December 22 - Good Works 구원과 선한 행위

December 22 - Good Works

 

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10

 

 

Ephesians 2:1–10 clearly explains the relationship between our lack of obedience, the grace of God, and our salvation. Those whom Christ saves do not deserve this salvation. It is only by mercy and grace that God chooses to forgive. In this section, Paul will repeat the claim that human effort does not impact salvation. No Christian can brag about their ''goodness,'' since we are saved entirely by the grace of God, not by our good deeds.

 

Ephesians 2:8–9 is an extremely popular passage of Scripture. Since those two verses are so often quoted, many miss out on verse 10 when seeking to understand God's salvation by grace through faith. However, this important statement offers tremendous insight into God's desires after salvation. God calls us His workmanship or artwork from the Greek word poiēma. We are something crafted, with skill and a purpose, by God, for His purposes. Specifically, we are "created in Christ Jesus for good works." Good works do not give us salvation, but they are meant to be the result of salvation.

Interestingly, God prepared what He wanted us to do for Him long ago. He has already planned what He wants us to do with our lives. We do not need to copy what someone else has done or is doing. He has a unique plan for us to serve Him in this world. This includes certain spiritual gifts and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives to lead us in service to Him.

 

After we are saved, for us to be God’s masterpieces, we must live and obey His words as we offer ourselves to God (Ephesians 2:10). Doing good works in Christ is one way of knowing God has created us. Deeds cannot be a condition for salvation, and Paul emphasizes that good deeds are the fruit of salvation. A genuine Christian who is created by God’s hands and is born-again works for God. 

 

Thomas Charmers of Scotland, a famous preacher, used to enjoy and indulge in worldly things. But then he was born again after hearing a sermon in 1911. The revival movement of that era came about for the first time since John Knox and the entire city of Glasgow was completely transformed through evangelism and social service. Although he claimed that a person is justified by faith, as Martin Luther said, Thomas Charmers emphasized deeds as the fruit of faith. He lived a wonderful life and preached to society. In the palace of faith, good works follow inevitably. God has made us into a new creation in Christ for the sake of good works.

 

The truth of good work is echoing in the prayers of the Pauline letters: “May our LORD Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our LORD Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrew 13:20- 21). 

 

Before creation, God had already prepared the work we were called to do. God has chosen us and enabled us to be able to do and prepared us to do whatever call He has on our life. When we do His work, we can find who we are as we become more like Him. Then, we can find our true selves. There is no greater glory and joy than working for God as His workmanship and creation. 

 

Today’s Prayer: Pray that the LORD will supply wisdom and perseverance to your church’s missionaries and that they will be blessed with encouraging results in their work. 

Prayer Pointer: Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays; - Soren Kierkegaard

Bible Reading: Nahum; Revelation 13

 

 

 

 

 

12월22일 - 구원과 선한 행위

 

“우리는 그의 만드신 바라 그리스도 예수 안에서 선한 일을 위하여 지으심을 받은 자니 이 일은 하나님이 전에 예비하사 우리로 그 가운데서 행하게 하려 하심이니라” - 엡2:10

 

 

바울은 2장 서두에서 하나님의 은혜와 구원, 그리고 그리스도인의 삶의 불순종과의 관계를 명확하게 설명합니다(엡 2:1-10). 주님을 믿고 구원 받은 자들은 자격이 없는 자들이나 오직 하나님의 자비와 은혜로 죄용서함 받고 구원의 택정함을 입은 것이고 사람의 노력이 구원에 전혀 영향을 주지 않는다고 바울은 반복 주장합니다. 그리스도인은 누구나 자신의 "선하심"에 대해 자랑할 수 없는 것은 자신의 선행 때문이 아니라 오직 하나님의 은혜로 구원받기 때문입니다. 

 

에베소서 2:8-9은 잘 알려진 성경 구절입니다. 이 두 구절이 자주 인용되기 때문에 믿음을 통한 은혜로 말미암은 하나님의 구원을 이해할 때 10절의 내용을 놓치는 경우가 많습니다. 중요한 것은 우리가 구원받은 후에도 하나님이 원하시는 놀라운 해야 할 일이 있다는 것입니다. 하나님은 우리를 헬라어 포이에마에서 그의 솜씨 또는 걸작이라고 부릅니다. 우리는 하나님의 목적을 위해 지어졌고 구체적으로, 우리는 "예수 안에서 선한 일을 위하여 지으심”을 받은 것입니다. 선한 일은 우리에게 구원을 주는 것이 아니라 구원의 결과인 것입니다. 

 

흥미롭게도 하나님은 이미 오래 전에 그를 위해 우리가 하기를 원하시는 것을 준비하셨고 우리의 삶에서 무엇 하기를 원하시는지 이미 계획하셨습니다. 우리는 다른 사람이 한 일이나 또는 하고 있는 일을 모방할 필요가 없습니다. 하나님은 각자에게 세상에서 그를 섬길 수 있는 독특한 계획을 가지고 계십니다. 여기에는 특별한 영적 은사와 삶속의 성령의 역사가 포함되어 있숩니다. 

 

구원받은 후에는 하나님의 걸작품으로 살아가기 위해 자신을 드리며 순종하는 삶을 살아가야 합니다(엡2:10). 그리스도 안에서 선한 일을 행하는 것은 하나님의 걸작품인 것을 증거하는 것입니다. 바울은 행함이 구원의 조건이 되지 않지만 구원받은 자의 삶에는 행함의 열매가 나타나야 한다고 강조힙니다. 진정한 그리스도인은 하나님을 위해 일하게 되어 있습니다.

 

스코틀랜드의 토마스목사는 예수를 믿기 전에는 세상적으로 즐기며 자신의 만족을 위해 살았습니다. 그러나 1911년 하나님의 말씀으로 새로 거듭나면서 존 낙스시대 이후에 처음으로 전도와 사회봉사를 통해 글라스고우 도시 전체를 변화시키고 부흥운동을 일으겼숩니다. 그는 마틴 루터가 주장한대로 믿음으로 의롭다함을 받는다는 설교에서 구원받은 자는 반드시 행함의 열매가 있어야 한다고 강조했습니다. 토마스 목사는 사회 속에서 행함으로 복음을 전한 귀한 생애를 살았습니다. 믿음이 있으면 반드시 선한 행위가 따르게 되어 있습니다. 하나님께서는 선한 일을 위해 우리를 그리스도 안에서 새롭게 창조하신 것입니다.

 

이 행함의 진리는 바울의 서신에 나타나 있는 기도에 메아리치고 있습니다.“우리 주 예수 그리스도와 우리를 사랑하시고 영원한 위로와 좋은 소망을 은혜로 주신 하나님 우리 아버지께서 너희 마음을 위로하시고 모든 선한 일과 말에 굳게 하시기를 원하노라”(살후 2:16-17). “양의 큰 목자이신 우리 주 예수를 영원한 언약의 피로 죽은 자 가운데서 이끌어 내신 평강의 하나님이 모든 선한 일에 너희를 온전케 하사 자기 뜻을 행하게 하시고 그 앞에 즐거운 것을 예수 그리스도로 말미암아 우리 속에 이루시기를 원하노라 영광이 그에게 세세 무궁토록 있을지어다 아멘”(히13:20-21).

 

하나님께서는 창세전에 우리의 일을 미리 준비해 놓으셨습니다. 우리를 어떤 사역에 부르시든지 잘 감당하도록 능력 있는 자로 하나님이 세워 주십니다. 주님의 사역을 잘 감당해 가면서  더욱 주님의 걸작품으로 변화되어 갑니다. 그리고 변화되는 자신의 삶 속에서 진정한 자아를 발견하게 하십니다. 하나님을 위해 일허는 것보돠 더 영광이 되고 기쁨이 되는 일은 없습니다.

 

오늘의 기도: 주님께서 당신의 교회에서 파송한 선교사들에게 지혜와 인내를 주시고 그들의 사역 가운데 위로의 축복을 받을 수 있도록 기도하십시오.

기도 지침: 기도는 하나님을 변화시키는 것이 아니고 기도한는 사람이 변화되는 것이다. – 소렌 킬케고르

성경 읽기: 나흠; 요한계시록 13장