[스크랩] The power of gospel

The power of gospel Romans 1: 8-17   We all who heard the gospel of God and believed in Jesus Christ as our savior are people of God. But we are unfamiliar to live as people of God according to the word of God, even we already became a people of God. Why are we unfamiliar to live as a people of God? That’s why we don’t know the power of gospel of God. After Romans church heard gospel of God and are saved, they tried to live to fit with gospel of God. As a result the faith of Romans church was known wholly in Roman empire. Apostle Paul wanted to teach gospel of God to Romans church because of power of gospel.   1. Apostle Paul wanted to spread gospel to Romans church.   Paul thanked God because of Romans church.   Apostle Paul thanked to God for Romans church was established with faith by mercy of God(verse 8). Paul said that he first thanked to God. It means that he thought first God’s grace. He always tried to find condition of thanksgiving(1 Thessalonians 5:18). Paul thanked to God because he heard that Romans church grew in Jesus Christ. Whatever our communication with God is possible by the work of Jesus Christ. It is only possible when we thank God and receive grace of God in Jesus Christ. The way which we receive power of Jesus is the faith which we believe in Jesus Christ. When we have faith which we believe in Jesus Christ, even we are sinful, we can stand before God. But if we have no faith, even we are righteous ourselves, we cannot stand before God.   Romans church heard gospel that Jesus Christ died on the cross for us and believed in him. Paul thanked to God because he heard that their faith were spreaded in the world. Even though Paul did not declare gospel to Romans church, he could thank God for same faith that believe in Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul thanked God when Romans church was revival. He was deeply moved because he heard that God who is working in him also worked in Romans church. Romans church was not established by what apostles went and declared gospel, but after those who heard gospel from Peter in Jerusalem went back to Rome and declared gospel, the church was established and grew. But Paul rejoiced for he heard that the faith of Romans church was spreaded in the world.   In here faith means their all lives of faith. Paul said about their all lives as condition of thanksgiving. Faith does not mean just that we come to church and worship God, but we need to live life of faith in our lives. Paul testified that Romans church showed their lives of faith in their lives. At that time, the rumor about the church might be spreaded throughout in the world because Rome was big city and center of traffic. Even the rumor of church was not spreaded all people of the world, at least it might be spreaded all churches in the world. Paul recognized that it was precious. It means that it is great honor as like all the world recognized, even christians recognized it.   Paul prayed for Romans church.   Paul said that he prayed for Romans church because of revival of the church, and God whom he served in his heart was his witness. The way what Paul serves to God is to declare gospel. He declared gospel not for his success, living and hobby, but by calling. His all doing to declare gospel is done by his thought for God.   Paul said that he served to God in gospel of Christ and in spirit. What he served to God in spirit means that he served to God as personality. It means that he served to God by all spiritual strength and body strength. We don't serve to God for we ask for something. Other religion of the world is that people serve to their gods for their benefit. But we serve God because God saved us by the grace of salvation until he made Jesus christ die on the cross because of our sins. Therefore Paul confessed that he served God in spirit because he thanked for the grace of God. It is to serve not inattentively but in spirit. It is to serve in mind and personally. Paul said that God is his witness. That’s why when Paul prayed to God with thanking for Romans church, God testified to him. This may be best expression that prove his faithfulness. He could say blamelessly in heart that God is his witness. He didn't stop to pray for Romans church before God. Even though Romans church was not established by his declaring gospel, because the church which was established by the gospel of Christ is same, he could confess that he was praying for Romans church.   Paul wanted to give a spiritual gift to Romans church.   Paul wanted to go to Rome. If there was the grace of God, he wanted to go Rome getting good way in God’s will, and declare gospel to them. When he tried to go to Rome, he could not go to there because the way was blocked. But now he wanted that everything might be settled in God’s will and go to Rome. His prayer will be fulfilled after he go to Rome. But the way that he goes to there is not good way, but the way to go as sinner to stand before Caesar. The way might be very dangerous, and he might die because of shipwreck. His way to go to Rome might be painful to him. In case of pious christian, there is no good way that he can get always peace, but sometimes he may fall in unhappy. Therefore when we do our best for God, even if we may be in trouble, we can rejoice because we believe it is benefit to us.   Why did Paul want to go to Rome such? That's why he wanted to give some spiritual gift to Romans church. Some spiritual gift means that even now they do not receive, but someday they must receive spiritual grace through the gospel. He was sure that when he goes to Rome, Romans church must receive abundant spiritual blessing. If the servant of the Lord obeys the word of God, he always receive spiritual power. Spiritual gift is supernatural. To give means that Paul also attend those who receive grace of God.   Paul wanted to declare the truth what he understood through declaring gospel to Romans church until now. Of course Romans church already heard gospel of Jesus Christ. They heard that whoever believed in Jesus Christ is saved from his sins and he can enter the kingdom of God. And they already believed gospel and became christian. But they might have gospel just to satisfy for believing in Jesus Christ and being saved. So Paul wanted to give a spiritual gift to them. He wanted to declare mystery of the kingdom of God what was appeared in gospel. Nowadays many christians are learning very hard about faith that believed in Jesus Christ, but after believed in Jesus, many of them don’t know how to live spiritual life. So Paul wanted to give spiritual gift to live spiritual life to Romans church.   That’s why Paul wanted that Romans church will stand steadfastly. Paul said that he cannot make their faith be steadfast by his power, but their faith will be steadfast by grace of God. Because one who makes their faith grow is only God.   Paul confessed that when Romans church hear the gospel which he declare to them, their faith will be steadfast and they will get comfort each other. This comfort means the comfort in faith. Our faith sometimes are blocked in the world and we may be tired. So this comfort must be supplied continually to us as like daily food. But we cannot find this comfort in the world, but get it on community of church in Jesus Christ. Even our faith was tired, we can see other’s zealous faith, and can get courage in the church.   2. He was obligated to gospel.   He was obligated to gospel.   Paul wanted to go to Rome for he wanted to get fruits in Romans church. The purpose that God put christians in the world is to make them bear spiritual fruit. Even their first fruits are not good, they will be good. Saul(before Paul) was wicked, but after he met Jesus Christ and repented, he was changed and served faithfully only the Lord. Mark also was distrusted because he went back home from evangelism with Paul and Barnaba, but after he repented, he became a precious servant of God, and Paul recognized him who was benefit to himself and recommended to every church(Colossians 4:10). By the way, some christians were first good, but later were not good. It is their failure. In Old testament, Saul first received God’s grace, but later he fell in curse because he went rebellious way. We can think about two way of fruit. First is a fruit of christian’s holiness, second is a fruit of evangelism which lead to gospel(John 15:1-6 ; Lick 13:6-9 ; Mark 11:11-14, 20-21).   Paul tried to go to Rome to preach gospel as like other region, but it was not permitted. It is not that God always opens the way of loving christians, but sometimes he blocks it. But it is not that God does not listen to their prayer, but he wants to give better things to them. Paul confessed that he was obligated Greeks and Jews about gospel. Obligated man has a debt which repay to other. Debt is to barrow from other people. In other words, he received something without payment. And he must repay the debt. Paul was oppressor who oppressed the church of God. Even though the Lord forgave him, he always thought that he had debt to God in his heart. When he thought about what he met resurrected Jesus, he always remembered the voice that he will become to declare gospel to the gentile in the world. Therefore Paul thought that he always has debt to Greeks and Jews. Gospel must be spreaded to Greeks who were proud to have knowledge and Jews who were proud to have the law.   He wanted to preach the gospel.   Paul who thought himself to have debt of gospel wanted to preach gospel to Romans church as possible as. He thought that if he preaches truth of gospel to them, they will realize spiritual things. What he wanted to preach as possible as means that he wants to preach gospel passionately, but he will wait the God’s Holy will. Someone can plan to perform good things. But if he does not wait God’s lead and performs immediately, it will be no benefit for him.   3. Power of gospel   Power which give salvation to all believer.   Paul said that he was not ashamed of gospel. People are ashamed when he feels that his possession is no worthy or his character is wicked. But Paul knew that the mission to peach his gospel is glory. Therefore he was not ashamed about the precious things. In other words, he did not worry about preaching gospel and himself. Because even he was Saul who was ashamed gospel, he was seized by Christ on the way to Damascus. Therefore now one who lives in him is Jesus Christ.   The reason why he was not ashamed gospel is appeared in gospel. God’s power will be appeared all whom believe gospel of God. The Bible said that every people must be born as a sinner and reach to death because of Adam’s sins, and receive judgment of God and eternal punishment. But God sent Jesus Christ into the world as descendant of Abraham and David, and made him die on the cross instead of us, and raise on third day from death. Whoever believe it will be saved from their sins and have salvation. And we are saved from our environment, and we may be settled from disease of body and problem of our lives. The power of salvation that we received will be appeared to whomever believe gospel. All those who believe gospel will receive salvation. There are no distinction between Jews and Greeks. This order is not distinction of nation, but it is just order of God’s will. Why did gospel of salvation find Israel? The reason gospel found Israel is for Israel and the gentile. Gospel of God gave salvation to Israel and at that time they declare gospel to the gentile as priests. God wanted to save the gentile through works of Israel(Genesis 12:3 ; Exodus 19:5-6). As this, now God wants to save our family, friends and neighbors through us.   The righteousness of God was appeared in gospel.   Power of God was revealed in God’s gospel for the righteousness of God was appeared in gospel. The righteousness of God means that Jesus Christ was supplied as the righteousness for us(1 Corinthians 1:30). We cannot receive righteousness by our doing, but we can receive it by the righteousness of Jesus who has completed for us. Therefore this righteousness was not ours originally, but Jesus Christ just recognized his righteousness to ours. This righteousness is showed to us and completed in gospel. Therefore christians can receive the righteousness through gospel.   Israel tried to be righteous by doing of the law, but they failed. There is no one who receives righteousness by doing the law in the world. Whoever meets the word of God just realizes his sins. But the righteousness was appeared in the gospel of God. We cannot get righteousness by our doing, but those who believe gospel will be righteous through the righteousness what Jesus completed. There is no one who reaches the righteousness, but whoever believe in Jesus who is Son of God and came into the world to redeem us from our sins can reach the righteousness by his righteousness.   What the righteousness of God was appeared means the time when salvation of God came to us(Galatians 4:4). Therefore the righteousness which was appeared by Jesus Christ makes christians be realized the end of the world. Those who received this righteousness will not be judged on the end of the world. Because they had already been judged in the death of Christ. When Jesus Christ said that he had power to forgive sins in the world(Matthew 9:6), christians already received forgiving of sins and righteousness in Christ. Those who did not receive forgiving of sins and righteousness in the world can not receive them on coming generation(John 3:18). The righteousness of God was hidden in the God’s will before forever(Ephesians 3:11). Those who see what this hidden thing was appeared must receive it with thanksgiving(Ephesians 3:5). If we believe gospel, we may touch and receive the righteousness of God.   It makes us live by faith.   The righteousness which was appeared in gospel of God makes whom believe gospel reach to faith. It makes us believe the word of God deeply. The faith which we believe gospel of God makes us be recognized with the righteousness of God, and our lives will live only by faith. And then we may cast aside our effort to get something by our deeds and live by faith to trust in only God. Those who live in faith will be never trembled because of their environment, and cast aside his standard of value. When they live by the word of God, their whole lives will be changed in faith.   Brothers and sisters! We already heard the gospel of God and believed in Jesus christ as our savior and have salvation. Therefore we can live according to the word of God by faith. But our problem is that even though we say to live according to the word of God, we can not live so. There is a distance between reality and our faith. When we realize a distance between reality and faith, we know that we need to live by faith. But it is reality that we can not live so. How can we live by faith? It is to be sure of gospel of God.   First, we need to be sure of love of God. In power of gospel, love of God was appeared through the cross of Jesus Christ. Therefore we need to be sure of love of God which God showed when we were sinners through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.   Second, we need to be sure of the victory of Jesus Christ. When we are sure of victory which Christ completed, we can live by faith, and we can be sure of victory in our lives. Even though we are weak, if we are sure that Jesus who completed victory on the cross leads us, we can live to have victory.

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