Tapani Karhumaa
Receiving the Gospel
Tapani Karhumaa read the verses 11-12 of first chapter of the gospel according to St.John for the topic of his sermon. The text concerned how the main person of the Bible, Jesus, started his earthly work and the preaching of the gospel. Karhumaa reminded the listeners of the Christian Doctrine emphasizing that getting to know God and Jesus Christ and obtaining the childhood of God shoud be the most important thing in our lives.
The prophets of the Old Testament foretell Jesus through the Holy Spirit,and the New Testament describes how those prophecies will be fulfilled. Jesus appeared and manifested himself to the people of Israel according to the word of the Bible, but people did not receive him. Even if you profoundly know the Bible ja its historical backgrounds it will not save you if you do not believe personally your sins forgiven.
Jesus acted personally as a preacher only for a short time. His main message was that everybody should repent and believe the gospel. After the death of Jesus began the time of the visitation for the pagan nations. In the text Karhumaa read it was stated that, those who received the gospel became the children of God. The children of God form the "spiritual Israel", the holy nation, which one day will inherit the everlasting life in heaven. It pays to repent for this inheritance and believe the glad tidings, the good message of the gospel of Jesus. (Translated by Ilkka Hakulinen)
Service reporter Anna Linjama