Tuesday, 23rd November 2021
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-7 The Promised Gospel
V1 ‘Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God.’ Paul brought out a new culture during the Roman times and the Book of Romans taught us the culture of the Kingdom. At the very beginning, Paul emphasised that the Promised Gospel is Jesus Christ Himself. Paul wanted to make it clear what the Gospel, the Good News, is. Then he explained what this Gospel brings. Without the Gospel, there will be no Paul, only Saul. All the people knew how Saul prosecuted the Christians, so how did Saul change into Paul? From the person, prosecuting the Christians, become the person, calling himself the servant of Christ. This is a life testimony, and can our lives also be testimonies in front of people?
The Word of God is our lives, are we really to go to our low point? The lower we go, the more powerful we can see God in our lives. Paul was willing to turn from Saul in front of the eyes of all people, from the beginning, testify the Power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Who are we? Can we show people how our lives have changed? When we follow God, what has the Holy Spirit change in us? This is a challenge for us, to stir inside our hearts and to let us meditate on it! What does God call us to do? We are about to enter 2022, we need to change our attitude, to really see what it is God wants us to change in our lives!
V2-4 ‘which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.’ The Gospel does not just come from nowhere, it has been reminded to us by all the prophets of God; the Gospel is our life. Paul has found his life, have we found out lives? We must come out from the legalism mindset and enter the lives as the servants of Christ. Be willing to change, be willing to believe, and be willing to change.
V5-6 ‘Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ.’ Jesus Christ not only come to give us peace and hope, but to reveal that He’s the Son of God with His supernatural power. God wants us to know that even death, the problem we cannot solve, Jesus can. The Gospel can raise the dead to life; the Gospel can reveal supernatural power through an average person, the descendant of David; the Gospel can overcome the sins of this world.
Every one of us is chosen by God, to disciple the nations. Do not think that we cannot, because without God’s calling and choosing, we cannot be where we are right now. God called us to return to zero, not to rely on our own strength but to fully rely on God, to humble ourselves and to obey God. we must return to zero in order to be used by God and to be God’s vessel. This calling is for all of us, not just for the Pastors or the leaders of the church. If we don’t know what to do then we must learn, to be obedient and to be committed to the church authority. Our freedom is in Jesus Christ, this freedom is different to that is explained in the world. We must not bring the worldly culture into the culture of the Kingdom.
V7 ‘To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.’ Again, God let all the Christians in Roman know that they are the ones being called, their identities are different. This is the Promised Gospel, to be called by Jesus Christ. None of us is perfect, we all have problems in our lives, we are all sinners, and we all need the Doctor. Do not think that we are better than others, or that others are better than us, either way is a boastful attitude. Only God can help us to accomplish what we cannot, and only God can stop us doing what we thought we can do.
Section Two V8-17 Walk in the Promise
V9-10 ‘For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you.’ Paul followed God with spirit and truth, not by actions and not by religious rituals. When we read the Bible, do we just read the verse we like? Or do we really see what God wants to talk to us today through the Scriptures? Paul taught the Christians in Rome by the Holy Spirit.
V11-12 ‘For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.’ God called us to be established, to be built up, and to be transformed. What do we believe? Do not underestimate the portion God has given to us, because if we do, we are being prideful and we are judging God.
V13-15 ‘Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.’ God does not focus on if a church is big enough or have enough people, but if a church has life. What is our church doing? Do not become a Christian fellowship, do not build a small circle among ourselves, but to see the needs of the world and to reach out.
If God brought us to a place, this place will be blessed by God. When God first revealed to us to build a church in South Auckland, there were not many Chinese churches in South Auckland. In fact, the Chinese community was very small in South Auckland. When God revealed Pastor’s family to move to South Auckland, away from all their children’s schools, and away from the high-profile neighbourhood, everyone thought it was not a good idea. But within six years, South Auckland was quickly developed into a desirable area for living. God has really blessed this land! Do we believe in the guidance of God?
What is our prayer? Do we just read through the prayer requests? Or do we really feel the pain and hurt when we pray for others? Do we really pray with spirit and with truth? When we are praying for cleansing, do we hold up our authority given from God? We are the ones, who will be benefited the most when we pray, because as our prayers come out of our hearts and our mouths, the Holy Spirit will cleanse us first, then bring our prayers and petitions to the Father. The church in Rome was influential, but was it really walk in the Way of God? This was what Paul really focus on, he wanted the church to learn from Jesus.
Section Three V18-32 Walk in Failures
God gives us the promised Gospel, so how should we respond? The way we respond determines the end result. A lot of people do not believe in God, instead, they believe the idols, which will fade away. Just like how we envy the ‘successful people’ we want to be like them. But only the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We must follow God, then God will show us the way. We are used to relying on the things we can see, but we forgot it is God, who provides us with everything.
罗马书 1 – 回应福音
2021年11月23日 星期二
潘锡安牧师
今天神给我们的身份是什么？罗马书的作者使徒保罗是犹太人，他自己的家乡在罗马帝国统治下成为殖民地，他的处境有点像我们中华民族的人移民到了国外，不属于当地人。我们拼命赚钱、买房，想要在此落地生根。我们是否有找到自己的命定？我们进入学房，成为神学生，是否摆对自己的身份，还是过着以前的生活？神要兴起我们这一群人，我们要从罗马书里学会如何放下过去的身份，进入新的开始。使徒保罗在罗马书所带出来的理念跟当时的文化是完全不一样的，他所指给我们看的是天国的文化。我们可以从中看到神给我们教会的是什么。
一、应许的福音（v.1-7)
V1 保罗在罗马书一开始就指明，耶稣基督就是所应许的福音。这个福音带出了保罗，他原名“扫罗”，曾经迫害基督徒，如果没有耶稣基督的福音，他会一直停留在老我的生命中。如今保罗在罗马教会的众人前称自己为“耶稣基督的仆人”，见证自己的信仰转变。今天的我们在众人面前能否见证神的大能？我们听到神的话，就要看到自己生命的低点，这样才能让神的话进入我们里面，使我们的生命得着真实的改变。保罗不再是逼迫基督徒的扫罗，我们跟从神，能否让人看到自己生命的改变？保罗并非自己要跑到罗马，他说自己是“奉召为使徒，特派传神的福音”，让人看到自己谦卑顺服于神。我们成为学房的神学生，是否看到神“特派”我们做什么？我们要进入2022年，我们不能用旧有的态度进入新的一年。
V2 福音不是从石头里蹦出来的，而是神已经借着“众先知”不断在圣经里提醒我们。耶稣基督的福音是给我们的。他给我们的不仅是信仰，更是生命。我们是否愿意相信、跟从、改变？
V3-4 保罗在这里论到耶稣基督身份的特别之处。“大卫的后裔”本来只是属于人，然而，耶稣能从“死里复活”，就说明他不是普通人，他来不仅是给我们真理的教导，更是用超自然的能力“显明是神的儿子”。他让我们看到，在人没有办法解决的事情，在神凡事都能。福音是大有能力的，罪让我们死，但我们因着信耶稣基督也能胜过死亡。
V5 保罗是在对罗马所有教会的基督徒说他们是被神召聚的。我们每一个人都要动起来，被神差派、使用。我们进入学房，就是被神呼召，在这里每一个人都要谦卑归零、接受装备，将来才能够门训万民。我们首先要自己成为门徒，将我们的“自由”交给神，跟着老师学习，我们的生命才会不一样。
V6 我们都是蒙召的，我们的信主不是一场意外。我们当初愿意回应神的决心是否已经冷淡？要看到我们如今能够蒙召，不是靠自己，而是神的恩惠。
V7 保罗让所有罗马教会的基督徒知道自己被神呼召的特别身份。耶稣来，是呼召那些需要“看医生”的人，我们每一个人都不完全、都有问题，所以不要跟人比较又不满别人比自己好。唯有神能帮助我们成就我们靠自己不能完成的事。
二、走在应许中（v.8-17)
V8,14-15 为什么保罗说“所以情愿尽我的力量，将福音也传给你们在罗马的人”（V15）？因为对保罗来说，“无论是希腊人、化外人、聪明人、愚拙人，我都欠他们的债”（14）。当时的罗马人是分门别类的，教会也一定有问题存在。保罗在第八节这里一开始就提升、赞赏罗马的信徒，但如果他们真的是完美的，保罗就不需要讲后面的话（V15）了。神看重的教会不是如何大、如何人多，而是是否有生命。我们不要成为一个基督教的小圈子。神将我们带到一个地方的时候，这个地方一定是蒙福的，我们要相信我们会使当地发旺。保罗说，当我们有福音的应许里面时，要走在这份应许里面。福音不会停留在一代，而是一代一代传下去。
V9 保罗跟从神不是在一个宗教的模式，而是用“心灵”和诚实来跟随。保罗向罗马教会的信徒强调自己用“心灵”，说自己“…欠他们的债”，那我们呢？我们在247祷告的时候，是否只是照着一系列祷告事项念祷告词，还是真的看到别人的需要、流泪为他们祷告？我们在做洁净祷告时，首先自己得益处，我们是带着权柄为人守望的。
V11 在这里保罗对罗马教会的所有人说“要把些属灵的恩赐分给你们，使你们可以坚固”。今天我们来到学房，就要在神所赐给我们的教会里被“坚固”，而不是随风飘摇，到处去不同的地方听自己想要听的道。
V13 保罗一直很想去罗马，那是当时帝国的政治经济中心，很有影响力，但保罗最关心的是当地教会的影响力是否走在神的旨意里面。我们不要去看哪些教会大就跑去“追星”，我们唯一跟随的只有神。
V16-17 保罗面对罗马教会的问题 – 也就是犹太人和希腊人的两股势力 – 他讲出了属灵的次序。不管谁先谁后，最重要的是人是否有相信应许的福音。保罗走在应许里，他也鼓励罗马教会的人都走在应许里。
三、走在败亡中（v.18-32)
神给我们应许的福音，我们要如何回应？对福音不一样的回应就有不一样的结果。
V18-23 “神的永能和神性是明明可知的，虽是眼不能见，但借着所造之物就可以晓得”，很可惜，人不愿意相信神，他们反而相信必要朽坏的受造物，就好像现在的人羡慕的是那些“成功人士”，想要变成跟他们一样。敬畏神才是智慧的开端，我们要跟从神，神就会给我们通达的道路。人习惯想要依靠一些实在的东西，心才安定，却忘了，唯有神是供应我们的神。我们如何信神，我们的祝福就有多少。我们是否感谢神给我们日用的饮食，并感谢神救我们脱离凶恶？
V24-30 这里神对人有三个“任凭”：
- V24 “心里的情欲”
- V26 “可羞耻的情欲”
- V28 “存邪僻的心，行那些不合理的事”
“放纵情欲”指的是我们凭着自己的情绪来任意妄为，这份情欲是从亚当夏娃开始的，他们在神所造的最完美的伊甸园里还不满足。我们是否对神给我们的一切满足？我们要深挖自己，看我们的情欲影响我们有多深？我们是否被自己的情绪牵着鼻子走？
V28-32 那些“故意不认识神”的人其实知道神, 但他们故意没有走在神的应许里面。当我们没有走在神的道路里时，我们就把自己披露在罪的试探当中。这一段所列举的罪，我们是否在神面前认罪？神让我们看到真相，不是要羞辱我们，而是帮助我们披戴耶稣基督。人看到的不是再是我们的旧人，而是耶稣基督。我们所说的话、所做的事是有影响力的，我们能否让我们的下一代和下一代直到世世代代都蒙祝福，或是像列王纪里那些行恶的王一样，“不但自己去行，还喜欢别人去行”，将灾祸传给自己的后代？神向我们怀的是赐平安的意念，让我们走在他永远的祝福里。