Good morning. Like Andrew said, we're reading from Romans chapter 1 and we're reading the first 17 verses.
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,
concerning his son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
and was declared to be the son of God in power according to the spirit of holiness
by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith
for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints,
grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his son,
that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers,
asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you,
that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you,
but thus far have been prevented, in order that I may reap some harvest among you,
as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.
I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,
to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith.
As it is written, the righteous shall live by faith.
For Romans, we are back to Romans again.
What a great book.
Today we are just recapping what we have talked about in the past,
just quite a few months ago.
The reading from chapter 1 to 17 just reminds us of what Romans is about.
And in the reading itself, there is already a summary of it.
There is the gospel of God.
There is Jesus Christ.
There is grace.
There is faith.
And there is righteousness.
So that is what we will be talking about today.
Before we start, let's pray first.
Almighty God, we thank you again for your mercy that is more.
That we can come before you, asking you to teach us what we need to know.
Show us how we should live.
That we might honor you with our life.
Thank you, Lord.
We pray in Jesus' name.
Amen.
In my childhood, I lived in a large wooden house,
which was built on a slope.
So we didn't take any good photograph of the house,
but that is part of it.
And it's actually a hill behind it with a big jungle in there.
And there was a large rock, very big, like a caravan,
just sitting right next to the roof that's on top of the hill.
And there were many people living in the house.
In the heyday, there were about 25 of us there.
Besides my parents' family, there's relatives who didn't have a place to live.
So they lived with us for many years.
Telling you that this house is built on the slope, on the hill,
and in that part of the world where it ran quite a lot,
especially towards the end of the year,
you would, I hope you would know that there's a danger of landslide.
And landslides did happen quite frequently in my hometown,
just not far away from us.
There was a few years,
no, one was a childhood.
There was one,
a few houses was damaged by that landslide,
and seven people died.
But we didn't,
as a child,
I never realized,
or didn't think about landslide,
although we were quite happy living in the house,
this big house,
and there's a hill we can climb.
So we had a happy time,
happy time there.
And I also climbed up to that big rock
and sat on top of it,
not knowing about the danger.
So the landslide did happen.
That was about 12 years ago.
That's 53 years after the house was built.
And you could see that the house is basically gone in there.
Thankfully, by that time,
most of us had moved away from the house to various places.
There were still two of my older brothers there
during that landslide.
It happened at about 4 a.m. in the morning,
in the heavy rain.
And miraculously,
they only sustained mild injury.
Not sure,
they also didn't know how to escape.
They somehow walk out in the dark,
in the rubble,
avoid everything.
But they're thankful that they escaped.
So,
for me,
ignorance was pleased
as I had a great childhood living in the house.
But if I knew that landslide could happen anytime,
then it would be a very anxious time living in the house.
Because my mom did tell me that she knew about ghost danger,
and every time it rains,
she would worry sick about this.
And it's just,
we're just thankful that we,
it did not happen during our childhood days.
And,
if it happened during our childhood days,
then ignorance was not a bliss,
obviously.
And,
so Romans 1 to 6
tells us ignorance is not bliss
for two reasons.
One is that
we are risking the danger of God's judgment.
The other one is that
we are missing the comfort of God's grace.
So,
when our days turn out as we have planned,
and we enjoy our time,
we do not think about God's judgment.
In fact,
we do not even think about God at all.
So,
these are too
dangerous.
In Romans 1,
it tells us that
there is a God,
and this God is angry
towards man's ungodliness.
and unrighteousness.
Ungodliness means that
we lost
the image of God.
I mean,
God created us
in his image.
And then we live in a way
that
nothing like God
in our character.
Unrighteousness means that
we live in a way
that we disregard God's rules.
We just live
whatever way we like.
The universe around us
tells us that there is a God.
Because we could see
the creation
and know that
it has to be
created by someone.
But we say that
the universe tells us
there is no God.
That it comes
by a big bang.
The presence of morality
in human society
tells us that
there is a God
who decides
what is
who decides
what is good
and what is bad.
So,
because we know
that if
something is good
and something is bad
there is that
moral standard.
And that
they have to think
who gives this
moral standard.
And then we should
consider that
there is a God
who would decide this.
But the society
will push for us
to
the freedom
for each person
to decide
what is good
and what is bad
for himself
and we think
that when the outcome
of our days
seems good to us
then this is
God's blessing.
But not knowing
that
this can be
God's judgment
as well.
That's what
chapter 1 says.
Because people
want to
ignore God
God's judgment
is to let people
do what they want.
So,
there are three things
that he mentioned there.
that he let people
worship
whatever they want
the creator beings.
In doing so
people
gradually
become
more and more
like what they worship.
We become
we will become
like what we worship.
So,
if we worship idols
we will like those idols
of
thoughts
and our character
we like those idols.
And so,
we lose
our identity
as the
image bearer
of God.
number two
is that
God
let
people
pursue
unnatural
identities.
We can now
choose our own
gender
our sexual
identities
so that it feels
good
we can identify
ourselves with
anything we like.
So,
in doing so
we lose our
identity as
men and women.
So,
we lose
our honor
as God's
creator beings.
and number
three
God
lets people
satisfy the
desires of
their heart.
We become
preoccupied with
getting what
we want
and in doing
so
we will compete
with one another
because
when we
want the
same thing
and everyone
wants money
or power
then
there is a
struggle
for
in the world
and there will be
conflict
between one
another
human beings
and between
countries
and
so that's
what the world
is like
at the moment
and
also we
make use of
one another
as instruments
to get what
we want
and we also
teach one another
that it's good
to have greed
and competition
so that there is
progress
in the society.
So,
in doing all
these things
we lose our
souls
we
become
dead
in our
souls
so Romans
1 and 2
also
tells us
that
ignorance
is not
an excuse
we can't
tell God
that we
didn't know
there's no
I didn't know
we didn't know
there's a God
we didn't know
there's your rules
because
the creator
universe
tells us
that there is
a creator
and our
own moral
codes
tells us
there is a
lawgiver
and when
we judge
other people
for doing
the wrong
thing
we are
affirming
that there
is such a
thing as
right and
wrong
we do not
have any
excuse
because we
cannot even
live up to
what we
know is
right
and Romans
2
tells us
that even
people who
know
that there
is a
God and
who know
God's
law
are under
God's
judgment
because
as we
see the
Jews
they
claim that
they know
God
and they
claim that
they know
God's
laws
but they
could not
live up
to those
what they
know
so it
is more
liability
for those
people
for them
to know
God and
know God's
law but
yet unable
to live
up to
it
so Romans
2 tells
us that
being
religious
does not
help either
we are still
under the
judgment of
God
so the
first two
chapters of
Romans tells
us that
everyone in
the world
either it
is religious
or irreligious
is living
under the
wrath of
God
the judgment
that comes
with God's
wrath is
not only a
future event
but it's
also taking
place right
now as
God let
us do
what is
right in
our own
eyes
so therefore
ignorance of
God's judgment
is not
pleased
the other
reason why
ignorance is
not pleased
is that we
cannot afford
to ignore
God's
grace
so we
can ignore
God's
judgment
we can
you may
also ignore
God's
grace
during a
recent
trip
to
Nongpen
in
Cambodia
I went
through blood
test results
with most
of the
staff of
Joy Christian
School
and I
requested them
to have their
vitamin D
levels
checked
so I
received 86
results
which I
plotted on
the graph
so in
Cambodia
the minimum
accepted
level of
vitamin D
from blood
test is
30 nanogram
per mini
litre
which is
the same
as Australia
which is
50
minimum
per litre
in
Australian
term
but the
ideal blood
level of
vitamin D
is generally
considered
about 40
nanogram
per litre
which is
if you
can see
the graph
so
on the
y axis
so there
is 0
and then
you've got
10,
20,
30,
40
so
the mouse
is pointing
at the
40 level
that is
the ideal
level
or the
good level
of vitamin
D
so we
can see
that move
and then
in the
graph
there are
24 male
staff
at the
back of
the graph
the last
24
numbers
are male
and
the front
there are
62
are female
so
you can
see that
most of
the male
staff
actually
reach the
minimum
of 30
and many
of them
get to
40
but most
of the
females
don't even
get to
30
and
only one
got to
40
and so
there is
quite a
vitamin
D
deficiency
amount
of
the
female
staff
because
vitamin
D
deficiency
does not
cause
any
immediate
and obvious
symptoms
most
most people
are happily
ignorant
of this
deficiency
in
adults
persistent
vitamin D
deficiency
eventually
causes
osteoporosis
and in
infants
it
causes
malformation
of bones
but
vitamin D
deficiency
is also
known to
be
associated
with
depression
diabetes
heart
disease
and some
cancers
and so
we consider
what
causes
this
difference
in
vitamin
D
level
between
male
and
female
staff
I
think
it is
mainly
because
female
staff
wear
clothes
with
long
sleeves
and
why
do
they
wear
long
sleeves
because
the
school
is
air
conditioner
and
it's
cold
so
they
wear
long
sleeves
the other
thing
is
they
don't
want
to
get
sun
burn
because
their
skins
are
already
dark
so
they
don't
want
to
get
their
skin
any
darker
so
they
cover
their
skin
and
unfortunately
because
their
skins
are
darker
they
need
actually
more
sunlight
to
get
vitamin
D
unlike
the
Australian
skin
and
so
year
after
year
doing
that
they
don't
have
enough
sunlight
and
so
they
become
deficient
in
vitamin
D
and
there
is
plenty
of
sunlight
in
Cambodia
but
many
people
are
ignoring
the
need
of
sunlight
to
keep
their
bodies
healthy
I
understand
in
Australia
we
are
afraid
of
too
much
sunlight
because
of
different
skin
color
that is
one
thing
but
still
we
all
need
some
skin
some
sunlight
on
our
skins
also
by
the
way
you
may
worry
that
if
you
take
too
much
sunlight
your
body
may
have
overdose
of
vitamin
D
it
doesn't
happen
because
there's
automatic
shut off
when the
body
sense
that there's
enough
vitamin
D
it
will
not
make
any
more
and
that's
the
amazing
thing
about
God's
creation
so
I
advise
them
the
female
stuff
to get
about
20
minutes
of
sunlight
on
their
arms
that's
all
they
need
but
they
are
still
not
willing
to
do
that
they
would
rather
spend
their
money
to
buy
vitamin
D
supplement
but
at least
hopefully
this
will
prevent
many
of
them
getting
osteoporosis
in
their
older
age
so
in
some
ways
God's
grace
is like
sunlight
we're
ignoring
our
need
of
this
grace
we
think
that
we
are
doing
just
fine
without
any
sunlight
or
that
we
can
somehow
earn
God's
grace
by
our
own
efforts
what
difference
does
God's
grace
make
in
our
life
how
do
we
know
that
we
live
under
God's
grace
and
for
this
answer
we'll
jump
to
Romans
5
so
there's
Romans
5
the
difference
is that
we will
have
joy
we will
rejoice
people have
God's
grace
love
they will
rejoice
in
hope
in
hope
in
Romans
5
they will
rejoice in the hope of the glory of God
people who live under God's grace
they know that they have sinned and lost any hope of being like God
they have fallen short of the glory of God
but now that they have been forgiven by God
God is restoring this glory and honor and immortality to them
so because their hope is
is that God is restoring this glory and honor and immortality
so they will not be discouraged by the failures or weaknesses or suffering they face
each day
this hope keeps them going
and they also know that this hope is not dependent on what they do
it is
God given
so this
the second thing they rejoice
is in suffering
why do they rejoice in suffering?
because
people who live under the grace of God
they are not surprised by suffering
they are actually surprised that they don't suffer
because they know
that
they know two things
one is that
they are not perfect
they know that they are silly
they know that
they are foolish
and they know that
life
there will be lots of failures
and suffering
so this is one thing
they are not surprised
by their failure
second thing also
they know that
their life is different
to the life
people live in this world
and so
they will not
be able to mix well
with people in this world
and that
in that way
they will suffer
that is grace
that
that changed
their outlook
and they also know
that Jesus also suffered
in this world
and also
they know that
God is making them more like Jesus
through suffering
and so
they rejoice in suffering
the third thing
is that
they will rejoice in God
because they
start to understand
God's love
this love
has been poured
into the heart
by the Holy Spirit
and also through
revelation
in God's word
and
this love
keeps them
going
and also
they are no longer
just rejoicing
in their achievements
they rejoice in God
that means
they rejoice in
God's name being honoured
they rejoice
seeing God's kingdom come
and God's will being done
and this is
that's what
keeps them going
and these are the
people who live
under
the grace of God
so most of us
have joy deficiency
but we are not aware
of it
and it is easy
to check the level
of joy in our hearts
we can just
think for a moment
from the time
we wake up
this
we woke up
this morning
until now
how much our hearts
has been occupied
by worries
sadness
and disappointments
and
that happens
to all of us
every day
we do not have
much joy
in our heart
because we seek
satisfaction
in minor things
we rejoice
in our achievements
and our plans
being fulfilled
in our
entertainment
because
life does not
usually turn up
as it expects
it to be
and because
even when our plans
come true
we are not satisfied
and therefore
there is little joy
in our hearts
people who are
satisfied
in God's grace
and by God's grace
can rejoice
in major things
so they rejoice
in things which matter
they rejoice in the hope
of the glory of God
they rejoice in suffering
and they will rejoice
in God
and you know what
once you can rejoice
in major things
you will start
truly to rejoice
in minor things
God has given
to you to enjoy
and that is what
Ecclesiastes
is talking about
Solomon's writing
that vanity
everything is vanity
he is talking about
he couldn't enjoy
everything in the world
despite his wealth
his power
just because
his satisfaction
was
in the things
of the world
and we can't find
satisfaction in there
and that is why
he got disappointed
with all that
his experience
but if we
are satisfied
in God's grace
then we can truly
be free
to enjoy
God's creation
what God has given
to us
so
for those who
do not want
to ignore
God's grace
or do not want
to ignore
God's grace
Romans 5 and 6
tell us more
about this
grace
so if we
are joy
division
we need to
know grace
and we need
to understand
what grace
is
there's at least
five things
that
Romans 5 and 6
tell us
he said
grace is when
we were weak
and wicked
Christ died for us
grace is when
we were dead
Christ gave us
life
grace is when
we were enslaved
to sin
Christ set us
free
grace is when
we were lovers
of sin
Christ made us
lovers of
godliness
grace is when
we ought to
receive the
wages of
sin
Christ changed
it into the
gift of eternal
life
so Romans 1
and 2
tells us the
danger we are
facing if we
ignore God's
judgment
Romans 5 and 6
the place we are
missing if we
ignore God's
grace
then we need to
consider how does
the person get to
change from living
under God's
judgment to
living under God's
grace
and that's why
Romans 3
comes in
so Romans 3
first tells us
that no one is
acceptable in
God's eye
and by
the works of
the law no
human being
will be justified
in God's
sight for all
have sinned and
fallen short of
the glory of
God
we cannot
contribute
anything to
change our
status of
living under
God's judgment
to the status
of living under
God's grace
so we can
ask the
question
can't God
simply
forgive sin
to say
it doesn't
matter
God's holiness
is like light
and our sin
is like
darkness
holiness and
sin just
cannot come
together
without the
light consuming
the darkness
so it's not a
matter of if
light will
forgive the
darkness
but light
and darkness
just don't
mix
there's one
thing
the other
thing is that
God says
that already
the wages of
sin is death
and why will
God save
he can't
change it
or we can
ask
can't God
just say
let them be
they will grow
up someday
and return to
me
so people
will change
and become
a better
person
Romans 1
tells us
that God
does let
us be
but what
will happen
when God
let us be
when God
let us do
what is good
in our own
lives
so we will
grow up
not to be
a better
person
not to be
a person
who will
be
wanting to
know God
but we will
grow up to
be better
sinners
we will
become more
enslaved by
darkness
and we will
not come to
the light
so Romans 3
goes on
to tell us
the gospel
Paul said
that he
was not
ashamed of
the gospel
why did he
say that
because the
gospel is
not
we can do
something to
change our
life
but the
gospel is
God has
done something
to change
our lives
the gospel
is that
the judgment
of death
has been
received
by Christ
Jesus
the blood
of Christ
has satisfied
God's
holy
judgment
God can
now forgive
sin
because the
debt has
been paid
God can
now justify
sinners
without
violating
his own
justice
so will
all the
sinners
be justified
by God
no only
those who
are in
Christ
Jesus
can be
justified
now who
are those
in Christ
Jesus
they are
the sinners
who die
in Christ
and live
in Christ
they have
died to
their
darkness
and live
in the
light of
Christ
they can
therefore
return to
God
because they
are
covered by
the light
of Christ
or they
are consumed
by the
light of
Christ
so the
rest of
Romans 3
tells us
how someone
can be
in Christ
it is
both the
easiest
and the
hardest
things to
be in
Christ
and the
Bible
calls it
faith
so Romans
4
tells us
that from
the very
beginning
faith has
always been
necessary
for someone
to be
acceptable
to God
Abraham
was justified
because he
believed in
what God
has
promised
and
what he
caused
Abraham
to do
so
Abraham
had to
leave his
hometown
had to
go with
God
to
unknown
place
and had
to
sort of
sacrifice
his son
just because
he believed
in the
word of
God
so
believing
in God
does
cause us
something
and that's
why
faith is
the easiest
and the
hardest
thing at
the same
time
so easy
because we
just need to
listen and
believe
hard because
we need
to die
to ourselves
so in
accepting
what God
says
we need to
believe
at least
these five
things
I'm not
righteous
I have
not done
anything
good
this first
thing
I'm living
in darkness
second thing
is Jesus
Christ is the
only one who
is righteous
and the
light
third thing
only the death
of Jesus
Christ can
redeem me
fourth thing
Jesus Christ
alone can
be my
savior
and my
lord
and
15
once I
I'm in
Christ
it's no
longer I
who live
but Christ
lives in
me
even though
we do not
want to live
under God's
judgment
and that we
would like to
live under
God's grace
we are too
weak
on our own
to respond
to the
gospel
by faith
we do not
want to
give our
own rights
we are
fearful to
die
to ourselves
we thank
God that
he pulls
us along
helping us
to take
our first
steps
like a
father
helping his
infant to
walk
the gospel
comes to
us from
faith
for faith
God starts
our first
steps
after we
have tasted
the goodness
of walking
in grace
we will have
more confidence
to walk
on and
on
so today
many of us
have started
this walk
of faith
we are
thankful
that God
has been
holding our
hands
we are
thankful
that we
no longer
live under
the threat
of landslides
and we are
thankful that
God has
not left
us alone
to do
what seems
right
on us
and we
are thankful
for the
joy that
is ours
under
God's
grace
and I
hope that
for those
of us
walking in
this
path of
faith
in God's
grace
we will
keep
walking
as Jesus
told his
disciples
that
greater
things
you will
do
and I
hope that
we can
all
aspire to
that
to do
greater
things
in Christ
for the
kingdom
of God
to do
something
that
has
eternal
value
for those
of us
who have
not
started
this
walk
I hope
that you
do want
to live
under
the light
of
God's
grace
and if
you
want
to do
so
you
just
need to
ask God
to help
you
otherwise
we would
keep on
carrying our
burden
in life
and
at the
end
there will
be
judgment
to come
let us
pray
father we
thank you
for your
mercy
that we
can now
know that
there's no
condemnation
to those
who are
in Christ
not only
that we
also live
in your
grace
that we
can face
this day
with
confidence
with joy
and with
the ability
to
share the
concern of
others
and be
kind to
others
thank you
Lord
we also
pray for
those of
us who
are
thinking
and wanting
to
seek
the truth
may you
help them
to see
the glory
of the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
thank you
Lord
we pray
in Jesus
name
amen
I
Lord
I
thank you