Romans 15:1-13 – Christian Responsibility

Romans 15:1-6 – True Unity

Do you care what others think of you?  Are you a people pleaser?  Or do you try to do what is pleasing to God?

People pleasers avoid speaking their mind afraid of what other will think.  It’s difficult for them to say No and to set limits.  They avoid conflict of any kind.  They want the approval of others at any cost. 

Does this describe you?

In this chapter Paul is writing to those believers who are strong in their faith saying that they should support those whose faith is weak.  Paul calls himself a strong Christian.  He says that we should encourage others by using our freedoms in a responsible way by building up weaker Christians.   He uses Jesus as an example by using words from the Old Testament in Psalm 69:9 –  “For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: ‘The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.’”

Why would Paul quote the Old Testament?  The Old Testament gives us the hopeful promise of the Messiah to come.  The whole Bible is from God.  It encourages us and instructs us in godly living.  “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” - Rom. 15:4.  To overcome our problems in this world we need the hope that God gives.

There are many verses that prove that Jesus didn’t live to please Himself.  In Matt. 4 Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights and was tempted by Satan, but never gave in to His own needs.  People constantly followed Him, but He always took time teaching and healing them.  In Matt. 19 He took time for little children.  In Matt. 27 He saved others by His death instead of saving Himself.  In Phil. 2:6-8 tells us He made himself nothing and took on the nature of a servant.

People who live to please themselves are selfish, conceited, greedy, jealous, and prideful.  They are self-centered, self-absorbed and live for their own interests.  They can be mean and some are even plain evil.  I think deep down they are unhappy.

Do any of these similarities describe you?

We as believers have Christian liberties not for our pleasure, but for the glory of God and others.   Jesus’ whole life was that of denying Himself.  If we are trying to please men, we are not true follower and servants of Christ.  To be true followers we must imitate Jesus.  We may not be perfect at it, but we must try.

Paul tells believers that they have the responsibility of unity.  True Christian unity doesn’t care about race, culture, age, gender or background.  True unity comes from God and is based on Christ Jesus.  We are to appreciated and support each other recognizing our differences while realizing we are all part of God’s family.  We need to work on our relationships at home and in the church.  We are to pursue things that bring peace and build others up.  We are to be considerate of others.  We are to be careful not to put stumbling blocks in our brothers’ way.  If we Christians don’t argue, our churches will be strong and then will be able to declare the gospel in a powerful manner.  Our unity is based on our common salvation in Christ. 

As believers we also have privileges.  Our sins are forgiven.  We are sons of God and part of His family and get all that goes with it.  Our one purpose is to glorify God and Jesus Christ.

How have you been especially considerate of another Christian?

How are you building them up?

Where do you need to work on your relationships?

Principle:  True unity comes from Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:7-12 – Christian Acceptance

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praises to God.” – Rom. 15:7.  This is a summary of what Paul has said.  Christians are to accept one another to God’s glory just as Christ accepted us to God’s glory.  He accepted you when you didn’t deserve to be accepted.  You were His enemy and were not seeking after Him.  He came looking for you.  He died for you! 

To accept means more that tolerating other Christians.  It means to welcome others, especially those who are different.  We are not to hold on to our small prejudices.  We are to extend the same mercy to others that we received.  When we show our love for other Christians, God will receive honor.  When we show love to those who don’t deserve it, God gets the glory. 

Paul goes on to say that Jesus accepted both Jews and Gentiles in order to bring praise to God.  He became a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth to confirm the promises made to the Old Testament patriarchs so the Gentiles may also glorify God.    Paul quotes The Old Testament in verses 9-12 reminding the Jews of the promise to the Jewish fathers included the Gentiles and that neither Jew nor Gentile should look down on the other.

What has kept you from accepting another Christian who has different beliefs?

Principle:  Believers are to be accepting of other believers in order to bring praise to God.

Romans 15:13 – Hope

Paul prays that all believers will know joy and peace completely.  He prays that the Holy Spirit will give hope to them and that hope will encourage their Christian life.  Christians eagerly wait for Christ’s return.  Then He will complete their salvation by giving them a new body and a new life in heaven.  “We wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” – Titus 2:13.

Are you earnestly praying for complete joy and peace?

Principle:  Believers wait for the completion of their salvation.

In verse 5 Paul calls God one who gives endurance and encouragement.  In verse 13 he calls God “the God of Hope”.  In verse 33 He is called “the God of peace”.  What beautiful names he gives to God.

How could you describe God?

Next time we will finish the study Romans 15.  Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting my site.  Hope to see you here again.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Romans 14 - Weak Faith vs Strong Faith

The Christians in Rome couldn’t agree whether they should be obeying the Jewish laws.  Paul told them in Romans 3 that the law could not make people righteous and that the purpose of the law was to show people that everyone sins.  No one can become righteous by their own efforts.  Only Christ, by His death, can people be righteous.

God didn’t give the law so people could obey lots of rules.  He wanted them to trust Him completely and have faith in Him.  Paul wanted the Christians in Rome to love each other without arguing about rules.  He knew some had little faith so he asked those with stronger faith to encourage them.

In Romans 14 Paul tells Christians to accept those whose faith is weak without passing judgment on disputable matters.  He uses the illustrations of whether to eat meat or not and whether to consider 1 day more sacred than another.  We should be careful not to restrict our thinking to these examples.  They are only examples.

 The Christians who though it necessary to obey certain food laws were considered “weak in faith”, because they had not yet discovered the meaning of Christian freedom.  “Weak in faith” doesn’t mean the person doesn’t trust in Jesus as Savior or that he is confused about the gospel.  If he is a Christian, God has accepted him.  Paul is saying that a Christian should not pass judgment on one who thinks differently about matters that the Bible speaks nothing about.  Those matters are non-essential and don’t determine whether a person is save or not.  We shouldn’t jump to conclusions that a person who does these things is not saved.

Those “stronger in faith” are those who have the freedom that God’s Holy Spirits gives.  Paul was among the “strong” Christians but was careful about how he used this freedom.  He chose to obey the Jewish law so he wouldn’t offend the Jewish people.  He didn’t want to use his freedom that might cause another Christian to sin.

1^st Example:

The first example Paul gives is whether a Christian should eat meat or be a vegetarian.  In the Old Testament the Jewish people had dietary restrictions.  They could not eat unclean animals.  Paul describes them as being regarded as weak in faith by those who eat meat.  He warns about attitudes.  These believers called “weak in faith” do not answer to anyone but God.  We are not to be their judge.  If they are believers, God has accepted them. 

2^nd Example:

The second example is the observance of certain days making them special and holy or treating them all alike.  Again the problem was attitude.  Paul says to let everyone do what he feels is right.  If the Bible doesn’t specifically speak on matters, we have the responsibly settle these matters for ourselves.  He also says we should give thanks to God in all matters.

Christ died for all and we must not be judgmental about the conduct of others.  God is the judge and everyone will stand before Him and be judged on their own merits.  Believers will not be judged for sins, because Jesus already atoned for them.  We will however, have to give an accounting for our words and deeds.  So stop blaming and worrying about the behaviors of others.  Don’t you have enough to be concerned about for yourself?

Where are you judging others on matters that the Bible does not give specific commands?

Believers must stop passing judgment on one another.  Paul is talking to the weak believer as well as the strong believer.  The weaker believer can only abstain from what he thinks is wrong, so the stronger believer should take into consideration the beliefs of the weaker so as to not cause him to be confused and stumble in his faith.  The stronger has a responsibility to the weaker and can abstain or not abstain.  The stronger and the weaker believer, both are to do what is pleasing to God.

Principle:  We must stop passing judgment on matters that the Bible does not give specific commands.

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification.” – Rom. 14:19.  Paul tells us that no food is unclean because nothing God created is unclean, but it’s better to not eat or drink or do anything that will cause someone to stumble.  Whatever you believe about these types of things is between you and God.

Paul concludes that Christians should keep what you believe to yourself and God.  Believers must do everything possible to make others stronger in their faith.  Believers must not do anything that may cause another believer to sin.  They should obey their own conscience and always act in faith.

How might you be causing someone to stumble?

Principle:  Believers are to make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification.

Next time we will study Romans 15.  Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting my site.  Hope to see you here again.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Romans 13:8-14 – The Debt You Owe

Romans 13:8-10 – Your Debt

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman as fulfilled the law.” – Rom. 13:8  Paul frequently speaks of love - “love must be sincere”, “be devoted to one another in brotherly love”, let all that you do be done in love”, love your neighbor as yourself”, “walk in love”.  Love is the proper fulfillment of God’s moral law.  We are to love all people – believers and unbelievers. 

Love never fails; love never ends.  We Christians should pay our debts including the debt of love for others, because love fulfills God’s law.  We are to owe nothing to anyone and as in previous verses we are to pay our taxes.  There is one debt that we will always have a need to pay and that is the debt of love.  We have incurred this debt because we received God’s gracious love while we were still sinners.  If you have received the gracious gift of eternal life, then you owe a debt to love to all people.  Through His love for us, His love should spill over to others.

Paul reminds us to not commit adultery, or murder, or steal, or covet.  We are to “Love your neighbor as yourself.  Love does no harm to its neighbor.” – Rom. 13:9-10.  When we disobey these commands we are harming someone.  Who is our neighbor?  It’s anyone and everyone.  We are to love all people, not only other Christians.  Love is not a feeling, but a choice.

How are you working at paying the debt that you will always owe – the debt of love for others?

Principle:  Christians are to love all people.

Romans 13:11-14 – Your Walk

Paul tells us in Rom. 13:11-14 that at this present time we should wake up because our salvation is near.  We’re getting closer and closer to the return of Jesus so we should be ready and live as if He will return anytime.  We are to put aside deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.  We are to behave decently, not in orgies and drunkenness, not is sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.  We are to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and not gratify our sinful desires.

This “present time” Paul is talking about is an evil time.  It was evil in Paul’s day and it is evil now.  It’s a dangerous time when there are many evil beliefs and behaviors.  It’s a time to wise up, repent and believe.  It is a time for salvation.  Now is the time to live faithfully for God.  Christians have unlimited opportunities to glorify God and influence others for good.

 

Believers should wake up.  We should not be lazy as we wait for Jesus’ return.  He has given us all work to do.  We are supposed to be awake and walking in the light of day, because we are looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus.  Unbelievers are more than asleep and lazy – they are dead spiritually.

How are you living out the gospel in light of our times?

What does it mean “to put on the armor of light”?  The Bible often describes the sinful world as living in darkness.  Satan’s territory in Col. 1:13 is described the world as the “domain of darkness”.  We are to not walk in darkness.  Unbelievers live in darkness, but Jesus is the Light of the world and when we follow Him we walk in the light.  To “put on the armor of light” is to put on the Lord Jesus and choose right behaviors.  We must live as Christ wants us to live and not think about the things that would satisfy our sinful human desires.

What does it mean to “clothe yourselves with the Lord”?  It’s walking in the ways of Scripture and being like Jesus.  It’s obeying His commands, being merciful and forgiving, and loving others as much as we love ourselves.  It’s putting on His character.  It’s staying in His Word as we learn how to live as He did, staying in prayer, and putting Him in the center of our lives.  It’s running from temptations and running to God.

In today’s culture we normalize behaviors that the Bible calls indecent.  Some of these indecent things are sex outside marriage, divorce, drugs, excessive drinking and partying, abortion, homosexually, murder, jealousy, and the list goes on.  Even churches are watering down the message of Christ and His truths.

The world says if you believe in moral absolutes, you’re living in the dark ages.  It says there is no judgment and hell.  How could a loving God judge good people?  The Bible tells us just the opposite.  The world is in darkness concerning God, concerning our purpose for living and concerning death and eternity.

How do you normalize unbiblical behaviors?

Principle:  The way to live decently is to clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Next time we will study Romans 14.  Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting my site.  Hope to see you here again.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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