August 29 - Faith and Grace 믿음과 은혜

August 29 -  Faith and Grace

 

“All the believers were one in heart and mind, no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” – Acts 4:32

"Those who believed" include several groups. The apostles, Jesus' family, and other disciples who followed Him during His ministry received the Holy Spirit on the morning of Pentecost (Acts 1:13–15; Acts 2:1–4). About three thousand people joined them after Peter's sermon, and more came daily (Acts 2:41, 47). At the time of this update, at least five thousand men, plus women and kids, are part of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 4:4).Luke says thousands

 of people are of "one heart and soul." They join together in purpose, thought, and action. The Holy Spirit is in them and guiding them as a group. Their commitment to the Holy Spirit's leading is so strong that they combine their possessions.Ephesians 4:1–6 describes the unity possible when the Holy Spirit leads a group of believers. The members display humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, and love. They not only live in harmony, but they also actively seek it. They make up one body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12–31) because they are united by one faith in one God and Father.The reason for their unity is their belief. We don't know everything the apostles regularly taught (Acts 2:42), but Peter's two recorded sermons share the same theme. Jesus of Nazareth is the Jewish Messiah. The Jewish nation killed Him, but God raised Him from the dead. Anyone who repents their sins will receive forgiveness from God (Acts 2:14–36; 3:11–26).

 

Christians should understand faith and action correctly in their daily lives. There are two opinions on faith and action. One is the Jews’ opinion: Gentiles must follow Judaism to be believers. Paul said that this was wrong teaching. He insisted that Jesus came to the world to complete the law and free us from sin(Galatians 3:1-5). Apostle Paul said, “So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24). 

 

The phrase ‘Justified by faith’ is a core doctrine of the Reformation, led by Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others. However, reformers did not see ‘Justified by what he does’ in James as contradictory. Many of us claim to follow Jesus, yet we are without action. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, many Christians pursue ‘cheap grace.’ 

 

Before claiming our faith, we have to live by it. Faith should be shown through love, forgiveness, understanding, and relationships in the church. However, we often do not love but discriminate against people in the church. Even the early church had the same problem. Apostle James said, “My brothers, as believers in our glorious LORD Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism” (James 2:1). Judging on appearance is a sin. God does not judge us by our appearance; therefore, we should not judge anybody based on their appearance. Apostle Peter preached in Cornelius’s house, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism” (Acts 10:34; Acts 4:32). Christians should live according to faith and not judge anybody based on appearance.

 

 

Today’s Prayer: Read Psalm 108 and praise the LORD, whose love is higher than the heavens and whose faithfulness reaches the skies. Give thanks to you for specific acts of faithfulness so far this week. Confess any unfaithfulness which has robbed God of glory. Commit yourself to praise God among the nations (Psalm 108:3). Ask him to show you the nations in our cities and around the globe. 

Prayer Pointer: Some people think that prayer means asking for things, and if they fail to receive exactl what they asked for, they think the whole thing is a fraud. Gerald Vann

Bible Reading: Psalm 139-141; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

 

 

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8월 29일 - 믿음과 은혜

 

“믿는 무리가 한 마음과 한 뜻이 되어 모든 물건을 서로 통용하고 제 재물을 조금이라도 제 것이라 하는 이가 하나도 없더라” - 행 4:32

 

 

이 말씀에 "믿는 무리"는 당시 여러 그룹이 포함되어 있음을 보여 줍니다. 사도들과 예수님의 가족, 그리고 예수님의 공생애 기간에 그를 따랐던 모든 제자들은 오순절 아침에 성령을 받았습니다(행 1:13-15; 행 2:1-4). 베드로의 설교로 그날 약 3,000명의 사람들이 제자들의 그룹과 합류하였고 매일 더 많은 사람들이 구원 받았습니다(행 2:41, 47). 이 당시에 적어도 5,000명 이상의 남자와 여자, 그리고 아이들이 예루살렘의 교회원이 된 것입니다(행 4:4).

누가는 수많은 사람들이 "한 마음과 한 뜻"이였다고 기록하고 있습니다. 그들은 목적과 생각과 행동이 모두 하나가 되었습니다. 성령이 그들과 함께 하시고 하나의 공동체가 되게 하셨습니다. 성령의 인도하심에 따라서 자신들의 소유물을 모두 통용하는 헌신의 삶이 있었습니다.  

 

에베소서 4:1-6에서 성령은 신자들을 연합된 한 무리로 인도하신다고 말합니다. 교회의 믿는자들은 겸손과 온유, 인내와 오래 참음, 그리고 사랑을 나눕니다. 신자들은 조화를 이루며 함께 살아가고 힘써 조화를 추구하며  그리스도의 한 몸의 구성원이 됩니다(고전 12:12-31), 그들은 한 하나님 아버지에 대한 한 믿음으로 연합되어 있는 것입니다.  

이렇게 초대교회 신자들이 연합하는 이유는 믿음 때문입니다. 사도들이 정기적으로 가르친 모든 내용을 자세히 알수 없으나(행 2:42), 베드로의 설교에는 두 주제가 나옵니다. 나사렛 예수은 메시아라는 사실과 유대인들이 예수님을 죽였지만 하나님은 그를 다시 살리셨고 죄를 회개하는 자는 누구나 하나님으로부터 용서를 받는다는 말씀입니다(행 2:14-36; 3:11-26).

 

그리스도인은 삶에서 믿음과 행위의 문제를 바로 이해해야 합니다. 믿음과 행위에 대한 두 가지 주장에 하나는 이방인들이 신자가 되려면 유대교를 따라야 한다는 것입니다. 바울은 이것은 잘못된 주장이라고 말합니다. 예수님은 율법을 완성하고 죄에서 자유케 하려고 세상에 오셨다고 말합니다(갈 3:1-5), "이같이 율법이 우리를 그리스도게로 인도하는 초등교사가 되어 우리로 하여금 믿음으로 말미암아 의롭다함을 얻게 하려 하심이라” (갈 3:24). 

 

여기에 '믿음으로 의롭다함'(갈 3:24)이라는 말씀은 마틴 루터, 요한 칼빈 등의 종교개혁자들의 핵심 교리입니다. 그러나 그들은 야고보서의 '행함으로 의롭게 됨'을 모순으로 보지 않았습니다. 우리 중 많은 사람들은 예수님을 믿는다고 하면서 행위가 없습니다. 디트리히 본헤퍼가 말했듯이, '값싼 은혜'를 추구하는 그리스도인들이 많이 있습니다.  

 

우리의 믿음을 말하기 전에 믿음에 합당한 삶을 사는 것이 중요합니다. 믿음은 사랑, 용서, 이해, 그리고 교회내에서 서로의 관계를 통해 나타나야 합니다. 그러나 흔히 교회내에 사랑이 없고 차별이 있습니다. 초대교회에도 마찬가지였습니다. 야고보는 “내 형제들아 영광의 주 곧 우리 주 예수 그리스도를 믿는 믿음을 너희가 받았으니 사람을 외모로 취하지 말라”(약 2:1) 고 말합니다. 외모로 판단하는 것은 죄입니다. 하나님은 외모로 판단하지 않기 때문에 우리도 외모로 판단하지 않아야 합니다. 베드로는 고넬료의 집에서 "하나님이 편애하지 아니하시는 것이 얼마나 참된지 내가 이제야 아나니"(행 10:34; 행 4:32) 라고 설교했습니다. 우리 그리스도인은 믿음으로 살아야 하며 외모로 누구도 판단해서는 안 됩니다.

 

  

오늘의 기도: 시편 108편을 읽고 하늘보다 놓은 사랑과 하늘까지 이르는 신실하신 하나님을 찬양하고. 이 주간에 하나님께서 특별하게 신실하게 행하신 일에 감사하십시오. 영광의 하나님이 영광을 가리운 어떤 신실하지 못한 것이 있으면 고백하고 모든 나라가운데서 하나님을 찬양하기로 헌신하십시오 (시 108:3). 하나님께서 우리의 도시와 지구에서 모든 나라들 보여 주시도록 하나님께 기도 드리십시오.  

기도 지침: 어떤 사람들은 기도는 단순히 어떤 것을 간구하는 수단이라고 생각한다, 그리고 만일 간구한대로 정확하게 받지 못하면 모든 것을 사기로 생각한다.. – 제랄드 밴 

성경 읽기: 시편 139-141편; 고린도전서 10:1-13