On September 30, during the fourth Impact Asia Alliance (IAA) Summit, Rev. Jung Min Kim from South Korea preached on the theme "Recovery of the Gospel," sharing what true gospel recovery means and reminding attendees of the essence of the gospel.
The summit, themed "Sun Rise From East," was held at Wesleyan Holiness Yodobashi Church in Tokyo, Japan, from September 30 to October 3. It brought together nearly 800 Christian leaders from across Asia.
Rev. Kim stated that recovery means becoming better than before. Everyone has areas in life they hope to restore, such as finances, health, or relationships. He noted that many reasons can hinder recovery, with one common belief among Christians being, "I haven't received enough blessings." However, Pastor Kim emphasized, "The most important issue in life is not the inability to recover, but the loss of the essential message of the gospel."
"The gospel is neither a doctrine nor a concept; it is Jesus Christ himself," Pastor Kim explained. "The gospel is not dead words, but the living Christ who is working, the beginning and the end."
Pastor Kim referred to Paul's account of the gospel to the Corinthians: "First, Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." He explained, "We are all familiar with this, death and resurrection. But this is not a formula; it is the revelation of a person. Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again. The central focus of it all is the person of Jesus Christ. The gospel is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who he is."
Quoting Jesus' words, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me," Pastor Kim emphasized, "Jesus did not say there is a way to reach the Father; He said, 'I am the way.' He did not describe what truth is; He declared, I am the truth. Jesus said, 'Hold on to me.' Only the one who gives life to others is life itself."
He went on to explain that the Greek word for gospel, "εὐαγγέλιον," was used in Roman times to announce the victories or coronations of emperors. The Gospel of Mark adopts this term in the phrase, "The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God," to proclaim the coming of Jesus of Nazareth—the true King.
"The gospel is the transformative good news that brings revolution. It is neither a means to an end nor an abstract concept. The gospel is the living God who touches the hearts of people. I surrender all authority in my life to the King of kings, the Lord Jesus."
"True recovery is a personal encounter with Jesus," Pastor Kim said. "Such an encounter is not merely about professing faith in Him, but about restoring your first love. It is not the recovery of knowledge but the restoration of a relationship. To love Jesus passionately and wholeheartedly once again, that is true recovery."
He continued, "Think back to when you first believed in Jesus; how your heart was moved! You knew all your sins were forgiven, and tears flowed whenever you heard His name. But over time, so many things began to come between you and Jesus—self-fulfillment, family, children, and money. God's love for us has never changed and remains fervent, yet we often focus only on the blessings we hope to receive. The result is a broken relationship that must be restored."
Pastor Kim stressed, "The gospel is about surrendering the sovereignty of your life to Jesus once more and inviting him to reign on the throne of your heart. Jesus is not merely a theological concept but my King and my Lord. When we love him, know him, and obey him, the thirst of our hearts will be renewed."
In closing, Pastor Kim urged everyone to pray for one thing: that Jesus would once again be enthroned as Lord of their lives. He prayed, "Lord, I have believed in the gospel outwardly, but not in You. Please forgive me. Come once again to the throne of my heart and reign as Lord of my life. Lord, my King, take control of everything in me."
Originally published by the Christian Times
- Edited by Katherine Guo and translated by Poppy Chan
