We know that everything that God made was very good and glorious at the time of creation. Man was made to be eternal beings but because of sin, we have to deal with death and separation from God. Sin originated in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and brought suffering onto the world and mankind. It wasn’t part of God’s plan for man to suffer but since He gave us the ability to choose between good and evil, the sinful nature causes us to make decisions that can bring suffering into our lives, our families and our communities. Choosing evil allows the god of this age to wreak havoc on this earth.
When we choose to sin, our relationship with God is affected and there is a price to pay for sin. God’s wrath on sin cannot be satisfied by any earthly sacrifice as we see in the Old Testament, they had to give animal sacrifices yearly which still did not remove their sins or please God. This is why He sent His Son to save us from the punishment of sin by being the ultimate sacrifice that was blameless and unblemished. He redeemed us with His blood and gave us His righteousness. We have been justified by His blood and we have peace with God through the work of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1-4 NKJV “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
Since we have peace with God, He will not be against us nor does He want to punish us but rather, He will journey with us on this earth before the second return of Christ. He promised us that nothing will separate us from His love, nor will He leave or forsake us. Restoring the relationship with us is the very reason and purpose that God sent Jesus to die for us so that He is able to journey with us during the days of tribulation on earth. It is in this relationship with us that His grace is infused into our hearts so that we are able to persevere through suffering and pain. Just as He did not spare his own Son, the Lord Jesus, who suffered judgement, persecution, condemnation and finally crucifixion. He now sits at the right hand of God having conquered death and obtained eternal redemption for us. Thanks be to God that a glorious future in heaven awaits us!
Sermon Series: Resurrection Sunday 2020 – Job & I (Part 1)
堅持到底
雅各书5:11那先前忍耐的人，我们称他们是有福的。你们听见过约伯的忍耐，也知道主给他的结局，明显主是满心怜悯，大有慈悲。
由于新冠疫情的恶化以及因之而起的经济危机，许多人会认为我们正生活在一个苦难的时代。在这样的时局之下，我们如何看待基督在十字架上所做成的事，借此帮助我们经历这个艰难的时期？
我们知道在创世之初，神所造的一切都是美好的，有着神的荣光。人受造，原是要成为永恒的存在，但因为罪，我们与 神分隔，因而面临到死亡。罪，源自于亚当与夏娃在伊甸园中对 神的悖逆，于是把苦难带入到了这个世界，影响着全人类。让人类受苦，并非 神起初的计划。神给了人类选择善或恶的能力，然而，由于人的罪性，我们所做的“选择”，为我们自己. 家人. 以及社会带来了苦难。选择邪恶使在这世上的邪灵给世界带来了浩劫，造成了巨大的破坏。
当我们选择犯罪，我们与 神的关系就大受影响，而犯罪是要付出代价的。在旧约中，可以看到神对于罪的愤怒是不能用属世的祭物去消弭的。纵使他们每年献上牲祭，仍然不能因此取悦 神，并消除他们的罪。这也就是为什么 圣父要差派圣子，成为一个无可指摘完美无瑕的终极献祭，来拯救我们脱离罪的刑罚。祂以宝血买赎了我们，我们也因祂的宝血而称义，并且通过耶稣基督的工作与 神恢复了和平。
罗马书5:1-4 我们既因信称义，就借着我们的主耶稣基督得与神相和。 我们又藉着他，因信得进入现在所站的这恩典中，并且欢欢喜喜盼望神的荣耀。 不但如此，就是在患难中也是欢欢喜喜的；因为知道患难生忍耐， 忍耐生老练，老练生盼望；
既然我们已经与 神和好，神就不会抵挡我们，也不会再惩罚我们，相反的，祂会在耶稣再来之前，伴我们同行于在地上的日子。祂已应许没有什么能够叫我们与 神的爱隔绝，祂也不会离弃我们。和我们修复关系，是上帝差派耶稣为我们而死的唯一原因并且也是最为重要的目的。好叫祂能够在我们遭遇世间的患难时陪伴我们同行。借着这样一段有神陪伴的关系，祂的恩典注入我们的心中，让我们能够在磨难和痛苦中坚忍不懈。正如 神舍得献上自己的儿子耶稣一样，让耶稣遭受了审判，逼迫，定罪并最终被钉十字架，如今耶稣已坐在父神的右边，为我们征服了死亡并获得了永恒的救赎。让我们向 神献上感谢吧！为着那在天堂里等待我们的荣耀的未来！
讲章系列：复活主日 – 约伯与我（第一部分）