Hakata Letter 88. The Meeting to Receive Jesus for Existing Believers

Hakata Letter 88. The Meeting to Receive Jesus for Existing Believers

Among existing believers, there are those who feel dissatisfied or sometimes uncomfortable about the atmosphere of having to attend the Meeting to Receive Jesus (Confession of Faith Meeting). However, in our church, we have existing believers also participate in the Meeting to Receive Jesus. In fact, last month, only three existing believers attended our church's Meeting to Receive Jesus. Strictly speaking, the Meeting to Receive Jesus is not a time for existing believers. But why does our church encourage existing believers to attend the Meeting to Receive Jesus, which might seem unnecessary for them?

We encourage not only existing believers but all church members to attend, and when their faith becomes weak, we deliberately encourage them to attend again for the following reasons: Even among those who have been attending church for some time, when asked, "If you died today, are you confident you would go to heaven?" surprisingly few answer "yes" with confidence.

The most important thing in our lives is not attending church, but receiving Jesus. Receiving Jesus means having the assurance of going to heaven. However, if someone I expected to be in heaven is not there when I arrive, it would be very confusing. That person might have attended Sunday worship their entire life without receiving Jesus as their Savior. Perhaps they never even thought they wouldn't go to heaven. Nevertheless, if that person didn't go to heaven, I think the person they would resent most would be the pastor of this church.

Of course, I sometimes preach the gospel of Jesus Christ directly through Sunday sermons as well. This is because it is so important that we cannot live as Christians without the gospel of Jesus Christ. But if the gospel of Jesus Christ is that important, then this "Meeting to Receive Jesus" - where we set aside separate time specifically for the gospel, seriously proclaiming it and accepting it - is very important.

Three types of people attend the Meeting to Receive Jesus: ① Non-believing VIPs who have not yet been saved ② Believers without assurance of salvation ③ Believers with assurance of salvation. Existing believers here refers to the second and third types. However, when we ask for impressions after the Meeting to Receive Jesus, almost all existing believers are more moved than the non-believing VIPs. At last month's Meeting to Receive Jesus, all participants were existing believers with assurance of salvation, yet despite differences in expression, it was a time when everyone was grateful and moved by the assurance of salvation.

"Originally, the Meeting to Receive Jesus is not a time for them but for non-believers - so why does this phenomenon occur?" After leading the Meeting to Receive Jesus for the past two years, I have come to my own understanding. For existing believers, this time becomes an opportunity to reaffirm the salvation they received and restore the joy of salvation. And through this, it becomes a time when personal spirituality is restored. The more I lead the Meeting to Receive Jesus, the more convinced I become of this truth.

Some existing believers feel a vague burden about sitting close to the pastor and facing him directly. However, hesitating or postponing because of such burdens is truly regrettable when considering the spiritual benefits this gathering brings. The more I conduct the Meeting to Receive Jesus, the more convinced I become that having existing believers participate is truly a good thing. (2026.2.8)

Pastor Kim Juyoung, who walks with you