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Learning from the Bible
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4 God has given us the Bible with both the Old Testament and New Testament. The manual for Christian living and church life is found primarily in the New Testament as the books of Matthew and Revelation reveal the heart of God regarding our sin, our salvation and our eternal life in heaven. But Paul highlights that the Old Testament is just as inspired, as helpful and as profitable for edification and our growth in learning. He tells that the “the things were written aforetime.” This…
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Pleasing Others
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. Romans 15:2 Paul writes in this chapter to teach the Roman Christians to be focused on others. Self in the Christian life must decrease and the Lord Jesus must increase (John 3:30). Care and concern for others must be evident in our lives to reflect the rule of Christ in our life. A genuine Christian will learn to please and put others first and thereby will do things that will comfort and please other brethren. Notice four truths from this verse. This pleasing others involves every Christian. Paul was doubtlessly speaking to Christians. The entire epistle was…
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Others First
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Romans 15:1 It is written in 2 Timothy 3:4 that, in the last days, men shall be “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;” This is certainly true and it is reflected in the pleasure-seeking society we live in. Pleasing ourselves, entertaining personal likes and distaste is a trend of the world devoid of spirituality. It focuses on what the Lord wants us not to focus on: ourselves. Christ said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself.” We are to care for self with a view to…
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Consistency
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Romans 14:23 It is important to note that this passage refers to issues of non-spiritual consequence (i.e. If we do it, we are not more spiritual; if we do not do it, we are not less spiritual.) Food and days do not commend us to God, if we observe them or not. The more important principle portrayed here is the keeping of a pure conscience and love for the brethren. When we do something that we believe to be right but with which the Bible says is…
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For the sake of our brethren
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Romans 14:21 Paul admonishes charity for a brother who is weak in the faith (Romans 14:15) and that more mature brethren should do nothing that will affect a brother in Christ. Just as the Lord Jesus will not even quench a smoking flax or break a bruised reed (Isaiah 42:3), we need to bear the infirmities of the weak and help them with their spiritual weaknesses by curbing our personal likes or desires that are not sinful in themselves but hurt a younger, less mature…
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For the Sake of Peace and our Reputation
Let not then your good be evil spoken of… Romans 14:16 When our Lord Jesus created Adam and Eve, He gave them free will. This free will operated perfectly and freely when they were in the Garden of Eden, without sin. Their personal decisions about what was right and good, never caused strife and contention between them and all was peaceful and harmonious. However, when sin entered into world, selfishness and the thought for self entered in as well. Now, the motivation what was right and good was determined by their selfish desires more than the will and love of God. The Roman Christians, coming from a strong-willed culture, prided…
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Failing of the Grace of God
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Hebrews 12:15 There are many disgruntled, hurt, bitter, disillusioned and angry people in this world. Many have gone through situations where a remark was made, an action misplaced or a misunderstanding occurred that led to the problem. Sadly, many Christians are also in this category of being disgruntled, hurt, bitter, disillusioned and angry. For the unbeliever without the part of Christ in his life, he is doomed to this condemnation of what such feelings can do to an individual. Many are depressed, antisocial, drunkards, or…
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Set Apart
Follow … holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Hebrews 12:14 Holiness, as an attribute, is reserved only for the Lord God of Heaven and Earth, the Creator of all man, the Lord Jesus and the King of kings, for the Bible teaches that there is none holy as the LORD (1 Samuel 2:2). When man was made, man was holy, meaning he was set apart. The words ‘holiness’, ‘sanctification’, and ‘saints’ all have their root word in holiness. What does holiness in our lives imply? Firstly, to be set apart requires propitiation. In our current spiritual state without Christ, we are dead in sin and on our…
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Make no Provision for the Flesh
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Romans 13:14 We all change our clothing everyday and, many times, we are dressed to suit our environment or occasion. For a soccer game, we will be in our sporting outfits; for church it will be our best for the Lord. Spiritually, the Lord also shows us that there is a set of dressing we need to have so that we can be strong in Him. The Bible tells us that we are put on the Lord Jesus Christ so that we will not fulfill the personal cravings of our…
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Overcome Evil with Good
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:20-21 How do we respond in a way that befits a child of God after enduring the insults, persecutions and opposition of the enemy and obeying God in giving place for wrath? We need to realize that vengeance is God’s. We need to be kind to those who have hurt us. The enemy is one who, in heart and deed, opposes us openly and has no kind thoughts towards us. This enemy yearns…