Examining the overall composition of Romans(3)

[瑤翰 김요한]

 If salvation at the level of Romans is not accomplished, we cannot come to the throne of God's grace because of sin, death, and darkness within us.

It is the same principle that if you give food to a child whose hands are dirty, he will not receive it himself.

God has kept our salvation and gifts from before the foundation of the world, and calls us to the throne, but we run away.

Christians can only taste the salvation of their souls when they know for themselves that God treats them differently according to their distance from the throne of God's grace (1 Pet 1:22 soul).

Only when the soul, that is the intelligence, sensibility, and will are pure, can you love God without hesitation and love your neighbor as well.

A dark soul can never love.

From that point of view, Romans is a very important gateway to salvation in the Bible.

The Bible should acknowledge our faith, but the problem is that if you don't understand Romans, you can't understand the words of Hebrews that follow.

However, what is very sad is that many people do not have the heart to fulfill God's promised word.

They do not seek to receive the blessings of those who overcome the world, sin, and death, nor do they seek to find out about them.

They are not interested in the truth at all.

They don't even try to check if they're receiving Romans salvation.

It is probably because the church is compromising with the world that there are many things that help our souls besides the truth, that is, Christ.

When Christianity reaches the 100th anniversary of missionary work, it becomes cultural, and that is worldly.

Romans 9-11 is about overall salvation, that is, all Israel.

Jews aren't the only Israel. True Israel in Christ (Rom 9:6)

This is where the worldly view and the historical view of faith come into being.

Individual salvation is a relationship between 'God and I', but overall salvation is a relationship between 'God and us'.

You finally know us.

Next, Romans 12-15 is the command to 'live like this'.

It can be said to be the methodology of living sacrifice.

The individual 'I' enters the community 'we' and becomes the word of testimony saying, "This is how I live."

In order for us to receive and enjoy true blessings, the salvation of Romans 1-8 must be accomplished within ourselves, and then we must live after chapter 12. It is a life worship.

This is an application of the same principle as solving an answer by a mathematical formula.

If life doesn't work after Romans 12, I shouldn't be frustrated as to why not, but I have to examine the principles of salvation in Romans 1-8 again within myself.

Without the principle and power to live by faith, life will never happen.

When righteousness appears through faith, the Holy Spirit works immediately, so the energy of life is supplied.

Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17) are the energy manifested by the inner work of the energy of life supplied by Christ.

Christians who are faithful to God's calling and promise must learn this principle and power through the book of Romans and testify to the effectiveness of their faith, so that they can praise the Lord and evangelize the nations.

Romans tells us that the sure effect of the gospel of Christ will appear.

It enables us to say, 'We live this way through Christ'.

So Paul explains the purpose of going to the already-believers in Rome at the beginning "to strenthen you.

In fact, Romans is able to strengthen us. He makes us stand on a rock.

As I have said again and again, from Romans 1 to 11, 'hearing' and from Romans 12, 'doing life'. 'Because' is done, so 'therefore' do it.

It's like trying to do something when you're full and full of energy after eating.

Therefore, listening to the word of God is the first priority before acting.

The principle of faith that can be acted upon only by hearing the Word is born within me.

If we act without listening, we will create many arguments like the present church.

This is the reason why christianity argues about faith and works.

Romans consistently asserts the will of God.

Just like the saying that faith is the reality of things hoped for, faith becomes true to us, so there are only yes and no answers about faith.

God works out our salvation with His oath (Hebrews 6:17)

Accepting the promise of salvation is faith.

Receiving is believing in God's achievements through Christ and accepting Him as our personal Savior.

It is to accept existence and all his achievements.

Therefore, we must know where Christ has called us and believe and follow.

The purpose of God's creation is to put us where we should be.

It is important for faith to know our belonging and tendency before our humility or enthusiasm.

For example, between light and darkness, life and death,  Christ and the world, where do I belong to?  As I am now moving toward the light, being cleansed by the blood, and moving toward the throne of God’s grace with a pure heart and earnest longing in faith?

The book of Romans frees us from sin and death through the Spirit of life in Christ and gives us freedom to have spiritual thoughts (Rom 8:6) from carnal thoughts that are saturated with sinfulness and malice.

Written by Ptr. Yohan Kim.

Translated by  Nancy Chung

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