Title Continuing Resurrection Life/Philippians 3:10-14
Contents Continuing Resurrection Life / Philippians 3:10-14 Daegu First Church
10) To make known Christ, the power of his resurrection, and his sharing in his sufferings, imitating his death, 11) I am trying to reach the resurrection from the dead. But I go after that for which I was captured by Christ Jesus. 13) Brethren, I do not think that I have yet grasped it, but do one thing: forgetting what is behind and grasping what is ahead. 14) I press toward the goal for the reward of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
We have all kinds of bleak news all around us today. Recent newspapers have predicted that industrialization will probably not occur in 2005. So, when I said this to one of our alumni who runs a small business, was he answering that it was too long? This is a very pessimistic answer. I even feel fear. As you all know, the phrase ‘Saojeong Oryukdo’ is going around. Forty-five years old is the retirement age, and if you sit down to fifty-six, you are a thief. This is a very cynical expression. So no matter where you look in this society, there seems to be no hope. In times like these, we Christians should be the hope of the world. Because the Spirit of God is with us and God makes us live the life of resurrection.
Resurrection is called anastasis in Greek. It is a combination of the prefix ana and the noun histasis of the verb histemi. If you look at the meaning, it is used in many meanings, such as to exist again, to stand up again, to hold on to again, to hold firmly again. However, the most basic and important among them means the existence of restored life.
This does not simply mean that physical life is lost through death and is regained. Rather, it means that we have now received eternal life, which was originally given to us in the Garden of Eden, again through Christ. It's about getting a real existence.
Ultimately, faith in the resurrection gave the Apostle Paul the strength to overcome any difficulties. No obstacles in the world mattered in the face of his faith in the resurrection. No temptation could cut off his spiritual vitality. Because he had faith in the resurrection, he did not stop his mission even under the threat of death.
In this way, faith in the resurrection has turned fear into confidence. Rather than lamenting about his own plight as he went through hardships during the mission, he helped me to overcome it with joy, knowing that it was a process that brought me closer to eternal life. Even when we were exhausted and weary, we were given new strength to continue preaching the gospel.
Resurrection faith must be experienced concretely in our lives. Why do we go to church every Sunday? Are you just telling me to come out? It is because they value the promise of the resurrection.
Once upon a time, in the early church, there was a debate about which day to meet. It was a question of whether to gather on the Sabbath, which is recorded in the Old Testament and observed by the Jews, or whether to gather on the Sunday when Jesus was resurrected in the week. After much debate, we Christians decided to gather to worship God on the Sunday on the day Jesus was resurrected. So, isn't it the Lord's Day, that is, the Lord's Day? That's why we Christians call it Sunday rather than Sunday. Sunday is the day we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord, and worshiping God on Sunday is a sign that I have received God's grace to participate in the life of the risen Jesus Christ.
Therefore, even when a dark shadow comes to this world, Christians can not be engulfed in it. This is because we receive and have the will to participate in the resurrection of Jesus Christ every Sunday under the guidance of the Spirit of God. There is a huge difference between those who live with faith in the resurrection and those who do not. Those who have faith in the resurrection have the strength to live with faith and hope that they can stand up again or recover from any difficulties. Because the Spirit of God gives us that strength whenever we are in trouble.
So, even if our society today feels bleak, please don't be too pessimistic. This is the time when we Christians act as lights. In worshiping God on that very Sunday, we should once again gain the power for restoration. This is God's favor given to those who believe in the resurrection.
When we face difficulties, we often just want to avoid them. A person who lives with the faith of the resurrection is a person who lives a life of recovery rather than a life of escapism. There is one bad thing that comes down from our ancestors in our attitude to life. When we are faced with extreme difficulties, some people even take their own lives. commit suicide. Moreover, when I am accused of being unfairly framed, I often think that I will become a ghost and take revenge when I take my life. But there is no thought of resurrection, there is only thought of revenge, no thought of love.
If we Koreans were to live entangled in this spirit, there would be no hope at all. Where do the difficulties and hardships we face today come from? This is because if you want to rise again mentally, you want to live again, but you don't think of it as a way to achieve life in a good way. Isn't this because the selfish attitude that says that only I can live is the trend? Now we have to change it. We must continue to live in this world the life of resurrection that we will receive through the promise of the Holy Spirit in Christ.
The spirit of resurrection of those who believe in God shines brighter in difficult times. Many of the world's most famous business people are Christians. They made a lot of progress in saving businesses with the spirit of Christ. For example, in his autobiography, Iacocca, the president of the collapsed Chrysler Automobile Factory, wrote in his autobiography: “What were you worried about last month? last year? look at it You don't even remember So, what you're worried about today is nothing to worry about. Forget it. We live for tomorrow.” Of course, just because you can't remember, forgetting the past isn't always the solution. However, his tenacity to run toward his goals in the future is worthy of imitation.
Dear saints,
The economy is not as good these days than it was during the IMF. There are depressing days when we hear a lot of bad news from inside and outside the country. In times like these, we need more mental and spiritual strength. It is to have faith that only God can ultimately restore us. Then, through the Holy Spirit, God will provide you with new strength. And in times like these, please pat your family and colleagues on the shoulder. So that we can grow stronger with each other.
No matter how dreadful the world may be, we Christians should not give up hope of life. Because we have faith in the resurrection. That resurrection is not accomplished by me, but God allows us to accomplish it through the Holy Spirit. Because it is clearly promised to us who live today, I earnestly bless you that you will continue to experience the resurrection called recovery in your life.