TEACHER, MYUNG SOOK CHUNG

In 1989, when I was teaching at a high school in Kyung Buk Province, Sister Myung Sook Chung ( now the wife of Elder Hyung Mo Lee of our church) was a fellow teacher who worked with me. She taught art at the school. Although I had been working with her for almost six months, we did not have much conversation about anything. One day, I came to have a talk with her about faith. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to talk to her about faith, so I suggested that we have a Bible study regularly. We had Bible study for about a month. Then one day, the sister told me that she could no longer have the Bible study.

She said that the interferences from the other teachers made it hard for her to have the Bible study. Then she brought back all of the tapes and books I had given her. I was so saddened and hurt by the fact that Satan had disrupted one soul from listening to the gospel. The only thing I could do was to pray to God earnestly. There was nothing I could do to bring her back. So I told her, "Whenever you want to hear the gospel, come back anytime, my door is always open to you." The fellowship with her ended just like that.

After about a month had passed, the sister came and asked me about some verses in Matthew chapter 24, verses 19 and after. She said that she had asked a lot of people, but no one seemed sure of the understanding. I explained to her the meaning of the verses, and she opened up her heart widely. She said, "You are the only one who explains it as I expected." So we resumed the Bible study. She came to conclude that what I had spoken to her in the Bible study was the most accurate explanation. Also she came to acknowledge that she needed to get saved.

At that point, if I had witnessed the gospel to her, she may have just been saved. But then, I wanted to bend her heart. I said, "If you truly want to live, go to the Kimchun Church and receive salvation." To my surprise, she took one day's leave of absence from school and went to the church. The next day, I found that the gospel had entered into her heart.

She said that her health was not very good, so while on the bus to the church she fainted twice. However, she thought, 'I cannot submit to this condition, then, I will never get saved and fall into hell.' Just as the woman with the issue of blood went after Jesus, she traveled there to look for the word of life and received the precious grace of the Lord.

AM I RIGHTEOUS?

After this sister received salvation, her husband started to persecute her for the differences in faith. By being deceived into all the bad rumors and false religion, Satan incited him. The husband continually persecuted the sister for many more years. Then, they moved out of the country to get away from our church and came back a few years later.

By that time her mother in law had opened up her heart widely to our church and attended the church where I was ministering. She said, "I will back you up, so come to our house when my son is at home." We set the time to visit him at home and waited for our day to come.

At that time, a grand conference was being held at Choongmu Gymnasium. I was on my way to the conference and visited his home with a fellow pastor. Nonetheless, the sister's husband yelled, "You don't even have respect? Get out of my house!" We said "Let us talk to you for a little while." As we begged our way in, he cut us with this word.

"I don't want to hear anything. My wife claims that she is righteous, then, where in the Bible does it say that 'I am righteous?' Just answer that."

I was afraid that if I say there is no word written exactly as he put it, he might say, "You are heretics, speaking the words that are not even in the Bible." So I said there is such a word, and he said to find it for him.

I told him, "If I find 'I am righteous' would you admit that your faith is wrong?" But he only insisted that we find 'I am righteous.' I opened up the Bible and explained Romans chapter 3:23- 24.

"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."

"Now, this word is written as one sentence. To who does this word 'all' refers to? Isn't this the word which God had set for all human beings? In all people, are you not included? It documents here that, "We all have sinned, so we fall short of the glory of God." In verse 24, doesn't God state that we are justified? If all came to be justified, then wouldn't you become justified also?"

Then, he kicked his seat and went out by saying, "Don't speak blasphemy. Just find where it says that 'I am righteous!'" Fortunately, despite his resistance he got saved later on through the grace of God, and became the one sacrificing his life in witnessing the precious grace and love of the Lord.

BY THE WORK OF THE RIGHTEOUS

In Romans chapter 3:23, it clearly states 'All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.' This testifies that if one could go to heaven by being righteous through one's own by not committing sin, then there would be no one who is able. But, if you look at the last part of verse 24, it states, 'being justified.' How can human beings who have sinned become righteous? That is through the power of the blood of Jesus Christ which can make any sinner to become righteous.

"Even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." (Romans 5:18)

"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5:19)

It is not due to us living righteously or by our works, but "by the righteousness of one" we all became righteous. We became righteous, "Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:" (Romans 3:24)

Between 'We being sinners' and the promise of God's 'Righteousness' there is the redemption of Jesus Christ which all comes to 'forgiveness of sin' as it is written in Ephesians chapter 1:7, and Colossians 1:24. We were born from sin and became sinners, but God sent Jesus Christ for our sins and redeemed all our sins. Through this grace we have become righteous. Therefore, we are not righteous by not committing sin, but are righteous through having received forgiveness of sin.

When we focus on our works, we are sinners. However, if we look at what God had done for us, we are righteous. The righteous are those who believe God who calls sinners righteous (Not just saying the word sinners to be righteous), but having truly made sinners to become righteous.

I searched using the computer to locate the number of times the word 'righteous' is found in the Bible, and the result was 187 words in the Newly Revised Korean Standard Bible. I also checked other translated Korean Bibles, and it all summed up to 202 words. However, many ignorant people who do not know the secret of the gospel asserts, 'Where is righteous written?' I guess they would rather ignore the way than to find a way to become righteous. I want to speak to all of them as such.

"There is righteousness in the Bible. There is a way for sinners to become righteous! The faith starts from here."

PAUL ALSO SAID HE WAS CHIEF AMONG SINNERS

People who do not know the Bible points out to First Timothy chapter 1:15, where Paul testified that he was chief among sinners. They proclaim, 'How can you say you are righteous? It is very haughty minded." In First Timothy chapter 1:13-16, it clearly shows the differences of how 'Paul's previous self, where he was held by Satan and lived a life without knowing the grace of God.' and 'The image of Paul, how God had poured mercy on a person like himself.'

In verse 13, "Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious" and afterward it documents, "but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief."

Let's focus on the words, "before...and in unbelief." This records about Paul in the flesh, who did not know the true grace of God. This image was what he was referring to as chief among sinners. God makes us to remember our true self. Many people in the Bible have a label following them that is shameful. Although Ruth's heart was removed from Moab, she was always labeled as 'Ruth the Moabitess.' Abigail was certainly the wife of David, but she was always labeled as 'The wife of Nabal.' God always wants us to remember our true self, so we can be at the side of grace and mercy. Paul knew himself well so he did not trust in himself, and denied himself everyday, living the life of trusting in the grace and mercy of the Lord. We also are the same. If we do not receive the mercy of the Lord, we can only reveal the image of the filthy and proud sinner everyday.

However, let's look at the amazing mercy of God brought upon Paul after his confession.
"And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." (1Timothy 1:14)

Then, does Paul still live his life as chief among sinners after he had found that grace?

The more one perceives oneself as a sinner through the Law, the salvation and grace of Jesus, who redeemed our sins, becomes bigger in our hearts. Moreover, after salvation, if we realize who we really are before God, the grace which Jesus had given to us by being crucified to deliver us from sin won't just remain to be mere grace. As the word indicates, where there is more sin grace overflows, if one finds oneself in the filthy and worthless position, the grace of God that poured upon us will be greater. Like the proverb, "Where there is a steep valley, the tiger dwells, and darker the forest, the monster dwells." The more we conceive of our terrible self, the grace and thankfulness that were bestowed upon us will be rooted deeper. The person who feels he is valuable will not come to consider the Lord as precious.

Did not Paul testify in First Timothy chapter 1:15, Christ Jesus had come to earth to save him who was chief among sinners? Thus, Jesus also had died on the cross even for Paul, who was chief among sinners, and through the blood that was shed on the cross, cleansed all his sins. Therefore, Paul in many sections of the Bible testifies as such.

"To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Romans 3:26)

"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." (1 Corinthians 1:30)

"Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." (Philippians 3:9)

Let's say I received a watch as a gift from a person and that I did not have one before. Then, is it conceited for me to say, "I have a watch. This person gave me a watch for a present."? Returning the thanks and glory to him, is it from a proud mind? "When we did not possess any righteousness, I became righteous through the work of Jesus." Is this remark conceited? Wouldn't it be more strange if we shut our mouth and did not testify at all? The gospel is witnessing about righteousness, which is the precious gift of God. How can one be still a sinner even after receiving this gift of righteousness?

THE REASON FOR RECEIVING MERCY

Now, let's examine the words in First Timothy chapter 1:16.

"How be it, for this cause I obtained mercy." Now the chief among sinners has received mercy. Even the chief among sinners becomes righteous when mercy is received. Though, being righteous, if mercy is eliminated one is left being chief of sinners. When Paul had recorded this subject, was he living the life of the chief among sinners and is confessing of this fact? Or was he testifying this by being a more faithful and devoted worker than any other Christian? Finding himself as one who cannot utter any words, who was to be cursed and be damned, he felt thankful to the Lord for the love that was given to him. He wanted to give the rest of his life, to serve the Lord, and the serving itself becomes the thankfulness and grace to him. What was the reason for the Lord granting Paul this mercy?

"How be it, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting."(1Timothy 1:16)

God had showed His endurance toward Paul, so that people will have faith and hope in reaching out to Him.

'God pardoned even Paul, who was chief among sinners. God also waits for those with such a life to accept and love them. He truly is the One who is worth giving praise and glory to. Then a person like me has a chance in going out to Him, and He will forgive my sins and make me His child.'

No matter how deep one is soaked in the sinful life or may be with great faults, God wanted them to come out to Him, Who possesses everlasting grace and even shows mercy to the chief among sinners. Although the sin of Paul was great and terrible, God wanted people to understand that His forgiveness and grace cannot be measured to even pardoning a person like Paul. God wanted to make an example to the people who are returning to Him. I hope this kind of grace of God could be with you all.