Intro

The 16^th chapter of Romans is not an insignificant relic of the past; names that are easier to forget then they are difficult to pronounce! Instead it is a chapter of the future not the past, a testimony that what matters most in this life is not our possessions or positions but our friendships which is all of this life that will remain and pass into eternity. What we have in this chapter is not a mere list of names, but a testimony of what God does in lives that will last forever. A quick peek into the “Family Album” which is a true representation of heaven as we gather around the throne of God Who alone has made our enduring love and friendship possible.

Behind every name is a story and the ones listed here would make up a “love story” as these are all folks that God loved and loved God. The story is in their transformation and how God was now using them to love others in making new friends. Many of these names and their stories will have to wait as we don’t know much of them, but we will one day. Of the 24 specific names mentioned six are women which is interesting concerning the fact Paul is often maligned for what many perceive as his disregard for women in authority. I suggest that if you want to know what Paul thought of women you only need to read this chapter to see that he valued them as equals in serving Jesus and verbally shows his appreciation for all they do. Three times (verses 6, 12) Paul says that these ladies “labored” and he chooses a word in the Greek that means “to work to the point of exhaustion”. Two of these names mean “dainty” and “delicate” but Paul says that these two aristocrats had developed a habit in Christ of working until they just couldn’t do another thing.  Of those 24 specific names 13 occur in inscriptions on official documents in the Emperor’s palace in Rome. This is interesting because of what Paul wrote in Philip. 4:22 that, “All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.” Christianity had penetrated the imperial palace of the world empire in less than 70 years, and it had done so on the back of friendship.

Vs. 1-16 Friends to greet

Paul was a friend maker and because of this he was a soul-winner! As Paul recollected their names he sent them a message of love which has become embalmed in the Holy Scriptures. Spurgeon once said, “It is better to be God’s dog than to be the devil’s darling.” God loves multiplication and in the words of “Three Dog Night” “One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do”. This chapter divides into three sections of which we will only look at the first part of it this morning:

1. Vs. 1-16 Some friends to greet: The first list found in verses 1-16 is of those folks that Paul was sending a greeting too.
2. Vs. 17-20 Some foes to avoid: Sandwiched between these two lists (verses 17-20) is people to avoid so that their obedience can continue to be known to all.
3. Vs. 21-24 Some friends to thank: The 2^nd list found in verses 21-23 is a list of those he was sending a greeting from while he was in Corinth.

Of the 33 names mentioned our eluded too:

• Nine of them were with Paul: Eight men and one woman
• Twenty-four of them were in Rome: Seventeen men and seven women
• Two households are mentioned: As well as two unnamed women the mother of Rufus and the sister of Nereus, as well as some unnamed men

Vs. 1-2 The letter was carried by a traveling businesswoman named “Phoebe” and the Church through history ought to be grateful to this faithful servant who traveled from Corinth to Rome carrying this precious letter. Paul tells us that she was from the seaport of Cenchrea about 9 miles from the city of Corinth. Her name “Phoebe” is the feminine form of a title given to the pagan god Apollo and meant “the bright one” and she certainly seemed to fit her name (this would make her a Gentile not Jewish). Phoebe was on her way to Rome and the fact that we are reading this letter suggests that Paul’s commendation was well founded. This was a faithful lady who obviously could be entrusted with a very important task. There is an indication in the language here that she labored spreading the gospel and teaching the Word as did Paul as he describes her as a helper of many.  

Vs. 3-5a Paul turns his greetings to a wonderful couple that we know quite a bit about Priscilla and her husband Aquila. Their names are mentioned some 6 times in the scriptures and four of those times Priscilla’s name is mentioned first, which indicates that she had a more visible role in ministry then did her supporting husband. Paul says that they risked their lives for him and that may be a reference to the riots that broke out in Ephesus mentioned in Acts 19. They also had a church in their house as the first 300 years of the Church there were no buildings as we have now.

Vs. 5b-6 “Epaenetus” was the first believer led to the Lord when Paul came to Asia which capital was Ephesus located in modern day Turkey.

            Mary recorded here seems to be associated with him and Paul distinguishes her by what she did among them saying that she labored or toiled among them. There are 6 Mary’s in the bible, and you usually think of Jesus’ mom or Mary of Bethany the sister of Martha and Lazarus. Yet all we know of this Mary is that she is a worker and the word used means to sweat. Think of that: This gal joins a list of Mary’s because she was willing to break a sweat for Jesus! Oh saints don’t you see that notoriety isn’t in what we do it’s in how we do it and Who we do it for!

Vs. 7-10a Some see “Andronicus” and “Junias” as relatives of Paul be that as it may, he doses say that they shared other things in common as they were “fellow prisoners” and were known among the leadership of the Church. What I find of further interest is Paul’s words saying that they were saved before he was. They predated his conversion, and no doubt knew him when he was “Saul of Tarsus” persecuting the Church in Jerusalem and consenting to the death of Stephen. Imagine what encouragement these two were to Paul as they could see his progression in Christ. They could testify of his heart and love for people as they shared a cell with him. They were well regarded among the apostles, having become Christians sometime in the first three or four years after Pentecost. The idea that Andronicus and Junia are apostles themselves (though not of the twelve), is in the sense of being special emissaries of God, not in the sense of being of the twelve.

            “Amplias” (verse 8) is an interesting name as they have found a single tomb in the Domitilla cemetery in the catacombs in Rome with this very name. The single name infers that he was a slave but yet the tomb is very ornate which suggests that he was a Christian and highly regarded in the Church in Rome. We know nothing of “Urbanus” and “Stachys” (verse 9) other than what is recorded here that they were loved, and Paul appreciated his work. “Apelles” (verse 10), name means “Called” and Paul says he was, “approved in Christ”. The word approved means to “endure testing, to withstand the pressure”. Oh dear ones that us what our calling ought to signify that we have endured the testing of our faith, withstood the pressures of life all because we have found our home in the Lord. In Psalm 61:3 we read that God has “been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy”, that is what “Apelles” had proven by his life!

Vs.10b-11 Also mentioned by Paul is some Christians that had risen to high places within the Roman government. “Aristobulus” (verse 10) was the great-grandson of King Herod the Great who killed all the Jewish males 2 years and under in Bethlehem seeking to kill Jesus. He killed his children, his wives and anyone else that was a threat to his power. Yet with that said the servants of his great grandson are named among the believers in Rome! Aristobulus had been a close friend of Emperor Claudius and it seems some from his household had become believers and upon his death it is reported that they became property of the emperor. In connection to this household of servants Paul also sends a greeting out to “Herodion” (verse 11a) who he calls a relative an indication that Paul had a family connection to the ruling family of Jews.  Friends don’t worry about the fact that you come from dysfunction family God does His most amazing work in the garden’s full of dirt!

“Narcissus” (verse 11b) is another name that pops in ancient Roman history as he was the housekeeper for Flavius Clemens who became the consul of Rome the highest political office of the city. Flavius was condemned to death by the Emperor Domitian in 95 AD some 35 years after this letter. He was put to death because he was a Christian and his wife Domatilla who was also a believer was banished Island of Pontia. What this seems to indicate is that Roman society had already been infiltrated by the Lord through believing servants who lived in such a way that their masters became followers of Jesus.

The interesting twist to this story is that Flavius Clemens was the son of Flavius Sabinus who had been Nero’s consul when Nero had ordered him to persecute Christians charging them with the fires which almost burned Rome to the ground in 64 A.D. Nero had ordered him to roll believers in pitch and set them on fire making them human torches. Could it be that 30 years earlier the young Flavius Clemens had witnessed the courage of these Christians at the hands of the brutality of his father and the influence of a young “Narcissus” became a follower of Jesus himself?  

Vs. 12 The names of “Tryphena” and “Tryphosa” suggest nobility as their names mean “dainty” and “delicate” yet in Christ they had become hard workers. Think of that a moment as Jesus can take a person born in slavery and make them royalty and he can take one born to nobility and make them even greater royalty by making them His servants. “Persis” (verses 12b) was yet another woman who served whom Paul calls “the darling” she must have been a sweetheart in her service to others.

Vs. 13 Rufus perhaps is the same one spoken of in Mark 15:21 and if so his father was Simon the Cyrene who was compelled to carry the cross of Jesus on that first Good Friday as he was there to celebrate the pass over.    

Vs.14 It seems here in these five names as well as those not mentioned is a group of young Greek businessman that that had come to Rome and started a home church at their place. I love that When folks that share something in common band together to share Someone in common pooling their time, talent, and treasure to impact their communities!

Vs. 15-16 Here again is another group that most likely made up a house church: “Philologus” (verse 15) was probably a nick name as it means “lover of the Word” and he gathered together with these men and women to “love each other” because they loved the Word! 

Of the rest of these names, Paul finds something wonderful to say about almost every one of them – noting their labor, his special regard for them (beloved), their standing in the Lord (approved in Christ . . . in the Lord . . . chosen in the Lord). It shows Paul’s generous way of paying compliments in a way meant to build up God’s people. In Luke 7:45 we are told that the common greeting was a kiss. Based upon a comment from Clement of Alexandria it seems that this practice was later abused.  

Intro

We conclude Roman’s 15 with the 2^nd half of these verses where Paul uses himself as the example to follow as he refers to his own ministry. He tells them in essence, “I got nothing I asked for but everything I wanted! Looking at Paul’s life and ministry reminds me of a more modern example in David Livingstone when he applied to the London Missionary Society they asked him where he would like to go and he replied “Anywhere, as long as it is forward!” Oh if we all could have such a heart!  

Vs. 17-33 Paul’s ministry

Vs. 17-20 In the Spirit of a “leader to follow” Paul now moves to the 2^nd part of this chapter which was his own ministry, and he starts out with four examples they could apply.

1. Vs. 17 The first has to do with how he viewed success: Paul didn’t attach numbers or events as the keys to determine if he was being successful. Instead he looked to the bases of Who got the glory! How much better the church would be if all adapted Paul’s view of success and stop the world’s definition of success based upon popularity. What matters is not what man thinks of my performance, what matters is what God thinks of my performance and if I’m doing what He has called me to do in His power for His glory He has declared it a success and of value. But if not; even if men praise it, sell books, and gather from the four corners of the earth to marvel at my work, it is an utter failure! To help us in our new definition of success Paul lists three things that kept him defining it that way:
   • Vs. 18 Paul only remembered what God had done: He kept the perspective that we are only instruments in the hand of the Master and can’t play a tune apart from Him playing masterfully through us. A day doesn’t go buy that I don’t receive some flyer inviting me to go to some seminar with a lineup of Christian “superstars” that will be performing! We Christians seem to be very impressed with the instrument that God uses and not very impressed with the Master who can pick up any instrument and play perfectly not because of the quality of the instrument but rather because of the skill of the Master! Paul would have never allowed such a bio to be placed as a basis of enticing believers to come and hear him speak. When questioned by the Church in Corinth, asked for letters of recommendations he simply said that they were his letters! God doesn’t need my brilliant mind, dashing good looks, and eloquent oratory skills; thank God because as you have noticed I don’t possess any of these qualities. What He wants is my availability and brokenness and He uses me in spite of me! Dear ones there is no limit to what God can do through any person who is willing to allow God to get all the glory for the work only He can do through them!
   • Vs. 19a Paul was reminded that any and all work that was accomplished was because of the Power of the Holy Spirit: The 2^nd thing Paul could point to was that what He did was all powered by God! Too many folks in the Church today view the Holy Spirit as the horn on a locomotive, “It’s just there to toot, make some commotion; bring in some excitement, clear the tracks!” But the Holy Spirit isn’t for “commotion” He’s there for “locomotion!” The only correct way to speak to an instrument that moves you is to say, “Man the Master sure made you sound good!” There is a power from the Spirit of God that is unmistakable that at times people try to mimic with emotionalism or shouting and all kinds of theatrics, but these aren’t the hallmarks of the Spirits power transformation is!
   • Vs. 19b-21 Paul was reminded that success was not an isolated event: In the geographical list of “from Jerusalem to Illyricum” (further clarified in verse 26 where Paul also traveled and received an offering for the suffering believers in Jerusalem listing Macedonia and Achaia): Is Israel, Turkey, Greece, and Yugoslavia; well over 1,400 miles radius with varied cultures and traditions yet the gospel worked each and every time. In other words the gospel wasn’t limited to one culture through one servant which was a testimony not of Paul but of the power of the gospel to change lives. He saw his calling not to fish in other people’s aquariums but instead to go out to the untapped oceans of humanity where he could truly be a fisher of men. It was for this reason that he continued his practice to go to where no man has gone before. Paul knew that the power lay not with the messenger but with the Holy Spirit, as the scriptures testified.          

Right here in these two verses I believe that we can see two reasons why the westernized church doesn’t resemble the early church found in our Bibles:

• The church today relies upon human power and ingenuity to accomplish what only the Holy Spirit can produce; changed lives. Often when the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the Church He is viewed as a whistle not the engine that He is.
• Second, the Church has spent most of its energy and resources fishing in aquariums where the fish are already caught and they are just releasing them into their own tanks, only to be caught by other fishermen to be released into their aquarium.      

2. Vs. 22-24 The 2^nd thing Paul could point to in a leader to follow is seen on how Paul planed. Based upon the text four things they could glean:

• The first thing to note in this section is that Paul was a planner: Paul had plans to go to them in Rome; from there he had plains to go to Spain. There are those who think that making plans is somehow diminishing the work of the Holy Spirit to guide us, but God is a good of order I believe that if you plan for nothing you will always accomplish your plan!
• The 2^nd thing I note is that in his plans Paul remained flexible: He longed to go to Rome and then Spain, but he had been much hindered in doing so the timing had to change and then later the way in which God would accomplish this would change. Christian planning is never about telling God what to do or when to do it, instead it is about letting your heart be directed by the Holy Spirit and trusting that He will work out what He has spoken.
• The 3^rd thing I see is that Paul remained persistent: Having to adjust to the timing and the way Paul didn’t give up on what he believed the Lord had spoken to him with regards to going to Rome and then Spain. I’m afraid that far too many times we believers give up on God’s direction when He doesn’t follow our script. is ways aren’t our waysHiHis ways aren’t our ways but that doesn’t mean that we should fold up and not follow what He has spoken to us!
• The final thing I notice with regards to God’s direction is that Paul saw this as a team effort not an individual one: He hoped to see them but involved others in achieving the plan when it took place. There are far too many of us that see ourselves as the “Lone Ranger” but remember that even the “Lone Ranger” wasn’t alone as he had Tonto and Silver! Paul was purposefully dependent upon others to accomplish the plans that the Lord had set before him. Why Spain?
  • First Spain was at the very Western end of Europe, the limit of the known civilized world and Paul wished to take the gospel as far as he could take it to the ends of the earth!
  • Second, Spain was going through an intellectual revolution at the time as the greatest thinkers were Spaniards and as such perhaps Paul wanted to have an opportunity to touch not only his generations but future generations by reaching Spain.          

3. Vs. 25-29 The third aspect of Paul’s ministry that they could adopt has to do with faithfulness in keeping his promises. Even though Paul future was somewhat uncertain he still planned but even more important than the plan for the future was the faithfulness to finish what he had started in the past. Promises were made and ill regardless of what he faced he was going to finish what he started, and he encouraged the others to adopt this same principal in ministry. Not knowing what God has for you in the future never negates what He has for you to do in the present! Far too many Christian’s never finish the things they have started but are very eager to go to the next exciting thing. In the 27^th verse Paul take time to instruct these Roman believers in the principals of giving that: “If you have been blessed with spiritual things then one way to thank a church or a ministry is to make sure they can continue to do so for other and contribute financially to further them down the road to bless someone else.” Notice that Paul says in verse 28 that going on to Rome than Spain was only after he had finished the task of collecting the offering for the famine relief in Jerusalem.
4. Vs. 30-33 The final part of this chapter is Paul requesting that they pray for him, and this leads us to the final example of his ministry they could apply. Paul trusted in and relied upon the power of God to accomplish the purpose and plans of God. Though God may very well prompt people to participate with Paul, his trust was not upon people to join him but upon God to empower Him! One way every Christian can and should participate in ministry is to under gird God’s servants in prayer and Paul expected and asked for such prayers to be made upon his behalf. Prayer is born of the Spirit of God, awakened by a desire to help and a sense of love and compassion. Paul says, “Join me in the battle by praying for me as I fight the good fight!” Notice here that three things about Paul’s request for prayer:
   • Vs. 31a It was for protection from unbelievers: According to Acts 21 he was beaten so badly that they were using him as the rope in a game of tug of war. Had it not been for the Roman guard that took him into protective custody they would have killed him. Have you ever prayed something and having done so experienced the opposite of what you had prayed for? Well Paul could relate but it doesn’t mean that God didn’t hear him; it meant that God had a plan that differed from Paul’s. 
   • Vs. 31b It was for acceptance from believers: This doesn’t appear to be the situation either as he brought the offering from the gentiles but never seemed to thank him. And during the next two years while according to 2 Tim. 4:16-17 while in protective custody, “no one stood with me, but all forsook me.”  
   • Vs. 32-33 He expected to see results: This happen but not the way he thought it would as he went in chains as a prisoner. The purpose and power of prayer isn’t about us getting what we think is best from God it is about God getting His best out of us! 

Let us cease chiding people for failing to bring folks to hear the gospel, instead let us encourage each other to obey the Lord and bring the gospel to the world!

Intro

In most of the New Testament letters you want to look for the purpose that the author had in writing the letter, you will find this in Romans 1:11 where Paul wrote that he, “long to see them, that he may impart to them some spiritual gift, so that they may be established.” He further clarified that in 16-17 as being “the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Here in the last ½ of the 15^th chapter Paul again brings this up having just written about the practical implications of this spiritual truth.  He wasn’t writing because he felt the Roman Christians didn’t know what was right; he wrote to them because they needed to be reminded to do what they knew was right. In the 2^nd part of this text that we will look at next week Paul will use himself as the example to follow as he refers to his own ministry. A confederate soldier wrote in his diary these words:

• I asked God for strength, that I might achieve, and I was made weak, that I may learn to obey.
• I asked God for health, that I may do great things, I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
• I asked God for riches, that I may be happy; I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
• I asked God for power, that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness, that I might feel the need for God.
• I asked for all things that I might enjoy life; I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
• I got nothing I asked for; but everything I hoped for. And despite myself, all my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among all men, most richly blessed.     

Looking at that ministry Paul could have said, “I got nothing I asked for but everything I wanted!

Vs. 14-16 The Church at Rome

Vs. 14-16 Paul didn’t just preach the gospel he instructed believers how to live before God. Notice how Paul refers to the Godhead in verse 16, as he is a minister of Jesus Christ, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the gentiles would be acceptable, sanctified be the Holy Spirit. In verses 26-27 Paul is going to bring up to the Roman believers the financial commitment that the Church provided so that he could bring an offering to Jerusalem to help the famine plagued believers living there. But before he does that he wants to mention that the greatest offering we can give is our life’s that always seeks to in every way glorify God. That is done by the continual work of the Holy Spirit who sets us apart for a holy purpose. The final verses of the 15^th chapter of Romans have two themes:

• Vs. 14-16 The Church at Rome 
• Vs. 17-33 Paul’s ministry

Concerning the Church Paul started this letter by saying in Romans 1:8 “that their faith was spoken of throughout the whole world.” Now in the 14^th verse Paul elaborates on three reasons that this was true.

1. Full of goodness: Paul says that this Church was affective throughout the whole world because they had the right motives. They were motivated by goodness; it acted the way it did because they were acting the way their Master had acted towards them. There was no ulterior motive behind their actions just pure goodness! 
2. Filled with all knowledge: This is a remarkable statement when we consider that the book of Romans is the most complete theological and doctrinal books in the New Testament. What he is saying here is that the Roman believers didn’t lack any spiritual understanding doctrinally; they had “all knowledge” in this regard. Now immediately we ought to begin to question why Paul wrote so much on “justification, sanctification, salvation etc.” if these believers already knew all this. I’ll leave you with that question to answer in a minute as we look at three things this church needed.  
3. Able to admonish each other: Finally they were competent to council each other with regards to spiritual truth. I believe that one of the characteristics of a healthy Church is that the pastoral’s staff of weekly counseling will be at a minimal amount! The reason for this is that the body of Christ will be acting as its own counselors and will be encouraging and coming alongside their brothers and sisters as they exercise their spiritual gifts. There are far too many Churches that have adopted an over dependence upon a select view folks instead of finding their place to serve.

Vs. 15-16 Yet with Paul’s observation as to the reason why this church’s faith was being spoken of throughout the world he also has three things they lack hence the letter in the first place. Now you would think that a Church that was characterized by “all goodness, full knowledge, and as a body complete counseling” would not have anything it lacked but they did.

1. Vs. 15 Reminded of the truth: Now we can answer that question I first posed as to “why Paul felt obligated to write about what he proclaimed they already knew?” The answer is that they leaked! Their problem wasn’t that they had never learned these great doctrinal truths but that having learned them they had forgotten what applying them would produce in their lives! In 2 Cor. 4 Paul writes of the fact we Christian’s are designed by God to be containers and as such we are to contain the “Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor 4:6). Having declared this truth he goes on to speak of a remarkable fact that such a priceless treasure of the Glory of God as seen in Jesus has been placed in “clay pots”! Ordinary every day, fragile hardened dirt. Paul goes on to inform us “Terracotta Pot’s” that this was designed so that all other clay pots in the world will see that the value of mankind isn’t in the pot but rather in Who it contains. Finally in this same section Paul goes on to say that not only do we hardened dirt pots contain the greatest treasure there has ever been, but that God then allows our pot’s to be “hard-pressed, perplexed, persecuted and struck down.” Hey, wait a minute, if we are “hard-pressed, perplexed, persecuted and struck down” we will crack and break and what’s in us will spill out and as a containers we will be in constant need to be refilled. You got it! We were by design of the Master called to contain Jesus and leak! That is why in Romans 12:2 Paul tells his readers that being a living sacrifice involves the constant need to have our mind renewed. It never ceases to amaze me how I have no problem remembering worthless information but can’t remember people’s names. God knows this about our condition and repeats Himself to keep calling us back to reality. In 2 Peter 1:12 Peter wrote something similar saying, “I plan to keep on reminding you of these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth.”        
2. Vs. 16a A leader to follow: The 2^nd thing this Church need was someone they could look up to and follow as a pattern. Notice that Paul puts himself in that position as a servant that they could follow in being an offering that was acceptable. They could follow Paul’s example of how to behave in certain situations. I’m so thankful that when you put things together that you can look at the box not just read the instructions, aren’t you? Paul was the picture on the box that they could look to in order to see how things ought to look like when assembled correctly. It may sound a bit egotistical to suggest that to folks; “Hey follow me if you want a pattern!” But when you consider Paul’s words in 1 Cor. 11:1 where he admonished them saying, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ”, then it makes perfect sense. We all need someone to point us up to Jesus when we are kicking at the dirt as we tend to forget that Jesus is still the undefeated Champ and nothing or no one will ever be able to dislodge Him from the throne!    
3. Vs. 16b Sanctified by the Spirit: The final thing this church lacked is the completed sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. This isn’t a putdown we all lack this and will until we are seeing Jesus face to face. We can be busy with the Holy Spirit working THROUGH us, but the greater work is always the Holy Spirit’s work IN us. Furthermore we can fall into the trap in our thinking that what the Holy Spirit is able to accomplish “through” us equals what He is accomplishing “in” us, but this isn’t always the case. Because of the greatness and power of God, He is able to do amazing things through our lives but that has everything to do with Him and nothing to do with us. It isn’t the “gifts of the Spirit” that indicate the sanctification of the Spirit it is the “fruit of the Spirit” that does!

Intro

The fifteenth chapter continues on the theme of Christian ethics dealing with how to handle the grey areas that we so commonly disagree on. The summation of what Paul has already written is found in the first verse of chapter 15, “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” The church can become so rigid and pessimistic that to the people outside the Church we don’t seem to believe what we preach that God wins!  At a church board meeting the men gathered in prayer extolling the virtues of God, His power, presence, and provision but no sooner had they said amen, then the pastor said, “Men the situation in the church is completely hopeless and nothing can be done!” One board member boldly spoke up; “Pastor before we go on with the situation I must say that either our prayer was full of meaningless words or your statement is untrue, because both can’t be true!” There are no hopeless situations; there are only people who have grown hopeless about them!  In 1969 the Hollies adapted a Boy’s Town slogan into a hit with these words, “The road is long with many a winding turn that leads to who knows where. But I’m strong, strong enough to carry him. He aint heavy, he’s my brother.” That’s the heart attitude we should towards our fellow believer that we see as weak! 

Vs. 1-2 True mark of maturity

Vs. 1 Christians are to bear with their fellow Christians and  not just forbear with patience with their fellow believer. The idea behind the word “bear with” isn’t to put up with the person because they are such a bear but rather support them because you are stronger than they are. The word “ought” is a word that can be rendered “we owe it to them”. One of the most depilating diseases in all of humanity is the selfishness! It knows no limitations and has seemed to affect all of us at some time. That’s the illness Paul has been addressing with regards to Christian’s esthetics. The true mark of maturity is not to be found in our liberties alone; Paul says, but in our ability to love which is seen in laying those liberties aside for the benefit of others. 

Vs. 2 So when you have to decide about some grey area you have the freedom to practice you needed to ask yourself two questions:

1. Does this action please my neighbor? That is what Love is concerned with even if it means laying down our rights. J.B. Philips renders this: “We who have strong faith ought to shoulder the burden of the doubts and qualms of the weak, and not just to go our own sweet way. ” God has asked each of us to judge ourselves and to seek to please others before self. He has told us that instead of insisting on our rights we need to bear other’s wrongs, instructing them instead of insisting on our way. We are not to just endure with those whom we consider weaker we are to encourage them, cheering them on.
2. Does my giving up my freedom entrench my neighbor’s immaturity? Paul is not talking about being a “Man-Pleaser” as this wouldn’t fit under the definition of being “for their good or for their building up into maturity”. We need to make sure that we don’t give up when we give in, as we are called to please our neighbor but for their own good, leaving them room to grow beyond their insecurity. 

Vs. 3-13 No hopeless situations

Vs. 3-12 These kinds of decisions are difficult to navigate to say the least. In the 1978 song by Kenny Rogers (The Gambler) he offered this advice “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em! Know when to fold ’em! Know when to walk away! Know when to run!” So to encourage us Paul gives his readers four things that will help to “Know when to hold ‘em! When to fold ‘em, when to walk away and when to run”.

1. Vs. 3 The first example is Jesus’ who often encountered this problem. According to Psalm 69:9 Jesus was willing to pay a tremendous price in order to serve us. Have you ever felt that you were unfairly being called upon to make a sacrifice by having to give up something that you felt was your right? Listen how Paul speaks of this in the NLT translation Philip. 2:5-8 “Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross.” The first thing to note with regards to Jesus is to realize that His compromise never involved displeasing or disrupting His relationship to the Father as He said in John 8:29 (I always live to please Him). Laying down our rights doesn’t include laying aside our relationship to the Lord! The 2^nd point Paul makes is that our decision mustn’t be predicated upon or motivated by people’s response or bullying. In other words when push came to shove Jesus was willing to please people but never at the expense of pleasing the Father! You will see how Jesus practiced this for instance the passage in Luke 14:1-4 when the Pharisees took issue with Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath. He didn’t stop what He was doing He continued, ignoring their protest and finally took the time to correct their misunderstanding of the truth with regards to the Sabbath. Yet on another time when they accused Him of not paying His taxes He sent Peter to catch a fish and when he would open the mouth he would find a coin to pay the taxes for both Peter and Himself and He said he was doing that as to not to offend them. At another time in Luke 7:34 Jesus said that there was no way to please some folks as they were upset at John the Baptist because he didn’t eat, and drink and they were mad at Him because He did so with sinners. A person’s maturity is best measured not by how many years they have walked this earth with the personal knowledge of Jesus but rather how many times they have been willing to lay down their rights and privileges that they may be a blessing to someone else! 
   • So always seek to first please the Lord
   • Never let people’s reactions hinder you from pleasing the Lord
   • Realize some folks just can’t be pleased
2. Vs. 4 The 2nd thing we can count on to help us sort things out as it relates to behaving towards our fellow Christians in grey areas is the examples found in the scriptures, as the things written were done so for our learning. You can read of people like Moses, who according to Hebrews 11:25 “chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin”. There is the story of Jonathan, Saul’s son who took off his robe and yielded his right to the throne to David because he knew that God had given it to him. The key in all of these examples is that their actions were always motivated out of achieving the objective that God be glorified even if it meant they were not.    
3. Vs. 5-6 The third thing we can count on to help guide us in our use of liberties is the Holy Spirit. No matter what the situation the God of Patience and comfort will enable you to be like-minded (patient and full of comfort) towards one another. Often I find the biggest obstacle that need to be overcome for me to discern the right way of handling my liberty is ME! Paul couches this in words of a prayer which suggest to me that the place start with when there is disunity is to bow your heart before the Lord and ask Him to grant unity were discord exists. Paul says, “pray for like-mindedness”. Two people with different opinions on non-essentials will only come together if they first agree on the essentials and that is what we ought to be praying for. How do you know when you have achieved this unity in the Spirit? The outcome according to verse 6 will be praise to the Lord. Unity isn’t about compromising liberties it’s all about surrendering these up so that He alone will be praised. How often we fail to recognize that our chief aim is to glorify the Lord in all we say and do no matter what the cost to ourselves! Prayer is what starts the ball rolling which leads us to see our similarities instead of our differences which leads to our praising the Lord that He loves us in spite of us!
4. Vs. 7-12 The final thing that helps us sort through our decisions is to realize that God’s side is always on reconciliation and never on separation. The key word in this closing section is the word “ministry” it appears 4 times and Paul uses three different Greek words in English it appears as “servant, minister and service”. The first word describes who we are, the 2^nd word describes what we do, and the third word describes how we are to do it! That was the purpose of Jesus sacrifice that in His body that through faith in Him that He would reconcile both mankind to God and people to people! In Isaiah 58:12 the prophet referred to Jesus saying that “Those from among you shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.” Our God has always been a missionary God, One who’s heart is always to put together what we are so prone to tear apart! Looking at these quotations it is not immediately apparent that there is a progression in the promises listed but there is:

• Vs. 9 Ps. 18:49 The Jews are seen as glorifying God AMONG the Gentiles.
• Vs. 10 Deut. 32:43 The Gentiles rejoice WITH the Jews.
• Vs. 11 Ps. 117:1 The Jews and Gentiles are TOGETHER praising God.
• Vs. 12 Isa. 11:10 Jesus is reigning OVER both Jew and Gentile.

Vs. 13 Paul concludes with a beautiful benediction of what you have available to achieve unity amongst the brethren. All the great words of our faith appear here: Hope twice, joy, peace, believing, abounding and of course the Holy Spirit by Whom all the above are appropriated to us to bring about this unity in the body of Christ. Saints let’s try something new in our Christian life: “Let’s start believing our beliefs and doubting our doubts!” Instead of  “Believing our doubts and doubting our beliefs!” Disunity and disagreement do not glorify God, in fact they rob Him of it. In Genesis 13:8 Abram talked it over with Lot over a disagreement and said, “This arguing between our herdsmen has got to stop,” he said. “After all, we are close relatives!” I might add another two reasons to Abram’s words, “It breaks Dad’s heart!” and “The neighbors are watching!”

Intro

Paul continues on dealing with Christian ethics and how we behave towards our fellow believers in those “grey areas”. He doesn’t want to leave the impression that mature believers are to just leave alone their weaker brothers, leaving them immature in their faith. Christian love isn’t just noncombative instead it desires to take people along the same path we are on towards maturity. 

Have you noticed that instruction assembly manuals have gotten much simpler over the years? No longer do they give a plain paper novel that resembles “War and Peace”. Now they give you a one sheet full color assembly guide located right on top of the newly purchased treasure. This page resembles something that a 4-year-old could follow, (mostly pictures). I like that, I can understand that! One of the things I’ve always appreciated about the Word of God is its simplicity! Take this chapter before us, Paul doesn’t just say in verse 13 (NLT) “So don’t condemn each other anymore.” He goes on to say, “Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not put an obstacle in another Christian’s path.” What follows, in the remainder of this chapter is, “How To Do This!” an instruction manual of, “How-to live-in liberty and freedom, for dummies like me!”

Vs. 13-18 Walking in love

Vs. 13 In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that we should not judge others in a standard that we would not want to have applied to our self. Here Paul says, “Don’t judge some other Christian, judge yourself instead.” Are you acting in a way that is making someone else feel condemned, or behaving in a way that could destroy a fellow believer because of your liberty? If you can answer those questions YES then God is judging you! What something does to a person determines its quality! But that isn’t the only criteria we need to be concerned with as we need to also ask “How does my use of this or my practice of that effect my fellow Christian?”

            The truth is we do affect each other; we can cause grief, causing some to fall away from the faith and even destroy folks. When our children were little I adopted a policy that we wouldn’t watch anything of T.V. that wasn’t appropriate for our kids to watch. I can recall that they were over someone’s house when they were in their early teens when the classic movie the Wizard of Oz came on and they had never seen it as we hadn’t allowed it. “Legalistic”, some would say but to us we wanted to make sure that we as adults could handle wouldn’t cause them nightmares. Strong Biblical knowledge isn’t the only quality the mature believer should have they must possess an equally loving character as the battle isn’t one in the head alone but in the heart as well. When a child is afraid of the dark you cannot argue with them to convince them that they have nothing to be frightened over; instead they must be assured by love not just convinced by facts.

Vs. 14-18 The NLT renders this, “I know and am perfectly sure 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.” In the 1940 Disney classic Pinocchio’s Jiminy Cricket offered Pinocchio this lesson on “temptations” saying; “The world is full of temptations! They are the wrong things that seem right at the time. But even though the right things seem wrong sometimes….the wrong things are always wrong even at the right time!” Paul moves on to give us two reasons why we shouldn’t judge other believers:

1. Vs. 14-15 Do not deliberately do things that offend or make your brothers and sisters in Christ uncomfortable: Paul had arrived at this opinion not by any other means than the direct teaching of the Word of God. The issue of eating something’s that others didn’t believe was right had nothing to do with a lack of morality. Before conscience is set, knowledge must be persuade, therefore we may have a conscience on some “nonessential” grey area that can change because we hadn’t the knowledge prior. The conscience cannot be commanded it must be persuaded by the Spirit of God working through the Word of God. When this takes place we can move further and further into the freedom we have in Christ. It’s never a “loving action” to force people to move at our pace instead it is better for us to adjust our pace to theirs. It is tragic that oft times the Church has demanded from someone what Jesus has already paid for by refusing even the smallest of self-denial on their behalf!  We need to ask, “Does my Christian walk please God and is it approved in the hearts of others?”  
2. Vs. 16-18 Give up your rights when it threatens peace or hinders growth in a fellow believer: Even if “You let your, conscience be your guide” Paul says that this is not enough as “You need to let your brother’s conscience be your guide.” If you insist on pushing your view on someone so hard then you are majoring in minors. In verse 16 the word “evil” is the word “blaspheme” and in using it Paul suggest that a person that is that opinionated can so offend someone and cause them to curse that which may very well be good. Often we see division over some minor area of Christian practice cause folks to have to pick sides and the world mocks Christians as they see the church just as a religion of do’s and don’ts. It is the eternals not the externals that must be the priority in our lives as followers of Jesus. Those eternals are listed for us in verse 17 as righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. As we yield to the Holy Spirit in our liberties we will experience more of these three things, not to mention that there will be more harmony within the Church.

There are three things Paul says that others should see in us:

• Righteousness: Already spoken of at length in the first 11 chapters Paul has written about our assurance of “right standing” before God solely based upon the work of Jesus. We are loved by God and He delights in calling us his children. As such we know that it is not based upon what we do or don’t do. The world ought to see this lived out in our lives on a daily basis not a bunch of folks who look like they have been baptized in lemon juice. They should see us living in self-respect, gentleness with assurance.
• Peace: The world ought to see us living in a calmness that isn’t based upon favorable circumstances. We should be people who don’t get rattled by minor irritations of the moment. The reason for this is His presence and the reality that He is at work even though we can’t always detect it. The world will not see this peace if we are busy screaming at each other. 
• Joy: These three always seem to fit together: Our understanding that were are God’s beloved leads to peace that can’t be taken from us by adversity and the outcome of this is that we are full of joy. This joy is not to be confused with happiness which is conditional in nature based upon favorable circumstances and situations. The joy I’m speaking of is because of the above two things which causes me to realize that life is worthwhile even in the midst of problems and trials.

When we are living in these three gifts founded upon our relationship with God it won’t be any big deal to give up momentarily our freedom. We get to yield our right of way to someone else instead of insisting upon it and plowing ahead.

Vs. 19-23 Not destroying the work of God

Vs. 19-23 Paul gives us three guidelines to follow in laying down our liberty:

1. Vs. 19a “pursue the things which make for peace”: Or as the N.L.T. renders this “let us aim for harmony in the church”. Enjoy what the Lord has told you in the “grey areas” as long as it doesn’t destroy someone else’s peace. Paul clarifies this in verse 20 saying, “Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat.” When you have folks from different backgrounds, cultures you want people to make their focus what they have in common not what they don’t have in common. If we destroy the harmony and peace that is ours in Christ for some minor freedom then we are tearing apart the work of God. The quickest path to peace in any situation is the one that leads you away from yourself as it will always lead you to Jesus.   
2. Vs. 19b “try to build each other up”: The way we do this isn’t to insist on our freedom it is to instruct them on our freedom.  If we insist instead of instructing we are by passing the learning process that we have come to. People are seldom argued into a position they are won to one. In 1 Peter 2:12 Peter wrote, “having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” When we try to push someone to our position all we end up doing is hardening theirs! Neither is it a good idea to let those with immature positions run the Church as those who are freed up yield to their legalistic whims. If this takes place you will see narrow-minded people with only one aim; “prevent everyone else from enjoying the blessings God has given us.” I received a letter in the mail from a man who warned me I was in danger of going to hell and leading you all with me for teaching damnable heresy that Jesus could come back for His people at any moment. The way he wrote it made me even more convinced in my position because if the way he wrote to me is what happens to a person who believes his way then I want nothing to do with it!     
3. Vs. 22-23 “You may have the faith to believe that there is nothing wrong with what you are doing but keep it between yourself and God.”  We need to allow God’s Word to be the basis for our practice and leave it at that. If you flaunt or insist on your position then your issue is pride. In Hebrews 11:6 we read that “without faith it is impossible to please Him”. That is what Paul has in mind here. In verse 23 he says, “If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.” There is no airport scanner that went off this morning when you came in here to worship God making sure you believe exactly like me. You are free to hold to your convictions and I’m free to hold mine, but we are not free to divide and cause division! Conscience is strengthened by knowledge, but knowledge must be balanced by love; otherwise it will tear down instead of building up!

Intro

Having dealt with Christian Civics Paul now takes up yet another touchy subject, Christian Ethics. The dictionary describes “Ethics” as a philosophy that deals with what is good and bad, right, and wrong, moral duty and obligation. Often the Church’s favorite indoor sport is trying to change each other, and this chapter deals with Christian “No No’s”; the so called “taboos” of the Church, such as:

• Those that believe that it’s wrong to drink alcohol trying to change their fellow believer’s opinion that it’s alright to have a glass of wine or a beer with dinner.
• Those that read out of the 1611 King James Bible trying to change folks to stop reading out of those “per-versions” such as the N.I.V. which they say means “Nearly Inspired Version”.

The list goes on and on to add noisome all the while those apart from Christ wonder what’s wrong with us. This is such an important topic that Paul is going to spend 1 and ¼  chapters on it and this as an extension of what he had said in 13:8 that we owe one another a debt of love. There seems to be two groups in any church that are always about trying to change the other:

1. Those that are convinced they need to “Give it up”
2. Those that are convinced that they need to “Live it up”    

Many in the Church are engaged in the indoor sport of evangelizing their fellow believers all the while the world is in desperate need to hear the gospel. Here in Romans 14 we learn that “Love must be patient and tolerant of other Christian views”.     

Vs. 1-3 Accounts Receivable

Vs. 1 The NLT renders Rom 14:1: “Accept Christians who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.” Almost every church mentioned in the New Testament had divisions to contend with that the writer has to address. Today is no different as often Christian disputes are over “grey areas”. This verse is plain and ought to be easy to put in practice, but it’s not! Don’t reject folks, don’t ignore them, place them in categories, and argue with them simply because they practice their faith different then you. Grace sanctifies the heart much more easily then the head! Remember God washes our hearts in this life, but He washes our brains in the life to come! Accept them without doing the above because they are your brothers and sisters in the family of God. Jesus doesn’t need or ask for our permission to invite them into the family! The word “receive” in the Greek is a word that means that we are to do so without an ulterior motive so that we can convince them later. This requires us to fully accept each other even if they sprinkle and you dunk… your donuts,… you though I was going to say baptism didn’t you?   

Vs. 2 This wasn’t about nutrition it may have been about being kosher or idols, but the point Paul is making is much broader in scope then just diets. The point is, if the scriptures are silent about it then it’s a matter of opinion and personal preference that the Lord will direct us individually. Oft times folks like to lump it all together under the verse in 1 Cor. 6:19 where Paul says, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” But then Paul admonishes Timothy in 1 Tim. 5:23 to “No longer drink only water but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.” The problem with using 1 Cor. 6:19 as the proof text on smoking, dancing, chewing gum, sugar etc. is that verse 18 gives us the context as being “sexual immorality”. There are things that the Bible is clear on with regards to things that we should abstain from: It’s always wrong to have sex outside of marriage, it’s always wrong to get drunk, or get high. God has spoken on these on these things, and we are to exhort one another to abstain from these areas and in so doing we aren’t judging God’s Word is.

            Even more surprising is Paul’s estimation of who is the weaker brother. This is even more remarkable when we consider Paul’s own history. The natural leaning of most folks is to see the one that has the most rigid standards as the more mature believer. Yet verse 2 says “he who is weak eats only vegetables”. The weak person is described as being “weak IN the faith” not “weak in FAITH”. Their problem is not in faith but in understanding. Jesus said in John 8:31-32 that “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Thus the mark of maturity and understanding the Bible is freedom and the person who understands that these unclear things have no bearing upon God’s love of us is stronger than the person who doesn’t. Barclay in his commentary on this said that the person is weak in the faith for two reasons:

1. They have not yet discovered the meaning of Christian freedom and in their hearts are still looking to things to govern their life with regards to right and wrong. They are frightened by freedom and liberty.
2. They have not yet separated themselves from a belief that “works” work in gaining favor with God. They are still trying to earn a right relationship with God instead of receiving one by grace through faith. they are still thinking more about what they can do for God instead of what God has done for them.

Vs. 3 Having described the problem Paul now gives his readers who are on both sides of this problem what to do about it. The strong that have greater understanding must not reject the one who lacks understanding. The word “despise” means to “look down” or “push out”. Someone has described a legalist as a person “who lives in terror that someone, somewhere, is enjoying themselves.” But that attitude towards the weaker brother is what Paul is referring to here by “looking down” on them.

            The other side of that is also addressed and those that don’t eat are told to not sit in judgment over those that do. When we sit in judgment over another we typically do two things:

1. Criticize: We are going to be thinking or saying, “I don’t see how a person is a Christian if they are doing things that I don’t allow myself to do.”
2. Categorize: We are going to thinking or saying, “They aren’t much of Christian if they are engaged in doing what I don’t do myself.”

Folks that are engaged in this want the church to come up with uniform codes to enforce these standards upon all and if you don’t they will seek to find a Church that will.

Vs. 4-12 Reasons to not Criticize or Categorize

Vs. 4-12 Having said that we should not treat our fellow Christians either way Paul gives us three facts we ought to consider before we ostracize our fellow Christian. 

1. Vs. 4 The believer that doesn’t see these grey areas as you doesn’t belong to you: The truth is God is standing with the person I can’t stand, the person I put down He holds up. Who am I to judge my Master’s servant? If God wants to correct him in some nonessential area that I have made essential then He is perfectly able to do so. It is not our responsibility to change our fellow believer to our way of thinking. If such an area is not defined by the word then we ought to leave it to the Master to whom they belong to convince them. The Lord didn’t consult you and me in saving them and He isn’t asking for our help in making them just like we are. Notice that Paul says that before God the person “stands or falls”, the words means to be straightened out. Then Paul says that even if he isn’t standing God will keep working on him to “straightened him out” until he does stand. We are all a “work in progress”, we are all in the continual process of “change” and what God has started He will finish. There won’t be a single person in heaven not “finished’ that God wasn’t able to get to in time. There are far too many in the body of Christ that believe that they’re the Holy Spirit’s “little helpers” trying to force compliance to their rules and regulations. I have a word for us “stop it” let the Holy Spirit do His work!
2. Vs. 5-8 God sees what we cannot, hearts: Paul takes up another area on Christian ethics that was relevant to their time to show that this was more than a one area problem. The problem wasn’t only about diets it was about days as well! Eight times in these verses the word Lord is found which suggests to us that no Christian has the right to play “Jesus” over someone else. Often these differences arise out of honest convictions which we can’t see or know. The person isn’t trying to ruffle our feathers just because they don’t agree with us, they may be acting on what they are convinced is right for them. Paul says, let each be fully convinced in their OWN MIND, it doesn’t say in someone else’s mind. God’s sees both viewpoints and both maybe honoring Him in what He told them to do or not do. The vast majority of issues in the Church today that causes divisions are just a matter of opinion and a difference of perspective. Those opinions and perspectives seem logical to us, well thought out but to others in makes no sense. We have all had areas where we practiced something and were convinced in our mind that God had told us to do it or not do it that way that latter one He changed our mind as we grew in His grace. The bottom line is there is something of worth and has far more value than us being right and that’s our relationship with the other person. Whether we live in liberty or are called to limit ourselves the important thing is that we belong to the Lord!   
3. Vs. 9-12 God alone has paid the price to judge: The judgment seat of Christ is the bema seat, equivalent to the judge’s seat in the Olympic Games. After each game, the winners came before the judge’s seat to receive crowns for first, second and third places.  Jesus knows the price of limitation as He humble Himself and became a man even to the point of death. He also knows what life is like as He like no other man lived FREE! Paul is saying stop trying to take Jesus’ place on the throne of judgment. We are not His consultant’s; we have no right to stand in that place. In 1 Cor. 4:5 Paul says, “judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.”  Weather we are into “Living it up” or “giving it up” our focus is to glorify God!      

For a chapter and a half Paul is going to give us three guiding principles on how to apply what early church founder Augustine wrote: “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity!” The Three admonitions are:

1. 14:1 Receive
2. 14:19 Edify
3. 15:2 Please

Intro

We come now to the 2^nd and 3^rd parts of this chapter as Paul has been giving us a civics lesson on how to be godly citizens to the “powers that be”. I’m amazed at how the one phrase in verse 8 can answer how we are to respond to the state and our fellow citizens who may not like us all that much. Paul simply writes in “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Just like the original readers of this letter, we Christians today need to learn how to display love amid all the pressures we face each day. Do you think LOVE makes a difference? Let’s put it to the test: We Christians, just like everybody else, have things we love; sports, food, hobbies etc.

• Name who won the championship 10 years ago in your favorite sport?
• Name what you ate three weeks ago on a Thursday night?
• Name what you made or did with regards to your hobby a year ago?

How come if we love those things we can’t seem to remember that much about them? Now recall the time when someone loved you, reached out to you, remember the situation, the details, the people. You have just learned a great and powerful lesson: It is not what we love that has a lasting impact, it is who has loved us and who we have loved. Love makes ALL the difference!!!!    

Vs. 8-10 Payback time

Vs. 8-10 There is something about trying to follow a bunch of rules and regulations that we humans just find difficult. If the speed limit says don’t go over 70 then we have to go at least 75. I’m convinced it’s part of the fall, my granddaughter when she was younger learned to ask for a piece of candy by starting to count 2, 3, 4.  She then realized that she could just skip the counting and started saying a lots and f finished by saying “lot’s a, lot’s a, lot’s a”! I believe God knows that about us, so he had Paul write not on what not to do but on what to do by saying, “This is easy, my children all you have to do is love!” Have you ever had a person that just brings your blood to boil, and you are struggling on what to do? Well Paul says, “Love them and you won’t be able hurt them!” I had a fellow a few years back that before he left the church decided to call people in the church directory to see if they would join him. When we heard of it I took some leadership, and I bought him lunch and asked him if we had offended him personally in any way as we were unaware of anything. He told us no, then we lovingly asked him why he felt obligated to call folks and encourage them to leave fellowship with us. He denied doing so and left angry! We then had the opportunity to bless him with a substantial amount of business! I don’t know how it made him feel but it made me feel great! I can’t honestly say that love made a difference to that person, but I can tell you that loving him made a difference in me! My biggest problem is a lack of love but it’s not a lack of love FROM others it is a lack of love TO others! You see, loving people and harming people are mutually exclusive, you can do one or the other, but you can’t do both at the same time! Paul gives us three specific things about our obligation to love:

1. Debt: Paul say’s that this is not a suggestion, but neither is it a command; it is something even more binding, we owe a debt! The word “owe” is the verb to the noun in “due” in verse 7. The connection is when you pay all your dues you still have an ongoing obligation to love one another. When you owe somebody something, it’s on your mind continually until you make a payment. So the moment you and I came into contact this morning I owed you something and you owed me something, LOVE! I needed to make a payment directly to you, to give you kindness, courtesy, patience and understanding. Whatever the situation or circumstance maybe I need to pay my debt to you and you to me. Our first response should be, “I need to pay this fellow what I owe him right away, even though he hasn’t paid me what he owes me!” If we did that right up front it may jog their memory about what they owe us! In Philemon 1:18-19 Paul was writing to a church leader about his runaway slave named Onesimus saying, “If he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay–not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.”  
2. Everyone: The second thing we learn about our debt of love is that doesn’t have a limitation upon who we need to pay. Paul said we were to owe NO ONE anything except to love. Read down a few verses to verse 10 where he describes “NO ONE” as our neighbor! You may be thinking that’s only two or three families, I can do this. But you will need to start thinking about more than just geography. A neighbor is the one who lives next to you; they are the ones at this very moment that are seated next to where you are. That would mean that at any given moment my neighbor is the person you are closest too: at the store, as I’m driving, on the phone, at work. I need to give kindness, courtesy, patience and understanding to whoever is closest to me this very moment. 
3. Positive: The final thing I learn about my debt of love is that it goes beyond what I don’t do to them to harm them. That’s the difference between the “LAW” and “LOVE”. The law’s concern focuses only on not doing negative things to those closest to you. Do what you want with your property, but you can’t do what you want with your neighbor’s property, wife, stuff, name, or life! There are folks that think, “Well that’s enough; not doing those things to those closest to me is loving them!”
   But love says, “Don’t just not do harmful things to those closest to you do good things to your neighbor.” Love them, reach out to them, help them, and find ways that you can bless those closest to you. The law stops at the line but love crosses over that line and goes the extra mile, brings a coat not just a scarf, not just a glass of water and a piece of bread but a 5-gallon container full of water and a 5-course meal! 

Vs. 11-14 What time is it?

Vs. 11-14 After saying that we Christian’s owe everyone a debt of love Paul now moves on to give a motivating factor, THE TIMES we are living in. He says that understanding the times will motivate us four ways to love our neighbors:

1. Vs. 11-12a Wake up: The first thing Paul says is that the “times” ought to cause us to get going, not to “political mobilization” but to “evangelical globalization”! Right now the night is all around us but that only signals that the day is about to dawn. If we have been waiting for the opportune time to pay back the debt of love to someone then there is no better time to start then today because you may not be given tomorrow. The alarm has gone off folks it’s time to recognize all the opportunities to love those closest to us. The church needs to awake out of its spiritual slumber and start reaching folks with the glorious, good news that Jesus is coming. It’s a lot easier for us to send our dollars to some foreign mission field so that someone we barley know can love someone we don’t know at all, rather than us reaching out to someone ourselves. That leads us to the 2^nd thing we are called to do.
2. Vs. 12b-13 Clean up: Paul say’s in light of that we need to “cast off” the works of darkness. Time for us as to clean up a bit and do what the author of Hebrews in 12:1 says to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us”. We all need to do some spiritual house cleaning and get rid of some junk that has been cluttering up our lives. Paying back the debts of love is going to require us let go of three things that are keeping us from loving others:
   • Parties: Paul says if you are going to be involved in paying back your debt of love you if you are all about the good times and getting wasted. Not only do you get “wasted” you end up “wasting” time that you could be spending on having a real good time blessings someone else. Each of us only has so many moments to spend to demonstrate God’s powerful love and if we are spending it getting wasted then all we will end up is wasted.
   • Immorality: Paul describes it as lewdness and lust and says you can’t love people and live for sexual conquests at the same time. In using these two terms Paul covers the whole range of immorality here from, adultery, homosexuality, immorality, and pornography. If we indulge in these things Paul says we will be wasting time that will destroy us and others.
   • Contentions: Finally Paul says that if we are going to pay back our debt of love then we are going to have to clean out strife and envy. There are some that just live for gossip and the spread of negativity. They aren’t happy unless they are unhappy and spreading that unhappiness around to others. Folks, you can’t be paying back that debt of love if you are all about trying to cause division and strife. In Matthew 12:30 Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” What effect do you have on people, are you gathering them or scattering them. This is how we can tell if we are with Jesus or against Jesus. Proverbs 27:15 says that “A continual dripping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman (person) are alike”.  
3. Vs. 14a Dress up: To walk properly requires us to wear the right outfit and it won’t include the following attire “revelry and drunkenness, lewdness, lust, strife and envy”. But dressing right isn’t just about what you aren’t wearing it is about what you are wearing and in this case we are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. When we get up in the morning we put on clothes that make us presentable to others and friend there is no outfit in your closet that makes you more presentable to others then the Lord Jesus Christ! Make wearing Him today your life, wherever you go and whoever you meet folks will be complementing you on how nice you look. They say that what you wear makes the person and I couldn’t agree more when what you wear is Jesus. There is a fashion today that seems to be a mix-match of several outfits and I’m afraid that this is what the Christian looks like sometimes, a little of the world’s clothing and a little of Jesus.      
4. Vs. 14b Grow up: Finally we are told that we will need to grow up and growing is going to require us to make no provisions for the flesh, not to give it any inroads into our lives. That may mean that we are going to have to let go of things. Paul writes in 1 Cor. 13:11that “When I was a child, I spoke as a child; I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” J.B. Phillips translated this verse “Let us be Christ’s men from head to foot and give no chances to the flesh to have its fling.”     

Intro

In the 12^th chapter Paul dealt with the obligations of love; those within the body of Christ and those outside the body of Christ. Now Paul points out that we have obligations to love outside these personal relationships to general relationships such as being a good citizen in the country the Lord has placed them. I’ve heard it said that there are three things you should never discuss in public “Religion, politics and taxes” and in this passage Paul is going to do all three. Paul can’t be talking about us being subject to the “governing authorities” with the mess we are in right now? But the truth is that the times in which Paul wrote these words were far more evil then now. When one considers that he was writing to the church in Rome where 2/3 of the people were slaves and many within the church were Jewish and they were notorious for their up risings. Yet it is to this very group that Paul tells Christians that they are to be subject to the governing authorities. Paul defines for us three ways that we are to maintain a relationship with the state:

1. Vs. 1-7 The Christian’s obligation to the state
2. Vs. 8-10 The Christian’s obligation to the citizens of the state
3. Vs. 11-14 The Christian’s practice of their civil obligations     

Vs. 1-2 Obey the powers that be

Vs. 1 The first things we learn about both the forms of Government as well as those that occupy the positions of power within the government is its source as Paul says that “the powers that be” are from God. Paul tells his readers of their obligation for civil obedience and that there is not one Christian that is exempt from obedience to the state! The reason for this has nothing to do with the righteousness or lack thereof of the “powers that be” but rather because of the “righteousness” of the God who is the source of their authority and the One who has sanctioned it. God is not removed or uninterested in governments and political affairs, He is orchestrating them.

God hasn’t sanctioned any one form of government so it can take on many different forms and still be from Him. All of society needs government as God intended man to live under authority. I’m reminded of a quote from a letter written by the French diplomat Joseph de Maistre in August 1811 about Napoleon Bonaparte in post-revolutionary France when he said, “Every nation gets the government it deserves”. We Americans love to think that only democracy is ordained by God but the time that Paul wrote this Rome had been a monarchy, republic, principality and now and empire under their 5^th emperor and perhaps the most ruthless Nero. The best form of government for a nation is whatever form God has brought into being for that time and place. Sometimes God uses a government or the powers that be to bless a people and sometimes He uses them to judge them and to get them to repent! America has tried to set up democracies in parts of the world where the people of that country just can’t seem to make it work. In Daniel 2:20-21, Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar “God changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” God is interested in not only the form of government but also the persons who occupy the offices of authority. And by His grace and wisdom He not only sends us good leaders but allows us to have bad ones at times as well. In Daniel 4:17 King Nebuchadnezzar came to this decision when he wrote a decree saying, “That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.”

Vs. 2 In light of the corruptive form of government that Paul and believers were living under at the time of this letter he still condemns the resistance to the governing authorities saying that it was equivalent to resisting God. Since God has allowed the “power that be” to govern over us the flip side of that is also true: governments are in power “under God”.  In February of 1948 Louis Bowman inserted those very words “Under God” in the pledge of allegiance quoting from Lincoln’s Gettysburg address. Under President Eisenhower’s administration it was signed into law as part of the pledge of allegiance. This in no way suggests that everything that a government does to its citizens is justified or ordained by Him.

This concept isn’t new as you will recall Jesus words in Matthew 22:21 as they handed him a coin with Caesar’s image on it and He said, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” God has put His image on man, we belong to Him. We can give certain things to Caesar, but people belong to God, they may have right to our property and possessions, they may regulate how we treat one another but they have no right to the spirit of man. They have no right to tell us how worship or forbid our obedience to the Word of God. Whenever a government commands that we do what ought not to be done we don’t have to listen. We must not enslave people, oppress them because they are God’s not the governments. Such is the case in Acts 5:29 after being commanded to never speak about Jesus “Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” To oppose overtly the government that is in power such as was the case at the founding of this country; two things not mentioned here must be considered:

1. What is our responsibility should the government persecute Christians?
2. What is our responsibility should the government fail to do its duty to its citizens?

Paul wrote this during the reign of the Roman Empire which was no democracy, and no special friend to Christians – yet he still saw their legitimate authority. Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, one of the worst Roman governors Judea ever had, and Paul under Nero, the worst Roman Emperor. And neither our Lord nor His Apostle denied or reviled the ‘authority! We are bound to obey the governing authority unless they order us to do something in contradiction to God’s law.

Vs. 3-5 Reasons to obey

Vs. 3-4 Paul adds additional reason for submission to the “powers that be” saying they are “servants of God” and ought not to cause any fear or trouble to those who are good citizens only to those who are evil doers. Three times in this section Paul refers to them as “ministers” and that is the same word we use for deacon and was used of those who served in the Jewish temple.    

Governments are to protect its citizens from evil: This evil may be in the form an outside attack. Or it may be from the inside attack like crime from within. This is why governments have armies, police forces and courts. Rulers that bear the sword simply means that they have the authority to act on behalf of society to afflict punishment upon those who have injured the citizens. They have the right on behalf of its citizens to execute force if necessary even to taking a life. There is no doubt that these powers have been abused and miss applied but the answer is to correct the problem and not to eliminate governments right to act on behalf of its people. So the next time you get pulled over realize that the person who did so was acting like a deacon. 

Vs. 5 He further tells his readers that such obedience to the “powers that be” are not only to be made by the believer because it will keep is out of trouble but because it is the “right thing to do”! This conscience’s sake not only gives us the right moral compass it also serves as the government’s limitation. The powers that be that govern in God’s name must not do anything contrary to that Name and if they do we are not obligated to participate in their practice. Now I’m certain that all of us can come up with examples from both parties of those who have abused their God given authority, but we aren’t called to always respect the person in office, we are called to respect the office because the powers that be are from God.

Vs. 6-7 Benefits of obedience

Vs. 6-7 The second function governments have is to tax its citizens: Governments not only serve their citizens by protecting them from without and from within they also provide common services that minister to the needs of the people. Utilities, education, and relief agencies are common things that taxes are to go for. Governments have two things at their disposal to ensure that their citizenry complies with these things physical force and economic force. 

Taxes to whom taxes are due: To get people to do the right thing in caring for each other the government has the right to tax’s its people to ensure that folks get the care they need. We may not like the amount the government takes and the way they spend it, but the answer is not to be found in not paying but rather in changing the laws or the people making the laws. It is our responsibility to do the right thing even when we are trying to change it. Paul gives an example of civil obedience in the paying of taxes to which he says, “render therefore to all their due” and then he mentions four aspects of civil authority:

1. Personal property taxes: Taxes, refers to an annual collection such as property or income tax. I’m certain that most folks don’t think of their IRS agent as a minister of God. Some say that they don’t want to pay their taxes because the money the government is collecting is going against the things of the Bible but so to in Paul’s time.
2. Export, or import taxes: Sales tax is paid upon purchase, something that we don’t have in Montana.
3. Fear, or respect of the government: Fear does not mean terror but rather that which removes terror and as such we are to have high regard for those in authority over us who have removed our terror.   
4. Honor and respect for those under the government as well:  But beyond that we are to pay what we owe; honor.                

This is not the only passage that deals with the Christians civil duty:

• 1 Tim. 2:1-2 where Paul exhorts “first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”
• Titus 3:1 we read that they were to be reminded “to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work.”
• 1 Peter 2:13-17 Peter writes, “submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men– as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”

Justin Martyr (103 to 165 AD) wrote during the height of Christian persecution, “We worship only God, but in other things we will gladly serve you, acknowledging you as kings and rulers of men, and praying that, with your kingly power, you may be found to possess also sound judgment.”

Intro

A man was walking by a used bookstore and saw a book that intrigued him by what he thought was its title “How to Hug”. When he went in to purchase the book he was disappointed because instead of a book on hugging it was an encyclopedia that covered “words from How to Hug”. I’m afraid that many times this describes people’s church experience as they come to Church to get a hug and instead of a demonstration they get clobbered by and encyclopedia. On June 30^th, 2004, a movement was started by a lonely man named Juan Mann who had been transformed by a random hug from a stranger. He started a campaign at a local mall in Sydney Australia by holding a sign that simply read “Free Hugs”. To date well over 69 million people have watched the video but what he didn’t realize is that Jesus started that campaign 2000 years ago; it’s just that the Church has failed to keep it going! This morning in verses 9-21 we are going learn “How to Hug” and I promise no encyclopedia! There are two main areas that Paul says we need to be hugging people:

1. Vs. 9-13 In the Church
2. Vs. 14-21 In the world

Vs. 9-13 Hugging people in Church

Vs. 9a Last week Paul’s focus was humility and this week his focus is love. There is a natural progression in the spiritual life from humility to love and Paul follows that flow! The first thing we see if we are going to “hug” properly is sincere love! The word “sincere” in Latin literally means “without wax” and was used by people when buying a marble sculpture when they would ask the artist if it was “without wax”. Many of the artist’s would use bee’s wax mixed with marble dust to hide the flaws in their work. Clearly if we are going to hug people we need to do so in love without any wax covering hidden motives or attitudes. Paul mentions six ways to hug folks within the church:

1. Vs. 9b “Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good”: The word “abhor” is a word in which we get our word for “horror” from. We are to hate sin as we hate that hell to which it leads. Oh, that we would so view all the “evil” that so tempts us as the things that we avoid at any cost as they horrify us. But that is only part of the picture as we can treat sin and temptation as a horror flick, but we will also need to cling to that which is good. We will continue a losing battle if all we do is become horrified at our temptations. A recent article in “Science Daily” was investigating human behavior and people’s motivation to generally pursue pleasure and avoid pain. But how can this be reconciled with the decision to engage in experiences known to elicit negative feelings, such as horror movies. For years people believed that generally one of two theories explained why people like horror movies.
   • The first is that the person is not actually afraid, but excited by the movie.
   • The second explanation is that they are willing to endure the terror in order to enjoy a euphoric sense of relief at the end.

But a new study argues that neither of these theories is correct. Instead, the theory that people cannot both “experience negative and positive emotions simultaneously” is incorrect. In other words, “horror movie viewers are happy to be unhappy”. As the authors put it, “the most pleasant moments of a particular event may also be the most fearful.” There you have it friends we have to do more then be horrified of sin we need to glue ourselves to that which is good! We need to realize that hugging involves the person not what they do or don’t do. We aren’t called to love what a person does we are called to love the person! We ought to hate what is evil in people without hating people when they do sinful things.

2. Vs. 10a “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love”: Secondly, love remembers that action is based upon relationship not mutual friendship. Paul says we are to be “kindly affectionate to one another”, with brotherly love. Our concern isn’t based upon how well we know someone or how much we enjoy their company. The question is whether or not through Christ we are related to them.  

3. Vs. 10b “in honor giving preference to one another”: Third, if we are going to hug properly we are going to have to view people as more deserving than we are. It has been said that “There is no limit to the good a person can do if they don’t care who gets the credit!” That is the way to hug someone, do so and tell them that it is from someone else!   

4. Vs. 11 “not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord”: Fourth, a good hug must remain enthusiastic despite the setbacks. We are told how to make sure our love doesn’t become one of this lack luster hugs: it must have two ingredients if it’s not going to lack diligence:

• Fervent in the Spirit: First it has to be empowered by the holy Spirit.
• Serving the Lord: second its aim must be through the person to Jesus.

5. Vs. 12 “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer”:  Fifth, church hugs need to possess the tri-fecta of joy:

• Praise: It has to rejoice in hope, believing that God is going to make something good come from the mountain we have made out of a mole hill.
• Patience: It has to be patient when everything and everyone is rocking our boat, knowing that the rocking of the boat always leads to the stilling of the storm.
• Prayer: It has to maintain constant communication trough out to the only One that can transform our biggest obstacle, ourselves.   

6. Vs. 13 “distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality”: Finally, if we are going to hug folk’s properly in church then we are going to need to do practically and consistently! We are going to have to hug folks where they need to be hugged if you know what I mean? Hospitality and hospital came from the same Greek work and best way to make people whole and well is to treat them as if they are an invited guest! “Given to hospitality” is literally pursuing “stranger loving”. There are far too many folks pursuing “strange loves” but not near enough of Christians pursuing “stranger loving”. 

Vs. 14-21 Hugging people in the world

Having seen how to hug people in the Church Paul switch’s his focus to those outside our doors and gives us six ways to hug people in the world:

1. Vs. 14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse”: First, Paul says that you are going to have to hug folks who would rather kick you then hug you. For the most part when someone is kind to us and goes out of their way to bless us we say nice things about them to others. To hug folks that don’t like you, find something about them that you can say good about them and tell others that one or two things. 
2. Vs. 15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep”:  Second, if we are going to be affective in hugging people in the world then we are going to have to remain flexible and adjustable to their ever-changing moods. Sometimes they need a hug of consolation other times they need a hug of a “high five chest bump”! And to give someone a “high five chest bump” when what they needed was a shoulder to cry on is not going to be well received. It is comparatively easy to weep with those who weep but much more difficult to rejoice with those that rejoice. To give our condolences and not our congratulations only means that someone has loss not that someone has won!   
3. Vs. 16 “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion”: Third, if you are going to hug folks in the world you are going to have to consider yourself on the same level as than the one you are going to love. The biggest obstacle we Christians face in loving the world is in forgetting our own sinful past as we believe that we are just a little bit better than those sinful folks out there.
4. Vs. 17 “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men”: Forth, if you are going to hug folks in the world you are going to have to drop the knife that you planned to plunge in their back when they aren’t looking. Now this is especially difficult when you realize that they may have one ready to plunge into your back as you hug them.      
5. Vs. 18 “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men”: Fifth, you are going to have to be committed to hugging people even though they are equally committed to kicking you. You’ve heard it said that it takes two to “tango” well I’ve never “tangoed”, but I can tell you it takes two to “Tangle” and if you aren’t into that dance they will have to be going solo.
6. Vs. 19 “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord”: Finally, to hug folks in the world you will need to keep a clean slate as folks can be pretty messy. You will need to keep handing them off to the Lord to deal with. When we try to get even all we will do is escalate the conflict. Paul gives two reasons why we should not avenge ourselves:

• Because He is already at work taking care of the other person, albeit maybe not the way or in the timing you would like it.
• Second, God alone has the right to avenge, and He can do so without collateral damage. He often does so in a redemptive way that touches the life that we would want to have destroyed.  

Vs. 20-21 Paul moves on in anticipation of what he knows we would be thinking: “So I’m supposed to just sit here and let that person let that person put the knife in me as I hug them?” Well of course not, Paul quotes Prov. 25:21-22, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”  “The coal thing on their heads sounds right but I’m not sure how feeding them when they are hungry or giving them something to drink when they are thirsty is part of that?” By doing this God’s way two things will happen:

1. You will turn their negative into God’s positive: Putting coal on someone’s head was an ancient custom of lighting fires as they would use coals from one fire to start another fire for someone else. They would come over and say, “You got a light?” And you would take some embers for your fire and place it in an earthen vessel that they would carry on top of their heads. This became a metaphor of being neighborly and providing warmth and light to someone who would have been cold and in the dark without your generosity.   
2. Vs. 21 Secondly you automatically win because you are overcoming evil by doing good: Three times in verses 14-17 Paul tell us not to return evil for evil thus we can see that the point is that we aren’t to react like the world. We aren’t to combat evil with evil we are to combat it with good.

Intro

In the 2^nd verse Paul told his readers to be “transformed by the renewing of their minds” the rest of the chapter will explain specifically what it means to have a change of mind!

            After many years of pastoring, I’ve realized that for the most part when people come into my office with relational difficulties their quest is to get the other person to change. Friends, the best place to start when you notice that someone needs to change is always yourself! There are two very good reasons for this:

1. You are the only one by the working of the Spirit of God through the Word of God that has the power to change.
2. Often it is our transformation that motivates the other person to being open to the same transformation.

Vs. 3 Who we are

Vs. 3 It is interesting to note that it is not wrong to think about yourself, it is wrong to think more highly than you ought about yourself. We need to do a regular inventory of how we see ourselves in Christ. Paul exhorts believers under his apostolic authority to do just that. Paul tells us to do a self-check in two areas:

1. “Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think”: Paul says we need to avoid overrating ourselves! You may not think you think to highly of yourself but there is a sure-fire way to determine that you do and that is when others treat you not very well. When people are saying that we aren’t all that, we get real upset and say, “Well how dare they treat me this way!” Some folks are easy to tell that they think more highly of themselves because they are always talking about themselves they are their favorite subject. But with others have learned that this isn’t very becoming to boast about ourselves, so they adopt a more subtle way of thinking more highly of ourselves and that is to get other folks to do it for us. We go around and put ourselves down so that people will respond by saying, “Oh no you’re not that way why you are the smartest, most kind person I know!” And inwardly we think to ourselves, “Yeh, they’re right, I am!” Now you can tell if you are doing this really quick because when we bait the hook that way and the person instead of responding the way we had hoped says, “You know, I’m glad you said that about yourself because I’ve been noticing that about you for years!”
2. “But to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith”: If we are to avoid “overrating ourselves” just how are we to see ourselves? Paul identifies two ways we are to see ourselves:
3. Soberly: The word here in the Greek means “to be in one’s right mind” and as such conceit is considered to be “out of your mind”. To be sober minded about oneself is to realize that you are sinner, that you have a flesh that will constantly try to get you to be enslaved to lusts and passions. We need to realize that we can never trust ourselves; we’ve always got to be on the lookout for the “old man” with his thoughts and attitudes.
4. Measure of faith: The second thing we are to do is to look back over all the truth in spite of you that God has to say about you. You used to be dead in trespasses and sin’s, you used to walk according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, conducting ourselves in the lust of the flesh, fulfilling the desire of the flesh, children of wrath. But now He has made us alive! All of this is because of His great love with which He has loved us and now He has raised us up together making us to sit in heavenly places that in the ages to come that He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness towards us. WOW!!!      

Ray Stedman said that when he would first get up as he was starting his day he would remind himself of three truths:

1. I’m made in the image of God: I’m not an animal; therefore, I don’t have to behave like one. I have the ability in Christ to respond and relate to the living God and behave in a way that God created me to behave not like a beast!
2. I’m filled with the Holy Spirit: I have the power of God working in me; all of the strains and stresses of today need not affect me and mold me into that beast that I used to be. Instead, the Holy Spirit will be using those very things that used to shove me into acting like an animal into acting more like Jesus.
3. I’m a part of God’s plan: There are no coincidences or accidents everything I’m going through today is part of His design and plan. God will not only be working out His plan in me, but He will also be working out His plan through me today for others. So, I can just enjoy the journey, can’t wait to see what new adventure God is going to be doing today!!!

Vs. 4-8 What we have

Vs. 4-5 The second thing that changes are minds is the Holy Spirit working through other believers on our behalf. The Church is an organism not an organization as Paul refers to it as a human body. There ought to be one in “unity” yet individually different thus without “uniformity”. The body of Christ isn’t about as becoming a member so that we can get something out of it. It is about as being a member so that we can make certain that someone else gets something out of it.

Vs. 6-8 The word “gifts” here is a word where we get out word “graces” from which speaks a lot about the “gifts”. They should be “graceful”, which speaks about being natural and beautiful to see operate. There are four places in the New Testament that you can go to find teaching on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, here and in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 and chapter 14 as well as Ephesians chapter 4. But a careful examination of these passages reveals that in the 1 Corinthian passage’s the word for gifts is italicized which means that it is not in the original and the Ephesian 4 passage the word is not mentioned. So, in reality this is the only place that the gifts are specifically mentioned. The gifts here in  Romans 12:6-8 are to be the motivations behind the manifestation of the gifts listed in 1 Corinthians and the ministries or offices of the gifts listed in Ephesians chapter 4. I like the fact that the work of the Holy Spirit is first concerned with the motivation before the manifestation and the ministry position. This truth is further illustrated by what Paul has already written in verse 3-5 where we are told to think soberly of ourselves. Paul divides these gifts into two groups: one of four gifts the other of three gifts:

1. Vs. 6b-8a Those that expound the word
2. Vs. 8b Those that expand the work

Those that expound the word

1. Prophecy “Declares the Word”: There are two types of prophecy mentioned in scripture and the one we most associate with this word is predictive in nature as it is engaged in “fore-telling”. But the primary meaning and usage in scripture of prophecy is not predictive but is simply declaring truth as it is engaged in “forth-telling”. Paul’s word of motivation in the exercise of this gift is that it needs to be always kept within “proportion” of our faith. The word “proportion” in the Greek is mathematical term that deals with the right ratio or proper proportions. So, Paul is saying that in declaring the word that we should do so always in the proper proportion of our faith within the limits already established in the tenants of our faith as well as the faith God has established in us. There is a limit, a set guide, to our declaring God’s truth, it will always be consistent to what God has already made known in His word and it should always point people to God not to the prophet.
2. Ministry “Demonstrates the Word”: The word used for ministry here is the same word where we get our word deacon and therefore refers to the person serving and not in what they are doing. As you read through the New Testament you will always see Jesus “Touching” and “Teaching” folks. In Acts chapter 9 the church was mourning the loss of Dorcas as many folks gathered to Peter displaying the clothes she made. Peter was called to declare the Word that warmed people’s hearts, but Dorcas was called to sew clothe that warmed their bodies. Paul’s word in exercising this demonstration of the Word is that the person should do so in the realm in which God has placed them. In other words, they need to bloom where they are planted instead of looking to find a better gig, a more visible platform they should just go for it right where they are.
3. Teaching “Defines the Word”: A prophet will share occasionally but a teacher shares in an expositional way. And like ministry it ought to be aimed at understanding. 
4. Exhortation “Develops the Word”: Those taught but not exhorted become “fat sheep” that only take in truth but never live it. Those who are exhorted but not taught become “excited and active” but have no depth or understanding to what they do and will burn out quickly or work in wrong ways. Again, in each of these cases we note that they are to exercise the gift right where they are and in the abilities God has given them.  

Those that expand the work

1. Giving “Expands the work”: The word for “gives” means to “impart” of one’s earthly possessions and Paul’s encouragement is to do so with no strings attached with generosity. We can see how as Paul proclaimed already that we don’t all have the “same function” but how vital each and every function is each other and to the furtherance of God’s work. You can have someone who is called and gifted in declaring the Word or defining the Word but without someone called to “expand the work” it will not go anywhere.    
2. Leading “Engineers the work”: The word here means a “person who is placed in front”. And they are to do so with care doing their best for others, for the benefit of God and others before self. During a private fishing trip in the Alaskan wilderness, a charter pilot and fishermen left a cooler with bait in the plane. A bear smelled it and destroyed the Piper PA-18A 150 airplane. The pilot used his radio and had another pilot bring him 2 new tires, 3 cases of duct tape, and a supply of sheet plastic. He patched the plane together and FLEW IT HOME! That’s what those that lead know how to do “patch things up so that others can fly home”.
3. Mercy “Encourages the work”: There are those that “expand the work” by giving, then there are those that “engineer the work” by leading but you still need those that “encourage the work” by constantly displaying mercy towards all that are doing the work. And Paul says they are to do so with cheerfulness and that word is where we get our word hilarious from. God has placed in the body those that encourage others by their sense of humor and joy filled life.