to one’s feelings. Your office is an office of the New Covenant. The office of the New Covenant has glory, life, and a crown. No matter how difficult or frustrating things become, we are told not to lose this crown, not to let it be taken away, but to hold firmly to it until the end. Then the second death will be avoided. This is found in Revelation 2:25 and 3:11. If you have received such a glorious new office and then throw it away, can that become a condition for forgiveness for your family? As Romans 8:5 says, we must not set our minds on the flesh. This is being preached exactly according to Scripture for the blessing of your family and descendants for generations to come. We must have a sense of mission.
One soul is more precious than the whole world, and if you make the time, there will always be enough time. After all, everyone will come during worship time anyway, won’t they? Call beforehand and say, “Please gather by this time.” Just gather for even ten minutes with hearts of prayer, linking arms and holding hands with one another. I believe that through tears, a great fire of revival will arise in every district and parish. Never let go of this!! Do not throw away your church office. It was not given by man. Jesus, who is the mediator of the covenant, made you ministers of the New Covenant (2 Cor 3:6). It is a blessing, so why would you cast it aside? I am not saying that if your husband loses his job and life becomes difficult, you should not go out to work. Go ahead and work. But even so, gather together in one place, fall on your knees and pray, share one another’s circumstances, offer intercessory prayers for others, and also pray for yourselves—how rewarding would that be?
The Apostle Paul said that you were entrusted with an office because you were considered faithful and able to take responsibility in the household (1 Tim 1:12). You must regard your office as something glorious. If the members of the women’s or men’s ministries at Pyungkang Cheil Church treat their church office like an enemy, then they are treating God like an enemy. Then how can their households prosper? I say this because I cherish and love you. Take on even more responsibility. God will take care of your family. God will surely give you great and wonderful hope, comfort, courage, and strength in your hearts. Believe that such households will not go bankrupt, receive new strength, and I urge you in the name of the Lord not to give up your office but to hold onto it all. If you had diamonds or gold in your house, would you throw them away? You must value your office even more than that. Please turn to Revelation chapter 2.
Revelation 2:25–28 Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. He who over- comes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the na- tions; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authori- ty from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.
Troubles and afflictions come to every household, yet He says He will give authority over the nations, to rule them as one shatters pottery with a rod of iron, and He will also give the morning star. Therefore, you, who must hold firmly and keep what you have until He comes, must not let it go. If you let it go, physically it may seem temporarily easier, but mental suffering only increases. Let us read from Revelation 3:11.
Revelation 3:11-12 I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Je- rusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
Hold firmly to what you have received. What have you received? The office of deacon, district leader, missions leader—there are all these names of service, are there not? Then why let them go? He has given you a new name. Becoming a district leader will not make you poor. Shouldn’t your children live better lives than you? Why try to crush all your children? If you faithfully fulfill the work of parish leader or district leader, believe that God will surely bless you, and when you work with that faith, it will be done according to your faith.
You must not easily throw away what you gained by fighting with your life on the line.
One thing you must know is that whatever has been gained by fighting with your life on the line must never be easily cast aside. For the conquest of Canaan, God raised up Moses, and while directing his life, allowed him to learn all the secrets of Egypt over forty years. He came to understand scholarship, culture, and economics. After that, God gave Moses the heart to see the suffering of his people and inspect their condition. Then it happened that a Hebrew and an Egyptian were fighting. The Bible says Moses looked both ways to see if anyone was there. Seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and buried him in the sand. The next day he went out again and saw two Hebrews fighting each other. He said, “You are all descendants of Abraham, suffering here in Egypt for four hundred years. Should you really be fighting?” But they answered, “Who made you a judge or ruler over us? Didn’t you kill an Egyptian yesterday and bury him in the sand?” Because of those words, Moses could no longer enter the palace and fled to Midian. He had laid a foundation of faith for forty years, yet in a single day it shattered like a broken dish. Then he went to the wilderness of Midian, to the house of Jethro, and for forty years suffered hardship beyond description.
Jacob came forth having established a family-centered faith, but the people of Israel did not realize it. The same was true in the time of Moses. When they made the second attempt to enter Canaan, it failed again because of ten of the twelve spies. On the way to the land of Canaan, they all died in the wilderness. Only Joshua and Caleb lived to enter the land of Canaan.
Look also at Jesus: just before beginning His public ministry, being led by the Holy Spirit, God allowed Him to be tested through Satan. What was the victory by which Jesus overcame the three temptations? “God said,” and “It is written in Scripture.” From beginning to end, He overcame all three temptations through the Word. Look at Jesus. He faced the strongest of temptations with His life and soul on the line. But do you think the devil remained still after that? Not at all. He came again. “I may have lost this time, but I will challenge Him again.” That is why the Bible records that he “left Him for a while.” It means he intended to return. Just because you fought once and won does not mean you should become careless. Satan comes again and again. Satan said, “Bow down to me. All this was given to me. Adam and Eve handed it over, I received it, and I’ll give it to You if You bow to me.” That is what Satan said when he tempted Jesus. But Jesus did not even blink an eye. Look how Satan came again afterward. The Bible is about recovering what was lost.
One thing we must understand is that whatever has been gained by fighting with one’s life on the line must not be easily thrown away just because life becomes difficult. The mind that is set on the flesh brings anxiety, worry, and suffering. The mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. Through today’s message, I bless you in the name of the Lord that life and peace may come upon your families, and that, like Jacob, you may establish family-centered conditions for forgiveness and become living sacrifices offered before God.
Let us pray.
God, who are we, that You would look upon us faithfully and entrust us with a duty? Yet even after receiving that calling, we became afraid to fulfill it, and because of difficulties in family life, we considered laying it down. From a human perspective that may seem understandable, but in Your sight it is so foolish. Especially in times like these, please help us to be thankful that You have given us this office and calling, never letting go of it, realizing that this is the crown of life You have given us. Bless us so that we may become new workers who serve faithfully with all our strength. Grant us strength and ability to work in the world, and also grant us spiritual strength and ability to care for our districts and parish groups. Thank You for the Word You gave today: that like Jacob, not only personally but also on the family level, he established conditions of forgiveness, prayed and gave thanks before God, wrestled with the angel, and finally received the blessing of victory. Please let every family in Pyungkang Cheil Church today become like the family of Jacob. Let there never be discouragement, but only a life of drawing nearer and nearer
and nearer to You. We know that worrying and suffering do not solve anything, and we believe that when we pray to You, great miracles will surely take place. Believing and trusting that You have made us into Jacob’s family, please grant that there may be only victory in every part of our lives, including today. As we ask and pray all these things, we offer this prayer of thanksgiving in the holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
November 10, 1998
Sermon by Rev. Abraham Park
26년도 5월호