BOOK 13 REVIEW - WHAT HAVE WE BELIEVED TO RECEIVE THE REMISSION OF SINS?

As a continuation of the meditation on Matthew I, this book shed a lot of light on the dark areas of my faith. I was able to understand in depth the parable of the four fields that Jesus taught in Matthew 13:1-9

I WAS BOUND TO HELL BY MY SINFUL NATURE AND CARNAL THOUGHTS

Having attended a monastery as a child, I used to believe that I was born as a good ground in this world and associated Jesus` salvation with my own righteous acts to achieve holiness and the Kingdom of God. Living in the Christian doctrines of this world teaching that one should abstain from sin and live according to the norms of society, I simply saw myself as God`s chosen one. But as I meditated on the parable of the four plots of land taught in this book, I came to the clear realisation that I was born into this world as the wayside of the field and could only become good ground by being shaped by the gospel of the water and the Spirit. It is because I am a descendant of Adam who sinned against God that my heart became sinful. I had no choice but to worship idols before God and end up in hell. It was only when I encountered the gospel of the water and the Spirit that I became aware of my sinful nature and my condemnation to hell because of my sins. I was so unaware of my sins and their judgment. I thought that killing someone or having illicit relations with the opposite sex were the sins that were severely condemned. But my conscience came to be clear when I became aware of my sinful nature through the gospel of the water of the Spirit. Although I often confessed to God that I was a sinner, it was only with doctrinal faith and not with the light of the truth revealed by the gospel of the water and the Spirit. There is really a huge difference when we believe we are sinners with the gospel of the water and the Spirit rather than the gospel of the Cross. Sometimes we don`t fully recognise ourselves as sinners before God when we compare ourselves to thieves, murderers or street prostitutes. We think we are better and that there are just a few small sins to deal with. However, such thoughts bind us to the terrifying judgment of our sins which is eternal hell. It is when we acknowledge ourselves as complete sinners before God through the gospel of the water and the Spirit that God takes mercy on us like the paralytic to whom Jesus said, "My child, your sins are forgiven.``

LET`S MOVE THE EARTH BEFORE SOWING THE SEED

After placing my faith in the gospel of the water and the Spirit, which is the gospel of the forgiveness of sins, I used to speak directly about how the Lord has solved the problem of all our sins without turning the heart-field of my interlocutors by pointing out the sins of their hearts. The result was that these people became religious Christians taking the gospel of the water and the Spirit as a secular Christian doctrine. I now have the opportunity to sharpen my sword of preaching the beautiful gospel by urging my listeners to first become aware of their sins in order to be saved. Even though the Lord clearly came into this world in human flesh and received all our sins into His body through the baptism He received from John the Baptist and the death He suffered at the Cross, it is only when we are aware of our sins and their judgment that we can be saved from them. My personal faith in the beautiful gospel of the water and the Spirit could only grow when I daily stirred the field of my heart by discovering my many sins and recognising the Lord`s righteous salvation through the baptism He received from John the Baptist and through the punishment for my sins He endured on the Cross. My soul is now enlivened with these precious insights. I believe that if I try to exercise my faith on these teachings, I will not be able to beat the air like before. Many souls will truly receive salvation and follow the Lord. I am so thankful to God for letting me know such important truths.

THE BEST LIFE

Who knew that the best life is found in faith in the gospel of the water and the Spirit. Even though I had believed in Jesus in the past as my personal Lord and Saviour, I was so miserable and poor. It was better that I was only poor but I was at the same time unhappy and poor. This is because there was sin in my heart even though I sincerely believed in Jesus. Now that I believe in Him without sin, I am so happy. The Lord blesses in body, soul and spirit all those who believe in the gospel of the water and the Spirit and propagates it throughout the world in unity with His Church. When we wholeheartedly seek the remission of our neighbour`s sin by believing that Jesus is God Himself who delivered us through His baptism and blood, the Lord pours out all spiritual and material blessings into our lives of faith. Those who seek the salvation of souls have great faith like those who carried the paralytic. Through their faith, the Lord grants remission of sins to sinners. The sinners in turn become righteous who give glory to God. I am so grateful to be a worker of God in this world. May the honour and glory go to Jesus Christ our God and Saviour, Amen!

Brother Cedric Patrick, Guilford-UK
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