20251007 [새벽묵상] 하나님의 나라를 이루기 위해 필요한 것 | Prioritizing the Essentials of the Kingdom (롬/Rom 14:13~23)

14:13 그런즉 우리가 다시는 서로 비판하지 말고 도리어 부딪칠 것이나 거칠 것을 형제 앞에 두지 아니하도록 주의하라

14:14 내가 주 예수 안에서 알고 확신하노니 무엇이든지 스스로 속된 것이 없으되 다만 속되게 여기는 그 사람에게는 속되니라

14:15 만일 음식으로 말미암아 네 형제가 근심하게 되면 이는 네가 사랑으로 행하지 아니함이라 그리스도께서 대신하여 죽으신 형제를 네 음식으로 망하게 하지 말라

14:16 그러므로 너희의 선한 것이 비방을 받지 않게 하라

14:17 하나님의 나라는 먹는 것과 마시는 것이 아니요 오직 성령 안에 있는 의와 평강과 희락이라

14:18 이로써 그리스도를 섬기는 자는 하나님을 기쁘시게 하며 사람에게도 칭찬을 받느니라

13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

14:19 그러므로 우리가 화평의 일과 서로 덕을 세우는 일을 힘쓰나니

14:20 음식으로 말미암아 하나님의 사업을 무너지게 하지 말라 만물이 다 깨끗하되 거리낌으로 먹는 사람에게는 악한 것이라

14:21 고기도 먹지 아니하고 포도주도 마시지 아니하고 무엇이든지 네 형제로 거리끼게 하는 일을 아니함이 아름다우니라

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

14:22 네게 있는 믿음을 하나님 앞에서 스스로 가지고 있으라 자기가 옳다 하는 바로 자기를 정죄하지 아니하는 자는 복이 있도다

14:23 의심하고 먹는 자는 정죄되었나니 이는 믿음을 따라 하지 아니하였기 때문이라 믿음을 따라 하지 아니하는 것은 다 죄니라

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

                  어제와 오늘의 말씀인 로마서 14장은 교회의 공동체 생활에서 발생하는 아주 현실적인 문제, 바로 견해 차이에 대한 바울 사도의 해답입니다. 당시 로마 교회에는 두 부류의 성도가 있었습니다. 한 부류는 그리스도의 은혜로 모든 율법으로부터 자유를 얻었다고 확신하며 거리낌 없이 고기를 먹었던 이른바 “믿음이 강한 자”들이었습니다. 다른 한 부류는 유대교 전통이나 개인적인 양심 때문에 특정한 음식을 피하였던 이른바 “믿음이 약한 자”들이었습니다. 이들은 서로의 믿음을 약하다고 업신여기거나 그것도 믿음이라 할 수 있느냐며 비판하여 공동체의 평화를 깨뜨리고 있었습니다. 사실 진짜 문제는 ‘먹고 마시는 일’을 어떻게 해야하느냐가 아니라 이들의 이런 견해차이가 공동체의 분열을 가져왔다는 것에 있습니다. 그런 이들에게 사도 바울은 하나님의 나라란 본질적으로 무엇에 관한 것인지 설명하지요. 오늘은 하나님의 나라를 이루기 위해 필요한 것이라는 제목으로 말씀을 전하기 원합니다.

The book of Romans, especially chapter 14, deals with a very real-world problem that arises in communal church life: the problem of differing opinions—differences that divide. This is Paul’s answer to how we live together despite our disagreements.

The church in Rome at the time had two main groups. One group were the so-called "strong in faith," who were confident in Christ's grace to free them from all legal restrictions. They ate meat without reservation. The other group were the "weak in faith," who avoided certain foods due to Jewish tradition or personal scruples.

The problem wasn't just what they ate or what they believed about the food. The real problem was that these disagreements were breaking the peace of the community. They were looking down on the "weak," questioning whether their faith was even genuine, and creating an atmosphere of criticism and division.

To those believers, Paul pivots the conversation away from the non-essentials and toward the true nature of God's Kingdom. Today, we want to focus on what is truly necessary to build the Kingdom of God together.

                  첫번째, 하나님의 나라를 이루기 위해 필요한 것은 바로 본질의 회복입니다. 17절 말씀을 함께 읽겠습니다. “하나님의 나라는 먹는 것과 마시는 것이 아니요 오직 성령 안에 있는 의와 평강과 희락이라.” 사도 바울은 하나님의 나라는 이들이 논쟁하고 있는 먹는 것과 마시는 것에 있지 않다고 말합니다. 그러면서 뭐라고 말씀하십니까? 오직 성령 안에 있는 의와 평강과 희락이라. 의란 무엇입니까? 하나님과의 바른 관계, 먼저는 복음을 받아들이고 구원을 받아 하나님 앞에 의롭다 함을 얻는 것이겠지요. 바로 하나님과의 관계를 말하는 것일 것입니다. 평강은 어떻습니까? 형제 자매 간의 조화와 화목함을 말하는 것이겠지요. 이것은 서로를 내 몸과 같이 사랑하는 지체와의 관계를 말하는 것일 것입니다. 그렇다면 희락은 어떻습니까? 하나님과의 관계가 온전하고, 공동체 안의 다른 지체들과 온전한 관계 가운데에 있을 때에 어찌 기쁨이 넘치지 않을 수 있겠습니까? 이 모든 것이 성령님께서 우리 가운데 행하심으로 일어나는 일이지요. 이것이 하나님 나라의 본질입니다. 그런데 우리가 이런 본질적인 부분이 아니라 본문의 음식 문제와 같이 비 본질적인 부분으로 서로와 다투고 비판한다면 어떤 일이 일어납니까? 하나님 나라의 본질인 의와 평강과 희락이 깨어지게 됩니다. 아이러니하게도 아무도 하나님 나라의 본질을 깨려고 싸우는 사람은 없습니다. 모두 자신이 믿는대로 하나님 나라를 세우려고 열심을 내어 서로를 비판하는데 오히려 그로인해 하나님 나라의 본질이 파괴되는 어리석은 일이 벌어지고 있는 것입니다. 그렇기에 우리는 하나님 나라를 이루기 위해 본질을 회복해야 합니다. 본질을 추구해야 하는 것입니다. 바울은 이를 18-19절에 이렇게 설명합니다. 함께 읽겠습니다. “이로써 그리스도를 섬기는 자는 하나님을 기쁘시게 하며 사람에게도 칭찬을 받느니라 그러므로 우리가 화평의 일과 서로 덕을 세우는 일을 힘쓰나니” 이로써, 즉 성령 안에 있는 의와 평강과 희락으로써 그리스도를 섬기는 자는 하나님을 기쁘시게 한다고 합니다. 사람으로부터도 칭찬을 받는다고 해요. 그래서 어떻게 해야한다고 합니까? 화평의 일과 서로 덕을 세우는 일, 서로를 세워주는 일, 서로를 일으켜 주는 일에 힘쓴다고 합니다. 바로 이것이 하나님의 나라를 이루기 위해 필요한 것입니다.

Point I: Building the Kingdom Requires Restoring the Essence (17-19)

The first thing we need to build God’s Kingdom is a restoration of the essence—a reset of our priorities.

Let’s read verse 17 together: "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

Paul is direct: God’s Kingdom is not found in the petty arguments they were having over food. What is it, then? It’s found in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

1. Righteousness: This is about our vertical relationship with God. It means accepting the Gospel, receiving salvation, and being declared righteous before Him. This is the foundation of our faith.

2. Peace: This is about our horizontal relationship with one another. It’s the harmony and reconciliation among brothers and sisters—loving one another as we love ourselves.

3. Joy: This is the natural result when both relationships are whole. When our relationship with God is sound and our relationship within the community is sound, how can we not be overflowing with joy?

These are the essential, spiritual realities of the Kingdom.

Yet, consider the irony: No one in Rome was trying to break the Kingdom. They were all earnestly trying to build it according to their own conscience, but by arguing over non-essentials, they were inadvertently shattering the very essence of the Kingdom—the peace and joy among believers. To build the Kingdom, we must recover this essence.

Paul explains the result in verses 18 and 19: "because anyone who serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification."

The one who pursues righteousness, peace, and joy serves Christ acceptably and receives human approval (builds up others). Therefore, we must make every effort to pursue peace and mutual edification—building one another up. This is what is needed to build the Kingdom.

                  두번째, 하나님 나라를 이루어 나가기로 결정했다면 필요한 것은 ‘자유의 권리’ 대신 ‘권리포기의 사랑’입니다. 사도 바울은 13절을 시작하면서 상당히 독특한 표현을 사용합니다. 원문으로 보면 “우리는 서로 판단하지 말아야 한다. 도리어 너희는 이것을 판단하라 - 형제 앞에 걸림돌이나 장애물을 두지 않는 것.” 이 표현은 우리가 정말 판단해야 할 것이 무엇인지 생각해보게 만듭니다. 우리가 판단해야 할 것은 다른 사람이 아니라 우리가 그들 앞에 걸림돌이나 장애물을 두고 있지는 않는지 인 것입니다. 본문 말씀에 의하면 우리에게는 무엇이든지 먹을 수 있는 자유가 있습니다. 그러나 우리가 우리의 자유를 누리는 것이 다른 믿음의 형제자매에게 걸림돌이 된다면 우리는 우리의 자유를 제한함으로 그 지체를 사랑해야 하는 것입니다. 15절을 함께 읽겠습니다. “만일 음식으로 말미암아 네 형제가 근심하게 되면 이는 네가 사랑으로 행하지 아니함이라 그리스도께서 대신하여 죽으신 형제를 네 음식으로 망하게 하지 말라” 무어라고 말씀하십니까? 나의 자유를 행사하는 것으로 지체가 근심하게 된다면 이것은 사랑으로 행한 것이 아니라고 하십니다. 그 지체는 그리스도께서 십자가에서 대신하여 피 흘려 죽기까지 사랑하신 존재입니다. 우리의 자유, 우리의 의견이 중요하겠습니까? 한 영혼이 중요하겠습니까? 네 음식, 너의 자유, 너의 견해, 너의 의견으로 망하게 하지 말라고 말씀하고 계시지 않습니까? 20절, 21절 모두 같은 말씀을 반복하고 계십니다. “음식으로 말미암아 하나님의 사업을 무너지게 하지 말라,” “고기도 먹지 아니하고 포도주도 마시지 아니하고 무엇이든지 네 형제로 거리끼게 하는 일을 아니함이 아름다우니라” 하나님의 사업, 하나님의 나라를 이루기 위해 필요한 것은 나의 자유의 권리를 행사하는 것이 아닌 권리포기의 사랑인 것입니다. 이것이야말로 사도바울께서 말하고 있는 아름다운 그리스도인의 모습입니다. 나의 자유를 포기해서라도 하나님의 나라를 이루는 것이 우리를 위해 하늘의 모든 권리를 포기하신 예수그리스도의 십자가를 따르는 길인 것입니다.

Point II: Building the Kingdom Requires Love Over Liberty (13, 15, 20-21)

Once we prioritize the essence of the Kingdom, the next thing required is trading the "right of freedom" for the "love of surrender."

Paul opens this section in a fascinating way in verse 13 (paraphrased): "We should no longer judge one another. Instead, you should judge this: not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister."

Paul tells us exactly what we should be judging: not the other person’s choices, but our own actions to ensure we are not placing an obstacle in their path. We may have the freedom to do anything, but if exercising that freedom becomes a stumbling block to a weaker believer, we must limit our freedom out of love.

Look at the serious consequence in verse 15: "If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died."

What does Paul say? If your free exercise of choice causes distress, you are no longer acting in love. That person is an individual for whom Christ willingly poured out His blood on the Cross! What is more important: your right to your opinion and freedom, or the soul for whom Christ died?

Paul states it plainly in verse 20 and 21: "Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food... It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall."

The "work of God" here is the very community of believers. To build the Kingdom, we must choose love over liberty—sacrificing our right to self-assertion for the sake of the person next to us. This love of surrender is what Paul calls the "beautiful" Christian way. It is the path of following Jesus Christ, who surrendered all of His rights and glory for us on the Cross.

                  말씀을 맺습니다. 오늘날 교회 안에 이런 음식의 문제는 없습니다. 하지만 그와 비슷한 비본질적인 문제들은 넘쳐나지요. 정치적인 견해, 예배 스타일, 재정 사용 방식, 교육관 등의 수많은 견해의 차이들이 우리 사이에서도 비판과 갈등의 씨앗이 되곤 합니다. 그러나 우리는 하나님의 나라를 이루기 위해 무엇을 해야하는지 잊지 말아야 합니다. 우리가 화평의 일과 서로를 세우는 일을 하고 있는지, 아니면 먹는 것과 마시는 일처럼 또다시 우리의 열심으로 하나님의 사업을 무너지게 하고 있지는 않은지 잘 분별해야 합니다. 사랑하는 성도 여러분, 오늘 우리가 지체와 형제들 앞에 ‘걸림돌’이 아니라 ‘디딤돌’이 되시기를 축복합니다. 오직 사랑으로 화평의 일과 덕을 세우는 일로 하나님을 기쁘시게 하며 아름답게 그리스도를 섬기는 자 되시기를, 그래서 하나님의 나라를 이루어나가시는 여러분 되시기를 예수님의 이름으로 축원합니다.

Conclusion (Walk Worthy: Stumbling Block or Stepping Stone)

Friends, we may not argue about food in our churches today, but the equivalent non-essential issues are abundant. Differences in political views, worship styles, approaches to ministry, and cultural preferences often become seeds of bitterness and division.

We must remember what is truly needed to build the Kingdom of God. We must constantly discern: Are we pursuing peace and mutual edification, or are we, through our zeal and rigidity, tearing down the very work of God?

Final Admonition (22-23): "So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves." Keep your personal conviction between you and God, but let your actions toward others be governed by love. Anything done without this loving conviction is sin.

May we choose to be stepping stones for our brothers and sisters, not stumbling blocks. May we make every effort to do what leads to peace and edification, serving Christ acceptably and beautifully building the Kingdom of God in our midst. Amen.