Let's boast Christ (Romans 3:21-28)

                              Let's boast Christ  (Romans 3:21-28)

3:21	But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
3:22	Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
3:23	For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
3:24	Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
3:25	Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
3:26	To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
3:27	Where is boasting [bóustiŋ] then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
3:28	Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Introduction)
1 Last week, was a week for commemoration of Martin Luther's Reformation.

October 31, 1517., At that time Roman Catholic Church held problems in corruption and theological points. Martin Luther issued the provisions of 95 Theses in Wittenberg Cathedral in Lighting, that was a spark of the Reformation.

One of the reasons why Reformation happened was the selling of indulgences.
Purgatory, a place people go to hell to wait, believing Catholic in purgatory that, soon such as lockup before going to jail. It is place for the sinners to go before trial. Indulgence, however can save their dead parent or child people from purgatory, and even forgiven the original sin. Many people bought indulgences because they believe that will let you go to heaven.

If it is that effective how was the value of it??

Why did Catholic church try to raise huge amounts of money?
they needed a lot of money to build it St. Peter's Cathedral.

2 Ladies and gentlemen, one of the reasons why corruption becomes in religious way is due to fall into the temptation to seek greed and glory in the world.

When the devil tempted Jesus, and tell him to "bow down to me" and shows the glory of the world. The Devil use glory of the world for tempting people, to drag them to hell.

 
3 Many churches Luxurious and boasts a gigantic building and proud of the achievements of the world then corruption starts eventually.

To the point, what would things to be proud of 'Christian?'

Things that Christian proud of.

Apostle Paul was indeed had high social standard.

Paul had high self esteem before he met Jesus bacause of his social back ground.

However after he believe Jesus he was still have many things to brag. Then what was his bragging in spiritual way.

 
First, the experience of third of the sky.
He soon went up the kingdom of heaven to heaven, "I know one person in Christ, fourteen years ago, he caught up to the third heaven liver grow" (2 Corinthians 12:2)

Second, He has the experience of met Jesus Christ dramatically.
(Acts 9:3-4) Saul was walking down the street in Damascus, said he "And suddenly a light from heaven around him, illuminating him. Fell to the ground, turned and heard the sound and said, Saul, Saul, Why are you persecuting me?"

Not so many people meet Jesus dramatically than this. After that, he was became a blind, but the prophet Ananias prayed for him, and he reclaims his eye sight and after about three years he became an apostles.

Third, the ability to produce great miracle.
cast out demons cure numerous patients in every mission. He even bring dead person back to alive.
Fourth, the experience of answered prays.
Trapped in the Philippian prison, Paul and Silas prayed, when suddenly Jade from history has caused a surprising move opens the jail door.

The fifth, is an experience of illusions.
Chapter 16 of the Book of Acts, a man of Macedonia came to paul and said, "Come over to Macedonia and help us". Paul had an illusion and go to Europe, Europe to preach the gospel, so write a great work of evangelization.

When we think all of this gifts I think Paul is the person that can brag about himself!

But Paul, that does not bragged, but only one thing, Jesus Christ he confessed.

Paul from Galatians Chapter 6 Verse 13 "But to me except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, never to be proud of."

Paul could brag about things that he had, but he didn't, but only Jesus Christ.

According to Paul, he shows how Jesus Christ is big source of bragging!

Dear brothers and sisters, today we boast about what?

Is that a money you have? or your  reputation?
In 1 john 2;16-17 says"doeth the will of God in this world passed away, and its lust is passing, but will dwell forever," he said.
Only wish you to boast in Jesus Christ alone.

Then what is the meaning of boast Jesus Christ?
1) First of all, proud to believe in Jesus Christ and about God takes us as his child.
Dear brothers and sisters, how proud the fact that we know God?
He is our father, due to the fact that, due to the fact that I called his son, and how thrilled?
To become children of God is so ecstatic and proud.
Believe in Jesus and get salvation is the most beautiful thing in the world.

In Korea, when someone dies, usually put the word Student in front of persons name. Even after person died that person need a lot of learn to do. However, to believe in Christ, people write 'saints' in front of the name; or Pastor, Deacon. What are the saints? 'English' St.. Not a lot to learn more. Already was holy.

The famous shaman in Korea. Dangungyo education major, established by the University of shamanism & taught 3,000 shamans , purposed to 20 years to lead the Christian policy of extermination, then repent  and became pastor later, 'Kim, hae-kyung' has this testimony in a book called, "Oh, God, I took off Satan's crown."

One day he saw 'a house's nameplate' on the way to the alley, He thought the name is surly very cursed name , supposedly the people 's life must be so terrible now, but then, there is the sound of laughter from inside the house. their family is very Happy. He wondered that how could they so happy? Why? later He heard that reason, they believed Jesus . So he realized what is it? "Oh, Believing in Jesus let change their fortune!" That is said to Yes Believe in Jesus, the status changes! Level changes varies! Ol! If you believe say Amen!!

Living with the blessing of God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, is happen when you become children of God. Restored the image of God in us, and believe in the promises God made in the beginning of world. We are going to be the citizens of the Eternal kingdom of heaven. Can compare with United States citizenship.
Receive forgiveness of sins, the righteous, and will lead you to the glory of the kingdom of heaven.

Deuteronomy 28:20-24 says.
The Word of God that we become children of God, this has to be only thing that we will be proud of.

2) Second, is proud that the grace of Jesus that allowed us to get a salvation.

Deuteronomy 28:20~24 talks about peoples life without God.

28:20	The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.
28:21	The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it.
28:22	The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.
28:23	And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.
28:24	The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

And also talks about what will happen to people who hates Jesus and curse Jesus in Revelation 20:11~15

20:11	And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
20:12	And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
20:13	And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
20:14	And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
20:15	And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

This is the disastrous fate that non believers will had.
The apostle Paul know what he should do in order to receive the blessing of God in verse 28 says Where is boasting [bóustiŋ] then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith?

This was also true for Martin Luther who started the Reformation.

When Pilate prosecute Jesus there was a stair that Jesus stepped. Constantine's mother Helena (Helena) when you became believers as a sign of faith, she moved those stairs to Rome.

 If you go to the temple, the 'Scala Santa' there is the stair remains there.

There was a stupid legend about that stair which if someone climb that stair with one's knee, the sins of one will disappear.  So Martin Luther goes up to with his knees the 2,000 years old stair repent with tears. Up and down, up and down bursting out of a bruised knee, holding the weeping to continue up the stairs ascended made.

 However, He could not get the assurance of the forgiveness of sins. His sins are remembered more vividly.
Then, one day was. Was back, knees crawling up the stairs, as usual, Luther heard a voice like thunder. "The righteous by faith! Through! Shall live! (Romans 1:17)."

He already knew the words but sound was echo in his soul. This was the work of the Holy Spirit Luther has jumped up on the spot. "That's right! That you're saved by the grace of God, my righteousness! That will realize and believe that Jesus, instead of being crucified for my sins are forgiven because you are you, that! " Hallelujah! Bestowed His grace we boast we're going to have to be.
 There is a conte about an ant by un-holy professor.
Some guy wanted to be famous, so he raised ant and trying to tame.
He was so obsessed with ants and finally he succeed to trained an ant to dance, after seven years of train.

Finally he wants to tell the story to the newspaper so he heading to newspaper's offices.
But suddenly He was hungry, so he walked in to the restaurant. He ordered food, and server brought his meal, then the guy wanted to brag about his ant so he took off his ant from the match box and said "see some ants." All of a sudden server said "Hey I'm sorry," and he instantly kill ants with his finger. Seven years of effort was blown away.

Conclusion) brothers and sisters!, Yes. Proud of this world is just for a moment. Not to spare a moment, not getting anything.
So, in John 2:16 said "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

Now we have to abandon all the things we can brag about, but only Jesus Christ should be our proud How we can overcome all the matters and hardships in our lives? with be proud of hope and blessing in Jesus.

Please be proud of only Jesus and love his cross, and become his child by believe in him. I hope and pray for all of you can brag about you became his children and got salvation!
11/11/2012 Iksun