Today I would like to share the grace of God under the title, “The God Given Life vs the Humanistic Counterfeit Model.” If we look around us, there are various kinds of trees and grass. There are not only real trees and grass but also trees and grass made by humans. They look the same if we look at them from far away. However, if we go up close and touch them, we can feel thedifference, the real one has life. Artificial trees and grass look beautiful and have lifelike details, but when we come into contact with them, there is no life at all in them. It is the same with man. We descendants of Adam and Eve have life that is quite different from unbelievers. Those who believe in Jesus and receive God’s life in them have a different atmosphere and quality of life. The life given by Jesus is fundamentally different from the “natural” life of worldly people. In the New Testament there are several words for life: ‘bios,’ or ‘psyche,’ referringto physical life,the meaning of ‘psyche’ is mortal. However, the life given by Jesus is ‘joe.’ So, when we die, our physical life is spoken about as ‘psyche’ while our eternal life is ‘joe’. Jesus said in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Here the eternal life Jesus refers to is ‘joe’. If you want to sound academic about the meaning of these words, those who do not believe in Jesus have ‘psyche’ life which will end on earth and not continue to heaven, but ‘joe’ life is an eternal life,with Jesus,for those who believe in Jesus. Jesus gives us the life of the Holy Spirit through His resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 says, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 John 5:12 says, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” Only Jesus Christ has the eternal life so those who live with Him have this life. Any religions and rituals made by man cannot bring true life. Jesus destroyed the world of death by being resurrected from the dead after three days. Jesus has become our eternal Savior. When we have this Jesus, He will enter into us with this eternal life. Everyone lives a thirsty life. Some are thirsty for power while others for fame. Some are thirsty for wealth while others for love and acknowledgement from other people. Everyone in the world is suffering from some kind of thirst in his/her life. Jesus says to us, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." People each have different desires in their hearts, but the reason for thirst in them is common to all; it is happiness. They want happiness to remain in their hearts. Why did Jesus ask people, “For what do you have thirst?” It is because we humans have spirits, which are dead due to sins. Our spiritual life is dead while our physical life or ‘psyche’ is only alive. Therefore, our spiritual life is dead and it leaves something empty. The fundamental being of us humans is spirit. We are not merely physical but spiritual. Since our spirits, made in God’s image and likeness, are dead, we can’t converse with God. Actually our dead spirits should first be revived to converse with God and to live with happiness. However, those who have dead spirits want to enjoy happiness through social status, fame, power, money, and worldly praise, but as their spirits are dead, they can’t find satisfaction with them.Among you who are listening to my sermon now, any of you who are unbelievers have a dead self. Your true self is already dead; your outer beings are alive but your inner beings are dead so your empty feeling seems endless. However, all of you who believe in Jesus Christ are living people with living spirits. Therefore, you have satisfaction and happiness in your hearts. Those whose spirits are dead can’t understand anything or any words in the kingdom of God. Those who are dead spiritually never understand the kingdom of God. John 4:13-14 says, “Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’" When we drink the water of life given by the Lord and have a revived spirit, we will never be thirsty again. When we believe in Jesus, by the works of the Holy Spirit in us, we will have true joy and contentment. We are the branches of the vine. Jesus said “I am the vine; you are the branches.”(John 15:5) The vine bears fruit through its branches. They draw minerals and other nutrients from the soil to bear fruit to please God. It is the Holy Spirit who creates a new character in you. Jesus is the vine and you are the branches attached to the tree; the Spirit of God will bear fruit through us branches. Can we bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? No matter how hard we may determine to bear it, it is impossible. However, when the Holy Spirit enters into our spirits to work, Jesus’ character will be manifest through us. Such Character traits such as faith, hope, righteousness, peace, and joy can’t be made through us, but the Holy Spirit works to bear fruit. If we try to put an artificial fruit into us, it will be exposed. Fake fruit willsoon become evident. Matthew 7:15-18 says, "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.” Like a bad tree can’t bear good fruit, unbelievers are unable to bear good fruit naturally. Only when we believe in Jesus and are born again, His good characteristics will enter into us to bear good fruit, the fruit of Christ. Whosoever believes in Christ has the life of Jesus in him/her. After we believe in the Lord, no matter how hard we try, human efforts and deeds can’t change us at all. Galatians 2:21 says, “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" While the law treated us as sinners, Jesus died in our place to save us by His blood. Then if we insist that our salvation comes through keeping the law along with faith in Jesus, He died in vain. As Jesus died to settle all our sins in the law, if we say that we are saved by keeping the law, His death becomes futile. Galatians 6:15 says, “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.” The Jewish people say that when a child is born, it must be circumcised to be saved. Which is very effective, believing in Jesus or circumcision? Then believing in Jesus will become useless if circumcision is effective. The reality is there is nothing else for our salvation other than believing in Jesus Christ. The most amazing thing in our life of faith is that all the past, present, and future sins of sinful and unrighteous and filthy people are settled in Christ by their faith. Jesus took all those sins and died on the cross shedding His blood. What did Jesus say before He breathed His last breath? “It is finished.” The Lord did everything that is needed for our salvation on the cross. Through the crucifixion of Jesus all our sins in life are settled! Furthermore, His blood cleanses our sinfulness to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Through the blood on the cross, all our physical and mental diseases are settled, too. We must come forward with bold faith. We don’t need to add more to what Jesus has already done on the cross. We need to just accept what He paid on the cross. Jesus died on the cross to carry all our curses on Himself. After Adam and Eve rebelled against God, the ground was cursed because of them and humans had to live while suffering from thorns and thistles. But Jesus was crucified on the cross to settle all human curses. "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Jesus had no reason to die on the cross, but He was cursed on behalf of us. As soon as curses are gone, the blessing of Abraham is given in its place. God told Abraham, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.“ When you believe in Jesus, you must believe that you will be blessed to live in God’s blessing like Abraham. Then Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected after three days and destroyed death and Hades and gave us eternal blessing and life instead. Therefore, when Jesus said, “It is finished,” He settled all our despair and gave hope to all the people through the cross. There is nothing better than hope in the world. Jesus is giving hope now by saying through the cross, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” When you believe in Jesus Christ, He will settle all your sins, filth, diseases, curses and Hades on behalf of you. Then you must keep in mind that Jesus has given you new hope. Our congregation at Yoido Full Gospel Church has been very blessed by God’s grace and blessings because they always carry the Fivefold Gospel and the Threefold Blessing in their hearts. Faith in Jesus means to settle all despair and to carry hope in life through the Fivefold Gospel, so we must cherish hope in our hearts and live with faith to be blessed by God. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances.” When we rejoice always and pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances through the Fivefold Gospel, God’s grace will overflow in our lives. We must not forget that Jesus Christ said on the cross, “It is finished.” Now all of you are carrying the cross. 2 Corinthians 4:10 says, “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” When we carry around the cross of Jesus, the hope of the Fivefold Gospel will overflow in our lives, as a result, we will have miracles that we prosper spiritually, materially, and physically and have the life to the full. When we believe in Jesus Christ, it is not just religious or ritual faith, but God changes our lives and makes us renewed to give us a hopeful life. We must keep speaking positive words to ourselves. If we are in despair, we must say to ourselves, “The Lord is with me so I will not be in despair. As the Lord will fulfill everything for me, I am hopeful.” When we become sad and sorrowful, we must say, “I am joyful as the Lord is with me now.” We must encourage, comfort, and make ourselves happy because it is what we have to do. “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” As Jesus finished everything for us, we don’t have anything to do but have faith. We have already received life by faith so we can’t help but give thanks without ceasing. When we rejoice and keep praying with hope and give thanks in all circumstances, incomparable happiness will be given to us. Christianity is to enjoy life that God has given us through Jesus by accepting it with faith. This life is filled with God’s grace and love. As God has given you life by His grace and love, only if you believe in Him then will you have this faith. 2 Corinthians 2:9-10 says, “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’-- 10.but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” Your spirits are revived and the Holy Spirit comes upon you like the wind so you can converse with God through the Holy Spirit. You can share God’s grace in each of your lives. Therefore, you can be happy. You won’t be thirsty. As your spirits are alive, you have overflowing joy and hope with you. God is pleased with you and also with you now.