A debate in Bryant Park today with someone by the name "Jin" of the unification church brought up this issue. I failed to see this verse, hence not able to truly explain it well. While going home, I spent a moment in researching on this topic and the best exposition on this verse I have thus found so far is John Calvin's (Excerpt below), eventhough about 8 other sources I've looked into have similar explanation. I truly respect John Calvin's commentaries (Eventhough he could have mistakes in explaining) because he's one of the few who expounded the books in the Bible with such detail references through the entire Bible, covering so many pertaining verses, while other commentators might be bias to certain idealism of their own. It is so important that we study the Bible daily, if we are to be witnesses of Christ. I looked up "unification church" and realized that it was something I have long forgotten. The more familiar term would be "Moonies" (For a comparison of christian cults, click here). Now everything I remembered about them is coming into my head. Their marriages are arranged, but that's not the main problem, the main issue being that Moon claims to have seen Christ who was crucified "half-way accomplishing his work", asking Moon to complete the unfinished task. This has completely break away from the Bible. Hence, being subjected to the category of Christian Cults, such as Unitarianism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, etc. Some of them have gotten so bad reputations that they changed their names such as Mormons and the Moonies. Almost all the christian cults have their founders at some point seem God, or got some kind of special revelation from God. This is very dangerous.
The Bible is completed. There's no need for new revelations. As testified in the last paragraph of the book of Revelation by John, who's the last apostle living. And throughout the Bible, we are warned about false prophets, false teachers. Anyone, even angels from heaven preach any other gospel that Paul has preached, should be accursed (Galatians 1:6-8). Such has perverted the Gospel of Christ (verse 7). Even a little different is still different, adding is also different. There's no more new ideas after the Bible. And with Paul's warning, we know in Galatians 1:8 that since its only those apostles' message is the truth, there can be no other, this is our tool to differentiate the false ones. For one to come out of such, I pray that God's predestined mercy be upon them, that those who are chosen will see the light, and turn back completely before too late. For what they believe in is not the same God. One should think hard on what did Jesus mean when he said: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15).
So many have toyed with Christ's love that they failed to see that God is not one to be toyed with. This is why, first God's justice in the Old Testament, and then Love, in the New Testament. If it had been love first then justice, the order would have brought chaos. This is the wisdom of God.
I believe it is very cunning for the members of the unification church to conceal their identity and about Sun Myung Moon, why conceal if he's so special? On the other hand, we who are true believers must be witnesses of Christ and not conceal Christ. In a way, the moonies are worse than the mormons who also focus on happiness (Their happiness is actually only temporary, bringing the power of God down to the level of flesh, having false hopes made to them by these so called "wolves" leaders), because the mormons are more open to tell people of their "prophets", Joseph Smith. Why don't some moonies just join the mormons? The some mormons join another cults? If they are truly seeking the truth, they should stop wondering about their own happiness, because there's a much more important promise by God to his chosen people that's far far beyond what we know. Only the truth will set us free. Not happiness.
Commentary by John Calvin, John 1:21: Art thou Elijah? Why do they name Elijah rather than Moses? It was because they learned from the prediction of Malachi 4:2, 5, that when the Messiah, the Sun of Righteousness, should arise, Elijah
would be the morning star to announce his approach. But the question is
founded on a false opinion which they had long held; for, holding the
opinion that the soul of a man departs out of one body into another,
when the Prophet Malachi announced that Elijah would be sent, they imagined that the same Elijah, who lived under the reign of king Ahab, (1 Kings 17:1,) was to come. It is therefore a just and true reply which John makes, that he is not Elijah;
for he speaks according to the opinion which they attached to the
words; but Christ, giving the true interpretation of the Prophet,
affirms that John is Elijah, (Matthew 11:14; Mark 9:13.)
I feel so guilty for not able to testify this passage. Nevertheless, I must be strong. Because only God's word is perfect, not mine. And I should be more careful, more diligent in seeking God's words.
Sometimes looking at these people, I also feel guilty for not being as diligent as I should have in spreading the Gospel. The true Gospel. Fear, not brave enough, laziness, tiredness of flesh from work, etc. are which I should battle against harder. I supposed God has given me this chance to see this, as a form of rebuking me, as well as giving me more courage. I cannot thank Jin for this however, because it would be like thanking Judas Iscariot for making God's plan (Jesus' Crucifixion) happen. Which is not something to be grateful of, these are sins of men. However, because of my encounter with him, I pray that God will give me the wisdom and love and speech that I could testify to people such as him of Christ's Gospel, the Truth, and that God will use me fully in such ministry. I failed in so many ways in testifying the Truth to Jin, not because he's not believing for that is up to God, but that I did not study well enough, ultimately, I have failed God in this. I can only keep struggling and pray for God's everlasting promise upon me.
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