Title: You Are a Holy Citizen of God
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You are a holy citizen of God (Deuteronomy 7:6-11)
Dear saints! The strongest army in the world is the Israeli army. The Israelites returned to the old land of Palestine and fought several wars with the Arabs after establishing the country in 1948. With a population of 2.5 million, they fought against over 100 million Muslim Arabs. But Israel never lost. How could this be? It is the love of the nation of Israel. Israelis always put their country first before themselves. And there is something more important than that. It is Sungmin ideology. In the Old Testament times, God specially separated the people of Israel from among all the peoples under the heavens, and made them God's special possession, calling them a set apart people, holy people, and holy people. In the New Testament era, all of God's children who believe in Jesus Christ are God's holy people. The saints who have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ are the saints of the New Testament. You and I are God's holy people. This morning, I want to share grace with the focus on the words, “You are a holy citizen of God.”
I. Seongmin's condition
God specially selected the people of Israel from among all the peoples of the world and made them His holy people. Why? The people of Israel were not chosen because they were superior to other peoples. It was not chosen because of the large number of the people of Israel or because of their excellent culture. At that time, in the Middle East alone, there were many peoples, such as Babylon, Egypt, Philistia, and Syria, with many and well-developed cultures. But God did not choose these people. He chose the Hebrew people, the fewest and most insignificant, and made them holy people of God. Everyone! We are not called to be saints because we are superior to others. It is purely out of God's love. Verse 7 “The Lord is pleased with you,” and He was pleased with you. It means that God unilaterally liked it and chose it because He was pleased with it. Verse 8 says, “The Lord loves you only because he loves you.” You didn't love because you deserved it. Dear all! I pray that you will become saints who give thanks for this wonderful grace of God who loved you unconditionally and made you holy people.
II. Sungmin's grace
God chose the people of Israel to make them holy people and gave them unspeakable grace.
First, it is the grace of redemption from Egypt. God redeemed the Israelites from Egypt. This is the greatest grace that the people of Israel received as a holy people. God has also redeemed us today. He redeemed us from the eternal punishment of hell by becoming slaves of the devil and slaves to sin. I pray that you become a saint who gives thanks for being redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Second, it is the grace that leads us in the wilderness. The Israelites had to go through the wilderness after leaving Egypt to enter the land of Canaan. Deuteronomy 1:31 says that as a man embraces his son, so the Lord your God embraced you and brought you to this place. Almighty God took him in his arms and led him through the wilderness. Dear all! Even today, our God leads us, today's holy people who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, in this world like a wilderness. protect you We provide everything you need. So we have nothing to worry about.
Third, it is grace that does not withdraw promises. The people of Israel were truly a poor people. Even after seeing so many miracles, I did not believe in God. Even if it was a little difficult, I resented and complained. They even made idols. But God did not forsake the Israelites. Dear all! We are all fragile beings. So, sometimes our faith is weakened, and there are many times when we make mistakes, make mistakes, and commit sins. But our God did not forsake us. This is the ultimate grace of our God, the ultimate salvation. I bless you for the grace of God who does not withdraw his promises, loves him to the end and saves him to the end.
III. Sungmin's mission
How should Sungmin, who has received such great grace from God, live?
First, we must love only God. We think of the great grace of our God who specially selected from all the peoples of the world, redeemed us with the blood of Jesus Christ, guides us, protects us, and supplies us with everything we need in this wilderness-like world, does not forsake us even if we are weak and lacking, and ultimately saves us. You must love only. You must love only God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength.
Second, we must keep the word of God and do it. If you truly love God, it is natural to keep God's commandments, His Word. Sungmin promises blessings when he keeps the word of God. Everyone! Thank you for God's grace, and I pray that you will become saints who keep and do the word of God. So, I pray that you will become a saint who receives greater blessings.
Third, we must fulfill our missionary mission. In Genesis 12, God chose Abraham and blessed him. You make a great nation. make your name great Blessing is the source. I bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I curse. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you. It is said to be a channel of blessing. By introducing God, who is the source of blessing, a person who has become conscientious can believe in Jesus Christ and become a new person so that he can receive blessings both physically and spiritually as a child of God. This is evangelism and evangelism.
Dear all! Why did God choose us? Why did you make him Sungmin and why did he give you grace and blessings? “I want all people on earth to receive this great blessing that I have received through me.” Because of me, my family will be blessed, my brothers, neighbors, friends, and workplace will be blessed, the community will be blessed, the church will prosper, the nation and nation will be blessed. In order to receive this blessing, He chose me and made me a saint. We are holy people of Jehovah God. Sungmin's Mission I pray that you will become a saint who can fulfill your missionary mission well.