October 19 - God works for the Good. 선을 이루시는 하나님

October 19 -  God works for the Good.

 

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28

 

 

Paul has been describing the life of Christians on this side of heaven as groaning as we long to escape this life's suffering and be with our Father God in person (Romans 8:18–23). We wait in the sure hope of the day our bodies will be resurrected, and we will share in God's glory (Romans 8:24–25). What about all the hard things that come along while we are waiting? Paul seems to offer the promise of this verse as a comfort for us. This promise is limited to "those who love God" and "those who are called according to His purpose." In short, that means the promise is for Christians: for saved believers who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ (John 3:16–18; Romans 3:26). 

 

No matter our feelings on a given day, loving God is part of living in Christ. That's who we are. Each of us is also called to fulfill God's purposes. What is the promise? For those who are saved, all things will work together for good. "All things" should mean every circumstance one might experience, even pain or suffering. "Work," or "work together," must be understood in light of God taking action. 

 

He is the one who causes all things to work together or, perhaps, works in and through all circumstances toward a specific end. What is that end? "Good." The word "good" does not necessarily mean happy, Painless, financially successful, or our idea of the best possible outcome on any given day. God's ultimate good for us is to glorify us in eternity (Revelation 21:1–4). Beyond that, God works in and through us toward an ultimate good that serves His purpose for the universe.

 

St. Augustine said, “God does everything by giving us the willingness to trust it.” Calvin said, “To be elected is cause to believe. The election is before faith.” Their beliefs are rooted in Paul’s assurance. Romans 8:28 is one of the most favorite Christian verses, yet it is also misunderstood. The real emphasis in this verse is not “all things work together for good,” but “God works all things for good.” And the original meaning of “all things” is “each part of the whole,” according to the original manuscripts. Therefore, this verse means, “We are sure that to those who love God and are called by God according to His purpose, God continuously works for the good of them.” The purpose of “all things work together for good” is to be Christ-like. Whatever God wants us to do is because He wants us to become more like Him (Colossians 3:10). 

 

Therefore, Romans 8:28-30 gives us five important steps for assurance of salvation and assurance that we are cared for by God: Foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. Finally, God glorifies us today and forever. Glorifying God means imitating the image of God. Paul intentionally uses “past perfect verbs” foreknew, predestined, called, justified, and glorified. That is to say, it is a prophecy already told in the past. God already foreknew, predestined, called, justified, and glorified us in the past, and God already achieved all things. Glorification generally means transfiguring to the image of Christ in heaven (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20. Glory means weight, prosperity, and essence. When we see the glory of God, we see His prosperity and nobleness. We have to mature in God’s grace and glory.

 

“This is true faith, a living confidence in the goodness of God.” – Martin Luther.

 

 

Today’s Prayer: Pray for Christians living in oppressive conditions that God’s desire to spread his Word may be so strong in their hearts that they speak it boldly without fear.

Prayer Pointer: One of the major reasons prayers go unanswered is that prayer harbors sin. – Paul Cedar

Bible Reading: Jeremiah 1-2; 2 Thessalonians 2

 

 

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10월 19 일 - 선을 이루시는 하나님

 

“우리가 알거니와 하나님을 사랑하는 자 그 뜻대로 부르심을 입은 자들에게는 모든 것이 합력하여 선을 이루느니라” - 롬 8:28

 

 

바울은 세상의 그리스도인들의 삶을 고통에서 벗어나 하나님과 함께 있기를 갈망하면서 탄식하며 천국을 소망하는 삶으로 설명합니다(롬 8:18-23). 그리스도인들은 죽어도 부활하여 하나님의 영광에 참여할 것을 확신하는 소망가운데 살아가고 있습니다(롬 8:24-25). 소망중에 세상에 사는 동안에 어려운 일을 만나면 어떻게 해야 할까요? 바울은 로마서 8:28의 약속의 말씀으로 우리에게 위로합니다. 그러나 이 위로의 약속은 오직 “나님을 사랑하는 사람들"과 "그의 목적에 따라 부르심을 받은 사람들"에게만 주며 오직 그리스도인들만과 예수 그리스도를 믿고 구원받은 신자들에게만 주시는 위로의 말씀인 것입니다(요 3:16-18; 롬 3:26).

 

우리의 정체성은 감정과 관계없이 하나님을 사랑하는 그리스도 안의 믿음입니다. 그리스도인들은 하나님의 목적을 성취하도록 부름심을 받았고 약속이 주어져 있습니다. 그 약속은 믿는자들에게 모든 것이 합력하여 선을 이루는 것입니다. "모든 것이"란 모든 상황과 고통과 고난을 의미합니다. 그리고 협력하여” “이루느니라” 는 것은 하나님께서 간섭하시고 역사하신다는 뜻 입니다.  

 

하나님은 만물속에 역사하시고 특정한 목적을 위해 모든 상황을 통해 일하십니다. 그 역사의 끝은 "선"입니다. 선은 행복이나 고통이 없고 물질적으로 성공하고나 최상의 결과를 의미하는 것이 아닙니다. 우리를 위한 하나님의 궁극적인 선은 영원토록 우리를 영광스럽게 하는 것입니다(계 21:1-4). 그리고 하나님은 온 우주에 대한 그의 목적을 이루는 궁극적인 선을 향해 우리 안에서 그리고 우리를 통해 일하십니다.

 

성 어거스틴은 "하나님은 우리에게 믿음을 주셔서 모든 일을 행하신다"고 말했고, 칼빈은 "택하심은 믿음의 원인이며 택하심은 믿음 이전에 있었다”고 말했습니다. 이들의 믿음은 바울기 가졌던 확신에 근거를  두고 있습니다. 로마서 8:28은 그리스도인들이 가장 좋아하는 말씀 중 하나이지만 오해되고 있는 말씀입니다. 여기서 강조하는 것은 "모든 것이 합력하여 선을 이룬다"가 아니라 "하나님께서 모든 것을 합력하여 선을 이루어 가신다"는 것입니다. "모든 것"의 원래 의미는 본래 “전체의 각 부분"이라는 뜻 입니다. "하나님을 사랑하고 하나님의 뜻대로 부르심을 받은 자들에게는 그들의 유익을 위해 하나님이 일하시는 것을 확신한다"는 뜻입니다. "모든 것이 합력하여 선을 이루[는]"의 목적은 그리스도를 닮는 것입니다. 하나님이 우리가 행하기를 원하시는 것이 무엇이든지 우리가 그와 같이 되기를 원하시기 때문입니다(골 3:10). 

 

로마서 8 : 28-30말씀에는 구원의 확신과 하나님의 돌봄에 대한 말씀이 나오고 있는데 여기에 구원의 중요한 단계인, 미리 아심, 예정, 부르심, 칭의, 영화로움의 관한 설명이 나옵니다.  마지막 단계인 영화로움은 그의 형상을 본받는 은 우리를 영화롭게 하며 하나님께 영광을 돌리는 것입니다. 바울은 우리를 미리 아시고, 예정하시고, 부르시고, 의롭다 하시고, 영화롭게 하셨다고 과거시제의 완전한 동사들"을 사용합니다.  하나님은 과거에 미리 아시고, 예정하시고, 부르시고, 의롭게 하시고, 영화를  베푸셨고, 이미 모든 것을 이루셨습니다. 영화는 하늘에 계신 그리스도의 형상으로 변화되는 것입니다(살전 2:19-20). 영광은 무게, 번영, 본질을 의미합니다. 우리가 하나님의 영광을 볼 때, 그분의 번영과 고귀함을 봅니다. 그러므로 우리는 하나님의 은혜와 영광가운데 성숙해야 합니다.

 

"이것이 참된 믿음이며, 하나님의 선하심에 대한 산 확신입니다." – 마틴 루터

 

 

오늘의 기도: 억압 상태에서 살아가는 그리스도인을 위해 기도하고, 하나님의 말씀이 전파되고 하나님의 말씀 전파와 말씀을 전하는 자들의 마음이 강하고 담대하여 두려움이 없이 전도할 수 있도록 기도하십시오.

기도 지침: 기도가 응답되지 않는 중요한 이유중에 하나는 기도하는 사람이 죄를 감추고 있기 때문이다. – 폴 시더

성경 읽기: 예레미야 1-2장; 데살로니가후서 2장