Rom 14:1-8 (NIV) Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing
judgment on disputable matters. 2 One man's faith allows him to eat everything,
but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The man who eats
everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat
everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4 Who
are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls.
And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another
man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own
mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats
meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does
so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself alone
and none of us dies to himself alone. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if
we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
- What are the issues mentioned here and where do they come from?
- Vegetarian
- Possibly to avoid meat sacrificed to idols, which would be an OT Law stipulation
- Pre-law commandment to Adam and Eve. Therefore some who believe that the OT is abrogated might still believe pre-law rules are not
- Special days, i.e., Sabbath, feasts, and new moon celebrations. These are clearly. The new moon is important because it determines the start of a new month, which then determines when holidays occurs
- Who is the person with the weak faith?
- The individual who believes he is still under these rules
- How are we to treat the person?
- Not to judge
- It is a matter of conscience, between the person and God
- When is it okay to judge other believers?
- In matters on sin (1 Cor is very clear)
- Raises a particularly difficult point. If we think something is sin, then we will judge others on that point
- Clearly OT laws are not issues upon which we can be judged
Rom 14:19-23 (NIV) Let us therefore make every effort to do what
leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for
the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything
that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink
wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between
yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he
approves. 23 But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his
eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
- So even though we can't judge others by our convictions or force our convictions upon others, we are still affected by their convictions but for a different reason. What are we told to do?
- Don't make an issue of a conviction
- Don't cause another to stumble because of your knowledge
- (And even more clearly) while we are not under OT law, we are under NT principles where "love for your neighbor" is the overriding principle
Rom 15:1-4 (NIV) We who are strong ought to bear with the
failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please
his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please
himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have
fallen on me." 4 For everything
that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance
and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
- This passage makes it clear that the reason we adjust our behavior is not because we are under the law, but because we are concerned about the weaker brother
- The weaker brother may respond: then what is the purpose of the law if we are not under it? What is Paul's response? The OT law teaches us.
- Specifically it teaches us endurance (by watching OT saints suffer and remain true)
- and encouragement (by watching God deliver his people)
- and it teaches us hope (because we have a future)
Rom 15:5-9 (NIV) May the God who gives endurance and
encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ
Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in
order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant
of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the
patriarchs 9 so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is
written:
"Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing hymns to your name."
- God gives endurance and encouragement (he uses the OT), but Paul is praying for unity, why?
- That will bring praise to God
- It is a fulfillment of all that God began in the Jews, that Gentiles are now experiencing
- The next four passages are exhortation to the Gentiles to praise God. Disunity affects our worship, it hurts our praise, it hurts our witness, and it shows a lack of understanding of all that went into our salvation
Rom 15:14-16 (NIV) I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you
yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to
instruct one another. 15 I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if
to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a
minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming
the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to
God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
- Paul has never visited the church at Rome. He has met various members of the church from Rome. He has heard of their witness. What is his conclusion?
- They are full of goodness (they want to do right)
- They have the knowledge and are competent to teach (I think many feel that they need to know more before they can teach. A funny thing about teaching, you never really are ready when you start, but you learn so much from the discipline of being forced to be ready to teach)
- Paul felt the maturity was strong enough that he could challenge them on some points
Rom 15:23-33 (NIV) But now that there is no more place for me to
work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you,
24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing
through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed
your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the
service of the saints there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a
contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased
to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in
the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their
material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure
that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the
way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the
blessing of Christ.
30 I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the
love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray
that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in
Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, 32 so that by God's will I may
come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be
with you all. Amen.
- Where is he heading? Jerusalem
- Why is he going to Jerusalem? To carry a gift to the poor
- What is his concern as he goes to Jerusalem?
- Deliverance from unbelievers
- That the gift will be acceptable (he probably has not received it all yet and hopes to get the rest on the way back)
- What is his plan?
- To visit Rome on his way to Spain
- Did things go the way Paul hoped?
- No. Although whether he visited Spain is not really known
- He spent some time in Rome under house arrest
- Some unverified stories suggest he was released and went to Spain
- Whatever was the case, he was recaptured and later killed by Caesar
Rom 16:1-23 (NIV) I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant
of the church in Cenchrea. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way
worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she
has been a great help to many people, including me. 3 Greet Priscilla and
Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me.
Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. 5 Greet
also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who
was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who
worked very hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have
been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were
in Christ before I was. 8 Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord. 9 Greet
Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. 10 Greet
Apelles, tested and approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household
of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my relative. Greet those in the household of
Narcissus who are in the Lord. 12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who
work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has
worked very hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his
mother, who has been a mother to me, too. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes,
Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus
and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them. 16 Greet one another
with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause
divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you
have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord
Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the
minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full
of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent
about what is evil.
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
21 Timothy, my fellow worker, sends his greetings to you, as do
Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my relatives.
22 I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the
Lord.
23 Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy,
sends you his greetings.
- Observations:
- Phoebe will be visiting
- Priscilla and Aquila, former members of the church at Rome, will be visiting
- Apparently, Epenetus, his first convert, is a member of the church
- Mary, not clear the relation, but sounds like a member
- Paul has a number of people he knows in the church as well as relatives who live in Rome
- His last warning:
- Watch out for those who cause division
- Teach contrary teachings
- Serve their own appetites
- Deceive with smooth talk and flattery
- More observations:
- Timothy is with Paul (and others)
- Tertius wrote the letter down
- The church meets at Gaius' house and Paul is probably spending the winter there
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