Message: I live by faith in Christ
Principal
ERM Bible School
“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you:
The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,
and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,
“This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this,
whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup,
you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood.
A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.
That is why many among you are weak and sick,and a number of you have fallen asleep.
But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment“（１Corinthians 11:23-31）．
During the Old Testament time,
blessings of Abraham (blessings of prosperity and healing) existed,
but the priests were not allowed to enter the holy of the holies.
We, however, are able to do so. What is meant by this is that we are able to enter into heaven by the grace of the sacrificial cross of Jesus.
In the Lord’s Supper,we are not partaking of the body and blood of Christ in order to have the sins erased that were committed since the previous partaking of the Lord’s Supper.
What we receive is one blessing after another (John 1:16).
To take part in the Lord’s Supper is to receive benefit over benefit.
Which is about: “For I know the plans I have for you,”declares the LORD,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
When we partake of the Lord’s Supper properly,
there will be grace and blessings.
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood” (vs 25).
The covenant of the blood of Jesus has taken away the curses of poverty,sickness and second death.
During the Lord’s Supper we drink the juice of the grape which symbolized the blood of Jesus.
It is the blood of Jesus, blood of God.
As we are descendants of Adam, we have sin.
And we sin daily. Jesus, however, is the one without sin.
God himself became man and came to us. His blood had not just paid for our sins,
but washed the sins of all human race, in that should we ever sin in heaven,
then that too has been totally paid for.
The blood of Jesus is worthy and precious and holy,whereby all sins are erased.
Therefore, let us properly partake in the Lord’s Supper.
“For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself”(vs 29).
If we receive it properly, we will receive the blessings.
“A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup” (vs 28).
One must examine himself and confess of his sins.
Jesus has already paid for our sins, even for those sins that we may be committing in the future.
If one does not confess his sins, then that state of having sin will persist.
Therefore, we must confess of our sins before we receive the body and blood of Christ,
and receive of it in a pure state.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7-9).
Verse 7 states, “we have fellowship with one another.”
With whom is this fellowship with? In 1 John 1:3, it is stated,
“our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”
By confessing of our sins, we are able to walk in the light,
and enter into fellowship with God himself and with Christ.
“If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (vs 9).
In this world, when sin is committed, reparation must be paid according to its seriousness.
In the Bible, however, we are told that when we confess of our sins, our sins will be cleared.
This means that from the beginning, “God has already decided on forgiving you.”
When the prodigal son returned home upon realizing his sin,
God the Father already had the son forgiven (Luke 15).
This son is you. God had forgiven you long before, and yet, it is you who have not forgiven yourself.
Those with guilt conscience, confess of your sins now.
You have been given the grace to go to heaven on the account of Jesus who had died in taking your place whereby you are forgiven.
“For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.
That is why many among you are weak and sick,
and a number of you have fallen asleep” (vs 29, 30).
What is meant by “without recognizing the body?” When we believed in Jesus,we entered into the body of Jesus.
In the Lord’s Supper, we partake of what is holy, therefore, we must be conscientious of this,
and so we confess of our sins in order that we may become pure.
In the Church of Corinth there were issues, and because of that, increasing people were becoming weak and sick,
and many were dead. What we must do is to confess of our sins, not to man, but to God,
and be forgiven of our sins by the sacrifice of Jesus,
and enter into the grace in which we are separated from sin and sin longer belongs to us.
We believe that not one person is harmed in partaking of the Lord’s Supper, that all are healed,
receiving good health, and made to enter into a life of blessings.
We confess of our sins, and pray to seek forgiveness for those sins we unknowingly have committed.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
Those of us who believe in Jesus are not condemned to sin.
That is because Jesus had paid for them on our behalf.
It is as if someone is in debt of a million dollars,
but his parents paid it off, so the debt is gone.
“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with,
that we should no longer be slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6).
Through Jesus, God divided us into two, the old self and the new. “Because anyone who has died has been freed from sin” (vs 7).
The old self has been put to death on the cross with Jesus.
Therefore, we are free of sin.
“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (vs 11).
A new self in Christ.
As Christians then, what way of life shall we live?
What is meant by the word “count” in verse 11 is to calculate.
It is meant that you must “calculate” the fact that if your debt of one million dollars has been paid by your parents,
then it translates to mean that you are no longer indebted.
Therefore, we must calculate, that by the cross of Jesus,
we no longer have sin, and live as such.
We sin daily, but Paul says the following:
“I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good,
but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no,
the evil I do not want to do–this I keep on doing” (Romans 7:18-19).
He even goes on to say: “As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me (vs 17).
Paul is saying, “It is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.
Jesus had died for my sins, I have nothing to do with it.”
“Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it,
but it is sin living in me that does it” (vs 20).
If we understood what Jesus had done for us on the cross and the meaning of the Lord’s Supper,
then because we are forgiven and loved to this extent,
we are able to forgive others and love others.
“The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,
and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,
“This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:23-24).
The bread is the body of Jesus. Jesus said,
“This is my body, which is for you.”Jesus who is God,
had come with a body in order that he may assume the sin of all mankind.
We on our own is not capable of entering heaven, to forgive and purify our sins,
and therefore, God Himself became man and was put to the cross.
The bread is that body which had been sacrificed.
The bread we eat at the Lord’s Supper is the broken bread.
On our behalf Jesus was whipped and the one body was broken.
The bible says: “After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied” (Isiah 53:11).
By this it is meant that Jesus had taken our place freely on our behalf.
The other meaning of breaking of the bread is that when the pieces are put together,
it will be as one. It means that you are all a piece of the body of Christ. Life of faith is not lived individually,
but in knowing that everybody is united.
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood” (vs 25).
Taking part in the Lord’s Supper is a new covenant.
The juice of the grape is the color of the blood of Jesus.
This is a covenant in which you are forgiven of your sin,
be made to receive financial blessings,health blessings, spiritual and all blessings.
This covenant, however, is not given one-sidedly.
For us to receive this, what must we do? This is a covenant in which we obey Christ.
As we receive this covenant, we carry on in obedience to Christ.
Our God is the true God, and this God will protect us.
No matter what problems there may be,
if God be for us then who can be against us?
It is this protection that is manifested over us.
In the Lord’s Supper we remember this and take the juice of the grape.
“Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,
through the sanctifying work of the Spirit,
for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance” (1 Peter 1:2).
Sick will receive the privileged of being healed,
financially trodden will be blessed,
and the privilege of entering heaven is granted.
The true God is our God, and we are given the protection that if God be for us,
then nothing can be against us, no matter what problems there may be.
Let us proclaim: “I am blessed in the highest.
I am loved by God in the highest.
I am loved to the extent that Jesus had taken my place.
I have decided to forgive people.
I have decided to love people.”
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me “(Galatians 2:20).
I have been put on the cross with Jesus and died.
I am now in the body of Christ.
It is not I that lives but Christ who is living in me.
I live by faith in the Son of God.”
Let us live by faith in Christ. Though we face obstacles,
we will think Jesus can triumph.
In battling Goliath, David in his youth did not think on himself doing it, but believed that God could do it (1 Samuel 17).
Let us proclaim: “From now on, I will live in thinking, not whether I could do it, but whether God could do it.
Because God is able to do all things, I am surely able to do them.
The old self has died.
Now Christ is living in me.
Christ is not sick, therefore, I have been healed.
I am destined to be successful.
I live by faith in Christ. Amen.”
Message: Being on track to truly know Christ
Genichi Jinnai
Principal
ERM Bible School
First of all, we must yearn to know the truth.
No matter how much one is believing in Christ,
unless he is on the track of God, blessings cannot be received.
In coming to church, we ought to be seeking to know God before praying for financial blessings or healings.
As Israel aimed to reach Canaan, we are journeying in pursuit of heaven.
We long for heaven because God is there.
To become closer to God, we must first yearn to want to know God. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mathew 6:33). What is meant by this? What is knowing God about? Let us look into this.
“(God) wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 1:4).
God is wanting for us not just to believe in Jesus and be saved, but that we come to know the truth from there.
As the people of Israel left Egypt and walked toward Canaan, we, too, shall be saved and journey toward the kingdom of heaven.
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
All is in the hands of God.
No one is without trials.
God trains us in our trials in order to grant us his goodness within the trials.
And within this training, we come to know the truth.
The more we believe, the easier life will become.
The more we understand, the easier life will become.
Israel walked the desert and entered the land of Canaan.
Trials exist, but God is siding.
King Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22~, 1 Chronicles 17~) feared when the enemy approached.
But when he realized that God was on his side, fear disappeared. Worries of most people arise from looking at the present situation. If one comes to know the truth, however, that the outcome will be victory for him, then there is ease.
When David fought Goliath, he knew he would win because God was on his side.
The issue is not about what is visible, nor is it about how long or little lasting the problems are.
Problems are solved when we look into the realm of the invisible.
Satan will try to make you focus on your mistakes.
However, we must not fall into Satan’s trap.
“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Peter 1:2).
The more we know, the more we will understand grace.
The more you know, the more you will understand that you are the victor.
Not being peddled, the bicycle will fall, but as long as it is being peddled, it will continue to speed forward.
In a similar way, the more truth we know, the more grace and peace will abound.
Ultimately, for Christians, personal wishes unto the Lord will diminish.
For we are told, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mather 6:33). Everything will be provided and given.
The more we understand this, the more we will yearn to know God further.
From Colossians 2:2, let us learn about the four steps to truly know God.
“My purpose is that
① they may be encouraged in heart and
② united in love,
③ so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding,
④ in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ.” We must truly know Christ which is the mystery of God.
In a Christian life, there are miraculous experiences, also.
However, Christian life of living in the belief of God’s protection is even more wonderful.
In order to truly know Christ, it is also necessary to have the visible problems solved and receive encouragement.
And by having the awareness of being loved, we will truly come to know Christ.
Now let us study the four steps of being increased in the knowledge of Christ from Colossians 1:10.
“And we pray this in order that
① you may live a life worthy of the Lord and
② may please him in every way:
③ bearing fruit in every good work,
④growing in the knowledge of God.”
You must examine your thoughts and hopes and see if your walk is really aligned with the Lord.
Whether your wishes are answered ornot, all is within the Lord’s blessings.
God’s purpose of being in not in answering our wishes.
Often, I think, “What would Jesus say to this person?”
Though engaging in the “A, B, C, D, Thanksgiving”,
the method for the use of faith, (A=Ask, B=Believe, C=Confess, D-Do, Thanksgiving),
there are those who say their prayers are not answered.
First of all, we must place ourselves on the “track” of the Lord. Which is to walk the way of the Lord, to live according to the Lord’s will.
The walk which is in line with the will of the Lord.
In other words, where is your standing position?
“It is in the Lord.” What does this mean?
“In the Lord”=being in Christ.
We must know that it is about our self being in Christ.
Concerning our own strength, ability, spiritual power, and knowledge, we must look at them from the standpoint of what they are “in Christ”.
“In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman” (1 Corinthians 11:11).
This is about the husband and wife relationship.
One may want to marry a certain person, but that person would think of how that would be to the Lord.
One’s opinion is not asserted to the other person, but one thinks about what it would be to the Lord.
Whether in service or in doing works of the Lord,
one does not decide things on his own, but thinks first of how it would be to the Lord.
When a Christian leading a Christian life becomes dissatisfied or angered, he is losing sight of what he is not supposed to.
We shall carry on in our living by looking to what is invisible.
“I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8).
David was never shaken. That is because he has always set the Lord before himself.
By the cross of Jesus, all hostility has been withdrawn.
God is able to decree judgment, but judgment was withdrawn by the cross.
By the cross God’s anger was withdrawn.
By the cross we were made to go unto the forgiveness of God.
When I could not forgive my father, Jesus said to me:
“Was I hanged on the cross for you?”
”Yes.”
”Was I also hanged on the cross for your father?”
”Yes.”
Jesus told me He was hanged on the cross for me, as well as, for my father.
And He further told me, “I was also hanged on the cross for what your father had done to you.”
Jesus was hanged on the cross for the trespasses I do to others, as well.
And He told me, “Therefore, because I was hanged on the cross for what your father had done to you, forgive your father.”
To set the Lord before oneself means to see from the perspective of the Lord.
Jesus was hanged on the cross not only for Christians, but for all people.
Not only the issue of sin, but He had resolved all problems.
“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord” (Colossians 3:18).
“As is fitting in the Lord”, we are told. We must not forget this. It is In Christ.
Husbands, too, shall be toward their wives, in Christ.
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).
We are light in the Lord. We are in the light and we become as children of light.
Let us proclaim, “I have become light in the Lord.”
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him” (Colossians 2:6).
We shall continue to live in the Lord.
“Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it,
not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor,
but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:22-23).
Those who live this way will likely succeed rapidly.
Though you may belong to a company, your way of life shall be so to live in the Lord.
When you obey as you obey the Lord, you will continue to be blessed.
We set the Lord always before us.
Let us not err on our standing position.
It is wrong to think that you are not being healed for you have sinned, or that you are not being blessed.
Let us receive without reservation what we are meant to receive
in the Lord.
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men whether to the king,
as the supreme authority” (1 Peter 2:13).
In all this, we shall carry on in setting the Lord before us.
Now let us proclaim:
“I am blessed in the utmost”,
“I am loved by God in the utmost”,
“I have decided to forgive people”,
“I have decided to love people”, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
I would like to end today with Psalm 16:8.
“I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
Amen