August 1 - The Purpose of Faith 믿음의 목적

August 1 - The Purpose of Faith

 

“Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.” - 1 John 5:10

 

 

Chapter 5 concludes the book of 1 John, once again emphasizing the supremacy of love in the Christian experience. 

 

Those who believe in Christ can surely know they have eternal life. This assurance comes by trusting 

what we know of the life of Jesus Christ and the evidence of the Holy Spirit within us. 

Following God's commands, particularly love, results in confidence in our salvation and overcoming the world’s temptation.

 

First, John 5:6–12 explains some evidence that Jesus Christ is, in fact, the Son of God. God's voice at Jesus's baptism, the events of Jesus's death and resurrection, and the internal witness of the Holy Spirit are all described. Because of this multi-part testimony, Christians can have confidence in what they have been taught. Those who reject these facts, in effect, accuse God of lying.

 

John declares that, for believers, this testimony about Jesus is both objective and personal. 

Christians have evidence of the truth because God lives within them. 

There are natural, powerful effects of a relationship with Christ that can be seen and felt by ourselves and others. 

Those who do not believe God, John says, are rejecting His truth, which is the same as accusing Him of lying. 

 

Similarly, in 1 John 1:10, John noted that the person who says he is free from sin makes God a liar and shows a lack of truth. 

The unbeliever has not accepted the testimony of God as believers have. They may see Jesus as a good person but do not accept Him as God's Son. As a result, they accuse God of lying since God called Jesus His Son (Matthew 3:17). 

Likewise, at the transfiguration, God the Father stated, "This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!" (Luke 9:35).

 

The purpose of a Christian’s life is not about blessings and going to heaven. 

Christians receive many material blessings and are guaranteed to enter heaven, but the goal of our faith reaches beyond those two things. Abraham exemplifies the goal of our Christian faith.

Our faith is to glorify God. The Apostle Paul said, “Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God” (Romans 4:20).

We know from this saying that God’s glory is not shown in the lives of unbelieving people (1 John 5:10). 

 

Abraham, for instance, lived a life glorifying God. He completely trusted God and lived by faith. 

God’s glory shined through his life. 

Abraham’s faith was consistent and earnest, trusting in God’s promise. 

The soil becomes hard if the sun’s heat is strong, but a candle melts more. 

Different materials produce different outcomes. Likewise, faith can be weakened or strengthened in times of trial.

The opposite of faith is doubt. Abraham believed in God’s promise and did not doubt (Romans 4:20). 

To have doubt is to be double minded.

Even if Noah did not see rain, he believed in God’s promise for 120 years and built an ark (Hebrews 11:7).

Faith is to have assurance in God’s word. “Being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:21).

Similarly, we should believe in God’s promise and live a life that glorifies.

 

 

Today’s Prayer: Praise the Rock the one whose works are perfect and whose ways are (Deuteronomy 32:4).

Thank him for being the God of truth. Confess any times that you have believed the lies of Satan and acted accordingly.

Commit yourself to the truth in every situation (Ephesians 4:25). Ask God to help you be a truthful person you would delight in (Psalm 12:2).

Prayer Pointer: When we work, we work, but when we pray, God works. – Anonymous

Bible Reading: Psalm 65-67; Romans 2

 

 

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8월 1일 - 믿음의 목적

 

“하나님의 아들을 믿는 자는 자기 안에 증거가 있고 하나님을 믿지 아니하는 자는 하나님을 거짓말 하는 자로 만드나니 이는 하나님께서 그 아들에 관하여 증거하신 증거를 믿지 아니하였음이니라” - 요일 5:10

 

 

요한 일서5장은 그리스도인이 경험하는 사랑의 우월성을 다시 강조하며 결론을 맺습니다. 그리스도를 믿는 자들에게 영생이 있다는 것을 확실히 아는 것은 예수 그리스도의 생애에 대한 지식과 우리 안에 내주하시는 성령의 증거를 신뢰하는데서 오는 것입니다. 특별히 우리가 하나님께서 우리에게 주신 형제를 사랑하라는 명령에 순종할 때 구원의 확신과 세상의 시험을 이기는 확신을 가지게 됩니다.  

 

첫째로, 요한복음 5:6-12에서 예수 그리스도가 하나님의 아들이심을 증거하고 있는데, 특별히 세례 받으실 때 하나님의 음성이 있었고 예수님의 죽음과 부활, 그리고 성령의 내적으로 역사로 증거합니다. 이러한 여러 증거 때문에, 그리스도인들은 가르침을 받은 것을 확신할 수 있습니다. 이 사실들을 부정하는 자들은 하나님은 거짓말을 하신다고 비난하는 것입니다.

 

요한은 예수님에 대한 증언이 객관적이고 인격적이라고 말합니다. 그리스도인들 안에는 하나님이 거하시기 때문에 진리의 증거를 가지고 있습니다. 그리스도와의 관계는 사람들이 보고 느낄 수 있는 자연스럽고 강력한 효과가 있습니다. 사도 요한은 하나님을 믿지 않는 것은  진리를 거부하고 하나님이 거짓말을 하신다고 비난하는 것과 같다고 말합니다. 

 

요한일서 1:10에서 사도 요한은 죄가 없다고 말하는 자는 하나님을 거짓말 하는 자로 만들고 그에게는 진리가 없다고 지적합니다. 믿지 않는 자들은 하나님의 증거를 믿지 않고 예수님을 선한 사람으로만 보고 하나님의 아들로 믿지 않습니다. 그들은 하나님께서 예수님을 그의 아들로 부르셨기 때문에 거짓말을 한다고 비난합니다(마 3:17). 예수님이 변형하셨을 때, 주님은 "이는 나의 아들, 곧 택함을 받은 자니 그의 말을 들으라" (눅 9:35)고 말씀합니다.

 

그리스도인의 삶의 목적은 이 세상에서 축복받고 천국에 가는 것이 아닙니다. 그리스도인들은 물질의 축복을 받을 수 있고 천국에 간다는 보장이 있지만, 그리스도인들의 믿음의 목표는 이 두 가지를 초월합니다. 믿음의 조상 아브라함은 기독교 신앙의 목표을 하나님께 영광을 돌리는 것으로 예시합니다. 바울은 "믿음이 없어 하나님의 약속을 의심하지 않고 믿음으로 견고하여져서 하나님께 영광을 돌리며”(롬 4:20)라고 말합니다. 우리는 이 말씀에서 하나님의 영광은 믿음이 없는 자들의 삶에는 나타나지 않는다는 것을 알 수 있습니다(요일 5:10).

 

아브라함은 하나님께 영광을 돌리는 삶을 살았습니다. 그는 하나님을 완전히 의지하며 믿음으로 살았고 하나님의 영광이 그의 삶을 통해 빛이 났습니다. 아브라함의 믿음은 하나님의 약속을 확신하고 한결같이 열정을 가지고 믿었습니다. 태양열이 강하면 흙은 단단해지지만 촛불은 더 많이 녹아 내립니다. 재료에 따라 결과가 다릅니다. 마찬가지로, 신앙은 시련의 시기에 약화될 수 있고 더 강화될 수 있습니다. 믿음의 반대는 의심입니다. 아브라함은 하나님의 약속을 믿었고 의심하지 않았습니다(롬 4:20). 의심은 두 마음을 품는 것입니다. 노아는 비를 본적이 없었지만 120년 동안 하나님의 약속을 믿고 방주를 지었습니다(히 11:7). 믿음은 하나님의 말씀에 대한 확신을 갖는 것입니다. "약속하신 그것을 눙히 이루실 줄울  확신하였으니"(롬 4:21). 우리도 하나님의 약속을 믿고 영광스러운 삶을 살아야 합니다.

 

 

오늘의 기도: 온전하게 역사하시고 의의 반석이신 하나님을 찬양하고 (신 32:4), 진리의 하나님되심을 감사하십시오. 사탄의 거짓말을 믿고 따라 행동했던 때를 고백하고 항상 진리만을 말하기로 결단하십시오 (엡 4:25). 하나님께서 기뻐하시는 사람이 되도록 간구하십시오 (시 12:2).  

기도 지침: “우리가 일하면 우리가 일하는 것이고, 우리가 기도하면 하나님께서 일하시는 것이다.” 작자미상

성경 읽기: 시편 65-67편; 로마서 2장