June 15, 2025 / Sunday Sermon Manuscript

1.     The phrase "since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" seems simple at first glance, but the more we chew on it, the more we realize how profound and difficult it is.

2.     When Paul wrote the letter to the Romans, he had already established the early church to a certain extent and had reached a level of theological maturity. This passage was written when Paul had gained deep understanding of Scripture and Jesus' teachings, having faced various questions and debates.

3.     In chapter 4 of Romans, preceding today's passage, Paul explains at length how Abraham was justified through faith in the history of Israel. From this, we see that Paul was trying to show how God's salvation is manifested.

4.     In today's passage, Paul speaks of how we, through this faith, enjoy peace with God. Then in chapter 6, he discusses how we are united with Jesus Christ, and in chapter 8, he describes what it means to live according to the Spirit. Whether intentional or not, Paul seems to have wanted to systematically explain the dynamic nature of the gospel of believing in Jesus, how we walk with God, and how the work of the Holy Spirit unfolds.

5.     Through Paul's effort, we come to realize the most fundamental spiritual posture—that we are justified by faith—and we must note that this became the most important tenet of the Reformation.

6.     Looking at our current reality, the United States recently experienced an unprecedented immigration crackdown, resulting in protests of a different nature and even the deployment of the Marines by the Trump administration to protect federal buildings, beyond just the National Guard.

7.     In response, Governor Newsom strongly expressed his disapproval, stating that the federal government had violated procedures and authority. He filed an injunction against the Trump administration's executive order, and the court upheld the governor's opinion.

8.     People are anxious in this situation. Various news stories and questions from those around us are filled with worry.

9.     Significant changes have also occurred in Korea. A new president has been elected, and while some look forward to the changes, others are filled with concern.

10.  Beyond these events around us, last week Israel started a war with Iran. The U.S. is currently watching from the sidelines, defending the legitimacy of the war.

11.  For those of us living in such times, it is worth contemplating what "the gospel of believing in Jesus," or "being justified by faith," truly means. This could be an opportunity to connect our faith lives with the realities of daily life.

12.  Preachers are always taught to connect the reality of the congregation's lives with the message of the Word. But it's not easy to melt real-life situations into sermons. Simply mentioning our reality is not enough to claim we've fulfilled our duty.

13.  For example, the same event may be seen differently. Some may think it was right for Trump to send in the military, while others disagree. Yet both are our neighbors and colleagues. Some think the new Korean president is a good change, while others are worried. The discomfort we feel knowing both groups coexist in our community is real.

14.  There may be those near us who support Israel's bombing of Iran, and among those who strongly oppose it, there may be our own family members.

15.  Because of this, we have become accustomed to remaining silent about reality or turning away from it to avoid unnecessary conflict. This has become almost routine for many of us today.

16.  So we might ask: is ignoring reality or merely acknowledging it in the name of wisdom or peace truly the best we can do for the well-being of our community? If we leave it this way for too long, we may end up wasting our lives on superficialities rather than living in truth.

17.  Then should we expose everything and dig deep into every matter? Some might think that's an effective approach. However, if we remember that we live in this world as Christians, we must first discern—through Scripture and through Jesus Christ—what we are truly called to see.

18.  In that sense, Paul offers excellent guidance to the church and to us even today. Paul did not turn away from reality. Rather, he was an evangelist who did not spare his life to proclaim the gospel amidst that reality.

19.  If we remember this about Paul, we can more clearly discern the path we must walk and set our lives accordingly.

20.  In verse 1 of today's passage, the phrase "since we have been justified by faith" is translated from the Greek "dikaiothentes ek pisteos." The term "dikaiosyne" means "the righteousness of God." From the Old Testament through Jesus' proclamation of the gospel in the New Testament, the core theme has always been the fulfillment of God's righteousness.

21.  Many refer to Jesus' gospel movement as the "Kingdom of God movement," which means fulfilling God's righteousness. In Romans 4, Paul declares that God's righteousness is fulfilled through faith (pistis), referencing Abraham.

22.  In Korean, the phrase "since we have been justified by faith" might seem to mean we attain God's righteousness simply because of our faith. But the critical word here is the preposition "ek," translated as "by" in English. It presents the basis of our justification.

23.  Why is this important? Because in Romans 3:26, Paul adds that those "who have faith in Jesus" are justified, using the phrase "ek pisteos Iesou," or "the faith of Jesus."

24.  I have previously raised this question in discussions of Romans: Are we justified by believing in Jesus, or by the faith of Jesus? This was likely a question Paul himself received in the early church. Paul often uses both phrases—speaking of "the faith of Jesus" and "believing in Jesus."

25.  Today, we distinguish sharply between the two. But back then, to believe in Jesus meant believing in what Jesus believed. In other words, to be a Christian meant both believing in Jesus and living like Jesus.

26.  The preposition "ek" is also replaced with "dia" (through) in other verses. So "justified by faith" and "justified through faith" raise the same question: Whose faith? Is it through Jesus' faith that we are made righteous? Or is it through our faith in Jesus that we are justified?

27.  Though it may seem like wordplay, the early church earnestly wrestled with these questions, and Paul did not avoid them. This passage can be seen as his response.

28.  As I said earlier, believing in Jesus was the same as believing in Jesus' faith. If we understand it this way, we realize we need a renewed understanding of our own faith today.

29.  Simply put, when Paul talks about justification through faith, the subject and meaning of that faith point to "the faithfulness of Jesus."

30.  Jesus lived during a turbulent time. The Roman Empire had colonized the land. There were those who collaborated with Rome and those who resisted. Economically, the colonies were being drained to support Rome's imperial ambitions.

31.  In this context, the Jewish religious leaders focused on maintaining their authority and position rather than tending to the wounds of the common people.

32.  And even in such times, people were divided into those who supported, those who opposed, those who resisted, and those who conformed. Arguments about what was right or wrong consumed people, while the suffering masses received no comfort.

33.  Amidst this, Jesus' faithfulness revealed and proclaimed what actions were truly for God and what God regarded as righteous.

34.  He paid attention to the breath of the smallest ones and proclaimed that the Kingdom of God was in their midst, especially for the marginalized and those suffering most.

35.  Paul wanted to convey this very faithfulness of Jesus.

36.  Paul's reality was not so different. Rome still ruled by force, and Paul crossed the deep divides between Jews and Gentiles, asserting that even those boundaries could not hinder the gospel of God's love.

37.  By focusing on Jesus' faithfulness rather than legal systems tangled by human hands, Paul preached boldly beyond all boundaries.

38.  Relying on Paul's example, we too can find courage to look squarely at our reality and make this confession:

39.  To go to church, to be a Christian, to believe in Jesus—all mean that we have decided to live by the faithfulness Jesus showed us. It's not about living by arbitrary judgments but aligning our lives with the zeal of God, who through the good news—through the gospel—saves, loves, and calls people to become God's children, making them righteous by faith.

40.  The world still demands that we take sides. "Which side are you on?" it asks. We may hesitate, but we must answer clearly: Through faith, by faith—whose faith? By faith in the life Jesus lived, in His faithfulness. And by believing in that very Jesus, we live lives clothed in God's righteousness. This is the rightful path we must walk.

41.  Our hearts must remain open to the excluded, the hurting, and the wounded. We must pay attention to those who suffer most.

42.  Last week, during the performance with the children's choir, our hope and concern were centered on helping children in conflict zones. It's a place no one cares about, but it is precisely where Jesus' faithfulness is revealed.

43.  If we align our understanding of such external matters, we will live as proper Christians in this world.

44.  Here's another challenge: If we hope to strengthen our faith and be made righteous by reaching faraway places, then we must also show that same heart to those nearby.

45.  It's been nearly a year since Yeolin Church moved to this place. Though it's not yet September, it feels to me that June, when we began construction, marks the one-year point. Through this time, I've received countless questions and comments.

46.  Some praised the move and others wished the church well, which I deeply appreciate. But as the pastor, I also feel a responsibility to hold important hopes and expectations and work hard in this reality.

47.  There are many churches and many believers. Though not around here, you can find Korean churches with thousands of members an hour's drive away. Yet, I have not heard any rumor that those churches, depending on Jesus' faithfulness, live as true Christians. It seems numbers are their pride, but that's often where it ends. Most conform or remain silent in the face of reality, and I haven't heard any other evaluations or rumors.

48.  Even for Yeolin Church, where we worship together, I haven't heard many stories. People say the atmosphere is good, but they also say newcomers aren't well cared for. So I hear both what we're doing wrong and what we must do better. That's good. But I hope we respond more earnestly to the realities Yeolin Church is facing.

49.  I hope Yeolin Church becomes known as a congregation where Paul's kind of devotion, modeled after Jesus' faithfulness, drives our growth. Is that too idealistic? Many say so. But I believe there's nothing wrong with dreaming of and longing for a somewhat ideal, even perfect, church.

50.  So as your pastor, I ask: let's become a church and a congregation that is justified by faith by resembling Jesus' faithfulness—and add 20% more effort than we've already given. It's not about growing in numbers or attracting crowds. There are already many churches doing that. Rather, like Paul, who gave his all to spread the gospel in the spirit of Jesus' faithfulness, let us no longer hesitate. Let us not be trapped in constant discussions, but instead, become a church that prays more, worships more, and praises more.

51.  I will give my all as your pastor. I hope you do the same so that Yeolin Church may flourish in number and in spirit, and become more widely known as a church that reveals Jesus' faithfulness in this region. May our reputation grow—not for our own sake—but so we might faithfully proclaim Christ's gospel in the reality we face.

52.  If we do this, I believe we'll grow spiritually and numerically. I hope you'll arrive earlier on Sundays, with hearts full of expectation, to share in fellowship.

53.  Let's put effort into evangelism, discipleship, and missions. Let's build a church that prays, reads the Word, sings praise, and shares love not only on Sundays, but throughout the week.

54.  Now, after one year, I hope we prepare for another year—one that brings renewed meaning and transformation for us all.