The Life of a Christian

The Life of a Christian

“Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” (Acts 8:4)
By Pastor Park Ok-su (Good News Gangnam Church)

At the end of Acts chapter 7, we read about Stephen being stoned to death. Then, chapter 8 begins by describing the severe persecution that broke out against the apostles.

“And Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” (Acts 8:1)

The persecution was extremely harsh. Except for the apostles, the disciples were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Saul’s attack on the church grew even more violent:

“As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.” (Acts 8:3)

Acts 8:1–3 is filled with darkness, yet verse 4 presents something astonishing:

“Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” (Acts 8:4)

The saved saints in Jerusalem faced great persecution, and all the disciples left Jerusalem, scattered in every direction. In such circumstances, one would expect their hearts to be weighed down: “Stephen was stoned to death. If I am caught, I will be imprisoned—perhaps even killed. It doesn’t matter if I die, but what about my wife and children? I must be careful.”
But the scattered disciples did not hide. Instead, they preached the gospel. And they did not preach in just one place—the Bible says they preached everywhere they went.

Among them, Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the gospel there. Many were saved. Many who were demon-possessed or sick were healed. And there was great joy in that city.

---

With what standard should we serve the Lord?

If we were placed in an environment like Acts 8, what would happen? People would surely say, “It’s fine if I’m imprisoned, but what will my wife and children do?” There would be countless reasons for not coming to church.

Today, many saved believers no longer keep their hearts on Jesus—who died for us—and on the gospel. Instead, they are absorbed in earthly life. In the Book of Acts, even in the face of death, believers preached the gospel and joyfully offered themselves for Jesus. But today, at the slightest inconvenience, people feel free to skip worship. As a result, many churches are gradually falling into spiritual sleep.

Our church members are very faithful—they serve in many areas, give abundantly, and work diligently in ways incomparable to most other churches. Yet even so, we must explain again from the foundation: What standard should we use to serve the Lord?
“I should preach the gospel just like in the days of Acts. If persecution comes, I will accept persecution. If hardship comes, I will endure it. Even if I die, I will enter eternal heaven—won’t I?”
This is the heart we must have when preaching the gospel.

How many people around us will fall into hell after death? If we simply learn how to preach the gospel and speak to them, many could be saved and go to heaven. Yet how are we living?

Once we truly receive the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins to work in our hearts—giving us faith, boldness, and a desire to preach the gospel that we never had before. But Satan also works in our hearts, whispering, “What do you know? How dare you preach the gospel? Just be satisfied with attending service regularly.”
Between the heart stirred by the Holy Spirit and the thoughts planted by Satan, many people choose a faith that merely “attends worship and offers appropriately.” This path seems easy and convenient, but it runs contrary to the Bible. Living out such a faith, people gradually drift away from the church and toward the world.

---

Loving Jesus More Than Ourselves

Our salvation was not something easy. Jesus loved us and gave His own life for us. We should continuously think upon, give thanks for, praise, and pray to this Jesus—and continually keep a heart to preach the gospel.
If we live mindlessly, our hearts will easily be swept away by the life of this world.

I hope we may truly live as Christians. Although we may sometimes face persecution, trials, or loss, may our love for Jesus grow deeper. May we love Jesus more than ourselves—may we endure trials, hardships, and even death for His sake. Then the immeasurable grace and blessings of God will surely rest upon us.

 

基督徒的生活

“那些分散的人往各处去传道。”（徒8：4）

作者：朴玉洙（好消息江南教会 牧师）

 

在《使徒行传》7章的结尾部分，记载了司提反被石头打死的内容。接着8章中讲述了使徒大遭逼迫的内容。

“扫罗也喜悦他被害。从这日起，耶路撒冷的教会大遭逼迫。除了使徒以外，门徒都分散在犹太和撒玛利亚各处。”（徒8：1）

逼迫非常严重，除了使徒以外，门徒都分散在犹太和撒玛利亚各处。扫罗对教会的残害越来越厉害。

“扫罗却残害教会，进各人的家，拉着男女下在监里。”（徒8：3）

 

《行使行传》8章1到3节中记载的尽都是黑暗，4节却记载了新奇的内容。

“那些分散的人往各处去传道。”（徒8：4）

在耶路撒冷的得救的圣徒们大遭逼迫，所有门徒都离开耶路撒冷，分散开了。在这种情况下，门徒们心里似乎应该很压抑。“司提反被石头打死了。如果我被抓住，也会被关进监狱，兴许也会死掉。我死了倒无所谓，但我的妻儿可怎么办啊？我得小心点。”但分散的门徒们并没有隐藏起来，反而传着福音。而且不是在一个地方传，而是说分散到各处去传了福音。其中，腓利下撒玛利亚城去宣讲福音，使很多人得救，很多附鬼的、得病的人也都得了医治，在那城里就大有欢喜。

 

我们应该以什么样的标准来侍奉主呢？

如果我们遇到像《使徒行传》8章一样的环境，会发生什么样的事情呢？“我被抓进去倒没事，但妻子孩子可怎么生活啊？”不来教会的理由肯定会非常多。如今，很多得救的圣徒的心都不是停留在为我们死去的耶稣和福音上，而是陶醉在这地上的生活中。在《使徒行传》中，就算是面对死亡，人们也传着福音，为了耶稣喜乐地献上自己。但如今，只要有点什么事，人们随时可以不参加礼拜。于是，很多教会渐渐变成了沉睡的教会。

我们教会的圣徒都非常信实地做着事情，做着非常多的奉献和侍奉，这是其他教会所无法比较的。但即便如此，对于应该以什么样的标准来侍奉主，我们还是需要从根本上进行说明。“我也需要像使徒行传时代一样传福音，受到逼迫，就接受逼迫；有困难，就忍耐一下。就算死了，也能去永远的天国，不是吗？”应该要带着这样的心传福音。我们周围会有多少人死后下地狱啊？只要学一学传福音的方法，给这些人讲一讲，就会有很多人得救去天国，可我们是怎样生活的呢？

只要藉着耶稣的血确实地罪得赦免了，圣灵就开始在我们心里作工，使我们里面产生以前没有过的信心、胆量以及想传福音的心。但撒但也在我们心里做工，悄悄地对我们说：“你知道什么呀，还想去传福音？能一次不落地参加礼拜就知足吧。”在圣灵兴起来的心与撒但放进的想法之间，很多人流向了适当地参加礼拜、奉献的信仰。这条路虽然看起来容易、方便，却是与《圣经》相悖的道路。人们这样过着信仰，就逐渐背离了教会，流向了世界。

 

比起我，更爱耶稣

我们得救并不是一件容易的事情。耶稣爱了我们，舍弃了自己的生命。我们应该不断思想、不断感谢、不断赞美这位耶稣，不断向这位耶稣祷告，不断带着传福音的心。如果只是不假思索地生活，我们的心就很容易被世上的生活浸染。希望我们能像基督徒一样生活。虽然我们有时会遭受逼迫、经历试炼、遭受损失，但希望我们对耶稣的爱变得更加深厚。比起我自己，更爱耶稣；为了耶稣，也遭受试炼，遭受困难，面对死亡，那么无法测度的神莫大的恩典和祝福就会临到我们身上。