Title: Those in Debt/Romans 1:14-17
Contents
people in debt
Bible: Romans 1:14-17
In the text, we discover why we must evangelize, with what attitude we must evangelize, and what are the results of evangelism.
The reason Christianity exists on this earth is to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. In other words, if the church has the greatest mission and task, it is evangelism.
In other words, we can say that churches that do not evangelize or Christians who do not evangelize are those who disobey Jesus' last command.
We need to think about the three teachings that this passage of time reveals.
1. Why do we need to preach the Gospel?
1) Because you are in debt.
The Bible's teaching about debt is that you should avoid debt if you can. But if you are in debt because you have no choice but to pay it, you must pay it off.
Debt is divided into three main categories.
The first is the economic debt of borrowing money, the second is the debt of love established in human relationships, and the third is the debt of the gospel that comes from the relationship with the Lord.
In Romans 13:8, Paul said, “You shall not owe anything but a debt of love.” In Romans 1:14, Paul said, “You are indebted to the gospel.” A debt is a debt, whatever it is, to be repaid.
All the underdeveloped and developing countries in the world are in debt. For example, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea, and North Korea. In the case of Korea, the foreign debt is 44 billion dollars. Brazil Silver is said to be 108.2 billion dollars, Mexico 99.8 billion dollars, and Argentina 5512 billion dollars. In the case of North Korea, there is even talk of a plan to seize property overseas because it does not have the ability to repay.
Paul referred to himself as a “debtor.” And he said he was indebted to the Greeks, Jews, and barbarians. The Greek word Paul refers to here does not just mean Greeks, but at that time the whole world was affected by Alexander's influence. It refers to people all over the world who have been influenced by Greek culture and thought and who speak Greek.
And savage means people who speak vulgar and vulgar language because they do not learn Greek properly. But strictly speaking, advanced and backward, advanced and backward, gentle and savage are determined and governed by religion and belief. .
Who is the barbarian?
A savage is a person who tramples on conscience, morality and order, commits sins and commits evil, yet knows that it is a decent way of life. If you trample on morality and live in sins, that person is a savage.
The Greeks, the Jews, and the barbarians that Paul spoke of encompasses people all over the world.
Being indebted to them means that you have to share the gospel with them.
Bonar said how to pay off this debt, first by sharing the gospel with others, second by praying for others, and thirdly by giving them what I have.
The Korean church received the gospel for free through missionaries 100 years ago. Now, it is necessary to share the free gospel with other peoples. It is the same for individuals. I have a responsibility to share the gospel I received with others. will be
2) Because salvation is given only to those who believe.
Evangelism is preaching the gospel, and the gospel is life if you believe in Jesus and you will die if you do not believe in Jesus. In other words, evangelism is preaching the truth that you must believe in Jesus to receive eternal life. There will be more people to go.
Some people say that they believed in Jesus after reading a book called Heaven I saw. Others said that they saw Hell in a dream and were terrified to believe in Jesus. If hell is such a scary and desperate place, it is the story of people who came to believe because they thought that they should quickly believe in Jesus and go to heaven.
It is not only individuals who are saved through faith in Jesus.
In Acts 16, a man who was a prison guard in the Philippi region accepted Jesus and preached the gospel to his family. As a result, he and his family were saved together.
Paul said to the jailer, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you and your household will be saved." If you believe in Jesus, your family will be saved, your society will be saved, and your nation will be saved.
The most orderly and stable countries and societies are those that believe in Jesus. In order for the nation to live and to revive the national spirit, this nation must be evangelized with zeal and become Jesus. .
As long as our people become Jesus, they will become the best people in the world.
Some say that there are 10 million Christians, and they ask, what is the shape of the country and what does the church do?
This is true. However, it is because there are only 10 million members of the church, but the 10 million people have not yet become Jesus Christ, so they are not doing their job well.
2. How should we evangelize?
1) Verse 15 says that we should do what we can.
"As much as you can" means to do your best, with all your might. If a person who has ten things gives you five things, that's not the best. A person who can lift 100 kilograms only lifts 20 kilograms. If not, it's not about trying.
Paul used all the strength he had. That is why he confessed in a letter to Timothy in his later years, "I have completed my course, and because I have kept the faith, the only remaining way is to receive the crown of righteousness as a reward."
Do you want to evangelize to your husband? Do it with all your might.
Do you want to save your parents? Do your best.
If you want to evangelize your friends, brothers, or neighbors, do your best.
If you pray and evangelize with all your might, you will surely lead that soul to the Lord.
How long do you think it will take if 100 Communist Party members are entrusted with 30 million people, and if you ask them to act freely and brainwash them to become members of the Communist Party? Perhaps they will do their best and risk their lives to make 30 million Communists or to purge and kill 30 million people in the not-too-distant future.
Why is it so pathetic and difficult in a country where there are 10 million people who preach Jesus, the gospel of life and salvation? If one person is responsible for three people, wouldn't 40 million Koreans become church members and become Jesus Christ?
2) It says in verse 16 that we are not ashamed.
Those who opposed Jesus at that time used to sarcastically point out Jesus, saying, "He was born as a carpenter's son, and grew up in a poor family in Judea, and then he was eventually crucified with robbers and died."
Some church members these days see a book that says that Jesus was a Buddhist, and they say that they are surprised and embarrassed that Jesus was a Buddhist.
If we accept the stories that are not in the Bible, the stories that have no historical basis, and the stories created and made up by Satan's servants who want to humble Jesus and destroy Christianity, then those people will not be children of Jesus, but children of Satan.
In his letter to Timothy, Paul said, "If we deny the Lord, the Lord will deny us" (2 Timothy 2:12).
The Lord Himself said, "If you deny me before men, I will also deny you before my Father in heaven."
The Greeks are proud and proud that they are Greek, the French are French, and the Jews are Jewish.
But our case is a little different.
It is said that international students from all over the world gather in a dormitory at a university in the United States, and they call their parents on weekends. However, the students who call in English are Korean students. They all call in their own language, but second-generation Koreans I can't speak Korean, so I'm calling in English.
Of course, this is a special case, but if it is a problem, it is a problem. Let's not be ashamed of Jesus. Let's brag about Jesus.
3. What will happen if we evangelize?
In verse 17, Paul said, “God’s righteousness is revealed in the gospel.” This means that when the gospel is preached, the unrighteousness there is expelled and God’s righteousness is revealed. It means that sinners will repent and become righteous.
In other words, when Jesus enters, a new movement and work of righteousness arises. When Jesus enters me, I am turned over and become a new person. When Jesus enters the family, changes occur in the family. It will be different. Sadness, despair, sorrow, and pain disappear, and joy, hope, and life are filled.
I had the opportunity to preach twice in the past week at the Workplace New Society, a gathering of Christians. I emphasized the responsibility of Christians there. People will be attracted to Jesus and believe in him, but on the other hand, if they do not cause problems and build them up, the place of evangelism will be lost and the name of Jesus will be cast out.
In Isaiah 60:1, Isaiah Selena said, “Arise, shine.” Now is the time for us to get up and shine the light of the gospel. The time has come to pay off the gospel debt that we have only received.
Our church should take the lead in this work.
There is a person who has been living with a wall in between, but the member of the church next door never once said to him, “Let’s believe in Jesus, let’s go to church.
Now think of my neighbors, my family and relatives, my colleagues and friends. And let's pray for them. And let's share the gospel with them.
If you believe, you live and if you do not believe, you die. If you preach, you increase, if you don't, you decline.