Sermon Title: “How Can We Serve the Risen Lord?”
Text: Romans 14:8–10
“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.”
Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius, and other famous religious leaders of this world all have tombs or shrines where their remains or relics are enshrined. However, there is no tomb or church that holds Jesus’ body or even a part of it. In every other religion, it doesn’t matter whether their leader is dead or alive—as long as people follow their teachings, that is considered enough. But Christianity is completely different.
Why is that? If Jesus had not risen from the dead, then everything He taught—especially His claim that He is the resurrection and the life—would be a lie. That would mean Jesus was either a liar or a delusional madman. Furthermore, our belief that Jesus died for our sins would also be baseless and false. Since all biblical teachings are built upon the foundation that Jesus died for our sins, if that were not true, then the entire Bible would be nothing more than an empty book of lies. So if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then our Christian faith is in vain, and our salvation is nothing but an illusion.
In verse 9 of today’s text, Paul tells us why Jesus had to rise from the dead:
“For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.”
Jesus didn’t just die to forgive our sins; He rose again so that we would serve Him as Lord while we are still alive in this world. So the question is, how can we serve the risen Lord?
There are many ways to serve the Lord. But in the next verse, Paul points us to a very important way: “You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.” (Romans 14:10)
Here, Paul speaks very sternly—almost scolding—the Roman church, which he had never even visited. How can someone who claims Jesus as Lord judge or look down on a fellow believer? Paul is essentially saying that such behavior is unacceptable and unthinkable for a Christian. Why does he speak so strongly? Probably because Paul knew that in every church, there are always people who judge and despise others. No matter how much Scripture they know, how eloquently they pray, or how beautifully they speak, if they still condemn and look down on others, they are nothing more than worldly Christians.
“We will all stand before God's judgment seat.”
This issue of judging and despising others is not something that ends in this life—it will be judged even after death. Jesus Himself said, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged.”
“If you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
We all have a tendency to put ourselves ahead of others, and we often find fault in others rather than in ourselves. That’s why we struggle to accept one another as we are and to show genuine respect. None of us can claim to be free from this problem.
Last Friday night, we gathered to reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ suffering and death. As Jesus, having been whipped and covered in blood, painfully made His way toward Golgotha, many women followed, weeping and mourning for Him. Jesus turned to them and said: “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.” (Luke 23:28) Indeed, when we think of the Lord’s suffering and death, we may feel sorrow over how much pain He endured. But Jesus tells us not to cry for Him, but to cry for our own sins. He calls us to weep over our self-centeredness, and the fact that we still remain unchanged even after He suffered and died for us.
I believe all of us want to spend our remaining years more meaningfully and fruitfully than our past. But it’s frightening to think that we could continue living as part of the church community for 10 or 20 more years—with no spiritual growth, no maturity, and no fruit to show for our lives. What a miserable regret that would be.
The Bible says in Ephesians 5:15–18:
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
Because the times are evil and it’s easy to waste time, we are told to redeem the time. To do that, we must live carefully and seek to understand the Lord’s will. The best way to use our time wisely is to live according to His will. And that requires being filled with the Holy Spirit. Living one day filled with the Spirit is far more valuable than living a whole year without it.
So, how can we be filled with the Spirit?
“addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:19-21 ESV)
(The present participles—addressing, singing and making melody, giving thanks, and submitting—are not only the results of being filled with the Spirit, but also means by which believers become filled with the Spirit.)
To avoid wasting our lives and live for the Lord, we must be filled with the Spirit. And to be filled, we must gather together, praise God, and share the Word and thanksgiving with one another. But some people think small group gatherings are a waste of time. Some complain that the leader’s guidance isn’t very inspiring. However, scripture calls us to speak to one another, sing, give thanks, and submit to one another. Each person should come prepared to share and encourage others in the faith.
To live a Spirit-filled life and truly live for the Lord, we must share and encourage one another through music and words grounded in Scripture. We must offer thanksgiving, and we must submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Without a heart that first accepts and honors others, we cannot truly encourage or submit to one another, and we cannot be filled with the Spirit. And without the Spirit, we will not live for the Lord—we will end up wasting both our time and our lives.
Submitting to one another in reverence for Christ means offering ourselves to one another, yielding to one another, and honoring each other—not insisting on being better than others, but lifting them up first.
The Lord calls us to live a life completely opposite of judging and despising our brothers and sisters. He wants us to live a life that would even lay down one’s life for others. He desires radical love, radical respect, radical patience, radical forgiveness, and radical sacrifice.
Many people spend their whole lives filled with hatred, bitterness, and an unforgiving heart. They call Jesus “Lord” with their lips, but live as slaves to Satan in reality. When we believe our own judgment is more trustworthy than the Lord’s command, and when our pride becomes more important than His will, how can we expect the joy of the Lord to dwell in our hearts?
If we go 10 or 20 years without accepting or honoring one another, without reconciliation and without being filled with the Spirit, then we will remain spiritually immature, spiritually exhausted, and fruitless in our walk with Christ. What a tragedy that would be. Our time on earth is not long. Let us redeem the time, offer ourselves to one another in love, and live Spirit-filled lives that bear fruit and fulfill the Lord’s will—lives with no regret.
“You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.” (Romans 14:10)
We will be judged by God based on how we treated our brothers and sisters here on earth. May we be those who receive the Lord’s praise at His judgment seat.
