Sunday, February 26, 2023

Weekly message: On God’s mercy by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly message: On God’s mercy                                                                      2/26/2023

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel Music; Postural ministry &counseling

 

          Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible for other souls spiritually before God? In Jesus’ time, after Jesus appeared to Saul, Saul was transformed into Apostle Paul and became a minister to preach the gospel among the Jews and Gentiles. Apostle Paul’s anguish over the Jews’ rejection of Christ drives him to avow his own recognition of Christ is God over all.  Apostle Paul’s ministry was not by works but by Him who calls. (Romans.9:12).

         It was God’s mercy and election appointed him to preach gospel and let Gentiles received the salvation and Holy Spirit.  His preaching emphasized on that “ He who confess with his mouth “Jesus is Lord, and believe in his heart that God raised Him from dead, he or she will be saved. For it is with his (or her) heart that he (or she) believe and are justified. And it is with his (or her) mouth that that he (or she) confess and are saved. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Roman 10:9-13).  

           To convince Jews to believe his preaching and turned their faith into Christ Jesus, Apostle Paul quoted Moses’ speech, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."  It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.” And "I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding." (Romans 9:15-18; 10:19-20).

Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me." (Romans10:20). But concerning Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people."(Romans 10:21).

            In this generation, we, as Christians, ministers, are perplexed, why God’s chosen people are rejected?  Why Apostle Paul’s preaching be dishonored, and persecuted harshly by his own people Jewish priests who knew the law? Why Jesus Christ made himself known to Gentiles who are not God’s chosen people? And why a persecutor Saul (Paul) was chosen to be a minister for preaching Gospel?  

According to human nature self -conscience, self-will and self-righteous may appear to  criticize certain group of people (or races) are not God’s people, nor God’s elected races, so debate and want to get rid of them and treat them as minority. “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this? Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? (Romans 9: 20-21).  Apostle Peter’s first preaching in a Gentle Cornelius’ home, the Holy Spirit poured out from heaven upon Cornelius and his families and closed friends. All families were saved and baptized. What we shall say about this?  What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath--prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory (Romans 9:22-23)

           Again, Apostle Paul quoted Hosea’s speech, I will call them 'my people' who are not my people; and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one,” and, "It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons of the living God.'" (Romans 9:15-26).

            Indeed, God doesn’t show favoritism. Jesus Christ is Light of the world, a redeemer of the sinners. He who confesses the sins with his (or her) mouth and believes in his (or her) heart shall be saved and has eternal life.  Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. This is the responsibility for Apostle Paul to proclaim the gospel. If this is God’s calling to him, he has no choices to say no to Jesus Christ. Therefore, Apostle Paul said, “The love of Christ compels me …”and how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! (Romans10:15).  

        However, so often, Gospel cannot reach out to the Gentiles and certain group of people and races, because Pharisees and Sadducees persecute and prevent ministers to talk about “Lord Jesus Christ”, nor read the Word of God. As Romans 10:21 says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people." (Romans 10:21).

           My friends, are you quotation about God’s sovereignty and His will?  Are you seeing yourself as God’s chosen people and elected races? Are you looking yourself better races than anyone else?  Yet, without the Spirit of God, Lord Jesus Christ, you are no body in heaven.  You may be wealth, rich races, and a leader in your position on earth, but your destiny is in hell. Unless you repent of your sin, turn from sins, and confess with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from dead, you and your family will be saved. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.(Romans 10:13).

             Or maybe you are a believer, have accepted Jesus is your savior, and received the Holy Spirit, but act like Pharisees and Sadducees, full of judgmental thoughts, critical lips, self-righteousness, envious personality, and bitterness rooted in your heart. Constantly comparing, competing yourself with others and struggle to get people’s approval.  Moses says, "I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding." And Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me." (Romans 10:19-20). It is not you to judge your brother (or sister)? Or why do you look down on your brother (or sister)? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’”. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:10-12). Repent and turn from your sin, stop to criticize others, exam of your heart, asks Lord, Jesus Christ to clean your judgmental lips and remove the bitter root from your heart. Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s (or sister’s) way. If Son of God has set you free, indeed, you are free.

『因為祂對摩西說,我要向誰施憐憫,就向誰施憐憫;要對誰動憐恤,就對誰動憐恤。『這樣看來,這不在於那定意的,也不在於那奔跑的,只在於那施憐憫的神。』『因為經上對法老說,我特意將你興起來,為要在你身上顯示我的權能,並要使我的名傳遍全地。『這樣看來,神願意向誰施憐憫,就向誰施憐憫;願意叫誰剛硬,就叫誰剛硬。』『人哪,你是誰,竟向神頂嘴?被塑造者豈能對塑造他者說,你為甚麼這樣造我?』『窯匠難道沒有權柄,從同一團泥裏,拿一塊作成貴重的器皿,又拿一塊作成卑賤的器皿麼?』『若是神願意顯示祂的忿怒,彰顯祂的能力,就多用恆忍寬容那些可怒、豫備遭毀滅的器皿,』『且要在那些蒙憐憫、早豫備得榮耀的器皿上,彰顯祂榮耀的豐富;』『這器皿就是我們這蒙祂所召的,不但從猶太人中,也從外邦人中,這有甚麼不可?』『就如神在何西阿書上也說,那本來不是我子民的,我要稱為我的子民;本來不是蒙愛的,我要稱為蒙愛的;』『從前在甚麼地方對他們說,你們不是我的子民,將來就在那裏稱他們為活神的兒子。『但我說,以色列人不知道麼?先有摩西說,我要用那不是國民的,惹動你們妒忌;我要用那無知的民,觸動你們發怒。『又有以賽亞放膽說,沒有尋找我的,我叫他們遇見;沒有求問我的,我向他們顯現。『至於以色列人,他卻說,我整天向那悖逆頂嘴的百姓伸手招呼。』(Roman 15:26; 10:19-21)


Bibliography,

 

       King James, The Holy Bible, Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company

       Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

      Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 


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