Eternal Blessing to Enjoy through the True Gospel (Romans 1:16-17) 7/21/2024
Eternal Answer of 1st, 2nd, 3rd RUTC:
Eternal Blessing to Enjoy through the True Gospel (Romans 1:16-17) 7/21/2024
An individual and a church that possesses the true Gospel can enjoy God’s blessings regardless of character, skill, or situation and save the posterity and the world.
Uneducated fisherman of Galilee realized and confessed that Jesus is the Christ. What blessings was he promised? He was told “you are blessed,” and was promised three blessings. First, “you are a rock, and on this rock, I will build my church.” This is the blessing to save ourselves and the church. Second, “the gates of Hades will not overcome you.” No matter what the authority of hell and Satan try to do, ultimately, those with the gospel of Christ will have victory. No matter if you fail, are oppressed and depressed, those who hold onto Christ will have victory. That is the power and blessing of the gospel. Third, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.” When we hold onto Christ and pray, we can enjoy the power and blessings of the throne (3,9,3 prayer).
From the time of creation, mankind began with God’s blessings (Genesis 1:27-28). We were created in God’s image. We received the blessings to be fruitful, increase in number, fill the earth, subdue it, and rule over all things. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and their relationship with God was broken, they lost their image of God and all blessings.
To restore this original blessing, God sent His Son Christ. That is called the Gospel (Luke 2:10). The gospel restores all blessings. It is a complete blessing (john 19:30), blessing to enjoy God deeply (Ephesians 3:19), blessings to surpass all circumstances and realities of this world (Genesis 26:12, Genesis 39:5), and blessings that will continue eternally within our posterity and our future. Are you facing problems and conflicts? We need to discover this answer and hold onto it lifelong (imprint, root, nature).
- Gospel is about how I can’t do it so God will do it. If it is something you can do, go ahead and do it. However, in important matters, we will reach the limitations of our character and power.
1) All religion teach that we must do something. Make resolutions, discard greed, and empty ourselves. They say that we can even change our fate. If we could change it, it is not fate (Matthew 12:45). It is because there is a corrupt spirit that works in the background of the nature of original sin and greed of our lives (fundamental problem).
2) If this fundamental problem is not solved, all good deeds, efforts, and toil will be in vain.
① Failures will repeat. After all diligent and kind efforts, incomprehensible problems will continue. Those things will also be passed down to generations. The bible talks about the spiritual factor that drives those things. They are called thieves (John 10:10).
② That is why the Son of God came as Christ. He solved the original sin with the authority of the priest (Romans 4:19). With the authority of the king, he finished the devil’s work (1John 3:8). With the authority of the prophet, he became the way to meet God and our lives’ eternal way (John 14:6).
③ What we must do is accept this Christ in our hearts (Revelation 3:20, John 1:12). That is when the Holy Spirit will be with us and we can enjoy and experience all of His things (life, authority, power). The bible calls this the state of Galatians 2:20. We no longer live. However, that does not mean we should do nothing. We must enjoy the help and guidance of the one who loved us, died for us, and is with us.
- Gospel is giving our place to Christ to enjoy this blessing.
1) We are acknowledging and confessing Him as our true Lord (scheduled confession and 24 hour acknowledgement is prayer).
① This is the precious life that God created and allowed. It belongs to Him, and He takes responsibility. But from Genesis 3, we became our own lords (Genesis 3:5). We are handing back that control to Him. The owner not only has the right of possession. He takes responsibility for all things.
② When David fought Goliath, he went forth in the name of the Lord whom Goliath mocks. David did not go with his own name or power. He put the lord who will fight for him before him (1Samuel 17:45-46). When they did as Jesus said at the Cana wedding ceremony, a miracle arose (John 2:1-11). They offered up the position of the owner.
2) We must truly acknowledge Him and wait (acknowledging and waiting is faith). Christ is the one who saved us by the death on the cross and by the power of resurrection. Now, Christ is also the one who will be with us and help us. He is the one who will bless us and give us evidence to use us. Overcome evil with good, and even leave revenge up to the Lord. It will be like reaping burning coals on the enemy’s head (Romans 12;19-21).
- What is the standard by which God saves us and blesses us within the gospel? It is purely God’s choice, God’s grace, and God’s power. That is the scripture for today.
1) After the religious reformation of Calvin, the reformers after him categorized this into 5 things (5 Points of Calvinism, traditional theology of Reformed Protestantism).
① Total Depravity. With our own righteousness, we cannot go to God. That is the nature of original sin. That is why corruption continues.
② Unconditional Election. He chose us unconditionally and opened the way to salvation. That is unconditional grace and love. If there was a standard, it was His compassion and pity upon us (Romans 9:15-16). That is why all we can have is gratitude.
③ Limited Atonement. He died for all. But more accurately, He died and rose again for those he elected. He chose and gave the grace to be able to believe. That is why there is nothing to be arrogant about.
④ Irresistible Grace. Those who are chosen will undoubtedly believe. Evangelism is seeking those people out (Acts 13:48). Christ went to find Paul, who was persecuting the church and was deeply evil. He then becomes a worker that saves the age.
⑤ God’s Perseverance for the Saints. Until our salvation is complete, God waits without giving up (Romans 11:29), Philippians 1:6). Even after salvation, we have scars, unbelief, and habits of the world left in us. Theologically, it is called a contaminated state. As God waits for us, heals us, and gives us more chances, he molds us into the life of a holy saint (sanctification).
2) What must we do, as people who possess this Gospel? No matter how lacking we are, not matter how difficult it is, and no matter how many times we fall, we are the remained, the ones who will remain, and the ones who will leave behind (Romans 11:5).
1) Do not give up but stand back up and hold onto the Word of the Gospel and meditate on it. The Word will revive you (Psalm 107:20) and heal you (Hebrews 4:12).
2) As you pray in the name of Christ, fight the spiritual battle with the power He gives (fight against self, the world, and against Satan). Even if you just resolve to fight, you will become the Bartizan. God will send heavenly army of angels to fight on behalf of you (Isaiah 62:6).
3) Stand as someone who saves people. Discard your anger, chatter, and slander. Take compassion on each other and forgive (Ephesians 4:31-32). With this heart, meet other people, save the field, and go into the world (evangelism and missions).
Conclusion – We are the ones who have this Gospel of grace, Gospel of blessings, and Gospel of saving. May we save ourselves, our posterity, the future, and all nations as individuals and together as a church.