The Necessity of the Reformation (Romans 1:16-17)

 

1)conflicts and corruption of the world
-In the States, people saw the corruption, vices, and evilness of human beings through candidates of presidential election and other incidents. In South Korea, the influence of a shamanistic woman on present President makes people be angry and hate President. The Bible already showed an example of the influence of a shaman on politics.
Acts 13:8, But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
-Behind the political, economic, and cultural power and authority, there is the activity of Satan. Satan as the ruler (prince) of this world deceives and attacks human beings.
2 Corinthians 4:4,  whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
2)problems and corruption of the church
-In addition, Christianity in the world faces severe criticism because of its corruption and problems. There are many news for division and conflicts of the church and sexual corruption of church leaders. The church gets sick because of materialism, prosperity gospel, incorrect mysticism, secularism, and humanism. They don’t emphasize the Gospel and the covenant of only Jesus Christ.
-Revelation 2:20, Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
-The church in Thyatria was corrupt. Apostle John warned this corruption to us.
-Martin Luther started the Reformation on October 31th, 1517. Like Luther, we need to reform the church, christianity, and society by the Word of God. In order to fulfill it, what must we know and hold on to?

 

1.Restore the Gospel as the power of God for salvation
1)Real field state - lack of knowledge of God
-In the field and the church, many pastors, ministers, theological professors, and lay leaders don’t have emphasize the gospel of Jesus Christ. They teach and bring ethic, morals, human rights, peace, and love. Those are important and necessary for people. However, they have lost the priority of their duty as the witness and ambassador of Jesus Christ. What is its result? In the western world, the number of the church and Christians is decreasing little by little.
Hosea 4:6, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
-In South Korea, a famous shaman confessed that when she had spiritual and physical illness due to her spiritual problem and met a pastor in a prayer house, he said to her that she should had a different way from Christianity. Then, she received an evil spirit and became the shaman. Even some pastors don’t give correct Gospel to people.
2)Restore the gospel of Jesus Christ (v.16)
-All people need God’s salvation through the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is because they are the slaves of sin, death, and Satan. We cannot free ourselves from these bondage. Only Jesus Christ, who is our Priest, Prophet, and King, can save us through His cross and resurrection. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:2-4; 1 Corin.15:3-5)
Romans 6:17-18,  But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Hebrews 2:14-15,  Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
-To save myself and others is only the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we must realize that we have duty to restore and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in our field.

2.Live by faith in the Gospel
1)Justification by faith alone (v.17)
-How can sinners be righteous before God?There is absolutely no human and worldly method to become righteous. Therefore, God gives us His way, that is, Jesus Christ. Through the Gospel, we can know Jesus Christ and have faith in Him. Then, our spiritual identity is changed from sinners into the righteous before God.
Philippians 3:9, and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
-We should remember and restore justification by faith alone in the age of religious pluralism.
2)Restore the authority of the Bible as the Word of God
-How can we gain faith? Faith comes by hearing the word about Jesus Christ (Romans 10:17). Because Satan knows it, he attacks the authority of the Bible through liberalism and science. If people think and believe that the Bible is not the Word of God, they cannot have faith that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, now we should admit and restore the authority of the Bible as the Word of God.
1 Timothy 3:16-17, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
3)Spiritual battle against unbelief
-From Genesis 3 to until now, Satan has used unbelief toward God’s Word as his best attacking weapon. Through unbelief, the devil makes the hearts of people hardened. The imprint of unbelief leads people into resentments, blames, despair, and anxiety like many Israelites in the wilderness.
-Therefore, we should fight against unbelief and get rid of it. We must receive God’s Word with faith. This is the way to have victory in our spiritual battle.
Hebrews 4:2 (ESV), For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

 

conclusion
1)What does God want from me?
-Ask yourself what God wants from you NOW! There might be various answers for this question. Among many answers, we should enjoy and delight our salvation through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Habakkuk 3:17-19, Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls—18  Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.19 The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.
To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.