[Sunday, September. 22, 2024] A Person of Christ | Romans 8:5-11
[English Sermon 영어 설교]
Sunday, September 22, 2024 - Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn
A Person of Christ (Romans 8:5-11)
2024. 9. 22. 주일예배 설교- 로마서 강해 16
본문: 로마서 8:5-11
제목: 그리스도의 사람
설교자: 손진국 목사
Once upon a time, there was an elderly man in a rural village who grew a long beard. There was a child in the neighborhood who was curious about the grandfather’s beard. One day, the child asked the grandfather, "Grandfather, do you put your beard under the blanket when you sleep, or do you leave it outside the blanket?" The grandfather couldn't answer immediately because he had never thought about it before. So he replied, "I'm sorry, my child. I haven't thought about that before, but I will try it tonight and let you know." That night, the grandfather wrestled with his beard. When he put it under the blanket, it felt stuffy, and when he left it outside, it felt strange, so he spent the whole night wrestling with his beard.
Whether the old man sleeps with his beard under the blanket or outside does not greatly affect his life. But what if someone goes through life without caring about very important matters? A prime example is whether one is in Christ or outside of Christ, whether one is in the truth or outside of the truth. There are many believers who do not even know this.
If we were to name the person who has had the greatest influence in Christian history, excluding biblical figures, many would mention Augustine. Augustine believed he had reached a high level of faith. One day, he had a dream in which he found himself in heaven. Upon entering heaven, an angel asked him, “Who are you?” He answered, “Yes, I am Augustine and I am a Christian.” The angel looked closely at him and exclaimed, “You are not a Christian. Your mind is filled only with philosophical thoughts.” Startled, Augustine woke up from the dream. He then examined himself from an objective perspective and realized that he only believed in Jesus with his mind. Augustine repented and thereafter devoted himself to his faith.
Among Christians, many confidently consider themselves Christians, but in reality, they cannot be regarded as such. Who is the person of Christ? The person of Christ is one who belongs to Christ, whose thoughts, words, and actions resemble Christ. How can we become like Christ? It is impossible to become like Christ through our own resolutions or efforts; however, with God's help, it is possible. Therefore, the person of Christ is not someone with a peculiar constitution or special genes. A true person of Christ is a perfectly normal person with the right character, who fulfills their responsibilities in family and life, praises and worships God, and carries out the mission given by God. Thus, if someone attends church but is not a person of Christ, they are simply a worthless life. What is a worthless life? It looks like good seed on the outside but is empty inside, without the grain. When you immerse good seed and worthless seed in saltwater, the good seed sinks while the empty worthless seed floats.
Similarly, it is difficult to judge whether someone who attends church is truly a person of Christ based on appearances. Therefore, through today’s text, let us examine the criteria for being a person of Christ, and discern whether we truly belong to Christ. If you realize you do not, I hope you will listen to the gospel again and accept Christ to become a true person of Christ.
Through today’s text, a true person of Christ …
1. Has the Spirit of Christ.
Pat Boone was a world-renowned American singer. One day, he was invited to sing at a nightclub in a Hilton hotel. That night, he stayed in the room of the hotel owner, Mr. Hilton, and enjoyed a meal prepared by the hotel's personal chef. This wasn’t his first time experiencing such hospitality. However, that night, while looking at a portrait of Hilton hanging in the room, he realized, "I have slept in Hilton's room and eaten food provided by him many times. But I have never actually met Hilton! Ah! I have attended church for a long time, yet I still have not directly met Jesus! Just like I know who the President of the United States is and who his wife is, I have only known Jesus intellectually." At that moment, Pat Boone accepted Jesus as his Savior and had a powerful experience with the Holy Spirit. From then on, he began to live as a person of Christ, praising the Lord with the Spirit of Christ.
[Rom 8:9] You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. Here, the "Spirit of Christ" refers to the Holy Spirit. The condition for being a person of Christ is determined by whether one has the Spirit of Christ. Anyone who has the Holy Spirit within them is certainly a person of Christ, regardless of whether they are black, white, or yellow, learned or uneducated, rich or poor. On the contrary, even if someone is accustomed to church life and holds an office, if they do not have the Holy Spirit, they are not a person of Christ. They are merely a religious person who has Christianity but cannot truly belong to Christ.
Jesus says, [John 3:5] Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” He indicates that without being reborn of water and the Spirit, one cannot be saved. What do water and Spirit mean here? They refer to the baptism of water and the baptism of the Holy Spirit that we receive by hearing the gospel and accepting Jesus as our Savior.
Jesus also said, [Mark 16:16] Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Have you believed and been baptized? Or did you get baptized just because others were doing it without believing? That doesn’t work. Did you believe but not get baptized? Listen carefully to what Jesus says. The baptism of the Holy Spirit happens when we believe in and accept Jesus, at which point the Holy Spirit comes to seal us and dwells within us.
Consider yourself for a moment. Have I believed in Jesus and received water baptism? Water baptism signifies repentance, which is essential for salvation. Additionally, one must receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a gift. [Acts 2:38] Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Does the Spirit of Christ dwell within me? Is the work of the Spirit evident in my life? Please examine your life deeply.
Saul transformed from a persecutor to the person of Christ, the Apostle Paul, through the Spirit of Christ. The Apostle Paul confesses, [Rom 14:8] If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. This is the confession of a person of Christ. [2 Cor 11:23-26] Are they servants of Christ? I am out of my mind to talk like this. I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea. I have been constantly on the move; I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea and in danger from false believers. How was he able to overcome all these hardships? It was because he was a person of Christ who had the Spirit of Christ within him. Are you a person of Christ who has the Spirit of Christ? Trust that the Spirit of Christ will help you overcome and achieve victory through all the trials and difficulties you face in this world.
[Application] Have I believed in Jesus and received the Holy Spirit as a gift? Am I receiving the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit in my daily life?
2. Thinks about the things of the Spirit.
Who is the child in this picture? The golf legend Tiger Woods (Eldrick Tiger Woods) has been observed playing golf since he was in a stroller. He watched his father play golf. As he grew up, he carried around a short golf club. When he was just 10 months old, his parents were amazed when he grabbed a short golf club and showed his first swing. Later, at the age of twenty-one, he became the youngest winner of the Masters Tournament. After becoming a top star, Woods sought out basketball legend Michael Jordan to hear his advice. They talked until dawn, and when they parted, Jordan said something important: "Whenever everyone looks at you and praises you as a golf genius, someone who comes along once every hundred years, run straight to the practice range and focus on training." Michael Jordan is someone who practices with his body and thinks about basketball practice even when he rests. Great athletes only think about their sport. Successful people focus on what they need to do.
The main text is Romans 8:5. [Rom 8:5] Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The word "think" here is used in the Greek as "phroneo," which means “to set one's mind on, to be influenced, to side with.” Those who follow the flesh only have their minds set on fleshly matters. However, fleshly thoughts only lead to death. They are self-centered and disobey God's will. Naturally, they become enemies of God. But those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on what the Spirit wants.
What does the Spirit want? The Spirit wants us to live according to God's will. It is a life governed by the Spirit. Therefore, to think of what belongs to the Spirit is to consider fulfilling God's will as the most important value. Above all, when we live thinking of what belongs to the Spirit, our steps will be made smooth. Our lives will prosper because the Almighty God takes responsibility for that life. Therefore, true followers of Christ live not focusing on what belongs to the flesh but thinking of what belongs to the Spirit.
Once again, examine yourself. Consider what thoughts you primarily have in your life. Are you mostly thinking about fleshly matters—food, clothing, financial issues, or living on this earth? Or do you have thoughts about what belongs to the Spirit, such as meditating on God, fulfilling God’s kingdom and will, and aspiring to live like Christ?
[Application] What thoughts do I primarily focus on? Are they related to the flesh or to the Spirit?
3. Pleases God.
This is a story from Pastor Yoon Young-jun's book "The Love of a Pair of Shoes." A young man received treatment for his acne, but due to an excessive use of X-rays during the process, his face became disfigured. He fell into deep depression and feelings of inferiority. However, surprisingly, this young man, with his unattractive face, found faith and determination to rise again. He told himself, "I will live my life to the fullest with God’s help." He resolved to ignore his appearance and focus solely on pleasing God. Eventually, he went to China and dedicated himself as a medical missionary. He returned to America and became a famous figure, being elected to Congress ten times, which was unprecedented. "By receiving God's help and aiming to please God, I was able to live meaningfully as a person of Christ." Therefore, like Walter, do not focus on your appearance or popularity; strive to live to please God with your best effort, relying on His help.
The main text is Romans 8:8. [Rom 8:8] Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. The standard for discerning whether one lives according to the desires of the flesh or according to the Spirit's will is whether one’s life pleases God. A person of Christ is someone who brings joy to God. Pleasing God is his joy, glorifying God is his glory, and loving the living God is his happiness. Yet, we often fail to find true joy. The reason is that we seek joy on earth without glorifying God and strive for joy while turning away from Him. Originally, humans were created to enjoy endless satisfaction and eternal blessings from the moment God made them. Therefore, we must return to the image God desires. We must please God.
In one of Pastor Max Lucado's books, "I Decrease, God Increases," he states, "As I live a God-centered life, the phrase 'I will do what I want' has gradually decreased, and the phrase 'What does God want?' has increased." Who is the master of your life? Are you the master, or is Christ the master? We are people of Christ, not people of the flesh but people of the Spirit. We live not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Above all, we have received God’s love and grace and have become people of Christ. Therefore, do not live according to the flesh any longer but as a person of Christ who follows the guidance of the Spirit.
Apostle Paul confessed in [1 Cor 15:31] I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. This means he struggled to live as a person of the Spirit, beating his flesh into submission. May you all be like Apostle Paul, beating down your flesh and living as people of Christ who follow the guidance of the Spirit. I pray that you all may think of the things of the Spirit first and please God, living as true people of Christ. I bless you in the name of the Lord.
[Application] Am I striving to live as a person of the Spirit? What decisions do I need to make today to please God?
하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.
Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.