Two Types of Righteousness

Pastor Ock Soo Park's Sermon

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 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:For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 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; To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.... (Romans 3:19-31)

A certain Pastor Who Realized The Gospel

Hello everyone. I returned from a weeklong trip to the African countries of Zambia, Uganda, Burundi, and Kenya. I was tired from the trip, but I was thankful to meet the government leaders of those four countries by the grace of God.

 There was a certain pastor, Kwon Shin-chan, who passed away many years ago. He was both the pastor of the Daegu Chilsung Church and a professor at Daegu Theology School.

Even though he was a pastor, he suffered with the problem of sin. One day, as he was preparing a sermon, he read in the Bible,

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. (Romans 3:20-21)

He was completely shocked by the verse that stated, “The righteousness of God without the law is manifested.”

He always tried to keep the Law and do good in order to go before God. He gave most of his money to charity and church offering. Soon, he was living in poverty wearing worn out shoes and an old suit.

Then he realized for the first time that there is a way to go to God regardless of the Law and the righteousness that is obtained by it; in other words by keeping the Ten Commandments and living as a good person not doing bad things. He was happy and deeply moved. “I found out that righteousness is received by the grace of God and not through the Law. I received that righteousness. Now I’m saved and I’m going to heaven.” He cried, he laughed, and he danced all day long.

DISCOVERING IS FAITH

There were a few people that preached this Gospel in Korea in the early 1960s. Nowadays, because our church readily preaches the Gospel, people just think of it as, “My sins are forgiven. I’m righteous now.” Even now there are many people that preach something similar to the Gospel, but it is rare to see anyone preaching the true Gospel.

There is one thing we must know precisely to live by faith. Faith is not me reading the Bible and trying to live by faith, but it is discovering. As we live spiritual life, if we are not happy after reading the Bible or if arriving late to service doesn’t bother us or making an offering to God seems like a waste, bit by bit our faith becomes vague. Rather than making us commit sins like theft, murder, or adultery, Satan makes us gradually avoid things that are burdensome. Spiritual life was actually easy when people were imprisoned or executed for Jesus because it was a life or death situation. But spiritual life becomes hard when we are led by Satan to accept the flesh little by little thinking, “I don’t have faith.”

If we know the Bible precisely, we will have faith. Forgiveness of sins is not the only thing obtained by faith. When we live life itself with faith in Jesus, we will experience limitless peace, joy, and hope that we couldn’t experience in the world, and God will work in our life.

YOU CAN’T BECOME RIGHTEOUS BY THE LAW

I want to ask you a question. Please raise your hand if you think, “I can become righteous if I keep the Law.” Next, raise your hand if you think, “Even though I keep the Law, I can’t become righteous.” You’re not sure, right? The Bible says, “The man that doeth them shall live in them.” One can become righteous by keeping the entire Law, but the problem is that there is no one in the world who can do that.

That is why the Bible says, Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

It said that no man is recognized as righteous by keeping the Law. Even a person who seems good in our eyes can’t become righteous by keeping the Law. But Satan is very crafty. He makes everyone think they need to keep the Ten Commandments and do good deeds.

THIS MUCH IS ENOUGH

I received salvation in 1962 and received training at the Daegu Missionary School. Many young people back then were determined to devote their life to the Gospel, but none of them is still preaching the Gospel today. Satan led them craftily down the path of corruption, little by little.

If we don’t know the Bible precisely, it’s likely that we will be deceived by Satan. Don’t trust in yourself thinking, “I’m saved. I received the grace of God.” “Because I’m saved, it’s okay if I don’t read the Bible today. It’s okay if I miss service once. It’s okay if I don’t make an offering.” These thoughts seem harmless, but it’s Satan’s plan to lead you steadily into destruction. Most people don’t search the Bible in such situations, thinking, “What does it say in the Bible?” They trust their judgment, “This much is enough,” and they gradually fall into sin.

CHRISTIANS THAT ARE BECOMING SECULARIZED

In the time of the Romans, Nero killed countless numbers of Christians. Christianity spread all over Rome during that time and the number of Christians grew at an alarming rate that they were hiding everywhere.

With the Korean War as the starting point, the number of Christians in Korea increased until 1993 and started to decline slowly. Many pastors of mega-churches today shorten their sermons to make their congregation feel at ease. Now sermons are only fifteen minutes long, and most are going in the direction of having fun. Even churches with born again people are rapidly becoming secularized.

As the economy in Korea is getting better, there is a sharp drop in the number of Christians. On the other hand, the number of people committing suicide is increasing because they don’t have true peace in their hearts. Even among Christians, the number of people that think, “I should receive salvation and go to heaven,” is gradually decreasing. Additionally, born again people think it’s okay to not read the Bible, not pray, not make an offering, and arrive late to service or not attend at all.

THROUGH THE LIFE OF A MISSIONARY IN AFRICA

As we toured the four African countries of Burundi, Zambia, Uganda, and Kenya, a reporter from the Joongang Daily accompanied us. As he saw how our missionaries lived in Africa, he gave all the money he had on him to a missionary and his wife. Then he cried and said to me, “Pastor, I never imagined a missionary would be living this poorly. I don’t believe in Jesus, but I want to continue helping these missionaries.”

Every time I go to Africa, I feel ashamed to have many clothes and shoes. I start to have the heart of wanting to mingle with the African brothers—contracting malaria, shedding tears, and living in starvation and in rags like them.

During the Korean War, the GNP in Korea was $67, but now it is about $20,000. Korea is now unbelievably prosperous compared to that time. Nevertheless, people still feel insufficient, and the ambition that they need to live even better lives is holding a tight grip on their hearts. The Gospel that you received in such an age as this is invaluable. Many Christians today are deceived by Satan to keep the Law and do good to enter heaven because they don’t know the fact, “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified”.