[Mt 15:21-28]
21. Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
22. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!  My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.”
23. Jesus did not answer a word.  So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
24. He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
25. The woman came and knelt before him.  “Lord, help me!” she said.
26. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”
27. “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
28. Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith!  Your request is granted.”  And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

In today’s message, a Canaanite woman comes out.  A Canaanite woman is a gentile woman.  She was a gentile woman, means her position was one to (not) receive the word of Christ.  How was she able to receive the blessing and grace from Jesus Christ?  We are going to look at how this woman who was unworthy to receive these, received this grace of Jesus.

This woman surprised Jesus.  She surprised and shocked Jesus very much.  We are going to see how people are surprised when things exceeded the ordinary.  She exceeded ordinary meaning she was extraordinary.  In this path of faith, being touched and shocked is very important.  We are able to see that true faith is moving and touching someone by being extraordinary.

By looking at this story of how this woman greatly touched Jesus, we wish that we will also be able to touch and move Jesus.  It is so true how this gentile woman who was not in a position to receive blessings was able to receive blessing is something extraordinary.

The story goes on like this.  She comes to Jesus and begs him to heal her sick daughter.  He refuses her here.  Then she clings onto him and continues to earnestly beg him.  However, he still earnestly rejected her.  There is a reason why he rejected.

As we walk this path of faith, we also experience this.  There are times when we can feel that when we ask something from our Lord, it seems as if he is rejecting us.  We hope that we will be the ones that at this time and we realize that there is a reason why we are being rejected.

This is a story of a very deep world.  Jesus replies to this woman and says that it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.  In other words, he is treating this woman as a dog.  To this woman who was begging for mercy, Jesus is spitting out such harsh words.  He is saying that I cannot give it to dogs.

This is the greatest test.  This is insult.  Usually, at this point, so many people collapse.  They are not willing to stand in the position where they are insulted.  We have to overcome and be victorious at this moment.  In here, there is a truth and a paradox.  Why did he do this?  This is a story of a very deep world.  This is a paradoxical truth.

Truthfully, when you look at it, man first turned away from God.  Because we first threw away, it will truly be recovered when we turn toward Him even when the Lord turns us away.  This Canaanite woman was able to recover this.

It is true how we don’t deserve to say that everything we ask for should be granted.  Even when we are thrown away and rejected we need the kind of faith that never changes.  We should never lose our faith.  We need to realize the truth that this is when a new world opens up.  When God throws away and keeps a long distance from us and insults us to put us into suffering, we have to remember this is a position to be blessed.

What is inspiration?  How are we touched and moved?  It does not come from the ordinary.  This woman, when insulted, was able to deeply move Jesus.  This woman can be greatly compared to the Jews.

How were the Jews?  The Lord truly loved them so much.  Although he loved them, they rejected him and did not love him.  But this Canaanite woman was that although rejected and insulted by the Lord, loved and followed him.  This is a very surprising and astonishing event.

There are times when we are at church and we experience these kinds of things.  Let us be the ones to experience greater faith and therefore greater blessings.  As we live on, we have to overcome and pass through these insults and experiences.  For us to be true gold, we need to go through the fiery furnace to be refined as true gold.

By looking at this Canaanite woman, we can see what kind of faith we should truly have.  We are not supposed to see that we are supposed to and qualified to receive love.  This woman said yes Lord, am I truly qualified to receive the precious love?  No I am not.  She was in this very humble position.  But the Jews thought they were qualified to receive love.  They were in this very arrogant position.

Instead thinking that I am qualified to receive the love, when we think like this Canaanite woman who thinks that I don’t deserve anything, when we stand in this humble position, we are truly able to gain and receive salvation.  This woman said yes Lord, I am a dog, but don’t dogs eat crumbs from the table of the owner.

This place should be the starting point of our faith.  She was a woman who went so low receiving these insults.  However, at that moment, this woman said that I deserve to receive this kind of insult.  I deserve and I should start from the very bottom.  If our faith starts at this starting point, we will truly succeed and win.  If we start at this point, there is nothing we cannot do.  If we start our faith at this position, God will truly be surprised.

There is a purpose and motive of Jesus about why Jesus asks her this question.  To this woman who asked to give me blessing, there is a reason why Jesus is asking are you truly qualified to receive this blessing?

It is true that we do not receive blessing because we are qualified to receive the blessing.  We do not deserve this blessing and we are not qualified.  Although we are not qualified, God gave us this blessing through His grace.  We need to remember this.  When we forget this, that is when we become arrogant and fall astray.  When we think that I don’t deserve, that is when we can start my faith right and succeed.

Actually, this Canaanite could have replied differently.  She could have said, how could you have said such a thing?  How could you have said such a thing to me who is asking for salvation?  You are not even the true Christ.  She could have just said this and left.  This is such great insult for a person.  She could have said what kind of Christ is like this?  If he is the true Christ, he is supposed to give love, how can he give such great insult?  She could have thought like this.

Most people are tested and fall at this point.  If this woman had fallen at this point, she would not have been remembered and loved as the woman of faith.  This woman stood her faith up and became absolutely one with the heart of Christ.

This woman was a gentile.  There were chosen people to receive love first.  There were people who were supposed to be called first.  Although there are other people who are supposed to receive the love and called first, I am at this point right now.  Although I am a gentile, I was able to stand at this point and be at this place.  Although my life was so low and undeserving of any blessing or grace, I have come to this place.  This woman knew this.

Truthfully, we are also like this.  There are so many people who are prepared before us and chosen before us.  There are so many people who are better than we are.  Actually, it is true how these first prepared and chosen ones to receive more blessing and love.  But even so, I was stood up at this position.

This woman knew the heart of Jesus.  She knows that this love was the love she was not supposed to receive first.  This woman truly knew the heart of Jesus the way he wanted to give love to the chosen people first.

When we have this heart of this woman who understood the heart of Christ, this new world of blessing and grace will be opened up to us.  Whenever we are insulted, let us be like this great woman who says that is right, I deserve this kind of insult.  In this woman we are able to find the way of Jesus.  In this woman who truly lowered herself, we find the way of Jesus.

Truthfully, didn’t the Lord lower himself?  This sinless Jesus lowered himself greatly.  Is it so hard for us as sinners to lower ourselves?  In this humbleness of this woman, we are able to see the humbleness of Christ.

In the walk of faith, this kind of situation always comes to us.  We need to become victorious and win with great faith at this moment.  Even when we looked at Jacob, the reality of the blessed one was the desert.  The reality of the blessed one was in the desert sleeping on the stone pillow.  It was the position of being thrown away and rejected.  At that point, Jacob was able to meet God.

For us, although outwardly, it looks like the position of being thrown away, let us look at the paradoxical situation where we will be able to meet God.  There are times when we feel, why do we have to walk this kind of path?  Let us always remember that through this kind of process of going through the fiery furnace, the true gold will come out.

Although all the chosen people failed, this Canaanite woman was able to become victorious.  It is because the starting point of this woman’s faith was this humble position.  When Jesus said is it not right for me to do this?  She said yes Lord.  Jesus said, is it not right for me to treat you like a dog?  The woman said yes Lord.

We need to have this kind of faith.  We need to say yes Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master’s table.  If we have this kind of faith and start this faith at this lowest level where we can’t go lower, then we have nothing to fear.

To the ones who start this faith at this level, Satan cannot touch and make this kind of person fall.  I wish that we will all have faith like this Canaanite woman and become victorious in faith.  I wish that we will have this great faith in this Canaanite woman that surprised Jesus.  Let us be the ones who always remember this great and amazing story of faith.

[Mt 5:10-12]
10. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Kingdom of God  What is righteousness here?  Last time we said what righteousness is.  Righteousness is the Kingdom of God.  So this is saying, those who work for the Kingdom of God.  Those who work for the Kingdom of God are blessed.  The Kingdom of God is so important.  The conclusion of the OT is Jesus Christ.  Then what is the conclusion of the NT?  The conclusion of the NT is the Kingdom of God.  That is why Jesus said in the Lord’s prayer, “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  Jesus taught us to pray that it can happen on earth.  So Jesus is not teaching us to escape reality.  Our faith should not only focus on the place that we go after death.  But instead, Jesus said pray so that it will happen on earth.  If we are truly the disciples of Christ, if we are truly true servants of God, then we should work for the Kingdom of God.  So here it is saying, those who work for the Kingdom of God.

Persecution  But in that process, working for the Kingdom of God, you will be persecuted.  But he said, if you are persecuted, you are blessed.  He said, when you are persecuted, rejoice and be glad.  This is very unfamiliar and strange.  Who would ever rejoice and be glad during persecution?  But Jesus taught us, rejoice and be glad when you receive persecution ? that it happens: you will be persecuted.  If you live for the good in this evil world, you will be persecuted.  You are persecuted because you are living the opposite life.  So rejoice and be glad when you are persecuted; because the reason you receiving persecution is because you are the child of God; that proves and testifies that you are the worker of the Kingdom of God.  So rejoice and be glad.  This is so important in faith.  When you receive persecution, don’t be sad.  When you receive persecution, then you should think, yes now I am being distinguished.  Now I am being distinguished from the world.  Yes it is true, those who do great work always experience hardship and trials.  There are times when we need to leave and give up the small things.  So do not be sad when persecuted, but remember this message.

God With Us  This is the eighth blessing, this last blessing is truly the greatest blessing of all blessings.  This is very paradoxical.  When are receive persecution, when we are persecuted, God will be with us.  God will not abandon us.  God is the one who is always with us, with our sorrows.

Do you know the Christian painting of footsteps on the sand?  The man was walking praying to the Lord to walk with him.  At first there were two pairs of footsteps.  And then walking that way, going on, he was so tired, so weary.  Then going on, there was only one pair of footsteps.  This man prayed to God again: ‘Lord why are you doing this to me?  When I am having a hard time you are supposed to be with me, why are you letting me walk alone?’  Then the Lord said to him, “those were the times I carried you.”  So that one pair of footsteps were not the man’s ? they were God’s.

Suffering  When you walk this path of faith, there are times when you face difficulty and it is hard for you, but remember that more than you are feeling difficult and sad, God feels that more than you.  And you need to remember that the suffering will not just end at suffering.  Jesus said, great is your reward.  There is a greater reward; you cannot even compare how much greater the reward will be.  When we are among hardships and trials, we are able to have greater hope.  God gives us greater hope.  I wish that we will be able to remember this.

Sincerity  And actually, the one who experiences persecution, and the church that experiences persecution, they are deeper.  They have faith, and they are more sincere.  Because there is self-examination, self-reflection, looking at myself, how I walk that path, there is more exact and thorough self-identity.  That is why Jesus said, do not be afraid when you are persecuted.

Sovereign God  Jesus said, even one sparrow falling to the ground from the sky, cannot fall without the permission of God.  This means that God leads us and guides us in this life, and He will take care of our spirit, He will take care of our future.  It is that God will reign, and God will control.  He will reign.  So when you receive persecution, do not run away, but instead, fix it with sincerity and earnesty, and go on.  I wish that when you receive persecution, your heart will not dry up, and your heart will not grow hardened and harsh.  Jesus said, in the same way, the prophets before you were also persecuted.  We must remember this, and we must go on with gratitude.  Also, through suffering and hardship and trials, we are able to experience the heart of God better.

[2Co 1:4-6]
4. who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
5. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
6. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

It is recorded that through distress, we will be able to experience the greater comfort of Christ.  We will be able to understand better the suffering of Christ.  We will truly be able to understand and know Christ.

There is a greatness in the teaching of Christianity.  Christianity is a religion that does not avoid suffering.  The meaning of suffering is different.  Christianity is not a religion that looks at suffering as just suffering.  Christianity looks at suffering with the eyes that the world cannot see,  the meaning that the world cannot know.  When we experience suffering, we will be able to experience deeper the love and the way of Christ as we walk this way of the Cross.

This is such a paradox, that we will be able to see love through suffering.  This is a paradox.  So what is suffering?  This is so precious.  This is so precious and valuable.  So when we receive suffering and persecution, we shouldn’t become harsh.  We shouldn’t let our hearts dry up, we shouldn’t hate.  I wish that we will be the ones who face this and rejoice and be glad.  Until now, always, the history of good was always persecuted.  But no persecution was able to hinder us.  So just like that, persecution does not hinder, does not stop my faith.  Peter said…

[1Pe 3:13-16]
13. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?
14. But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.  “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.”
15. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect,
16. keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

[1Pe 4:14] If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Apostle Peter said this.  In this message, the disciple of Jesus, the words of the Sermon on the Mount is here.  The Word that touches our heart, from the Sermon on the Mount, is here also, in this verse.  The disciples lived on remembering how touched they were.  It is said here that if you suffer and if you are insulted, and if you are persecuted, then you are blessed, because the glory of God is with you.  So I wish that you will remember that persecution is something precious.  The one who receives persecution has deep realization.  So do not fear persecution.  Because if you are persecuted a lot, then later in the days of glory, all those persecutions will be greater glory.  And also we need to remember that we should not persecute others.  Just because there is difference in faith, we should not persecute nor mistreat each other in any way.

[Ac 5:33-39]
33. When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.
34. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
35. Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.
36. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him.  He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
37. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt.  He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
38. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone!  Let them go!  For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
39. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

This records the story.  We should not persecute others, we should not judge others.  Because we need to live on with the attitude, leaving all judgment up to God.  So I wish that you will not persecute others.  Now we finished the eighth blessing that Jesus taught.  This is very strange to you.  This is not familiar to us.  But when this becomes familiar to us, we have become people of the Kingdom of God.  When this becomes familiar to us, then we will find peace inside, we will feel joy and happiness.  I wish that you will get to be familiar with these eight blessings, and will be able to reveal the glory of God.  I wish that you will be able to experience this amazing world.

[Mt 5:9] Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

It says here, peace. In Hebrew, “peace” is “shalom”.  You have heard of this word before.  That means peace.

The Israelites truly longed and desired for peace.  If you look at the Old Testament, the Israelites lived among so many difficulties and hardships.  So many other countries came and took over their country; they lived in so much great difficulty.  That is why the greatest hope of the Israelites was peace.  But that is why they truly longed for and desired peace, and asked God for peace.  So they truly truly wanted and longed for peace.  That is why their greeting was “shalom” ? that is, “peace.”  That is how much they waited for that world.

So what kind of God is God?  God is the God who brings them the peace.

Old Testament:

[Ps 29:11] The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.

[Ps 85:8] I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints – but let them not return to folly.

[Isa 9:6] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

[Jer 14:13] But I said, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, the prophets keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine.  Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place.’ ”

[Jer 33:6] “‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.

New Testament:

[Ro 15:33] The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

[Ro 16:20] The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

[2Co 13:11] Finally, brothers, good-by.  Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace.  And the God of love and peace will be with you.

[Php 4:9] Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.

[1Th 5:23] May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[Heb 13:20] May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,

We will look at one in the OT, and one in the NT.

[Ps 29:11] The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.

[Ro 15:33] The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

God Will Recover Peace  So how is God?  God will truly one day recover this frightening world.  He will recover the world of peace.  This is what the Bible records, and what the believers believe in.

Sons of God Work for Peace  The seventh blessing here is telling us that the true sons of God are the ones who work for this kind of peace.  It says here, the peacemakers.  The peacemakers are the sons of God.  In this world of hatred and jealousy and fighting and war, those who live and work for peace ? the true people of God are the ones who work for this peace, in this kind of world.  Those are the ones who will truly be blessed.  And truly they will be the ones to gather those kinds of crops.

[Jas 3:18] Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Natural Law  They will harvest the fruits of righteousness.  If you live for peace, then truly you will be able to harvest crops of righteousness.  What is peace?  Peace is living according to the natural law.  If you live the opposite way, living according to the unnatural law, then you won’t find peace.  So how is living according to the natural law?  The natural law is living according to the truth, the Word of God.  When we live in the Word of God, with the Word of God, we can truly find peace.

Original Peace  So Jesus gave us this kind of peace.  Jesus said that the peace I give you is different from the peace of the world.  The peace of this world is temporary peace that you get through violence.  You press and press and get temporary peace, this is the peace of the world, and it is not the peace that Jesus gives.  The peace that Jesus was talking about, the peace that he gives us, is the original peace that was there from the beginning ? the Love of God.  So this is how Jesus lived; he showed this world of peace and this world of love.  Jesus is the one who sacrificed himself, and became the bridge in between God and us, so that we can find peace, and become harmonious with God.  He became the bridge.

[Ro 5:10,11]
10. For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
11. Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Sons of God are the Bridge  Because of our sins, we became like the enemies of God; we were living among sin.  But Jesus was the one who came and allowed peace and reconciliation between us and God.  That is why he is the true son of God.  Because he sacrificed his own self, we received peace and reconciliation.  So what kind of person is the true son of God?  We should also live as the bridge to this world, bringing peace to this world.  So when we fight, that is when peace is broken.  So we need to recover and restore the relationships.  The ones who work to recover and restore the relationships, for peace and for reconciliation, these kinds of people are the sons of God.  Wherever we go, we need to be the ones bringing reconciliation.  We need to be the ones introducing and proclaiming the peace of God, the peace that the Lord gave us.

Satan Breaks Peace  Then where does the breaking of peace start?  Where is the origin of broken peace? Satan breaks and shatters the peace.

[Jn 8:44] You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.  When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Lies  What does the devil do?  What does satan do?  He makes lies.  He is a liar.  Why lie?  Because when you lie, your relationship is cut off.  The purpose of lying is estrangement.  Satan came and lied, and that is how he cut off the relationship that God had with man.  What does God really hate?  He hates lies, and he hates estrangement, and dissension.

[Pr 6:16-19]
16. There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:
17. haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18. a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19. a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Here it lists the things that the Lord hates.  We will look at all of them, because we should not do anything that the Lord hates.

Dissension  Here the last one is dissension.  So God hates dissension.  Dissension is splitting apart.  That is opposite of peace.  So when Satan enters us, and when Satan is with us, we begin to hate each other, and the relationship is all broken up.  That is dissension.  If you look behind dissension, there is always lies.  That is how relationships break apart.

Sons of Light  So how are the Sons of God and the sons of Satan ? the Sons of Light and the sons of darkness ? distinguished?  Among the Sons of the Light, there is no dissension.  Among the true children of God, there is no dissension.  They don’t lie.  Satan always makes you lie, and splits the relationship apart.  We need to know this.  Because we are the Sons of Light, we need to live the opposite way.  We shouldn’t break apart.  We shouldn’t split apart.  But instead, go and become the instrument to unite everything.

Holy Spirit  When the Holy Spirit is among us, it is possible.  This is the power of the Holy Spirit.  In a church is the power of the Holy Spirit.  That is why we all open our hearts and lower ourselves and listen to others, and there is peace.  Jesus lowered himself, he showed himself lowering.  So when we truly lower ourselves, and when we truly serve one another, then we will find true peace.  But if you do the opposite, if you are arrogant, and instead of trying to listen you only say what you want to, and become like this, then peace will break apart.  We should truly be the peacemakers.  And I wish that by doing so, we will truly be blessed, being called the Sons of God.

[Mt 5:8] Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Verse 8. It is said here “blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.”  It is said here that the pure in heart will be able to see God.  How can a man see God?  How can we see God, who is so fearful.  We should be able to see God.  Seeing God is something to fear, but how are we able to see Him?  Jesus said here that when you have a pure heart, then you will be able to see God.

[Ps 11:7] For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face.

[Ps 24:4-6]
4. He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
5. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior.
6. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Selah

[Ps 73:1] Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

These also record this message.  Psalm 11:7  It is said here that upright men will see his face.  It is said here that upright men, men with pure hearts, will be able to see God.

Pure Heart  What is chastity, what is having a pure heart?  Purity, chastity, the heart that is pure: it is a heart that is clean, not mixed with any evil.  It is not a dark and gloomy heart; it is a very bright heart.  What is cleanness?  This is very important.

In the Bible, whenever people gave offering and sacrificed to God, they always washed and cleaned them before.  So the most important thing about an offering is being clean; the cleanness.  If it is not clean, if it is dirty, it is not used as an offering.
So even for us, it is important for us to be clean.  In the Bible they gave doves as offering and sacrifice.  Doves represent and symbolize purity.  So it is very important for us to give a pure offering.  Our offering, our sacrifice, is our life.  We need to focus on our life being clean and pure.  So it is very important for us to try very hard not to become filthy.

Becoming Clean  How can we be clean?  We want to be clean, but how?  We became filthy because of sin.  How can we wash away, how can we be clean of sin?  And how can we have our sins forgiven?  The Bible gives us the answer, the solution.  When we believe in God, we will be forgiven.  The Bible tells us that by believing in Jesus, we will have our sins washed away.  So no matter how hard and harsh and how dirty our sins are, by believing in Jesus we can be forgiven, and we can have our sins washed away.

[Isa 1:18] “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord.  “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

Believing is Important  God said, even if our sins are dark and red as scarlet and crimson, it will be like snow.  Believing in this is important.  Believing in this, believing that because I believe in Jesus my sins are forgiven, believing in this is very important.

Faith  So what is faith?  We say that through faith we gain salvation.  Through faith our sins are forgiven.  What is this faith?  It is very important for us to know what this faith is.  Faith is not just believing, that which we commonly think about.  We are not talking about believing, as in “I believe in God. I believe in the thing that is believable.”  This is not the faith that we are talking about right now.  This faith is about faith in salvation, not the believing that we just mentioned.

The faith that the Bible is teaching us has a deeper meaning.  Although I am a sinner, God loved me, and He accepted me.  Acknowledging this; believing and accepting this is faith.

This is not just talking about simply, believing and I have faith.  This doesn’t say, I believed and that is why God saved me, that is not what it is talking about, conditionally like that.  Whether I believed or not, God first came to me and He loved me.  Even though I was a sinner, God came to me.  Although I am a sinner, even though I am a sinner, God forgave me. We have to know this.  When we live accepting this, believing in this, is faith.

[1Co 13:12] Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Knowing God Loves Me  It tells us here that before I knew about God, God knew about me.  Before I loved God, God first loved me.  I know that God loved me, and God knew me.  Me knowing this is faith.  How can we have a perfect relationship with God?  When I know that God loves me, and I love God, having this kind of love gives us perfect relationship.

Love of God Entering  So how can we see God?  When we accept the love of God, we can see God.  When that love enters us, the darkness inside us fades.  When the love enters us, the sins inside of us get blotted out.

It is just like when light shines on mold and mildew, they disappear and fall off.  Just like that we have sin and evil inside of us.  But when we open up our hearts and allow the light of love to shine inside of us, then the sins inside will fall away like this.

When the love of God enters us, we are able to have that perfect relationship with God.  We are able to feel the love of God.  So knowing about, getting to know, that love of God, that endlessly giving love of God, is being able to see God.

Lawful Religion  So this is how Christianity is different from any other religion.  Any other religion in this world teaches Law.  They have a relationship, saying, if you do this then you will receive that.  It is like this: if you do this, then this sin will be taken out.  If you do that, then that sin will be taken out.

Burden  That is why there are so many laws to obey.  That is why all those laws pile up and become heavy, and they press down on the people.  So the laws in the Old Testament were like that.

The laws were over 600.  So the religious leaders had so many laws like this that they had to obey ? over 600; so they must have been so weary.  If I obey this then I break that.  We only have one body, but 600 laws.  So as time passes, those laws will pile up and become so heavy.  That is why Jesus said, ‘those who are weary and burdened, come to me.’

[Mt 11:28] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

So many laws of religion made so many people tired, weary and burdened.  Finally because they couldn’t obey so many laws, they sinned.  Going on, they had no way to wash away so many sins; it became harder.  How can we unload this heavy load?

Not By Law  Jesus tells us that these cannot be unloaded only with Law.  A human cannot take away all those great sins all by his own power and method.

Through God’s Love  Jesus taught us that we are able to get rid of these, unload all of these, only through the grace and love of God.  With the love of God, God forgave us, that is why we are able to restore and recover back to our original relationship.  It is not through our own merit or work.  So the crucifixion of Jesus on the Cross shows the love of God.  We are able to get rid of all our sins only through the love of Christ, the way he carries all our sins, for us, and he forgave all our sins.

[Jn 3:16] “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Is it a Condition?  It is said here that if we believe in Jesus, we will be saved.  If we believe, then we will be saved.  What does this mean?  Pastor David worried and worried over this verse for 1-2 years.  If you believe, you will be saved; does that mean it is a condition?  If you believe, then you will be saved; is this a condition just like one of the laws again?  Because of this, Pastor David worried and worried so much.  So he prayed so much about this. One day, God told him.

Revelations  It is said that the revelation from God, when you receive revelation from God, it is like lightning.  One short fast instant like lightning ? just like that it shines for one second.  So something that he reads so much about for so long; in one instant God taught him.  This solved the essential problem.

So this Word, “if you believe in Jesus, you will be saved.”  This is true, because if you don’t believe in Jesus you won’t be saved.  This is true.  So this Word is not false; it is true.

Not a Condition  But it is still not a condition.  What kind of Word, what kind of message is this?  This means: because God so loved the world, He gave his one and only son; He gave his one and only son because He loved the world this much; so know and understand this love of redemption, this love of atonement, lowering and lowering Himself.  When you know this love, when you realize this love, you will be electrified.  You will be touched. Then all your sins will fall away.

So this means ? this is telling us ? to know this love, to realize this love.  This is telling us to realize how much God forgives you, how much God loves you.  This is faith.  When we realize this love, the sins inside of us will disappear.  When we realize this love, we will see God.  We are able to recover and restore the original relationship we were supposed to have a long time ago.  When we open our hearts, and when we accept and receive that, then we experience God.

Seeing God is Experiencing Love  So seeing God, this means “love.”  What is knowing God?  That is love.  Remember before 1Corinthians 13:12, it is recorded: although now we only see unclearly as in a reflection in a mirror, we only know a part of it; but then later on we will know clearly, just as He knows me.  So the mirror that is recorded here; the mirror a long time ago was very vague and unclear.  It is not today’s mirror.  Today’s mirror is very clear.  So it is said here that we will know God, we will see God.  This means that we will know the love, and we will see the love.  We will know the love of God.  So knowing, the greatest knowledge of all knowledge is love, knowing love.

[Php 3:8] What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

It is telling us here that knowing Christ Jesus is the highest, the most noble.  What is knowledge?  This noble knowledge is the love of God.

Pure in Heart Will See God  It is said here that the pure in heart will see God, this means experiencing the love of God.  I wish that we will be the ones who become pure and clean inside, with the heart of God, and experiencing this love, seeing God.  So being able to see God is a blessing.  This is the sixth blessing.  That is seeing God.  This is telling us: those who see God are blessed.  I wish that you will be the ones who will be able to see God.  I wish that you will truly be able to experience the true God of love.  And by doing so, I wish that you will truly be purified.

[Mt 5:7] Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

This blessing is about mercy.  Mercy is like benevolence.  This is the heart of love.  Do not treat others with harsh hearts.  He said, be merciful, then you will be shown mercy from God.

Show Mercy to Receive Mercy  If you do not want to be judged by God, then live on showing mercy to others, to many people.  We received love and grace from God.  Then we have the responsibility to give love and grace to others.  But if we judge and criticize others, wouldn’t God also judge and criticize us?

Attitude of a Disciple  In this world, there are people who are mean to others, who give others a hard time.  The heart of the people of God is the heart that shows mercy and warmth to others.  Not giving a hard time to others, but giving love.  Then our hearts will be peaceful.  This message, this Sermon on the Mount, is what Jesus taught his disciples.  He is teaching us the heart that the heart and attitude and lifestyle that a disciple should have.  So we should live on showing warmth and mercy and benevolence to others.

Story of Abraham’s Servant  In the Old Testament, there is an ancestor of faith named Abraham.  His son was named Isaac.  There is a story of looking for a bride for Isaac.  Abraham tells his servant to go out and look for a bride for his son.  The servant is a great servant…
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Waiting at the Well  He goes to a well, and waits for the first woman who comes to the well.  There he prays to God, saying if there is a woman who comes giving water to me and my camels, I will know she is the one whom you sent.

Rebekah  The first woman’s name is Rebekah.  You have heard this name.  A lot of Americans have this name.  She is the name of Abraham’s daughter in law, a great person. She came to draw water.

Drawing Water  A long time ago, you did not turn on a faucet, but drew up water down a long well.  Then the servant asked if he could have water.  As we said before, the Palestine area was where water was so hard to come by, do you do not just give water to someone who asks.

Rebekah Shows Mercy  But Rebekah just gives water.  The prayer of the servant was that she should also give water to his camels.  Then it is so difficult to even give water to humans, but she just looked at the camels, and without being asked, she just gave them all a drink.  And he had ten camels. It must have been so difficult giving them all water.

Servant Chooses Rebekah  Then the servant said, “thank you Lord,” and chooses this great woman as daughter-in-law of Abraham ? the great ancestor of faith.  Rebekah became the daughter-in-law of this great man.  The heart of this woman is the heart of love.  This heart is the heart of serving, a warm heart.  We need to have this kind of heart.  God truly wants us to have this kind of heart.

[Mt 9:13] But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

[Mk 12:33] To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

So God wants mercy.  Mercy is greater than sacrifice.  This is love for others, for your neighbors; this is greater than sacrifice.  This is the living sacrifice that we should give Him.  Treating each other with love is greater than any sacrifice that we could give to God.

Don’t Live the Same  A true person of God lives with this kind of heart.  We must live with this heart of love.  Then we will be shown mercy.  Coming to church, you are not supposed to live continuously living the same lifestyle, fighting and arguing, the way you did in the past.  You are not supposed to hurt others’ hearts the way you did in the past.  It says to love your neighbors as yourself.  Each one of you treats yourself as so precious.  You know how precious yourself is.  So we must also treat each other like that, preciously.  Jesus is saying, show love, then you will receive love.

[Mt 25:31-46]
31. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.
32. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
35. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
36. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37. “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38. When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
39. When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40. “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
41. “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
43. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44. “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45. “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46. “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

This is the parable of judgment, the end.  At the end of days, the Shepherd will come and separate/divide the goats and the lambs.  On the right he will put the sheep.  On the left he will put the goats.

Sheep on the Right  To the ones on his right, he said you who are blessed by my Father, come take your inheritance, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you invited me, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you visited… the righteous ones will ask, when did we ever do this for you?  Then in v40, the king will reply, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.

Goats on the Left  Then to the ones on his left, he said, depart from me you who are cursed, into the eternal fire, for I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, thirsty and nothing to drink, stranger and you did not invite me, needed clothes and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and did not look after me… then they will answer, when did we not? Then in v45, he said “whatever you did not do for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did not do for me.”  Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.

This is telling us that what we do for our brothers is what we do for Jesus.  He is telling us how important loving our brothers is.  Having a heart of mercy is this important.  What we do for our neighbors, our brothers, is what we do to God.

True People of God  That is why mercy is greater than sacrifice.  If we sacrifice, but do not show love for our brothers and sisters, then it is no use.  God wants love.  God is telling us that love is more important than sacrifice.  So if our sacrifice is not a sacrifice of love, then it is useless.  So I wish that we will have this kind of heart, showing mercy, showing others the heart of God, becoming the true people of God.  And by doing so, I wish that you become true people of God.