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We Know We Have an Eternal Home in Heaven

  We Know We Have an Eternal Home in Heaven   2 Corinthians 5:1 – 4: "For we know that if the earthly tent (*sk ē nos*) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile, we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent (*sk ē nai*), we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life." This means that the eternal home in heaven is not located somewhere up in the sky, but rather exists within the believer; it refers to the Kingdom of Heaven within the spirit. Ephesians 2:5 similarly speaks of being seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. The word *sk ē nos* refers to the physical body, specifically as a dwelling place where sin resides. In Romans, this is described as the ...
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The Outer Self and the Inner Self

  The Outer Self and the Inner Self   2 Corinthians 4:16 – 18: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." The "outer self" refers to the old self that follows the flesh, while the "inner self" refers to the new self that follows the law of the Holy Spirit. The wasting away of the outer self signifies death. The Bible refers to the Kingdom of God perceived within the spirit as *he basileia ton ouranon*; the Revised Korean Version translates this as "Heaven" (the Kingdom of Heaven or the Heavens). This is because the Kingdom of Heaven is, in fact, Jesus Christ. Matthew 3:2 states: "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven (*he basileia ton ou...
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He has shone the light of the knowledge of God’s glory into our hearts.

  He has shone the light of the knowledge of God ’ s glory into our hearts.   2 Corinthians 4:6 – 7: "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God ’ s glory in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure (*thesauros*) in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power (*dynamis*) is from God and not from us." Light is the image of God and is eternal life (resurrection). Those who lack this resurrection life cannot know the glory of God; only those who possess resurrection life can comprehend God ’ s will. God ’ s will is that people recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God who came into the world to save all humanity. *Thesauros* refers to a treasure, which signifies Jesus Christ, while the "jar of clay" represents the physical body. Although the jar of clay is insignificant, the great power of God emanates from the treasure contained within it. *Dynamis*...
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Christ is the Image of God

  Christ is the Image of God   2 Corinthians 4:1-2: "Therefore, having received this ministry (diakonian), we do not lose heart (enkacumen) in the face of mercy. We have renounced the hidden shameful works (aiskenes), and do not walk (periparentus) in deceit (panurgia) or distort (doluntes) the word of God, but in displaying the truth (tanerosei tes aletheias), we commend ourselves to the conscience (syneisin) of every man before God."   This speaks of the criteria for selecting those entrusted with God's work.   Diakonian means ministry. The ministry given by God is given according to His mercy. Enkacumen means not good, "not bad." In other words, it refers to those who live according to God's word.   Aiskenes ( α ἰ σχ ύ νη ς ) is the act of hypocrisy. It refers to one who pretends to be holy on the outside while committing shameful acts. Paul tells us to abandon such a life. Panurgia means cunning. Perifaluntes means "to walk." It...
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Written on the tablets of the flesh

  Written on the tablets of the flesh   2 Corinthians 3:3-5: "You are a letter from Christ, written not with ink (diakonedeisa) but with the Spirit (pneumati) of the living God; not on tablets of stone but on the tablets of the flesh (sarkinais). And since we have this conviction toward God through Christ (dia tou Christou), we are not self-satisfied (hikanoi) as if we were of ourselves, but our satisfaction (hikanotes) comes from God."   "Diakonedeisa" ( διακονηθε ῖ σα ) means "through our service." To serve means to establish others as people of God. The Spirit of the living God signifies Immanuel. It becomes the living Logos within the heart of the saint right now. It is not believing in Jesus Christ of 2,000 years ago, but being united with the Logos, who is alive in the hearts of the saints now. Pneumati means the Holy Spirit. Sarkinais means flesh (fresh).   Dia tou Christou means "through Christ." When one enters into Christ, a...
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(3) The Predestination and Election of Christ Before Creation

  (3) The Predestination and Election of Christ Before Creation   The part regarding the predestination of Christ before the creation of the world can be understood through the content of John 1:1-2. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." There is a difference in translation between the Greek Bible and the Revised Korean Version. Translated again, Ἐ ν ἀ ρχ ῇ ἦ ν ὁ λ ό γο ς , κα ὶ ὁ λ ό γο ς ἦ ν πρ ὸς τ ὸ ν θε ό ν , κα ὶ θε ὸς ἦ ν ὁ λ ό γο ς .   "And in Him who was first was Christ the Word, and Christ the Word was with God, and God became Christ the Word." (Greek translation) Chapter 1, verses 1-2 are divided into three parts. First, in "In Him who was first was Christ the Word," the First One is God the Father. And in the third part, "God became Christ the Word" — in other words, it means that God became Christ. This is also evidenced in Philippians 2:6: "He, being in ...
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