We often ask ourselves these questions: What are human beings and what do we live for? What is the origin of the universe, and does God truly exist? Modern society contains many other problems that cannot be solved, and people are troubled even now in their search for the solutions to these problems. Then we have no choice but to ponder upon the cause of these problems that the entire humankind is suffering from.
Under this circumstance, modern religions are faced with not only the problems of individuals but also with many other on a worldwide level. Here, we shall look into the fundamental causes of these problems, and find the solutions through the Bible and the Divine Principle.
What is the purpose of life? Everyone struggles for happiness. How, then, can happiness be attained?
People feel happy when their desires are fulfilled. There are, however, two types of human desires; one that pursues goodness by single-mindedly following the desires of the original mind and the other that does evil.
Following is the confession of the Apostle Paul from the passage of the Bible.
For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (Rom. 7:22-24)
As it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands, no one seeks for God." (Rom. 3:10-11)
We can see that men can find true happiness by following the original mind or misery by following the evil desire. In this way, we can see that there is a self-contradiction in human nature. The Bible states that such contradiction results from falling into the state of ignorance at the time of the fall.
Even the Apostle Paul, Jesus' great disciple, says in the Bible that it will eventually lead them to destruction. In Christianity, we call this the "Fall of Man." Then let's look into the situation of fallen mankind more specifically!
The human fall signifies man's descent into the darkness of ignorance. Since man consists of two elements, mind and body, there are two aspects of ignorances, internal and external. It is science which has been trying to overcome mankind's external ignorance by questioning the origin of the material world, all physical phenomena and natural laws. Religion is the other stream of thoughts that deals with the internal ignorance: What is the origin of human beings? What is the purpose of life? Do God and the next world exist? What happens after death? What is the nature of good and evil?
Throughout the course of history, science has made a remarkable development to overcome the external ignorance. On the other hand, religion which is trying to overcome internal ignorance, has many internal problems. Then how can we redeem ourselves from this state of ignorance?
The Bible says that salvation is made possible only through God's words, the Truth.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)
And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. (John 8:32)
For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Heb. 4:12-13)
We can see the necessity of truth from the above passage of the Bible.
Then can today's many Christians completely overcome these ignorance through the word of truth, the word of God? The Bible shows that new words have been given accordingly in each era.
The graph above shows that Adam before the fall could communicate with God directly. However, after the fall, mankind could not directly communicate with God any longer. At the time of Abraham, people could go to God with offerings, at the time of Moses, with commands, and at the time of Jesus, with new gospels that would make those commands anew.
Here we can find that the means to deliver God's words also have been gradually making a progress as man's spiritual level has made the corresponding development.
Therefore we can see that in this age we need a new word. The new word, however, is not totally different from the Bible. As the word of gospel makes the word of command complete, new word will be able to fully explain the words of the Old and the New Testament by looking at the Bible from a new perspective.
Let's read the following passages of the Bible.
"I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." (John 16:12-13)
"I have said this to you in figures; the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures but tell you plainly of the Father." (John 16:25)
And I was told, "You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings." (Rev. 10:11)
As stated above, there are many contents whose meanings have yet to be elucidated. However, there are some Christians who insist that there would be no more new words. What would be the basis of their argument?
I warn every one who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. (Rev. 22:18)
However, there are also books of the Bible that were recorded later than the Revelation. I, II Peter, Hebrews, I, II Timothy, and Titus are the very examples of them. They say that at the time of the Second Advent there shall be the proclamation of many more words that will teach us.
Now we strongly feel that we desperately need new words. Aside from the prophecy in the Bible, new words are needed to make a harmony with the advanced science and God's providence. Besides, new words are needed to realize the purpose of the religion by giving people the appropriate methods of expression that are suitable to the contents of truth that have not been explained until now.
Then, what kind of mission does the new truth have?
It should enable men to overcome both internal and external ignorances and offer them internal and external knowledge. It should also be able to reveal the existence of God, His heart and feeling of joy at the time of creation, and His broken heart and feeling of grief as He struggles to save mankind. The new truth should be able to unite all the existing religions as well we all the "isms" and ideas which have existed since the beginning of human history. It should also unite mankind with the brotherly love to accept God as our sole Parent, and to realize the world of harmony.
Today our most important quest is to search for the road to happiness. We truly believe that the road to the happiness is to find God's word.
Together with you, we can reveal the true meanings of the words in the Bible, and, with that truth, we shall see the light of salvation from the darkness.
