The Ministers of the Gospel-3

³ 여호와를 의뢰하여 선을 행하라 땅에 거하여 그의 성실로 식물을 삼을지어다 ⁴ 또 여호와를 기뻐하라 저가 네 마음의 소원을 이루어 주시리로다 ⁵ 너의 길을 여호와께 맡기라 저를 의지하면 저가 이루시고 ⁶ 네 의를 빛같이 나타내시며 네 공의를 정오의 빛같이 하시리로다. ³ Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. ⁴ Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. ⁶ He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. (Ps. 37:3-6 ESV)

⁷ 이 복음을 위하여 그의 능력이 역사하시는 대로 내게 주신 하나님의 은혜의 선물을 따라 내가 일군이 되었노라 ⁸ 모든 성도 중에 지극히 작은 자보다 더 작은 나에게 이 은혜를 주신 것은 측량할 수 없는 그리스도의 풍성을 이방인에게 전하게 하시고 ⁹ 영원부터 만물을 창조하신 하나님 속에 감취었던 비밀의 경륜이 어떠한 것을 드러내게 하려 하심이라 ¹⁰ 이는 이제 교회로 말미암아 하늘에서 정사와 권세들에게 하나님의 각종 지혜를 알게 하려 하심이니 ¹¹ 곧 영원부터 우리 주 그리스도 예수 안에서 예정하신 뜻대로 하신 것이라 ¹² 우리가 그 안에서 그를 믿음으로 말미암아 담대함과 하나님께 당당히 나아감을 얻느니라 ¹³ 그러므로 너희에게 구하노니 너희를 위한 나의 여러 환난에 대하여 낙심치 말라 이는 너희의 영광이니라. ⁷ Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. ⁸ To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. (Eph. 3:7-13)

FCF: We tend to misunderstand the ministry and minister of the gospel for the unity of the church.

주제: 하나님은 복음을 위하여 사역하는 은혜를 주시기에 고난이 있어도 하나님을 위하여 복음으로 사람들을 섬겨야 합니다. 

Theme: Because God grants us the grace to minister for the gospel, we must serve others for God through the gospel amid suffering.

Introduction: An amusing news story from Wales told of a feud in a church looking for a new pastor. It read: "Yesterday the two opposition groups both sent ministers to the pulpit. Both spoke simultaneously, each trying to shout above the other. Both called for hymns, and the congregation sang two -- each side trying to drown out the other. Then the groups began shouting at each other. Bibles were raised in anger. The Sunday morning service turned into a bedlam. Through it all, the two preachers continued trying to outshout each other with their sermons. Eventually, a deacon called a policeman. Two came in and began shouting for the congregation to be quiet. They advised the forty persons in the church to return home. The rivals filed out, still arguing. Last night one of the groups called a let's-be-friends' meeting. It broke up in an argument." The item was headlined, 할렐루야! 한 설교 단상에 두 무례한 놈들 "Hallelujah! Two Jacks in One Pulpit." It could have been bannered, 한 교회의 교제 안에 있는 두 파당들 "Two Factions in One fellowship."

            This is not an amusing, but a saddening story for us. How saddened the heart of God was through this division of the church! The world may laugh at it. But we can’t laugh at that fractured congregation if we feel the very heart of God for it. Satan wants Christ’s churches to collapse. But Christ prayed His churches would become one in Him as the Father and the Son are one. Church splits abound in this divisive world. They are a reflection of the fractured world. Surely, forgetting the essentials and fighting for non-essentials cause divisions, separations, and wars. We find such examples anywhere in the world. In particular, we sadly see conflicts and divisions in the church of Christ triggered by petty, non-essential issues. To the world torn by anger, hatred, and disharmony, to the churches shattered by non-essential issues, the ministers of the gospel of Christ, should proclaim the message of peace, reconciliation, and union. None of them should engage in splitting the world or the church through their words and deeds. Paul declared the message of peace through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul describes his gospel ministry and tells us what the gospel ministers are called to do for unity.

So far, we have dealt with the following theme: “We must serve others for God through the gospel amid suffering because God grants us the grace to minister for the gospel.” All Christians are called to work together for unity through the gospel. The two major points we have covered thus far. First, we must serve for the gospel with divine enablement. Second, we must share the wealth of Christ with others with humility. Now, let’s turn to the third point: “Show the church’s unity for the glory of God.”             

I.               하나님의 능하게 하심으로 복음을 위하여 섬기라. 

Serve for the gospel with divine enablement.

II.             겸손함으로 다른 이들과 그리스도의 부요함을 나누라.

Share the wealth of Christ with others with humility.

III.           하나님의 영광을 위하여 교회의 하나됨을 보여주라.

Show the unity of the church for the glory of God.

            In vv. 7-8, Paul made a sudden outburst of amazement about God’s grace. Paul knew the unworthiness of such an honorable privilege to preach the gospel. He never forgot that he was saved by grace and chosen to preach the gospel by grace. Knowing the incomparable greatness of God’s grace, he always humbled himself to exalt God alone and carried out his gospel ministry with divine enablement and humility. Grace led him to live and die for the gospel. Grace led him to humility. Paul’s self-assessment revealed in the phrase “less than the least of all saints” was not a pretense or mere exaggeration. It was an honest conclusion Paul reached after realizing the overflowing riches of Christ’s grace. He stood in the grace of God. So, he stayed both active and humble in the gospel ministry.

In vv. 9-10, Paul further explains for what he was chosen by grace: 영원부터 만물을 창조하신 하나님 속에 감취었던 비밀의 경륜이 어떠한 것을 (모두에게) 드러내게 하려 하심이라 ¹⁰ 이는 이제 교회로 말미암아 하늘에서 정사와 권세들에게 하나님의 각종 지혜를 알게 하려 하심이니. “and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” In v. 8, Paul describes his gospel ministry as “to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” In v. 9, Paul depicts it as “to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God.” As a gospel minister, Paul was called to share the good news of Christ and His unsearchable riches with the Gentiles. Also, he was called to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery of Christ.

In these two verses, we find what the gospel ministers are called to do with divine enablement and humility. First, they are to preach the good news of Christ to all classes of people. Even though the primary targets of Paul’s gospel ministry were the Gentiles, Paul didn’t limit his preaching to the Gentiles. Right after he was converted on the road to Damascus, he began to prove from the Scriptures to his fellow Jews that Jesus was the Christ. For this reason, he led some Jews to Jesus Christ. However, a majority of Jews began to hate him and attempted to kill him for his preaching of Jesus Christ. He turned to the Gentile ministry by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. But this doesn’t mean he didn’t preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jews. No matter where he went, he visited a Jewish synagogue to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. He truly loved his fellow Jews and wanted them to be saved by grace.

Notice how greatly he desired them to be saved: 내가 그리스도 안에서 참말을 하고 거짓말을 아니하노라 내게 큰 근심이 있는 것과 마음에 그치지 않는 고통이 있는 것을 내 양심이 성령 안에서 나로 더불어 증거하노니 나의 형제 곧 골육의 친척을 위하여 내 자신이 저주를 받아 그리스도에게서 끊어질찌라도 원하는 바로라. I am speaking the truth in Christ-- I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit-- ² that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh (Rom. 9:1-3). He was willing to be accursed if his fellow Jews could be saved by grace. He truly wished his countrymen to turn to Jesus Christ for salvation. While traveling through a vast region of the Mediterranean world, he worked hard to win all souls, Jews and Gentiles, free and bonded, men and women, young and old, over to Christ.

Here, we see the cosmopolitan spirit of Paul trying to reach all with divine enablement and humility. For his gospel outreach, Paul targeted big cities where he could encounter all classes of people. And he planted the churches where all kinds of people, Jews or Gentiles, free or bonded, or rich or poor, learned to accept each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. He taught them to practice love and achieve unity in Christ. So, Paul did say as follows: 너희는 유대인이나 헬라인이나 종이나 자주자나 남자나 여자 없이 다 그리스도 예수 안에서 하나이니라. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28). In fact, this is what Paul said to the Ephesian congregation. This is the mystery of Christ for the church he preached to the Ephesian church.

We are a Korean church here in Greenville, SC. Since we are a Korean church, we may say the primary target of our gospel ministry is Koreans. But this doesn’t mean that Koreans are the only target of our gospel outreach. We are called to share the good news of Jesus Christ with all types of people, regardless of skin color, culture, sex, or nationality. We shouldn’t favor the rich over the poor in our gospel outreach. Nor should we favor the powerful over the weak. All need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Almost all news we constantly hear through the media is negative, worrisome, divisive, etc. If you want to see how sinful and depraved the human heart is, just read the comments in newspapers which are filled with negative, vulgar, destructive, or ad hominem words.  

Do you have any good news about yourself, your family, or your country that you want to share with others? Do you know the gospel of Jesus Christ is the gospel of peace and reconciliation? If you try to preach the gospel of reconciliation only to your favorite group of people, you are acting against the message of peace and reconciliation. Your heart is to be kind and loving to all people who need the gospel of peace. If you fail to do so, you will make your church a place of discrimination. We are living in a multicultural, multinational melting pot of America. We may be tempted to close our lips and hearts to those of different races or nationalities. Some of us may have prejudices against African Americans and their subculture. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "우리는 교회가 미국 사회에서 가장 배타적인 주요 기관이며, 일주일 중 가장 격리된 시간은 리스턴 포프 교수가 지적한 것처럼 일요일 아침 11시라는 부끄러운 사실을 직시해야 합니다." “We must face the shameful fact that the church is the most segregated major institution in American society, and the most segregated hour of the week is, as Professor Liston Pope has pointed out, eleven o’clock on Sunday morning.” 

Our Grace Church invited some African American Christians into our worship and fellowship. They were great Christians who loved the Lord. But some try to stay away from them, refusing to share the riches of Christ with them. Someone formulated the argument of the inferiority of the Negro according to the framework of an Aristotelian syllogism: ‘All men are made in the image of God; God, as everyone knows, is not a Negro; Therefore, the Negro is not a man.’ ” Such heinous prejudice and hatred toward the Gentile Christians were in the hearts of some Jewish Christians in the Ephesian church. So, the Ephesian church had to face the reality of division. Paul had to deal with it through God’s Word. The gospel ministers must approach all classes of people without prejudice and discrimination and serve them through the gospel of peace. Jesus Christ is the best news in the world. If you have experienced the joy of salvation from the bondage and curse of sin and death, you will know how wonderful and necessary the gospel of Jeus Christ is for a lost world. Also, you will see how the gospel of Christ brings peace, union, and reconciliation among opposing groups of people. The gospel of Christ is the power of God to break down all walls of partition and division. 

Second, the gospel ministers are to enlighten the world by shining the light of the gospel of Christ. God has granted His gospel ministers for the church and the world. They are designed to be good for people. However, some ministers’ serious moral failures have brought about the disappearance of trust and respect among people worldwide. Sadly, people look at them through the lens of distrust and disdain. They reject their message of Christ. However, we are the gospel ministers appointed by God’s grace to enlighten the world by shining the gospel light of Christ. In v. 8, Paul describes his gospel ministry as “preaching to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” The true riches of Christ are hidden from people in the world because of their spiritual blindness. Sin blinds them to Christ’s riches. Sin deprives them of the riches of Christ such as reconciliation, justification, adoption, redemption, forgiveness, joy, peace, or hope of eternal life in heaven.

The gospel ministers are called to enrich them by sharing the true riches of Christ. They are to preach the riches of Christ to them so that the Holy Spirit opens their eyes to see their spiritual bankruptcy and turn to Christ through repentance and faith for the true riches of Christ. Christ became poor, which is His death on the cross so that we would be rich, our salvation in Christ. Paul puts it this way: 우리 주 예수 그리스도의 은혜를 너희가 알거니와 부요하신 자로서 너희를 위하여 가난하게 되심은 그의 가난함을 인하여 너희로 부요케 하려 하심이니라. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9). If you have Christ within your hearts and lives, you are truly rich in the kingdom of God even though you may not be materially rich in this world.

In. v. 9, Paul uses the Greek verb “photizo,” which means “to shine, illuminate, shed light on, etc. The verb means ‘to enlighten’ and assumes a fog of spiritual darkness to be dispelled. The imagery of light is behind this word. If we apply it to our gospel ministry, we may say that the gospel ministers shine the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ to a world under spiritual darkness. Again, sin causes spiritual blindness. This is what Satan does to people. Paul says, 그 중에 이 세상 신이 믿지 아니하는 자들의 마음을 혼미케 하여 그리스도의 영광의 복음의 광채가 비취지 못하게 함이니 그리스도는 하나님의 형상이니라. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Cor. 4:4). Satan seduces people to remain in sin so that they can’t see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ.

When Jesus came to His people as the light of the world, the Jews didn’t see the light, preferring to stay in the sin of pride and self-righteousness. The apostle John says in the introduction of his book, 자기 땅에 오매 자기 백성이 영접지 아니하였으나 ¹² 영접하는 자 곧 그 이름을 믿는 자들에게는 하나님의 자녀가 되는 권세를 주셨으니. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (Jn. 1:11-12). The self-righteous Jews, who rejected Jesus the Messiah, claimed to be able to see but spiritually blind (Jn. 9:40-41).

The gospel ministers are called to reflect the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ to a world darkened by sin. Unbelievers are spiritually blind and ignorant of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, the gospel ministers are there to tell them about their spiritual blindness caused by sin and the remedy to their sin and sinfulness, namely, Jesus Christ. In v. 9, Paul tells us what to enlighten, which is “the plan of the mystery of God.” In this context, the mystery of God is what God has done through His Son on the cross. Paul has already explained it this way: ¹⁴ 그는 우리의 화평이신지라 둘로 하나를 만드사 중간에 막힌 담을 허시고 ¹⁵ 원수 된 것 곧 의문에 속한 계명의 율법을 자기 육체로 폐하셨으니 이는 이 둘로 자기의 안에서 한 새 사람을 지어 화평하게 하시고 ¹⁶ 또 십자가로 이 둘을 한 몸으로 하나님과 화목하게 하려 하심이라 원수 된 것을 십자가로 소멸하시고 ¹⁷ 또 오셔서 먼데 있는 너희에게 평안을 전하고 가까운데 있는 자들에게 평안을 전하셨으니. ¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵ by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶ and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. ¹⁷ And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near (Eph. 2:14-17).

The gospel ministers are to preach Christ as peace. They are to tell the world that Christ has abolished all the walls of partition between God and sinners and between sinners and sinners. They are to call people to repent and come to Christ so that they can be reconciled to God and they can be reconciled to others in Christ. Those spiritually blinded by their hatred and resentment can’t enjoy peace with God and others. Their hearts and lives are ravaged by their anger and hatred. They suffer from anxiety, distrust, and insecurity. Surely, we are living in a broken world. People desire peace, not knowing where to find it. Christians know the answer to this worldwide pandemic of distrust, discord, and division. Christ can bring them peace, forgiveness, reconciliation, and unity.

Jim Elliot and his three friends went to the Auca Indians to share the gospel of Christ. These Indians trusted the power of their spears, trusting no one. There were unceasing battles among rival tribes. But these missionaries tried to reach them through the gospel in love. All of them were killed by these Indians. But their deaths were not in vain. As a result of their martyrdom, the gospel reached their hearts. The one who killed them was converted. The son of one of those killed visited the tribe. He met with his dad’s killer and made a reconciliation with him. They hugged each other. They became friends with each other. It was a touching story. Hatred was gone. Love has triumphed over hatred. Trust has replaced distrust. Fellowship has been established between them. It demonstrates the transforming power of the gospel of peace.

This is what the gospel ministers are called to do. We need to be peacemakers through the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is Peace. When we serve as peacemakers through the gospel, we are enriching and enlightening our families, communities, churches, and world. We don’t need to deprecate ourselves. We are necessary for the peace of the world. We need to serve as peacemakers in this world for the glory of God. Today, Christians are regarded as rioters or dividers in the world. But they are called to be peacemakers through the gospel of Christ by grace. They are to enrich and enlighten the world through the gospel. Paul did his best to fulfill this mission. So, he was able to view himself this way: 근심하는 자 같으나 항상 기뻐하고 가난한 자 같으나 많은 사람을 부요하게 하고 아무 것도 없는 자 같으나 모든 것을 가진 자로다. ¹⁰ as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. (2 Cor. 6:9-10).   

Third, the gospel ministers are to show God’s wisdom to the world through the church's unity. Paul was called to enable the recipients to understand the mystery that was being disclosed. Paul depicts God as the One who created all things. Here Paul expresses his dependence upon God to carry out his mission to the world. He reminded the Ephesians that God was in control of all things and that the revelation of the mystery (the creation of the new humanity) was in keeping with God’s plan and timing. In other words, God’s plan was to create this new entity called the church and His timing was to reveal it in His timing. This creation is sustained by the One who is the creator of all things. It is important to note that God’s omnipotence is important to Paul because he depended on that enabling power to proclaim the wonders of the mystery of Christ for the church.

Let’s deal with the words used in v. 10. First, “the manifold wisdom of God” refers to the mystery of Christ for the unity of the church here in the context. Wisdom refers to the true insight into known facts. The best wisdom is that which has been revealed by God, for this is the means by which one gains insight into the true nature of God’s plan. The two adjectives combined serve to heighten the idea of multiplicity. On those rare occasional uses outside the NT, it refers to intricate embroidery or flowers of many colors. It alludes to the variegated facets of God’s wisdom, not with reference to salvation, but to the unification of Jews and Gentiles into one new person in Christ. The church’s unity reveals the variegated facets of God’s wisdom. The gospel ministers are called to show the beautiful, variegated rainbow-like wisdom of God by calling the church to union with Christ and each other.

Second, “the rulers and authorities” here refers not to earthly rulers, kings, or authorities, but to heavenly beings, namely angelic beings. The following word “the heavenlies” modifies the phrase, limiting to heavenly beings. “The heavenlies” refers to the heavenly places where angelic beings reside and operate over the human world (Eph. 6:12). Hence, the heavenlies is the place where both good and evil angels reside and attempt to influence humans. It seems acceptable to suppose that both good and evil beings are being informed of the manifold wisdom of God.

The church in this verse refers to not only the universal church but also local visible church. Believing Jews and Gentiles in a local church united in one body is made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. The church’s unity makes an impact on the entire cosmos according to God’s plan. Throughout the ages, good angels have tried to decipher God’s plan (1 Pet. 1:12) but were unable to do so. No doubt, evil angels also wanted to know God’s plans in advance to frustrate them. The animosity between Jews and Gentiles may well have been encouraged by the evil angels. However, this animosity was also a natural one, for in the past God had allowed Gentiles to come to Him by becoming Jews, as already mentioned in 3:6. The Jews had considered themselves superior to the Gentiles because of the covenants God had made with them and because much of God’s revelation was directed to them.

Equality between Jews and Gentiles was beyond the comprehension of any human being and any angelic being. Nevertheless, contrary to all prior thought, Paul has been showing that the mystery is the church, composed of believing Jews and Gentiles united into one body. They are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow participants of the promise in Christ (3:6). This was a revolutionary concept. Through the church, the angelic leaders, both good and evil, gain knowledge of the manifold wisdom of God. It is a defeat for evil angels who would like to continue to engender animosity between Jews and Gentiles to frustrate the plan of God. 교회의 형성은 악한 천사 지도자들의 권세가 무너졌다는 확실한 증거이며, 창조 세계의 가장 다양한 요소들조차도 그리스도께 복종한다는 것을 보여줍니다. 교회의 연합은 하나님의 은혜의 증거입니다. The formation of the church is tangible evidence that the evil angelic leaders’ power has been broken, demonstrating that even the most diverse elements of creation are subject to Christ. The unity of the church is evidence of the grace of God.  

F. F. Bruce suggests the church appears as "미래의 화해된 우주를 위한 하나님의 선도적 계획." “God’s pilot scheme for the reconciled universe of the future.” The uniting of Jews and Gentiles in Christ was God’s masterpiece of reconciliation and gave promise of a time when not Jews and Gentiles only, but all the mutually hostile elements in creation, would be united in that same Christ. The church is not only the pattern but also the means God is using to show His purposes are moving triumphantly to their climax. Paul was made a minister of the gospel, the function of which was to preach the unsearchable wealth of Christ and to enlighten all of the mystery. The purpose of his ministry is that the mystery, which is the manifold wisdom of God, be made known to angelic leaders through the church (v. 10). Paul says that the wisdom of God will be made known through the church, specifically, the harmonious coexistence of Jewish and Gentile believers is a testimony to the powers.

The call of the church is no haphazard remedy, or afterthought, but part of the eternal scheme of God. Today, too many Christians think of the church as an option they can choose. But Paul declares the church as part of God’s eternal plan. Being a Christian implies being part of the church of Christ, namely, being part of God’s eternal plan. We as a church of Christ are a reconciled community of Christ. We are reconciled to God through the death of Christ. We, no matter who we are according to the standards of the world, are to be reconciled to each other. In other words, we are one in Christ. We must keep the unity of the church with all our beings because the unity of the world is a clear message of God’s wisdom, Christ’s peace, and God’s love. We as a church of Christ are to be a testimony of peace and reconciliation to the entire universe. We are to show forth the wisdom of God to the world. We are to demonstrate God is always wise, merciful, peaceful, and loving to the world.

Unfortunately, too many Christians are acting against God’s eternal plan of the mystery of Christ for the church. They are breaking the unity of the church through their petty differences, selfish desires, or personal ambitions. They are breaking the unity of Christ in the name of Christ. Of course, we are not seeking to achieve unity at the expense of truth. We are not seeking to be one with sin, Satan, injustice, heretics, or the world. We are seeking to be one with each other in the love of Christ because each of us belongs to the same body of Christ. I have been preaching the same topic of the unity of the church for months. We must realize the problem is within us, not in others. Our pride, selfishness, and self-centeredness are in the way of working together for the union with those who are different from us in race, culture, age, or sex.

The reputation of the church of Christ has been low throughout the world. We can’t deny this fact. People audaciously hurl insults at the church. 키에르케고르: "그리스도께서 물을 포도주로 바꾸셨다면, 교회는 포도주를 물로 바꾸는 더 다른 일에 성공했습니다." 케임브리지의 한 교회 벽에 새겨진 글귀: "교회는 죽었지만 예수는 살아있다"(?1987) 믹 재거: "저는 예수 그리스도가 환상적이라고 생각합니다. 하지만 저는 교회가 마음에 들지 않아요. 교회는 득보다 실이 많아요." [J. I. 패커: "하나님은 새로운 공동체의 삶이 애정, 선의, 열린 마음, 우정으로 가득한 완벽한 모임이 되기를 원하십니다. (그렇다면 도대체 우리 모두는 무엇을 하고 있는 걸까요? 여러분이 말해 보세요!)"Kierkegaard: “Whereas Christ turned water into wine, the church has succeeded in doing something more different; it has turned wine into water.” Scrawled on the wall of a church in Cambridge: “The church is dead, but Jesus lives” (?1987) Mick Jagger: “I think Jesus Christ was fantastic. But I don’t like the church; it does more harm than good.” [J. I. Packer:] “God wants life in his new society to be a perfect riot of affection, good-will, open-heartedness and friendship. (So what on earth are we all playing at? You tell me!)”

This should be our wake-up call. We must turn to Christ for change. Surely, we as the church should be the only refuge to which people can run out of the world broken by the storms of distrust, discord, and division. A hurricane is a storm with cyclonic winds that exceed 74 m.p.h. Rain, thunder, and lightning usually accompany the winds. Hurricanes can be very fierce storms with relentless pounding winds that continue hour after hour. But a very fascinating thing about a hurricane is its “eye”—a place of perfect calm in its center. Though the winds blow and rage all around it, there are none in the eye. So, with us in the storms of life. With the Lord as our center, there is calm and peace, even in the darkest of life’s storms. The church should seek to keep peace and unity. There should be no place like the church of Christ that enjoys mutual peace, respect, and love. There should be no place like the church that welcomes all kinds of sinners into their midst with warm love in Christ. There should be no place like the church where people can hear the gospel of peace and find rest in Christ. A quarreling Christian, church, or denomination is a denial of all for which the name of Christ stands. He is the Prince of Peace, not the author of strife. If Christians cannot live in peace with each other, who can?

Before the foundation of the world, God planned to save His people through the sacrificial death of His Son Jesus Christ and to form a church of all classes of people saved by grace. After the fall of Adam and Eve, people have followed the way of Satan and this sinful world to be the number one by competition and rivalry. While going to a more prestigious school and fighting one another to go higher up the ladder of the corporate world, they are wearied and exhausted in every possible way, mentally, emotionally, socially, and physically. Amid this broken and wearied world, people constantly look for peace.

They turn to anything, including religions, to find peace of mind and learn to establish relational peace. However, they seem to give up their hope of finding such a thing. Then, they hear the gospel of Christ who can give them peace with God, others, and self. They visit churches with the hope of finding peace. But they soon discover the churches are similar to the world torn apart by politics, ideologies, income disparities, etc. Peace never comes without cost. People don’t realize the folly of greed, hatred, anger, or pride until they see something or someone precious being sacrificed for peace. Remember how many people have shed their precious blood to secure peace and freedom for their countries. Peace is hard to achieve. The two families of Romeo and Juliet were divided by hatred and anger. Romeo and Juliet were not allowed to love each other. But nothing stopped them from loving each other. Even death could separate them. They died to be with each other. Their deaths were too painful for their opposing families to bear. Peace looks impossible to come by in this broken world.

But God sacrificed His Son so that He will make sinners reconciled to Himself. This is the gospel of Christ the Peacemaker. It cost God the life of His Son for the world to have peace with God. When Christ died on the cross, Satan and the world believed that they won victory against God and they could establish their kingdom. But they were defeated by the cross of Christ. Jews sought signs and Greeks sought wisdom. The cross of Christ was a stumbling block to the Jews and a folly to the Greeks. These people praised power over weakness. But the cross of Christ was God’s power and wisdom. Paul describes it this way: ²² 유대인은 표적을 구하고 헬라인은 지혜를 찾으나 ²³ 우리는 십자가에 못 박힌 그리스도를 전하니 유대인에게는 거리끼는 것이요 이방인에게는 미련한 것이로되 ²⁴ 오직 부르심을 입은 자들에게는 유대인이나 헬라인이나 그리스도는 하나님의 능력이요 하나님의 지혜니라. ²² For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:22-24).

The cross of Christ, namely, the death of Christ has the power of God’s love that delivers sinners from the bondage of sin and death. It has the power of God’s love that keeps His people from the curse of hell forever. It has the power of God’s love that truly transforms people. It has the power of God’s love that can bring us into reconciliation with God and each other. Listen to what Paul says here: ¹⁸ 모든 것이 하나님께로 났나니 저가 그리스도로 말미암아 우리를 자기와 화목하게 하시고 또 우리에게 화목하게 하는 직책을 주셨으니 ¹⁹ 이는 하나님께서 그리스도 안에 계시사 세상을 자기와 화목하게 하시며 저희의 죄를 저희에게 돌리지 아니하시고 화목하게 하는 말씀을 우리에게 부탁하셨느니라. ¹⁸ All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-19).

We the church of Christ are the ambassadors for Christ. God makes his appeal to the world through the church. The church represents Christ. The church is a divine institution called to display the love and glory of God to the world by imitating the sacrificial love of Christ on the cross. The church should show the world that love for God and neighbor is the way to peace and reconciliation. By imitating the love of Christ on the cross, the church should heal the broken hearts of people ravaged by anger, hatred, and discrimination. When people visit the church, they should see peace, love, and humility in the church. When they see the church, they should find Christ in the church. God does His great works through the church. God loves the church. God uses the church to show the world His power, wisdom, and love. The church is an embodiment of Christ’s presence in this world. We are the church of Christ. We are to function this way for the glory of God.      

If people don’t see the church being different from the divided world, they will give up hope of peace and reconciliation in the church. Even unbelievers expect the church to be different from the world in their moral behaviors. Again, we are to show forth the peace of Christ to them through the gospel and our unity in Christ. Denying ourselves is essential for us to work together for the unity of the church. We need to show the world the realness of God through our unity. How? The answer is found in Christ and His crucifixion. In particular, it is found in the humility of Christ even unto death. Without practicing the humility of Christ, we can’t reach the unity of Christ. If we fail to show forth the glory of God through our message and our unity in Christ, we are falling into one of the most serious offenses against God.

I have never seen a perfect church. There is no perfect church in this world because we are all sinners. This sobering reality doesn’t preclude us from working together for the unity of the church. Let’s humble ourselves for the unity of the church. Let’s respect others for the unity of the church. Let’s love God and our neighbors in the transforming power of Christ’s love so that God will be glorified.  

Conclusion: Years ago, a large statue of Christ was erected high in the Andes on the border between Argentina and Chile. Called "Christ of the Andes," the statue symbolizes a pledge between the two countries that as long as the statue stands, there will be peace between Chile and Argentina. Shortly after the statue was erected, the Chileans began to protest that they had been slighted -- the statue had its back turned to Chile. Just when tempers were at their highest in Chile, a Chilean newspaperman saved the day. In an editorial that not only satisfied the people but made them laugh, he simply said, "아르헨티나 국민은 칠레 국민보다 (주님의) 더 많은 보살핌이 필요한 것 같습니다." "The people of Argentina need more watching over than the Chileans.” 

As I read this story, one thing came to my mind. The statue was Christ. Both governments and people agreed to erect the statue of Christ in the Andes on the border between Argentina and Chile. Surely, they erected it for the sake of peace. So, they wished for mutual peace. They had good hearts for each other. But all of a sudden, all their good wishes and hearts could have turned into hatred, chaos, or major conflict. The Chileans wanted to see the face of Christ facing their country. Of course, the Argentinians wished the same thing. But the statue can’t face both countries at the same time. This might seem to be a critical issue. At first, the Chileans took it that way and began to protect. Their protestation could have grown worse, depending on how they viewed this issue. What matters here is peace between the two countries, symbolized by the statue of Christ. But forgetting this fact, both countries could have fought each other to have the face of the statue of Christ face their country, based on the assumption that the face of Christ suggests the idea of favor while the back of Christ suggests the idea of disfavor.

The statue is not essential. What matters here is Christ and peace. What do we need to do for the unity of the church? We need to preach the gospel of Christ to all classes of people. In our preaching, we should not make any distinction among people, depending on race, age, culture, or nationality. If we discriminate against people, we are against the nature of the message of Christ. Through the power of His life and death, Christ has brought reconciliation between God and sinners and between one group of sinners and the opposing group of sinners. Christ is Peace. Christ is the Reconciler between God and sinners. Christ is the Peacemaker for us. This is our message. We must call the sinners to be reconciled to God and each other. We should not only do so but also practice the unity of the church for the glory of God. We should be a church where people can flock together to find peace with God and neighbor through the death of Christ. We are to show the world what the blessings of true peace and oneness are through the gospel of peace and our unity. Our unity shows the world God's wisdom, power, and glory. We are so selfish and self-centered that we can’t achieve unity in our power. We need divine enablement and humility which we can find in the death of Christ.     

Let me quote Paul here again for the unity of the church, the mystery of Christ for the church, which is evidence of God’s special and peaceful presence in the church: ³ 아무 일에든지 다툼이나 허영으로 하지 말고 오직 겸손한 마음으로 각각 자기보다 남을 낫게 여기고 ⁴ 각각 자기 일을 돌아볼 뿐더러 또한 각각 다른 사람들의 일을 돌아보아 나의 기쁨을 충만케 하라 ⁵ 너희 안에 이 마음을 품으라 곧 그리스도 예수의 마음이니 ⁶ 그는 근본 하나님의 본체시나 하나님과 동등됨을 취할 것으로 여기지 아니하시고 ⁷ 오히려 자기를 비워 종의 형체를 가져 사람들과 같이 되었고 ⁸ 사람의 모양으로 나타나셨으매 자기를 낮추시고 죽기까지 복종하셨으니 곧 십자가에 죽으심이라. ³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2:3-8). Let’s humbly work together to show the world our peace with God and each other in Christ so that the world may see the glory of God.   

 Benediction: ²⁴ 능히 너희를 보호하사 거침이 없게 하시고 너희로 그 영광 앞에 흠이 없이 즐거움으로 서게 하실자 ²⁵ 곧 우리 구주 홀로 하나이신 하나님께 우리 주 예수 그리스도로 말미암아 영광과 위엄과 권력과 권세가 만고 전부터 이제와 세세에 있을지어다 아멘. ²⁴ Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, ²⁵ to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jud 1:24)