원래 주일 아침에 배가 아픈 적이 별로 없었습니다. 그런데 요즘에는 자꾸 컨디션이 좋지 않다고 느낍니다. 가만히 살펴보니 제 자신이 상당히 긴장한다는 것을 알게 되었습니다. 긴장을 안한다면 더 이상하다는 생각도 들었습니다. 저의 역할 자체가 그런 것입니다.
힘든 인생을 살아가면서도 예배로 모이신 성도님들을 보면 마음이 울컥할 때가 종종 있습니다. 각자의 고민을 끌어안고 예배당에 앉아있는 그분들은, 하나님의 은혜를 참으로 사모하는 분들이고 또 그분의 사랑이 필요한 분들입니다.
저를 향한 성도님들의 눈길들을 보니, 그분들에게 힘을 줄 밝은 미소가 필요하다는 것을 깨닫게 되었습니다. 당연히 오직 하나님만이 성도님들에게 힘을 주십니다. 그러나 그 영광스러운 일 가운데 부족한 저를 사용합니다. 그래서 요즘에는 가능하면 성도님들 앞에서는 더 활짝 웃는 모습을 보이기 위해 노력합니다.
지금까지 살아오면서, 저의 부족함을 느끼지 않은 적이 없었습니다. 힘이 넉넉하고 지혜가 있어서 이 정도 문제는 넘어갈 수 있겠다라는 생각도 별로 해 본적이 없습니다. 특히 목회는 항상 그랬습니다. 한번의 설교가 쉽지 않고, 성도님들을 대하고 섬기는 것이 참 어려웠습니다.
두해를 지나면서 가장 감사한 것은, 큰 사고가 없었다는 것입니다. 대단한 목회의 꿈을 가지는 것보다 저에게는 이것이 훨씬 더 중요합니다. 사고를 어떻게 정의하느냐는 사람마다 다르겠지만, 저로 인해 마음을 크게 다친 성도님은 없어 보인다는 것이 참 감사합니다. 목회자로 인해서 마음에 상처를 받은 분들을 많이 보았기 때문에 그것이 항상 조심스럽습니다.
또 하나 감사한 것은, 성도님들께서 마음을 많이 모아주셨다는 것입니다. 새롭게 교회에 오신 분들도 계시고, 오랜 쉼의 시간을 끝내고 돌아오신 분들도 계시고, 더 마음에 열정을 가지게 되신 분들도 있습니다. 귀한 성도님들이 함께 힘을 모았기 때문에 지금의 볼티모어 교회가 존재합니다.
담임 목회라는 역할 자체가, 누구에게도 말할 수 없는 어려움이 있습니다. 세상의 모든 리더들은 쉽지 않은 길을 걸어가지만 교회라는 독특성, 그리고 이민 교회라는 컨텍스트가 얹혀지면서 생각하지 못했던 일들이 일어납니다.
하지만 자리가 어렵다는 것보다 더 아쉬운 것은 저의 부족함입니다. 그것을 늘 절감합니다. 좀더 지혜로웠더라면, 좀더 경험이 많았더라면, 좀더 견고한 믿음을 가졌더라면 훨씬 더 교회를 잘 섬길 수 있지 않았을까 라는 생각을 종종 합니다. 많이 준비했다고 생각했지만 턱 없이 부족한 부분들이 보입니다.
빠르게 지나간 시간의 모든 감사는 오직 하나님께서 허락하셨습니다. 힘들고 어려운 일들을 감당해 주신 성도님들께 깊은 감사를 드립니다. 교회의 52년의 역사 속에서 저는 아기와 같은 존재입니다. 그리고 제가 그간 섬긴 기간도 아직까지 너무 짧은 시간입니다. 그래도 부족한 저를 인내해주시고 함께 해 주신 성도님들께 더 감사한 마음입니다.
우리의 인생의 길은 우리가 결정하는 것이 아닙니다. 모든 것은 하나님의 섭리 속에 존재하고, 저의 모든 역할은 하나님께서 정하신 컨텍스트 속에 존재합니다. 주어진 컨텍스트는 큰 영광이기도 하고, 하나님을 의지해야 하는 자리이기도 하고, 때로는 답답하지만 그러나 하나님의 뜻이 가장 선명하게 존재하는 곳입니다.
교회는 주님의 몸입니다. 이것만큼 더 중요한 명제는 없을 것입니다. 그래서 정말 잘하고 싶고, 그래서 더 최선을 다하고 싶습니다. 마음에 부담과 걱정으로 마음이 내려 앉는 일도 종종 있었지만 그리고 앞으로도 그렇겠지만, 그래도 주님께서 저의 소망이 되심에 감사드립니다.
어린 시절에는 대단한 성과를 내고 싶어 했지만, 지금은 착하고 충성된 종이 되는 것이 더 어렵다는 것을 깨닫습니다. 어쩌면 영원히 불가능해 보입니다. 그래서 하나님 앞에서는 항상 죄송한 마음입니다.
제가 부족하기 때문에 하나님의 살아계심을 많이 생각하려고 합니다. 그리고 하나님의 존귀한 약속을 따라 저와 우리 볼티모어 교회를 여호와께 맡깁니다. 오직 하나님께서 경영하시고 이루실 것을 믿고 오늘도 걸어갑니다. 그래서 오늘도 행복,
어린 시절부터 교회에 있는 것이 참 좋았습니다. 교회는 저의 집이고 놀이터이고, 또 학교였습니다. 주일뿐만 아니라 주중에도 예배가 늘 있었고, 어머니와 함께 장년 예배까지 드리며 신앙을 배웠습니다. 제가 가진 신학과 신앙 그리고 그것으로부터 흘러나오는 태도는 교회로부터 배운 것입니다.
그럼에도 불구하고 교회에서 자라면서 아쉬웠던 것은, 체계적인 양육이 부족했다는 것입니다. 많이 배웠지만 그럼에도 불구하고 여전히 마음에 갈급함이 있었습니다. 단순히 성경의 정보를 외우는 암기식 교육이 아니라, 성경을 깊이 이해하고 저의 삶에 풍성하게 녹여내고자 하는 갈망이 제 마음 안에 늘 있었습니다.
성도의 양육과 성장에 대한 답을 찾기 위해 유학을 시작했습니다. 청년 시절에 접한 크리스천 북클럽의 장점을 구체화시키고 학문적으로 체계를 잡는 긴 여행이었습니다. 공부하는 동안 끊임없이 북클럽을 목회에 적용했습니다. 그리고 그토록 제가 갈망하던 성도님들의 성장과 행복을 많은 순간 발견하였습니다.
지금 볼티모어교회에서 섬기는 모든 것은, 그간의 저의 고민과 목회적 여정을 담은 결과입니다. 볼티모어교회는 크리스천 북클럽을 기반으로 양육이 이루어지는 교회입니다. 가치 있는 신앙 서적을 함께 나누는 은샘북클럽이 있고, 모든 성도님들이 부담 없이 참여할 수 있는, 그럼에도 불구하고 깊이가 있는 북클럽 기반의 구역 모임이 있습니다.
볼티모어교회에 부임한 이후에, 바로 리더 양육을 시작했습니다. 교회의 부흥과 성장은 담임목사 혼자의 능력으로 이루어지는 것이 아니라, 모든 성도님들의 영적 성장을 바탕으로 해야 한다는 확신이 있었기 때문입니다. 그리고 참으로 감사한 것은, 모든 구역 리더분들께서 최선을 다해서 자신의 역할을 감당해오셨고 교회의 영적 성장을 위해서 힘을 써 주셨다는 것입니다. 저는 그런 면에서 저희 교회 리더분들이 너무나 자랑스럽습니다.
크리스천 북클럽은 결코 어렵지 않습니다. 그럼에도 불구하고 엄청난 깊이를 가지고 있습니다. 참여자의 역할, 인도자의 역할, 나눔과 피드백 등은 풍성한 신학적 그리고 실제적인 의미를 가지고 있습니다. 목회 현장에서 모든 것을 다 설명할 수는 없기에, 최소한의 것을 최선을 다해 설명하고 지금까지 교회를 섬겼습니다.
그리고 이번에 3년 동안의 준비 과정을 거쳐 저의 책이 출간되었습니다. 하나님께서 선하게 인도하셨고, 이레서원이라는 좋은 출판사의 도움과 격려가 있었습니다. 책 준비만 3년이 걸렸지만, 실제로는 저의 스무살 북클럽이 시작된 그 순간부터 지금까지의 26년의 여정을 담은 책입니다.
볼티모어교회 담임목사로서 사랑하는 성도님들과 이 책을 나눌 수 있어서 참으로 감사한 마음입니다. 도서실을 통해서 가능하신 대로 구입하시고 꼭 정독하시면 좋겠습니다. 그동안 제 마음에 담아 두었던 모든 것들을 읽어 보실 수 있습니다. 볼티모어교회가 나아가는 핵심적인 방향을 함께 공유하시고 동참하실 수 있습니다. 저와 믿음의 길을 동행하시는 사랑하는 성도님들께 감사드리고, 앞으로도 진실한 발걸음을 함께 걸어가기를 원합니다.
Since childhood, I loved being in the church. It was my home, playground, and school. Through worship and the life of the church, I learned the faith and theology that have shaped who I am today.
At the same time, I longed for deeper and more systematic spiritual formation—not just memorizing biblical knowledge, but understanding Scripture deeply and applying it to life.
This desire led me to study abroad and to further develop the idea of Christian book clubs that I first encountered in my youth. Throughout my studies, I continually applied this ministry in the church and witnessed many moments of spiritual growth and joy among believers.
What we are doing now at Baltimore Church is the fruit of that journey. Our church is built on discipleship through Christian book clubs, including the Eunsaem Book Club and book-club-based small groups where members can grow deeply together.
When I first came to Baltimore Church, I focused on leadership training because I believe true church growth does not come from the pastor alone, but through the spiritual growth of all members. I am deeply thankful for our leaders who have faithfully served and helped build up the church.
Christian book clubs are not difficult, yet they carry great depth. Through participation, discussion, and feedback, believers experience meaningful theological and practical growth.
After three years of preparation, my book has now been published with the encouragement of Ire Seowon . Though the writing process took three years, it reflects a 26-year journey that began when I first started a book club at the age of twenty.
As the senior pastor of Baltimore Church, I am grateful to share this book with our church family. I hope many of you will read it carefully, as it contains the vision and direction that shape our ministry together.
Thank you for walking this journey of faith with me. I pray that we will continue to walk forward together with sincerity before God.
교회는 성도님들의 수고로 세워집니다. 이 단순한 한 마디 속에는 많은 분들의 눈물과 땀이 들어가 있습니다. 저의 양가 부모님께서도 지금까지 교회를 위해서 수고를 많이 하셨습니다. 그래서 저는 주일에 점심을 먹을 때 마다 마음이 뭉클하고 사실은 마음이 무겁습니다. 성도님들의 수고를 먹는 것이기 때문입니다. 교회 부엌에서 허리가 굽어지도록 일하신 저의 어머니가 생각이 납니다.
저도 젊은 시절 누구보다 더 열심히 교회를 섬겼습니다. 지금도 마찬가지이지만 주말을 저를 위해서 쓰지 않고 교회의 필요를 위해서 살았습니다. 참 아름다운 시간이었지만, 또 한편으로는 아쉬운 마음도 있습니다. 조금 더 다른 일들을 했더라면 더 좋지 않았을까 라는 생각도 조금은 있습니다. 그러나 그 모든 시간을 인내로 감당했기에 목회자로서의 제가 존재한다는 것 또한 알고 있습니다.
교회 주차장이 오래 되어서 성도님들께서 자발적으로 코팅을 하시겠다고 팔을 걷어 붙이셨습니다. 거의 두주간에 걸쳐서 칠을 하고 그 위에 다시 주차 라인까지 완벽하게 그리셨습니다. 저도 짬을 내어 잠깐 도왔지만 보통 고된 노동이 아닙니다. 이 힘든 일을 완벽하게 마무리하셨다는 것이 경이롭고, 너무나 감사할 따름입니다.
완전히 새것처럼 바뀐 주차장을 보면서, 예수 그리스도의 보혈과 그분의 사랑을 생각했습니다. 우리는 죄인이지만 주님께서 우리를 그분의 의로 덮으시기에, 우리는 의인으로 인정을 받습니다. 온 교회를 사랑으로 덮은 귀한 성도님들의 헌신 속에서, 우리를 덮으시는 주님의 사랑을 볼 수 있었습니다.
교회를 섬긴다는 것은, 인간의 손익계산으로는 이해할 수 없는 일입니다. 그러나 하나님께서 살아계시며, 그분이 우리의 수고를 알고 갚으신다는 것을 생각한다면 그 어떤 것보다 더욱 가치 있는 일입니다. 이렇게 열심으로 섬기시는 성도님들을 볼 때에, 저도 목회를 더 열심히 해야겠다는 다짐을 한번 더 하게 됩니다. 섬기신 분들에게 진심으로 감사드립니다. 참 수고 많으셨습니다.
A church is built on the devotion of its members. This simple truth holds the weight of countless tears and sweat. Watching our congregation serve reminds me of my own mother, whose back was bent from years of tireless service to the church. Even now, seeing the fruit of your labor during Sunday lunch fills my heart with both gratitude and a solemn sense of responsibility.
In my youth, I gave my weekends entirely to the church. While there were moments of human wandering, wondering what else I could have done with that time, I now realize those years of endurance shaped me into the pastor I am today.
Recently, our church parking lot was transformed. Our members took it upon themselves to recoat the old surface and repaint the lines—a grueling two-week task. Watching the worn-out ground become like new, I was deeply moved by the image of Jesus Christ’s Precious Blood. Just as that coating covers the cracks, the Lord covers our sins with His righteousness, calling us His own. In your selfless devotion, I saw a beautiful reflection of the Grace that covers us all.
Serving the church rarely makes sense through the lens of human calculation. However, when we remember that God is alive and rewards our labor, it becomes the most valuable work on earth. Your dedication inspires me to be a better pastor. Thank you for your beautiful service. Well done.
볼티모어에 폭설이 내렸습니다. 그리고 한파가 같이 찾아왔습니다. 어쩔 수 없이 교회를 한주 클로주했고 다시 교회를 오픈하기 위해 준비를 했습니다.
기본적으로 트럭으로 눈을 치웠지만 손이 미치지 못한 곳이 상당히 많았습니다. 성도님들이 함께 모여서 눈을 치우기로 했습니다. 정말 추운 날씨였지만 모두가 자신의 일인 것처럼 교회로 모였습니다. 도저히 걸어갈 수 없던 곳에 길이 열리는 것을 보면서, 마치 홍해의 기적처럼 느껴졌습니다.
모태신앙으로 지금까지 살아오면서 느낀 것은, '교회는 교회를 사랑하는 사람들을 통해서 자라간다'는 것입니다. 교회를 정말 사랑하는 분들은, 마치 자신의 일인 것처럼 교회를 섬깁니다. 그리고 그런 귀한 분들을 통해서 모든 분들이 흘러 넘치는 은혜를 누립니다.
눈을 치우면서 마음이 참 행복했습니다. 왜냐하면 제가 '형제'와 함께 있음을 깨달았기 때문입니다. 외롭고 힘들 수 밖에 없는 인생의 길에서, 하나님 안에서 하나 됨을 경험하는 것은 기적이며 참으로 기쁜 일입니다. 목사이기 이전에 볼티모어 교회의 한 성도로서, 저 역시 최선을 다해서 일했고 그래서 마음이 뿌듯했습니다.
어쩌면, 좋은 설교를 하고 또 듣는 것보다 더 중요한 것은, 함께 섬기고 마음이 하나가 되는 것입니다. 그래서 참 좋았습니다. 저 역시 교회의 일원으로서 더 진실하게 열심으로 섬기고 싶은 마음이며, 하나님께서 앞으로도 그렇게 인도해주시기를 기도합니다.
늦은 밤이 되었습니다. 가족과 잠깐 시간을 보내고, 내일 새벽과 장례 설교를 준비하기 위해서 다시 책상 앞에 앉아서 지나간 오늘 하루를 가늠해 봅니다. 저만의 크리스마스를 기록해 놓기 위함입니다. 사라지는 하루가 아니라 마음에 남는, 그리고 어디엔가 기록되는 소중한 하루로 만들고 싶기 때문입니다.
목회자에게 조금 어려운 것은, 성탄의 기쁨을 충분히 누리는 것입니다. 평온하게 예배를 기다리며 회중석에 앉아 있는 것이 아니라, 아주 분주하게 예배를 위해서 움직여야 하기 때문입니다. 예배 속에 있지만 예배 밖에서 세심하게 모든 것을 살펴야 하기에, 온전히 그 안으로 들어가있지만 동시에 관찰자로 존재해야 합니다.
특히 이번 크리스마스는 많이 분주했습니다. 바로 어제까지 수요 예배 설교를 준비해야 했기 때문입니다. 물론 일주일 이상 전부터 본문을 정하고 머리로 구도를 잡고 묵상하지만, 주일 설교, 화요일 새벽 설교, 수요일 저녁 설교, 그리고 성탄 절 설교로 이어지는 맥락은 쉽게 감당할 수 있는 수준이 아닙니다.
그래도 좋았던 것은, 설교를 차분하게 준비할 수 있었기 때문입니다. 마음은 분주했지만 그래도 집중할 수 있었습니다. 예수님의 이 땅에 오심에 대해서 작년에 비해서는 훨씬 더 개인적으로 깊이 묵상할 수 있었습니다. 그래서 좋았습니다.
성도님들께서 어떻게 들으셨는지는 모르겠지만, 오늘 설교가 제 마음에는 참 많이 와 닿았습니다. 요즘에 설교하면서 느끼는 것은, 하나님께서 제 자신에게 은혜를 주신다는 것입니다. 누군가에게 은혜를 끼치는 것도 참 중요하지만, 설교자 자신이 은혜를 받는 것이 가장 중요합니다.
볼티모어교회의 좋은 전통은, 성도님들께서 크리스마스 예배도 열심으로 드리신다는 것입니다. 특히 오늘은 가족 단위로 오신 분들이 참 많았습니다. 귀한 믿음입니다. 온 가족이 하나님 앞에 나와 예배할 수 있다는 것은 큰 특권입니다. 참 보기가 좋았습니다.
목사로서 느끼는 것은, 모든 것은 하나님의 은혜라는 것입니다. 사실, 크리스마스를 충분히 누리지 못하는 것이 예전에는 정말 많이 아쉬웠습니다. 하지만 지금은, 교회를 최선을 다해서 섬길 수 있다는 것으로 더 큰 만족을 누립니다. 제가 어떤 것을 누리는 것보다 더 중요한 것은, 주님의 사명을 감당하는 것임을 더 깊이 깨달았기 때문입니다.
매년 오는 크리스마스이지만, 그 매 순간을 감사하고 싶습니다. 비록 제가 원하는 만큼 마음껏 평온함을 누리지 못한다 하더라도, 성도님들의 행복 속에서 저의 행복을 찾고 싶습니다. 물론 잠깐 그런 생각은 했습니다. 아마 은퇴한 이후에 크리스마스가 가장 평온할 듯 하구나, 그래도 지금이 감사합니다. 매번 오는 크리스마스이지만, 다시 크리스마스를 하나님께 감사드립니다.
목회는 '관계'입니다. 목사와 성도와의 관계라는 딱딱한 표현 보다는, 그저 나의 가족의 폭이 넓어지는 것입니다. 성도님들은 저의 아버지이시고 저의 삼촌과 형님들이시며, 또 저의 어머니와 누이들이십니다.
고 이병욱 장로님은 참 귀한 분입니다. 항상 하나님께 감사해야 한다고 말씀하시고, 또 성도님들에게 먼저 다가와서 인사하시던 따뜻한 분이십니다. 얼마나 노방 전도를 열심히 하셨는지 온 성도들의 존경을 받고 또 사시던 아파트에서도 모르는 분들이 없었습니다.
장로님이 소천하시기 한주 전에 장로님 댁에 방문해서 심방을 했습니다. 그때에도 하나님께 감사할 것이 밖에 없다라는 말씀을 나누셨고 참 마음에 깊이 남았습니다. 소천하시기 하루 전에는 주일에 같이 식사를 했습니다. 어느 분 옆에서 식사를 하면 좋을까 두리번거리다가, 마침 장로님 옆 자리가 비어 있어 앉았습니다. 장로님의 젊은 시절에는 먹을 것이 귀했지만, 그래서 본인은 무엇이든지 맛있었고 하나님께 감사했다고 마음을 나눠주셨습니다.
몇개월 전에는 장로님과 함께 기도회를 참석했습니다. 교회 연합 기도회인데 다른 성도님들은 스케쥴이 여의치 않으셔서 아무도 못 오셨지만, 장로님께서 함께 해 주셨습니다. 오고가는 길에 많은 이야기를 나눴습니다. 장로님의 젊은 시절의 이야기, 사별한 부인의 이야기, 그리고 고난 중에서도 하나님께 감사하다는 이야기였습니다.
소천하시는 날은 평소처럼 운동하시다가 갑자기 쓰러지셨습니다. 그리고 거짓말처럼 주님 품에 안기셨습니다. 모든 성도님들이 참 마음 아파했고 저도 마찬가지입니다. 토요일이 장례를 치뤘지만 그래도 주일에 왠지 장로님이 교회로 나오실 것 같은 마음이었습니다.
교회 전도지가 준비되면 꼭 노방 전도 같이 나가자고 장로님과 약속했는데 그 약속은 지키지 못하게 되었습니다. 그래도 하나님께서 저에게 장로님과의 좋은 추억을 쌓도록 해주셨습니다. 저의 셀폰에서 함께 기도회 가던 길에 찍은 사진을 발견했습니다. 그리고 유가족께서 보내주신 장로님께서 소천하시기 전에 마지막으로 찍은 사진도 함께 저장해 놓습니다. 아름다운 길과 트리가 십자가 처럼 보입니다. 오직 예수님만 전하기를 위해 애를 쓰신 장로님의 귀한 인생에 어울리는 사진입니다.
추모 예배의 설교 제목은 '모범적인 믿음을 본 받으라' 였습니다. 고심하며 지었는데, 고인의 지나온 삶을 생각하면 참 좋은 제목이라고 생각했습니다. 설교 원고를 준비하면서 또 실제로 설교하면서 장로님의 믿음, 감사, 헌신, 복음에 대한 열정, 그 모든 것을 제 마음에 담았습니다.
마지막 함께한 식사 자리에서 더 많이 이야기를 나누지 못해서 아쉽습니다. 언젠가 주님 나라에서 다시 뵐 때에, 사실 그때 필요는 없겠지만 준비한 전도지를 자랑스럽게 보여드리고 싶습니다. 그리고 못 다 들은 장로님의 이야기들을 이어 들으며 영원히 행복한 시간을 함께 보내고 싶습니다.
목회를 하면서 많은 기쁨이 있겠지만, 그 중에 가장 큰 기쁨은 직분자를 세우는 것입니다. 이미 교회를 귀하게 섬겨오신 분들에게 직분을 맡기고 더욱 열심히 섬길 수 있도록 길을 열어 드리는 것입니다. 당연히 하나님께서 직분을 주시는 것이며, 당회와 목회자는 그 역할을 실질적으로 감당하게 됩니다.
어린 시절부터 제가 두 눈으로 확인한 것은, 하나님의 나라는 헌신된 사람들을 통해서 세워지고 확장된다는 것입니다. 저의 양가 부모님들도 그렇고 저와 제 아내도 마찬가지입니다. 하나님께 직분을 받고 부끄럽지 않은 모습으로 최선을 다해서 섬겨 왔습니다. 그래서 저는 직분을 받으시는 분들을 보면 마음에 눈물이 납니다. 하나님의 나라와 교회를 위해서 자신을 드리겠다는 그 마음이 너무나 귀하고 아름답기 때문입니다.
하나님께서 볼티모어 교회를 무려 51년 동안이나 돌보셨습니다. 그 안에는 수 많은 분들의 눈물과 수고가 있었습니다. 그리고 이제 네분의 안수 집사님과 열한분의 권사님을 세워지는 것이 참 감사했습니다. 그 누구에게도 억지로 직분을 맡길 수 없고 사람이 사람을 세울 수 없습니다. 그러나 하나님께서 귀한 열다섯분의 마음을 움직이시고 함께 교회를 섬길 수 있는 아름다운 믿음의 사람들로 세우셨습니다.
지금 돌이켜 보면, 양육의 과정부터 투표까지 참 좋았습니다. 물론 사람이 하는 것이기 때문에 어려움도 있었지만 그러나 하나님께서 인도하셨음을 고백합니다. 특별히 임직하시는 분들이 더 성숙해지시고 헌신의 분위기가 만들어진 것이 참 좋았습니다. 모든 것이 성령 하나님의 역사입니다.
임직식을 준비하기 위해서 참 많이 기도하면서 고민했습니다. 어떻게 순서를 하는 것이 가장 덕스러울까? 어떻게 해야 임직하시는 분들의 평생에 남을 만한 임직식이 될까? 어떻게 해야 성도님들이 함께 은혜와 기쁨을 누리실 수 있을까? 제 마음 안에 계속 있던 고민이고 기도 제목입니다.
감사하게도 모든 순서가 자연스러웠습니다. 특히 임직패를 전달해 드리는데 마음이 뭉클했습니다. 제가 목사 안수 받을 때가 생각이 났기 때문입니다. 문구를 정성스럽게 읽어드렸습니다. 한분 한분의 성함을 부르며, 평생을 주님 앞에 신실한 직분자로 살아가시기를 간절히 바라며 임직패를 드렸습니다.
또한 제가 마음을 많이 썼던 부분은 교인 서약입니다. '1. 볼티모어 교회 모든 성도들은, 오늘 임직 받은 안수집사와 권사가 하나님께서 세우신 직분인 줄 믿고 이들을 주 안에서 존경하며 사랑하기로 서약하십니까? 2. 또한, 이들이 맡은 직무를 잘 감당하도록 기도하며 함께 마음을 모아 협력하기로 서약하십니까?'
이 부분이 중요한 것은, 직분자를 세우는 것이 단순히 그 사람들만 수고하기 위함이 아니라, 모든 성도들이 마음을 모아서 공동체를 이뤄가는 것이기 때문입니다. 공을 들인 부분인데 서약할 때에 분위기가 참 좋았습니다. 함께 서약하시는 모든 성도님들의 '아멘'이라는 대답이 참 따뜻하게 들렸습니다.
임직식을 위해서 당회의 장로님들을 비롯해서 모든 성도님들이 수고하셨습니다. 교회 구석 구석에 성도님들의 손길이 있었고 교회 전체가 행복한 분위기였습니다. 이번에 임직 받으신 귀한 안수 집사님들과 권사님들을 통해서 하나님께서 마음껏 일하실 것을 믿고 확신합니다. 그리하여 우리 볼티모어 교회가 하나님께서 기뻐하시는 아름다운 교회로 더욱 부흥하기를 원합니다.
One of the greatest joys in ministry is ordaining new leaders. For 51 years, God has faithfully cared for Baltimore Church through the tears and labors of many. Building on this legacy, I am deeply grateful for the four deacons and eleven elderesses (Kwon-sas) who have been set apart. It was God who moved their hearts to stand as faithful servants for His kingdom.
From my youth, I have seen the Kingdom of God expand through dedicated individuals, including my own family. This is why I am moved when I see others accept this call; their willingness to offer themselves to the church is truly beautiful. Throughout the process from training to the vote, I saw the Holy Spirit at work, maturing our leaders and fostering a spirit of devotion.
The ordination ceremony was the fruit of much prayer. Presenting the plaques was especially touching; as I read each name, I prayed they would remain faithful to the Lord for a lifetime. The highlight was the "Congregational Vows." Hearing the congregation’s warm "Amen" reminded us that we are one body, committed to supporting our leaders through love and prayer.
I sincerely thank the Session and every member who worked to make this day a celebration. I am confident that God will work mightily through these new leaders. May Baltimore Church continue to flourish as a community that truly delights the heart of God.
담임 목회에서 중요한 것이 무엇일까요? 저는 그것이 '영적인 감각을 유지하는 것' 이라고 생각합니다. 몰아닥치는 목회 스케쥴 속에서, 나의 영혼의 상태를 돌보며 모든 상황에서 건강하게 대응할 수 있도록 제 자신을 단련하는 것입니다.
그런 면에서 드라마 바이블은 최고의 선택입니다. 잠깐의 짬을 내어 언제든지 들을 수 있습니다. 그리고 드라마 형태로 녹음되었기 때문에 생동감이 있어, 지쳐버린 저의 마음에 힘을 불어 넣어 줍니다.
원래는 드라마 바이블로 전체 통독을 했지만, 올해 하반기는 전략을 약간 바꾸었습니다. 설교를 하면서 가장 많이 인용하게 되는 로마서부터 요한계시록까지를 집중해서 들으면 더 좋겠다는 생각이 들었습니다. 물론 창세기부터 쭉 듣는 것도 좋지만, 바쁜 목회 일정 속에서 설교 준비와 결합하기 위해 좀 더 효율성을 높이고 싶었습니다.
그리고 드디어 오늘, 요한계시록 마지막까지 들었습니다. 일단 마음이 참 뿌듯했습니다. 개인적인 목표를 세우고 그것을 이루는 것은, 스스로에게 용기를 불어 넣는 가장 좋은 방법입니다. 가능할 때에 매일 조금씩 들었는데 생각보다 빨리 요한계시록까지 통독을 마쳤습니다.
그리고 처음에 의도한대로, 설교 때에 도움을 많이 받았습니다. 이 부분이 정말 좋았습니다. 아무래도 목회자는 항상 설교를 생각하게 됩니다. 한 주일이 시작되면, 그 주의 새벽과 주일 설교까지 일주일의 본문을 머리에 담고 다닙니다. 그런데 서신서부터 요한계시록까지 꾸준하게 들으면서, 준비하는 본문과 매치가 되는 중요한 구절들을 참 많이 발견했습니다. 그전에는 미처 생각하지 못했던 부분들까지 하나님께서 깊이 깨닫게 하셨습니다.
내년부터는 제가 섬기는 교회에서는, 온 성도님들이 일독을 도전하게 됩니다. 제 개인적으로는 구약부터 순서대로 하는 것보다 구약과 신약을 함께 결합해서 하는 형태가 훨씬 덜 지루했습니다. 그래서 '20분 신구약 함께 읽기'로 실행할 예정입니다.
제가 섬기는 성도님들이 언제나 마음이 평온하기를 원합니다. 그러나 그 평온함을 유지하기 위해서는 섬기는 목회자가 부지런히 움직여야 합니다. 제가 언제나 생각하는 것은, 말씀을 떠나서는 '그 누구도' 생명력을 누릴 수 없다는 것입니다. 그래서 마음을 많이 쓰는 것이 제 자신의 영적인 상태입니다. 당연히 저도 삶이 흔들립니다. 그리고 낙심하고 넘어집니다. 그러나 영원하며 견고한 주님의 말씀이 있기에, 저의 평생과 목회를 주님께서 인도하시리라 믿고 오늘도 전진합니다.
어떤 교회에서 신앙 생활을 하는가는, 그 사람의 인생을 결정한다고 말할 수있을 정도로 너무나 중요한 것입니다. 하지만 누군가가 기독교 신앙을 가지고 있다 하더라도, 지역 교회에 등록을 하고 신앙 생활을 시작한다는 것은 정말 쉽지 않은 일입니다.
저 역시 한 교회의 새신자가 되어 본적이 있기 때문에, 낯선 곳에서 예배를 드리고 사람들과 교제하는 것이 얼마나 어려운 일인지 잘 이해하고 있습니다. 그래서 제 마음에 바라는 교회의 이상적인 모습은, '따뜻한 교회'입니다. 설교도 중요하고 양육도 중요하고 환경도 중요하지만, 지역 교회에서 그 어떤 것보다 중요한 것은 따뜻함 입니다.
지난 한해 동안 교회에 많은 분들이 방문해 주셨고, 그 중에서 저희 교회에서 함께 신앙 생활하기로 결심하신 분들이 계십니다. 이번에 새가족 환영회를 하면서 그분들께 감사의 마음을 표현하고, 온 교회 성도님들이 함께 축하하는 시간을 가졌습니다.
볼티모어 교회에서 어떤 점이 좋은지를 한분 한분 돌아가면서 말씀하시는데, 이구동성으로 성도님들의 따뜻함을 이야기해주셨습니다. 또 교회가 분위기가 밝고 친절하다는 말씀을 해 주셨습니다. 담임 목사로서 너무 마음이 기뻤고, 하나님께서 저희 교회를 선하게 인도하시고 있다는 확신을 가질 수 있었습니다.
저의 가족도 이제 겨우 1년이 된 새신자이기 때문에, 함께 그 자리에 앉았습니다. 하나님께서 귀한 교회로 보내주시고, 또 귀한 성도님들과 함께 신앙 생활하게 하셨다는 사실에 마음이 벅찼습니다. 새가족 분들을 위한 케익을 자르는데, 제 소원을 물어보셨습니다. '제 소원은, 주일마다 성도님들이 은혜를 많이 받으시는 것이고, 또 모든 성도님들이 행복한 신앙 생활 하시는 것입니다.' 즉석에서 나눈 마음이지만, 저의 진심이었습니다.
볼티모어 교회가 앞으로도 따뜻한 교회가 되기를 원합니다. 새롭게 주님을 믿는 분들이 함께 하기를 원하고, 또 갈 길을 잃고 방황하는 분들이 진정한 영적 가족을 찾으셨으면 좋겠습니다. 우리 인생은 비록 외롭고 힘들다 할지라도, 함께 하나님 나라의 아름다운 공동체를 이뤄가며, 그 안에서 넘치는 행복과 기쁨을 누리시기를 진심으로 바라고 기도합니다.
Which church a person attends can deeply shape their life. Yet, even for someone who already believes in Christ, joining a local church and beginning a life of faith is not easy. I have also been a newcomer before, so I know how difficult it can be to worship and build relationships in an unfamiliar place. That’s why my vision for an ideal church is a “warm church.” Preaching, education, and environment are important, but warmth is the most essential.
Over the past year, many people visited our church, and some decided to join us in faith. During our newcomer’s welcome event, we expressed our gratitude and celebrated together. When asked what they liked most about Baltimore Church, everyone mentioned the warmth of the members, and many said the church atmosphere is bright and friendly. As the senior pastor, I was deeply joyful and convinced that God is leading our church well.
My family, being newcomers ourselves for just a year, also joined the event. I felt overwhelmed with gratitude that God brought us to this precious church and allowed us to serve together. When asked about my wish, I said, “My wish is that every Sunday our members receive much grace and live a joyful life of faith.” It was spontaneous, but heartfelt.
I truly hope Baltimore Church will continue to be a warm church — a place where new believers find faith and those who have wandered find a spiritual family. Even though life can be hard and lonely, may we build together a beautiful community of God’s kingdom and experience overflowing joy within it.
볼티모어 교회는 매년 Victory Night 행사를 합니다. 10월 31일에 하나님을 믿지 않는 사람들은 할로윈 파티를 하면서 시간을 보내지만, 하나님의 자녀는 예수 그리스도의 승리를 축하하며 함께 모여 기쁨의 시간을 가지는 것입니다.
올해의 테마는 'God is Love' 였습니다. 하나님께서 어린 아이들을 사랑하시며 귀하게 여기시고, 그들을 위하여 예수 그리스도를 보내주셨다는 복음의 핵심을 나누었습니다. 어린이 부서를 담당하시는 김미아 간사님의 귀한 설교가 있었고 어린이들이 함께 찬양하면서 예배를 드렸습니다.
풍성한 저녁 식사가 있었습니다. 그리고 다양한 테마를 바탕으로 놀이의 시간을 가졌습니다. 모든 스텝들이 힘을 합쳐서 열개에 가까운 게임 스테이션을 만들었고, 아이들은 적극적으로 창며하면서 선물도 받으면서 좋은 시간을 보내었습니다. 이 시간은 단순히 노는 시간이 아니라 믿음을 심어주는 시간이기에, 아이들이 게임을 하기 전에 짧은 성경 구절을 함께 읽도록 안내하면서 하나님에 대해서 한번 더 생각할 수 있도록 배려하였습니다.
담임 목사이기 이전에, 두 자녀의 아빠로서 이 행사가 너무나 중요하다고 생각 했습니다. 그 전날 준비하면서 저도 직접 풍선을 불고 데코를 도왔습니다. 그리고 올해에 더 좋았던 점은, 마침 한국 학교의 수업 시간과 겹쳤기 때문에, 한국 학교의 학생들도 함께 할 수 있었다는 것입니다. 저희 교회에서 한국어와 한국 문화를 배우는 것도 귀하지만, 바라기는 모든 한국 학교의 어린이들도 예수 그리스도를 믿고 구원 받기를 늘 기도하고 있습니다.
작년의 Victory Night도 좋았지만, 올해는 더 은혜롭고 좋았습니다. 모든 분들의 얼굴에 기쁨이 있었고, 특별히 사랑스러운 자녀들의 얼굴에서 넘치는 행복을 엿볼 수 있었습니다. 앞으로도 볼티모어 교회의 모든 행사를 통해서, 오직 예수 그리스도의 승리가 선포되기 원합니다. 그리스도의 생명의 복음이, 지역 사회 가운데 그리고 특별히 귀한 자녀들의 마음 가운데 새겨지기를 원하고 또 기도합니다.
Each year, Baltimore Church hosts Victory Night. While many people celebrate Halloween on October 31, God’s children gather to celebrate the victory of Jesus Christ with joy. This year’s theme was “God is Love.” We shared the core gospel message—that God loves children and sent Jesus Christ for them. Minister Mia Kim gave a heartfelt sermon, and the children worshiped and sang together.
After a warm dinner, everyone enjoyed fun games. With the help of many volunteers, several game stations were set up. Before each game, the children read short Bible verses, reminding them that this was not just playtime but a time to grow in faith.
As both a pastor and a father, I found this event deeply meaningful. I helped with decorations and balloons the day before. It was also special that students from our Korean School could join this year. While learning Korean culture is valuable, we continue to pray that every child will come to know Jesus Christ and be saved.
This year’s Victory Night was filled with grace and joy. Smiles and laughter filled the church, especially from the children. May every event at Baltimore Church proclaim the victory of Jesus Christ and plant the gospel of life in our community and children’s hearts.
몇주 전에 김찬영 목사님께 연락을 받았습니다. 본인이 섬기시는 라디오 방송에서 볼티모어 교회에 대해서 인터뷰 하고 싶다는 말씀이었습니다. 방송국이 버지니아에 있어서 꽤 먼 길이지만, 목회에 대해서 함께 나누고 또 교회를 알릴 수 있는 기회이기 때문에 기쁨으로 다녀왔습니다.
김찬영 목사님은 강연화 아나운서와 함께 K-Radio의 '바로 그 교회' 프로그램을 섬기고 계십니다. K-Radio는 뉴욕과 뉴저지, 그리고 워싱턴 지역의 한인들을 위한 라디오 방송입니다. 그리고 이 프로그램은 지역 교회들의 목회를 함께 나누고 어떻게 하면 좀 더 주님께서 기뻐하시는 미래로 나아갈 수 있을지를 고민하는 귀한 프로그램입니다.
거의 한시간에 가까운 긴 인터뷰였지만 참 좋은 시간이었습니다. 담임 목사로서 교회를 자랑스럽게 소개할 수 있어서 좋았습니다. 볼티모어 교회는 지난 51년간 지역 사회를 지켜온 귀한 교회이기 때문입니다. 또한 저력이 있고 헌신적인 성도들로 이루어진 교회이기 때문입니다. 여러 어려움들이 있었지만 믿음으로 이겨왔고, 이제는 미래를 향해서 함께 마음을 모으고 전진하는 교회이기 때문입니다.
이 프로그램은 지역 교회의 목회적인 전략에 초점을 맞춘 프로그램이기 때문에, 당연히 저의 중심 철학인 북클럽에 대한 이야기를 많이 나누었습니다. 두분이 이 부분에 대해서 관심이 많으셨고 충분히 이야기 나눌 수 있어서 좋았습니다. 특별히 볼티모어 교회는 구역 예배 자체를 쉬운 북클럽 셋팅으로 바꾸었다는 점을 강조했습니다. 왜냐하면 저는 개인적으로 이 부분이야 말로 지난 1년간 교회를 변화시킨 가장 중요한 이유라고 생각했기 때문입니다.
담임 목사로서 언제나 바라는 것은, 교회가 부흥하는 것입니다. 성도님들이 은혜와 기쁨을 넘치게 누리고 세상 속에서 그리스도의 자녀로서 살아가는 것입니다. 그것을 위해서 앞으로도 최선을 다할 것이고, 성도님들과 함께 아름답게 볼티모어 지역을 섬겨가도록 하겠습니다.
A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Pastor Chan Young Kim, who invited me to an interview about our Baltimore Church on the radio program he serves in. Although the station is quite far away in Virginia, I was glad to go, as it was a great opportunity to share about ministry and introduce our church.
Pastor Kim co-hosts “That Very Church” on K-Radio with announcer Yeon Hwa Kang. K-Radio serves the Korean communities in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. The program focuses on sharing about local church ministries and exploring how churches can move toward a future that pleases the Lord.
The interview lasted almost an hour, and it was a truly meaningful time. I was proud to introduce our Baltimore Church—a precious church that has served the local community for 51 years, filled with faithful and dedicated members who have overcome many challenges by faith and are now moving forward together toward the future.
Since the program focuses on pastoral strategies, we naturally talked a lot about my core ministry philosophy—our book club model. The hosts were very interested, and we had a great discussion. I especially emphasized how our church transformed our small group gatherings into simple book club settings, which I believe has been the key factor in our church’s renewal over the past year.
As a pastor, my constant prayer is for our church to continue growing in grace and joy, and for our members to live as true children of Christ in the world. I will keep doing my best to serve together with our congregation to bless the Baltimore community beautifully.
저는 개인적으로 연간 계획을 별로 좋아하지 않습니다. 계획을 세우고 나면 한해가 다 진간 것 같기 때문입니다. 머리 속에 모든 계획을 담고 살아가다보니 일년이 너무 빠르게 지나갑니다.
그래도 감사한 것은, 요즘에는 순간 순간을 조금 더 마음에 담을 수 있어서 감사합니다. 비록 한해는 너무나 빠르지만, 적어도 행복한 순간들을 잠시나마 누릴 수 있다는 것이 참 감사할 따름입니다.
저는 목회가 언제나 모든 분들을 품고 아우르는 것이라고 생각합니다. 나와 잘 맞고 통하는 사람, 그리고 나를 더 지지해주는 사람과 어울리는 것은 어려운 일이 아닙니다. 그러나 주님께서 우리를 넉넉히 품고 사랑하시는 것처럼, 목회는 함께하는 모든 분들을 품는 것입니다.
아브라함 전도회의 어르신들과 함께 주일 오후에 함께 걸었습니다. 함께 교제하며 걷는 좋은 시간이었습니다. 저의 아버지 연세에 해당하시는 분들이기 때문에 더 마음이 갑니다. 오랫동안 교회를 위해서 헌신하신 분들이시고 지금도 수고를 참 많이 하시는 귀한 분들이십니다.
작년 가을에 사역을 시작할 때에는 단풍이 어떤지도 모르고 지나갔습니다. 하지만 적어도 지금은 잠시 마음의 여유를 가지고 걸을 수 있다는 것이 너무나 감사했습니다. 왕복 4마일이 목표였지만 중간에 포기를 했습니다. 토요일 늦게까지 주일을 준비하고 주일 설교까지 하고 나니 이미 체력을 많이 사용했기 때문입니다. 어르신들이 너무 무리해서 걸으시는 것이 아닌가 염려했지만 생각보다 더 잘 걸으셔서 놀랐습니다.
걷는 길이 참 좋았습니다. 슬쩍 찍은 사진 두장이 썩 마음에 듭니다. 바쁘게 목회와 일상이 지나가지만, 순간을 누리는데 더 마음을 써야겠다고 생각합니다. 소중하고 행복한 시간들을 마음에 조금더 부지런히 마음에 담아야겠습니다.
이번에 2025년 가을 부흥회는 참으로 의미있는 시간이었습니다. 볼티모어 교회 권사, 안수집사 임직을 앞두고 성도님들의 마음을 하나로 모으며 함께 은혜를 누리는 시간으로 준비했기 때문입니다. 그리고 특별히 담임목사로서 처음으로 부흥회를 직접 인도하면서, 목회적으로 교회의 나아갈 방향을 제시하고 함께 걸어가는 특별한 시간이었기 때문입니다.
부흥회의 주제를 놓고 오랫동안 기도했습니다. 그리고 '신앙의 본질로 돌아가자'라는 제목으로, 종교 개혁의 솔라 시리즈를 준비하였습니다. 이 주제를 놓고 부흥회를 인도한 이유는, 50여년의 역사를 가지고 있는 귀한 볼티모어교회가, 앞으로도 기독교 신앙의 본질에 근거해서 성장해 나가길 바랬기 때문입니다. 그리고 모든 성도님들이 성경적이고 바른 신앙을 가질 수 있기를 원했기 때문입니다.
신앙의 내용과 교회의 역사는 결코 떨어져서 생각할 수 없습니다. 그럼에도 불구하고, 기독교의 역사를 다루면서 동시에 우리가 무엇을 믿는가를 설명하는 일은 결코 쉽지가 않습니다. 자칫하면 지루해지기가 쉽고 그저 역사 강의처럼 들릴 수도 있기 때문입니다.
그런 면에서, 설교의 구조와 내용을 구성하는데 평소보다 더 많은 공을 들였습니다. 역사적인 맥락을 최대한 압축적으로 소개하면서도, 지금 우리가 서 있는 기독교 신앙을 설교의 형태로 잘 드러내기 위해 최선을 다해 노력했습니다.
특별히 제 개인적으로 정말 좋았던 것은, 루터의 저작들을 직접 살펴보면서 저 역시 많은 배움 속에서 은혜를 받았다는 것입니다. 언제나 그렇지만, 간접적으로 인용된 저작물 이전에 1차 저작들을 잘 읽고 공부하는 것이 신학 공부에 있어서 가장 중요하다는 것을 다시 한번 경험하였습니다.
어두운 시대 속에서, 오직 말씀을 붙들고 일어선 루터의 고뇌와 기쁨 그리고 도전을 간접적이나마 진지하게 경험하였습니다. 그리고 더 나아가서, 이 시대를 살아가는 개신교 목사로서, 무엇을 가지고 어떻게 교회를 섬길지에 대해 깊게 묵상하고 결단하는 참 좋은 시간을 보내었습니다.
이번에 성도님들께서 은혜를 많이 받으신 것 같아 감사한 마음입니다. 모든 것은 하나님의 은혜입니다. 신앙의 본질을 주제로 잡고 설교하게 하신 것도 하나님의 은혜이고, 모든 성도들이 감사한 마음 가운데 부흥회가 마친 것 역시 하나님의 은혜입니다. 부흥회 가운데 저와 성도님들의 신앙을 회복시키시고, 더욱 성경적으로 변화시키시며 성장하게 하신 아버지 하나님께 영광을 올려 드립니다.
아래 링크를 통해 부흥회 설교의 영문 원고를 보실 수 있습니다.
* 신앙의 본질로 돌아가자 부흥회 설교 (1) / 오직 성경 (Sola Scriptura) / 왕상 22장 3-13절
The 2025 Fall Revival Meeting was truly a meaningful time for our Baltimore Church. As we prepared for the ordination of deacons and elders, it became a precious opportunity to unite our congregation and share God’s grace together. It was also special to me personally, as it was the first revival I led as the senior pastor—setting the pastoral direction of our church and walking together in faith.
After much prayer, I chose the theme “Return to the Essence of Faith,” preaching through the Sola Series of the Reformation. I hoped that our church, with its 50-year history, would continue to grow upon the foundation of true biblical faith, and that every member would be strengthened in sound doctrine.
Preparing these messages was not easy, since combining church history and theology can easily feel like a lecture. So I devoted extra effort to make each sermon clear and inspiring—summarizing history concisely while proclaiming the gospel’s core truths.
Personally, I was deeply blessed while studying Luther’s original writings. It reminded me once again that reading primary sources is essential for true theological understanding. Through Luther’s struggle and faith, I could sense both his agony and joy as he stood firmly on the Word of God, and it helped me reflect on how I should serve the church today as a pastor.
I’m thankful that many members were blessed through this revival. Everything was by God’s grace—from the theme itself to the spiritual renewal experienced by our congregation. To God be the glory, who restored and strengthened our faith through His Word. You can read the English manuscript of the revival sermons through the link above.
Under the title “Soli Deo Gloria,” I would like to preach the Word of God. Some of you may know the Korean actor Hwang Jung-min, one of the greatest actors in Korea. He starred as the leading role in three separate films that each drew more than ten million viewers.
In 2005, he played the lead in the movie You Are My Sunshine, which became one of the most successful melodramas in Korean film history. Through this film, he gained immense popularity and received the Blue Dragon Best Actor Award.
Yet what left a deep impression on many was his acceptance speech. He said, “To be honest, I always tell people that I’m just a mere actor. Around sixty staff members and actors set such a splendid table; all I have to do is enjoy the meal. Yet all the spotlight comes to me, and I feel so sorry about that.”
This statement deeply moved people because, at the peak of his career, he did not glorify himself but gave the glory to others. In a moment when he could have lifted himself up, he instead humbled himself and honored those around him, leaving an unforgettable impression of true humility.
*The Five Solas of the Reformation
Through this fall revival, we have been reflecting deeply on the five Solas of the Reformation. These five declarations are: Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), Sola Gratia (Grace alone), Sola Fide (Faith alone), Solus Christus (Christ alone), and finally, Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone).
Our Presbyterian faith, if traced back to its roots, leads us to a time when the church had become corrupted and darkened. It was an era when the pope held political power, and many clergy neither preached the gospel nor cared for the souls of believers. Filled with greed for money, they began to sell indulgences, claiming that even the sins of the dead could be forgiven through payment. Reformers such as Martin Luther rose to oppose this system because it was utterly contrary to the teaching of Scripture.
The most amazing thing is that through this process, the gospel that had been hidden for centuries in the medieval church began to shine forth again. People’s hearts started to change. Instead of relying on papal decrees or church traditions, they began to think based solely on the Word of God.
In the Middle Ages, it was taught that God’s grace alone was not enough—that humans had to add their good works in order to be saved. But the reformers rediscovered the biblical truth that salvation comes only by the grace of God. This gospel truth began to stir and awaken souls. And they came to understand clearly, according to Scripture, how salvation truly happens: that Jesus Christ alone is the righteousness of sinners, and that salvation comes only by faith in Him alone.
Therefore, the natural direction of those who are saved by faith in Christ is summarized in this final declaration: “Soli Deo Gloria” — Glory to God alone.
*What Is Glory?
When you hear the word “glory,” what comes to your mind? The Korean word for “glory” (영광, 榮光) is made up of two Chinese characters: “young” (榮) meaning honor or dignity worthy of respect, and “gwang” (光) meaning light or brilliance. So, simply put, “glory” refers to a beautiful and shining honor or dignity.
However, in the Bible, the word “glory” usually translates the Hebrew word “kabod,” which literally means “weight” or “heaviness.” Therefore, when Scripture says, “The glory of God,” it signifies that God Himself is weighty, important, and of infinite worth. In Greek, the New Testament uses the word “doxa,” which originally comes from a verb meaning “to think.” Over time, it developed into the sense of a favorable opinion, then reputation, praise, and honor.
In conclusion, the glory of God in the New Testament refers to God’s reputation, His praise, and His exalted honor. It means that His name is lifted high, His character is made known, and His majesty is recognized among all creation.
*Only God Is Glorious
Let us think for a moment. Sometimes we describe a person as “glorious”—a truly great or admirable person. But what do we realize as we live longer? The glory and reputation of human beings always change. Someone we once considered honorable and admirable may later disappoint us, and the person we thought was great turns out not to be so.
However, the glory of God is completely different. His greatness, majesty, and exaltation never change. As the Lord declares in Isaiah 42:8 (ESV):
“I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.”
Here, notice that before speaking of His glory, God first declares His name: “I am the Lord.” The name “Yahweh” means “I AM WHO I AM,” the One who exists by Himself.
We must remember how important that name is. We all depend on something—our parents, the air we breathe, water, and food to survive. Without these, we cannot live. We are also bound by time and space; we exist within limits. But the Lord is not like us. He depends on nothing. He is perfect in Himself, the Creator of the universe and of humankind, and the Lord of all. Therefore, His weight, importance, and exaltation far exceed our comprehension. The glory of God never fades and never changes.
Thus the Lord proclaims, “I am glorious, and My glory belongs to Me alone. I will not share it with anyone else.”
*Not to Us, O Lord
With this background in mind, we can now understand today’s passage in a deeper way. Psalm 115:1 (ESV) says,
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!”
Here we notice that the psalmist repeats the same phrase twice: “Not to us, not to us.” In Scripture, repetition always emphasizes importance. The psalmist is pleading with God, “Do not let glory be given to us.” Why? Because human beings are unworthy of glory. He is praying that people would not exalt themselves or take the place that belongs to God alone.
The psalmist then explains the reason: “For the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.” This is a sharp contrast between human frailty and God’s perfection. Human love and truthfulness are weak and unstable, but the Lord is abounding in steadfast love and utterly faithful in all His ways. Thus, the psalmist confesses that only God deserves glory, because only He is truly gracious, true, and trustworthy.
*Look at the Reformation
How do you feel when you read this verse? As I prepared for this revival and for today’s message, the phrase “for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness” touched my heart deeply. Especially when viewed in connection with the Reformation, it becomes even more meaningful.
Think about it—though the early church once flourished and Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, humanity gradually became corrupted, and the church began to collapse. It seemed as if the church had lost the ability to correct itself. Yet the faithful and gracious God did not abandon His church. Out of His mercy, He revived and restored it again.
There is a book called Table Talk, which is not written by Luther himself but by his students and colleagues who recorded the conversations he had during his lifetime. This collection reveals Luther’s candid thoughts and helps us understand his inner world. In one passage, Luther said:
“High church officials, idolized saints, rich moneylenders, and greedy cattle traders—these are not the servants of God, nor is it desirable that they should be. Moreover, it brings no honor to God that such people are called His servants, for they ascribe glory and honor to themselves.”
When I read this, one sentence struck my heart the most: “They ascribe glory and honor to themselves.” Through this statement, we can understand how Luther saw his times—it was an age when human beings stole the glory of God.
In other words, it was a time when people exalted themselves, claiming greatness, even saying that salvation rested in their own hands. They elevated human authority above God’s Word. That was the spiritual darkness Luther faced in his generation.
*Sinners Who Steal God’s Glory
What we must clearly understand is that the attempt to steal God’s glory and to exalt oneself is not merely a problem of the Middle Ages. It is the fundamental evil that lies at the very heart of fallen humanity. In Genesis 3:4–5 (ESV), the serpent tempts Eve, saying,
“You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
This temptation is not simply about disobeying God’s command—it is far deeper. The serpent deceives humanity with a lie that strikes at the core of worship: “You can be like God.” In other words, instead of exalting God and giving Him glory, the serpent whispers, “Take His place. Seize His glory. You can become the center.”
And what was the result? Genesis 3:6 (ESV) says,
“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”
Thus, the fall of humanity was the tragic attempt to rise to the place of the most glorious God. Not only did that effort fail, but it resulted in complete spiritual separation from God, bringing about the most miserable consequence in human history.
*The Living God and the Powerless Idols
Then how does God respond to this human rebellion and fall? His work is truly marvelous. God did not abandon fallen humanity. Out of His mercy and steadfast love, He made a promise to save them. In Genesis 3:15 (ESV), God proclaims His redemptive plan:
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
In other words, God did not give up on those who turned away from Him. Instead, He promised to send One who would crush the serpent’s head, redeem sinners, and lead them back to Himself. Therefore, the Lord our God is alive, working on behalf of sinners, full of compassion and grace, and never giving up on His people.
In this sense, today’s Psalm 115 has an incredibly powerful structure. The psalmist compares the living and glorious God with lifeless idols. He draws a vivid contrast between the majestic Lord and powerless images of silver and gold. The description is so detailed that it almost sounds ironic:
“Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat.” (Psalm 115:4–7, ESV)
Why did people in ancient times—and even today—make idols out of gold and silver? Because they wanted them to look glorious. They wanted to display something impressive and majestic. Yet, in reality, those idols are utterly powerless. Scripture declares that they can do nothing. But the Lord, the living God, is completely different—He alone is the One who works, shows mercy, and reveals His glory. He alone is the glorious, living God.
*The Work of the Holy Spirit
Then how can humanity—who from the very beginning sought to exalt themselves and steal God’s glory—be changed? God has a clear plan for this. He sends the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts. In Ezekiel 36:26–27 (ESV), the Lord declares,
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”
This means that when God saves a sinner, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within them, giving them a new heart—a tender, living heart instead of a hardened one. In other words, salvation is not simply a change in behavior, but the miraculous work of God’s Spirit who renews our hearts so that we come to believe and confess Jesus Christ as Lord.
Before, people lived exalting themselves, thinking they were great and self-sufficient. But now, through the Spirit’s renewal, they live to honor God, to recognize His glory, and to magnify Him in every moment. Titus 3:5 (ESV) says,
“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”
Notice the phrase “renewal of the Holy Spirit.” The Greek word for “renewal” also appears in Romans 12:2 (ESV):
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Thus, the renewal of the Spirit is directly connected to the renewal of the mind. Believing in Jesus and being transformed by the Spirit means a complete change of heart and attitude. We begin to long for God’s will, to honor His greatness, and to live for His pleasure. This is the true meaning of salvation.
*Open Your Eyes to the Glory of God
In this context, I have often realized in my ministry that many believers think of salvation in a very self-centered way. They tend to believe that salvation is merely about entering heaven. Of course, that is true—God has saved us to make us His children and to lead us into His eternal kingdom.
However, salvation means far more than simply going to heaven. The Bible shows that salvation is actually a transfer of glory. Humanity, who once tried to steal God’s glory, is now restored to give all glory back to God alone. In this way, salvation can be perfectly understood as the return of glory to its rightful place.
Therefore, the ultimate purpose of our salvation is not just personal blessing or comfort, but to recognize God’s greatness in everything He does and to live as people who exalt His name. True believers are those whose eyes have been opened to see the majesty of God and who respond with worship, praise, and thanksgiving.
*Worthy of Glory
In this light, when we look at Ephesians chapter 1, we find a repeated theme that runs throughout the passage—the glory of God. This chapter magnificently reveals God’s power and love in choosing and saving us. Ephesians 1:6 (ESV) says,
“To the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”
This means that our salvation by grace is not the end of our story. Rather, the right response to such grace is to praise the greatness and glory of God who saved us. We cannot help but lift up His name in worship.
In Ephesians 1:12 (ESV), Paul continues,
“So that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.”
And in Ephesians 1:14 (ESV), he writes,
“Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”
Here, the “guarantee” refers to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit’s indwelling presence assures us that God has paid the price for our sins and will surely bring us to final redemption.
Therefore, as the psalm declares, because our triune God is full of steadfast love and faithfulness, because He has completely saved us, we cannot help but praise the glory of His grace. A true believer is someone who, by spiritual sight, recognizes the greatness and majesty of God—and lives to exalt Him alone.
*Give Glory to the Lord
So then, how can we practically give glory to God in our daily lives? 1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV) says,
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
What stands out here are the words “whatever you do.” This phrase means exactly what it says—everything we do in life. And the words “whether you eat or drink” include even the smallest, most ordinary things in our daily routine.
This teaching was revolutionary for people in the Middle Ages. Back then, many believed that the best way to please God was to enter a monastery or live a religious life within the church. They thought that only those who devoted themselves to prayer or worship were truly pleasing to God, while the tasks of everyday life—working, farming, raising families—were merely secular necessities.
But Scripture teaches something very different. From the beginning, the Bible shows that every part of life is connected to God. Worship inside the church is important, but so is how we live outside the church. Every action, big or small, can reveal God’s glory when done in faith.
*How Are We Living?
When we look around today, we can see that the same misunderstanding that existed in the Middle Ages still remains in people’s hearts. Many believers unconsciously divide life into two categories—the sacred and the secular. They think that the work of the church is holy, but ordinary work in the world is not.
This dualistic mindset leads to a serious problem. Even among those who pray fervently and worship faithfully, there are sometimes people who are not respected at work, not trusted in their families, or even criticized in society. They fail to see that their everyday life is meant to reflect God’s greatness. They think, “I just work to make a living,” without realizing that their labor can glorify God.
Martin Luther strongly opposed this kind of thinking. Speaking to those who despised the everyday vocations of believers, he said:
“He fiercely criticizes those who think that a believing farmer or worker faithfully doing his job is less precious before God than monks, friars, or nuns.”
And again, addressing those who envy others instead of being faithful in their own calling, he said:
“It is truly sad that so few people are satisfied with the vocation and calling God has given them. Most of us think that other people’s situations are better than our own. Yet to serve God rightly is to stand firmly in the place where He has called us, no matter how humble or simple it may be.”
The Bible and the Reformation both teach us this truth: the most important thing for believers today is to glorify God wherever they are. People focus on how good their job is or how much they earn, but God focuses on whether His glory is revealed through their lives. Even if one’s job seems lowly in human eyes, if that person works diligently and faithfully to reveal God’s greatness, that life is truly Reformed and genuinely biblical.
*The Resolution of the Trainees
As we come to the close of today’s message, let me share one final story. Earlier, I mentioned the actor Hwang Jung-min’s acceptance speech—but there’s another part that many people don’t know. When he stepped onto the stage after being announced as Best Actor, he said, with a shy but sincere voice,
“First of all, I want to thank God. I’ve always been thankful in my heart but haven’t expressed it publicly—so today, I give thanks to God first.”
That confession deeply moved me. At the very pinnacle of his career, he wanted God to be glorified first. It revealed a man of pure faith standing in the spotlight yet humbly giving credit to the Lord.
Recently, while serving in the two-month training for newly elected deacon and deaconess candidates, I had many meaningful conversations with them. What impressed me most was their humility and deep faith. During our second session, we reflected on Romans 14:8 (ESV):
“For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”
After meditating on this verse, the trainees shared their hearts with me. They said things like:
“I love the confession that I belong to the Lord.”
“I accept it as a fact that I am His.”
“I want to please God and love my neighbors.”
“I repent for not always living as a child of God.”
“I want to resemble the service and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.”
“I will always remember why I live—to honor Him.”
“I will trust the Lord in every situation.”
“I will lay myself down, give thanks for His grace, and grow to resemble the Father.”
“I will strive to treat every church member with love.”
Through these confessions, I became convinced that these are truly precious servants of God—people who desire to dedicate their whole lives to Him. And through them, I believe our church will be built up with even greater strength and grace.
*Conclusion
As we conclude, let us ask ourselves an important question: Whose glory are we living for? Whom do we truly exalt through our lives?
My earnest prayer is that in every moment of our lives we would lift up and glorify our Father God, who has saved us and guides us by His grace. In our homes, our workplaces, our businesses, our schools, and in every relationship, may we reveal the love, mercy, wisdom, faithfulness, and excellence of God.
May all of us live to exalt His glory alone, giving Him the highest praise with our hearts and lives. I bless you, beloved brothers and sisters, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ— that you may live every day Soli Deo Gloria, to the glory of God alone.
* By Faith Alone & In Christ Alone — Romans 1:16–17
* Introduction
Under the title “Sola Fide and Solus Christus,” I will deliver the third message of our fall revival. In this fall revival, we are learning the core declarations of the Reformation under the theme “Return to the essence of faith.” The key is this: when we trace our faith back to its source, we find a biblically firm and historically grounded root. In other words, our church was not suddenly established in this age; we are proud heirs of the Reformation.
Our root begins with “Scripture Alone.” When the church drifted away from God’s truth, the Reformers restored it by the Word of God alone. As they studied Scripture, they discovered that human salvation is entirely accomplished by God’s grace, and therefore believers can only praise Him with humble hearts before His presence. Tonight, we will reflect on what is perhaps the very heart of the Reformation—Faith Alone and Christ Alone—so that our faith may be strengthened and made firm.
* Luther’s Personal Experience
Perhaps you remember that on the first night of this revival, I briefly introduced Martin Luther. Luther originally majored in law but later decided to become a priest. Now, think about it—what caused such a drastic change in his life? It happened while he was returning home after finishing his law studies. As he was approaching his village, a violent storm broke out, and lightning struck near him.
Imagine how terrifying it must have been—rain pouring down, thunder crashing, and lightning flashing right beside him. Shocked, Luther fell to the ground, trembling in fear, and barely managed to stand again. Then, in desperation, he cried out to Saint Anne, who was revered as a patron saint at that time, saying, “Saint Anne, help me! I will become a monk!” That very moment became the decisive turning point that led Luther to enter the monastery.
* Overcoming the Fear of Death
From this event, we can see that there was already a deep fear of death in Luther’s heart. Yet this fear was not unique to him; it was shared by nearly everyone living in that era. You may have heard of the Black Death, one of the most devastating plagues in human history. About a hundred years before Luther was born, the plague had swept across Europe, killing almost forty percent of the population. Even after that, it reappeared intermittently, constantly reminding people of the terror of death.
In addition, Europe in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries—the period when Luther lived—was filled with political and economic upheaval, which made people anxious about death and judgment. Against this background, the dramatic lightning incident helped Luther realize something vital about himself: though he claimed to have faith, he was not at all ready to face death. Thus he resolved to enter a monastery, believing that through a life of devotion he might finally earn God’s approval.
* The Middle Ages and Luther’s Limitation
Why, then, did Luther choose to enter the monastery? It was because people in the Middle Ages believed that withdrawing from the world and living an isolated, religious life in a monastery was the best way to draw near to God. Monks were regarded as those who would receive the highest reward in heaven.
In that context, imagine Luther entering the monastery. He was a man with an exceptionally sensitive conscience, deeply honest before God about his sin. Therefore, he devoted himself to monastic life with such intensity that it began to harm his health. He believed that if he lived with enough discipline and religious zeal, God would eventually show him favor.
* How Much Is Enough?
However, a serious problem began to arise in Luther’s heart. He started to question: How much repentance, how much discipline, and how much effort are enough for God to accept me? At first, Luther believed that if he confessed his sins diligently and practiced self-denial, he would receive complete forgiveness. But soon he realized that his sins were countless—far too many to confess one by one.
In time, he came to understand that no matter how earnestly he examined himself, he was far more sinful than he had ever imagined. The more he sought to repent, the more aware he became of his own depravity. As a result, his heart grew weary and bitter. Without realizing it, Luther began to resent God, thinking of Him as a cruel judge who demanded perfection from a helpless sinner.
Moreover, the official teaching of the church in those days made things even worse. The church taught that salvation required not only grace but also one’s own good works added to that grace. For Luther, this left no hope—only despair. He concluded that no matter how hard he tried, he could never accumulate enough merit to be saved, and he sank deeper into discouragement.
* The Righteousness of God
Then how did Luther find a breakthrough in this dark and hopeless situation? After becoming a monk, he was later ordained as a priest, earned a doctorate, and began to serve as a professor of biblical studies. As he systematically studied and taught Scripture, he finally began to uncover the answer to the problem that had tormented him for so long.
In particular, while lecturing on the Book of Romans, Luther found the key in today’s text: “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith’” (Romans 1:17, ESV). The crucial question was this—what does “the righteousness of God” mean?
In his day, most people understood that phrase to refer to God’s righteous character in judgment—that God, as the just Judge, reveals His righteousness by punishing sinners. In other words, they saw it as the terrifying standard of divine justice that condemned humanity.
* God Gives Us Righteousness as a Gift
But as Luther meditated on this verse, he came to a completely different understanding. He realized that the righteousness of God is not the righteousness by which God judges, but the righteousness by which God makes us righteous when we believe in Him—it is a passive righteousness given to us by grace. In other words, God is so merciful that He grants His own righteousness as a gift to those who believe.
Furthermore, Luther recognized that the phrase “The righteous shall live by faith” originates from the prophet Habakkuk in the Old Testament. Through this discovery, he saw that the Old and New Testaments are connected by one central truth: salvation comes through faith—trusting in God alone.
In his commentary on Romans, Luther wrote, “The righteousness of God is the cause of our salvation. It is not the righteousness by which God Himself is righteous, but the righteousness by which He declares us righteous through faith in the gospel. It is called the righteousness of God in contrast to the righteousness of man, which comes from works.”
* We Go Through the Same Process
From this, we clearly see that Luther’s personal journey—his struggle, his discovery, and his transformation—is the very path that every believer must also walk. How do most people today live? Many no longer see sin as sin. When they think of God, they often imagine Him as a kind, gentle grandfather next door. People have set their own low standard for God, and because their moral standards are also low, they hardly ever think about His holiness.
Yet the Bible clearly tells us that God is not as we imagine. Even when we do not sense our sin, He searches the deepest parts of our hearts. As Leviticus 11:45 says, “For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy” (ESV).
God has declared that He is holy, righteous, and perfect—without even the slightest flaw—and He demands that same holiness from us. Therefore, when we stand honestly before Him, we must confess that we are sinners and cannot call ourselves righteous. Then comes the question: how can a sinner stand righteous before a holy God? Scripture tells us there are only two possible answers.
* Losing Speech Before God
How did the medieval church answer that question? It taught that people must perform good works, confess their sins to a priest, or purchase indulgences to gain forgiveness. Yet even those who followed all these rules still could not be sure that their sins were forgiven, and so they lived in constant fear and anxiety before death.
When we read Scripture carefully, we realize that such fear was inevitable. The Bible clearly teaches that the more a person tries to approach God through his own good works, the more he will realize his own misery. Romans 3:19 says, “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God” (ESV).
The law here represents all the commands of God revealed in Scripture—indeed, all moral standards given to humanity. What does this mean? When a person stands before the law of God with honesty, he becomes speechless. The more we try to obey God’s commandments, the more we see how completely corrupted we are.
To be totally depraved means that our very souls are so damaged by sin that it is impossible for us to perfectly keep God’s Word. James 2:10–11 also declares, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.”
In other words, even if we manage to keep one commandment throughout our whole lives, if we fail to keep all of them, we cannot be called righteous. We stand before the judgment seat of God with nothing to say, completely silenced by the weight of our guilt.
* Jesus Is Perfectly Righteous
So then, how does God work for people like us who are utterly incapable of keeping His law? What the medieval church failed to teach was that there is another way—a way that God Himself has provided apart from the law and human merit. Romans 3:21–22 declares, “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction” (ESV).
The crucial point here is this: Jesus Christ Himself is the righteousness of God. What does this mean? God the Father sent His Son into the world, taking on full humanity so that He might live in perfect obedience in our place. During His earthly life, Jesus never once broke any of God’s commands. He fulfilled every demand of the law with complete perfection.
And ultimately, He obeyed His Father’s will even to the point of death—suffering on the cross and being crucified in pain and shame. Therefore, Jesus became the only person in all of human history who was entirely without sin—the one and only perfectly righteous man.
* Jesus Becomes Our Righteousness
Now think about this: what does such perfect righteousness have to do with us? Scripture tells us that this same Jesus Christ, the only righteous One, has become our righteousness. In other words, He stands in our place as sinners so that we may be counted righteous in Him.
Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (ESV). This verse means that the sinless Christ was treated as if He were sin itself, bearing our guilt and punishment, so that through Him we might be regarded as righteous before God.
In the end, the Bible makes it unmistakably clear: only Jesus is perfect and righteous, yet He willingly became our righteousness. He took what was ours—sin—and gave us what was His—righteousness. That is the heart of the gospel.
* How Do We Receive That Righteousness?
Then we must ask, how can this righteousness of Jesus Christ truly become ours? The answer is simple yet profound: by faith alone. Romans 3:22 says, “The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction” (ESV). Through faith—and faith alone—we receive the righteousness of Christ.
This truth is the foundation of the gospel. Through the long history of the church, we see two entirely different ways of understanding salvation. One depends on human effort—trying to earn God’s favor by good works, just as Luther once did in the monastery, and as countless people around the world still do today. The other way, taught by Scripture, is to confess that we can never be accepted by God on our own and to be justified by faith in Jesus Christ alone.
* What Is Faith?
At this point, we need to pause and consider what faith really means. Many people misunderstand faith, thinking of it as something they do—as if believing were another kind of work. They say, “I believed, and that’s why I was saved,” as though faith were a human achievement.
But the faith described in Scripture is the exact opposite. Faith is not an action we perform to earn something; it is the open hand that simply receives what God has already accomplished for us. In contrast to works—which strive to obtain something—faith accepts with trust what God has freely given.
In other words, faith means acknowledging and trusting in what God has already done for us through Jesus Christ. That is why Scripture repeatedly says, “by faith.” This phrase does not mean that faith itself has power, but rather that faith is the means—the channel—through which we receive God’s grace.
What truly matters, then, is not the strength of our faith but the object of our faith—Jesus Christ, who has become our righteousness.
* The Great Exchange
Another crucial truth is that when we believe in Jesus Christ, something extraordinary happens within us—a spiritual exchange takes place. Second Corinthians 5:21 declares, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (ESV).
What does this mean? God placed all our sins upon Jesus, making Him bear the punishment that we deserved. At the same time, God transferred Jesus’ perfect righteousness to us, crediting it to our account as though it were our own. In this divine exchange, Christ took our sin, and we received His righteousness.
Because of this, when God looks at us, He no longer sees guilty sinners but those clothed in the perfect righteousness of His Son. And this happens not because of anything we do—it is entirely God’s work. Even though we remain sinners in our nature, God now regards us as if we had never sinned and as if we had obeyed His law perfectly.
This is what the Reformers called justification—being declared righteous before God by faith alone, through Christ alone.
* Why Is Christ Alone So Important?
Then think about this: why is Christ alone so important to us who live in this age?A long time ago, one church member came to visit the church. She was not a member of the church I served, but she came to seek spiritual counseling. She said to me,“Pastor, I came because I have one thing that really troubles me. In my church, there are several pastors. One pastor teaches that we are saved by grace alone. But another pastor teaches that we must receive the gift of tongues to be saved. I really don’t know which one is right.”
She asked me this question with great seriousness. I still cannot forget the look on her face, because there was sadness in it. She truly wanted to understand the matter of salvation and had a sincere desire to enter heaven. But the more she listened to the sermons, the more confused she became. Some said we are saved by grace alone, but others made it seem like there were additional conditions.
* We Must Have a Biblical Faith
What we must remember is that this was exactly what made Luther angry. It is certainly true according to the Bible that we are saved by faith, but the church at that time did not teach it. Because of that, the believers were controlled by the priests. They believed that their destiny depended on the priests and the pope. They thought they had to go and confess their sins to the priests and that they had to buy indulgences sold by the church.
At that time, the church officially excommunicated Luther. The Catholic priests burned every piece of Luther’s writing they could find. Then we must ask, is the Catholic Church any different today? The answer is no—it still holds the same position. They also say that we must believe in Jesus Christ, but they do not teach it in the biblical way. The same goes for their doctrine of salvation. They claim that we must complete our salvation throughout our whole lifetime. In other words, they insist that we must continually build up our merit through good works to be saved in the end.
So, on the outside, Protestantism and Catholicism may seem similar, but what they believe inside is completely different. And this is not just a matter of being Catholic or Protestant—it is a matter of whether we truly have biblical faith in our salvation, or whether we merely believe according to our own thoughts and desires.
* People Without Assurance of Salvation
A long time ago, I attended the funeral service of a church member’s relative. The deceased was a Catholic. It was my first time attending a Catholic funeral. From the viewpoint of a Protestant pastor, that service left a deep impression on me. The priest led the ceremony very politely, and incense—which we normally do not use in Protestant services—was burned throughout. The funeral lasted much longer than I expected.
But what struck me most as a Protestant pastor was this: during the entire service, the priest never once said with confidence that the deceased had gone to heaven. He only kept repeating prayers like, “Saint so-and-so, please allow this person to enter heaven.” At first, I thought he would mention it just once or twice, but he kept repeating it again and again until the end of the funeral.
As I listened, my heart felt heavy and sorrowful. Though the ceremony was solemn and beautifully conducted, there was no assurance—only repeated petitions to the saints. It made me realize once again how vast the difference is between believing in Jesus Christ biblically and believing in Him in a non-biblical way.
* Focus on the Book of Hebrews
In that same context, the Book of Hebrews gives us the clearest answer to the question of why Christ alone. Perhaps you, too, are someone who reads the Bible on your own. I went to church from a young age, but because I did not read the Bible personally, my faith remained very immature. When I look back, I can say that the turning point of my life came when, as a young adult, I began to read the Bible for myself.
The same was true for Luther. It was only when he began to read and study Scripture seriously that he finally came to understand the gospel correctly. In my own life, I was deeply moved when I read the Book of Hebrews. That is because I realized so clearly that the entire message of Hebrews reveals one central truth—only Jesus Christ.
As I speak with our church members, I feel more and more that nearly every spiritual question they have can be answered through the Book of Hebrews. It was the same for Luther. Through the Psalms, Romans, Galatians, and especially Hebrews, he came to understand the gospel more deeply. And as that understanding grew and was strengthened, he gained the unshakable truth that enabled him to reform a corrupt church.
* Jesus Who Came as a Man
Then how does the Book of Hebrews reveal Jesus Christ so excellently? Let us first look at Hebrews 1:1–2, which says, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (ESV).
What does this mean? In the past, God revealed His will through the prophets and by various means, but in these last days, He has spoken to us through His Son. In other words, in the time we now live, we come to know God’s will only through Christ.
Then what did Christ do? Hebrews 2:14–15 tells us, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (ESV).
This passage shows us that Jesus became fully human, just like us. But why did He do so? The verse makes it clear—He became man to destroy the devil, the one who holds the power of death. From the beginning, the devil deceived mankind, and through him death entered the world. Yet Jesus came to conquer death and to defeat Satan through His resurrection.
Furthermore, Jesus came to set free all who live in fear of death. In Him, we find true freedom and deliverance.
* Jesus Who Makes Atonement in the Heavenly Sanctuary
Furthermore, Hebrews 9:11–12 says, “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” (ESV).
This is truly an astonishing passage. What does it mean? Jesus Christ came as the High Priest—not one who enters an earthly tabernacle, but one who entered the heavenly sanctuary itself. And unlike the priests of the Old Testament, who offered the blood of animals again and again, Christ offered His own blood once for all to accomplish eternal redemption.
In other words, only Jesus is the true High Priest who atones for our sins, and only Jesus is the sacrifice who was offered for our forgiveness.
So we must ask: why do so many people today still live without assurance of forgiveness? Why do so many continue to live in fear of death? It is because they do not yet believe firmly in “Christ alone.” But Scripture continually testifies that we are saved only through Jesus Christ.
Because He is the glorious Son of God, the blood He shed for us carries infinite worth and power. Therefore, whoever believes that Jesus died for them will be fully forgiven by God.
* Jesus Who Helps Us
Furthermore, how does God now command us to live? Hebrews 10:19 and 22 say, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus... let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (ESV).
Which part of this passage touches your heart the most? As I meditated on this text, the phrase “let us draw near to God” deeply moved me. It means that we can approach God—not because of any priest, pastor, or saint standing between us, nor because of someone who prays on our behalf—but only through the power of the blood of Jesus Christ.
By believing and relying on Jesus, we can come boldly before God at any time.
Moreover, Hebrews 7:25 tells us, “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (ESV).
What does this mean? It means that Jesus Christ is not someone who helped us only once when we first believed. He is the One who lives forever, seated at the right hand of God, continually interceding for us, helping us, and ensuring our complete salvation.
* Draw Near Boldly
Therefore, as we reflect on the core of the Christian faith—Faith Alone and Christ Alone—the conclusion is this: “Draw near to God with boldness.” When the church lost the gospel and people were deceived into thinking that the pope, priests, and saints possessed divine authority, no one could approach God with confidence.
But through Luther and the Reformers, the truths of Faith Alone and Christ Alone were restored according to Scripture. As a result, every believer was granted unshakable boldness before God.
So I encourage you: rely on Jesus Christ alone and draw near to God with confidence in every moment of your life. Call upon our Father with all your heart. Ask boldly for every spiritual and material need you have, and live each day in the overflowing joy, courage, and peace that come from Him.
May all of you, beloved brothers and sisters, live in that boldness and blessing, in the name of our Lord.
