이성봉은 신자가 회개의 십자가와 체험의 십자가, 그리고 율법을 극복한 십자가와 자신과 세상을 매장한 십자가를 발견할 것을 늘 강조하였다. 그 리스도인의 신앙은 바로 십자가의 이런 단계적 체험을 통해 성장한다는 것 이다. 본고는 이성봉의 생애와 설교, 사역을 통해 나타난 그리스도의 십자 가의 도의 여러 단계들을 논하였다. 십자가 신앙은 이성봉의 설교사역에서 뿐만 아니라 생애 전 과정에서 적용되고 구현되었다. 그에게 십자가는 실 제였고 전체였다. 오늘날 십자가의 도가 “죄 용서”라는 기초적 수준에서 취급되는 하락한 교회 상황에서 이성봉은 십자가가 모든 것임을 말로써 삶 으로써 죽음으로써 보여주었다. 십자가는 인간 예수의 나약한 죽음만이 아 니었다. ‘사람의 아들’ 예수는 구속을 위한 심판의 제물로서 자신의 목숨을 우리를 대신하여 하나님께 드렸고 성령은 그분의 보혈을 취하여 살아 있는 피가 되게 하여 우리를 위한 하나님의 의의 증표가 되게 하셨다. ‘마지막 아담’으로서 예수는 십자가에서 자신의 육체로써 아담 안에 있는 모든 부 정적인 것들을 다 처리하셨다. 십자가는 우리의 육신도 끝냈고 자아도 종 결시켰고 세상도 종식시켰다. 이성봉의 사역이 진실로 가치 있고 회상 되 어야할 이유는 부흥사역의 횟수와 결과라는 단순한 외적 성취가 아니다. 십자가의 도로써 승리한 사역자였기 때문이다.

The essay explores the spiritual factors of Pastor Lee Sung Bong who had profound inner experience of the Jesus Crucifixion on the cross. Lee Sung Bong, one of the greatest evangelists in the history of Korean Church, gained numerous nicknames such as "the Saint of Korea," "Great teacher," "Spiritual giant," or "Moody of Korea." He was also called "Honey Mouth" due to his powerful and moving preaching. The death of Jesus on the cross was the foremost main theme of Lee Sung Bong's preaching. He saw the work of cross which requires sinner's repentance. He always proclaimed the repentance and forgiveness at all of his sermons. Particularly the revivalist emphasized a christian's experience of the cross. He himself saw the vision of Jesus crucifixion and this event made internal reality upon the redemption of Jesus Christ. Jesus' death on the cross is not to be a mere knowledge to a Christian, but a fresh event that renews his spirit and heart continually. For this, a saint is to experience to acknowledge Jesus' death on the cross in a experiential way. Lee Sung Bong proclaim that the living according to the Law is abolished because the curse of the law also was crucified and saints weredead on the cross toward the Law. It means the significance of the living according the Holy Spirit, not according to the Law. The cross also terminated the Law as well as the living according to the law. Instead, Christians are to be supplied and guided by the Spirit of God. Lee Sung Bong's emphasis upon the Holy Spirit is linked directly to his theology of Cross. For Lee Sung Bong, the Cross also meant bearing a honorable poverty and suffering. He lived a life of honest poverty beyond desire of material possession. His spiritual qualities did not based on specific skills or techniques to draw people's favoritism. Rather, they lied upon his spiritual characters of humbleness. He was filled with self-confidence gained by spiritual exercise, but he humbled himself all the time by honest confession of his lack and sins. His life was full of suffering and hardships. He was even tortured by officials under Japanese rule and by communists during Korea War of 1950. By overcoming those severe persecutions with courage in faith, He was able to win the respect from people from all sides. In addition, he was a person to submit superior ecclesiastical authorities, even when their orders were not reasonable to accept. With above-mentioned qualities, he had converted and influenced many people who have taken leading roles in Korean church and society. Lee Sung Bong was the revivalist who effectively applied the lessons of the theology of Cross into his preaching and living.

• 김동주(호서대학교) | Kim, Dong Joo