World Mission Society Church of God - Soul 3

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.


The Apostle Peter's Thoughts About the "Spirit"

The Apostle Peter always remembered what Jesus had told him before His ascension.

John 21:18-19 『"I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.』

When Peter's life of the gospel was about to come to an end, he worried about the saints, remembering what Jesus had told him.

2 Pet. 1:13-14 『I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.』

Peter described his death as "putting aside" the tent of the body, and as his "departure." It is clear that it is Peter's spirit that would leave his body. While his spirit was in a fleshly body, the body itself became his spirit's house; after his spirit's departure, the body would return to the ground.

We study the apostles' thoughts to know the teachings that they learned from Jesus. Through the apostles' explanations of the spirit, we can clearly understand that Jesus Christ had taught and revealed that the spirit exists within men.


My True Life

We often wonder, "Who am I?" Some say, "Man eats to live," while others argue that, "Man lives to eat." Neither of these opinions is correct.

Our main essence is not our physical body, but the spirit inside our body. Our spirit lives in the tent we call our "body." When we go camping, we only stay in a tent for a few days, don't we? The time we spend in the tent is temporary. Likewise, our life within the body?our tent?is only a temporary life.

If we live for our physical body, it means that we are living for our house. Life is to live for ourselves, not for the houses we dwell in.

In our life of faith, we sometimes focus on our physical life more than our spiritual life. Of course, as long as we are in the body, we can't deny the physical life; however, if we live only for a temporary tent which will soon disappear, how pitiful will our life be?

We live in these tents because of our sin, but after we receive the forgiveness of our sins, redemption?under the grace of Christ, the Passover Lamb?our eternal houses wait for us. Let's reconsider what we should focus on while we live on this earth.

2 Cor. 4:18 『So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.』

World Mission Society Church of God - Soul 2

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.

Jesus Taught Us About the "Spirit"

The concept of "spirit" became clearer in the New Testament.

Matt. 10:28 『"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."』

In this verse, Jesus describes the same creation process as in Genesis chapter two, revealing the separation between the death of the body [the dust] and the death of the spirit.

The Greek word for soul in this verse is "pneuma," which means "spirit."

John 4:24 『"God is spirit [pneuma]." 』

2 Cor. 33:17 『Now the Lord [Jesus] is the Spirit [pneuma].』

Heb. 1:14 『Are not all angels ministering spirits [pneuma]...?』

God is spirit and doesn't belong in the flesh. Jesus is spirit and doesn't belong in the flesh. Angels are also spirits who do not belong in the flesh. Thus, a man's death can be separated into two events: the death of the flesh and the death of the spirit. The devil, or another man, can kill our body, but it is only God who can destroy our spirit.

The Apostle Paul, in a letter to the Church in Corinth, wrote as follows:

1 Cor. 2:11 『For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit [pneuma] within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit [pneuma] of God.』

Jesus taught us that the true essence of our life is not our flesh, but our spirit.


The Apostle Paul's Thoughts About the "Spirit"

We try to understand the apostles' minds because their thoughts were established by Jesus' teachings. The apostles understood that our flesh is merely the house of our spirit.

2 Cor. 5:1 『Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed [if our flesh dies], we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.』

Our spirit lives in a temporary earthly tent?our flesh?now, but it will live in an eternal house that God has built for us.

2 Cor. 5:6 『Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord....We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.』

In this letter, the Apostle Paul says that the Lord [Jesus] dwells in the world of spirit and that we dwell in the world of flesh. Thus we are away from the Lord as long as we are in the body. The Apostle Paul also reveals that he, and the rest of the saints, would prefer to be away from their bodies and at home with the Lord.

In the above verses, what is the entity that dwells in the body and then leaves the body? Paul's spirit, the very essence of Paul, is the one who wants to leave the body. The body he wore was not the essence of his life, but instead, Paul's spirit?dwelling within his body?was his true self. To say it again, the Apostle Paul lived not for the temporary life in his earthly tent [his flesh], but he longed for the life that he would live in the eternal house. God would give him this everlasting home only after his spirit left its earthly tent.

The Apostle Paul wrote similarly in a letter to the saints in Philippi.

Phil. 1:21-24 『For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain....I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.』

Paul's words, "We...would prefer to be away from the body," in the book of 2 Corinthians 5:6 and the words, "I desire to depart," in the book of Philippians chapter one, have the same meanings. "To be away," or "to depart," means to leave the body. What is the entity that dwells in the body or leaves it? It is Paul's spirit, the true essence of Paul.

Paul revealed that it was more necessary for the saints that he remained in his body. If Paul were to leave his body [if he were to die], he would go to Christ; thus it was good for him to leave the body. If he remained in the body, however, it was good for the saints because then he could teach them the truth of God and guide them down the right path.

Paul also uttered a revelation that God had shown him in another letter to the Church in Corinth.

2 Cor. 12:1 『I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know?God knows. And I know that this man?whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows.』

When Paul saw this revelation, he said twice, "...whether I [my spirit] was in the body or out of the body I do not know?God knows."

According to this verse, did the Apostle Paul think that the spirit existed as a separate entity from the body, or did he believe that the spirit did not exist?

If the Apostle Paul believed that the spirit did not exist, could he have said, "Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know?God knows"...? When Paul saw this revelation?describing himself as "a man" he knew (speaking in the third person)?he didn't know whether his spirit had traveled out of the body, or if he had gone to such a paradise in his flesh.

World Mission Society Church of God - Soul 1

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.

"What happens to a man when he dies?"..."Does a man really have a spirit?"... "Where does a man go when he dies?" Questions such as these have been a matter of great interest throughout history, but no one has been able to answer them. Men eager to find such answers wrote great philosophies, but mere philosophers could never realize how they had been created.

Christ Ahnsahnghong came to the earth, established the Church of God, and taught us that all men are angels who have come to the earth after sinning in heaven. He let us know how valuable we are and revealed to us the true purpose of our lives.


The Spirit Revealed Through the Creation of Human Beings

Gen. 2:7 『...The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.』

The dust is not the essence of life; God didn't name the dust itself a "living being." Only after God had breathed the breath of life into the dust, did He call it a "living being." Therefore, the essence of life is not the flesh, but the breath of life, the spirit that God breathed into the dust. Man's flesh is made from the dust, but his spirit is made by God, and is from God.

Solomon wrote, "The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it" (Eccl. 12:7).

World Mission Society Church of God - Rebirth 3

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.

Apostle Paul was born again by receiving Christ as his master

Gal 2:20 『I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.』

Apostle Paul lived a new life after receiving Jesus Christ. He wrote to the saints of the Early Church: ‘If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation' (2 Co 5:17), ‘Put off your old self and put on the new self in Christ' (Eph 4:22-24).

Paul crucified his old self and put on the new self. He said that Christ lived in him; what pleased Christ was his pleasure, and what He wished was his wish.

Jesus came into this earth to save sinners, and He was pleased when they repented. So was Paul who received Christ as his master; to him, all men were the objects to be saved. So he began to preach.

God gives much fruit to the reborn

Like Paul, we, too, should crucify our old self that does not please God. When only Christ lives in us, we will be pleased with what He wants.

Sometimes we try to bear fruit without being broken. However, this is not God's will. Only through the pain of breaking our sinful nature, we can put on the new self; when we become new by receiving God as our master, what pleases God will be our pleasure and His glory our glory. Then God will let us bear much fruit.

In the parable of the talents, Jesus rebuked the man who had received one talent and didn't allow him to enter the kingdom of heaven. It was because he just kept the talent, without breaking his own self. How about those who had received two or five talents? They broke themselves to be born again, so that they could bear much fruit. The man who had received the one talent, however, kept it to himself for fear of the pain of sprouting. That was why Jesus rejected him.

We are now endeavoring to bear the fruit of life, going through difficulties and adversities. The pain itself is not our ultimate purpose but only a process for bearing fruit. It is God's providence to make us suffer, so that we may be born again and bear fruit. If we understand this, we can accept any hardship as God's great gift for us and give thanks to God. Though there are hardships in the process of our being born again, we shall endure, keeping in mind that everything in our life goes according to God's plans. Dear brothers and sisters! I hope you will be born again and have hope for heaven, so that you can give more glory to God.

World Mission Society Church of God - Rebirth 2

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.

Bearing fruit after hardships

God shows His providence through nature. Going into the principles of all nature, we realize that without the pain of rebirth, we cannot bear fruit prepared in God's grace.

A silkworm cannot become a moth without casting off its cocoon. A chick must break its eggshell to get life.

Jesus has said that when a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it bears much fruit.

Jn 12:24 『"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."』

If a kernel of wheat remains only a single seed, it cannot sprout and grow. For the bearing of fruit, there must be ‘breaking'; without breaking, there is no rebirth or new self.

Some part of the kernel must be broken, so that it may sprout; beginning with the broken part, the kernel sprouts. If it spares itself for fear of the pain of being broken, it cannot bear fruit. Only when the grain stands the pain and gets born again, it can bring forth much fruit.

So the Bible says that we cannot see the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.

Jn 3:3 『In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."』

Without being born again, without being broken, no one can bear fruit and see the kingdom of God.

Our present suffering is like the pain of a grain's sprouting and that of an egg's hatching. If we believe firmly that God will allow us to bear much fruit in the end, we will be able to endure with joy and thanksgiving.

Christ died as a kernel of wheat

Jesus Himself showed an example of being born again as a grain of wheat.

Isa 53:3-10 『… Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. … Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.』

Christ was oppressed, wounded, pierced, despised, mocked, …. "He will see his offspring": Until this word was fulfilled, Christ had been totally crushed in distress. However, Jesus endured all the pain, knowing that unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it cannot bear much fruit. By the perseverance of Christ Himself, we have been able to seek salvation and have the hope of eternal life.

The Bible says that it was God's will to crush Christ. Then, it is also God's will that we should suffer. If we endure and are born again, we can bear much fruit.

Stephen prayed for those stoning him, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Ac 7:59-60). If he had the mind of a sinful man, he would have hated them. However, he received Christ as his master, so that he could be born again and love even his enemies with the heart of Christ.

World Mission Society Church of God - Rebirth 1

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.

People experience many hardships and trials in their lives. Taking their cross, they walk the path of suffering. This is the life of pilgrims.
How about us who have received God? God has a plan for our life. If we realize this fact, we will understand that our present suffering is a part of God's great plan for our salvation and the process of our rebirth.


Suffering in God's plan

This is what happened in America. There was a fire at a store in Chicago, and the store was completely destroyed by fire. Its owner was a self-made man who had undergone difficulties. So his neighbors and customers commiserated him on his misfortune.
One day, in the ashes stood a small notice board saying, "I will begin again tomorrow. There is no reason I give way to despair."
The owner of the destroyed store opened a street stall beside the board and placed some of his articles on sale. All his business went up in smoke overnight, but he didn't get frustrated. People were moved by his unyielding spirit. As soon as he displayed articles on the stall, they were sold out. Before long, he made enough money to build a new building.
How could he start again? A common thing served as a motive. When the building was completely destroyed by fire and all his efforts came to nothing overnight, he was terribly distressed. Then he drove about the town and happened to see a mason laying bricks. Beginning with the first brick, the mason laid red bricks one upon another; after several hours of the day, there rose a high brick wall. Watching this, he realized: ‘I had nothing in the beginning. However, I could set up a big store, because I wholeheartedly laid bricks one after another like the mason. Now, I'll try a new start, with the mind of the bricklayer.' This indomitable spirit enabled him to rise again and succeed in his business.

The building, which had been burnt down, was restored by its owner's fortitude. In our life of faith, whether we can get over difficulties or not depends on who masters our spirits. If we are not ruled by God but by any other spirits, we will be thrown into despair whenever we face difficulties. If arrogance has dominion over our spirits, we should crucify it. If our spirits are mastered by desperation, we should also drive it out from our hearts.
There are many trials and pains in the process of our rebirth in God. Since we have hope, no adversity can deter us. On the contrary, those who get easily frustrated, even though they've gained success, are thrown into despair when a misfortune befalls them. We endure any adversities and hardships, believing that there are God's certain plans for our lives.

World Mission Society Church of God - CLOUDS & FLESH 3

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.

Jesus, who came with the clouds

In a vision, the prophet Daniel saw the Son of Man coming with the clouds, and he prophesied:

Dan. 7:13-14 『In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.』

Jesus did not come on the visible clouds of heaven. Instead, He was born as a baby through the body of Mary. Some argue that the above prophecy is concerning Jesus’ second coming. Daniel’s prophecy is speaking of Jesus’ first coming, undoubtedly, because the prophecy states, "He was given authority, glory and sovereign power [a kingdom, KJV]; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him." Matthew and Luke disclosed that, in His first coming, Jesus had been given all authority, in heaven and on earth, as well as a kingdom.

Matt. 28:18 『Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."』

Luke 22:29 『"And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me,"』

The Bible prophesied that Jesus’ first coming would be with the clouds, and yet He came in the flesh. Therefore, the prophecy of His second coming, in a cloud, also reveals that He will secretly come in the flesh, doesn’t it? There is an undeniable prophecy: "I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away" (Matt. 24:34-35).

Then, how long will "this generation" be? Almost two thousand years have passed since Jesus spoke these words. Has the generation not yet passed? In regard to one generation, the Bible says:

Ps. 90:10 『The length of our days is seventy years, or eighty, if we have the strength...』

Therefore "this generation" can only be interpreted as the time period within which the Son of Man comes in a cloud for the second time and gathers His elect from all sides.

The last judgment will be when Jesus comes with fire

When Jesus comes as the Last Judge, He is to come with fire, not on a cloud. The prophet Isaiah testified that on the last day Jesus would come with fire. As it is written:

Isa. 66:15-16 『See, the LORD is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For with fire and with his sword the LORD will execute judgment upon all men and many will be those slain by the LORD.』

And the Apostle Paul wrote:

2 Thess. 1:7-8 『This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.』

Heb. 12:29 『...for our "God is a consuming fire."』

Matt. 24:30 『They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.』

Luke 17:22 『..."The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it."』

In other words, we will be able to see Jesus when He comes in a cloud, but we will not see Jesus when He comes with fire. Jesus also said that He wouldn’t find faith on the earth when He came on a cloud for the second time.

Luke 18:8 『"However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"』

If there is no one who has faith at the time Jesus comes, who can be saved? The Bible says:

Matt. 24:31 『"And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."』

In accordance with the prophecies of Jesus’ coming in a cloud, again, to gather His elect from the four winds, Jesus has come for a second time and is presently gathering His elect from the four winds. The one who has fulfilled all of these prophecies is Christ Ahnsahnghong.

We truly hope that you will be able to recognize the Second Coming Christ, Ahnsahnghong, through studying the prophecies of the Bible so that you may receive salvation.