Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.
Brothers and sisters, in churches throughout the world today, we often hear the slogan: “Just believe in Jesus to be saved.” This means that because the Lord Jesus shed His blood and died on the cross, if we believe and receive that truth into our hearts, we will receive salvation.
On the surface, this sounds like a very simple and beautiful Gospel, but is that the entire meaning of faith that the Bible speaks of?
Our Church, as witnesses of Jesus, is a Church that desires to return to the faith of the early Church. Therefore, we will re-examine this question in depth. Is "faith" merely the acknowledgment of the death of the Lord Jesus? Or does it contain a much deeper spiritual meaning?
2. The Salvific Work of Jesus Continues Even After His Death on the Cross
The New Testament Bible speaks very clearly. After the Lord Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected, He ascended to heaven. However, His work of salvation did not end there. The book of Hebrews testifies as follows:
Hebrews 8:1-2 (NIV) Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.
The Lord Jesus, as the High Priest in heaven, is currently acting on our behalf. He is carrying out an intercessory ministry, praying for the forgiveness of our sins, offering His own blood as a sacrifice in the heavenly Sanctuary.
Therefore, the saints of the early Church did not only believe in the death of the Lord Jesus on the cross, but also in the truth that He is still acting for us in the heavenly Sanctuary. This is the very "essence of faith" that the New Testament Bible speaks of.
3. The Contrast Between Works and Faith - "Works of the Law" and "Sacrifice of Faith"
The Apostle Paul not only speaks in the book of Ephesians, but also in the book of Romans emphasizes that one "cannot be saved by works." The ‘works’ he refers to are not merely the good deeds of human beings. It means the sacrificial works of the law of Moses, that is, the sacrificial system of the old covenant in the Old Testament.
Romans 3:20 (NIV) Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
Paul spoke of "the faith of the New Covenant given by grace" as a concept in opposition to the law of works. That is, it does not mean a visible sacrifice, but an invisible sacrifice in the heavenly Sanctuary; not works seen by the eye, but spiritual participation through faith in the heart.
4. Two Definitions of Faith — "Things Hoped For and Things Not Seen"
Hebrews chapter 11 defines the essence of faith as follows:
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
First, faith is called "confidence in what we hope for." It is the acceptance of God's unfulfilled promises as if they were already a reality.
Second, it is called "assurance about what we do not see." This refers to accepting by faith the sacrificial system in the heavenly Sanctuary, which we cannot see with our physical eyes.
Regarding that reality and evidence, Hebrews chapter 9 explains as follows:
Hebrews 9:11-12 (NIV) But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
This word is very clear. When Christ appeared, He did not come as a priest of the Old Covenant, but as the true High Priest of "the good things that are already here," things that the ancient people of Israel had only seen through shadows. The forgiveness of sins, grace, and the true presence of God have now been fulfilled in Him. Those blessings are no longer a future promise but have become a reality in the New Covenant that He established.
He entered "the greater and more perfect tabernacle," not one made by human hands, but the "heavenly Sanctuary," the very place where God dwells. While the priests according to the law of Moses could only offer the blood of goats and calves to temporarily cover the people's sins, Christ had no need for the blood of any creature. He offered "his own blood," representing a perfect, holy, and eternal sacrifice.
When He entered "the Most Holy Place" in heaven, it was no longer a symbolic ritual, but a divine reality: He, the sinless one, died in place of humanity, and through His blood, the way into God's presence was opened. He needed to do this only once, but its results last for eternity—that is, eternal redemption for all who place their faith in Him.
Thus, Hebrews 9:11-12 does not speak of things to come in the future, but affirms that "the age of spiritual blessings has truly begun" since Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice. From now on, humanity no longer has to approach God through the blood of animals or complex rituals, but can come directly through "the blood of Christ," who completed our redemption once for all.
5. The Faith of the Early Church — Faith That Participates in the Sacrifice of the New Covenant
Brothers and sisters, the early Church did not offer sacrifices at the physical temple in Jerusalem, but participated by faith in the sacrifice offered by the Lord Jesus, the High Priest, in the heavenly Sanctuary. That act of faith is the observance of the feasts of the New Covenant.
Therefore, keeping the feasts of the New Covenant is not the works of the law of Moses that the Apostle Paul spoke of. On the contrary, it is the evidence of faith that participates in the sacrifice in the invisible Sanctuary. This is the substance of the faith that leads to salvation, which the early Church taught.
However, today many churches do not respect these very feasts. Not only do they not observe them, but they also do not know the importance of those days themselves. On the other hand, some churches, while claiming to "keep the feasts," only value the dates. They do not realize the meaning that these feasts bring for our forgiveness of sins and salvation. In fact, they do not even know the dates of the feasts accurately. They do not know by what principle the biblical calendar calculates the dates. In the end, they set wrong dates and still insist that they are keeping the feasts.
Brothers and sisters, what a regrettable and sorrowful reality this is. We must now realize this. The faith that the Bible speaks of is not an abstract concept. It is believing in the High Priestly ministry of Jesus Christ being carried out in the heavenly Sanctuary, and participating in His New Covenant feasts by faith.
The Bible prophesied that in the last days, a Church with such true faith would appear.
Revelation 14:12 (NIV) This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.
This word shows that the remnant of God in the last days is a Church that simultaneously keeps both the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Our Church is the Church that carries this mission. We do not need to be shaken by the criticisms of the world, because we are preserving the very faith that the early Church believed.
6. Let Us Become Saints Who Keep the Feasts by Faith
Brothers and sisters, God has called us into this truth. The faith that believes in the invisible Sanctuary in heaven, the faith that keeps the feasts of the New Covenant—that faith is the true faith that leads to salvation.
I hope that through today's message, we will rebuild our faith. Let us restore the living faith that the Lord Jesus is still acting for us in the heavenly Sanctuary, not stopping at the simple call to "just believe in Jesus." I earnestly pray that God will grant eternal life and the victory of our heavenly home to all the saints who have this faith.
No matter where you are whether in the Church in South Korea, the house churches in Vietnam, or in other nations we are all truly children of God.
This is because Jesus Christ prayed that all who believe in Him must be "united as one," just as He and the Father are one, as recorded in John 17:21. This means that no matter where we are, we are all believers who witness about Jesus. We are walking in the place where all the truths and realities of Jesus are being fulfilled, just like the early church that is the Church of God Witnessing Jesus (COGJW).
Jesus confirmed in John 15:5: "I am the vine; you are the branches." A branch in South Korea or a branch in Vietnam must be connected to the same Vine who is Jesus Christ. If we share the same root and the same source of life, how can we be separated into two?
When we work together for God, bearing fruit through faith and keeping His commandments and laws, that is the most powerful evidence to the world that we are truly one body in Christ.
Let’s pray together
Heavenly Father,
Today we have learned that our Savior, Jesus Christ, is still serving as the High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, interceding for the forgiveness of our sins. We thank You for allowing us to rediscover and take part in this precious truth that was lost during the Middle Ages.
Lord, it saddens us that even among the few churches that claim to keep Your feasts, many only focus on finding the dates without understanding how those feasts reveal the process of forgiveness and salvation that Christ is accomplishing for us today.
Even more, many no longer follow the biblical calendar for setting those sacred feasts. Father, how heartbreaking this is to witness.
We are amazed and humbled that, among countless churches, You have allowed our churchthe Church of God Jesus Witnesses to find and keep the appointed feasts according to the true biblical calendar. We are deeply grateful that You have opened our eyes to the faith and teaching of the early Church that the work of the feasts continues even now, after the Pentecost of the New Covenant.
Heavenly Father, may this joyful truth awaken Christians all over the world who are still spiritually asleep. Strengthen us to fulfill this mission faithfully and courageously until the day we stand before You.
We thank You and pray in the holy name of Jesus Christ.