February 9, 2025

Do You Deserve It?

Pastor Rok Lee

1 Corinthians 15:9-11

9 For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you believed.

Today, I want to introduce two people. The first person was so devoted to his religion that he arrested, imprisoned, and even killed people. He had lost his wife and lived alone. Later, he wandered from place to place without settling down. While traveling, he even became a criminal and was imprisoned. The second person was Harold, a well-respected doctor in a small village in England. He was kind to everyone and had a happy family with his wife and four children.

Which of these two lives would you choose? The second person I introduced to you today is Harold Shipman, a criminal who murdered 215 people over 24 years by overdosing them with drugs. When the evidence of his crimes was revealed, he took his own life.

Then, who is the first person? He is none other than the main character of today’s passage—the Apostle Paul. Paul described himself as “the least of all apostles” and even called himself “the worst of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). This was not just an expression of humility; it was a fact. Paul was deeply devoted to Judaism, to the extent that he persecuted and killed people without hesitation. The Book of Acts records that Paul was present when Stephen was stoned to death (Acts 8:1-3).

Paul’s personal life was also difficult. He was a Jew among Jews and a Pharisee of Pharisees, meaning he likely followed Jewish traditions strictly. According to Jewish customs of that time, boys were engaged at 12-13 years old and married a year later. Scholars estimate when he met Jesus, Paul was in his late 20s or early 30s, meaning he was probably married. However, after his conversion, he either divorced his wife due to religious differences or became a widower.

If Paul divorced due to religious differences, he probably fought with his wife constantly. Imagine wanting to watch the Super Bowl, but your husband/wife insists on going to church. Or planning a family trip, only for your husband/wife to refuse because they has to attend Sunday service. Every day would have been a battle. On the other hand, if Paul lost his wife at a young age, his grief would have been unbearable. Either way, Paul did not have a happy family life.

Not only that, but Paul never settled in one place. He had no home and wandered from city to city. The longest he stayed anywhere was three years in Ephesus. In many places, he didn’t even stay a full year. In Corinth, he was rejected and not allowed to enter the church. In Jerusalem, he was arrested and thrown into prison.

Paul’s life was full of hardship and suffering. From the outside, people might have pitied him. However, despite all these struggles, Paul’s life was filled with grace that was greater than his hardships.

If God’s grace were given based on a person’s deeds, Paul would not have been worthy. But God’s grace is not based on conditions. It is not given because someone does many good things.

People often say, “My business is successful—this is God’s grace,” “I got into a good college—this is God’s grace,” “I have a happy family—this is God’s grace,” “Our church is growing—this is God’s grace.” But these are only the results of God’s grace, not grace itself. God’s grace is much bigger and deeper.

So, what is grace? Grace brings a change in identity Paul said, “By the grace of God, I am what I am.” (1 Corinthians 15:10) He was once a sinner and a persecutor, but after experiencing God’s grace, he became an apostle.

In 1866, an American ship, the General Sherman, sailed to Pyongyang, Korea. The people, seeing it as a foreign threat, burned the ship and killed all its crew members. On board was Robert Thomas, a missionary from England. Before he died, he handed a Bible to a soldier named Park Chun-kwon. Later, Park read the Bible, repented, and was baptized.

This is grace. It doesn’t matter what kind of life you lived before—grace completely transforms your identity. Grace changes a sinner into a righteous person. It changes an orphan into a child of God.

Second, grace changes our actions. Paul confessed that everything he did was through God’s work, not his own. A person who experiences grace does not live the same life as before.

Before meeting Jesus, Paul was passionate about his religion. He was willing to harm others for the sake of his beliefs. But after experiencing grace, his actions changed completely. Instead of seeking his own satisfaction, he lived for God’s kingdom. Instead of persecuting people, he loved them and preached the gospel. Before, he put people in prison. Now, he was imprisoned for the sake of the gospel.

I used to hate reading when I was young. Even comic books with too many words annoyed me. But after experiencing God’s grace in college, I began to love reading the Bible. I became passionate about learning more about God, which led me to read many other books. If I had not experienced grace, I would still hate reading today.

Lastly, those who receive grace share it with others. The biggest change in Paul’s life was that he dedicated himself to sharing the gospel. Sharing the gospel means sharing God’s grace with others.

Recently, a new Korean restaurant called “Sogongdong” opened on State Street. On a cold day, a warm bowl of soft tofu stew can warm both the body and heart. I used to visit Sogongdong whenever I went to Chicago. When I heard that one opened in Madison, I was excited but also worried. Would non-Koreans like it? It’s very spicy and distinctly Korean. But guess what? The restaurant is so popular that people wait in long lines just to eat there even such cold weather. Why? Because it’s delicious. But how did people know it was delicious before trying it? Someone told them.

It’s the same with God’s grace. We know about it because someone shared it with us. When you first taste an amazing dish, you naturally tell your family, friends, and coworkers about it. And then you take them to try it. Experiencing God’s grace works the same way. When we realize “Wow, God’s grace is incredible!”, we naturally share it with others. This is how grace spreads—from one person to another, then another.

People who receive grace experience a change in identity, a change in actions, and a desire to share grace with others. Through this, the world is transformed. When Christianity became the official religion of Rome, only 9% of the population were Christians. Yet, this small group completely changed the empire. In Sodom and Gomorrah, if just 10 righteous people had been there, the city would not have been destroyed. Such a small number of people who has experienced God’s grace changes the world.

Today, 68% of Americans identify as Christians. Then why hasn’t the world changed? How much of God’s grace have you personally experienced this past week? Many people go to church, but few truly experience grace. Without grace, our lives don’t change, our actions don’t change, and the world doesn’t change.

Dear church, Let’s long for God’s grace. Let’s experience it deeply. And with that grace, let’s transform the world. May you receive and experience God’s amazing grace this week.