Unlocking Romans Block 3 Session 2

Pray together. Heavenly Father, as we come together again to continue the study of Romans, allow our discussion to um deepen the understanding of the word even if we may go through a lot of different interpretations. Uh allow us not to get lost and confused, but rather we can get the essence of the teaching or really uh know the heart uh you have towards us. or when you write to us through Paul uh in the name of Jesus Christ we prayed. Amen. Uh yeah. So this verse um from faith to faith or by faith from first to last uh from faith to faith was closer to the original text. And during the break we actually went through some commentary and I also uh use AI to speed up my research and also read and visit some texts. So we look at um Luther's commentary on Romans. his preface to Romans and his lectures on Romans which is a more extended version and uh uh Kiyagi also look at another interpretation and uh also we look at I look at JC Sparrow's and we also look at Kbox uh so uh so basically in Luther's lecture on Romans he went through two types of common interpretation by his study so which is the uh Catholic uh uh the interpretation popular among the Catholic scholars. The first is uh was refuted strongly by Luther. It was interpreted in this way. Uh from faith to faith means from unformed faith to the formed faith and Rud refuted in the way unformed faith is not actually a faith. Uh so basically under the Roman Catholic uh doctrinal framework this makes sense a person who actually did not have the faith which was not considered as receiving of the the grace but as as a person's holistic uh whole wholeness in front of God. So it's unformed, it's immature and grow into maturity to a faith. And Ruther felt it was not a valid interpretation uh hermeneutically and also doctrinally. He didn't consider this as a passage or as a phrase about the growing and maturity of faith. So he he cast the first one and the second very popular understanding is about the faith of the ancestors the father's faith to us uh the fathers because this this interpretation somehow makes sense because it's related to uh Habacook's uh prophecy the righteous will live by faith and also it's also somehow echoes with the teachings in Hebrews right in Hebrews chapter 11s those who are alive in front of God. Uh so from chapter 10 to chapter 11 so those who are living in front of God they are the faithful ones. So the father's faith allow them to be viewed as alive in God. So they live by faith and from their faith to us. uh but Rud also doesn't feel this makes sense uh in a hermeneutical explanation and he considered this is just a expression to emphasize faith is everything we are saved by faith and by faith alone and he quoted psalm in one of the expression in psalm we we may all know from strength to strength so from strength to strength you will not go to the text to analyze what is the first strength and what is the next strength right it's basically describe a person who are in God receive the strength and have strength to to walk the whole path of of faith so he says from faith to faith is Paul's same expression pattern of expression like what the psalmist use from faith to faith from strength to strength is purely by faith uh so in in any stage of our journey of faith is purely by faith we are saved. So that's Rud's interpretation and and there is a interpretation uh which was done by who who was the original writer. So KBA took that view from Christ's faith. So so there is interpretation the first faith is the faithfulness of God. which is his grace which is the the the grace revealed in Jesus Christ. So that's the faith of God that's the faithfulness of God given to us in Jesus Christ. And because of this foundation we have the faith. So to emphasize faith is not my abilities or or labor with me my determination or whatever from me but finds its roots in Jesus Christ alone in God alone. So God's faithfulness grow allowed us to have faith. So that's the foundation. So look at look at this uh so so it's it's a good summary. It's a bit uh synthesis but I think it's good. So let's let's look at it to look at some view. Uh faith produces faith and a faith is a faithfulness of God. This provided sources break this down into dynamic process involving the origin, reception and historical transmission of this faith because Luther emphasized the faith Christian has is not a dead thing is not a statement or a brain work of of of certain belief. Uh it is dynamic. It's living creative and active work of God within the heart. So if we combine the these two interpretation we can see in this way the foundation the Lord's faith and faithfulness the starting point of from faith to faith is the faith established by the lord. God is righteousness. God's righteousness is not achieved by human works but is actively revealed through the cross which is the ultimate demonstration of God's love and his redemptive act of bearing human sin. And then there is the foundation and there is the reception of human faith. The second aspects is human response to God's saving action. Faith is defined simply as the act of accepting these unmmerited love and grace. As Martin Luther emphasizes, true faith is not a human fabrication, an idol dream, or a mere intellectual concept. Instead, it is a living, creative, and active work of God within the heart that brings the Holy Spirit, kills the old Adam and completely changes the believer. And there is a transmission that actually somehow it's it's in integrated another view about the transmission of faith generation to generation. Furthermore, from faith to faith captures the historical continuation and relational spread of the gospel. It signifies how faith is passed down sequentially, originating from the Lord's cross and love and then flowing through the footsteps of love and the hard work of those who were previously established in the faith. It is through this con uh continuous generation by generation inheritance and transmission that faith reaches and brings life to believers today. Ultimately this phrase anchors the core message of Romans that the righteous will live by faith. It highlights that God's re rescuing power and righteousness are appropriated entirely through trusting in his redemptive act completely apart from the works of the law. I think it's a very synthetic but but a good summary which combines multiple interpretation. Uh so there's no point to fights and probably when we go to heaven we can ask Paul what did you mean originally uh but uh the key message is here the righteous will live by faith so it's part of the introduction verse 16 to 17 carry the important theme of the doctrinal teaching in Romans uh we can't dive that deeply as greeting part. So otherwise we can't finish everything by today. So we will speed up a little bit and focus more on the pastoral side of Romans how you use the message to teach. So I hope to do it in a more interactive way. uh the saying of the Gentiles. So literally from verse one uh chapter 1 verse 18 to chapter 1 verse 32 and some people says chapter 2 verse 1 to verse 16 is not only about the Jews a scene in the Jews because there is nowhere he is ever stating literally uh poise is uh tackling the Jews, but rather it's a common uh recipient who like to point their fingers to others and passing judgments uh to others. Those who consider themselves more superior um and their superiority become the the the the uh the sin that God judges. But I personally uh think the division between chapter one and chapter two makes very sense even if Paul didn't say uh chapter 2 verse one to verse 16 talked about Jews. Um but this is actually what's what the image is about and and passing judgment taking granted of God's love uh showing contempt uh being stubborn. That's exactly this the situation of the believers. So I still believe chapter two is about the sins in the believers and chapter one in the non-believers. So let's look at it in this way. Uh Romans chapter 1 verse 18 to 30 32. So what are the key messages you want to share with your Bible students when you are teaching Romans chapter one? >> The root of sin. >> The root of sin. Let's just list out everything you want to share of sin. Mhm. The way to know God. The ways to know God. The ways to know God. How could these two be connected in your Bible teaching? Yes, the contents are related and and the ways to know God is indeed mentioned here. The ontological approach something within we can know God is given um God made it plain to us and something externally uh so epis epismological uh arguments of the existence of god of the knowledge of god uh so something without something outside u and god made it plain uh through his creation But how how was the sin the fundamental sin relates to the way to know God? is your students some of them are >> no no I mean in in a text in the text yeah let's let's come to the text first >> I think in in Rome the Rome church it's very multicultural Yeah, that Rome the culture is is like a lot of it the country is used by a lot of adult I don't worship I think explains why why connected to existence um >> God's existence. >> Yeah. Maybe some Roman church members they still think. >> So you think there are atheist among the target group which is a very very rare case. Almost everybody is theist. >> Yeah. This just what kind of god you believe. So, so people believe the existence of God or gods but they may not they might not believe in the existence of the god the only god. >> Yeah. But but yeah I I get your point. They may not know the true god. So Paul includes that. Any other opinion? Why did Paul talked about the two ways, right? Basically, two ways uh to know God. >> Ontological and epis chapter one. How does that connect it? I think Isaiah chapter one I call Romans chapter 1 verse 8. >> Uhhuh. How did that relate? >> Romans have no in the center of your life. And chapter Isaiah chapter one it talks about the the creator created everything but the creation doesn't know the creator. Uh so Isaiah chapter one was the basically about God's people. >> God says that uh even the donkey the the the animals the the oxen and donkeys recognize their masters. Um but my people did not know me. My people rejected me. Yes. same thing uh related but how does that relate to the ways to know God? Paul says God God is plain to know right it's not very very difficult to know so you really need to make this link otherwise it's hard to teach you may teach two totally separated thing people think yes you're talking about the existence of God and then suddenly you jump to the topic the godlessness so and people may have the feeling that as long as I believe in the existence of God I'm not godlessness I'm not godless. of the knowledge >> of the truth of truth of the truth. >> Yeah. The original expression expression of the truth. So, so the important thing is you need to know the meaning of godlessness. So how does Romans chapter how Romans chapter one itself in the verses explain the meaning of godlessness? So how did Romans chapter one explain the meaning of godlessness? Because it's it's a good word. It's a very precise word. Ungodliness or godlessness basically means no god. But is this no god means you don't believe in the existence of god? No. Not at all. >> Yeah. So so so yeah. So let's look at Romans chapter one and look at the verse. How does the how how did Romans chapter one describe godlessness uh so in verse 18 right in verse 18 it says godlessness and wickedness of people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. So this is one thing godless people do right. They know the truth but they suppress. You know the meaning of suppress. Suppress means you know something is right but you in order to do evil you press it down or you twist the truth. >> You apparently your conscience, your physical body and everything goes wrong. And those all tell you that you shouldn't do that. But in order to continue the wicked way, you suppress it. You you press it down or you twist the truth. Uh so you may feel oh this is just one action of wickedness. But actually this is part of godlessness suppressing the truth um by their wicked. So this is the image you know something is right but you purposely press it down right you need to see this image uh and the same image is here uh so um verse 21 so this this is verse 18 verse 21 for although they knew God they knew God. They neither glorify him as God nor gave thanks to him. But their thinking became futile and foolish heart were darkened. So apparently Paul was not talking about Jews who knew God in the religious sense but talking about a hu common humanity. Everybody all the human beings knew God. Neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him. So new yet not uh not glorified. So God nor gave thanks to God and thinking become futile or foolish heart will darken. So similar with suppressing the truth right even the truth is obvious for them to get enlightened and open their eyes but they become futile very ambiguous and darkened uh so that's the image thinking you can feel tire and the foolish heart will darken right so so I will just feel darken And what else? Verse 28. Verse 28 is also the definition of godlessness. Furthermore, just as they did not think it's worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind so that they do what ought not to be done. So they did not think it's worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God. So retain there is the knowledge of God given to them but they don't want to take it and put it inside of them. So this is called they refuse to retain, right? do not think is worthwhile. They think it's no worth, no value to to know God even if they they can know God. We uh not think it's worth while to retain the knowledge of God. And what else? Anything else in chapter one? something very similar at the end. Right? >> 32. >> Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these worry things, but also approve of those who practice them. It's actually part of the sexual immorality and evilness they've done. But that revealed a similar image they know but they didn't do right. They know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death. So basically if I want to simplify that they know death. They know God right? They they know God's righteous decree. They know uh God's righteous decree and they know it it will cause death but they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who who did it. So there is this deliberate engaging to sing but they do and approve others to do evils. So we we discover the commonality in those image right what's that is sin um committing sin or this godlessness is not something oh Adam committed sin I just couldn't help but I'm I'm kidnapped I'm hijacked it there is this image the cosmic power of seeing which hijacks us like UFO the aliens came out and abducted us there is this image so we are totally dysfunctioned and neutralized and disabled to battle with the same so this helplessness inside of us so we really need the forensic justification the the help uh the alien help right the if alien adopted us we need aliens we need something someone outside of us to help us not self-help. So there is this emphasis of salvation. But in terms of sin, we should never forget this moral obligation and responsibility inside of us that we not but we purposely we deliberately sin. So so all these verses actually painted this picture purposely. So by your own will, by your own choice, by your own efforts, you purposely sin and push God away. So, so this is the picture of godlessness. So it's not ignorance, it's not helplessness. Paul firstly painted the picture of deliberation. So this is the image Paul tried to emphasize deliberation. So purposely purposely by my own will I I want to kick God kick god away. So that's why we are condemned right human beings are condemned otherwise we will say hey I can't help right this is how people push away the responsibility I don't know I'm adopted I I'm captured by alien to do evil so so I can't help but Paul says no and that's the reason he introduced this idea of the knowledge of God made plain to man so people may say you say I know I purposely But I don't know. I'm a non-believer. I worship pagan gods. My parents did that. Everybody does that around me. How can I know? How can your God so-called only one God in the universe who sets all the rule and come and condemn me? I I I don't know anything. So that's the reason Paul says no, God made it plain for you to know. So that's why he established this base of judgment of condemnation deliberation because God made himself plain to to be known and um so which verse is it? Which verse? So two sides. One is uh verse n 19 right something ontological something built within verse 19 since what may be known about god is plain to them because made it plain to them. Uh I think there is this overall argument God made its plan. So the knowledge of God is not something very difficult. And this is the same argument Paul made when he talks about the salvation through Jesus Christ in Romans chapter 10. You don't need to travel to the heaven or go deep into the hell to get Christ um to get the truth. The truth is near you. So God made it plain. The ontological approach of the knowledge of God is recorded in verse 19. God made it plain and uh which echoes with Romans chapter 2 verse um Let's see verse 14 right do by nature things required by the law they are law in themselves even though they do not have the law they don't have the written law but god has written the law in their heart uh so 14 the law written uh in the heart. So some people interpret it as conscience, some people interpret it as intuition. So some some natural tendency uh for us to feel uneasy when we are doing evil and some universal framework of sin we can discover in uh in the ten commandments. And so so this all points to this universal written law in the heart and also verse actually verse 14 to 16. So consist more logical. So what is this? Which verse? Verse 20. Right. vers 20 through creation and God's glory uh his divine nature his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen being understood from what has been made so that people are without excuse Um so he's invisible quality made visible invisible quality of qualities of God made visible in his creation and God showed his uh eternal power and divine nature through the creation uh through the cosmos. Uh so in Greek is cosmos. So cosmos means the order uh and we we can approach it in a very colorful way. So what I will talk to the uh Bible students normally the universe and also the order of creation and the biological function of the body and like all these things um allowed us to discover the beauty of creation which points to the creator. uh and verse 20 doesn't stand alone as a argument of the epistomological uh approach of knowing God but it's related to the very scene of idol worshiing idolatry uh so idol idolatry and sexual in more reality. So among the weakness we we actually group the so first group is idol I idol worshiing idolatry and sexual immorality which is broader than idolatry. Uh so sorry broader than idolatry. Idolatry is just just a small parts. there is devout uh and and even worse form of uh performing sexual immorality. So these two things and also uh inventions of uh ways of doing all kinds of um we always say total total depravity. So these two things idolatry and uh sexual immorality they are directly related to the very sin of godlessness of rejecting God. So when God is not worshiped when his uh invisible qualities are made visible to us through his creation instead of worship God through the beauty of creation we turn to the made things the created things. So that's idol worshiing. So God gave us the beauty of creation and he made us. He created us. So we should worship him, give thanks to him and bring glory to him. But instead of doing that, we get stuck by the things, right? So so we we we worship the things. That's idol worshiing. Uh and sexual immorality is a uh uh is a is a thing about love, right? Idolatry, worshiing idol is also described in the Old Testament quite often as spiritual idolatry. Spiritual spiritually you commit a sexual immorality. You do not love your husband but instead you follow other men. So it's called idolatry. uh and spiritual adultery is worshiping idol. Instead of worshiping God, instead of loving God and God alone, we love the made things. It's actually in mority is directly linked with love. Right? Instead of loving God, we are filled with fallen form of love which is lust. Uh so these two things are directly related. uh spiritual uh adultery. Adultery, spiritual adultery. Uh not loving God, but loving the mate, the created things. Sexual immorality, immorality, the sin of love. Instead of being filled by the godly love, uh human uh filled with fallen lust. So these two things are directly related to God this and then come out the list of same. Uh and um usually when we teach this part we may well the the one of the very sensitive topic here is about homosexuality and so um sexual immorality includes this uh so why this is a important thing to be mentioned here Paul didn't group it to the um depravity ity the wickedness but instead it's related directly to sexual immorality because it's to change God's order of creation. So we sin so seriously to the point that we make the disorder of God's natural order to the unnatural ones. Uh verse 26, exchange the natural sexual relationship relationships for unnatural ones. So there is the part one. So it's not just one of many sins. It's a very serious thing because it's uh um um destroy all order of creation. So true and it's also because of the context. Uh so many emperor committed a sin of homosexuality. I read an article about the research of LGBT behaviors among the young people and and their understanding of this group among the young people and uh so in 1980s 1990s to early 2000 uh uh homosexual behaviors were limited or quill behaviors were limited in this group people who have this uh disorder. But later it became a choice, a preference and even a popular trend. So today in America, in Europe, many young people will consider their teenage as a time to explore LGBT behaviors and relations. And they also market as a way they support the political correctness of supporting this marginalized group which is no longer marginalized anymore. So so uh Rome uh had this similar atmosphere. This practice of homosexuality doesn't just belong to those who struggle of this tendency or disorder. Um and they publicly does that as one of the way to seek pleasure and the Rome Roman emperors they had many partners male and female. Uh so just for the sexual pleasure he engage himself themsself to they engage themselves to different kind of perverted practice including homosexuality. Uh so so so this this has become a popular culture way to seek pleasure and in pagan worship one of the very fallen way of pagan worship is this uh um shrine prostitutes. So in the temple in the shrine there are female and male prostitutes. So you can choose different gender and and so homosexuality or even in extended way LGBTQ behaviors u was not merely a disorder or or struggle um but it's a it's a popular practice uh in in the first century Rome. So how fallen is this? So Paul really uh tackled at this uh in a in a very uh uh harsh way, right? So he actually made quite long statements about the judgment and condemnation upon them. So it may be a quite sensitive thing to talk about but we need to talk about this because uh this is what Bible says. uh explaining to to the Bible students the context and how serious this sin is. Uh firstly, the sin of lust is committed against the body, the holy temple God has made while everything else was committed outside of our body. So this makes sexual sin very serious. And moreover, homosexuality is the offense to God's creation, God's order of creation. and or you sing naturally follow your natural desire right people always say oh that's my desire that's what I need that's why I sing but homosexual is is a thing see against the natural order it's unnatural so offensing I will not say destroying offensing god's order of creation uh invention of ways of doing evil So verse 29 they have become peeled with every kind of wickedness. So um every kind of wickedness and then many of them we may notice many of them actually was about heart not about behavior. So some are about relations and behavior but a lot of them were about heart and mind right where hidden inside uh this is something uh we need to note here and there is um yeah they invented verse 30 they invented ways of doing evil in heart and in mind, not merely in social relations or behaviors. And also uh this deprave depravity depravity. So depravity, what is the difference between depravity and corruption? When we study systematic theology, we we talked about this. So depravity, the difference between depravity and corruption. And corruption basically describe the status of committing a lot of sins and living a really terrible life, wicked life. But depravity contains the part not seeking God, not desiring good, not seeking God. So it's about a tendency and choice. Not only are are we living in the status of wickedness, but we do not want to seek God. So again it contain an image of this deliberation and without excuse we willful willfully choose to sin against God. So so this is actually the very key to unlock uh Romans chapter one to link everything together. So the very s center center central part of saying uh without excuse deliberation. Okay. Uh let's end here. Romans chapter one is important. So we spend longer time doing this. Uh is it beneficial for your understanding and teaching? Yeah. Yeah. I have a question before I was in China when I studied the book of Romans >> the the connection between the little thing and the ways to know God is it's quite different. >> Oh so what what is the proposal >> is when you teach the students maybe some of them they >> Yeah. Yeah. atheist. >> So they have the >> they have the question if god doesn't exist how can I be godless? >> Yeah. Yeah. You say I I'm goddess. I am God. >> I don't even know God. >> I don't even know God. So I have an excuse. This is what I learned. >> Yeah. Yeah. I think in the atheist context it makes sense. Uh and this this this argument is the same. God exists and this knowledge is obvious. So that's why you are condemned. So even if you try to talk to atheists the very important thing is deliberation. So you feel you you have to believe without the belief of atheism you don't believe there is a god and you have no way to know there is a god and this passage is not merely as an introduction of ways to know god >> but make it as you know god made it plain >> and I'll tell you this is a way to know god two ways and then you say oh yes makes sense and the conclusion the person has shouldn't just be now I can use these two way to know God. We need to say these two ways are already given >> right it's it's given by God in you and in the universe. So God already made it plain. And one thing is how evil the environment is by teaching there is no God. Right? There there is the sin in the society in the communist to communism to to tell people there is no god. But there is also the sin inside of us because these two things are given to everybody >> ontological ontologically and epismologically. Right? We are given a universe and we are given our heart >> and and we don't use this to know God. We we we we are made we are ma made to know God >> but we press it down and we listen to the culture. We listen to the noun. listen to the ideologies given by others instead of listening to the strongest two message ontologically and ephist and cos cosmically right so so so without excuse still it come back to the same condemnation you can't say oh because I grew up in China in a communist country so godlessness has nothing to do with me no god made it plain god make it plain plain plain. So, so that's why we are condemned. Even as people growing up in the atheist environment, we are condemned. >> So, as you face like as you teach like a local >> so chapter two actually speaks more strongly. But I think if if they if they can under they really receive they will see the roots of sin because a lot of Christians they focus on wickedness. >> They do not see the godlessness >> and neither glorifying God nor give thanks to him. This is so common in the believers in the religious people and we do not place God in the center and and that's why we we're condemned just by looking at the creation looking at our hearts. we should worship him. >> But but believers constantly say lack of grace and God didn't give me enough blessings or grace and complains and you know the image of complaining that that's very common unsatisfied heart. So so we have stronger insensitivity and and gratitude towards the goodness we receive. Indeed when people you you know when when when people come to church first time and they always want to pay for the meal that's what happened in China because everything costs >> but when a believer come to the church they they just eat without gratitude >> because you think shouldn't let me free >> right right so so >> church should should give me free food >> that's so common in in Australia. So people felt it's hard to do charity in Australia because people they don't care about free stuff. They don't care about free food >> because they think firstly everywhere there is free food >> overflowing. So people are numbed. Common people have no gratitude of the food they receive in Australia. >> Even the homeless people they don't lack of food at all. here >> they eat better foods. They feel why you give me home brand food. I said this is what I give to my child. They they even feel you are not giving me the nice food. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And and in amount of free food they pick that the the better brand free food. So and secondly they think you should give me free stuff. So no gratitude and this numbness inside of a lot of Australia and New Zealand Christians started to be judged when they do short-term mission in Southeast Asia in in South South Pacific. They see the people of Africa. They see the people who suffer the lackness of things and who cherish the food and they saw people even starve because they do not have the clean water and clean food >> and they they start to feel wow how much they took the foods and and fresh air and and water for granted. So I think this message speaks to to human beings universally. Um but but but we we try to separate all non-believers and believers because chapter 2 tackled believers more specifically. >> Actually I want to on Sunday I I went to churches on the way to I just first I the whole afternoon I was in the library. the celebrate close at 5:00 pm. So I on the way to my to home on the way home and then I there's a so it's a very there's a church is a I would call this uniting church called S Steven Church it's very very close to the library actually there service already finished I heard I heard >> oh it's another central area yeah Sen when I passed by I think 5:15 or 5:30 I heard the of the music of the like worship music >> uh >> downstairs. So I have some cross qu I'm very curious about this sort of finish why you have the what mean? So I went downstairs I found there's a label church most of the attend the the attenders they are elders. >> Uhhuh. >> Yeah. And several staff but most of the the staff this most of them are male. >> Uhhuh. So I I just listen to I think when I went there they Yes. They they were saying the clothing song. >> Yeah. After closing song and we talk because underground there's no there's no signal. I can't check their website their fa their faith. But what I just I talked to a brother and then the brother introduced me to the the pastor. But from the pastor the the behavior the action and the way he talk but just a facial expression facial expression and body language body expression I thought there's something wrong with this pastor and okay I just quickly finish the conversation I went when I went on the stairs finally I got internet I check oh my gosh there so this this church it's quite support LGBT >> yeah You know, on their church website, there's a a fake fly. The big a big >> rainbow flag. >> Rainbow flag. So that's why the the church pastor is quite young. How to explain? >> Uh fe feminist feminine >> femin. Oh my gosh. And second I want to church because I know that church provide the free meal free. >> I wonder I was just want to save up save up the money for for the dinner. So I went to that church attend church service and your free meal. I still want I still I still money for for dinner. So I went to that church. The pastor, the preacher, the service is a Anglican church. The service it's good. Yeah. I think there nothing there's nothing fancy. They just sing two songs and one opening song and sermon the intercessor prayer and sermon and closing song the and most of students they are from and students just uni student attend church. But I talked to two girls that girls ask me are you the you you are you comment yes how and they asked me how can you find this church um I asked her so how long have you been to this church two years she been to this great city church for two years but she didn't she doesn't know any of the staff of like a pastors of of this church >> some people may just come and go possibly >> years >> oh wow Yeah, you don't know big church is possible. If I go to Hson for two years, no one knows me. >> It's not big church. >> Ah, >> it's not big church. Small. I think it's kind of small because after church service, they have the meal, they have the table of bellow. >> Oh, small. I think just a 30 people or 40 people attend the service. That's small. Two years. And another girl is Iranian. >> Yeah. She's a Christian. Yeah. the church service. She also doesn't know anyone here even though he came to this church for one and a half. Um well I was so shocked and surprised. >> Yeah. There is the scene in the culture and in the envir environment I need to recognize. I I I I watch an interview about Laura Dger who is a Louisiana who was born in Louisiana state >> in US and basically that state have very friendly atmosphere. Everybody knows everybody. Everybody sing and dance. Yeah. >> So a bit like Pacific, a small town in Pacific. That that was the atmosphere she grew up with. So everybody picks up the worship, the rhythm and then and people even during the hurac they have hurac party. They they group together to go to one person's house and see how the tree fall and destroy the house and then they sing and dance. So, so, so the atmosphere was like that very homely, family friendly that was back in her her childhood and not every state is like that. Definitely California is not like that at all. New York is not like that at all. California is really really cold. So, so and and if we if we live and grow up in a very cold environment, we may normalize sin. We may reason make sin reasonable and feel cold as it's just just one culture. >> But until we really see how people should relate and trust and then we felt, oh, this is the problem. But the the the the difficult part of teaching sin as sin is this postmodernist view make people say culture is neure >> this is okay that's okay that's just Louisiana c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c culture dancing singing partying culture want to and oh this is my culture just stay cool and stay mainly individualist based but but actually it's not so so By by looking at different culture, we need to always reflect. We can't say atheist culture is atheist, so nobody knows God. That's that's neutral. Atheist culture, everybody knows God. No, every culture and every man um we we we are made accountable in front of God and we we we we commit sin. So when culture and culture meet together, it's beautiful to appreciate each other which is emphasized but it's also important for us to recognize to see the mirror even if it's not perfect to recognize the way I grew up with is actually not neged. >> So yeah, should we should we end here first? It's nearly 1:00. Let's pray together. Uh, heavenly father, we thank you for the time we can delve deep uh deeply in Romans chapter one and allowed us to get the flow of the um of the writings of Paul instead of getting lost in one or two vocabularies and also teach us how to teach so that we can convey the key message and allow this message of sin to speak powerfully to people today. Even if many people refuse to hear the message of sin, if you is so um challenging and so painful to face the problem in themsel but allowed us to really uh speak about sin with love with a passion Paul carries with a passion in your heart so that people can know that they need you um they need a salvation through Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus we prayed. Amen. Our Father who are in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive our s debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptations, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.