What is your sincere hope?
Romans 1:1~10 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. (9~10)
Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #508 I Am a Stranger Here
The Scripture reading reveals Paul’s sincere hope. Starting now, the evangelists who will save the age must find what they must do and the hope they must possess.
1. The letter sent to Rome
Starting now, you must relay letters. What letters? You must relay the Word of God, which is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). For the sake of this, starting today, you must not lose hold of the message that is given to you. You must not lose hold of the church’s pulpit message. If you grab hold of the pulpit message proclaimed during worship, amazing works arise. It is okay even if you simply grab hold of one word. If you grab hold of this Word and go to the field, you will realize the answers have already come. People who truly receive answers and people who have seen the works of God were all doing this part well. Paul’s 14 epistles were all letters that grabbed hold of the Word. The best method for your children’s education is grabbing hold of the message and finding the answer with your children. If your children receive the answer through God’s Word, tremendous strength develops in their faith.
2. A true confession of thanksgiving
If you grab hold of this covenant and receive answers, true thanksgiving comes out. True thanksgiving is the source of all things being healed. Paul was so thankful that he was a servant of Jesus Christ. He was thankful for being called as an apostle, for what the Bible had already promised, for having been given the position to save Jews and Gentiles, and for the calling of being called for this position, and in the end, he was thankful for the grace and peace God gives. A person of thanksgiving never fails.
3. Sincere hope
Paul had a sincere hope to enter Rome. Rome was a nation that moved the entire world at that time. Also, Rome was the road by which the worldwide scholars of that time gathered in Spain. In addition, Rome was the road by which people entered all parts of the entire world and the Western nations. However, Rome had fallen into the problem of idol worship and Israel became colonized by Rome. Paul knew well that the only way to save them was the Gospel. That is why Paul wanted to enter Rome. If you truly receive answers, you can see the more important answers, and that opens the path of evangelism.
- As people who do not know the Gospel live their lives spiritual problems come and the only thing that can save these people is the Gospel. The only way by which we also can receive answers lifelong is the Gospel. Therefore, Paul’s sincere hope was saving these people with the Gospel. If that is the case, what is my sincere hope?
Immanuel Church Sunday Worship 2nd Service / 2010.9.19