Enjoy the plentiful grace of Christ
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--
because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
n the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
The Bible scripture Romans 6:1~14 that we read today is precious Words of God.
I will preach the message with the title, “Enjoy the abundant grace of Christ.”
Apostle Paul keeps on speaking about blessing of salvation in Romans.
Before salvation, we were bound by sin and death and destined for eternal death.
Depending on what kind of thinking one has, he can or cannot enjoy the abundant grace.
In the Bible, Apostle Paul asks, “What do you think about sin? What do you think about righteousness?” He emphasizes this.
We were baptized into Christ Jesus. Because we were baptized into Christ, his death and resurrection are closely related to us.
Don't you know that all of us were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death. All of our sin and death are completely buried. They are completely over.
Just as Christ was raised from the dead, so that we too may live a new life, we were buried and raised.
For we know that. Knowing is important because what is written on the Bible will be directly applied to us.
Our old self was crucified with him. This is the truth.
Our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
Due to our status, we cannot be slaves to sin. We should be aware that we died to sin and should be sure of it, and have faith in it. . .
If it is true that we died with Christ and live with Christ, sin cannot reign us. It is finished once and for all.
So, how should we perceive it and live our lives? In the Bible, it says that “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” “Count” means to be aware, be sure, and have faith in it.
There are many times that general knowledge hinders this special knowledge. Many times, our common sense dismisses, ignores, and misunderstands God’s special grace.
In the same way, Children of God must count themselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Being aware, sure, and to have faith in it is important.
Do not let sin reign in your mortal body. To do so, what should we do? Do not obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness. But rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life. And offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
Be aware that our body is not bound by sin. There is nothing good coming out from it. It is waste of time.
So, we should realize how worthy and powerful it is to give yourself to God.
Those who are not saved give time and heart to sin and think that is it waste of time to offer oneself to God.
But we children of God know that there is nothing more important than this. It is precious to offer yourself to God.
And we come to understand that we are not under law, but under grace.
We have to be aware and understand in faith how blissful it is to live under God’s grace.
Under this grace, any sin or the flow of the world passes by me, but cannot affect me in any way.
What affects me is only one thing. God is my father, and Jesus Christ is my savior, and He is with me as the Holy Spirit. I am this kind of being, a child of God, and a person of God.
Dead to sin but alive to God, a newly born status. So, you realize that you have to offer yourself to God.
God is so pleased by the faith of offering oneself to God. How precious and worthful it is.
God guarantees our lives, everything in our lives. And He moves things around you through your prayer. That is spiritual summit. We should restore the pride of the children of God.
Therefore, enjoy the abundant grace of Christ. How is it revealed realistically? We should confirm it through the Word.
Today’s Bible scripture talks about the basics of enjoying the abundant grace of Christ.
In case of Apostle Paul, something happened when he became Christian.
On the road to Damascus, he met resurrected Jesus, accepted Him as his Lord and was changed.
What happened immediately afterward is being called as an apostle to preach the gospel.
This is what happens to the saved children of God.
It depends on the person, but Paul was a persecutor. So, right after he met Christ, he was called as the apostle of the Gentiles.
He was called as the apostle to preach the gospel.
Not only we but also all the children of God, the moment they receive salvation, are given a position and mission.
In Eph 4:11, it says that some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers.
A position is given to every one. What position have you received?
You have to seek it out, confirm it, and restore it.
And this can be one way to enjoy abundant grace of Christ.
Because people receive grace as they carry out the mission.
God has given me this position. This is my mission, heavenly mandate, and my calling.
As you obey him and do your best, you can experience grace of God.
If you don’t think about it, or do not do any work, then, how can you receive grace?
The evidence to receive this abundant grace is written on verse 3, 5, and 6.
Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
What is the evidence to receive this grace? It is the blessing to live a new life. Living a new life is giving glory to God.
To live a new life means to live in the resurrection of Christ.
If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
This is the evidence to enjoy the abundant grace of God.
Sin is over and we live with Christ. We live a new life.
You have to believe it, confirm it, and perceive it.
We do not live under the sin any more, but live as soldiers of righteousness.
We give ourselves to God. And this is happiness and blessing.
Then, whose slaves are we?
Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Not slaves to sin, but to obedience. Christ obeyed to crucifixion.
As He was glorified in resurrection through obedience, we should completely obey before Christ.
This kind of person can enjoy the grace of Christ, and it is the characteristic of workers of Christ.
When you completely obey Christ, it is not over, but you receive blessing of righteousness, resurrection of Christ, and answers.
Then what kind of effort should you put into it.
It says in verse 12 and 13, Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
Because you have been brought back to life from death, don’t forget the grace you have received, and offer your body as instruments of righteousness.
That is our effort. This is the only effort that you should put in. Giving thanks to God for saving this sinful person, you are giving yourself to Him with all your heart. You devote yourself to God.
This is the heart that God is pleased with.
When you go to work, if you think that you are going to go and make money, you will be tired.
But if you think that it is time that you are devoting yourself to God, you will think that you are working because of the gospel, to glorify God, and to reveal the blessings of Immanuel in the field.
Then you will ask God for the strength. This is the difference. Giving yourself to God.
Secondly, we can experience the abundant grace. I have talked about the basics of enjoying the abundant grace. We can also experience it. The experience is recorded in Psalms 37:1~9. It talks about the experience of the writer.
To experience it, how should we handle complaints, the enemy of our faith?
As we live our lives, complaints are formed. No matter what situation people are in, because people are sly, they always have complaints.
Things are not working for me well, but it seems like others thrive. Then, you will have complaints.
Nothing is working for me, but nonbelievers are doing better. What is wrong with me?
This kind of conflicts have always existed.
In verse 1, it says, “Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong.”
The reason is, “for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.”
God sees everything. So, with a little bit passage of time, the result will be revealed.
What you see right now, whether things are going well or not, is not important.
As time passes, God’s righteousness will be revealed and evil will fall.
Like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Don’t worry about anything.
To enjoy the abundant grace, your attitude toward the Lord is important.
"여호와를 의뢰하고 선을 행하라 땅에 머무는 동안 그의 성실을 먹을 거리로 삼을지어다"
When you look at verse 3, “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.” “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.”
Silently doing your job that God has entrusted to you. That is the way to victory.
Shaking minds are not the right ones.
Doing your best at what is given to you whether people notice it or not. God will pure down His grace on it.
The only important things is that God is watching you. Then, people will eventually come to know it and it becomes your power and blessing.
Why should we do good and live diligently?
It says in Psalms 37:4, “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
When you delight yourself in the LORD, he will give you the desires of your heart.
People can’t really understand you and they cannot solve anything for you.
They can’t give you the desires of your heart. God knows the desires of our heart and he fulfills them.
Delight yourself in the LORD. Delight yourself in the LORD.
Are you delighted when you think about the LORD who is self-existing?
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
What happens to the future? Nothing to worry about it, either.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:
Committing your way to the LORD is the faith. And he will do this.
What is the reasons?
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
The light of life of Christ shines from then on. The light shines.
Rather than thinking about other things, it is better to read books, think righteously, or listen to the message.
Doing other things are futile. People think astray. You have to build up the basics.
That is not a waste of time. That is an important thing.
There are many people who do evil.
They do evil without hesitation, without remorse, and rather they curse the righteous.
Do we revenge? No, the Bible doesn’t say so.
Verses from 7 to 9 talk about our attitude toward the evil doers. They are very important.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil.
Why should we be still? Why should we wait? What shouldn’t we complain? Why shouldn’t we be angry?
There is a reason. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
That is clearly recorded in the Bible. The evil men will be cut off eventually. As though it seems like they flourish, they will be cut off.
However those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. Your boundaries will be extended and God’s blessing will come upon you.
May you experience the abundant grace.
Lastly, what is something that we must always do? It talks about the way to enjoy it continuously. It is recorded in 1st Thessalonians chapter 5.
To live in peace, love, and to respect. This becomes a tremendous way to stay within the grace.
Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.
Because the leader who teaches you the gospel, who gives you the Word spiritually, is important, you should respect them.
Respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.
Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. It is the same for the church, nation, and organization that you work for. You have to respect those who teach you.
In today’s society, some people argue that only they are right, and try to deny the history, flow, and the stream up until now. They are very shortsighted.
It is wrong because they deny everything in order to prove themselves right.
The reason one exists is because of their parents, and because the society coexists.
The reason of the stability we have is because the president and the government are doing their job well.
It is the same with the market principle. Because of other people’s effort and diligence, we can easily buy things.
When you think about those, we live all thanks to other people around you.
Then you can restore thanksgiving.
We cannot establish a business all of sudden. It is not for everyone.
But there is a place for you to work and can earn money.
Those are all blessings, and you should be thankful for that.
You should acknowledge who is ahead of you. When you realize what a great impact leading conglomerates have in Korean economy, you have no choice but to give proper credit for the head of the company and the workers’ hard work.
And we also realize how much we benefit from their work.
Look at the society in this perspective, then we are so thankful.
This becomes the basics of continuing on in the grace.
The Bible tells us to be joyful. Not just joyful, but always joyful. Because there is a reason to be.
Also, pray. Not just pray. Pray continually. Because God is with you.
And give thanks.
For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Thanksgiving is His will, not complaining or grunting.
Before you received salvation, that was our way of living.
However after you received salvation, you should believe that God is with you, all things work together for good in God, and God will turn it instructive. Then, you will be thankful.
God has led me this way under this circumstance. I thought I had strange parents but God made it useful for me so that I can only look unto God. How grateful I am for this.
When you reevaluate and edit in gospel, it will turn into a good design that will fulfill God’s will.
Lastly, we should be led by the Holy Spirit, and the Word.
The guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Word.
No matter how much we strive to live in faith, our nature is centered on ourselves.
The world tells us to live for ourselves. All the religions tell people that you come before all else. You should succeed. You should have power. You should live on your own.
Knowledge also tells us to live for ourselves. When you hear that, that sounds right.
People are oblivious to the consequences of that.
Man is sly. So, for the children of God, since everything is done for us, the Bible says, “Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt.”
We should always hope not to put out the Sprit’s fire, not to commit the sin of putting out the Spirit’s fire. If not, everything is in vain.
The Holy Spirit is God himself. When you receive the guidance, we can grow and God’s plan and blessings can be fulfilled.
When God sees us, He should see that we have the valuable faith to be led by God.
However, if you try to do things the way you are pleased with and are stubborn, it will upset God.
So, trust God. Believe God. Receive the guidance of God and the Holy Spirit.
Do not treat prophecies with contempt.
What are the prophecies?
The words recorded in the Bible and the word proclaimed from the pulpit are the prophecies.
When you hear the words carefully, you will come to know how accurately He leads us.
No matter how lacking a man may be, God has raised the pastor on the pulpit.
When you listen to the word carefully, the word is interpreted in the way that fits you in reality.
This is the prophecy. This is the light that lights our way.
What I am sure of is that I cannot preach the word in my own level.
God gives us the word through the servant of God. We should believe this.
When you do not put out the Spirit's fire and do not treat prophecies with contempt, you can continue on in this abundant grace.
May you enjoy this grace.
Living God, we thank you. Thank you for giving us grace so that we can enjoy the abundant grace. Let us have firm foundations to enjoy this grace. Let us realize that the old things are finished and began anew in resurrection. Let us know our enemies and what kind of attitude we must have to receive abundant grace. Let us have the faith that allows us to wait patiently. Let us realize the reason to be joyful, to love one another, respect one another and to pray. We believe that your grace continues on in us abundantly in the steps of thanksgiving. Allow the members of the church to receive such grace. We thank you and pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
