Author: knoxchurchreddeer

Genesis 12:1-4, Psalm 121, and John 3:1-17

 

When I was preparing my sermon, it was not easy to find a connection between today’s Lectionary and Lent. But as I meditated on the Word, two verses stood out to me: Genesis 3 and John 17. “³ I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” “¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Through you, through him. When Jehovah blessed Abram, the Creator said that through Abram all people on earth would be blessed. I wondered at first what connection these Bible verses might have with Lent. However, through John 3:17, I clearly understood its meaning. It means that salvation is a blessing. Just as God wanted to bless Abram, God wants to bless us through Jesus Christ. Through him we are saved. This is God’s plan from more than two thousand years ago. The plan to save humankind was thus thoroughly prepared and executed. And that plan continues to reach our neighbours and us today.

Jesus came to save humanity. He became a bridge between God and us. Now it’s our turn. Just as Abraham was the starting point for the salvation of humanity, it is our turn to begin our work.

Sometimes, the more members a church has, the more ideas and plans it has. And we discuss the direction the church should take. Through this process, the church matures, but at times it also experiences wounds and conflict. So, pastors say that each member of the congregation has their own ideal church. It’s already been a year and six months since I came to Red Deer. Some church members often tell me how much they love our church. Some people say it’s more harmonious than last year. Sometimes, new members or first-time visitors give us that evaluation. It is an expression of great joy and gratitude to me. Moreover, it makes me feel good that our church members seem to be receiving good reviews. Of course, I believe that there is no place in the world where there is no conflict. There is no church without conflict. In times of abundance, we must prepare for times of famine. Likewise, when many good things are happening in the church, we must prepare for bad things.

Even within families, there can be conflict. Personally, I braved the yellow warning due to snowfall on Thursday evening and took my kids to ice skating lessons. Normally, my wife would take my kids there, but I was worried, so I drove with them. On the way back from skating, my son complained that his mom hadn’t bought him Gatorade. I gave up my sermon preparation time to go there, but what I returned with was protests and conflict. At first, I was upset, but after an hour, peace returned to my home. Of course, there are many stories about our church that I don’t know about.

The important thing is that we must try to control all of these things in a harmonious way. God uses us just as we are. Even though we are lacking and weak, God calls us, Knox, and gives us strength to do God’s work. We, who have received various gifts, serve the church and society in the same way. Last Sunday, after the service, we had a pancake brunch where Sunday school children, elders, and many church members actively participated. Thanks to your cooperation, we raised over $500, which will be donated to the Red Deer Amethyst House. Although it’s a small step, we continue to seek additional support and discover mission tasks through the Mission Committee.

Among the doctrines of Christianity, there is the concept of sanctification. Sanctification refers to the process or act by which a believer’s religious life becomes holy. I think Lent is a good opportunity to reflect on this concept. It helps us break free from the tendency to be dominated by this world’s values. The values of this world keep us busy with our own affairs rather than God’s worldview. Sometimes it leads us away from God’s Word and from our fellow believers. But sanctification cleanses sinners from the corruption of sin and helps renew human nature in the image of God. It is both the process and the result. It is the ongoing and gracious work of the Holy Spirit that enables humans to do good deeds.

Humans have a constant desire to become more comfortable. As life becomes more difficult, people tend to think only of the benefit for themselves and their families. But when crises come to the world, Christians meditate on God’s plan. We need to think about God’s will and Jesus’ love. What does God want us to realize in this situation? How would Jesus act? We pray and meditate. So, even in moments when everyone has no choice but to think and decide selfishly, we constantly strive to make altruistic decisions. Why is that? Because there is the way of Christ. Because Jesus Christ lived that kind of life. Because He showed us the way and silently walked the way of the cross. So, as disciples, we too are walking that path today. From the mind that continues to think about earthly things and seek comfort, we choose heavenly things and discomfort. All this is possible when we are born of water and the Spirit, as in John 3:5. When we are born again by the Holy Spirit, we can enter the kingdom of God as new beings. When we live as people of the Holy Spirit, we can experience the kingdom of God on this earth. As Jesus told Nicodemus, if we believe in Him and follow Him completely, humanity will be able to see God through us. People will look at our lives and hope for salvation and eternal life. Let’s live as Christians this week, too. I deeply contemplate the weight of the word Christian and pray that the love and grace of Jesus, who gave His life for us, may fill your home. Amen.

Psalm 32, Matthew 4:1-11, and Romans 5:12-19

 

I have a friend who went to seminary with me and shared a dormitory and room with me for about five years. He is a pastor whom I quite like and trust. He is a very honest and family-oriented person. He started his student ministry earlier than his peers. Unlike the Presbyterian Church in Canada, the honorarium for student ministers in Korean churches varied from church to church. Relatively speaking, he served for a long time in a church with good benefits for pastors. But strangely enough, when I saw how he lived, I felt that he had been struggling financially for a long time. When I went to seminary, I could see why. His father had a huge debt at home due to business failures and car accidents. After that, his father was unable to find a high-income job.

The whole family had to work hard to pay off that debt. In modern society, people are pushed out due to financial debt or other factors. And it requires a desperate effort to restore status and honour. It was the same in ancient societies. Moreover, from a religious doctrinal perspective, the concept of original sin in theology, which uses Adam’s sin as its rhetoric, is perplexing to modern people. Just as a family was ruined by a father’s mistake and paid a great price to recover, the doctrine that humanity suffered because of Adam’s sin is both understandable and difficult to grasp. I’ve often met people who questioned whether Adam’s blood and sin truly reside within them. But one thing I can easily understand is that all humans are easily tempted. So, it is easy to sin. When we hear news about various social issues these days, we often hear about brutal crimes we’ve never experienced before.

Especially when it comes to scams, we very commonly receive such calls or emails. Some people use people from certain countries or races to deceive their acquaintances, and even go so far as to traffic in them. Sometimes, some people start unjust wars and take the lives of countless young people. When I see the pervasiveness of this sin, I empirically believe that the doctrine of original sin in humanity is valid.

In Romans, Paul explains Adam’s sin and Adam’s responsibility for all humankind. In particular, it makes a statement about original sin, that sin entered the world through one man, Adam. It also claims that the nature and resulting punishment were passed on to all humanity, and that death came to all people. That is, Adam, the ancestor of humankind, is considered the first person to sin and the source of sin. Because of this, human beings groan under the power of sin and death.

At this point, we can understand it through the diplomatic ambassadors or trade representatives of each country in modern society, who represent their respective countries and engage in talks. They enter into contracts on behalf of countries and companies. But the consequences and impacts of this apply to both citizens and companies in each country. The principles of these contracts still apply today.

In the case of Adam, he made a covenant with God. On behalf of humanity, he made a promise through the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It is a covenant that if he keeps this well, he and his descendants will enjoy eternal life and blessings. But when this is not done, all humanity united with him will be punished with sin and death. Therefore, the concept of death, the end of human life, which was not part of God’s plan of creation, came into the world. The death reigned from the time of Adam to now.

But the good news is that God, by the same principle, established Jesus Christ as the new representative of humanity. God has given us the gift of life in place of death through Jesus. So, we can confess Jesus as the Saviour of humankind. Christ is the gift of my life. This is not a reward for my righteous deeds. It is simply a gift by the grace of Jesus.

Beloved, this is Lent, a day to remember the suffering, great love, and grace of Jesus Christ. I hope that this Lent will be one in which we overcome the temptation of sin and the power of death, just as Jesus overcame temptations in the wilderness. Through the obedience of Jesus, the many are created righteous. In this way, we too may discern and obey God’s will and plan, live like Jesus, and enjoy His gifts. Amen.

Exodus 24:12-18, Psalm 99, and Matthew 17:1-9

 

Jesus went up the mountain with his disciples. Scholars are also unsure whether it is Mount Tabor, 588 meters high, or Mount Hermon, 2,814 meters high. However, when we compare Luke 9, which parallels Matthew, we see that the emphasis is on prayer rather than the mountain’s location. Jesus went up on the mountain to pray. He planned to take his disciples with him and train them in prayer. In verse 2, the word “transfigured” is the biblical word “metamorphote”, meaning a change in both external appearance and internal nature. Based on this, we can understand that Jesus, the sinless Son of God at that time, transcended his human body, and his divine glory was revealed outwardly. In this regard, I would like to discuss the image of God’s glory that we Christians possess.

When God created humans, we know that they were created in the image of the Creator. However, as humankind lived, they sinned due to various desires and lost their responsibilities, roles, and status as children of God. But God has repeatedly forgiven them and given them constant opportunities to return. And as a final and complete solution, God offered reconciliation and forgiveness through Jesus for humanity’s sins. Through the love and forgiveness on the cross, we can be restored to a glorious life as children of God, not as sinners. Yet many Christians in this age live forgetting the glorious nature within us.

When modern people think of the church, what comes to mind first? Some may raise the issue of the church’s decline; others, the issue of trust. There are people who look at the church with negative and worried eyes. Some people also criticize the church for being authoritarian. As a pastor, I feel sorry and responsible for all these negative thoughts. I believe that the church is being criticized by the world because my life as a pastor has not been an example to the world. All of us, as the church itself, must reveal God’s glory to the world. We must show a different way of life as stewards who lead the world and preserve creation. I like to call it Transfigured Life.

Jesus showed his disciples this glorious appearance and revealed his divinity as a child of God. We, too, as children of God, must reveal our role and status in the world. Just as Jesus called us last week to be the salt and light of the world, we must respond by living a distinct and holy life.

We can identify another model for this holy life: the way of Moses. God gave Moses important instructions on how humanity should live: the Ten Commandments. For this purpose, God called him to Mount Sinai. Moses stayed there with God for forty days, dwelling in holiness and glory. The number 40 is very special in the Bible. The time that Noah’s flood lasted was 40 days, and the time it took for the flood to subside was also 40 days (Genesis 7:12, 8:6). It took the prophet Elijah 40 days and 40 nights to reach Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8). The period of Jesus’ fast was also 40 days. In this way, the number 40 in the Bible represents a period of trials and hardships, a time for me to change as I wait for God’s will. Starting this week, on Ash Wednesday, we will spend Lent. These 40 days are a time for us to be transformed through piety. It is a time to meditate on God’s will and plan being realized in my life. So, it is time to prepare for a new life and a new history.

We, believers, have a unique worldview called resurrection and believe in the kingdom of God called heaven. This is what Jesus taught us. We are invited to a new life by Him. As we approach Lent, let us advance toward the cloud of God with bold faith and pious resolve. I hope that we, like Moses, Elijah, and the disciples of Jesus, will experience that holiness. May you, through that grace, invite others to a transfigured life. Amen.