“My Gospel” (Gal 1:11-24) - Galatians: Be Free II -

“My Gospel” (Gal 1:11-24)

- Galatians: Be Free II -

Defining Conversion

How do you define “conversion”? In the magazine of the Naval Institute, Frank Koch shares his experience as battleship captain. One night he was serving on the lead battleship. The visibility was poor with thick fog. Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, "Light, bearing on the starboard bow." The captain called out, "Is it steady or moving astern?" The lookout replied, "Steady, Captain," which meant they were on a dangerous collision course with that ship. The captain then called to the signalman, "Signal that ship: 'We are on a collision course, advise you change course twenty degrees.'" The signal came back, "Advisable for you to change course twenty degrees." The captain said, "Send: "I'm a captain, change course twenty degrees.'" The reply came, "I'm a seaman second-class. You had better change course twenty degrees." By that time the captain was furious. He spat out, "Send: 'I'm a battleship. Change course twenty degrees.'" Back came the flashing light, "I'm a lighthouse." The captain changed course. Conversion is a change of mind and change of life, a turning towards God by the result of a personal encounter with the risen Christ. In the beginning of the letter the Apostle Paul declares there is no other gospel than the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then, he shares his own conversion in order to prove that only the gospel of Christ is the scripture way of salvation and transforms people from the inside out. The gospel transformed Paul from terrorist to evangelist. So let us look at his pre-conversion, his conversion, and his post-conversion.

Pre-Conversion: Prevenient Grace (vv. 13-14)

Paul was a terrorist. He tried to destroy the church. He approved the martyrdom of Stephen. He went from house to house, dragging men and women off to jail. He even got a permission letter from the high priest to arrest Christians who lived outside of Jerusalem (Acts 9:1-2). In 1 Timothy 1:13 he referred to himself as a “blasphemer,” “persecutor,” “violent man,” and “the worst” of sinners. The thing is that before Paul’s conversion, he thought he was a righteous man. He thought he was doing the right thing before God by persecuting Christians. He was extremely zealous for his ancestors’ traditions. Paul probably saw himself as a modern day hero of the Pharisees. He might compare himself to Old Testament characters like Phinehas (Num 25:11), who pierced an Israelite man and Midianite woman with a spear in God’s zeal. He might also compare himself to Elijah, who displayed zeal by slaying the prophets of Baal (1 Kgs 19:10, 14). Paul was sincere in his beliefs, but he was sincerely wrong. He was beyond the hope of the gospel. John Stott says, Now a man in that mental and emotional state is in no mood to change his mind, or even to have it changed for him by men. No conditioned reflex or other psychological device could convert a man in that state. Only God could reach him— and God did!”

As he looks back, Paul now recognizes God’s grace was working in his life long before his actual conversion. As you look back, probably you have “aha” moments or turning points in your life. In verse 15 he says God “set me apart from birth.” Not only Paul but also each one of us in this room God set apart from birth for his glory. Do you believe this? John Wesley describes God’s grace as threefold: prevenient (preparing) grace, justifying grace, and sanctifying grace. In this case we call it prevenient grace, which is God’s grace coming before we believe in Christ. It is God’s grace given to every human being. God always takes the initiative in relating to humanity. We do not have to beg and plead for God’s love and grace. God actively seeks us. It was not Paul but God who did seek. God found Paul and transformed him from terrorist to evangelist. No one is so bad that they can’t receive the gospel of grace, nor so good that they don’t need the gospel of grace.

Conversion: Justifying Grace (vv. 15-16a)

If you are a Christian, you have your own conversion experience. You may not have a Damascus Road experience. But the heart of the conversion experience is to personally encounter with Jesus Christ. So, as we examine ourselves to see whether we are converted (cf. 2 Co 13:5a), the most crucial question we have to ask ourselves is this: “Who is Jesus to me?” 1 Corinthians 12:3 says, “Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.” If you believe in your heart that you are made right with God through Jesus Christ and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you already encountered Christ and he lives in you! (cf. Rom 10:10; 2Co 13:5b) The heart of marriage is “oneness” between bridegroom and bride. How was the weather on the wedding day? How many people did come to the wedding? How was the wedding food? Those are only secondary and soon forgotten. In the same way, some may have dramatic conversion, others gradual. Some may see visions or hear audible voices, others not. But the heart of our conversion is a personal encounter with Jesus. In today’s Scripture Paul describes his conversion in this way, “God was pleased to reveal his Son in me.” At that time, Paul was against God. He was an enemy of God. But God was pleased to reveal Christ in him. God set his grace on Paul not because he was worthy of it, but simply because God was please to do so. This is grace. Moses tells God’s people in Deuteronomy 7:7-8: “The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you.” God does not love us because we are worthy. He loves us simply because he loves us. This is God’s love toward us in Christ. Have you experienced this love?

Post-Conversion: Sanctifying Grace (vv. 16b-24)

When we experience God’s unconditional love, we are transformed. We are converted. However, this is not the end but the beginning. Conversion is a lifetime experience. When we are converted and sense a personal relationship with Jesus, God gives us a new mission, that is to reveal Christ through what we are, do, and say. In verses 15-16 Paul says, “God was pleased to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach him among the Gentiles.” Paul was not converted just for his own benefit. His conversion came with a commission. And so does ours! 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (NIV). Before our conversion, we either don’t have purpose of life or have self-centered one. But after our conversion, our purpose of life turns into other-centered and God-centered one.  Paul had a difficult life, but his life was meaningful in God’s eyes.

I still remember when I was a senior in college, I rededicated my life to Christ. At that time, I was a youth group teacher at my home church in Korea. In my group there were several high school students who wanted to go to college but couldn’t because of their personal or family circumstances. God gave me a desire to set up “Vision Study Club.” I began to teach the students both the Bible and academic subjects. By the grace of God they started to discover purpose of their lives and eventually entered college they aimed at. I clearly witnessed how God’s grace transformed their lives. More importantly, God transformed me. I encountered Christ who was at work within and among us. I also sensed that God was calling me to ministry. I still remember the day I responded to God’s call and decided to become a pastor. When I shared my decision with my parents, they were so happy. And particularly, my father who is a Korean Methodist pastor, wrote me a letter. He wrote: "My son, I pray that the Lord will make your paths straight. I still remember the moment when you shared with me that you would want to be a pastor. That was the happiest moment in my entire life. I am still always grateful to God who called you to ministry. It is such a narrow path. You will have hardships ahead, but our Lord will give you all strength and wisdom to overcome them. I believe that you will be a good and faithful servant of God and turn many to Christ!" Whether we are clergy or laity, all Christians are called for one mission. God calls us and converts us and reveals Christ in us, so that we may proclaim him to others.

“Now” Is the Time!

We are called to proclaim Jesus because he is the only way of salvation. The gospel of Christ is not good advice from man. It is good news from God. Before his conversion, Paul was a fanatic headed in the wrong direction. But God already set him apart from birth and was calling him and pleased to reveal Christ in him. Paul’s conversion is all of God’s grace from beginning to end. After his conversion, Paul’s life was not easy, but it was purposeful and meaningful. How about you? Have you found Jesus, the fountain of living water? The Bible says, “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Co 6:2b). God already set you apart from birth and has a wonderful plan for you. Christ is calling you. Come and drink now!

“A Different Gospel” (Galatians 1:1-10) - Galatians: Be Free I –

“A Different Gospel” (Galatians 1:1-10)

- Galatians: Be Free I –

Grace!

Today we begin a new sermon series, Paul's letter to the Galatians. The reason I have chosen to preach from Galatians over the next several weeks is that more than any other New Testament letter, this one is full of the gospel of grace. Over the past year, as Joyce and I went through another pregnancy and childbirth, and as we were anxiously waiting for the baby, one word was always in our minds – “Grace,” the free and unmerited favor of God. From beginning to end every step of the way was God’s grace. Actually, there was nothing I could do in pregnancy and childbirth. All that I could do was to wait, pray, and thank him. The term “grace” appears seven times throughout Galatians (cf. 1:3,6,15; 2:9,21; 5:4; 6:18), and it’s one of Paul’s favorite words throughout his writings. He uses it 100 times in the New Testament. Over the next several weeks, we will explore what the gospel of grace really means.

For me personally, Galatians is one of my favorite books in the Bible. Pastor Tim Keller says the book of Galatians is “dynamite,” because it brings us face to face with the gospel. In Galatians Paul is at his most vigorous. You can’t read the first ten verses without feeling that something utterly important is at stake. I strongly encourage you to take time to read the entire letter at one sitting, and as you read, note Paul’s emotional force. You will feel like you have a live coal with your bare hands. Galatians exalts two essential things: the cross of Christ as the only way a person can get right with God, and the Spirit of Christ as the only way a person can obey God. My prayer is that as we study this book together, we will fall in love afresh with the magnificent Christ of Galatians.

A “Different” Gospel?

First of all, let me explain a little bit about the historical context of the book. Most scholars agree that this letter was written by Paul around AD 50. At that time there was a social and racial division in the churches of Galatia. The first Christians in Jerusalem were Jewish, but as the gospel spread out, more and more Gentiles began to receive Christ. But then, a group of teachers in Galatia were now teaching that in order to be saved, the Gentile Christians had to believe in Christ plus they had to follow the laws of Moses, including circumcision. In other words, they were insisting on Christ-plus-anything-else as a requirement for the full acceptance by God. Paul calls this a “different’ gospel. In verse 6 he says to the Galatian Christians, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel, which is really no gospel at all.” Then, what is the gospel? That’s our next question.

What Is the Gospel?

The gospel is all about Christ Jesus. In verse 4 Paul tells us what the gospel is in a nutshell: “He (Jesus) gave himself for our sins in order to rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father” (ISV). I would like to specifically draw your attention to the word “rescue.” This word implies who we are. It implies that we are in a lost state and a helpless condition. We are helpless and lost in the present evil world. Then, what was God’s plan? How did he rescue us? God gave himself for our sins in Jesus Christ. Christ is God’s plan, God’s method, and God’s wisdom for our salvation from the creation of the world. In the Old Testament God made a covenant with Abraham, saying “To your seed I will give this land” (Gen 12:7; 13:15; 24:7). The Scripture does not say “seeds,” meaning many people, but “seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ (Gal 3:16). God made a covenant with David, saying, “I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Sam 7:12-13; NKJV). On the surface, this promise seems to apply to Solomon, but ultimately, it refers to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and his eternal kingdom. And finally, God made a new covenant with Israel, saying, “I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Ezekiel 36:26; cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34). This promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. According to the will of God the Father, Jesus gave himself for our sins to rescue us and was raised from the dead to make us right with God and put his Spirit in us to seek after his kingdom and his righteousness. This is the good news that we have to hear each and everyday.   

One Gospel from First to Last

We normally think that this gospel is something mainly for non-Christians. We often assume that once we’re converted, we don’t need to hear the gospel but need more advanced material. But we have to remember Paul was now writing this letter not to the unchurched but to the professing Christians of Galatia. Pastor Tim Keller rightly comments, “The gospel is not just the ABC of Christianity, but the A to Z of the Christian life.” It is not only the way to enter the kingdom, but also it is the way Christ transforms people, churches, and communities. By the gospel of Christ we are saved. By the gospel of Christ we continue to grow and be transformed. Much of the teaching of the false teachers in Galatia sounded biblical. They acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, and they even acknowledged his death on the cross. They certainly weren’t telling people that they denied the gospel. Instead, they were improving it, adding requirements. But the reality is that as soon as you add anything to grace, you lose grace altogether. Think about it: If you were about to drink a glass of clean water, and then someone added a drop of poison to it, would you still drink it? It’s close to pure, right? No, it’s totally contaminated and undrinkable as soon as that drop of poison hits the water. It’s the same way with the gospel. If you add anything to grace, you lose the whole gospel. We can be creative the way we deliver the gospel message, but we cannot change the content of it, because the gospel is not invented by men, but it is revealed by God.

A Different Gospel Today

The false teachers were insisting that we had to believe in Christ plus do certain things in order to be saved. Then, what would be contemporary forms of a different gospel? First, in some churches, it is taught that we are all on different roads to heaven, but our destination is the same. It is called, religious pluralism or universalism. This view teaches that all good people, regardless of their religion will find God. This sounds open-minded and tolerant on the surface, but it is actually intolerant of God’s grace. It teaches that good works are enough to get to God. If all good people can know God and be saved, then Jesus’ death was not necessary. All it takes is virtue. But there is no biblical teaching that a person can go on rejecting the gospel of Christ and still be saved. There are other religions besides Christianity, and there are other leaders besides Jesus Christ, but there is no other gospel, no other good news of salvation. Second, in other churches, it is taught that we are saved by grace, and then we live the Christian life in our own strength, essentially leaving grace behind. It is called, legalism. This view teaches that if we are reading the Bible, praying, going to worship, and doing a number of other good things, then we have favor before God. But when we miss days in prayer or time in the Word, or if we don’t attend worship, then we can start to think that God is not pleased with us. This approach makes our performance the savior. But the truth is that God’s pleasure is not based on our performance, but on the performance of Christ, who gave himself for our sins.

By nature the gospel of the cross is offensive to the human heart (Gal 5:11-12; cf. 1 Co 1:23), because it tells us that we are too weak and sinful to do anything to contribute to our salvation. The gospel is offensive to liberal-minded people, because it states that the only way to be saved is through the cross. The gospel is offensive to conservative-minded people, because it states that, without the cross, “good” people are in as much trouble as “bad” people. The gospel is offensive because the cross stands against all schemes of self-salvation. The world is offended by the cross. So people who love the cross are persecuted (Gal 5:11).

Freedom in the Gospel of Grace

Is our gospel the true gospel? Paul provides guidelines on how to judge all truth claims. The standard is the gospel that Paul and all the other Apostles received from Christ found in this letter and throughout the rest of the Bible. Paul teaches us that God’s favor is free. His salvation is free. His love, his mercy, his provision is free. The gospel is free. Not only is the gospel free, but also it is freeing. The gospel rescues us from the power of our present evil world. We still live in the world, but we no longer have to live like this world. The gospel liberates us from having to pursue what this world pursues, love what this world loves. It transforms our worldly values, actions, and everything. It frees us from having to worry about pleasing one person here and another person there. In verse 10 Paul shares this liberty in the gospel of grace with us: “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” When we live to please only one person, everything we do is integrated. Shall I meet this person? Watch this movie? Make this purchase? Our relationship, time, and money become integrated. So embrace the one true gospel, and not only are all your sins are forgiven, but also joy and liberty will come into your life because there is only one person to please, Jesus Christ. And he will make you free. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). Amen. 

“The Secret of Being Content” (Exo 20:17; Phil 4:10-20) - The 10 Commandments for Today X –

“The Secret of Being Content” (Exo 20:17; Phil 4:10-20)

- The 10 Commandments for Today X –

If Only… 

The other day I had a chance to read one poem written by 14 years old boy, named Jason Lehman. I was very impressed by the depth of his insight. The title of the poem is “Present Tense”:

It was Spring, but it was Summer I wanted:

The warm days and the great outdoors.

It was Summer, but it was Fall I wanted:

The colorful leaves and the cool, dry air.

It was Fall, but it was Winter I wanted:

The beautiful snow and the joy of the holiday season.

It was Winter, but it was Spring I wanted:

The warmth and the blossoming of nature.

I was a child, and it was adulthood I wanted:

The freedom and the respect.

I was 20, but it was 30 I wanted:

To be mature and sophisticated.

I was middle-aged, but it was 20 I wanted:

The youth and the free spirit.

I was retired, but it was middle-aged I wanted:

The presence of mind without limitations.

My life was over,

and I never got what I wanted.

One day a reporter asked the billionaire Nelson Rockefeller, “How much money does it take to be happy?” Rockefeller answered, “Just a little bit more.” Sometimes we say the same thing. “If only I made a little more money.” “If only I had a little bigger place to live.” Oftentimes we are discontented with our situation in life. Singles are discontented with their singleness: “If only I could find someone to marry, it would make all the difference.” Then we get married, and we are discontented with that too. We say, “If only my spouse would do a better job of meeting my needs.”

A “Heart” Commandment

Instead of being content, we covet. Coveting is strictly forbidden by the tenth commandment: “You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor” (Ex 20:17). What does it mean to covet? Missionary John Mackay defines the word “coveting” in this way: “a consuming desire to possess in a wrong way something belonging to another.” The tenth commandment goes straight to the heart. It is clearly a “heart” commandment. It focuses not on actions but on attitudes. It speaks not just of what we do, but of what we want to do. One rabbi compared the difference between Judaism and Christianity as follows: “One of the greatest differences between the two religions is this idea that you’ve committed a sin just by desiring or thinking it. We believe you have to actually commit the physical act before it’s really sin. Otherwise, we’d be sinning all the time!” The rabbi was right. This is exactly what the tenth commandment is intended to teach. Martin Luther said, “This last commandment, then, is addressed not to those whom the world considers wicked rogues, but precisely to the most upright – to people who wish to be commended as honest and virtuous, because they have not offended against the preceding commandments.” The tenth commandment convinces us we are sinners. It tells us that we are sinning all the time. And it graciously shows us that we need a Savior.

The Secret of Being Content

Paul was a godly man, at least outwardly, for the first part of his life. He was far ahead of his fellow Jews in his zeal for his ancestral traditions. He thought he could measure up to the perfect standard of God’s law. He did not murder. He did not commit adultery. He did not steal. He did not lie. Not only did he keep the commandments, but also proactively he even persecuted Christians in the name of God. And he thought he was offering service to God. Outwardly he was an outstanding saint. Paul did everything with conviction. But his conviction didn’t give peace, joy, and life to his heart. He was discontented with his spiritual life. One day he was on the way to Damascus to arrest Christians. There he encountered Lord Jesus who came to him as a light. Jesus said, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” Paul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” And the Lord answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting” (Acts 26:14-15). From that moment the whole world changed. Even though Paul always believed in God, something essential was missing in his life – “Jesus Christ.” But since Jesus came into his heart as Lord, Paul has light in his soul, and floods of joy like sea billows roll.

Paul once was proud of the fact that he obeyed the law without fault. He was proud of his education and background. But since Jesus came into his heart, he considers them worthless because of what Christ has done. In fact, he considers everything as loss, rubbish, dung, compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus the Lord (Phil 3:8). After his conversion, Paul’s nickname was “plague.” When the accusers presented their case against Paul to the governor Felix, they said, “For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5, ESV). Yes, wherever he went, Paul was a contagious Christian. One time in Philippi, Paul and Silas were severely beaten and put into prison after preaching the gospel. But they were not discouraged. The Bible says, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God.” They did not pray to be released. They did not pray to God to solve their problems. Their greatest concern was to glorify Christ to the fullest where they were standing, whatever situation they were in. Believe it or not, Paul and Silas were content with their situation. To be more precise, they were rejoicing because they knew they were on God’s side. They were singing praises of joy because Christ was preached. And suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake. At once all the prison doors flew open, and every prisoner’s chains came loose. But Paul and Silas did not escape. They remained in prison because their greatest concern was not to be free but to walk with Christ and preach his holy name. The jailer was amazed and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And Paul answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you and your household will be saved” (16:31). Paul found contentment in Christ Jesus. Have you found contentment?

Learning to Be Content

Contentment is not something that comes naturally. We have to learn contentment. Paul learned to be content. He says in Philippians 4:12, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (NIV). By nature, we are naturally discontent. We do not have contentment from ourselves. Contentment is something we have to learn. We learn contentment in our personal relationship with Christ. As we get to know Christ and have a closer relationship with him, we want more and more what he wants for us rather than what we want for us. We begin to see things from Jesus’ perspective and become content regardless of our circumstances. That’s contentment. Paul says in verse 13, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” We learn contentment in our relationship with Christ.

Last week I shared the story of Romanian pastor Richard Wurmbrand how he stood up for the truth. This morning I would like to share how he could be content even in prison under the communist regime. He wrote: “In the ensuing years, in several different prisons, they broke four vertebrae in my back, and many other bones. They carved me in a dozen places. They burned and cut eighteen holes in my body… but alone in my cell, cold, hungry, and in rags, I danced for joy every night… I rarely allowed a night to pass without dancing… I made up songs and sang them softly to myself and danced to my own music.” How could it be possible? How could he be content even in that extreme situation? It was possible because through Christ Richard’s eyes were open and able to see things above.

In Luke 10:23 Jesus said to his disciples, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.” The disciples had just come back from a tour through Palestine where they had seen horrors. Palestine was an oppressed country under the Roman Empire. During the mission trip the disciples met sickness, plagues, hunger, and sorrow. They entered houses from which patriots had been taken to prison, leaving behind weeping parents or wives. It was not a beautiful world to look upon. But still Jesus said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.” That was because they had not seen only the suffering. They had also seen the Savior. They had seen the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised in the name of Jesus Christ. When the disciples saw these things above, they were able to be content. Do you see what the disciples see? Have you learned to be content?

In Christ Alone

In his last days Scottish missionary David Livingstone had been “lost” to the outside world. Henry Stanley was sent out to find Livingstone. Finally, he found Livingstone who was suffering from tropical disease in the small village in Zambia. Stanley urged Livingstone to return to England with him. He said, “You’ve dedicated yourself to this mission for 30 years. I think that is enough. So now, why don’t you go back with me and have some rest and see your children?” Livingstone answered, “Thank you, but no. For me the ministry here is not a sacrifice, but a great privilege. Every time I think about this honorable ministry my heart is full.” After Stanley left, Livingstone was thoroughly homesick. In his journal he wrote: “March 19^th, 1872. Birthday. Lord, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. Sever any ties save the tie that binds me to Thy heart. My Jesus, my King, my life, my all, I again dedicate my whole self to Thee.” About a year later he died while kneeling in prayer at his bedside. Livingstone was alone, but he was content because he saw the things of heaven and heard Jesus’ voice. He found contentment in Christ alone. Have you found to be content?

While I was meditating on today’s scriptures, one song stayed in my mind. This song tells us the secret of being content in any circumstances. Jesus is all we need. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we become content. The more we trust in Jesus, we see the things of heaven more clearly. My prayer is that all of us in this room will experience this mystery and say, “I have found contentment in Christ!” Amen.

In Christ alone I place my trust

And find my glory in the power of the cross

In every victory let it be said of me

My source of strength, my source of hope

Is Christ alone!

“Jesus, the Truth” (Exo 20:16; Acts 5:1-11) - The 10 Commandments for Today IX –

“Jesus, the Truth” (Exo 20:16; Acts 5:1-11)

- The 10 Commandments for Today IX –

“You Shall Not Lie”

Whenever I read the ninth commandment, one incident comes to my mind. That day I told a lie to my parents. I forgot exactly what it was, but it was a big lie. My father was very angry and was about to give me the cane on the calves. So I hid behind my mother. And I thought, ‘Now I am safe.’ Do you know what happened next? My mother got the cane instead of me. She volunteered, and my father gave her the cane. I was shocked. That day I learned that to tell a lie is a serious sin.

Father of All Lies

At Sinai, God said to his people, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” This commandment is not just about the false testimony that people give in court, but also about any kind of lying. There are many different ways to lie. Sometimes we tell the half-truths. We keep silent when we have to tell the truth. We exaggerate our accomplishments and profiles. According to a survey of nearly three million job applicants, about 50 percent of American resumes contain one or more falsehoods. We mislead, misquote, and misinterpret. Intentionally and unintentionally we quarrel, slander, and gossip. These sins of speech all violate the ninth commandment because words are used to harm our brothers and sisters. Lying is a serious sin, and this sin comes from Satan. Jesus called Satan “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Probably, you remember the story of Adam and Eve. God made man and woman and put them in the garden to take care of it. He told them to eat freely from any tree in the garden, except one – the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And God said, “When you eat of it you will surely die.” It was the one and only covenant between God and man, between the Creator and the creation. God put this tree to give Adam and Eve a choice to obey him or disobey him. But one day Satan approached Eve and said, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” He distorted God’s character from loving and caring father to controlling and strict figure. And then, he said, “You will not surely die… You will be like God.” Adam and Eve were deceived and chose to disobey God. And immediately they did experience spiritual death, spiritual separation from God.

Ananias and Sapphira

Satan continues to pour into people’s heart the poison of deception. In the early church Christians shared everything they had. They cared for one another’s practical needs. One time, Joseph, called Barnabas, sold his property and gave it all back to God. It was a public gesture of total commitment to Christ. It was such a generous gift that the church acknowledged him. Ananias and Sapphria saw this. And they did the same thing to enhance their reputation in the church. On the surface, both sold a property. Both brought the proceeds. Both committed it to their disposal. The difference was that Barnabas brought all the sale money, while Ananias and Sapphira brought only a proportion. Yes, Ananias and Sapphira had the right to use their property any way they wanted. They were not required to sell their field. They were not obligated to give all their money to God. But in the context, we have to assume that before the sale they publicly made some kind of pledge to give the church the total amount raised. But they lied. The Bible says that Ananias kept back part of the money for himself. Here Luke chooses the verb nosphizomai, which means to ‘misappropriate.’ The same word was used in LXX (Septuagint, Greek Old Testament) of Achan’s theft. Ananias and Sapphira said and acted like they had done something totally for God, but in fact, they kept back for themselves and brought only a part of it. It was a sin of deception. Peter told Ananais where his sin came from. He said, “Ananais, why have you let Satan fill your heart?” (Acts 5:3 NLT) Ananais’s sin was not just from his own mind, but it actually came from a heart infected by the poison of Satan’s deception. Satan is the one who filled Ananais’s heart with lies. Every lie comes from the devil himself.

We all know what happened next. Both Ananias and Sapphira fell down and died. You may wonder why God’s punishment was so severe. Was it really fair for God to do that? The answer is yes. It was fair. It was fair because lying is a deadly sin. By this judgment God showed what he thinks about deception. The Bible says that every liar deserves to die and to suffer God’s eternal wrath against sin (ex. Rev 22:15). After this incident, every believer in the early church was scared. The Bible says great fear seized the whole church (vv. 5, 11). They were scared because they knew that they were liars too. After this incident, they realized that they too were unrighteous. They realized the real truth about them. The truth was that they were so guilty that the very Son of God had to be crucified to pay for their sins. And they were filled with the holy fear of God. Then revival came to the church. Acts 5:14 says, “More and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.”

Know the Truth

We need to have the same holy fear of God that the early church Christians had. We need to have the same sensitivity to sin, especially to the sin of Satan’s deception. We cannot be satisfied with not just telling lies. Keeping the ninth commandment means much more than not telling lies. It means telling the truth. We are called to be people of the truth because our heavenly Father is the God of truth. But if we honestly examine ourselves, we know there is no truth in us. We have the desire to do what is good, but we don’t have power. We don’t have power not to tell lies. We don’t have power to stand up for the truth (cf. Rom 7:20). But there is a way! Though there is no truth in us, Jesus is full of truth (John 1:14). Jesus is the truth (14:6). The more we know Jesus, the more we know the truth.

How do we know Jesus? Jesus is the Word – the living Word of God. The Gospel of John begins in this way: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Then in verse 14 the Apostle John says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling with us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” We can know Jesus through reading his word. Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 ESV). He also said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (5:39 ESV). After Jesus was raised from the dead, he said to his disciples, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44). The Bible is all about Jesus. All scriptures point to Christ. We know Jesus and grow in him through reading the Bible. When George Muller, one of the spiritual giants in church history, was 71 years old, he made this statement: “We should read regularly through the Scriptures, consecutively, and not pick out here and there a chapter. If we do, we remain spiritual dwarfs. I tell you so affectionately. For the first four years after my conversion I made no progress, because I neglected the Bible. But when I regularly read on through the whole with reference to my own heart and soul, I directly made progress. Then my peace and joy continued more and more. Now I have been doing this for 47 years. I have read through the whole Bible about 100 times and I always find it fresh when I begin again. Thus my peace and joy have increased more and more.” How do we know the truth? We know the truth through reading the Bible which points to Christ, full of truth.

Live the Truth

Once we know the truth, then we must live the truth by the Spirit. Jesus said, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). It is not easy to live out the truth. It is a narrow path. In 1945 Romanian Communists seized power and convened a congress of all Christian leaders. Many of them came forward to praise Communism and to swear loyalty to the new regime. Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand attended this meeting. Sabina said, “Richard, stand up and wash away this shame from the face of Christ.” Richard warned, “If I do so, you’ll lose your husband.” She said, “I don‘t wish to have a coward as a husband.” So, Richard declared to the 4,000 delegates that their duty is to glorify God and Christ alone. His speeches were broadcast to the whole nation. After that he had to pay for this. He was brutally tortured and had to resist brainwashing constantly. He was released after eight and half years. He moved to the small country to farm for the rest of his life. One day he prayed, “Lord, make me be more like you. Make me whole.” The Holy Spirit said to him, “Then, are you able to stand up for the truth and go to solitary confinement again?” Richard said, “Please don’t tell me to go to prison again.” The Lord said, “Then, don’t ask me to make you whole.” Richard was in agony days and nights. After a few days he surrendered and said, “Lord, I will stand up for the truth and follow you at any cost.” And he experienced heavenly peace and joy. But right after that, he was rearrested by the secret police and had to endure for another six years.

We live in the last days. The biggest lie today is that there is no universal truth. Fewer and fewer people believe there is an objective standard of truth. If we resolve to live the truth, for the time being we may lose our reputation, possessions, or relationships. But if we resolve to live the truth, the Holy Spirit will give us strength, wisdom, perseverance, and everything that we need. We are called to be people of the truth in a world of same-sex marriage, sexual immorality, racism, abortion, poverty, and persecution. Let us search the Scriptures with diligence and humility to know the truth. Let us then live the truth with love and boldness. And genuine revival will come to our church, our community, and our nation. Amen. 

“Jesus, Remember Me!” (Exodus 20:15; Luke 23:39-43) - The 10 Commandments for Today VIII –

“Jesus, Remember Me!” (Exodus 20:15; Luke 23:39-43)

- The 10 Commandments for Today VIII –

Norman Rockwell’s Picture

In his book on the Ten Commandments, Cecil Myers describes a picture by Norman Rockwell. It shows a woman buying a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. The turkey is being weighed on the scale. Both the butcher and woman look pleased. The painting shows that they are pleased because of what they are secretly doing. The butcher is pressing the scale down with his big fat thumb, to raise the price. At the same time, the woman is trying to get a better deal by pushing the scale up with her forefinger. The reason both of them look pleased is that neither is aware of what the other is doing. Myers comments in this way: “Both the butcher and the lovely lady would resent being called thieves. The lovely lady would never rob a bank or steal a car. The butcher would be indignant if anyone accused him of stealing… Neither saw anything wrong with a little deception that would make a few cents for one or save a few cents for the other.” In a word, they were stealing.

“I Am Not a Thief, Am I?”

To steal is to take something that doesn’t belong to us. Most people do not think that they violate the eighth commandment. George Barna, the founder of the market research group, tells us, “86 percent of all adults claim that they are completely satisfying God’s command regarding abstinence from stealing.” Only nine percent of the evangelicals polled said they had fallen short of God’s glory on this one. Everyone knows that stealing is wrong. But, most people fail to understand its full meaning. There are countless ways to steal. All it takes for us to be guilty of theft is one misspent hour at work; one item we “forgot” to return from the office; one personal long-distance phone call we made at company’s expense; one overpriced item in our store; one underpayment of our taxes; one false claim for Social Security; one failure in paying our tithe to the Lord. The list goes on.

The Purpose of God’s Law

Certainly the Ten Commandments and all of God’s laws regulated the lives of the Israelites, but it did not and could not provide spiritual life to the people. The law was not given to provide life. Instead, the law was given to reveal sin. It shows us our guilt. It does not make us sinners. It reveals to us that we already are sinners (Rom 3:20). The law is like a mirror. It helps us see our “dirty faces” (James 1:22–25). But we do not wash our face with the mirror! When we try to be a better person, when we try to achieve salvation by keeping the Ten Commandments – living a moral life and doing good works, it is like washing our face with the mirror. The law was not given to provide our spiritual life. It was given to reveal our sins and cause us to see our desperate need of a Savior. Galatians 3:24 says, “So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith” (Gal 3:24, NIV).

When we read the Scriptures, if we feel nothing, or if we think, ‘I am doing ok. I’m better than others,’ we are missing the point. When we read the Scriptures, what is needed is to hear what the Holy Spirit says to our conscience, “That is right, and you are wrong. You are the idolater. You are the foul-mouthed sinner. You are the Sabbath-breaker and the rebel. You are the murderer, the adulterer, and the thief.” We cannot boast about keeping the part of the law while at the same time breaking another part. James 2:10-11 says, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.” Imagine a motorist driving down a city street and deliberately driving through a red light. He is pulled over by a policeman who asks to see his driver’s license. Immediately the driver begins to defend himself. “Officer, I know I ran that red light—but I have never robbed anybody. I’ve never killed anybody. I’ve never cheated on my income tax.” What do you think the policeman would say? The policeman would smile and say, “No amount of obedience can make up for one act of disobedience.” The Bible says, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Rom 3:10-12). That is God’s verdict upon humanity. The Law concludes “all under sin” (Gal 3:22).

Godly Sorrow, Repentance, and Salvation

The Law convicts us and then leads us to Christ. One day a man came and said to Jesus, “Good teacher, what good thing must I do have eternal life?” (Matt 19:16ff.) He had tried to keep commandments all his life. He did good to his neighbor and led a very moral life, but still he felt something was missing. This is the purpose of the law – to create in lost sinners a “sense of guilt and need” and to bring him or her to Christ! But sad thing is that the young man ignored what Jesus said to his conscience, “You shall not covet! Sell your possessions and give to the poor.” When the man heard this, he went away sad. This young man was convicted and had sorrow, but he chose not to repent. He chose not to change his mind and his lifestyle.

2 Corinthians 7:10 says, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (NIV). The Law creates in us godly sorrow that leads us to salvation and life in Christ. A good example of this is found in the life of Blaise Pascal. He was a prominent mathematician, physicist, and inventor. At the age of 19 he invented the world’s first mechanical calculator. He achieved both wealth and honor at a young age. Pascal grew up accepting the Bible as God's word, but in a rather abstract way. He had tried to be a better person by keeping the commandments just as the rich young man did. Pascal was a good person. But he always felt something was missing. He felt miserable and empty. He lived with a sense of spiritual desperation. Disgusted with himself he once wrote as follows: "If one does not know himself to be full of pride, ambition, concupiscence, weakness, pettiness, injustice, one is very blind. And if, knowing this, a man does not desire to be delivered, what can one say to him?" He was desperate and wandering. On this day, November 23, 1654 he got a horse carriage accident. He was thrown into the roadway, but miraculously he was saved. He saw this as a warning directly from God. That night Pascal encountered Jesus in his room. He humbly repented and put his trust in Christ. He kept a record of this experience, and for the rest of his life Pascal carried around it sewn into his coat. It says, "God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of the philosophers and scholars...Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy...'This is life eternal that they might know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.' Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ...May I not fall from him forever...I will not forget your word." Godly sorrow, repentance, and salvation by faith in Christ Jesus.

Two Kinds of Men

Blaise Pascal said, “There are only two kinds of men: the righteous who think they are sinners and the sinners who think they are righteous.” Jesus died on the cross in the place of sinners, specifically in the place of thieves. The Bible says that when Jesus was crucified, “two thieves” were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left” (Matt 27:38, KJV). Christ was crucified between two thieves. One of the thieves didn’t think that he had committed a grave sin. He appealed against the ruling. He didn’t need a Savior because he thought that he was innocent and righteous. He even cursed Jesus, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other thief repented and said, “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.” In a word, he was saying, “Lord, I am a sinner.” Then, he put his trust in Christ, saying, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” When we read this story, we complain about the thief on the right. We say, “It’s not fair that this man is saved at the very last minute after living a bad life.” But actually, on the Day of Judgment, we will be and have to be one of them: either we face God with our own righteousness or we face him in repentance and faith in Christ. The story of the two thieves is a great comfort to everyone who has ever broken the eighth commandment. When Christ died on the cross, he died for thieves, so that every thief who trusts in him will be saved. Let us hear what the Spirit says to each of us and to our church today. Let us repent and trust in Christ alone, and we will hear the same words and assurances that the thief on the right heard: “You will be with me in paradise.” Amen.

“Purity in Christ” (Exodus 20:14; John 21:15-19) - The 10 Commandments for Today VII -

“Purity in Christ” (Exodus 20:14; John 21:15-19)

- The 10 Commandments for Today VII -

What Is Adultery?

Recently, a grandson of Billy Graham, pastor Tullian Tchividjian has resigned after admitting an affair. He said that his wife had an affair, and in response, he sought comfort in a friend and their relationship turned “inappropriate.” He released the following statement to The Washington Post:

Last week I was approached by our church leaders and they asked me about my own affair. I admitted to it and it was decided that the best course of action would be for me to resign. Both my wife and I are heartbroken over our actions and we ask you to pray for us and our family that God would give us the grace we need to weather this heart wrenching storm.[1]

Tullian Tchividjian is the fourth Florida megachurch pastor to resign after having affairs. We are saddened by this news. At Sinai God said to his people, “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). Then, what is adultery? We tend to cross a legalistic line from clinical virginity to immorality. We are concerned about “lines,” whereas Scripture regards sin as a “condition” and only secondarily as an act. Adultery is a matter of the heart. Jesus deepens the meaning of the seventh commandment in this way: “You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). Adultery is a matter of the heart.

Press on to “Know” God

Hosea combats the spiritual adultery of Israel. He speaks on behalf of God, “Your hearts are divided; from now on you are to be found guilty. God will tear down your altars, he will destroy your stone idols” (10:2, ISV). The Israelites worshiped both God and Baal. Their hearts were divided. They thought, “I know God. I know his law.” But the Lord said to them, “There is no knowledge of God in your land” (4:1). And he said, “My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me” (4:6, NLT). The people of Israel kept going back to their old life just as Gomer did because they didn’t know God. They loved God and loved idols because they didn’t know God. So Hosea proclaims, “Let us know. Let us press on to know the LORD!” (6:3a) Here the Hebrew word [dy (yada) is used. It is translated in English as the word “know” or “knowledge.” But it means much more than just intellectually knowing about God. In Genesis 4:1 the same word yada is used: “Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain…” The word yada means to know God intimately just as a husband knows his wife. Do you know God intimately?

Know God “through Jesus”

How can we know God intimately and personally? We can know God through Jesus in very personal and real ways. Hebrew 1:1-3 says, “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son… The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God…” (NRSV). We can know God personally through Jesus. The gospel is all about the Son of God. There are three things that we must know about the Son. When the Apostle Paul preaches the gospel to the people of Rome, he starts to speak to them in this way: “The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David's family line, and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:3-4 NLT). First of all, he is “Jesus.” Jesus literally means “God is salvation.” In Jesus’ time this name was very common. In Hebrew it is “Joshua.” There were many people who had the name, ‘Joshua’ or ‘Jesus.’ The name “Jesus” refers to the fact that he is true man. Verse 3 says, “In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line.” Why is it so important that Jesus is fully human? It is because only human can be crucified and shed blood. Jesus has come to us in the flesh to die on the cross and to shed his blood for us. Hebrews 9:22 says, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Jesus is fully human, and he died to cleanse us from all our sins.

Secondly, he is “Christ.” In Hebrew, “Christ” is “Messiah,” which means, “the anointed one.” In Jesus’ time all the Israelites knew that the “Messiah” is the son of God. Christ is true God. Romans 1:4 says, “He was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Then why is it so important that he is fully God? It is because only God can be raised from the dead. In human history there is no one resurrected. Only Christ, the Son of God, can be resurrected. The resurrection of Christ is the essence of the Christian faith. 1 Cor 15:17 says, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Amen! By the resurrection of Christ God demonstrated that Christ is righteous, and considers anyone who believes in him also righteous. Romans 4:25 says, “Christ was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” Justification means to be made righteous. Christ became our sin, and we became his righteousness. Christ is the Son of God and makes us righteous by his resurrection.

“Do You Love Me?”

But it is not enough just to know that Jesus Christ is fully human and fully God. He is Our Lord! We must receive him as our personal Lord and Savior. One day Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am? Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt 16:16). Peter knew that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ. But it was not enough. When troubles came, Peter denied Jesus three times. And because of guilt he went back to his old life with six other disciples. But Jesus was going ahead of them into Galilee and waiting for them. He prepared breakfast for them. After breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter said, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15). Jesus’ love melted Peter’s heart. And Peter received Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. Since then, Peter was able to go even where he didn’t want to go in the past by the love of Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit. That is what it means to know Christ personally.

How can we keep our hearts pure from sin, from adultery, and from idolatry? The best way to be free from sin is to fall in love with Jesus and to continue to stay in love with him moment-by-moment. The Bible says, “Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin” (1John 3:6, NLT). I started dating with Joyce in March 2005. At that time I was not completely free from pornography. I made every effort not to fall into temptations. I moved my computer to the living room. I avoided being alone. But it didn’t work. When I was stressed, I fell again. But when I fell in love with Joyce, I began to have a consuming desire to keep myself pure. I wanted to be prepared as a pure bridegroom. So I prayed, “Lord, have mercy on me. Help me. Keep my heart pure from sin.” By the grace of God I continue to stay in love with Joyce and with Jesus day by day. By the power of the Holy Spirit I have been free from pornography for 10 years. When we fall in love with Jesus and stay in love with him, something very amazing happens. We begin to hate sin. We begin to grieve over our own sins. And we stop sinning by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“You Know That I Love You”

Last week I attended two conferences – the Korean UMC conference and NEUMC conference. During the Korean UMC conference one pastor shared his story with us. Recently he was asked to leave the church by SPRC after five years of his ministry. Of course, at first he was upset. But later he calmed down and asked himself, “What’s wrong with me?” He found what was wrong. It was something about his relationship with Jesus. As a pastor, although he did all kinds of pastoral duties and good works, he was not able to say, “Jesus, I love you.” That was a warning sign. He repented and asked God to help him experience the great love of Jesus Christ personally. His prayer was heard. He said, “Now I am looking forward to visiting church members. I can’t wait for Sunday service.” I could see he was truly transformed in Christ’s love.

Since I heard his testimony, God kept asking me one question, “Do you love me?” I wish I could say, “Yes, I love you!” but I couldn’t, because God exposed my divided heart. As a UMC pastor, from the beginning I made a commitment to itinerancy. For sure this helps me to deny myself and follow Christ. But sometimes this itinerant system serves as excuses for leaving the church when trouble comes. I have to admit that my heart has been divided for few days. I was thinking that I might not be a good fit for our church, and I was considering the possibility of pastoral change. But God revealed my spiritual adultery – “divided heart.” And he showed me how much he had loved me up to this very day. And he asked me the same question, “Do you love me?” I said, “Yes, I love you!” And he said, “Feed my lambs.” I wept. And I said, “Lord, I will love your people and serve them with all my heart until the day when you say, ‘Well done. Now it’s time to move on!’” If the Lord is willing, I will be buried here in this place. If the Lord is willing, I am ready to move on even today. God called each of us in this room and our church to be a pure bride of Jesus Christ. My prayer is that the love of Christ will dwell in you richly so that you may know him intimately and personally and be able to be free from sin always. Amen.

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[1] http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/06/21/billy-grahams-grandson-steps-down-from-florida-megachurch-after-admitting-an-affair/

“Live and Let Live” (Exodus 20:13) - The 10 Commandments for Today VI -

“Live and Let Live” (Exodus 20:13)

- The 10 Commandments for Today VI -

Three Simple Rules

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Movement, had three simple rules that he lived by. Do no harm, Do good, Stay in love with God. It sounds pretty simple. Even a child can understand what it means. But if you have tried to live by these three rules, you would find that they are not easy rules at all. Likewise, the sixth commandment (“You shall not murder”) sounds very simple. Most of us don’t think of ourselves as murderers. We say, “At least I haven’t murdered anyone!” But keeping the sixth commandment means more than not murdering anyone. When we study this commandment carefully, we find that no commandment is more brutally violated. Then, what does it really mean to keep the sixth commandment? What would be its full implications for today?

Do No Harm

First, keeping the sixth commandment means doing no harm. Jesus says, in Matthew 5:21-22, “You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder.' I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder” (MSG). Apostle John also says, “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer” (1Jn 3:15). Do you ever get so angry that you’re out of control? Do you ever hate someone so much? I did. The sixth commandment covers our inward attitudes as well as outward actions. The Heidelberg Catechism rightly explains it in this way: “God hates the root of murder, such as envy, hatred, anger, and desire of revenge. He regards all these as murder” (A. 106). How easy we are to commit “murder of the heart”! So, the very first step to keep the sixth commandment is to do no harm in the heart. We easily feel it when others hurt us, but we do not notice how much we hurt others. Thomas a Kempis in his book The Imitation of Christ says, “A person who honestly examines his own behavior would never judge other people harshly.” If we truly resolve to do no harm, we can no longer gossip. We can no longer speak ill of others. We can no longer take revenge and must honor each as a child of God. It sounds simple, but it is not easy, because it does demand a radical trust in God’s presence and power. To do no harm is an act of disarming, laying aside our weapons and leaving room for God’s intervention.

God gave me a very special gift on my 29^th birthday. On that day I attended a one-day revival meeting held at my seminary. It was not a big gathering. There were about fifty seminarians. The guest speaker was an anointed preacher. After the message, he began to pray for each one of us. It was a prophetic prayer. I was amazed by the prayer that he prayed for me. For a long time I had several unresolved questions within me, and on that day God answered those questions through his prayer. I was so grateful. Right after that, I became curious about how the preacher would pray for others. So I eavesdropped. I knew most of the participants there because we studied together. In my mind I automatically classified each of them into several groups: ‘He is a devout Christian,’ ‘She is an almost Christian,’ and ‘I don’t know why this guy is here at seminary’ and so on. In particular, there was one person whom I didn’t like. Frankly speaking, I hated him. I even thought he was not worthy to study theology and become a pastor. But I was shocked when I heard how God blessed him through the preacher’s prophetic prayer. God loved him so much, took delight in him, and had a wonderful plan for him. The way God saw him was totally different from mine. That day God removed my prejudice, pride and judgmental spirit. It was the best birthday gift that I had ever had. Keeping the sixth commandment means doing no harm. And it starts in the heart.

Do Good

Secondly, keeping the sixth commandment means doing good. Martin Luther said, “This commandment is violated not only when a person actually does evil, but also when he fails to do good to his neighbor, or, though he has the opportunity, fails to prevent, protect, and save him from suffering bodily harm or injury.” Doing good is a proactive way of living. It means loving our neighbor. It means showing kindness and mercy to those who are hard to love. It means to commit ourselves to seeking good for those who consider us less than a child of God. That is what it means to do good. Probably, you remember the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). The priest and Levite saw the Jewish man in need, but they made a decision to avoid him. They broke the sixth commandment, not by killing, but by leaving the man to die when they could have helped him live. But when the Samaritan saw the man, he was filled with compassion. He got involved. He invested his own valuable time and money to provide what was needed. The most remarkable thing is that he did all this for someone who considered him less than a child of God. In those days Jews did not associate with Samaritans. But the Good Samaritan treated his enemy the same way he would treat a friend. There are many ways to keep the sixth commandment by doing good. We can pray for peace in the troubled parts of the world. We can be the voices for the voiceless – the unborn, the disabled, and the elderly. We can care for the sick and the dying. We can work to make laws that bring justice and promote life. We are called to protect life, one life at a time. We must at least do what we can. I am so grateful that many of you have already been doing something you can.

Every year hundreds of unwanted babies are abandoned on the streets of Seoul, South Korea. One pastor decided to save one baby at a time. Pastor Lee built the Drop Box outside his home for unwanted babies. The Drop Box sign reads, “This is a facility for the protection of life. If you can’t take care of your disabled babies, don’t throw them away or leave them on the street. Bring them here.” Pastor Lee’s son, Eun-man, was born with cerebral palsy and a severely disfigured face. This experience inspired him to become the father of many other disabled children in South Korea. Since 2009, Pastor Lee’s baby box has saved 600 children. He and his wife have adopted ten (the maximum number of children South Koreans can adopt) and also have up to 20 children in their care. Pastor Lee says, “The reason I decided to become their father was because God has adopted me.” He does pray, Lord, “I will die for these children.” I think Pastor Lee is a perfect example of what it means to keep the sixth commandment by doing good.

Stay in Love with God

How can we keep the sixth commandment? If you are prone to get angry, if there is someone you secretly resent, if there is murder in your heart, if you fail to do good to your enemies, then you are the ones who break the sixth commandment. The Bible says that anyone who is guilty of “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissentions, factions, and envy…” will not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal 5:20-21). All of us are sinners. All of us are murderers. We are all in urgent need of the grace of God. John Wesley often referred to himself as a "brand plucked out of the fire" (Zecheriah 3:2). When Wesley was five years old, a fire broke out in his house. At that time he was left stranded on the second floor. He was rescued by a parishioner standing on another man’s shoulders. Only moments after he was rescued, the entire house exploded in flames. Ever after, for the rest of his life, John Wesley always remembered that moment, gave thank to God for his mercy, and referred to himself as a brand plucked out of the fire. God always said to the Israelites, “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there” (ex. Deut 24:18). God wants us to remember who we are and who God is. Once we were dead because of our disobedience and our many murderous sins. We were by nature children of wrath. But because of God’s great love for us, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast!” (Eph 2:8-9) How can we keep the sixth commandment? By looking to Jesus, who loved us and gave himself for us. When we remember how he saved us, how he lifted us out of the pit of despair and set our feet on solid ground, we will become humble, and with deep gratitude we will live and let others live by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

When I Think about the Lord

(James Huey)

When I Think about the Lord,
How He saved me, how He raised me,
How He filled me with the Holy Ghost.
How He healed me to the uttermost.

When I Think about the Lord,
How He picked me up and turned me around,
How He set my feet on solid ground

It makes me wanna shout, Hallelujah,
Thank you Jesus!
LORD, you’re worthy

of all the glory, and all the honor,
And all the praise...