Saturday teachings - entire message

Ephesians 4:11–13 (Focus on Unity of Faith) “And He gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

” Our emphasis is on verse 13: “Till we all come in the unity of the faith.” Right now, there is faith—but it is divided. This division is what we call denominations. One says, “I am of Paul,” another says, “I am of Apollos.” It has always been this way. But wisdom teaches us otherwise: Did Paul die for you? Did Apollos die for you? No. Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything—it is God who gives the increase. Christ is not divided. So as long as we remain divided, we are not yet walking fully in truth. True unity comes only in truth. 

When truth is rightly understood, the unity of the faith becomes a reality. The goal is: One body One fold One Shepherd Yet today, there are many groups with different leaders, even though all claim to serve Jesus. That is not the problem. The issue is the mindset. Sometimes people think ministry is an exchange—“If you come to my meeting, I’ll come to yours.” But that is not the purpose. The purpose is the advancement of the gospel. We are not trying to pull people out of places. We are not dragging anyone. Rather, we are pointing to something deeper—growth, maturity, and alignment with God’s truth. This is the mind of God: that you come to know the truth. And when you know the truth, it sets you free. Only truth has the power to bring real freedom. So to be truly free, you must know the truth of the gospel. On Gospel Salvation We’ve been discussing gospel salvation since last week. Gospel salvation is the freedom of the spirit man. Now, who is the spirit man? The spirit man is your inner being—the real you. It is the part of you that is alive to God and led by the Holy Spirit. When the gospel is received, it brings freedom first to this inner man. 

This is the beginning of true salvation. Understanding the Spirit Man Teacher: Hello? MJ: The Holy Spirit that leads me. Teacher: The Holy Spirit that leads you? MJ: Yes. Teacher: Okay… Sister June, who is the spirit man? Response: The spirit man is the born-again man. Good. Very good responses. Now, it’s important not to assume everyone understands this, so let’s break it down clearly. Some have said: The spirit man is the soul The spirit man is the Holy Spirit The spirit man is the born-again man These are thoughtful answers, but let’s bring clarity. 

The Two Natures of Man Every human being has what we call a two-in-one nature of existence: 

The physical (outer man) – the flesh 

The spiritual (inner man) – the spirit 

The outer man is visible—you can see and touch it. 

The inner man is invisible—you cannot see it with your physical eyes or touch it with your hands. 

If the spirit were physical, then during surgery, when the body is opened, we would see it—but we don’t. That’s because it is unseen. Understanding the Spiritual Realm Even in the natural world, there are things that exist but cannot be seen or heard without the right connection. 

For example: Radio waves are present in the air Voices and signals are all around us But you cannot hear them unless you have a receiver, like a radio. 

The radio works because it has a transistor that connects it to the right frequency. If the radio is off, you hear nothing. If it is on and tuned correctly, you begin to hear clearly. Spiritual Connection The same applies spiritually. 

There are spiritual communications happening, but not everyone can hear them. Why? Because not everyone is connected to the right frequency. The spirit man alone is not enough. There must be something within that enables connection to God. That “connector” is the Son of God. 

As Scripture teaches, God now speaks through His Son. Without Christ in you, you cannot truly connect to or understand the things of God. So: The spirit man is like the radio Christ in you is like the transistor that enables connection What Is the Spirit Man? The spirit man is simply: The spirit of a person—the real, inner self. It is: The real you The original man The one created in the image of God The physical body is just a vessel. The Spirit Man and Judgment The Bible teaches that: It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that, judgment. 

This shows us something important: The flesh returns to dust—it has already been judged The spirit man is the one that faces God’s eternal judgment So your body is not the real you—your spirit is. Why This Matters God’s focus is not on the flesh, but on the spirit man. Why? Because: The flesh is temporary The spirit is eternal If the spirit is not saved, it faces eternal separation. But when the spirit man is renewed through the gospel, that is true salvation. Final Insight So when we talk about the spirit man, understand this first: The spirit man is the real you, the inner man, the one that lives beyond the body and stands before God. 

And for that spirit man to truly connect with God, it must have Christ within. The Nature of Sin and the Spirit Man As a person grows, there is addition and increase—in age, in stature, in height. But alongside this physical growth, something else is also increasing: the expression of what is already inside. Sin is not something that begins later—it is something that is already present. 

As it is written: “Behold, I was shaped in iniquity…” (Psalm 51:5) “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) This means that even without doing anything, man is already in a fallen state. Why? Because the root and foundation of every human life is affected by sin from conception. The Nature of Inheritance Every child receives from their parents. You cannot give what you do not have. 

If a person is not born again, the nature of sin is already in them—and that is what they pass on. It is not just physical traits that are transferred, but also spiritual tendencies. For example: A father may carry anger, lust, pride, or idolatry A mother may carry similar traits—lust, deception, stubbornness When these come together, they are not reduced—they are multiplied in the child. It is like a principle: Lust × lust = increased lust Anger × anger = increased anger Traits combine and become stronger expressions That is why we often say: The apple does not fall far from the tree. What is in the parents is reproduced in the child. So if Christ is not in the parents, how will Christ be expressed in the child? If righteousness is not present, how will righteousness be formed? The Structure of Sin Sin is not just an action—it is a structure. Just like the body has a skeletal structure that gives it shape, the human spirit also has a spiritual structure. And by default: Every person is formed, shaped, and framed in sin. That is why sin feels natural and difficult to resist—it is part of the structure. 

Why Sin Is Hard to Overcome You cannot simply “adjust” a structure—you must replace it. Think of a building: If a house is built with a triangular roof, and you want a flat roof You cannot just bend it into shape You must tear it down and rebuild it In the same way: The sinful nature cannot be patched It must be destroyed and replaced with a new nature 

The Solution: Gospel Salvation So what is the remedy? Gospel salvation is the answer. It is: The repentance of the sinner—the transformation of the sinful heart. The heart (spirit man) is sinful because: It has the nature of sin The form of sin The structure of sin Salvation is not behavior modification—it is inner reconstruction. The old structure is removed, and a new one is formed in Christ. 

Final Insight Every human being starts with a sinful structure, inherited and formed from the beginning. But through the gospel: The spirit man is set free The old nature is replaced A new life begins That is true salvation—not outward change, but inner transformation. The Structure of Sin and the Process of Salvation If a structure is changed, the appearance also changes. In the same way, true gospel salvation changes a person from within—it changes the structure. But if someone claims to be saved and the structure of sin is still intact, then that person cannot sustain righteousness. They lack the spiritual endurance to grow or continue in the things of God. That is why: Preaching to one person can feel exhausting Praying for a few minutes feels difficult Reading Scripture becomes a struggle Yet, in sin: You can watch movies for hours without stress You can argue or gossip all day without getting tired Why? Because your structure supports sin, not righteousness. 

The Problem: Wrong Structure If your inner structure is not aligned with God: You lack stamina for spiritual things You cannot endure in righteousness You struggle to please God This is why people say: “I serve God in my own way.” But that “way” is not aligned with heaven. It may seem right, but it does not follow God’s pattern, and it is not approved by Him. Serving God was never meant to be done according to the flesh. 

Gospel Salvation: The Three Key Steps Gospel salvation involves three essential processes: 

1. Repentance Salvation begins with repentance of the heart. Repentance is not just saying “forgive me.” It means: A sincere decision never to return to that sin again. It is a deep, genuine change of heart. 

2. Forgiveness Forgiveness follows true repentance. Just asking for forgiveness does not mean you are forgiven. What God looks for is: Sincerity Genuineness A heart that truly turns away from sin When repentance is real, forgiveness comes. And when God forgives: Your past is wiped away The enemy can no longer use it against you 

3. Reconciliation Finally, there is reconciliation with God. This means: Peace is restored between you and God You become a child of God 

So the process is: Repentance → Forgiveness → Reconciliation Spiritual Reality: Accusation and Cleansing Spiritually, anything connected to sin gives the enemy grounds for accusation. It only takes one thing—just one—to stand against you. 

That is why the world is filled with sin in many forms: If you don’t do it, you may see it If you don’t see it, you may think it In one way or another, people become entangled. The Example of Security Screening Think of it like an airport: Before boarding: Your bags are checked Your body is scanned Anything not allowed is removed In the same way: Nothing unclean can enter the kingdom of God. 

You cannot carry what does not belong to God into His kingdom. 

What Makes You a Child of God? 

Repentance attracts forgiveness 

Forgiveness leads to reconciliation 

Reconciliation makes you a child of God 

So: You are not truly a child of God unless your sins have been forgiven. And your sins cannot be forgiven without genuine repentance. The Evidence of Forgiveness When something is paid for, you receive a receipt. 

In the same way: When God forgives, there is a confirmation There is an inward witness and transformation So the question is: What is your evidence? What confirms that you have truly been forgiven? Final Thought Many claim to be children of God, but without true repentance and forgiveness, that claim is empty. God is looking for: A sincere heart Genuine repentance True transformation That is the foundation of real salvation. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah. 

Discussion on Repentance, Forgiveness, and Understanding Participant: While you were teaching, something came to my mind: “Whatever is not of faith is sin.” I was also thinking about how people keep asking for forgiveness but continue doing the same things—myself included. For example, in some churches, people are taught to confess to a man or repeat prayers, believing that alone brings forgiveness. 

It can seem like this encourages a cycle of sin—sinning, then repeating a process, without real change. Teacher: Yes, you have a point. We will address that in detail. What we’ve done today is just an introduction. We are beginning a teaching on gospel repentance: What repentance truly is How it happens How to examine your own repentance Question: Is Asking for Forgiveness Enough? Participant: I used to believe that once you ask God for forgiveness and have faith, then you are forgiven. 

Teacher: In this teaching, you will understand that it goes deeper than that. You asked: What is the proof of forgiveness? 

Let me give an example. When I sought God sincerely and repented, I received confirmation. I saw a vision of people standing in a queue, waiting to enter a place—like a checkpoint. At the entrance, there was someone checking each person, like at an airport: If you had what was required, you passed If not, you were turned back When it got to my turn, I realized I had nothing. I was afraid and trembling. Then suddenly, someone appeared and said: “Let him go—he is with me.” The door was opened, and I was allowed in. When I woke up, I knew: That was confirmation that I had been forgiven. So yes—there is always a witness, a confirmation when forgiveness truly happens. 

Key Insight Forgiveness does not take time—it happens instantly when repentance is genuine. What delays forgiveness is not God, but lack of true repentance. 

Question: Should We Confess to God or to a Person? Teacher: Every confession ultimately goes to God. However: There is personal confession directly to God There are also times where guidance from others may help, depending on the situation We will explain this more clearly as we continue. 

Question: Why Do I Still Feel Guilty After Repenting? Answer: If guilt remains, forgiveness has not yet taken place. Because when God truly forgives: The guilt is removed The burden is lifted What may be missing is complete repentance, especially the action part of repentance. Repentance is not just: Saying “I did wrong” It must include: A real turning away A change in behavior Without action, repentance is incomplete.

 Question: What If I Repent but Keep Falling Into the Same Sin? Teacher: If someone keeps repeating the same thing while asking for forgiveness, it shows something deeper. It is like a child who keeps doing wrong and saying, “forgive me,” but never changes. At some point: It is no longer ignorance—it becomes a conscious pattern. True repentance breaks that cycle. 

Final Clarification This teaching is not about attacking any church or denomination. It is about you: Your heart Your repentance Your relationship with God 

Conclusion As we continue this teaching on gospel repentance, you will learn: What true repentance really is How to know if you are truly forgiven How to walk in genuine transformation