Affirmation of Faith with Ryan

Another great story of God's work in Korea....

So our church goes to this Christian Coffee shop called Holy Cross on Sunday night, just like normal. Usually, we have about 45 minutes to an hour to just talk and have fun before we need to go home. Well I struck up a conversation with this guy Ryan. He is a little older, sometimes a little left out maybe, but I decided to ask him, "How long have you been a Christian." Most Korean people that are learning English can understand your words better than they can get out what they want to say...

But he replied...."I am almost." I'm thinking almost a Christian? So we talked about it, and he said that he was not Christian, yet, because he didn't have the ceremony. Ceremony? What ceremony....then he started to show me with his hands...."water, under...." OHhhh Baptism......"Yess! I need to be baptized." "Oh you do..." I said.

He had been telling me that he has been going to church for about a year now, and that he is not "saved" because he had not been baptized in water yet. So interesting. How does it feel to go to church, and not know that you are saved from a sure death? Wow...I sure know this feeling...I felt it many times before I understood more about the truth of God's Word.

So I began to explain about Jesus on the cross, and the two criminals that were hanging there besides Him, and how one professed that Jesus was guiltless and then asked to be "remembered" as Jesus went to His Kingdom. Jesus told him "Today you will be with me in Paradise." We later find out that the criminals both died. I told him that Paradise was heaven, and he agreed. I told Ryan that the criminal was forgiven by God, even though he was a criminal. And then I told him that God took him down off the cross and baptized him, and then he died....................NOOOOOOOO!!!! He died as a believer in Christ, and that was sufficient for salvation!

By this time, we were sitting down and I was telling him about Jesus being baptized in Matthew 3. It says that John tried to prevent Jesus from being baptized, saying that Jesus should baptize John. But He said no, saying He wanted to "fulfill all righteousness." I told Ryan that Jesus did this because it was good for Him to do it. He is being an example to us believers. "Now did Jesus have to be baptized?" He shook his head...."No, He is perfect." Jesus did not have to be baptized, He was identifying with us sinful men, showing us that He is standing in our place for us. He did not have to, or that would be saying that Jesus is not God, or that God is not perfect, which He is both.

So we talked a little more, mostly because I was afraid that he was not really saved, but as I questioned him, he told me that he had sought other religions, but found that Christianity was true. He prayed to Jesus to forgive him. But he thought he wasn't a Christian yet because he had not been baptized.

I was angry at the different Pastors that had taught this man the wrong things out of the Word of God. I am not perfect either, I thought, but it made me realize the importance of knowing the Word of God even more. I always remember this quote from Pastor Tommy..."Preaching the Word is like fishing. You throw out the nets, but then you have to pull them back in." A lot of people miss the opportunity to pull in the nets, and it might be because they do not piece together the "whole counsel" of God, only knowing pieces, that do not benefit its hearers.

Praise the Lord, this man now understands he IS in a relationship with God. Pray God will continue to disciple this new believer.

I write this long of a letter because I think it is important...Know your Bible...know what you believe about being saved, baptism, the rapture, the end times, gifts of the Holy Spirit...do your homework. You will be tested, so be ready for the test.

Warning!!! There are many people walking around that think they are not saved, but they might be, because they do not understand the Word of God. You be their encouragement! Warning!!! There are many "Christians" that are walking around, thinking that they have a relationship with God, but they do not, because they do not understand the Word of God.

Dig into the Word guys....