Title: Face and Faith
Contents
Text: Philippians 2:5-8
There is face that the children of God must have and protect while living their faith life, and there is face that must be abandoned and given up. “Respect” refers to the morality that a person must have in life, and it can be divided into interpersonal and substitute relationships. However, many people do not become good Christians because they cannot distinguish between what to take and what to throw away before God and people.
1. face to own
First, let's take a look at the face we should have in our relationships with people.
In general, ‘a person without face’ means a person who is not human, and it is used to mean ‘without human body’, ‘without notice’, or ‘without case’. Humans are called social animals, and the difference from normal animals is that humans have face. For example, I haven't seen a pig family gain face at mealtime, but people have eating etiquette and live by it.
When a person becomes a mature person, he controls himself with self-control because of his face. This is becoming a personal person. Let's take a look at ourselves this time. “Am I living by face-to-face?”
2. Face to be thrown away
Just as it is fundamental for people to live together, it is fundamental to lose face when living a life of faith in a relationship with God. Why? It is the face that hinders the saints from receiving grace. Pride that you have studied a little, pride that you have wealth, pride that you have social status, and pride that you are old are all obstacles to accessing the throne of God's grace.
In fact, from the perspective of Korean Christian teachers, the Jeongdong Church in Seoul was mainly attended by scholars, scholars, and yangbans, and the Sangdong Church in Namdaemun was mainly attended by ordinary people doing business.
In our relationship with people, we need to become people who can save face, but in our relationship with God, we must become believers who know how to lose face.
In the sight of God, we are all children, so we must give up face and be naive like children. There should be no divisions or boundaries before God.
At one time in the United States, there was a face boundary between whites and blacks, so restaurants, trains, and even churches were separated. But such a church is a half church. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.
3. The Holy Spirit who builds up
Ephesians 4:3 says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit. There is one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God.” Likewise, there is one heaven to which believers go. Face should be a character, not pride.
Even the Jews had no dealings with Gentiles because of the pride of being God's chosen people. However, in the book of Acts, we see the walls of the borders crumbling down as the Holy Spirit comes on and the gospel is preached.
When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, your faith, purpose, values, family, satisfaction, and church will become one.
If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you will be able to keep your face well with people and throw away your face before God.
In today's text, the meaning of the phrase 'Jesus did not consider equality with God to be robbery' means that Jesus lost his face. He became like a man, humbled himself, and gave up all face to death on a cross.
Dear members of Shepherd Church,
Face doesn't do us any favors. I hope you will take off your face and focus on receiving grace. Now, I hope that you will cast off the resignation, dead face, and empty face that we do not have in our lives and become saints who know the true face.
Let's confess together.
I will become a personal person who knows how to save face for the rest of my life!
I will become a religious person who knows how to save face for the rest of my life!
Hallelujah, Amen.