I came not to send peace, but a sword
『Think not
that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance
against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in
law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his
own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not
worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of
me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy
of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for
my sake shall find it.』 (Matthew 10: 34-39) The
Bible tells us that Jesus is the king of peace, but that he did not come to
give peace.
『For unto us a child is
born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The
everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 』 In Isaiah 9: 6 Jesus
was called the king of peace. But came to give the sword. Most churches
interpret it as follows: "A family has a mix of believers and unbelievers,
and discord arises." Although not wrong, it is not a 100% assumption that
it is not a complete interpretation. And we can see discord in the church of
believing.
The purpose of Jesus'
coming to this world is to save sinners and redeem them under the law. The words "Jesus
came to give the sword" should be understood in the same context as
"come to save the sinner." Thus, Jesus came to save sinners and
redeem them under the Law.
The Bible calls Jesus
the king of peace, not the peace in the world, but the mediator of peace
between God and sinners. In other words, Jesus came to give peace between God
and his enemies. Jesus is breaking down the enemy relationship and becoming the
king of peace for reconciliation between God and sinners. These words of Jesus
become discord in the world.
Jesus is telling the
Israelites that he "has come to give the sword." The sword is the
word of God. Jesus did not give this word to the Gentiles, but to the
Israelites. At that time, all Israel had the word of God. The discord Jesus
speaks of is not a fight, but a separation.
Jesus took the sins
of the world by dying on the cross and said, "It is finished." In
other words, God's promised word was fulfilled. This statement applies to the
Israelites because God gave them the Law. "God fulfilled the law through
the cross of Jesus."
After Jesus died on
the cross and resurrected in three days, ascended to the throne of God, the
Word of God was fully fulfilled. Then, separation starts from this time. In
other words, they are separated from those who believe in Jesus Christ and
those who do not. This is discord. Thus, Jesus said he came to give the sword.
Although the gospel was preached to the people of Israel by Jesus Christ, most
of the Israelites rejected and even crucified Jesus' words.
A man named Saul
tried to kill the followers of Jesus. By the way, Saul met Jesus at Damascus,
came to believe in the words of Jesus, and was reconciled to God. Thus, by the
word of God, the apostle Paul became an enemy with the world. Today, this is
happening in the church. Many believe in Jesus, but still follow the law (the
law of God's wrath). The Israelites did not understand the meaning of what
Jesus said to the Israelites 2,000 years ago. Today, the meaning of the apostle
Paul's words in the Bible is no different from what many churches do not
understand. People do not know what Jesus means "it is finished." It
is interpreted separately and comfortably. Even though Jesus is telling us that
he has taken away all the sins of the world, people think every day in light of
the law to see if they are sinning and repent daily.
The old man is not
born again. The old man must die (Romans 6: 6). The born again is the old man
dead. When the old man dies, he is born again into the body of the spirit by
the Holy Spirit from heaven. Romans (8: 1) speaks of those born of the Holy
Spirit:
『There is therefore now
no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 』 The
Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians (3: 14-16):『 But their minds were blinded: for
until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old
testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But
even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is
upon their heart. Nevertheless when it
shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 』
The Old Testament
means the law (the law of the wrath of God). The apostle Paul points out that
Jesus came and fulfilled the law, but when people read the Old Testament, they “do
not know what Jesus meant."
Jesus said, "Have your cross." This means that because Jesus suffered on the cross, we do not join in suffering, but that Jesus is to die with Jesus to the world, just as Jesus died on the cross. This means separation from the world. The old man who loves the world must die. In 1 John (2:15) it is said:
Jesus said, "Have your cross." This means that because Jesus suffered on the cross, we do not join in suffering, but that Jesus is to die with Jesus to the world, just as Jesus died on the cross. This means separation from the world. The old man who loves the world must die. In 1 John (2:15) it is said:
『Love not the world,
neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love
of the Father is not in him. 』 It means to die for
the world. This is the meaning of Romans (6: 6).
『Knowing this, that our
old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that
henceforth we should not serve sin. 』
『That ye put off
concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to
the deceitful lusts; 』(Ephesians 4:22), 『Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is
not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.』(Romans 8:7). Galatians(5:19-21) introduces the things of the flesh in
detail.
Only those who
forsake the world can receive the word of God. Those who love this world can
never receive the word of God. If anyone loves the world but thinks he has
received the word of God, he will say, "I know Jesus, but Jesus does not
know you." And those who go to church and keep the law are not God's sword
because they do not believe what Jesus has accomplished. If we are in Jesus
Christ, we do not believe that the law is completed with Jesus. If you do not
believe what Jesus has accomplished, you are separated from Jesus by the sword.
Those who are in Jesus Christ are free from the law and are separate from this
world. The Bible says about such a person.
『We know that whosoever
is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and
that wicked one toucheth him not. 』 (1 John 5:18)
Only those who are dead to the world, to sin, and to law can be reborn by God. "I came to give the sword" is to be separated from the world.
Only those who are dead to the world, to sin, and to law can be reborn by God. "I came to give the sword" is to be separated from the world.
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