August 31 - The Fruits of Faith 믿음의 열매

August 31 - The Fruits of Faith

 

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” - 1 Cor. 15:17 

 

This passage counters a misguided idea among some Christians in Corinth: that Christians will not be physically, bodily resurrected from the dead. Paul followed the idea to its logical conclusions, an approach that would likely have been appreciated in the Greek culture that valued clear thinking, speaking, and logic.Paul wrote that if nobody is physically resurrected from the dead, Christ Himself was not raised from the dead. Since Christ's resurrection is essential to the gospel—the message that we can be forgiven for sin by God's grace and through faith in Christ's death and resurrection—the faith the Corinthians had placed in Christ would be futile, useless, useless, pointless. The gospel is true or not, and Christ’s resurrection is foundational to the "good news." Unique among religious ideas, Christianity ties all its truth to a single, real-world event; "blind faith" or self-deception has never been compatible with the biblical ideal.Far worse, if Christ is not raised, all who have trusted in Christ would still be in their sins. Their sins would remain unforgiven by God since they believed in a Savior who was no Savior. Without forgiveness of their sins, they would remain separated from God with no hope of salvation (Romans 3:23; 6:23). 

 

Many Christians need to comprehend the meaning of faith and need clarification. Faith starts from hearing God’s word and receiving it. 

Listening to God’s word with a humble heart leads one to have faith (1 Cor. 15:17). However, many Christians do not leap from their faith stage but are prone to stay where they are. In other words, they only grow in head knowledge but seldom obey or surrender to God.

 

Therefore, Paul pointed out that a saving faith should lead one to a deeper level of maturity with God. “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Cor. 13:5). Thus, faith obeys the word of Christ and is faithful to Him. Paul also mentioned, “We live by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). God wants us to trust Him and surrender ourselves to Him utterly. 

 

A justifying act of God always gives us a challenge and comfort. Human beings feel insecure in their righteousness when they see God’s righteousness. The prophet said, “The soul who sins is the one who will die” (Ezek. 18:4). In the Old Testament, human disobedience brought God’s wrath and hardships, whereas obedience brought His blessings.

 

Therefore, the gospel presents a way for a sinner to be righteous. A broken and contrite heart is more precious before God’s eyes than one who is confident in their religious life and righteousness. A human being must first know their sins; seeing oneself as a sinner brings the necessity to be in the presence of God and brings rich joy. “To give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven” (Luke 1:77, 78).

 

“Faith and patience are exceptional virtues in those that suffer. Patience is the fruit and evidence of faith.” – John Calvin.

 

Today’s Prayer: Pray that God will be exalted “above the heavens” and have his “glory be over all the earth” (Psalm 108:5) through broadcast missions and on-site missionaries.

Prayer Pointer: Many Christians consider it a burden, a duty, and a difficulty to get along with God! That is a great hindrance to our Christian life everywhere. – Andrew Murray

Bible Reading: Psalm 145-147; 1 Corinthians 11:1-15

 

 

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8월 31일 - 믿음의 열매

 

“그리스도께서 다시 사신 것이 없으면 너희의 믿음도 헛되고 너희가 여전히 죄 가운데 있을 것이요 - 고전 15:17

 

고린도의 교회의 일부 중에는 그리스도인들의 육체적인 부활이 없다고 잘못 이해하고 교인들이 있었습니다. 바울은 다시 헬라 문화의 사상과 언어, 그리고 논리를 인정하며 그들의 육체적인 부활이 없다고 주장하는 사실에 대해 논리적으로 접근하여 결론적인 말씀을 하고 있습니다.   

 

만일 아무도 죽음에서 육체적으로 부활하지 않는다면 그것은 곧 그리스도 자신도  죽음에서 부활하지 않았다는 것을 의미하는 것이라고 기록합니다. 바울은 그리스도의 부활은 하나님의 은혜와 그리스도의 죽음과 부활에 대한 믿음을 통해 죄용서 받는다는 복음의 메시지에 필수적이기 때문에 부활을 믿지 않는 고린도 교인들의 그리스도에 대한 믿음은 헛되고 무의미한 것이 되고 만다고 말합니다. 복음은 진리이며 그리스도의 부활은 복음의 기초입니다. 모든 종교 사상가운데 기독교만 유일하게 모든 진리를 실존적 부활사건과 연계되어 있습니다. 맹신 혹은 자기 기만은 성경적 진리와 결코 양립될 수 없습니다.  

 

더 문제가 되는 것은 만일 그리스도가 부활하지 않았다면 그리스도를 믿는 모든 사람들은 여전히 죄 가운데 있어야 하고 그들의 죄는 구원자 그리스도가 아닌 다른 인간을 믿어여 하기 때문에 하나님으로부터 죄용서함을 받지 못한다는 것입니다. 죄 용서함을 받지 못하면, 구원받는 소망은 없는 것이고 하나님을 영원히 떠나 사는 것입니다(롬 3:23; 6:23). 

 

많은 그리스도인들이 믿음을 바르게 이해하지 못하고 있습니다. 믿음은 먼저 하나님의 말씀을 듣고 그 말씀을 믿는데서 시작합니다. 하나님의 말씀을 겸손한 마음으로 받아야 믿음을 가지게 됩니다(고전 15:17). 그러나 많은 그리스도인들이 믿음의 다음 단계로 들어가지 못하고 항상 제자리에 머물러 있습니다. 다시 말해서 신앙의 지식만을 쌓을 뿐 하나님께 순종하며 자신을 하나님께 헌신하지 못하고 있는 것 입니다. 

 

그러므로 바울은 구원받은 믿음은 반드시 하나님과의 성숙한 관계와 깊은 믿음의 단계로 나아가야 한다고 말합니다. “너희가 믿음에 있는가 너희 자신을 시험하고 너희 자신을 확증하라”(고후 13;5). 믿음은 그리스도의 말씀에 순종하고 하나님께 충성하는 것 입니다. 바울은 “이는 우리가 믿음으로 행하고 보는 것으로 하지 아니함이로라”(고후 5:7)고 말합니다. 하나님은 우리가 온전히 그를 의지하고 그에게 헌신하기를 원하십니다.

 

하나님의 칭의는 항상 우리에게 도전과 위로가 됩니다. 사람은 하나님의 의를 생각할 때  자신의 의에 대해 불안감을 느낌니다. 에스겔 선지자는 “범죄하는 그 영혼이 죽으리라”(겔 18:4)라고 말합니다. 구약의 말씀에서 순종은 하나님의 축복을 가져오지만 불순종은 하나님의 진노와 고난을 가져온다고 가르치는 것을 알 수 있습니다. 

 

그러므로 복음은 죄인이 의롭게 되는 한 가지 방법을 제시합니다. 그것은 자신의 종교 생활에 확신을 가지는 것이 아니라 하나님앞에서 상한 마음으로 통회하며 더 귀한 자가 되는 것 입니다. 인간은 자신의 죄를 먼저 깨달아야 합니다. 자신이 죄인임을 알고 주님의 임재에 들어갈 필요성을 깨닫을 대 하나님이 주시는 넘치는 기쁨을 얻게 됩니다. “주의 백성에게 그 죄 사함으로 말미암는 구원을 알게 하리니 이는 우리 하나님의 긍휼을 임함이라 이로써 돋는 해가 위로부터 우리에게 임하여”(눅 1:77, 78).

 

"신앙과 인내는 고통받는 사람들에게 탁월한 미덕입니다. 인내는 믿음의 열매이자 증거입니다." – 존 칼빈

 

오늘의 기도: 하나님께서 방송선교와 현지에서 사역하는 선교사들을 통하여 “하늘 위에 높이 들리시며 주의 영광이 온 땅에서 높임 받기를” 위해 기도하십시오 (시 108:5).

기도 지침: 얼마나 많은 그리스도인들이 하나님과의 홀로 가지는 기도의 시간에 대해  부담과 의무와 어려움으로 간주한다! 이것이 어디에서든지 우리 그리스도인의 삶의 가장 큰 방해이다. – 얀드류 머레이. 

성경 읽기: 시편 145-147편; 고린도전서 11:1-15