1105-주일(계1:1-3) 예수 그리스도의 계시

<The revelation of Jesus Christ>

2017.11.5. Lord's day

hymn 175 <My soul in sad exile>
My soul in sad exile was out on life's sea
So burdened with sin and distressed
Till I heard a sweet voice saying
"Make me your choice"
And I entered the heaven of rest...

hymn 162
<I can not tell thee whence it came>
There's a deep, settled peace in my soul
Tho' the billows of sin near me roll,
He abides, Christ abides...

Let's pray.
=============Word of God
p.399
Revelation 1:1-3

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John.
2 who testifies to everything he saw-that is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

  Today I'll preach the same text as last Sunday.
  Revelation means "to open and show".
  There are two kinds of revelation.
  They are special revelation and general revelation.
  Special revelation is the Holy Scripture, truth and inspiration.
  And general revelation means general natural phenomenon.
  We can understand the will of the Lord through natural phenomena.

  Then what does God want to show us?
  It is a revelation of Jesus Christ.
  It is also a revelation of the grace of Jesus Christ.
  Jesus came to save sinners from their sins.  

  What is God's purpose for this revelation?
  There are many events in revelation that are difficult for people to know and to believe.
  This revelation shows that everything in the universe is God's belonging, and God gave everything to Jesus Christ and showed it to his servants.

  "his servant John"(1:1)

  John the apostle was a servant of Jesus Christ.
  John was a witness to what he saw and heard.
  Being a witness is difficult.
  The witness must give his life.
  Peter, James, Isaiah and Paul were all martyred.
  John was not a martyr but lived a life close to martyrdom.

1:3 " Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time in near."

  "The words of this prophecy" means 'God's will in the Old and New Testaments".
  
  What does the Bible open and show us?

1. The Bible shows the origin of the universe.
  Numerous stars move systematically in the universe.
  The stars, the moon, the sun and the earth are closely related.
  It's all in the Bible.

2. The Bible tells us  where we came from and where we go.
  Why do people get sick, suffer and die?      
  God recorded the reasons and answers in the Bible.
  Why humans are despised?
  Because they leave faith and forsake the Word of God.
  People in this world crave money, authority and honor.
  They pursue physical happiness and peace.
  And they pursue 'eating well, wearing well, traveling and enjoying the pleasures of life'.
  The Bible tells you why you live.        
  "Blessed is the one who reads the words of the Bible".
  The Bible tells us that the cause of human suffering is sin.
  And the Bible tells us how we must live.
  There is a way of eternal life, a way to be honored and a way to be treated by all people in the Bible.

Psalms 25:3 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame.

Deuteronomy 28:1 If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.

3. There is an omnipotent God (God Almighty) in the Bible.

4. The Bible reveals the afterlife of man. (heaven and hell)

5. The Bible tells us the relationship between Jesus and us.

==============  
hymn 43 <Sing them over again to me>
Sing them over again to me
Wonderful words of life
Let me more of their beauty see
Wonderful words of life
words of life and beauty
teach me faith and duty....Amen.
Christ the blessed One, gives to all
sinner list to the loving call......Amen.