The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is now in a detailed study of Paul's epistle to the church in Rome. These are the notes for Session 19.
We are going to finish up Paul’s instructions around the conflict that easily arises between those to whom he refers as “strong” and “weak” believers, those who are mature in the faith and those who are immature, those who understand and enjoy freedom in Christ and those who still feel either shackled or threatened by certain religious and cultural taboos and practices that were deeply ingrained parts of their lives before coming to Christ. When we finish talking about respecting each other Paul talks about ministering together
We are going to finish up Paul’s instructions around the conflict that easily arises between those to whom he refers as “strong” and “weak” believers, those who are mature in the faith and those who are immature, those who understand and enjoy freedom in Christ and those who still feel either shackled or threatened by certain religious and cultural taboos and practices that were deeply ingrained parts of their lives before coming to Christ.
When we finish talking about us respecting each other Paul talks about ministering together
Christian love
Romans 14:14-23 NLT I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.
Verses 13-15 Paul urges the ‘strong’ Christians to think about their actions. These actions will affect their Christian brothers and sisters. In Rome some Christians thought that to eat meat is wrong. Some Christians thought that they ought to obey the Jewish food laws. They thought that some food was unclean (not acceptable for Christians to eat). Jesus had shown that all food was clean (acceptable)
Mark 7:18-19 NLT “Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes.)
We read earlier about Paul’s approach to eating certain foods. He said that you should feel free to eat any kind of food. But one Christian’s freedom to act might hurt another Christian’s conscience. To respect another Christian’s conscience in situations like this would be to show him love. A good reason to show him love is that Christ died on his behalf. Every person is valuable to Christ.
However, if someone forced that ‘weak’ Christian not to obey his conscience, that Christian’s faith would become even weaker.
So other Christians ought to encourage that person. They ought to care about him, because God loves him.
Romans 14:15-18 NLT And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.
Verses 16-18 Christians must not cause trouble for someone else because of their own personal opinion. They must not think that food and drink are more important than God’s kingdom. To be a member of God’s kingdom is not about food and drink. It is to be in a right relationship with God.
Then the Holy Spirit will give a person peace in himself. He will give a Christian the power to have a calm and content relationship with other people. A Christian will show sympathy for another person’s opinion. A Christian will have joy when he makes other people happy.
Romans 14:19-23 NLT So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.
Verses 19-23 This is for all of us. Christians must do everything possible to make the Christian faith strong. A Christian must not do anything that will cause another Christian to sin. Paul mentions ‘wine’ as well as meat. Many Christians feel free to drink a little wine on social occasions. But some believe that they should not drink wine.
Christians do not have to tell everyone their opinions about such matters. But they should always obey their own conscience. To act against one’s conscience is a sin. That is because a Christian must always act in faith. In other words, a Christian must trust God completely. Because without faith, it is impossible to please God
Hebrews 11:6 NLT And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Chapter 15
Live to please others 15:1-13
Romans 15:1-13 NLT We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.” Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote: “For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to your name.” And in another place it is written, “Rejoice with his people, you Gentiles.” And yet again, “Praise the Lord , all you Gentiles. Praise him, all you people of the earth.” And in another place Isaiah said, “The heir to David’s throne will come, and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope on him.” I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:1-6 NLT We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.” Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Verses 1-3 People with a strong faith should support those whose faith is weak. Paul did not mean that we should praise a person in an untrue way. And we should not encourage that person to continue his wrong acts. Instead, we should always act to help him and to encourage his faith to grow. Christ did not please himself. Paul uses words from Psalm 69:9 in verse 3 when he said that those who insulted the writer of the psalm and fell on him, and that was in fact a prophecy. Christ suffered because he was serving God.
John 5:30 NLT I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.
John 14:30-31 NLT “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.
Philippians 2:6-8 NLT Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
The insults that people gave to God came to Christ.
Verses 4-6 Because he has used words from the Old Testament, Paul speaks about the purpose of the scriptures. The study of the scriptures will show how God has acted in the past to rescue his people. So the scriptures will encourage all Christians. The Old Testament speaks about God’s faithful love. And it promises to Christians ‘a future and a hope’
For example;
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord . “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
The hope that God gives will never disappoint us.
So Paul, in verse 5, prays that, with the help of God, Christians may live in agreement with each other.
Romans 15:5 NLT May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.
When we are all on one accord we will be able to declare the gospel in a powerful manner. And bring glory to God.
Romans 15:7-13 NLT Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote: “For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to your name.” And in another place it is written, “Rejoice with his people, you Gentiles.” And yet again, “Praise the Lord , all you Gentiles. Praise him, all you people of the earth.” And in another place Isaiah said, “The heir to David’s throne will come, and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope on him.” I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Verse 7 Paul repeats what he said at the very beginning of this section to accept or to welcome all Christians weak and strong, because Christ welcomes them. When Christians show their love for each other, God will receive honour.
John 13:35 NLTYour love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
Romans 15:8-9 NLT Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote: “For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to your name.”
Verses 8-9 Christ became a servant for two reasons:
1. His life showed that we can trust God. God had done the things that he promised to Christ’s Jewish ancestors.
John the Baptist’s father said as much in his song of praise after John the Baptist’s birth.
Luke 1:72-75 NLT He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant— the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.
2. The Gentiles would receive God’s mercy.
Paul then uses a series of verses from all three parts of the Jewish Old Testament: the Law, the Prophets and the other books. Paul is showing how the Old Testament teaches about God’s plan for the Gentiles.
In verse 9 Paul uses
Psalms 18:49 NLT For this, O Lord , I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.
In Psalm 18 David, Israel’s king says that he will praise God among the Gentiles.
Verse 10 This comes from Deuteronomy 32:43.
Deuteronomy 32:43 NLT “Rejoice with him, you heavens, and let all of God’s angels worship him. Rejoice with his people, you Gentiles, and let all the angels be strengthened in him. For he will avenge the blood of his children ; he will take revenge against his enemies. He will repay those who hate him and cleanse his people’s land.”
Verse 11 The writer of Psalm 117 declares that people from all nations should praise God because of his love and faithfulness.
Psalms 117:1 NLT Praise the Lord , all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth.
Verse 12 Jesse was the father of David. The *Messiah came from the family of David. The Messiah would rule the nations, who would learn to trust him
Isaiah 11:10 NLT In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.
Verse 13 Paul had just talked about the hope of the Gentile, he speaks about the God who brings hope. Faith in this God who brings hope also brings joy and peace. Paul had already spoken about joy and peace as evidence of those who belong to God’s kingdom.
Romans 14:17 NLT For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
So Paul prays that Christians will know that joy and peace completely. The Holy Spirit will give hope to them. And that hope will encourage their Christian life.
Romans 15:13 NLT I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The hope that God gives will not disappoint.
Romans 5:3-5 NLT We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Hope is found not in the avoidance of suffering but the working through it. So, what is hope? According to this passage, hope i confident expectation, and has to do with an experience of God’s love that does not disappoint but instead feels like a flood of God’s love in the heart. This overwhelming experience of love, through the process of suffering, perseverance, and character, offers us a sense of certainty about God and our future.
Titus 2:11-13 NLT For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.
Christians eagerly expect the time when Christ will return. He will then complete their salvation when he will give to them a resurrection body and a new life in heaven.
Ministering Together
So after talking about us respecting each other Paul now talks about ministering together
Romans 15:14–16:27
Background of the Passage
After completing the major doctrinal treatise of this letter (1:18–15:13), Paul now begins what amounts to the conclusion of his letter in which he mentions, his plans for future service
(15:22–33), personal greetings from himself and others
(16:1–24), and a closing benediction (16:25–27).
Because Paul had spoken so forcefully on so many issues to a church he did not found and had never visited, he wants to make sure he does not seem insensitive, presumptuous, or unloving. So Paul makes several important statements in the last paragraphs of his letter—He commends them corporately for their involvement in the gospel. He shares a bit of information about his own ministry and future plans. He reiterates his heart’s desire to minister in Rome and to fellowship with the church there. He mentions by name more than two dozen colleagues and co-workers.
In chapter 16, we get a rare glimpse into Paul’s working relationships and close friendships. We can see sense the deep affection that Paul had for those with whom and to whom he ministered. We also get to see the sincere gratitude the apostle felt for those who had been such a help and encouragement to him in life and ministry.
As the faces of redeemed and transformed Jews and Gentiles flashed through Paul’s mind, the apostle closed his epistle, fittingly, with a final hymn of praise: “to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen” (16:27).
Paul’s service as an apostle 15:14-22
Romans 15:14-22 NLT I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them. Even so, I have been bold enough to write about some of these points, knowing that all you need is this reminder. For by God’s grace, I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit. So I have reason to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God. Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them. They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum. My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says, “Those who have never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard of him will understand.” In fact, my visit to you has been delayed so long because I have been preaching in these places.
Verses 14-16 Paul calls the Christians in Rome his brothers. He then shows that he appreciates their good qualities. He praises them and he feels confident that they will understand his letter. They seem well able to teach the gospel. And they will warn those people who are doing wrong things.
Paul did not want to offend them. In fact, Paul’s words may seem to praise the Christians in Rome a little too much. Paul had not even visited their church yet, but he had written to them in a bold way. He may have been a little concerned that he had upset them. He explained that he wrote this letter to remind them about important matters in the Christian faith. People are quick to forget so he wanted to remind them of the important things about salvation, sanctification, and fellowship with one another. There are many references in the New Testament about the need to remember.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2 NLT Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.
2 Peter 1:12-13 NLT Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught. And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live.
Peter did not think that his readers were weak Christians. They already knew the true gospel message. They may have heard this message from Peter himself in his first letter. They may have heard it from Paul or from other Christians. Peter did not want them to forget it. There were false teachers who taught them the wrong things. So Peter wanted to remind the people about the true gospel message
That’s why I seem to go over the same scriptures time and time again. It's to remind us of very important things in our relationship with God and what He has tasked us to do as members of His family and kingdom, and His ambassadors in reconciling man to God.
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