The responsibility of the believers. “Who are you to pass judgment on another’s servant? Before his own master he stands and falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:4, NET. The noun “servant” above refers to a servant who is committed for life to his master. Paul,
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The responsibility of the believers. “Therefore we must not pass judgment on one another, but rather determine never to place an obstacle or a trap before a brother or sister.” Romans 14:13, NET. Paul’s instructions reveal a set of essential rules that must shape the attitude of the members of the body of Christ, Christianity.
Exhortation to mutual forbearance. In Romans chapter fourteen, Paul brings us to grips with balancing the response to the objective gospel in conformity with two laws. The first law is the law of personal liberty. Personal liberty does not permit us to do things that are lawful but may have a negative influence on others.
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Responsibilities of members of the body of Christ. Paul asserts that the responsibility toward the ruling authority by the members of the body of Christ extends toward other members of Christianity and the society where they reside. “Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect
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Christians and civil authorities. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God.” Romans 13:1, NET. In Romans chapter twelve, Paul delineated the responsibility and duty of the members of the body of Christ, the Church.
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The believers’ response to the objective gospel. Because of God’s mercies and the riches of his love toward us, we must be devoted to God and serve him in self-denial and a sense of responsibility. Paul urges the believers. “Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies
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The subjective experience of the objective truth of the gospel. “Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another.” Romans 12:9 – 10, NET. The universal principle of selfless love regulates newborn Christians. Therefore, Christians must
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The subjective part of the gospel. In Romans chapters 12 through 16, Paul addresses the believers’ response to the objective truth presented in chapters one through eight. We have an obligation because of what God has accomplished on our behalf. We are indebted to God to live a life controlled by the Holy Spirit and
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A warning to Gentile believers. The apostle Paul asserts that God did not reject all of Israel and that those who have fallen off can be brought back. “And even they if they do not continue in their unbelief – will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.” Romans 11:23,
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Warning to the Gentile believers. After presenting a convincing assertion that God did not reject Israel, Paul turns to Gentile believers. “Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Seeing that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, If somehow I could provoke my people to jealousy and save some of them.”
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Who received the promised righteousness? “So in the same way at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if it is by grace, it is no longer by works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.” Romans 11:5 – 6, NET. The remnant before the birth of the Messiah, at the
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Did God reject Israel? “So I ask, God has not rejected his people, has he? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendent of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.” Romans 11:1, NET. The Jewish leaders and those afraid of them rejected Jesus as the promised Messiah. Who, then, among the Israelites, received
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Who will be saved? God saved the world from guilt and punishment for sin through the body of Jesus on the cross at Golgotha. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him.” John 3:17, NET. The Son of God did
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