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1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise according to human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

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Observe what kind of people come to believe in Jesus in the world. They are not those with much wisdom and power according to the flesh. Nor are they those of noble birth who have much to boast about in the world. Instead, God chooses the weak and the poor to believe in Jesus, and He blesses the feeble and makes them strong. Thereby, He shames those who have become proud with the power and wisdom of the world.

Those who were once despised and treated with contempt sometimes receive the Lord's grace and power to become leaders over worldly people. Joseph was sold into a foreign country as a despised slave. However, after the Lord trained him, He made him the most powerful ruler next to the king of Egypt. Through Joseph, God saved his family who were in extreme disaster, and laid the foundation for the nation of Israel to become a great nation in the future.

However, the purpose of our believing in Jesus is not to prosper in the world. There is a greater blessing and purpose than that. It is to become citizens of the kingdom of heaven. The Lord desires all people in the world—never just a part—to believe in Jesus, repent of their sins, and come to heaven.

Yet, those who possess worldly wisdom, power, and wealth easily become proud. Therefore, they do not readily respond to the Lord's earnest calling. On the other hand, the powerless and the poor easily respond to the Lord's invitation and become citizens of heaven. When they follow the Lord's guidance well, their life on this earth also becomes peaceful.

Therefore, everyone must lay down human thoughts and pride before God the Creator. When we purely follow the Lord's words, our worldly life will lack nothing, and in the end, we will enter the kingdom of heaven.

Do you think you are superior to others, healthy, and possess much knowledge? Do not become proud because of that. Use it for the Lord. You will become a greater worker for God. Like the Apostle Paul, you can become someone who saves many souls.

The Lord does not hate those who have much ability. He gave them ability and intelligence to spread the gospel through them. However, those who have received abundantly perish because they do not use it for the Lord, but use it for their own flesh and boast about themselves.

On the other hand, the weak and the poor rely on the Lord. The Lord uses their faith. It is not important to be born as a gold vessel. Even if one is born lowly like a stone vessel, when he strives to cleanse himself and be used for the Lord, the Lord considers him more precious than a gold vessel.

God spreads the gospel of life and establishes the kingdom and righteousness of God through such people.

Therefore, whether strong or weak, everyone must boast only in Jesus. Jesus is the Almighty God, and the only Savior who forgives all our sins and saves us. Never boast about yourself. Boast only in the Lord. The Lord absolutely does not want to save only a part of the people.

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1 Corinthians 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

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The gospel of Jesus Christ is not human words or wisdom. The gospel is God's promise. God's promise is that whoever believes in Jesus Christ and repents of their sins will be forgiven and go to heaven.

This gospel of salvation is preached by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul also did not preach the gospel by his own wisdom and power, but preached it with the demonstration and power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works together with the preacher of the gospel. When we preach the gospel, the Holy Spirit brings the Lord's words to our mind and causes those who hear the words to understand. With human knowledge and wisdom, we cannot make those who are oppressed by the power of Satan believe in Jesus.

The Holy Spirit opens the human heart that is tightly closed by sin. The power of the Holy Spirit softens the human heart that is hardened like stone, and sometimes through undeniable signs and wonders, causes them to accept Jesus as their Savior.

Unbelievers are full of worldly greed and pride, so they do not know God. They are all captives of Satan. Only God, who is stronger than Satan, can liberate them from the power of Satan. Human doctrines and theories are all tools of Satan. The power of Satan cannot be broken through these things.

Preachers of the gospel must not put human philosophy, knowledge, wisdom, and experience forward. They must preach only that Jesus is God. They must preach that the words of Jesus are the way of salvation.

The Holy Spirit comes to those who realize that Jesus is God. When the Holy Spirit comes, He makes them realize all their sins and causes them to repent. And He pours out the power to obey the Lord's words.

As we continue to obey, our faith grows stronger and stronger, and the areas in which we obey become even greater. We strive even more to resemble the heart of Jesus.

We must broadly forgive our neighbors' faults, discard evil thoughts, words, and actions, and bear much fruit of love to bring greater glory to Jesus who saved us.

A faith that goes to heaven is not formed overnight. Faith grows gradually while experiencing trials and hardships through time. When faith grows, that person eventually becomes a preacher of the gospel as well.

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1 Corinthians 2:6-10

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"—but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

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The wisdom of God cannot be understood by worldly wisdom or human thoughts. No ruler or famous philosopher in the world knows the secret of salvation prepared by God.

God prepared Jesus Christ for the glory of His children. He also created His people for the glory of God. However, humans degenerated and went down the path of destruction, serving the desires of the flesh more than the word of God. Forsaking God's ordained will is corruption itself, and its result is the punishment of hell.

To save perishing humans, God Himself took on flesh and came into the world. When God, who is Spirit, came clothed in human flesh, His name is the Son of God and Jesus Christ.

This plan of salvation cannot be realized by fallen humans on their own. It can only be known when the Holy Spirit enables us to understand. Jesus Christ causes humans, who lost the glory of being God's children, to reclaim that initial glory.

Humans, created for the glory of God, are beings glorious next to God. However, because of sin, humans lost that qualification. At that time, God's abundant mercy appeared. God Himself bore the punishment of humans and set humans free from sin and punishment.

This work was not done at the request of humans. When God created humans, He pre-established a plan to save them in case they fell. If humans had not fallen, there would have been no need for Jesus Christ to come into the world.

Humans voluntarily serving God and loving their neighbors is what glorifies God. God created humans expecting this purpose. However, the first man violated this will, and his descendants came to be born in sin.

It is not that God induced humans to fall. Humans became greedy and fell on their own accord. God gave humans complete freedom. Through that freedom, humans were meant to love God and love their neighbors. That was the way to keep the glorious duty given to humans.

Humans fell by themselves and went down the path of destruction. However, God gives freedom to sinners again and causes them to walk the path of glory. When the saved live a life of repentance and obedience following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we always keep the path of glory given by the Lord.

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1 Corinthians 2:11-16

For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment. "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

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A man's circumstances are known by the spirit within that man. Because other people only see the outward appearance, they cannot fully know a person's deep circumstances. Likewise, only God knows the deep will of God. God is Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit knows the deep will and plan of God.

No creature—whether angel, human, or Satan—can know the deep will of the Creator God on its own. Only when God reveals His will can a creature know it. The spiritual will and plan of God are understood by those who have received the Holy Spirit, by means of the Holy Spirit.

The reason the Holy Spirit comes to us is to make us understand all things that God has freely given us by grace. Therefore, with human wisdom, one can neither know God's will nor teach it correctly. Spiritual things can only be understood by the Holy Spirit, who is spiritual.

The words of the Bible are spiritual words. The Bible was recorded by the Holy Spirit and can be correctly interpreted only by the Holy Spirit. A person who is abundant only in worldly knowledge without the Holy Spirit can never interpret the Bible correctly. To them, the words of the Bible are not believed as facts. The reality of heaven and hell is not believed, and the word that one will receive blessings and go to heaven if they obey the Lord's word only sounds like an empty echo.

The fact that Jesus Christ is the unique Savior of mankind is also not believed by them. This is because they cannot believe the fact that God took on human flesh and came into the world.

There are very many pastors and theologians who have not received the Holy Spirit. They interpret the Bible with human knowledge. Therefore, they say there are many difficult passages in the Bible. However, if one interprets the Bible with worldly knowledge, it becomes inconsistent with other Bible verses, and their interpretations conflict with each other. As a result, many denominations are created.

There is only one Creator God. There are never two or three. The Holy Spirit is fully present throughout the entire universe. Therefore, God can work in all places simultaneously and hold different conversations with all people simultaneously.

God, who is Spirit, speaks through the mouth of Jesus while simultaneously releasing His voice from heaven. One must receive the Holy Spirit to believe in the omniscient and omnipotent God as He is. Thus, one comes to believe the words of the Bible without doubt. Also, one repents of the sins pointed out by the Bible and strives to eagerly obey the Lord's words.

Those who do not have the Holy Spirit become legalists. Their minds are full of Bible knowledge, but they do not know how to repent of their sins and cannot obey with a true heart. These church members are more conscious of people than God. Therefore, they always live their life of faith while watching people's reactions. This is not true faith, but fake faith.

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1 Corinthians 3:1-5

Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.

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Among those who believe in Jesus, some still belong to the flesh, and some belong to spiritual things. Christians who belong to the flesh believe in Jesus primarily to gain worldly benefits. Such people pray first for blessings in the world, for health, and for their children to prosper. Therefore, they dispute with one another due to greed for worldly things. They live for their own glory rather than the Lord's glory, and strive to protect their pride and honor.

The Apostle Paul tried to teach these words to the Corinthians. However, they were in a state where they could not yet receive these words. Therefore, the Apostle Paul felt frustrated.

The words the Corinthians wanted to hear were that if they believed in Jesus, unconditionally worldly matters would go well and they would become healthy. Such words are also in the Bible. However, these blessings naturally follow when one serves God well first and serves neighbors according to the Lord's words.

If Christians put their own glory and blessings ahead of God's glory, that itself becomes idolatry. When first believing in Jesus, one can have this kind of purpose. However, as time passes and one learns the word of God, the values of faith must change centered around the Bible.

The purpose for which God made humans is to have them fulfill the kingdom and righteousness of God, and to receive glory through this.

If Christians put worldly desires and pride in the place of God, the Lord cannot receive glory through them.

Satan fell because he put his own glory ahead of God's glory, and he was expelled from heaven.

Today, many Christians are following the path of Satan. If they do not turn back quickly, they will also end up like Satan's destiny.

To make the kingdom of God realized on this earth, one must first forgive and understand others. One must discard thoughts of disregarding others, lower pride and self-esteem, and serve neighbors with a gentle heart. When one lowers oneself, loves, and serves others, harmony is achieved. And through that harmony, the Lord receives glory.

The Lord cares for and blesses Christians who obey the Lord's words to realize the kingdom of God. The Lord fills them so that they lack nothing, and grants them health.

However, if one changes the order and sequence ordained by the Lord due to human greed, that becomes the path of Satan within the church. Do not divide sides within the church. Forming factions and experiencing mutual animosity is the path of Satan.

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1 Corinthians 3:6-11

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. He who plants and he who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

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Planting a tree means preaching Jesus Christ, and watering it means continuing to teach the words of the Bible to those who have accepted Jesus. However, the One who governs all things and makes their faith grow is only God.

Therefore, he who plants and he who waters are not different from each other. Each merely fulfills the work entrusted to him, and the Lord bestows rewards according to what each person has labored. Preaching and teaching is partnering in the work of God.

God's people are the field where God sows seeds, and they are also those who build a house of faith. Just as seeds produce much fruit when they fall on good soil, when the word of God falls on a good heart, it bears much fruit of love.

God dwells in the heart of a

Christian. The place where God is is the temple and the house of God. When we obey the word of God, our faith becomes a house built on the rock. However, when we disobey, it is like a house built on sand and eventually collapses.

Be careful. Do not build a house just anywhere. Build the house of faith only on the rock. That rock is only Jesus Christ. Obeying Jesus' words is building a house on the rock.

Believing in human-made doctrines is like building a house on sand. One must follow only the words of the Bible for it to become a faith that does not collapse. Do not rely on your own thoughts. Jesus Christ is the eternal foundation of faith. No other foundation of faith should be laid other than the word of Christ.

God, who created humans, commanded how humans ought to live. That is the way of life. If one does not follow God's way, he is abandoned by God.

Therefore, forgive one another and be at peace. Discard evil thoughts, evil words, and evil actions, and bring edification to one another. Discard stubbornness and pride, and respect and serve one another. This is bearing the fruit of love, and building the house of faith on the rock.