Title: True Happiness (Romans 04:1-13)
Content Human beings are seeking fortune and happiness regardless of time or age. Human beings pursue happiness individually or by utilizing all the conditions permitted to them. However, what is happiness that humans pursue? It's like a rainbow. It looks good from a distance, but when you take it, you realize that it is nothing. But what is happiness that we are talking about in today's text? It comes from God, and that is the justification of God's human beings as righteous before God.
1. You will enjoy true happiness when you believe in God (1-5). What are the conditions for human happiness? There is no doubt that material wealth, high social status, and a lot of insight and knowledge are necessary factors for human happiness. However, these cannot be fundamental conditions for human happiness. When man, a creature of God, establishes a right relationship with God, the Creator, his life will have true happiness in the right direction.
Sin is the deadliest obstacle to the right relationship between God and man. Without resolving the problem of sin, it is impossible to restore our relationship with God. Because God is righteous and has nothing to do with sin.
However, a stranger cannot be justified by his own strength, that is, by works. A typical example is Abraham. After being called by God, Abraham was justified, not by works, but by faith. So Abraham himself had nothing to boast about before God.
(Romans 4:2) 'If Abraham was justified by works, he would have something to boast about, but not before God.' Our pride is only in the work of God in Jesus. (Romans 15:17) 'Therefore, I have some boasting about the works of God in Christ Jesus.'Therefore, not boasting about me, but about boasting about Jesus Christ and the grace of God through him is the eternal pride of the saints. All other boasting is futile as human pride. Among the things we receive and enjoy, there is nothing that we do not receive from God. He received life, faith, a gift, an office, health, and riches, honor, and blessings from God. Therefore, it is foolish arrogance to regard me as a special being, to ignore others and to think that I am a good person. So (1 Corinthians 4:7) 'Who has set you apart? What do you have that you did not receive? If you have received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?' and happiness begins.
2. Those who are counted righteous by God are those who possess the greatest happiness (6-13).
1) Those who have been justified have the happiness of acknowledging their sins (7).
Verse 7 (Romans 4:7) says, 'Blessed is the one whose iniquity is forgiven and whose sins are covered.' It is a blessing to receive the forgiveness of sins and the blessing of being completely covered by the punishment of eternal death due to the ugly sins. Satan's condemnation was no longer in effect.
2) Those who have been justified have the happiness of receiving actual forgiveness of sins (8).
Even if the sinner is acquitted before the judgment of the world, the remorse will still remain. However, God's refusal to admit our sins and forgive us is a word about leaving no traces of our sins, and we will not have any remorse. Our sins will disappear like a mist and be blotted out. (Isaiah 44:22) 'I have blotted out your transgressions as a thick cloud vanishes, and your sins as a mist vanishes; return to me, for I have redeemed him.'
Those who have met true happiness through faith are those who possess the most essential happiness. Because God justified him. I am no longer under sin. No more slaves to sin. He became a person of a special status where sin did not reign and he could not rule. Furthermore, they become heirs who will inherit the kingdom of God together with Christ. All the blessings that we will enjoy spiritually and physically are endowed with our status as heirs of the kingdom of God. I no longer live toward the world beyond me. No matter what you are faced with or what your circumstances are, you can live a life of joy by giving yourself and devoting yourself to the glory of God.
It was entirely by God's grace that Abraham was justified by faith. And we became the father of faith, and the blessing of receiving eternal life and the inheritance of the eternal kingdom of heaven came upon us.
The same blessings and happiness are given to believers who have the same faith as Abraham.
True happiness does not come from enjoying the earth in which we live. In this reality, we are easily tempted to live in pursuit of tangible happiness. Because things in the world look more beautiful. However, it is only a temporary illusion and illusion. We must realize early, before it is too late, that when we pursue the happiness of the world, we are finally left with nothing but vain regrets. The happiness of the world is really like trying to catch a rainbow in the sky. Saints must boldly resist this temptation. To that end, only those who believe in God with their heart and mind in their lives and who aim for heaven and move forward without looking left or right can overcome all temptations in the world and be victorious. I wish you the best of luck with this victory.