December 8 - The Riches of God’s Grace 하나님의 풍성한 은혜

December 8 - The Riches of God’s Grace

 

“In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of God’s grace.” – Ephesians 1:7

 

 

Paul refers to Christ's death on the cross as sufficient payment for the sins of all who believe. What did this redemption cover? It paid to release us from the eternal penalty and the earthly power of our sins. This freedom was not "free" since Christ's death pays for it; it cost Him everything. As a result, the ultimate price has already been paid for the believer. This is grace: the ability to become a child of God because God provided a free way to know Him by faith.

God's grace is mentioned about money, with the idea that grace is of tremendous value. Grace is what is required to make people sons and daughters of God. All have sinned and fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23). It is only through Jesus that we have a way (John 14:6) to have salvation (Acts 4:12). Paul will explain this truth in greater detail in Ephesians 2:8–9, adding that the same grace of God, which gives salvation, is designed to also lead believers to works God has designed for us (Ephesians 2:10).

 

The well-known American John D. Rockefeller was the richest person in the world at once, and the most powerful businessperson in the U.S. Rockefeller often gave coins to juvenile vagrants to have his picture in a newspaper. But, there is much doubt about how much Rockefeller helped these juvenile vagrants. If he had given according to his wealth, perhaps he would have completely given away a lot of real estate and assets. 

 

God does not give us His grace as Rockefeller gave his coins to street kids. God has given us the unlimited treasures of heaven according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7). The grace of God is an endless amount of love given without cost. The scholar Charles Hodge defined grace as “receiving without price through Jesus Christ, receiving in God without our merits, which is an abundance of endless love.” God has not given us a little from the riches of His grace, but He has given grace according to the abundance of His riches. John Newton, who wrote the lyrics for Amazing Grace, acknowledged God’s grace. The song has been very often sung with our lips of praise till now. 

 

“Amazing grace! How sweet the sound! That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I am found; I was blind, but now I see. ‘T’was grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved. How precious that grace appeared the hour I first believed! Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come. ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home when we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun. We have fewer days to sing God’s praise than when we first began.” 

 

When we receive God’s grace, we will receive the blessing of God’s wisdom and the intelligence that we need. According to the Bible, wisdom means life and death, God and man, sins and eternity, and time. Intelligence means wisdom that we need to live in this world. Therefore, not only does God give us the grace of salvation, but He also gives us practical wisdom that is needed in daily life (Ephesians1:8)

 

 

Today’s Prayer: Pray that specific non-Christians you know will be struck by the futility of living without God and seek a relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Prayer Pointer: A grateful heart is the beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being. – James E. Faust

Bible Reading: Daniel 11-12; 3 John 

 

 

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12월8일 - 하나님의 풍성한 은혜

 

“우리가 그리스도 안에서 그의 은혜의 풍성함을 따라 그의 피로 말미암아 구속 곧 죄 사함을 받았으니” - 엡1:7

 

 

바울은 예수님 십자가에서 죽으신 것은 우리의 죄시함을 위한 죄의 댓가였다고 설명합니다. 구속의 의미는 무엇입니까? 그것은 죄의 영원한 형벌과 힘에서 우리를 자유를 위해 댓가를 지불했다는 것입니다. 이 자유는 예수님의 죽음으로 지불되었기 때문에 공짜가 아니고 주님께서 모든 것을 희생하신 것입니다. 궁극적으로 죄의 댓가가 지불되었기 때문에 은혜입니다. 그리스도를 믿음으로 하나님을 알고 그의 자녀가 되게 권세를 주셨습니다. 

 

하나님의 은혜는 은혜가 엄청난 가치가 있다는 생각에서 돈과 비교하여 언급됩니다. 하나님의 은혜가 없이는 하나님의 아들과 딸이 될 수 없습니다. 성경은 “모든 사람이 죄를 범하였으매 그분의 영광에 이르지 못하더니”(롬 3:23) 라고 말씀합니다.  오직 예수님을 믿음으로 구원을 얻을 수 있다고 가르칩니다(요 14:6). 바울은 에베소서 2:8-9에서 구원을 주시는 하나님의 은혜에 관해 더 자세하게 설명하고 있고 이것은 우리의 구원을 위해 하나님께서 미리 계획하신 것으로 그 계획하신 일을 성취하도록 나가신다고 말합니다(엡 2:10).

 

미국의 저명했던 록펠러는 당시 세상에서 가장 부자였고 미국에서 가장 힘있는 사업가였습니다 그는 신문에 자기 사진을 실리도록 거리의 청소년 부랑자들에게 자주 돈을 자주 주었다고 합니다. 그런데 록펠러가 준 이러한 동전들이 부랑자들의 삶에 과연 얼마나 도움이 되었을까 하는 것입니다. 만일 자기가 소유한 재산의 규모에  따라 주었다고 하면 아마도 많은 부동산과 재산을 거의 다 기부했어야 할 것 입니다. 

 

하나님께서는 록펠러처럼 우리에게 은혜를 조금씩 나누어 주는 분이 아닙니다. 하나님께서는 그의 은혜의 풍성함에 따라 하늘의 한 없는 영적 보화를 주십니다(엡1:7). 하나님의 은혜는 값없이 주어지는 한 없는 사랑인 것 입니다. 신학자 찰스 핫지는 은혜를 “하나님 안에서 예수 그리스도를 통하여 값없이, 아무 공로 없이, 그리고 한없이 받는 넘치는 사랑”이라고 정의하였습니다. 구원 받은 우리는 하나님의 무한하시고 풍성하신 은혜에 따라 주님의 영원한 사랑을 받은 자들입니다. 하나님께서는 그의 은혜의 풍성함에서 조금 주시는 것이 아니라 모든 은혜를 주시는 것입니다.  

 

영국의 존 뉴턴 목사는 하나님의 놀라운 은혜를 깨닫고서 시를 지었는데, 이 시는 오늘날까지도 모든 그리스도인들의 입에서 끊이지 않고 불려지고 있는 귀한 찬송가인 어메이징 그레이스 입니다. “나 같은 죄인 살리신 주 은혜 놀라와 잃었던 생명 찾았고 광명을 얻었네. 큰 죄악에서 건지신 주 은혜 고마워 나 처음 믿는 그 시간 귀하고 귀하다 이제껏 내가 산 것도 주님의 은혜라 또 나를 장차 본향에 인도해 주시리 거기서 우리 영원히 주님의 은혜로 해 처럼 밝게 살면서 주 찬양 하리라”

 

하나님의 은혜를 받으면 필요한 지혜와 총명의 복을 받습니다. 성경에서 지혜는 생명과 죽음, 하나님과 인간, 죄와 영원, 그리고 시간을 의미합니다. 총명은 이 세상을 살아가는 데 필요한 지혜입니다. 하나님은 구원의 은혜만 주시는 것이 아니라 매일의 삶에 필요한 실제적인 지혜도 주십니다(엡1:8).

 

 

오늘의 기도:  당신이 아는 특별한 불신자가 하나님을 모르고 사는 것이 허무한 것임을 깨닫고 예수 그리스도를 만나 주님과의 관계를 추구할 수 있도록 기도하십시오.

기도 지침: “감사하는 마음을 가지는 것은 위대해지는 길의 시작이다. 감사하는 마음은 또한 겸손함의 표현이고 기도와 믿음, 그리고 용기, 자족함, 행복, 사랑, 번영과 같은 덕성의 발전의 기초가 된다.” – 제임스 파우스트

성경 읽기: 다니엘 11-12장; 요한삼서