Lesson 6 - THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

The righteousness of God requires that sin be judged. Therefore, the day will come when all

men and women will have to stand before God to receive the punishment due to them. However, the love of God is such that God’s desire is that the men and women that He had created would not face judgment and perish. To satisfy the requirements of both His righteousness and His love, in order that men and women can be saved from God's wrath, God the Father sent God the Son Jesus Christ to be incarnated as a man and bear the wrath and judgment of God in our place. In Rom 3:21- 5:21, Paul explains how in the death and resurrection of Jesus, the righteousness of God can be imputed to us so that we can be justified before God by faith in Jesus Christ.

Rom 3:21-26

21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished- 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

2 Cor 5:21

21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Rom 4:3

3 What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Rom 4:6

6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Rom 5:6-11

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not  only is

this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now

received reconciliation.

Rom 5:12

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin. and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-

Rom 5:15-17

15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Again, the gift of God is not like the results of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justifications. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

2 Cor 5:21

21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

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9 October 2016

Theological comprehension convinces you in your head. Devotional reflection convicts you in your heart.

The righteousness of God is the key word.

Let's look at what's on the apostle's mind.

Roman 1:18-3:20 - all have sinned. What exactly was he focusing on?

Romans 1:17

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Paul sees the gospel from the righteousness of God. He is saying the gospel reveals the righteousness of God by faith. The righteousness of God that is given to men. At the cross the righteousness of God came upon us, given to us by faith.

Romans 1:18

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

Here Paul introduces the wrath of God and he develops the problem. That the righteousness of God is given and we are justified. Sacrifice of atonement and proposition (NKJV).

When Jesus hung on the cross, Jesus was righteous, without sin. A righteous man dying for the unrighteous. God gave his righteousness to us.

2 Corinthians 5:21

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus died and took our place, we from being unrighteous became righteous.

Romans 4:3

What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Romans 4:6

David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Credited righteousness. It's an accounting term. Righteousness credited.

Romans 3:25

whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

Propitiation is where God turns the wrath of God into the favour of God.

God both saves and judges at the cross.

It's the divine court of law. The day will come when all will be judged. For unbelievers it will be the great white throne. We as believers will be exempted from the great white throne judgement.

This is known as a saving righteousness and a judging righteousness. Saving righteousness declares sinners as righteous. In judging righteousness, God pours out his wrath onto Jesus.

At the cross, both saving and judging righteousness of God meet.

The saving righteousness of God - LOVE

The judging righteousness of God - JUSTICE

At the cross these are held together. When we said the sinner's prayer, we believed Jesus died for our sins and we are forgiven of our sin and we commit our life.

The question is how did Jesus died for our sins? When we say Jesus took our sin, he's being judged and when righteousness is credited to us it is his love.

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16 October 2016

We want to look at these 4 words. What is the difference? What's the relationship between love and mercy, and the difference between mercy and grace. Understanding is very important because it'll help us understand the verse better.

Holiness - his absolute moral purity and goodness.

We are talking about his moral essence. It's what makes us look at something on the name of God to perceive whether it comes from a Christian God. Like if the person say God told me to plant a bomb in the temple because of the demons in there. We will need to ask if that's really what God will do because innocent lives will be lost.

So many things done in the name of God is not of God. Like the crusades in history, whether they were called of God. Christianity was birthed with Jesus  dying on the cross and not by a sword. The other incident was the inquisition when the Catholics were burning people on the stake.

Righteousness (Personal) - his actions in accordance with the law he himself has established

Recently our cell group handled "God is" and it gave us a platform on this. From his moral theology he establishes certain law. If someone comes and ask you this. Real case. A man of God has a family and one fine day in his communion with the Lord he heard something. I have to take a god daughter. And there is a 19 year old lady he wants to take as his god daughter. The wife is not happy. Moving on he gives Bible study and the reason he took the god daughter is to break into a spiritual realm. The wife say this is not from God. When the man is asked about this he said God spoke to him.

I am someone who say, if God spoke to me something, I'll ask if it contradicts with the word of God. The person answered when Jesus on the cross asked John to take Mary as his mother so this is the principal of spiritual adoption.  I answered the person that Jesus when on the cross ask John to take care of his mother which is a Jewish tradition. He said he heard from the Holy Spirit and you didn't. But if he put the word of God aside, something is very wrong. No one is above the word of God. Even God himself is not above his own law.

Justice (official righteousness) - he administers his law fairly without partiality, punishing evil and rewarding good.

What's the difference between righteousness and justice? Righteousness is who God is. It refers to Jesus  only but the day when Jesus  seats on the throne and dispense crowns and what needs to be punished or rewarded, he is dispensing justice. 

This is when we share the gospel, the unbelievers think we share an unjust God. Especially if they don't hear the whole gospel. And God can work in the person's heart.

Love - who God is

Mercy - kindness (compassion) of God when he sees men in their need

Grace - undeserved favour shown to men when God sees them in their sinfulness

Benevolence - unselfish concern for men

God created Adam and Eve. When they sinned death came upon the human race. With it came suffering and sickness. When we wake up we read news of sufferings. It is the love of God that makes him do something. He sent Jesus. At the cross the love of God meets the righteousness of God. It reveals the unconditional love of God.

Romans 3:25-26

25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

There are two parts. When Jesus was crucified on the cross, the judgement and wrath of God is poured on him God is seen as just. The second part is those who is justified, we are looking at his saving righteousness of God that comes upon those who sinned.

So we see why is it God can allow people to go to heaven just because they believe in Jesus? Why God did not punish evil men, we have to say God has punished evil when he punished Jesus. The question is not why God did not punish the evil, but why God punished the innocent for evil. And the person punished was not coerced into it but he volunteered. We need to be clear that God is just. How can the righteousness of Jesus  be imputed to those who are unrighteous? God is both the lawgiver and the judge. Only one person can be the perfect sacrifice and that's Jesus.

Romans 4:3

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Romans 4:6

just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

The word credit is an accounting term. I have covered this before. There is a double imputation.

• My sin is imputed to Jesus 
• His righteousness is imputed to me

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Questions

1. In 1 Corinthians 15:45, Jesus is called the last Adam. Compare and contrast the first Adam from the last Adam.
2.  Is there a difference between saying "God declares us righteous" and saying "God makes us righteous”?
3. “The forensic work of Christ is the basis of God's transforming work”. Comment on the statement.

Question 2

We want to work on this word.

Saving righteousness (God declares sinners to be righteous.) Paul wrote knowing there will be a great white throne judgement. This is a forensic work which refers to a legal influence. Forensic is a declaration. The role of a judge in proclaiming guilty or innocent is not about changing the person. He is dispensing judgement. That's our legal system. It's a declaration by the judge. When we as sinners come to God there will be two type.of sinners.

Sinner A will say he has no sin. Or hear say someone else sin more than him. He is coming on his righteousness. God will look at him and say he has to compare to the perfect righteousness who is Jesus.

Sinner B will be the type that admits his sin and look to Jesus for salvation. That is precisely the situation. Martin Luther got it right.

This is how Luther works on this in Latin.

Simul justus et peccator

Simultaneous - just - and - sinner

It means "we are one and at the same time just and sinners". We are justified and yet sinners. The question is how.can we be just and still sinner?

We are just by divine declaration. We are sinners in the reality that we sin after we are justified.

So the answer to this question is yes. God has declared you righteous but is in the process of making you righteous.

Question 3

A lot of people say all religion is the same. But the one faith that has the most study on the imputation of righteousness is the Christian faith. In Buddhism there is also a teaching on the imputation of righteousness. Their karma is developed as no one can save you but yourself. You do good. The key was revolving around karma which is anti-imputation. In India that concept of karma was first accepted by holy men. Which was not a problem.

But when it went to the masses, people look at how to circumvent the karma. They believe that they can chant certain phrases that can give them merit impetus. That don't you think is imputation? For them, they have multiple sect so it's partial imputation  but for Christians it's total imputation.

Death and resurrection of Jesus are the heart of the gospel - They are the basis for justification.

Romans 1:4

and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

The forensic work of Christ is declarative. But it moves on to the transforming work which is the empowering work. All three persons are involved.

Declarative - God the Father (Justification)

Forensic Work - God the Son (died and resurrected)

Transforming Work - God the Holy Spirit (Sanctification - powers you to grow in righteousness)

Throughout church history, when the gospel is being g preached they miss this. Along the way they wanted the declaration and it's not finished because they also demand sanctification so they were looking at works and legalism. Now it's different, they want the justification but not the sanctification. This is liberalism.

Justification is different from sanctification but justification cannot be separated from sanctification. God justify you in order to sanctify you.

God grants believers his spirit and the power to live a new life. The declaring effect comes with the empowering effect. That's how we become a new man.

Is the mark of spiritual maturity is someone who serves more in ministry than those that serve less? Or one that attends more services than one who attends less? Paul says you can do all things but have no life you are nothing. Spiritual maturity is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. But that fruit can be self effort. That's what the Buddhist does. But if someone who has the fruit of the Holy Spirit but he is sourcing it from Christ, it will define his spiritual maturity.

Always remember, God wants to change you.

Stir Up the Gift

Rev Lawrence Seow

How many of you here have been in TOP for 37 years? Wow, I see some hands. God is a faithful God even if we have not been faithful. We may have failed God but God have not failed us.

I want to tell you a story. Some scientists did an experiment. They put a monkey alone in a room. Please, I'm noy saying you people are monkeys okay? It's just a story. And they shone a bright  light at the monkey. And they poured water on the monkey. And they made a lot of noise. And the monkey was frightened, nervous and he panicked. The stress level was very high. Then they stopped everything. Then they put another monkey inside the same room. So there are now two monkeys. They did the same thing with the light, water and sound. This time the two monkeys did not panicked. They were more calm. What they found out is that they needed one another. If the monkeys are like that so are Christians. We need one another. We are one in the body of Christ. As we celebrate 37 years we must learn to honour one another.

Most of the time we want to receive honour. But we must learn not just to receive but to honour one another. Then the church becomes stronger. We won't be so selfish. We will be more giving. By the way, that's not my sermon ya. I have not started yet.

Now I am ready to preach. I promise Pastor Grace I will go slow and not walk around so much. But if I forget and walk about, she must follow me.

Today my message is found in 2Tim 1:6. Only one verse.

2 Timothy 1:6

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

So Paul says I remind you to stir up the gift. Please tell your neighbour don't sleep. If you sleep you cannot stir up the gift. I told this story last night. I better tell you this story. If you sleep I will wake you up.

There was this man who always sleep when the pastor preaches. So the pastor wanted to teach him a lesson. True enough when the pastor preached the man slept. So he whispered to the congregation "how many of you are going to hell?" Then he shouted, "if you are STAND UP!!!". So this man woke up and stood up. Then he realised he is the only one who stood up. But he was quick on his feet and he said "pastor I don't know what you said but you and i are the only ones standing up". (laughs)

These 37 years I want to remind all of you to stir up your gift. First thing is that you have a gift. Please tell your neighbour. You have a gift. Some may not be so well educated or may be poor. You think you are not very smart. But it does not matter. If you are a child of God you have the gift.

As a child of God the Holy Spirit comes into your life and you have the gift. In fact sometimes it's the smart people that don't have the gift. They think too much. Don't feel ashamed of yourself. You have at least one gift.

Some have two gifts and some have multi talented gifts. Praise God for that. If you are one of those, don't be proud. Some have only one gift. Like me. God has called me to preach the gospel. That is God's gift to me. And nobody has every gift. This gift is from God. You cannot choose your gift. It is from God.

No one can stir up the gift for you. God has to stir it up? You have to do it. You must have the desire and hunger to ask God. To stir up the gift.

How many of you love satay? When the man is doing the satay, he needs to fan the flame. Today I want you to make satay. You have to stir up the gift. I cannot do it for you. It's like barbecue, you have to fan the flame.

If everyone stirs up their gift, can you imagine how strong  the church will be? The problem is many come to church but do not exercise their gift. Ask yourself. How long have you been in church and are you exercising your gift? Are you making satay? Many is not so the church is not as strong as it can be. Do you want TOP to be a strong church? Amen? So what must you do? Stir up your gift.

Ephesians 4:11

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,

We need these gifts in church or we invite these gifts to church. Are you with me? Who are the apostles? They are the ones sent out. They plant churches. Who are the prophets? The ones who prophesy to the church, about the future or what's happening in the church. Who are the evangelists? They are the ones that proclaim the gospel. The Pastor's oversee the flock and oversee the congregation.

What is the difference between the pastor and evangelist?

Pastor Gideon is a pastor and I am an evangelist. So let me tell you a story to illustrate it.

One day pastor Gideon is cooking in a cabin in the forest. He saw me running and there was a big Bear chasing me. So he knew I was running for my life. He called me to come into his cabin. I ran towards the cabin and the bear was catching me. Just before I reach the open door, I side stepped the door and the bear ran into the cabin and pastor Gideon quickly closed the door. So I told pastor Gideon the bear is his. And I'll bring in more bears. And Pastor Gideon has to "bear" with them. Some christians are bears. If you are one don't be a grizzly bear. Don't be a polar bear. Try to be a Koala bear.

Some are teachers. They are those who master the word of God and make it very clear to the students. I pray God will raise up such people. There may be apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists here.

There was this 80 year old widow. She lost her husband ten years ago. She has never dated anyone since the husband died. Now there is a 90 year old wanting to date her. So she dressed up . And was excited. When she came back she was very angry. So the daughter asked what happened. She said she wanted to slap him. So the daughter said did he try to get fresh with you? She said no, I had to slap him to wake him because I thought he was dead.

So I need to know you are awake. You don't let me do all the hard work and you are just seating there. You must response. You must say Amen. You must lift up the level. Today is your 37th anniversary. You got to be excited. I am sweating already.

Romans 12:6-8

6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

These are not all the gifts. These are some of the gifts and it's not a study of the gifts. In Bible school it takes one semester to study all the gifts. Today I have only 30 minutes. So it's not a study.

Gift of prophesying, to serve, to encourage, lead or have mercy. Use it for the glory of God. Maybe  you can cook. Then cook with love. Our spirit is very important. Like those who do worship. The spirit is very important. Be thankful you can serve. You are not there to show off. Or you complain that you have to play again. The same when I preach. I come to bless you.  That's why I give 100%. It may be my last sermon. When I cross the road it may be my last. Yes! How can we know what will happen? So you must also listen like it's your last message. A coconut may drop on you when you go out. How would you know?

In Delhi, a 5 year old girl was gang rape. In Spain, 81 men were raided for pornography. In Bangkok, security guard ditches his wife after winning a one million dollar lottery. Russia, St Petersburg, businessman threw a man into the ditch for touching his car. All these happened in a day. It's a mess up world.

If the church is sleeping, how can we touch the world? That is why my message is stir up the gift. Our spirit in which we serve is very important. We come to God as a sinner. We deserve hell but he saved me. He forgave my sin. And put the Holy Spirit within me. I have at least one gift and we are to stir up that gift to be a blessing. Can we not do that?

For your 37th anniversary, stir up your gift. Some of you are encouragers. Your gift is to encourage. Not everyone is on the mountains. Some has a lot of problems. If you are an encourager, you lift them up. It can make a big difference. We must come prepared. Some people are depressed. You know what that means? Like an elephant sitting on a fat woman. They have a mountain of burdens on them. We are a body of Christ. Not everyone can be a preacher or a worship leader. I appreciate your worship leader. When brother Vive said he was collecting the offering, he took out his wallet and gave. I knew a pastor who said to collect the offering but he himself did not give. When you are up here people are watching you. You have to do it for the glory of God. When you did not give the offering you are sending out a wrong message. You may be a giver but when up there you have to be an a example.

You may be in the backstage. But you are just as important as the preacher. When a boy loves a girl, he will tell his friend. Look at Mary. Look at her eyes, and her hair, her beautiful eyes and lips like cherry. But a boy will not tell his friend, look at her kidneys, and her liver or her intestines. You may not see the kidney or intestines but they are Important. Without the kidneys your eyes will close.

You just use your gift. Are you with me? We all have at least one gift. And sometimes it takes a long time to discover your gift. Once you discover it ask God to use the gift to bless the body. And when the body is strong the church can touch the world. Just look at Jelutong. No need to look too far. Your commitment can translate into action.

You may say it's not fair I'm a kidney or intestine. Your reward is not on earth. Your reward is in heaven. Are you living for the 30,000 days here? That's just 82 years. Uncle Ho has passed 30,000 days. He is living on bonus. So what do you do with that time, to make money , be successful?  In heaven God won't ask you what house you have or how much you have in your bank.

I'm here to remind you to live for eternity. 30,000 days pass by very quickly and one day we have to go. I pray I go preaching. Just like that. There are only two ways you can die. Either you die in your sins or you die in Christ. Amen? So today I want to ask you. Are you in Christ? Or are you in your sins? If you are in Christ you must stir up your gift.

Rev Gideon Lee and Ps Grace cutting the cake together with the church board.

It Isn’t Fair!

Rev Gideon Lee

This morning I want to talk a little bit about something different. 

These two passages of scriptures are linked. 

Matthew 19:16 - 20:8

Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler

16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”

Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

With God All Things Are Possible

23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”

28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Chapter 20

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’

8 “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’

This young man knows his scripture. When he asked Jesus what he should do, Jesus pointed to the Ten Commandments and the young man said all these I've done. But he still felt there was a lack and a hole in his life. Religious acts don't save you. That's why he asked what else must he do. And Jesus told him to sell his possessions and give to the poor. And he walked away saddened. Jesus is saying that his treasure was in his wealth and that's where he set his heart. Jesus wants your heart. 

Jesus here is talking about salvation. Let's keep it in context. Peter responded and said that they have left everything to follow Jesus and he wanted to know what's in it for them. I like how Jesus answered. He said those that followed him will be seated at the throne and their rewards are in heaven. 

The Kingdom of heaven is like that of the land owner. Where the hired workers will earn a denarius or one silver dollar a day. The strange thing is that they are paid their wages from the last to the first. That reflected what Jesus was saying about the last will be the first. So that means the one that worked less hours earned the same as those that worked longer. So they grumbled to the land owner. 

But he answered that they agreed to a denarius for a day's wages. 

Matthew 20:9-16

9 And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ 13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

Some of you may think that you have been a long time Christian while a young believer who died young also go to heaven. So you may think it's unfair. Salvation is for everyone. Jesus is telling Peter their reward is in heaven. Sometimes we feel that it's not fair. We serve the Lord all our life and we go to heaven same as someone who just became a Christian. 

If you talk about being fair as sinners what do we rightly deserve? We deserve hell. Salvation is for all. That is God's grace and mercy and it is God's right to give. He is not talking about what is fair but rather what is needed. One denarius is enough to feed one family for the day only. They will have to work again the next day. If they were not hired for that day their family would have gone hungry for that day. 

None of us know when we will be called home. That's why we cannot say we will wait till our last day then only we become a Christian so that we can have the best of both worlds. None of us know when is our last day. We don't know when is our eleventh hour. 

What we need is his mercy and grace. None of us deserve it so the question of fairness is not there. This is not about reward but about salvation. Salvation is for everyone. Salvation is not for the select few. This is unmerited favour. He offers it to anyone who asks. We need to understand this. 

Sometimes we think that only sinners need salvation. But what about you and me? Are we ready?

How many of you remember the prodigal son? How many of us will do that like what the father did. Some of us would have brought out the cane. But he was given much and a party to welcome him home. He was lavishly dressed. So the elder son was not happy. Why did the father welcome his prodigal son home this way? Such is unmerited favour. The father said to the elder son what he has is already his. It is up to him how he wants to reward his lost son. 

God has no grandchildren. Only children with equal access to him. And that is his unmerited favour and grace. When we go to heaven we may see some people we never expected to be there is there and some that we expect to see is not there. 

One day there was a missionary who served in darkest Africa. He served there for many years preaching the gospel. One day he got so sick they needed to send him back to England. That took a few months by sea. After two or three months of sailing, they reached the dock. And he could see through the pothole that there was a band to welcome someone home. What he didn't know was that the president was on board who went to Africa on a hunting trip. So they welcomed him home. So he was upset with God that it's not fair. That he was in Africa to serve for so long and was not welcomed like this president. God answered and told him son, you're not home yet. Home for him is in heaven. I can imagine God calling him home, well done my faithful servant. 

The cost of discipleship is our reward. If you love someone, that in itself is the reward. Even our worst enemy deserves to be saved. Let us not become like the younger brother. Let's walk with love and integrity of heart. Really loving God and not compare with another. Or about what benefits we can get. Let's do it because we love him. 

If you brought someone who don't know God, he deserves salvation like us. I hope one day to see all of you there in heaven. What all of us need is his mercy and grace.