Month: November 2021

30/11/2021

引言

《罗马书》一直让我们思想福音中有关‘因信称义’的真理。今天在这一章保罗其实还是环绕‘因信称义’来讲解福音，但是在今天这一章我特别看到保罗在对着我们讲述这个福音的宝贵性。

一、福音对个人的宝贵性 (V1-11)

1. 得与神和好 (V1)

因为信神的儿子耶稣为我们所成就的救恩，让我们在神面前全然无罪，成为义人，然后与天父相和！这是我们人生命中最重要的关系！

2.进入恩典中（V2a）

因着信耶稣所领受到的恩典：不是靠着行为，不是靠守律法，乃是神白白赐下的救恩！今天我们要来活出美好生命，不再是律法的规定，其实乃是要来回应神给我们的恩典，我们要与我们所蒙的恩相称！

3.得永恒盼望 (V2b-5)

在人生的艰难中有盼望，知道我们在今生的日子必经历神的荣耀，还有末后耶稣再来的那个荣耀。不单有盼望而已，哪怕是在患难中也是欢喜的。因为在人生的艰难中生出忍耐，这份忍耐又生出老练，就是属灵的品格（灵命上的成熟），然后灵命上的成熟又再生出对那个永恒救恩的一份确信和盼望（知道一切患难艰难都是短暂的），所以因着有这份盼望，就最终不至于对人生感到羞耻和失望，因为圣灵会引导我们，让我们深深体会在一切人生艰难当中，天父会一直与我们同行，祂都一直深爱着我们！

每个人都会经历生命的磨练，这是人生必经之路，神要我们长成基督的样式！基督徒也会经历人生的艰难，但是我们有永恒的盼望！

4.领受神的爱 (V6-9)

我们还软弱的时候，就是我们没有办法去靠着行为来确定我们死后能够去到一个安息之所的时候，基督就为我们这些罪人死，就是我们这些非常烂的人，不是那些本来就很有爱心，很无私和配得被拯救的人！
我们也需要神的大光照亮我们，好让我们看见自己的罪性，我们就能更深体会神的爱！

5.生命得救赎（V10）

因为耶稣所成就的救恩，我们不再因着罪而成为神的敌对者，而是能够与神和好。甚至因为耶稣已经胜过了死亡，这里经文再次让我们确定，因他的生我们就能得救。因为耶稣已经复活了，他目前坐在父神的右边，他已经拿到了胜过阴间死亡的钥匙，所以我们可以确信我们有这份神所应许给我们的救恩！

6.以神为喜乐（V11）

不再靠外在的事物，短暂的快乐，乃是以神为乐，是一种从我们里面所发出来的喜乐！

二、福音对人类的宝贵性 (V12-21)

1.基督全然弥补了亚当的过失

死亡是因为亚当一个人犯罪而进入到世界的，而这个罪的权势也一代接一代地传递下去，结果就导致死亡合法地进入到全人类的生命当中！当然那时神还没颁布律法。没有律法，就没有办法去定义人有罪，不过在那个时候，人所行的，其实许多都已经是神眼中看为罪的恶事了。哪怕有的人没有犯下像亚当那样悖逆的罪，也活在了死亡的权势底下。所以神特别差派的祂的爱子耶稣，来作为末后的亚当，去弥补首先的亚当所犯下的一切过失！

亚当的过犯确实是很大，大到全人类都被影响，但是神有一份恩赐，就是一份白白要赏给我们的礼物，是更大的，是到一个程度足能够去推翻过犯所带来死亡的问题的。就是耶稣为我们被钉十字架，祂为我们全人类背负上一切罪和咒诅的这份恩典。

2.众罪的显明显出神恩的浩大

有时我们无法去理解，神的恩典到底有多大。保罗在这里就说，当我们用神的律法一对照我们生命的时候，我们就知道我们是多么软弱的人了。可是我们这些的软弱和过犯，耶稣都要去用祂的宝血来完全地洗净我们，让我们能够成为无罪的义人，来到神的面前！这就是神的恩典有多么地大！很多时候我们无法看到神的恩典有多大，其实就是我们还无法看到我们生命的问题，所以我们就无法对神更多地来感恩了！因为’罪在哪里显多，恩典就更显多了‘！

这就再次地来提醒我们，要继续抓住机会来为主传福音这个最大的好消息！

总结：看见这宝贵的福音，传扬这宝贵的福音

让我们再次地来看到我们所得着的这个福音是何等地宝贵，无论对着个人来说，还是对着全人类！让我们再次看到福音这个好消息，对着全人类的宝贵，我们就要继续抓住机会，传扬福音！

Romans 5: How precious is this Gospel
GK611 Morning Devotion
30/11/2021
Speaker: Intern Pastor Moses Ou + Reverend David Tan

The book of Romans has always made us think about the truth of the gospel concerning ‘justification by faith’. In this chapter today Paul is actually still preaching the gospel around ‘justification by faith’, but in this chapter today I see Paul specifically speaking to us about the preciousness of this gospel.

1. The Preciousness of the Gospel for Individuals (V1-11)

(1) To be reconciled to God (V1)

Because of faith in the salvation accomplished for us by Jesus, the Son of God, we are made completely sinless before God, made righteous, and then reconciled to the Father! This is the most important relationship in our human lives!

(2) Enter into grace (V2a)

The grace received through faith in Jesus: not by works, not by keeping the law, but by God’s freely given salvation! Today we are to come to live a good life, no longer under the law, but in response to the grace God has given us, and we are to be worthy of the grace we have received!

(3) Eternal Hope (V2b-5)

There is hope in the hardships of life, knowing that we will experience the glory of God in this life, and the glory of Jesus’ return at the end. There is not only hope, but also joy even in the midst of suffering. For out of knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance which is spiritual character (spiritual maturity), and then out of this spiritual maturity comes a certainty and hope of eternal salvation (knowing that all tribulations are temporary), so that with this hope we will not be ashamed and disappointed in life in the end, for the Holy Spirit will guide us and make us deeply appreciate that in all the In the midst of all the hardships of life, our Heavenly Father will always be with us, and He will always love us deeply!

Everyone goes through life’s trials and tribulations, and this is the way of life, God wants us to grow into the likeness of Christ! Christians will also go through hardships in life, but we have eternal hope!

(4) Receiving the Love of God (V6-9)

When we were weak, that is, when we had no way to ascertain by works that we would go to a place of rest after death, Christ died for us sinners, us very rotten people, not those who were already loving, selfless and worthy to be saved!
We also need the bright light of God to shine on us so that we can see our sinful nature and we can experience God’s love more deeply!

(5) Salvation of life (V10)

Because of the salvation accomplished by Jesus, we are no longer enemies of God because of our sins, but can be reconciled to God. Even because Jesus has overcome death, the scriptures here again make us sure that by his life we are saved. Because Jesus is risen, and He is currently seated at the right hand of God the Father, He has received the key to victory over death in hell, so we can be sure that we have this salvation that God has promised us!

(6) Rejoice in God (V11)

No longer the fleeting joy of external things, but joy in God, a joy that comes from within us!

2. The Preciousness of the Gospel to Mankind (V12-21)

(1) Christ fully atoned for Adam’s transgressions

Death entered the world because of Adam’s sin alone, and the power of this sin was passed on from generation to generation, resulting in the legal entry of death into the lives of all mankind! Of course, God had not yet given the law. Without the law, there was no way to define man as sinful, but at that time, much of what man did was already considered sinful in the eyes of God. Even if some people did not commit the sin of disobedience like Adam, they were still living under the power of death. Therefore, God sent His beloved Son, Jesus, as the last Adam, to make up for all the sins of the first Adam!

Adam’s transgression was indeed great, so great that all mankind was affected, but God has a gift that is freely given to us, a gift that is greater, to the extent that it can overturn the problem of death brought about by transgression. It is the grace that Jesus was crucified for us and that He bore all the sins and curses for all humankind.

(2) The magnitude of God’s grace is evident in the manifestation of all sins

Sometimes we cannot begin to understand how great the grace of God really is. Paul says here that when we compare our lives with the law of God, we know how weak we are. But all these weaknesses and transgressions of ours, Jesus is going to go and completely cleanse us with His blood so that we can become sinless and righteous and come into the presence of God! That is how great the grace of God is! Many times we are unable to see the greatness of God’s grace because we are unable to see the problems in our lives, so we are unable to be more thankful to God! For ‘where sin abounds, grace abounds’!

This reminds us once again to continue to seize the opportunity to preach the gospel which is the greatest good news of all for the Lord!

Conclusion: See and preach this precious gospel

Let us see once again how precious the gospel is to us, both to individuals and to all mankind! Let us see once again how precious the good news of the Gospel is to all mankind, and let us continue to seize the opportunity to preach it!

26/11/2021

引言 :千古伟人的牵连！

我们今天所读的圣经是两千年前的著作；所说的亚伯拉罕更是距离我们四千多年前的人物，但是这位伟大的人物却是和我们息息相关，因为是我们的信心之父。是因信称义的鼻祖，又是我们的父，所以我称之为【我们的“义父”！】

一、信神的就算为义（V1-5）

亚伯拉罕【信神】是指信神什么？
信有神、信神所说的应许、信神叫他离开故乡，往应许之地，他毫无质疑、没有多问就离开了自己熟悉的故乡。亚伯拉罕信神和他立约就必守约。信神让他的后裔要成为大国，子孙要多如繁星或海沙。他都完全相信！所以神称他为义。这【义】是指公义、正直。神是公义与正直的神，因为亚伯拉罕信神所说的，他也就被神称为公义正直的人。这里的【义】和我们一般所理解的罪人因为信主而成为无罪的义人的【义】是有点分别的。

上一章说到世人都犯了罪，没有义人，连一个也没有。所以亚伯拉罕也是罪人之一，但是亚伯拉罕犯的是什么罪呢？圣经没说，也许就是亚当后裔的这种全人类的罪。但是当他信神所说的一切，神就称他为义，这里基本上还没有牵涉到蒙耶稣代死赎罪的恩典。也没有关系到神的律法诫命，亚伯拉罕是否遵守诫命？因为律法是在亚伯拉罕死后六百多年才颁布，所以在亚伯拉罕的年代并不存在行不行律法的问题。

意思说，当神称你为义你就是无罪的义人，关键在于【神说话，人相信】！信神就是称义。对我们而言，我们也是因为信神而算为义！不单是信神的应许，我们还加上信耶稣为我们的罪代赎，我们的因信称义是比亚伯拉罕的信更丰富了。

二、我们也因信得福（V6-12）

这里所说的【福】也正是大卫在诗篇32篇所说的福，从罪的咒诅到蒙赦罪的自由是一种极大的祝福。谁能得到这种福福？

受割礼与未受割礼是指犹太人和外邦人，福音这一个好消息是给这两种人。
信神的结果就成为蒙赦罪的义人；后来行割礼是成为一个义人的记号。正如信耶稣得以称义，成为蒙恩典儿女，在基督里的新人、义人，后来在接受洗礼作为神儿女身份的记号。

我们就是第11节所说的未受割礼而信的人，亚伯拉罕这位义人也成为了我们的父。我们可以称亚伯拉罕未“义父”吧！和等尊贵荣耀不是吗？这是蒙福的祖先，我们是蒙恩之子。

因此，我们要把福音传给神所创造和深爱的世人，所有人。（分享昨天李师母传福音的见证）

三、义父后裔的托付（V13-22）

1.承受这个世界的（V13）
κόσμος 这个希腊文被翻译成【世界】，原文的意思是指整个世界、宇宙、世人；意思说，属神的义人是神所预备要来承接原本就托付给亚当对大地的管理、治理、统治权。我们如今在我们的家庭治理，让家庭成为荣耀基督的好好家庭。在职场治理，让职场成为蒙福胜万民的荣耀见证。在社会、在校园、在各行各业都成为作首不作尾的生命领袖。

将来更是要与基督一同作王，统治一切。

2.亚伯拉罕的后裔（V13-18）

谁是亚伯拉罕的后裔？包括犹太人与外邦基督徒，受割礼的和未受割礼的，在律法之下的和在基督恩典之下的人。我们今天正是因为相信而成为蒙应许的后裔，我们正是圣经所说的人。

3.坚定不死的信心（V19-22）

亚伯拉罕夫妇将近百岁，两人的生理生育功能已经消失了。对撒拉来说应该是更清楚，月经已经停止多年，绝对没有了任何生育能力。所以圣经形容身体这部分的功能已经死了，但是亚伯拉罕的信心却是活的。因此他信神所说的，事情果然就按照神所应许的都成就了。

总结：我们也得了神国的应许（V23-25）

神给亚伯拉罕的应许是得国；今天神给我们的应许得神国。亚伯拉罕因信算为义，我们也因信算为义。我们信复活的主，我们信将来要复活得永恒的国。哈利路亚！

Romans 4: Our “Righteous Father”
GK611 Morning Devotion
26/11/2021
Speaker: Pastor Moses Li + Reverend David Tan

Introduction: The connection of a great man of the ages!

The Bible we are reading today was written 2,000 years ago; the Abraham we are talking about was written more than 4,000 years ago, but this great man is closely related to us because he is the father of faith. He is the originator of righteousness by faith, and he is our father, so I call him [our “righteous father”!

1. The Faith in God is Counted As Righteousness (V1-5)

What does Abraham’s [faith in God] mean by having faith in God?
Believing God, believing God’s promises, believing God’s call for him to leave his hometown and go to the promised land, he left his familiar hometown without question or inquiry. Abraham believed that God had made a covenant with Him and would keep it. He believed that God would make his descendants a great nation, and that they would be as numerous as the stars or the sand of the sea. He believed in all of them! So God called him righteous. This [righteousness] means righteousness and uprightness. God is a God of righteousness and uprightness, and because Abraham believed what God said, he was also called by God a righteous and upright man. The [righteousness] here is somewhat different from the [righteousness] that we generally understand of a sinner who becomes sinless and righteous because of his faith in the Lord.

The previous chapter talked about how all the world has sinned and there is no righteous man, not even one. So Abraham was one of the sinners, but what was the sin that Abraham committed? The Bible doesn’t say, maybe it was this sin of all mankind of the descendants of Adam. But when he believed everything God said, God justified him, and there is basically no grace involved here yet in the redemption of Jesus for sin. Nor does it have to do with the commandments of God’s law, and did Abraham keep them? Because the law was promulgate more than 600 years after Abraham’s death, there was no question of whether the law was kept or not in Abraham’s day.

It means that when God justifies you as righteous, you are sinless and righteous, the key is [God speaks and man believes]! To believe in God is to be justified. For us, we are also counted as righteous because we believe in God! Not only do we believe in God’s promises, but we also believe in Jesus’ atonement for our sins, and our justification by faith is richer than Abraham’s faith.

2. We are Also Blessed by Faith (V6-12)

The [blessing] mentioned here is also the same blessing that David spoke of in Psalm 32. It is a great blessing to go from the curse of sin to the freedom of forgiveness of sins. Who can receive this blessing?

Circumcision and uncircumcision refer to Jews and Gentiles, to both of whom the good news of the gospel is given.
Belief in God results in becoming righteous for the forgiveness of sins; later circumcision is a sign of becoming a righteous person. Just as faith in Jesus leads to justification, becoming a child of grace, a new man in Christ, a righteous man, and later in baptism as a sign of the identity of God’s children.

We are the uncircumcised believers mentioned in verse 11, and Abraham, the righteous man, has become our Father. We can call Abraham our “righteous father”, right? Isn’t it so honorable and glorious? This is the blessed ancestor, and we are the sons of grace.

Therefore, we are to preach the gospel to all the people God created and loves so much. (Share the testimony of Li Shimu’s evangelism yesterday)

3. The Commissioning of the Descendants of the Righteous Father (V13-22)

(1) Bear This World (V13)

κόσμος This Greek word is translated as [world], which in the original means the whole world, the universe, all people in the world; meaning that the righteous man of God is prepared by God to come and take over the management, governance, and dominion over the earth that was originally entrusted to Adam. We rule in our families today, so that they may be good families that glorify Christ. We rule in the workplace, so that the workplace may become a glorious witness of blessed victory over the nations. To be leaders of life in society, on campus, and in all walks of life.
In the future, we will even reign with Christ over everything.

(2) The Descendants of Abraham (V13-18)

Who are the descendants of Abraham? Both Jews and Gentile Christians, the circumcised and the uncircumcised, those under the law and those under the grace of Christ. It is by believing that we are the descendants with promise today, that we are exactly who the Bible says we are.

(3) Steadfast Faith That Will Not Die (V19-22)

Abraham and Sarah were nearly 100 years old and the physical fertility of both of them had disappeared. For Sarah it should have been even clearer that menstruation had stopped for many years and there was absolutely no fertility left. So the Bible describes the function of this part of the body as dead, but Abraham’s faith was alive. So he believed what God had said, and things did come to pass as God had promised.

Conclusion: We Also Have The Promise of the Kingdom of God (V23-25)

God’s promise to Abraham was to gain the kingdom; today God’s promise to us is to gain the kingdom of God. As Abraham was counted righteous by faith, so we are counted righteous by faith. We believe in the risen Lord, and we believe in the future resurrection to the eternal kingdom. Hallelujah!

25/11/2021

引言 :

我们知道说罗马书是使徒保罗让德丢代笔写给罗马教会的信。使徒保罗在前两章先后提到外邦信徒公然犯的罪和犹太信徒‘暗地里’所犯的罪；就是昨天说到的，犹太人虽领受了律法，又教导别人，可是自己却没有遵守。还有他们虽肉身割礼，可是心却没有割礼。因此，使徒保罗指出这些犹太信徒引以为傲的外在仪文和表现，到了审判之日都不被神接受。使徒保罗这样的说法，在当时引起了一向都认为自己是神特别的选民，高高在上的犹太信徒一些议论或反对，所以接下来这章一开始，使徒保罗就以一问一答的方式来纠正犹太人对神、对称义的误解。主题：唯独因信称义

一、人虚谎神仍真实（V1-8）

1. 认真对待神的圣言（V1-4）

1这样说来，犹太人有什么长处？割礼有什么益处呢？2凡事大有好处：第一是神的圣言交托他们。3即便有不信的，这有何妨呢？难道他们的不信就废掉神的信？4断乎不能！不如说，神是真实的，人都是虚谎的。如经上所记：你责备人的时候，显为公义；被人议论的时候，可以得胜。

经文一开始就提到，如果真像使徒保罗在2:28所说的，犹太人在肉身割礼，但却没有遵行律法，那这割礼也不算真割礼。那犹太人作为上帝的选民又有什么优越之处？割礼又可以得到什么益处呢？

保罗表示犹太人作为神的选民来说有很多优点、超越之处，其中最重要的是，神出于信任，把祂的话语（旧约圣经）首先托付了给他们。也就是说他们是第一个拥有特权明白神的心意、神对人的计划的选民。但很可惜，我们看到犹太人并没有珍惜这个特权，也没有谦卑的来信靠神、明白神的心意，更没有忠心的把神的托付教导人，反而以这些外在的仪文而自夸。

弟兄姐妹，身为基督徒的我们，从神那里也承受了许多属灵的特权，但这些特权不仅是给我们的享受，也是我们的责任，须要我们用来为神活。牧师常说“谁先懂真理，谁就先活出来”。的确，神把祂对儿女的心意透过圣经、透过圣灵启示给我们，我们就有责任活出神的心意。不但如此，托付带来责任，神即把真理托付给我们这些属祂的孩子，我们受托付的就该负起责任，多花工夫在神的话语上；要叫我们能去与人分享真理，去转化许多错误的价值观、趣向、道德伦理。并让许多人也能明白神的旨意和对他们生命所有的计划。

2. 神的义不受人左右（V5-8）

接着使徒保罗也带出犹太信徒对神的不信和不忠，断乎不能使神改变自己的立场或废掉自己的真实。祂坚守自己与选民所立的约，不废掉祂当初所说的话和应许。这就是神信实的属性。我们看到自从神与亚伯拉罕立约以来，人的虚谎，背叛了神多少次？犯了多少惹神愤怒的罪恶？被神审判了多少次？直到今天神依然没有撇下以色列百姓。这就是我们的神！

我们人跟神真的很不一样，人很多时候都会因对方的反应改变自己的做法。你做初一、我就做十五。你既然这样说。。。ok咯，我就不再管了。。。但是，神对我们的期待却是希望我们和祂一样的做个有信用的人。

接着V5-8， 犹太人竟然虚谎到有这样惊人的论点，就是认为如果他们犯罪，能使神的恩典彰显出来，他们罪恶的生活是为了带出神的良善，能帮助人明白神的恩典和怜悯，那为什还算他们有罪呢？人竟然可以恶到这样说服自己犯罪是为了帮助神显出祂的义，当被审判时还硬说是神不公义。所以使徒保罗说这些人被定罪被神审判是应当的。

二、守律法不能称义（V9-20）

1.没有一个义人（V9-10）

9 这却怎么样呢？我们比他们强么？决不是的！因我们已经证明，犹太人和希利尼人都在罪恶之下。10就如经上所记：没有义人，连一个也没有。
使徒保罗接着就带出不管是犹太人或是外邦人，都一样是活在罪恶之下，全世界没有一个义人。怎样证明呢？保罗接着引用了诗篇和以赛亚书神对人类的透视分析，揭开全人类的不义的其中3个层面：

（A） 行为（V11-12）

11没有明白的；没有寻求神的；12都是偏离正路，一同变为无用。没有行善的，连一个也没有。

堕落的人在行为上凭己意是永远无法明白和寻求神的。人类的无知，叛离神、反复无常，毫不善良等都显出了人的不义。其实我们没有一个人能符合神的标准。如果我们跟邻居比，以极端分子、暴徒来衡量自己，就会觉得自己是好人。很多人以为善待老人家、流浪狗、猫，就是好基督徒。做这些都是好事，应该做的。但当我们越靠近神时，用神和耶稣来衡量自己的话，就会越发看清自己的真面目，是何等的败坏。人性本恶，要不是神的怜悯和介入，我们的下场将会很惨，更别想说自己是个义人。

（B） 言语（V13-14）

13他们的喉咙是敞开的坟墓；他们用舌头弄诡诈，嘴唇里有虺蛇的毒气，14满口是咒骂苦毒。

人第二样最严重而且常常犯的罪就是口中的话。他们的喉咙是敞开的坟墓，指出人用嘴唇所犯的罪，不但可以引自己走向死亡，恶毒与诡诈的舌头也能危害他人。

上个月我就读到这样的新闻。有位网红因为患了忧郁症，在做节目的时候告诉观众她很想死，还说她手里拿着的是毒药。当下有些人就劝她，但大部分的人就认为她是在开玩笑，或想要提高收视率。所以就用激将法，怂恿她喝下去。结果她就真的喝下去，就这样死了。这是多么可悲的事。

我们的嘴唇上有毒药，话语的杀伤力最大。而且是杀人不见血。圣灵的恩赐大都和话语有关。魔鬼也知道，所以也会使用人说的话语。口才很好的人更要特别小心。

还有，耶稣在太12:36也提醒我们将来都要为自己口中说出来的闲话受审判。闲话就是脱口而出随意说的话，不是发自内心的真心话。

已故大卫鲍森牧师的一位英国航空财务总长的会友，休闲会去当童子军团长。他开始来到教会的时候，大卫牧师就发现，唱诗歌时，他从来不开口唱。有一天问他，他回答：“因为不真心，所以不唱”。弟兄姐妹，今天透过这段经文，我们也检视自己，每次敬拜时，我们是否口唱心和。还有我们是否很常没听清楚牧师祷告什么，就随意的阿们？

雅各书告诉我们，人若在话语上没有过失就是完全人，求神帮助我们，说话前问自己3个问题：这话厚道吗？是实话吗？有必要说吗？让我们都竭力的谨守口出恩言真理。

（C） 双脚（V15-18）

15杀人流血，他们的脚飞跑，16所经过的路便行残害暴虐的事。17平安的路，他们未曾知道；18他们眼中不怕神。

我们也用脚犯罪。我们的脚会带我们去我们想去的地方。圣经说，传福音的人，脚踪何等佳美。脚可以带你到处去为神作见证，但魔鬼和会带你去不该去的地方。赌场、夜店、红灯区、逛街挥霍等。

总的来说，就是没有人敬畏神。就连许多的教会也逐渐找不到对神的敬畏。我们唯有真正了解罪、公义和审判，才会懂得敬畏神。今天有许多教会会偏向强调神的爱和恩典，而忽略了神也是公义和施行审判的主，“一旦得救永远得救”的信息，也确实使许多基督徒失去了对神当有的敬畏。

2.律法使人知罪（V19-20）

19我们晓得律法上的话都是对律法以下之人说的，好塞住各人的口，叫普世的人都伏在神审判之下。20所以凡有血气的，没有一个因行律法能在神面前称义，因为律法本是叫人知罪。

神将律法赐给以色列人，是以他们作为人类的代表。并且律法上的话都是对律法以下的人说的，就是以色列人，也包挂今天我们这些基督徒。律法是让我们知道有一天我们要向神交账。除非十诫我们全都守住了，不然没有可夸的。但我们都知道，没有人能守住所有的律法，神也知道。因此神给人律法的目的是为了要让人知罪，当人用律法来作自我审查时，就会发现自己是何等走歪了路，离神的荣耀有多遥远。人并不能靠守律法称义。就好像温度计是使人知道自己生病发烧了，但温度计却不是让我们吞下，来得医治和使我们痊愈的。

律法给人的感觉是‘约束’。这也是为什么当我们传福音给人，有时候他们会说，作基督徒很没有自由，不可以这个，不可以那样。但是我们真的是要感谢神，给人这样所谓的‘约束’。因为这是预先让我们知道进入永恒国度和作神子民的条件。是我们脱离灭亡的要诀。所以弟兄姐妹，我们也要感谢神，有父母、权柄、国家、来约束我们。因为人性本恶，当神挪走祂的约束时，我们就糟糕了，因为都会偏行己路。

三、唯独信耶稣称义（V21-31）

1. 称义根基是耶稣（V21-26)

21但如今，神的义在律法以外已经显明出来，有律法和先知为证：22就是神的义，因信耶稣基督加给一切相信的人，并没有分别。23因为世人都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀；24如今却蒙神的恩典，因基督耶稣的救赎，就白白的称义。25神设立耶稣作挽回祭，是凭着耶稣的血，藉着人的信，要显明神的义；因为他用忍耐的心宽容人先时所犯的罪，26好在今时显明他的义，使人知道他自己为义，也称信耶稣的人为义。

这段经文是整本罗马书的中心思想，也是整个基督教信仰的核心。无论是犹太人或外邦人，在本性上是罪人，在行为上也是罪人。因此，保罗说，世人都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀。罪人无法救罪人，无法称义，唯独透过相信基督十字架的福音，才能得救称义。

因为主耶稣基督的死和复活，为我们代付了所有的罪债。当罪人凭信心接受基督时，就能白白的领受赦罪，而且神还把祂自己的义给我们披戴上，并宣告我们是义人了！从此以后祂都是透过羔羊所献上的来看待我们。

繁体字的‘義’清楚的带出了这观点：
上面一个羔羊，下面一个我，表示羔羊遮盖下的我才能称义

就像牧师所说的，真的有神的带领。在看罗马书的同时，很多弟兄姐妹也在上福音103的装备课程。所以，我们知道神对失丧灵魂的心意。昨天的课程，让我们更明白什么是福音，也学到更多传福音的技巧。求神大大的使用我们，把这全人类都需要，并且只要愿意信，就可以白白得着的好消息传给所有人。

2. 立功之法没可夸（V27-31)

27既是这样，那里能夸口呢？没有可夸的了。用何法没有的呢？是用立功之法？不是，乃用信主之法。28所以（有古卷：因为）我们看定了：人称义是因着信，不在乎遵行律法。29难道神只作犹太人的神？不也是作外邦人的神？是的，也作外邦人的神。30神既是一位，他就要因信称那受割礼的为义，也要因信称那未受割礼的为义。31这样，我们因信废了律法？断乎不是！更是坚固律法。

使徒保罗再次强调，既然称义是白白信靠基督的救恩而来，人就不能靠立功之法来夸口。世上有许多教导要人以行善积功德来得救。但却没有人能肯定的告诉人，到底积了多少件的功德，就能达到进入极乐世界的要求？人为自己得救赎所能付出的，就只有自己需要被救赎的罪。所以耶稣基督很肯定的告诉人，人所做的都不能使人得救，唯独单纯的来信靠祂，才能使人得救称义。

此外，人也很自然的常常透过做这做那来证明自己的价值、讨好别人、甚至为了得人的欣赏，就像犹太人守律法那样。其实这些都是想要自夸的心态，但在神眼中都没有价值。在服事神的圈子里，我们也常听见说服事神到‘burn-out’感到到疲累，失去喜乐的现象。

有人可能会问，那是不是什么都不做呢？就像犹太人在V31问的一样，那我们因信废了律法吗？断乎不是！相反的，信使我们更是坚固律法。因为因信称义彰显了神毫无条件的爱。人因着领受了神的爱，依靠神所赐的爱和更新的生命，就有能力去爱神和爱人如己。因着爱人，不会杀人、因为爱人，不会作假见证陷害人，因着爱人，不会贪恋别人所有的。所以唯有当我们因信称义后才能靠主坚固律法。同样的若我们因为爱而靠主去服事时，就不会burn-out。而是得着喜乐和满足。

总结：

若我们用神的尺来量自己，就会看到人真的很软弱和败坏。若不是怜悯慈爱的神，我们没有一个人能靠自己站立得住。没有能够靠善行来得着救恩。唯独因信靠耶稣才能称义。有这位如此爱我们的神，作为祂儿女，我们要因信不断让神更新我们的生命，在我们的行为、口舌、行动上都要圣洁称义，使我们的生命能散发出基督的香气，并且去影响许多人来认识基督，这也就是成全了律法的要求。

Romans 3: Justification By Faith Alone

GK611 Morning Devotion

25/11/2021

Speaker: Pastor Deborah + Reverend David Tan

Introduction:

We know that the book of Romans is the letter that the apostle Paul had Thaddeus write for him to the church in Rome. In the first two chapters, the apostle Paul mentions the sins of the Gentile believers, which were openly committed, and the sins of the Jewish believers, which were committed ‘in secret’; that is, the Jews, who received the law and taught it to others, but did not keep it themselves, as mentioned yesterday. And they were circumcised in the flesh, but not in the heart. Therefore, the apostle Paul pointed out that the outward ceremonies and manifestations of these Jewish believers, of which they were proud, will not be accepted by God on the day of judgment. This statement of the apostle Paul caused some arguments or objections among the Jewish believers, who had always considered themselves to be God’s special chosen people and superior. Therefore, at the beginning of the next chapter, the apostle Paul begins with a question and answer to correct the misunderstandings of the Jews about God and about righteousness. Theme: Justification by faith alone.

1.Man is lying and God is still true (V1-8)

(1) Taking Oracles of God Seriously (V1-4)

What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written:
“That You may be justified in Your words,
And may overcome when You are judged.”

The Scripture begins by saying that if it is true, as the Apostle Paul says in 2:28, that the Jews were circumcised in the flesh, but did not keep the law, then this circumcision would not be considered true circumcision. What then is the superiority of the Jews as God’s chosen people? What benefit does circumcision provide?

Paul stated that the Jews had many advantages and advantages over God’s chosen people, the most important of which was that God entrusted His word (the Old Testament) to them first, out of trust. This means that they were the first elect who had the privilege to understand the mind of God, His plan for man.

Brothers and sisters, as Christians, we have also received many spiritual privileges from God, but these privileges are not only for our enjoyment, but also our responsibility, which we must use to live for God. Reverend often say, “Whoever knows the truth first will live it first. Indeed, God has revealed to us His heart for His children through the Bible and through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, and it is our responsibility to live out His heart. Not only that, God has entrusted us with the truth, we should take the responsibility to spend more time on God’s Word; and to share the truth with others, to change many wrong values, interests, morals and ethics. Let many people understand the will of God and His plan for their lives.

(2) The righteousness of God is not swayed by man (V5-8)

Then the apostle Paul also brings out that the unbelief and unfaithfulness of the Jewish believers to God could never cause God to change His position or to nullify His truth. He holds fast to the covenant He made with the chosen ones, and does not annul His words and promises that He spoke in the beginning. This is faithfulness, God’s attribute. We have seen how many times man has betrayed God by his lies since God made the covenant with Abraham. How many times have they committed sins that provoked God’s wrath? How many times have they been judged by God? To this day God has not forsaken the people of Israel. This is our God!

We humans are really different from God, and people often change their ways depending on the other person’s reaction. If you treat in a bad way, I will return back in the same way. If you say so…. OK, I’ll leave it alone. However, God’s expectation of us is that we will be trustworthy people like Him.

Then in V5-8, the Jews lied that they thought that if their sins brought out the goodness of God and helped people to understand His grace and mercy, then why were they still considered guilty? When they were judged, they insisted that it was because of God’s unrighteousness. That is why the apostle Paul said that these people deserved to be condemned and judged by God.

2. Keeping the law cannot call righteous (V9-20)

(1) There is not a righteous Man

9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
10 As it is written:
“There is none righteous, no, not one;

The apostle Paul then brings out that both Jews and Gentiles are equally living under sin, and there is no righteous person in the whole world. How can this be proved? Paul goes on to quote the Psalms and Isaiah’s divine perspective on mankind, revealing three of the dimensions of the unrighteousness of all mankind.

(A) Action (V11-12)

There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.

Man’s ignorance, rebellion against God, capriciousness, and lack of goodness reveal man’s unrighteousness. In fact, none of us can meet God’s standard. If we compare ourselves with our neighbors and measure ourselves against extremists and thugs, we will think we are good people. Many people think that being kind to the elderly, stray dogs, and cats is being a good Christian. Doing all these is good and should be done. But as we get closer to God and measure our words by God and Jesus, the more we will see our true nature and how corrupt we are. Human nature is evil, and if it were not for God’s mercy and intervention, we would end up miserable, not to mention claiming to be a righteous person.

(B) Words (V13-14)

“Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
“Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”

The second most serious and frequent sin of men is the words of their mouths. “Their throat is an open tomb;, pointing out that the sins that men commit with their lips can lead them not only to death, but that a wicked and deceitful tongue can also harm others.

I read about this last month. A netizen, who was suffering from depression, told the audience during her show that she wanted to die very badly, and said that she was holding poison in her hand. Some people advised her in the moment, but most of them just thought she was joking or wanted to boost ratings. So they used a provocative method and encouraged her to drink it. As a result, she actually drank it and died just like that. How sad it is.
We have poison on our lips, words that kill the most. And it kills without blood. Most of the gifts of the Holy Spirit have to do with the word. The devil also knows that, so he will also use the words that people speak. Those who are very eloquent should be especially careful.

Also, Jesus reminded us in Mt 12:36 that we will all be judged in the future for the idle words that come out of our mouths. A gossip is something that comes out of the blue, not from the heart.

A member of the late Pastor David Pawson’s is a British Airways Treasurer, went on to become a scout during his leisure time. When he started coming to church, Pastor David noticed that when singing the hymns, he never opened his mouth to sing. When he asked him one day, he replied, “Because I don’t mean it, I don’t sing it.” Brothers and sisters, today, through this passage, we also examine ourselves, whether we sing with our mouths and hearts in every worship service. And are we often not listening to what the pastor is praying, and just randomly amen?

James tells us that a man is perfect if he has no faults in his words. Ask God to help us to ask ourselves 3 questions before we speak: Are these words fair? Is it the truth? Is it necessary to say it? Let us all do our best to keep the truth of our words.

(C) Both Feet (V15-18)

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

The Bible says how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel. Feet can take you everywhere to witness for God, but the devil and will take you to places you shouldn’t go. Casinos, nightclubs, red light districts, shopping and squandering, etc.

In a nutshell, there is no one to fear God. Even many churches are gradually failing to find the fear of God. Many churches today tend to emphasize God’s love and grace, while neglecting the fact that God is also a righteous and the Lord who performs judgement, and that the message of “once saved always” has indeed caused many Christians to lose the fear of God. But when we truly understand sin, righteousness, and judgment, we know that God is honorable and fearful.

(2)The law makes sin known (V19-20)

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become [e]guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

God gave the law to the Israelites as a representative of humanity. This same law is given to us Christians today. The law is to let us know that one day we will have to answer to God. The apostle Paul said that unless we keep all the Ten Commandments, we have nothing to boast about. But we all know that no one can keep all of the law, and God knows it. The purpose of God’s law is to make man aware of his sins, and when he uses the law for self-examination, he will find out how far he has gone astray. It is like a thermometer to let people know they are sick and have a fever, but the thermometer is not for us to swallow to heal and be healed.

The law gives the impression of ‘restraint’. That’s why when we preach the gospel to people, sometimes they say, “There is no freedom to be a Christian, you can’t do this, you can’t do that. But we really have to thank God for giving people this so-called ‘restraint’. For this is the key to keep us from perishing by letting us know in advance the conditions for entering the eternal kingdom and being God’s people. Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us also thank God that we have parents, authorities, nations, to restrain us. For human nature is evil, and when God removes His restraint, we are in a bad way, for we will all go our own way.

3. Justification by faith in Jesus alone

(1) The foundation of justification is Jesus (V21-26)

21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a [h]propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

This passage is the central idea of the entire book of Romans, and the core of the entire Christian faith. Both Jews and Gentiles are sinners by nature, and sinners in their behavior. Therefore, Paul says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Sinners cannot save sinners and be justified, but only through faith in the gospel of the cross of Christ can they be saved and justified.

For the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ paid all the debt of sin for us. When sinners receive Christ by faith, they receive the forgiveness of sins freely, and God puts on His own righteousness and declares us to be righteous! From now on He sees us through the sacrifice of the Lamb.

The traditional Chinese word for ‘righteousness’ clearly brings out this point.
A lamb above and an I underneath, indicating that it is the I under the Lamb’s covering that is justified.

As the pastor said, there really is God’s leading. While reading Romans, many brothers and sisters are taking the equipping course of Gospel 103. So, we know God’s heart for lost souls. Yesterday’s class helped us understand more what the gospel is and learn more evangelistic skills. Pray that God would use us greatly to spread the good news that all mankind needs and can freely receive if they are willing to believe.

(2) The method of establishing merit can not be boasted (V27-31)

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is [i]justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. 29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

Justification comes freely by believing in salvation of Christ, so that no man can boast by the law of merit. There are many teachings in the world that people should accumulate merits by doing good works to be saved. But no one can tell with certainty how many pieces of merit one can accumulate to achieve the requirements for entering the world of bliss. The only thing a man can give for his own salvation is the sin he needs to be saved from. Therefore, Jesus Christ tells man with certainty that he can only be saved and justified by simply coming to trust in Him.

Moreover, it is natural for people to do this and that to prove their worth, to please others, and even to be appreciated, as the Jews did in keeping the law. In fact, these are all attempts at self-boasting. In the circle of God’s service, we often hear of people who are tired of serving God until they are ‘burn-out’ and lose their joy.

Some may ask, “Is that not doing nothing? As the Jews asked in V31, do we abolish the law by faith? Definitely not! On the contrary, faith strengthens us even more in the law. For justification by faith reveals the unconditional love of God. By receiving the love of God, and relying on the love and renewed life of God, man has the ability to love God and love his neighbor as himself. Because of love, man does not kill, because of love, man does not bear false witness against others, and because of love, man does not covet what others have. Therefore, only when we are justified by faith can we strengthen the law by the love of the Lord. Likewise if we serve by the Lord out of love, we will not burn-out, but will have joy and satisfaction.

Conclusion:

If we measure ourselves with God’s ruler, we will see that man is really weak and corrupt. There is no salvation that can come by good works. Only through faith in Jesus can we be justified. With this God who loves us so much, we, as His children, must let God renew our lives by faith, and be holy and righteous in our behaviours, speech, and actions, so that our lives may release the fragrance of Christ and influence many to come to know Christ, which is the fulfillment of the law.

24/11/2021

引言 :【论断】这字在整本圣经共出现24次！

马太福音 7:1 “你们不要论断人，免得你们被论断。
7:2 因为你们怎样论断人，也必怎样被论断；你们用什么量器量给人，也必用什么量器量给你们。
除了在福音书耶稣说过6次之外，保罗则在不同的书信中引用这字多达14次。雅各书提到4次。但基本上都是同一个概念，论断是不好的，神不要我们这样做。因为只有神才是那位真正可以执行判断者。

一、真理的判断（V1-6）

1.人的论断难免神的判断（v1-3）

什么是论断？原文κρίνω 的意思可以翻译成批评、挑剔、谴责、宣判、裁决、判罪等。
人为什么会论断他人？
很常我们是居于对方和自己的理解很对立，而自己又觉得自己是站在真理的角度，所以就开始论断对方。

第二节说到神以真理作【审判】κρίμα，这字的原文和【论断】κρίνω也是同一个字根，也可以翻译成【判断】。【论断与判断】，而这两个字在英文中更是同样被翻成Judgment；很显然，当不同的身份者使用这字的时候，意义截然不同。论断是居于个人有限的知识，去断定他人的状态。而且在掌握一些吻合的证明下，就下了百分百的定论，一心判定对方就是这么坏！这就是一种论断。论断中带有给对方定罪，指责对方的不是，给予否定式的评价。能够被论断的人固然是问题者，但是在神眼中论断人的人也是一样有问题，而且是相等。

但是神是全能全知的神，祂的【判断】或【审判】就绝对准确，因为祂完全知道人的真相。无论是看得见的、看不见的、还没有行出来的，只是心中的意念，神都知道。甚至可以说连将来要发生的事情，神都全然知道。因此，神作审判官来判断人的是非对错，自然有着绝对的标准。但是人呢？当然是相反的，人的论断很常就是分别善恶树的果子，是神所厌恶的。例如耶稣指责假冒为善的法利赛人，是一种判断而非论断。但是，当罪人批评主的时候，那就是论断而非判断！

当一位属灵长辈，本着爱心而指正犯错的后辈的时候，那是否就是【判断】而非【论断】呢？这一点值得我们留心。做长辈的不要倚老卖老，自以为这是像主一样在责备犯罪的人。但是作为晚辈的也可以学习听取长辈的指正，要看为是被【判断】，而非被【论断】，这才是生命树的生命。

2.神的恩慈为了领人诲改（v4-6）

神有无限的恩典与恩慈，人是悔改还是不悔改？人心若是刚硬不悔改，只好等待神的公义行审判，遭受各样对等的刑法。刑法不是因为神没有恩典，事实上正好相反，就是因为神有慈爱和恩典，所以才以管教、灾难、疾病、痛苦等事情来对待人。神是在给人机会、等人悔改，而不是直接要了罪人的命。

你有什么“陈年老罪”，还没有悔改的吗？神今天仍然在等候你悔改！你愿意吗？神是按我们所行的来断定和回应我们，你想得到什么呢？就在乎我们怎么对神和对人？能够快速谦卑悔改的人，越快速蒙神提升。

二、谁能得永生（V7-11）
这是神的判断！

1.恒心行善的人（v7）

人常有偶尔的善行，这事很好。但是这还不是神想要的，神要人恒心行善，就是成为人生命的一种自己自发的生命。是人的being，而不是doing，不是人做了什么，而是身体灵魂都自然活出属神爱的榜样。

好人才能行好事？行好事的才是好人？到底何者为先？
信主靠主的人才能成为好人，好人还要加上有【恒心】行善，寻求荣耀、尊贵和不能朽坏之福，才神得神赏赐永生的人。

2.顺从真理的人（v8-11）

患难与荣耀、困苦或平安？这是人的最怕和最盼！人怕受苦，人盼望平安和荣耀。但是两者的表现是相对的，背弃真理或听从真理，这就是两种显而易见的生命。你是哪一种生命呢？

有人蒙祝福，得着丰盛的生命；也有人受困苦，经历缺乏的人生，其实神都可以在其中行驶神迹。一切都在乎人以什么态度回应神？

三、神如何审判（V12-15）

有法才有罪！知法犯法罪加一等。神给人律法，神就让人按着祂的标准成为蒙福胜万民之人；但是人背弃了神的准则，人就只好面对审判。但是，对于那些还不认识主，或者不知道有神的诫命的人，原来神早已把是非之心，所谓良心的本能已经放置在人里面。当人做某件事情有内心的一点不安，就要反省查验，因为神神放在人里面的“基本律法”，是要个人留心自己的所作所为。因为有一天都要面对神的审判！

四、活出真信仰（V16-29）

福音的里面包含审判！审判是因为人犯罪。人犯了什么罪？违背神的律法、违背真理的罪。
这里说了许多关于【知道与行道】的问题；许多犹太人都熟悉律法，甚至可以教导律法，他们知道什么是神的要求，什么是好，什么是坏。但是只会讲而不会行。这是宗教，并非真信仰！

保罗特别强调，外表的信仰不是真信仰，只有真心的活出信心的生活才是真正的信仰。
这里又再一次的提醒我们过去一个月多，在主日崇拜中一连串的信息，不都是环绕在这一个主题吗？真基督徒、真爱主、真实的信心进入神国。我们从列王纪下、从诗篇78篇、一直到今天读罗马书第二章，圣灵都继续在提醒我们思想这个信息。由此可见，神真的真的很在乎我们对神的心。

总结：到时必判断真假！

弟兄姐妹，我们今天依然可以坐在教会中，坐在家里，一面做着手中的事，一面轻松的听晨祷信息。但是我们的内心和信仰是认真踏实的吗？还有不多时候，末后大灾难的考验会越来越频密的出现。如果现在我们都无法认真的活出真实的信仰，到时候恐怕就难以站立了。

真的假不了，假的立不住，终究会被淘汰。弟兄姐妹，要起来，认真爱主，立定心志，要比以前更爱主，更热心服事主。

Romans 2: Judgment & JUDGMENT

GK611 Morning Devotion

24/11/2021

Speaker: Reverend David Tan

Introduction: [Judgment] This word appears 24 times in the entire Bible!

Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.
7:2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

In addition to Jesus saying it 6 times, Paul quotes this word as many as 14 times in different epistles. The book of James mentions it 4 times. But it is basically the same concept that judging is bad, and God does not want us to do it. For God alone is the One who can truly execute judgment.

1. The Judgment of Truth (V1-6)

(1) The judgment of man is hardly exempt from the judgment of God (V1-3)

What is judgment? The original meaning of κρίνω can be translated as criticism, picky, condemnation, pronouncement, verdict, conviction, etc.

Why do people judge others?

Very often we start to judge the other person because we live in opposition to our own understanding, and we feel that we are standing for the truth, therefore, we started judging them.

Verse 2 speaks of God as [Judgment] κρίμα with truth, which is also the same root word as [Judgment] κρίνω in the original language, which can also be translated as [Judgment]. [Judgement and Judgment], and these two words are even more equally translated as Judgment in English; obviously, when different identities use this word, the meaning is very different. Judgment is to determine the state of others based on one’s limited knowledge. And with some matching proofs, one makes a 100% conclusion and is bent on determining that the other person is that bad! This is a kind of judgment, in which the judgment is made to condemn the other person, to accuse the other person of something wrong, and to give a negative evaluation. Those who can be judged though are problematic, but those who judge people in God’s eyes are just as problematic, and equally so.

But God is the omniscient and omnipotent God, and His [judgment] or [judgment] is absolutely accurate, because He knows the truth about people completely. Whether it is something visible, something invisible, or something that has not yet been done, but only the thoughts of the heart, God knows it all. We can even say that God knows all the things that will happen in the future. Therefore, God is the judge to judge the right and wrong of man, and naturally has absolute standards. But what about man? Of course, it’s the opposite. Man’s judgment is often the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It is an abomination to God. For example, when Jesus accused the Pharisees of being hypocrites, it was a fair judgment and not a judgement based on own understanding. But when sinners criticize the Lord, it is an judgment out of criticism and not a fair judgment!

When a spiritual elder corrects an wrongdoing junior in love, is that a [fair judgment] rather than a [criticism kind judgement]? This is something we should pay attention to. Elders should not think that they are chastising the sinner like the Lord. But those who are younger can also learn to listen to the correction of their elders, and see it as being [fair judgement], not [cristicism kind of judgement], which is the life of the tree of life.

(2) God’s kindness for the purpose of leading people to repentance (V4-6)

God is infinitely gracious and merciful, but does man repent or not? If a man’s heart is hardened and does not repent, he will have to wait for God’s righteous judgment and suffer all kinds of penalties that are equal to his own. The penalties are not because God is not gracious, but in fact the opposite. It is because God is loving and gracious that He deals with man with things like discipline, calamity, sickness, and suffering. God is giving man a chance and waiting for them to repent, not just killing the sinner.

Do you have any “old sins” that you have not yet repented of? God is still waiting for you to repent today! Are you willing? God is judging and responding to us according to what we do, what do you want to get out of it? It depends on how we treat God and people. Those who are quick to humble themselves and repent, the quicker they will be lifted up by God.

2. Who Can Have Eternal Life (V7-11)
This is God’s judgment!

(1) Those who are persistent in doing good (V7)

It is good that people often do good deeds occasionally. But this is not what God wants. God wants man to be persistent in doing good, that is, to become a kind of spontaneous life of his own in his life. It is the being of man, not the doing, not what man does, but the natural living out of the example of God’s love in body and spirit.

Only good people can do good things? Only those who do good things are good people? What comes first?
Only those who believe in the Lord can be good, and only those who have the perseverance to do good and seek glory, honor, and blessings that cannot perish will be rewarded by God with eternal life.

(2) The one who obeys the truth (V8-11)

Trouble and glory, hardship or peace? These are man’s greatest fears and hopes! Man fears suffering, and man hopes for peace and glory. But the two manifestations are relative, turning away from the truth or obeying the truth, and these are the two obvious lives. Which kind of life are you?

Some people are blessed with abundant life, while others suffer and experience a life of lack, in which God can actually perform miracles. It all depends on what attitude one has in response to God.

3. How God Judges (V12-15)

There is law before there is sin! To know the law and break it is an added sin. God gave man the law, and God made him a blessed above all nations for those who do according to His standard; but if man turns away from God’s standard, he will have to face judgment. However, for those who do not yet know the Lord, or who do not know that there is a commandment of God, it turns out that God has already placed in man the heart of right and wrong, the so-called instinct of conscience. When a person has a little bit of inner turmoil in doing something, he should reflect on it and examine it, because the “basic law” that God has placed in man is for individuals to be careful about what they do. For one day all will face the judgment of God!.

4. Living the True Faith (V16-29)

The gospel contains judgment in it! Judgment is because man sins. What sins have men committed? The sin against the law of God, against the truth.

Much is said here about [knowing and doing]; many Jews were familiar with the law, and could even teach it, and they knew what God required, what was good and what was bad. But they would only speak and not do. This is religion, not true faith!

Paul especially emphasized that outward faith is not true faith, but only a life of sincere living out of faith is true faith.

Here we are reminded once again that the series of messages in the Sunday services over the past month or so have not all been centered on this one theme. True Christian, true love for the Lord, and true faith into the kingdom of God. We have been reminded of this message by the Holy Spirit from 2 Kings, from Psalm 78, all the way to today’s reading in Romans chapter 2. This shows that God really, really cares about our heart for God.

Conclusion: The time will come when the truth will be revealed!

Brothers and sisters, we can still sit in church today, in our homes, doing the business at hand while listening to the morning prayer message with ease. But are our hearts and faith serious and down-to-earth? There is not much time left before the trials of the end-time tribulation will come more and more frequently. If we are not able to live our faith seriously and authentically now, I am afraid we will not be able to stand when the time comes.

The true cannot be faked, and the false cannot stand, and will eventually be eliminated. Brothers and sisters, rise up, love the Lord earnestly, set your hearts and minds to love Him more than before, and serve Him more fervently.

23/11/2021

引言 :

世界上每天新闻报道都充满许多不好的消息，让人容易绝望，但是感谢神，耶稣为我们的罪被钉十字架的福音永远都是全人类最大的好消息！进入罗马书第一章，神的话语要再次地带领我们来探讨福音，也提醒我们都要起来传扬福音这个最大的好消息！

一、应许的福音要传到万邦（V1-7）

今天我们同样要传承保罗所领受的这份托付，要继续把福音传到万国万邦去的。这里值得留意的是，传福音其实只是福音工作的一部分。我们要使人信服真道，我们就需要去牧养人的生命，把人牧养起来成为主的门徒。

二、基督徒所欠下的福音债（V8-15）

我们要有这个欠了福音债的观念，就是我们所能够接触的人，我们就有责任去对他们分享福音，去让人接受福音，并且让人要在福音里成长。

觉得自己不会传福音吗？我们其实可以用许多不同的方式来传福音（V福音册子，个人见证，福音视频等等），关键在于我们是否有愿意的心。只要我们愿意，神就会赐给我们好机会。

三、信福音被神称义的福气（V16-17）

纵然我们人过去犯下了多少的罪和错误，当我们来接受耶稣为我们的生命的主，相信耶稣被钉十字架就已经承担了我们所有的罪的时候，我们就被神称为义了。所以我们都不要以福音为耻，要放胆传福音。

四、不悔改接受福音的警戒（V18-32）

V18原来神的忿怒，从天上显明在一切不虔不义的人身上，就是那些行不义阻挡真理的人。

1. 推诿真神（V19-25）

推诿真神的人，明明能够看到宇宙万物的秩序和奇妙，但却推诿真神，而发展出自己的一套理念，就像无神论者，不可知论者他们的论调那样。这些自以为聪明的人当中，还有一些人是虽然相信有神，但却是把伟大的神树立为可见的偶像的。所以神就任凭这样的人去行一些淫乱的行为，以至于身体被玷污，当然保罗这里指的就是人的灵因此就被污秽了。拜偶像的人是一个灵里的淫乱，对神的不忠，所以也很容易带来一个肉体的淫乱。

2. 同性婚恋（V26-27）

经文这里提到，这样的人会违背他们被创造出来时那种异性相吸的自然律，而是会放纵情欲，进入到同性婚恋的问题里面。人却硬着心去违背这个律，所以保罗说，若是人不悔改，最终会在这样的妄为上得报应。

今天这个世代继续面对着同性婚恋，多元家庭的价值观的冲击，我们基督徒需要站对位，带着恨恶罪但是却爱罪人的心，帮助活着这种问题下的人走出来！

3.各种不义（V28-32）

让我们透过保罗在这里所列举出来的每一点去对照我们的生命，好让我们能够留心保守自己去远离这些的恶，就是各样不义，邪恶，贪婪，恶毒，嫉妒，凶杀，争竞，诡诈，毒恨，谗毁人，背后说人，怨恨神，侮慢人，狂傲，自夸，捏造恶事，违背父母，无知的，背约，无亲情的，不怜悯人的这些罪。

总结:使万民领受福音，活出福音

我们基督徒所领受到的福音是人类历史上最大的好消息。我们要看重这个这个福音，因为这个福音能救我们脱离罪恶和永远的沉沦，并且最终也会让我们回到天父永远的环抱里！所以我们要继续把这个好消息传到万国万邦去。尤其当我们成为基督徒后，我们领受了福音的好处，其实我们也是欠了福音的债的。

让我们也建造自己更深地去明白这个福音，除了对人讲明白信福音就能得着被神称义的福气以外，我们也要去牧养建造更多人的生命，让神的子民不单只领受福音，更是要活出福音，做神远离罪恶，分别为圣的子民！

Romans 1: Preach The Greatest Good News – The Gospel!
GK611 Morning Devotion
23/11/2021
Speaker: Intern Pastor Moses Ou + Reverend David Tan

Introduction:
The gospel is always the greatest good news for all mankind

The world is filled with many bad news stories every day that make it easy to despair, but thank God that the gospel of Jesus crucified for our sins will always be the greatest good news for all mankind! As we move into Romans 1, God’s Word will again lead us to explore the gospel and remind us all to rise up and proclaim the greatest good news !

1.The Promised Gospel to be preached to all nations (V1-7)
Today we are also to carry on this commission that Paul received, to continue to preach the gospel to all nations. It is worth noting here that evangelism is actually only part of the work of the gospel. If we want to convict people of the truth, we need to shepherd people’s lives and shepherd them to become disciples of the Lord.

2.The Gospel Debt Owed by Christians (V8-15)
We need to have this idea of being in debt to the gospel, that the people we can reach, we have a responsibility to them to share the gospel, to get people to accept the gospel, and to get people to grow in the gospel.

Do you think that you can’t evangelize? There are many different ways we can evangelize (gospel booklet personal testimonies, videos, etc.), but the key is to have a willing heart. If we are willing, God will give us good opportunities.

3.The Blessing of Believing the Gospel and Being Justified by God (V16-17)

Even though we humans have committed many sins and mistakes in the past, we are justified by God when we come to accept Jesus as the Lord of our lives and believe that Jesus has taken on all our sins by being crucified. So let us all not be ashamed of the gospel, but let us be bold in preaching it.

4.The warning of unrepentant acceptance of the gospel (V18-32)

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

(1)Put The Blame on True God（V19-25）

Those who put the blame on the true God are able to see the order and wonder of everything in the universe, but they put the blame on the true God and develop their own set of ideas, just like atheists and agnostics do with their arguments. Among these people who think they are wise, there are those who believe in God, but establish the great God as a visible idol. Therefore, God allows such people to commit adulterous acts, so that the body is defiled, and Paul, of course, refers to the fact that the spirit of man is thus defiled. The idolater is a spiritual adulterer, unfaithful to God, and therefore easily brings about a physical adultery.

(2) Same-Sex Marriage (V26-27)

The scriptures mention here that such people will violate the natural law of opposites attracting each other, for which they were created, and will instead indulge in lust and enter into the problem of same-sex marriage. But man’s heart is hardened to disobey this law, so Paul says that if man does not repent, he will eventually receive his retribution.

Today’s generation continues to face the impact of same-sex marriage and the values of polygamous family. We Christians need to stand in the right place and help those who are living with such problems to come out with a heart that hates the sin but loves the sinner!

(3)All Kinds of unrighteousness (V28-32)

Let us compare our lives with each of the points Paul lists here, so that we may be careful to keep ourselves from these evils, which are all kinds of unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful.

Conclusion: All nations may receive and live out the gospel

The gospel we Christians have received is the greatest good news in the history of mankind. We are to value this gospel because it will save us from our sins and eternal destruction, and it will ultimately bring us back to the eternal embrace of our Father in heaven as well! So we need to continue to spread this good news to all nations. Especially when we become Christians and we receive the benefits of the gospel, we are actually indebted to it.

Let us also build ourselves up to understand this gospel more deeply. In addition to teaching people that believing in the gospel leads to the blessing of being justified by God, let us also shepherd and build up the lives of more people, so that God’s people will not only receive the gospel, but also live it, and be a people of God who are free from sin and set apart for holiness!