[29-11] Jesus who became the bread of life (John 6:47-58)

 

 

 

 

 

         Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇, 259–210 BC) was the first emperor in Chinese history who unified the vast land of China into one.

Although he built a colossal empire at a young age, what he feared most in his life was his death.
He tried in every possible way to overcome death, which no human authority or military power could escape.
And the one method he found for this was a mysterious herb called bullocho (不老草, the herb of eternal youth or elixir of immortality).
He sent his subjects to all corners of the country to search the mountains and seas, and even dispatched envoys to the Three Spirit Mountains in the West Sea, commanding them to obtain the bullocho from the legendary land where immortal beings were said to dwell.

         However, reality was different from the emperor’s desire.
His subjects could not find the herb of eternal youth, and some even deceived the emperor by presenting fake ones.
In the end, Qin Shi Huang believed the words of the fangshi (方士, alchemists) and took mercury (汞) and various minerals and medicinal substances, thinking they were miraculous elixirs for immortality.
But these toxic substances instead harmed his body and shortened his lifespan.

         According to records, he fell ill during an imperial tour of the country and eventually died in 210 BC at the age of 49.
His obsession with avoiding death ended up producing the result of actually shortening his life.

 

 

 

         When we examine the lives of those with the world’s wealth and power in connection with the story of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the truth the Bible proclaims becomes even clearer.

First, Qin Shi Huang, called the first emperor of China, was a figure who held the world’s authority and a vast territory in his hands.
However, despite his attempts to avoid death by searching for the herb of eternal youth, he ultimately ended his life early.
No matter how mighty his army and authority were, he could not stop death.

         Furthermore, Alexander the Great of Macedonia was a man who, at the mere age of his 20s, conquered an unprecedented great empire in Western history.
He established a colossal empire spanning Asia and Europe, but he passed away from illness at the young age of 33.
According to tradition, as he faced death, he left a will saying, “When you conduct my funeral, let my hands be placed outside the coffin. Let the people know that we come empty-handed and go empty-handed.”
This left a profound lesson that even if one gains everything in the world, one must ultimately depart empty-handed.

         King Solomon of Israel was also a figure who enjoyed wisdom and riches.
Silver and gold were as common as stones, and he enjoyed the glory of the world to the fullest, yet he confesses this in Ecclesiastes:
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
He was one who, having experienced all the wealth and pleasures of the world, realized that a life apart from God is ultimately nothing but vanity.

         Even today, there are chaebols, politicians, and global power holders.
They may seem to move the world with their money and power, but in the end, before death and disease, they are all merely weak human beings.
Neither great fortunes nor high authority can stop death.

         In conclusion, this lets us know that the world’s wealth and power may shine for a moment, but they cannot solve the problem of death.
However, the Bible shows us the way to eternal life.
Authority and riches cannot bring us the removal of sin and eternal life, but the removal of sin and eternal life, which are given through faith in the word of the Gospel of the water and the Spirit in Jesus Christ, are eternal.
No matter how wealthy or strong a person may be, they ultimately cannot escape death and will return to a handful of dust.
This is to say that there were such people even among modern individuals who lived in an era close to our own.

         That is to say, even among figures in modern history whom we know well today, there were cases of those who possessed the world’s wealth and power but ultimately could not escape death.

         First, Steve Jobs (1955–2011), the founder of Apple, was an innovator who changed world civilization with products like the iPhone and iPad.
He enjoyed immense wealth and influence, but ultimately succumbed to pancreatic cancer.
His confession, much like his last words, that “in the final moments of life, wealth and fame are of no use,” is a prime example showing that the glory of the world cannot overcome death.

         Also, Michael Jackson (1958–2009), called the ‘King of Pop,’ possessed worldwide fame and enormous wealth, but his inner self was always in a state of anxiety and emptiness.
His life, which ended due to a drug overdose, shows that even if one possesses all the riches and honors of the world, it is all just vanity if one cannot obtain peace of mind and eternal life.

         Princess Diana (1961–1997), who was like a symbol of the British royal family, also received the love and attention of people worldwide, but she could not enjoy true happiness amidst her authority and popularity.
Her life, which ended in a car accident in Paris, proves the fact that the world’s fame and power cannot guarantee life and death.
And even today, billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos dream of eternal life by heading to space or through artificial intelligence and scientific technology.
However, no matter how much humans advance science, they ultimately cannot solve the problem of death.
Their attempts are no different from the ancient Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s wandering in search of the herb of eternal youth.
We must know that true life is not given by science or money, but only from God, and it is realized through revering Him.

 

 

 

         Not just simply people who enjoyed wealth and power, but the stories of those who used that power to try to extend their own lives have been repeated throughout history. However, the result was always the same.

         First, the First Emperor of Qin, in order to avoid death, had the herb of eternal youth sought, and he took countless times the medicine of eternal life and immortality recommended by the fangshi (Daoist alchemists). 
However, that medicine was a poison mixed with mercury, and in the end, it rather shortened his life.
Despite possessing the power that unified the world and immeasurable wealth, he could not extend his life even for a single day.

         Ancient Roman emperors were also the same. Emperors like Nero and Augustus gathered doctors and alchemists and had them search for the medicine of immortality. 
However, their power and wealth could not increase their lives, and rather, they met their deaths due to debauchery and incorrect medicines. 
In the end, the traces of them who struggled to avoid death remain only as names in history.

         Even today, the chaebols and billionaires with wealth and power try to hold onto life with the power of science. 
Calico, founded by the founders of Google, is conducting research with the goal to ‘conquer aging,’ and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is investing in Altos Labs to attempt to extend human lifespan by rejuvenating cells. 
Furthermore, Tesla’s Elon Musk dreams of connecting the human brain with machines through artificial intelligence and brain-implanted chips (Neuralink) to maintain consciousness forever.
However, all these attempts are essentially no different from when the First Emperor of Qin wandered in search of the herb of eternal youth. In the end, it teaches us that death cannot be overcome with money and science.

         Even some of the rich today are obsessed with longevity, receiving top-tier medical care, eating special healthy diets, and even spending money on cryonics. 
It is the dream of having their bodies frozen to hundreds of degrees below zero after death, to be revived in the future. 
But this is merely the futile desire of humans who cannot accept death, and life cannot be held onto again.

         Whether it be the First Emperor of Qin, the Roman emperors, or today’s billionaires, they can never avoid death by their own power. 
However, Jesus Christ was baptized by John, took upon Himself the sins of the world, was crucified on the cross, and shed His blood to eliminate the sins of sinners, thereby granting eternal cleansing of sin and eternal life to those who believe. 
The power and wealth of the world cannot prevent death, but he who believes in the righteousness of Christ receives the eternal cleansing of sin, resurrects from death, and will live forever in the Kingdom of God. 
This is the true hope and the truth that we must hold onto.

 

 

 

         The reason Jesus came to this earth was to wash away the sins of the world by being baptized by John. 

As the true Savior who came among humanity, Jesus Christ came in the body of a man to give His own flesh and blood. 
Therefore, by receiving baptism from John, Jesus took over all the sins of the world at once, and after resolving that sin on the cross by shedding His precious blood, He resurrected from the dead.
Through this, Jesus became the Savior of mankind, and those who eat His flesh and drink His blood by faith have obtained salvation through that faith.

         Jesus being baptized by John was for the purpose of having the sins of the world transferred to Him to wash them away, and His receiving judgment on the cross in our place was the complete work to accomplish the salvation of sinners. 
The Lord’s words, “For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed” (John 6:55), point to the ministry of Jesus who washed away our sins through baptism and bore the judgment of that sin with the blood of the cross. 
The bread of the world gives life only to the flesh, but the baptism Jesus received and the blood He shed are the true food for washing away our sins and giving eternal life.

         This baptism was not a simple ritual but a decisive event within God’s plan to accomplish salvation. 
By being baptized by John and washing away the sins of the world, Jesus gave us true peace and the cleansing of sin, and on the cross, He received the judgment of sin in our place and completed salvation. 
For this reason, when He broke the bread at the Last Supper and said, “This is my body given for you,” it was because He had already taken the sins of the world upon His body through the baptism.

         However, many people until now have believed only in the Jesus who shed His blood on the cross as their Savior. 
If salvation were completed by the cross alone, their sins should have disappeared from their hearts, but in reality, they have lived as sinners with sin still remaining. 
The reason for this is that they did not know the event of Jesus’ baptism by John and its meaning.
But if we know and believe why Jesus’ baptism was necessary, we come to realize the fact that our sins were already washed away at once in the event of the baptism. 
Therefore, the faith that knows the ministry of Jesus, who was baptized by John and had the sins of the world transferred to Him, is very important.

         This is precisely the reason why Jesus said to Nicodemus, “You must be born again of water and the Spirit.”
Jesus, by washing away sins through baptism and by shedding His blood, dying on the cross, and resurrecting, intended to give believers the removal of sins and new life.

         The Bible says, “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).
That Jesus was baptized by John, had the sins of the world transferred to Him and washed them away, and received the judgment for those sins on the cross in our place, was God’s plan of salvation to give all of us the removal of sins and new life.
Therefore, what is truly necessary while we live is the act of believing in this ministry of salvation. 
This word of truth—that Jesus was baptized by John, washed away the sins of the world at once, and saved us by shedding His blood on the cross—is the gospel of life that is absolutely necessary for us.

 

 

 

         At first, Jesus fed bread to the people who were physically hungry.

However, to the people who followed Jesus after eating that bread, Jesus said, “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life,” and taught them what food they should truly pursue.
When the people asked, “Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent’” (John 6:28–29).
Jesus became the Savior who took upon Himself and washed away the sins of the world by being baptized by John, and by believing in that Lord, we have become able to eat spiritual food in our hearts.

         The Jews again asked Jesus, “Then what sign will You perform so that we may see and believe You? What work will You do?”
To this, Jesus said, “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me” (John 6:57).
However, the people did not understand this word, “So he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.” and the Jews were very perplexed.
They thought, “Jesus, how can we possibly eat Your flesh and drink Your blood?” trying to understand His words only in a physical dimension.

         While eating physical bread is one way of eating, accepting with a heart of faith the fact that Jesus was baptized by John and transferred the sins of the world is also something that can be called eating the bread by faith.
However, people did not well understand what it means to eat in their hearts this word of truth of the gospel—that Jesus, by being baptized by John, washed away the sins of the world.
In this way, they did not know the secret of taking as food by faith the true food of life that Jesus spoke of—namely, the gospel of the water and the Spirit.

         We must, by faith, make it the food for our hearts that Jesus was baptized by John and took upon Himself the sins of the world. 
Accepting by faith the fact that Jesus, through the baptism He received from John, took upon Himself and washed away at once the sins in our hearts, is like a person eating food in their heart. We are beings who can eat not only the visible food for the flesh, which is bread, but also the food of faith with our hearts. 
Therefore, training is necessary to eat in our hearts the food of life, which is the removal of sins.

         In Hebrews, it says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). This verse is saying that we can obtain salvation through the faith that believes the fact that Jesus washed away the sins of the world by being baptized by John. This kind of faith is the faith that eats the food of life. 
The faith that believes the fact that Jesus was baptized by John to take upon Himself the sins of the world, was crucified on the cross, and received the judgment for our sins in our place to save us, is precisely the faith that eats the food of life.

         By believing in our hearts all that Jesus has done for us, we can receive both the washing away of sins and salvation from the judgment of sin. The heart that believes the words Jesus spoke is, on a spiritual level, like ‘eating.’ 
That is why Jesus also said, “This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:58), “I am the bread of life” (John 6:48), and “and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world” (John 6:51).

         In the New Testament era, because Jesus was baptized by John, had the sin of the world transferred to Him, and washed it away, anyone can receive the washing away of their own sin by believing this gospel word of truth. 
Because Jesus bore our sins, He went to the cross, was crucified, shed His blood, and was resurrected from the dead, and by believing this fact, we receive the blessing of becoming children of God.

         Through the faith that believes the word of God, we can eat that word as the food of life for our souls.
The fact that God, in the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, caused the sin of the sinner to be transferred to the sacrifice through the laying on of hands, and the fact that Jesus, in the New Testament era, took upon His own body the sin of the world by being baptized by John, are the same word. 
Therefore, by knowing and believing the fact that Jesus had the sin of the world transferred to Him by being baptized by John, was crucified and shed His blood, was resurrected from the dead, and now gives new life to those who believe, we receive eternal salvation.

         The gospel of salvation to which the Old and New Testaments testify, that is, the gospel word of truth, ultimately points to the truth that Jesus washed away the sin of the world by having it transferred to Him through His baptism by John. 
By believing this word, we receive the washing away of sin in our hearts. 
Through the faith that believes together the word of Jesus’ baptism by John and the word of the blood of the cross, we can be saved from all the sins of the world. 
The basis of the salvation we have received lies in the fact that Jesus washed away the sin of the world by having it transferred to Him through His baptism by John, and that He paid the price for sin by receiving the penalty for our sins in our place with the blood of the cross to give us new life.

         We receive salvation in our hearts by believing the word of truth that Jesus washed away the sin of the world by being baptized by John and shed His blood for us. 
If we do not believe that Jesus took upon Himself our sins by being baptized by John, and instead believe separately only in the fact that He paid the price for our sins by shedding His blood on the cross, we cannot receive the complete removal of sin. 
The purpose for which Jesus Christ came into this world was to save all sinners from the sin of the world, that is, to completely resolve our sin problem for us.

         Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River and had the sin of the world transferred to Him, and thereby He washed away our sins at once. 
Because Jesus washed away the sin of the world by having it transferred to Him through His baptism by John, and went to the cross and shed His blood to perform the work of eliminating our sins, He fulfilled all the righteousness of God according to the word, “for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15).

         Jesus Christ became the One who paid the price for our sins at once by bearing the sin of the world through the baptism He received from John, and by being crucified and shedding His blood. 
The Old Testament prophet Isaiah prophesied, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5). 
The reason Jesus was baptized by John was to become our Savior by having the sin of the world transferred to Him and washing it away, and He was crucified on the cross, receiving in our place the penalty for the sins of His people. 
However, Jesus did not end with death, but as the Savior who was resurrected from the dead, He became the One who gives eternal salvation to those who believe.

         For those who are assured of salvation by faith in the ministry of Jesus’s baptism by John and His shedding of blood on the cross, clear fruits are borne.

         First, they receive the blessing of becoming ones who are saved, having received the washing away of all the sins of the world at once. 
This is because by Jesus having the sin of the world transferred to Him through His baptism by John, even the sins of the past, present, and future were already all washed away. 
Now, those who believe in the baptism Jesus received from John and the blood of the cross as the truth of their salvation are those who have received the true gift of salvation; and because Jesus Christ had the sin of the world transferred to Him and washed it away by being baptized by John, as those who have received the removal of sin by faith, they have become eternally clean (Hebrews 10:10).

         Second, those who have this faith become children of God who are without sin. The relationship with God, which was blocked by sin, is restored, and they become reconciled with God (John 1:12).

         Third, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in their hearts.
In the hearts of those who have received the removal of sin by believing in the gospel of salvation—that is, the word of the gospel of the water and the Spirit—the Holy Spirit comes as a gift and abides with them (Acts 2:38).

         Fourth, they obtain eternal new life. 
Those who have received the removal of sin by believing in the baptism and blood of Jesus are no longer slaves to sin, but become righteous people saved from all sin, who are able to live as such (John 3:16).

         In conclusion, because Jesus had the sin of the world transferred to Him and washed it away by being baptized by John, those who believe this fact can become eternal children of God. 
Indeed, the ministry of the baptism that Jesus received from John, together with the blood of the cross, is the complete ministry of God’s salvation that saves us from sin. 
This grace of salvation is the true salvation that is received only through faith in the word of the gospel of the water and the Spirit.

 

 

 

         The Catholic Church established the foundation for a syncretic religion by enacting the Nicene Creed in AD 325. 

The primary reason they created the Nicene Creed was, first, for the purpose of unifying the people throughout the Roman Empire. 
They sought to utilize the religious device of the Nicene Creed to bind the pagans—who came from various regions and cultures and served different gods—under a single system. 
And through that creed, they created a new, syncretic religion in this world and, through that religion, established a foundation upon which they could enjoy their own power, wealth, and glory.

         However, the system of faith they created was not a doctrine based on the sacrificial system that God had established in the Old Testament. 
Furthermore, it was not a creed that testified to the truth of salvation—that in the New Testament, Jesus Christ had the sin of the world transferred to Him and washed it away when He was baptized by John.
Rather, they changed God’s sacrificial system to create a single, syncretic religion in the world, and in doing so, they served to obscure the Old Testament sacrificial system that God had instituted for the removal of man’s sin. 
Nevertheless, they presented the Nicene Creed as orthodox faith, acted as if they were the ones who had inherited the true faith, and sought to reign over many people.

         The Nicene Creed and the Seven Sacraments created by the Catholics had no connection whatsoever to the truth testified by the Bible—that is, the gospel of the water and the Spirit, in which Jesus took upon Himself and washed away the sin of the world by being baptized by John. 
Therefore, the faith that believes in the creed they made becomes a faith unrelated to biblical truth, and as a result, those who believe in that creed could only remain in a religious life where they could not receive the washing away of sin from God.

         On the surface, the Nicene Creed appeared to defend the divinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 
However, if one actually examines the Nicene Creed and the Seven Sacraments they created, most of the content serves to strengthen a syncretic religious system that has no relation to the Triune God. 
This means that they became those who removed or silenced the ministry of truth—in which Jesus Christ had the sin of the world transferred to Him and washed it away when He was baptized by John—and in its place, established syncretic religious doctrines to seize control of people’s souls.

         They tried to make themselves appear as believers in Jesus by emphasizing only His cross, but if one looks at the doctrine of the Seven Sacraments they created later, one can see that they, like the Pharisees, intended to control the believers religiously by placing themselves in the position of judges. 
They did not believe the truth that Jesus had the sin of the world transferred to Him and washed it away by being baptized by John, and they created a system of faith that elevated the word of the Pope above the Bible. 
A prime example that shows this is “Papal Infallibility.” By asserting that the word of the Pope has the same authority as the words of the Bible, they revealed that they themselves are not believers in the Bible.

         However, God granted salvation to those who believe in the truth that He washed away the sin of the world through the baptism received from John, and in the word of the shedding of blood on the cross. 
Even now, God is raising up, in all corners of the world, those who are saved by believing in the gospel of the water and the Spirit.

         In contrast to this, the Nicene Creed and the Seven Sacraments created by the Catholics served to obscure the truth that Jesus washed away the sin of the world by being baptized by John, and they became a clear object of wrath before God. 
In the end, their creation of a new religion was not for the purpose of preaching the gospel of truth, but was nothing more than a means to fulfill their own carnal desires and authority.

 

 

 

         The Reformation movement that occurred in the 15th and 16th centuries was merely an attempt to correct the errors of the Catholic Church, not a movement to fundamentally reform the theological doctrines or Catholic systems they had already established. 

Therefore, the gap between the faith believed by Catholics today and the doctrines followed by Protestants is gradually narrowing, eventually moving towards sharing a similar system.

         For example, Protestant believers also accept and believe the doctrines corresponding to the Catholic Sacrament of Baptism and Sacrament of Penance as they are. 
They believe that if they believe in Jesus, original sin is cleansed, and they think that sins committed afterward receive cleansing through prayers of repentance. 
Furthermore, both Catholicism and Protestantism have solidified systems so that one can only become clergy through their own denominations and seminary systems.

         Catholicism created a system of seven sacraments, making it impossible to receive priestly ordination without theological education, and Protestantism also created a structure where the qualification to lead the congregation is given only after forming a denomination through a seminary and receiving pastoral ordination.

         In the Catholic doctrine of the Sacrament of Penance, a system is established where original sin receives cleansing through the Sacrament of Baptism, and all subsequent actual sins must receive cleansing through the Sacrament of Penance.
Likewise, Protestantism has taught that original sin is resolved by believing in Jesus and receiving baptism, and actual sins are resolved through prayers of repentance. 
Ultimately, Catholic and Christian denominations have been saying that the true removal of sin is achieved only within the religious doctrines and systems they have created.

         However, Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life” (John 6:47-48). 
He also said, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53), and clearly revealed that the salvation of humanity lies in believing in these two works: Jesus being baptized by John, thereby taking upon Himself the sins of the world and cleansing them, and paying the price for sin in their place by shedding His blood on the cross.

         Jesus did not say these words only once. 
Why would He have emphasized them so repeatedly? It is because these words are the most important truth that gives life to humanity. 
The words of Jesus, “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no eternal life,” mean that true salvation is achieved only by believing the fact that Jesus was baptized by John, thereby taking upon Himself the sins of the world and cleansing them, and that He even bore the judgment of sin in our place with the blood He shed on the cross.

         Therefore, in order for us to be saved from all sins, we must receive the cleansing of sins through faith in the gospel of the water and the Spirit—that is, the baptism and the work of the cross of Jesus Christ, by which He took upon Himself the sins of the world when He was baptized by John and shed His blood on the cross. This is the true path to salvation that Jesus spoke of to humanity.

 

 

 

         The meaning of Jesus’ words, “You must eat my flesh,” in other words, is that one can receive the cleansing of sins only by believing in the word of the gospel of truth—that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, thereby taking upon Himself the sins of the world and cleansing them at once. 

Jesus is saying that He was baptized by John, thereby taking on the sins of the world and cleansing them at once. 
However, many Christians today try to wash away their own sins through methods such as the doctrines of repentance spoken of in theology and confession, and for this reason, they ultimately remain in a faith that does not fully believe in the work of Jesus. 
Whether they are Catholics or Protestants, everyone must receive the cleansing of sins by faith in that righteous work by which Jesus was baptized by John, cleansed the sins of the world, and shed His blood on the cross.

         To understand these words properly, one must first know the sacrificial system of the Old Testament era.
A sinner transferred his sins to the sacrificial offering by laying his hands on the head of the sacrifice, and only when that offering shed its blood and died were the sinner’s sins removed. 
When we know this pattern of the Old Testament sacrificial system, we can clearly realize the reason why Jesus Christ, in the New Testament era, was baptized by John the Baptist at the age of 30 and took upon Himself the sins of the world to save humanity. 
Furthermore, we can also correctly understand why He had to pay the price of sacrifice by shedding His blood on the cross.

         Therefore, we must believe in the method of salvation that Jesus fulfilled exactly according to the sacrificial system recorded in the Old Testament. 
The way God saves people from sin was accomplished according to the sacrificial system He had already established in the Old Testament. 
In the New Testament era as well, Jesus took on the sins of the world at once and cleansed them by being baptized by John, and subsequently, by being nailed to the cross and shedding His blood, He paid the price for the judgment of sin at once. 
Therefore, we must receive the cleansing of sins through faith in this gospel—that is, the baptism and the work of the cross of Jesus.

         We must also participate in the Holy Communion ceremony, remembering this truth. 
As we break the bread, we must believe the truth that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, had the sins of the world transferred to Him, and cleansed them.
Also, as we drink the wine, we must join in by faith in the fact that the blood Jesus shed on the cross has saved us from the judgment of sin. 
The Holy Communion is not merely a formal ceremony, but a confession of faith that believes the truth that Jesus was baptized by John, took on sin, and paid the price of sin by shedding His blood on the cross.

         Therefore, the cleansing of sins is not accomplished through religious ceremonies or forms made by man.
According to the sacrificial system established in the Old Testament, we must receive the cleansing of sins by faith in the work of Jesus’ baptism and cross.
This is God’s way of salvation for sinners, and it is the only way to be liberated from all sins and the judgment of sin.

         This is precisely what Jesus meant by His words in John 8:32, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 
Our Lord not only cleansed our sins with His baptism but also became the Savior who received even the judgment of sin by shedding His blood on the cross.
Therefore, we must believe in the baptism Jesus received from John and the blood He shed on the cross as God’s work of truth for our salvation, and in that faith, we must be those who have been saved.

 

 

 

         The word ‘Reformation’ means to correct what is wrong and set it right, and in the realm of faith, it means returning to the true faith of believing in the gospel of salvation given by Jesus, that is, the gospel of the water and the Spirit. 

Previously, we believed in a gospel centered only on the cross within the Christian doctrines created by theologians, and thought that we received the cleansing of sins through repentant prayers.
However, we have now come to realize the truth that we can have all our sins cleansed at once and be saved by believing the word of the gospel of the water and the Spirit recorded in the Bible.

         Matthew 3:13-17 in the New Testament clearly testifies to the event where Jesus was baptized by John, had the sins of the world transferred to Him, and cleansed them. 
Therefore, we must receive the cleansing of sins through faith in the work of His salvation—that Jesus received all sins by being baptized by John, died by shedding His blood on the cross, and was resurrected. This faith is the only way to be saved from all sins.

         Therefore, we who live in the New Testament era must abide in the faith that believes in the truth of the water and the Spirit recorded in the Word of God, not in human traditions or religious systems. 
Only when we believe this gospel—that Jesus took on the sins of the world by being baptized by John, was crucified and died, and then was resurrected—can we truly become those who are born again. 
This faith must be a faith that fully accepts the work of salvation that Jesus accomplished through His baptism received from John and on the cross.

         We, who are currently in this faith, have a mission to proclaim to the people of this world the gospel of the water and the Spirit; that is, the truth that Jesus became the Savior who was baptized by John, had the sins of the world transferred to Him and cleansed them, and even received the judgment of sin by shedding His blood on the cross. 
This is the essence of the evangelism entrusted to the saints of the New Testament era, and it is the true message of salvation that we must preach.

         When Jesus said, “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:54), He was also pointing to the truth of this gospel. 
Jesus made a promise to those who have been saved from sin that He would raise them up on the last day. 
For one who has received the cleansing of sins by believing in the Lord’s righteousness, death is not the end but the beginning of a new life. 
We have become those who have regained the life we had lost through faith in the Lord’s righteousness, who took on our sins through His baptism.

         Through the baptism He received from John the Baptist, Jesus had the sins of the world transferred to Him at once, and He is the one who cleansed all those sins completely at one time. 
Jesus did not save us in a way that cleanses our sins little by little every day; rather, He became the Savior who took on and cleansed all sins at once when He was baptized by John. 
Those who believe this fact are those who have already received the eternal cleansing of sins.

         Jesus had the sins of the world transferred to Him by being baptized by John, and saved us by being crucified and shedding His blood. 
Therefore, we have become those who are saved by faith in the Lord who eliminated all our sins. 
Our salvation does not come from our deeds or efforts, but is the grace received through faith in the gospel of salvation—that Jesus cleansed the sins of the world by being baptized by John. 
This very faith is the true gospel that the New Testament testifies to, and the truth of salvation that we must hold onto.

 

 

 

         Jesus personally taught what food mankind must eat to obtain true life, saying, “My flesh is true food.”

The way to solve at once all the sins we commit while living on this earth is to believe in the gospel of truth, which is that Jesus received baptism from John, thereby had the sins of the world passed onto Him, and washed them away.
When we have this faith, we obtain the assurance of the washing away of sins, and by believing in Jesus who took upon Himself the judgment of sin on the cross, we come to have the assurance of salvation in our hearts.

         What is important before God is the faith that believes in the recorded words of the Bible, that is, the gospel of the water and the Spirit.
We must know the fact that theological doctrines or Christian traditions that come from the thoughts of men do not wash away sins and give the assurance of salvation.
Salvation does not come from the logic of theologians, but from believing the word exactly as God has recorded it in the Bible: that Jesus received baptism from John, washed away the sins of the world at once, and received judgment on the cross for us.
Therefore, rather than theological doctrines, we must hold onto the gospel of the water and the Spirit to which the Bible testifies, that is, the ministry of Jesus’ baptism and the cross.

         The gospel of the water and the Spirit is the gospel of the removal of sins that the entire Old and New Testaments testify to, and it is the only truth that gives us the assurance of salvation.
However, the existing doctrines of Catholicism and Christianity are different from this.
The doctrines created by theologians are constructed based on human thoughts, and these doctrines do not reflect the truth of the Old Testament’s sacrificial system or the New Testament’s baptism and the cross as they are.

         For example, the Bible testifies that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and at once took upon Himself the sins of the world.
However, Christian doctrine teaches that original sin is remitted when one believes in Jesus, and that the sins committed afterward are washed away only by offering prayers of repentance daily.
Catholicism says that sins are absolved only by making a confession before a priest. This does not align with the words of the Bible at all.

         The Bible records that Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the world through His baptism and washed them away.
However, theological doctrines and denominational traditions have replaced this truth with prayers of repentance or confession.
If so, which path must we choose?
Will we believe in the gospel of the water and the Spirit to which the Bible testifies and receive the washing away of sins, or will we hold onto the doctrines made by men?
The important fact is that before God, the doctrines of men are not acknowledged.

         We must only believe the word as testified by the Bible in the gospel of the water and the Spirit: that Jesus was baptized by John, washed away the sins of the world, paid the price for sin at once on the cross, and said, “It is finished.” This faith alone is the faith that gives the confirmation of salvation.
The doctrine of the Seven Sacraments, established by Catholicism in AD 325, taught salvation by emphasizing only the cross.
However, the Bible testifies together to the ministry of Jesus having the sins of the world passed onto Him and washing them away through His baptism by John, and the ministry of receiving the judgment of sin on our behalf on the cross. This is the basis for the complete salvation that the Bible speaks of.

         One cannot be saved from sin through prayers of repentance or confession.
One cannot be saved by believing in theological doctrines.
The elimination of sins is given only in the faith that believes in the gospel of truth—that Jesus was baptized by John and at once washed away the sins of the world.
Christian doctrines of repentance or Catholic confession may give temporary comfort to a person’s heart, but they cannot actually resolve sin.
Therefore, we must no longer rely on the traditions and doctrines of men.

         Those who created theological doctrines established them for their own fame and status.
Those doctrines failed to set people free from sin, and instead, caused many people to stray from the original words of the Bible.
As a result, many departed from the gospel of Jesus washing away the sins of the world by being baptized by John, and came to wander in the doctrines of men.

         However, Jesus came into the world, was baptized by John, took upon Himself and washed away the sins of the world, thereby saving us at once.
He is the Savior who was crucified, shed His blood to pay the price for sin, and was resurrected.
Therefore, we must not follow the doctrines of men, but believe in the gospel of the water and the Spirit, which Jesus Himself spoke of.

         The world’s religious leaders teach, “Repent, confess, build up virtues.”
However, by these methods, no one has ever been freed from sin. This is because it is merely human religion and does not give true salvation.
Conversely, Jesus, as the Creator God and our true Savior, washed away the sins of the world by being baptized by John, and also saved us from the judgment of sin through the blood of the cross.
If you reflect on what you have gained by striving to obtain salvation according to the doctrines of men until now, the answer is clear. It is that you have gained nothing.

         Therefore, we must now turn away from the doctrines of men and believe in the gospel of the water and the Spirit to which the Bible testifies.
Jesus Christ had the sins of the world transferred to Him by being baptized by John the Baptist and washed them away; He was crucified, shed His blood, and at once became the Savior of those who believe.
He says, “I have washed away all your sins at once by being baptized by John.
And I paid the price for your sins at once with the blood of the cross, was resurrected, and became your eternal Savior.
Now, you must believe in the baptism I received and the blood of the cross, and become a person who has been saved from all sin.”
We must become those who sincerely believe and are thankful for this word.
This is the path of salvation to which the Bible testifies, and the gospel of the water and the Spirit that we must hold onto.

 

 

 

         Just as drinking a cool beverage in the summer quenches our thirst, our hearts also find refreshment when we know and believe the fact that Jesus was baptized by John, had the sins of the world transferred to Him at once and washed them away, and the fact that He was judged on the cross in our place.

The moment our hearts, which were thirsty and anxious because of our sin problem, realize this truth, they come to enjoy a peace like living water.
The Lord took on the sins of the world by being baptized by John, and shedding His blood on the cross, He declared, “It is finished.”
Jesus Christ washed away our sins at once through His baptism, and by completely taking on the price of all sin on the cross, He became the Savior for those who believe.
Therefore, we must no longer think that we are saved by washing away sins one by one through repentant prayers or confession.
Jesus already had the sins of the world transferred to Him by being baptized by John, and He paid the price for our sins at once with the blood He shed on the cross.
Jesus is the true Savior who has saved us even from the judgment of our sin.

         The Lord has given us the faith to believe in the truth of the gospel of the water and the Spirit.
We must give thanks to the Lord who enabled us to accept this truth and give glory to God.
The gospel of the water and the Spirit is the power of God that cleanses our sins, and it is the bread of life for us to live by on this earth.
Also, God has established servants who preach this gospel and is supplying us with the word of truth.
By hearing the word of the gospel of the water and the Spirit that they deliver, we are saved from sin and can live keeping our faith.
The gospel of the water and the Spirit that they believe and preach is the truth sufficient to eliminate our sins, and it is the word of salvation that God Himself has given.

         Jesus took on the sins of the world at once by being baptized by John, died by shedding His blood on the cross, was resurrected, and has now become the eternal Savior of those who believe.
Therefore, we must hear and believe this gospel of truth, and we must receive the washing of sin by believing in the ministry of the baptism that Jesus received from John.
Also, we must become those who have been delivered from the judgment of sin by believing in the fact that He shed His blood on the cross.

         Now, how are your hearts?
As one who has received the cleansing of sin by believing in the gospel of the water and the Spirit, are you enjoying the refreshment as if you have drunk living water?
Have you obtained peace in your heart through the faith that believes Jesus has become our Savior?
When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, He had the sins of the world transferred to His body at once, and by shedding His blood on the cross, He became the Savior who saved us eternally.
We are those who live by believing this gospel of truth in our hearts.

 

 

 

         Even today, there are people who ask, “How can we eat the flesh and blood of Jesus? By what kind of faith do we eat it? If we just believe the word that Jesus washed away the sins of the world by being baptized by John, does the faith of having received the washing of sin truly arise in our hearts?”

The true answer to this question is clear. It is to believe the fact that Jesus, by receiving the baptism from John, had the sins of the world transferred to Him at once and washed away our sins, and to believe in Him as the Savior who shed His blood on the cross to completely pay the price for our sin.
This is precisely the faith by which one receives the washing of sin, and it is the way to eat the flesh and blood of Jesus by faith.

         Jesus Christ is the Savior who, by being baptized by John, had the sins of the world transferred to Him at once and cleansed our sins.
He was nailed to the cross, shed His blood, and died to pay the price of sin, and by His resurrection, He has now become true salvation for us.
We obtain salvation from sin and the judgment of sin by believing the fact that Jesus took on the sins of the world by being baptized by John, and by believing in the Lord who settled the price of sin on the cross.

         Even when we suffer because we commit sin in our weakness in this harsh world, we can still hold fast to the gospel of truth that the Lord washed away the sins of the world by being baptized by John.
This gospel becomes the true food for our souls, reaffirming that the ministry of His bloodshed on the cross, where Jesus said, “It is finished,” is what makes Him our Savior who delivered us from the judgment of sin.
By this faith, we can gain spiritual strength and live day by day.

         People have hitherto striven to solve the problems of sin, which they could not solve on their own, but they could not completely wash away their sins through prayers of repentance or confessionals.
That is why we must pray like this:
“Lord, I believe that You solved the problem of my sin, which I could not solve, at once by receiving baptism from John.
I could not solve my sin through prayers of repentance.
Now, please allow it to be resolved through faith in the gospel of truth that the Lord has accomplished.”

         You and I are those who have received the washing of our sins by the faith that believes Jesus washed away the sins of the world by being baptized by John, died on the cross, and was resurrected to become our Savior.
When we live with this faith, we will experience the victory of salvation that the Lord has given us.
We must always give thanks to the Lord that we are living as those who have received the washing of our sins by faith in the word of the gospel of the water and the Spirit.
And we must give glory to the Lord who helps us to live by the faith that all the problems of sin that arise in our lives have been solved through the gospel of the water and the Spirit.

         We must live by confessing like this:
“Lord, I believe that You have solved at once all the problems of sin I have committed throughout my life through the baptism You received from John.
I could not solve my sins through prayers of repentance, but I have been saved by faith in the word of truth that the Lord washed away the sins of the world by receiving baptism from John. Please help me to keep this faith for my entire life, and add to me the faith to believe more firmly in the gospel of the water and the Spirit.”

 

 

 

         Even for those who believe the gospel—that Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the world at once through the baptism He received from John, and resolved all our sins by being crucified and shedding His blood on the cross—there are times when many difficulties come. 

Therefore, even though we believe the fact that Jesus carried the sins of the world by receiving baptism from John and completely resolved our sins by shedding His blood on the cross, when there are people who oppose this, we must pray to the Lord so that we can overcome by faith.

         The purpose for which God first created man was to make us in His own image and to make us the children of God. 
If God had created man as the children of God from the beginning, other created beings might have tried to oppose God. 
So, God created all created beings equally, and He created man in His image to become the people of God in the future. 
And for man to become the people of God, the faith to believe the gospel that Jesus washed away the sins of the world by receiving baptism from John was necessary.

         Jesus said, “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me” (John 6:57). 
This means that the one who believes in the ministry of salvation—that Jesus washed away the sins of the world through the baptism He received from John and shed His blood on the cross—lives by eating the spiritual food. 
Therefore, in order for us to be saved from sin, become the people of God, pass through this last age, and enter the eternal kingdom of God, we must have in our hearts the faith that believes the gospel that Jesus washed away the sins of the world by receiving baptism from John. 
We must live as people of faith who have been saved from all sins, becoming those who eat Jesus’ flesh and blood—that is, the ministry of His baptism and the cross—by faith.

         In John 6:58, Jesus said, “This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” 
Jesus likened the ministry of the baptism He received from John to the bread that we eat. 
He is saying this: “If you eat this bread, you will receive the removal of your sins and be saved from the judgment of sin. I received baptism from John and had the sins of the world transferred to my body, and to pay the price for that sin, I shed my blood and died on the cross, and I resurrected and became your Savior.” 
This is what Jesus is saying: “Be saved from your sins and live by the faith that believes in My baptism and bloodshed. Then you will receive in your hearts the removal of sin and will come to live enjoying eternal life.”

         We earnestly desire to live forever with the Lord in the Kingdom of God. 
Because there are no sinners in the Lord’s kingdom, only those who have become righteous can enter that kingdom. 
Jesus is the Savior who, in order to take us to that heavenly kingdom, carried the sins of the world through the baptism He received from John, and received the judgment of sin in our place on the cross. 
Jesus gave us His flesh and blood, and if we eat it by faith, we become righteous people without sin.

         Life on this earth is sometimes full of hardships and difficulties. Therefore, we must always rely on the living Jesus Christ and live by faith. 
Ultimately, as those who believe in the removal of sin that Jesus has given, we must walk by faith until the day we obtain the glory of entering the Lord’s kingdom. 
When we finish the work entrusted to us on this earth, the Lord will come to take us.
Today as well, we live by the faith that believes in the Savior who had the sins of the world transferred to Him by receiving baptism from John and was hung on the cross to shed His blood. 
Our purpose, as those who have received the removal of sin, is to do the work of God and then enter the kingdom of God. 
We have become those who will go to the Lord’s kingdom by living in the faith that believes in the ministry of Jesus Christ. 
Therefore, you too must become people who believe in your hearts the true ministry of salvation, in which Jesus received baptism from John and shed His blood.

         Jesus’ flesh and blood is the faith that believes in the baptism He received from John, His death on the cross, and His resurrection. 
Jesus spoke not only of the gospel of the removal of sin, but also of eternal life. 
Even in moments when we face hardships and trials, if we live holding onto the Lord’s word with the faith that believes in Jesus’ baptism and the blood of the cross, we will receive the strength to endure all difficulties, our hearts will enjoy peace, and our souls will gain new strength. 
This is the reason why we live daily by the Lord’s nourishment.

         Everyone, how thankful a thing it is that we have come to be saved by believing that Jesus received baptism from John and accomplished the ministry of righteousness on the cross? 
How amazing is the grace that the Lord received baptism from John to wash away our sins and eliminated the sins of the world? 
Jesus is the God who created the heavens and the earth, and He is our Savior. The Lord is the One who will take us to His kingdom. 
Jesus, who received baptism from John to wash away the sins of the world, died on the cross, and then resurrected, has now become our Savior in whom we believe. 
He is our Shepherd, the Lord of the Second Coming who will come again, and our spiritual Bridegroom.

         Therefore, we are those who will live on this earth for the gospel of the water and the Spirit, and when the time comes, enter the Lord’s kingdom to live together forever. 
We give thanks for the grace that the Lord, through the baptism He received from John, washed away the sins of the world once and for all. 
We are those who have received the removal of sin through the faith that believes in Jesus’ baptism and the blood of the cross.

         When we have fulfilled all the work the Lord has entrusted to us, we will enter the Lord’s kingdom.
Before that, we must carry out the life of an evangelist, living to preach the word of the gospel of the water and the Spirit by faith. 
We desire to accomplish all these things by faith and to give glory to the Lord who saved us from the sins of the world.
I will conclude today’s message. Hallelujah!

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