Bible Text: Romans 16:21-27 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Today is our final study in Romans, our first began on April 19, 2015, fifteen months ago. This has been a rigorous and challenging experience for me, somewhat like a strenuous hike that leads to extreme exhaustion, yet has times of almost euphoric exaltation; sometimes it was like a spiritual wrestling match and other times, it was like a deep spiritual massage.

My admiration for Paul has deepened and expanded, but more importantly, my trust in God and my desire to obey and to proclaim His Word has been elevated to new heights, and I pray the same is true for you.

Last week we looked at Paul’s greetings to a variety of friends in Rome, by name. Today we will look (vv. 21-24) at greetings from those who are with Paul in Corinth, and then (vv. 25-27) Paul’s benedictory doxology to the Christians in Rome about the mystery of God revealed.

See Romans 16:21-23… Paul first mentions Timothy, “my fellow worker” [lit. my co-laborer, who toils with me], Timothy [Greek timotheos, “to honor God”]. Timothy is mentioned in several of Paul’s letters, as he is Paul’s son in the faith, his number one disciple, and his dear friend (1Corinthians 4:16-17; Philippians 2:19-22; 1Thessalonians 3:1-2).

Next Paul mentions Lucius, and there are a couple of possibilities for who this might be: 1) Acts 13:1-3 records several prophets in the church at Antioch who are moved by God’s Spirit to set Barnabas and Saul (Paul) apart for a special work and mission (one named Lucius).
2) The author of the Gospel According to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, was the only Greek to write any of the Bible [Latin, Lucius; Greek, Lucas; Hebrew, Luke], traveled extensively with Paul, and is mentioned in Colossians 4:14, 2Timothy 4:11; Philemon 24.

Then Paul mentions Jason & Sosipater, saying they are his kinsmen [most likely meaning that they were fellow Jews]. There is a Jason mentioned in Acts 17:5-9, who hosted Paul and Silas in his house in Thessalonica, before they went to Berea. We also know (Acts 20:1-6) of a man named Sopater (a shortened form of Sosipater) who was from Berea and was among several men who joined Paul in Troas.

It is very likely then that the Jason and Sopater mentioned in Acts, who were from towns that Paul frequently visited, might very well be the Jason and Sosipater mentioned here in Romans 16:21, who are with Paul in Corinth as he writes this letter to Rome.

Next, in verse 22, we read “I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.” Interesting? Yes, Paul wrote Romans, but Tertius served as his secretary or amanuenses, writing down what Paul dictated.

1Corinthians 16:21, “I Paul, write this greeting in my own hand,” (Galatians 6:11), “See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand.” Paul repeats this closing greeting in both Colossians 4:18 and 2Thessalonians 3:17; by doing this Paul guarded against forgery of his letters while providing validation of his authorship to those he was writing.

Most scholars agree that the apostle Paul probably suffered from a serious eye problem, perhaps even malaria, although we aren’t told exactly what it was.

In 2Corinthians 12:8 Paul writes, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

In Galatians 4 Paul tells us how the believers there cared for him while he was ill, even though we don’t know what ailed him, but he said to them (v. 15), “if you could have done so, you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me.”

So, perhaps it was an ailment of his eyes? We don’t know, but he did use an amanuenses to write several of his letters, and he made a point of signing off his letter with large letters, which may suggest an eye problem.

Paul gives greetings from several men in verse 23, first is Gaius, who evidently had a large house in which the church met, and perhaps, where Paul stayed. This Gaius is likely the same one mentioned in 1Corinthians 1:14, as one of the two men Paul baptized in Corinth.

Next is Erastus, the director of public works or city Steward. His position in Corinth suggests that he was a man with wealth and influence; he was also a generous man, e.g. in 1929, The American School of Classical Studies in Athens discovered a marble paving block in Corinth with the following inscription in Latin, ”Erastus, commissioner for public works, laid this pavement at his own expense.” Interesting, because that pavement was laid during the first century A.D., and may well have been laid by Paul’s friend, mentioned here in Romans 16.

Then lastly Paul sends greetings from Quartus, another special brother in the Lord.

You’ll now notice that we go from verse 23 to verse 25 in the NIV. The NASB has verse 24 in brackets, as follows [The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen], which is similar to the last part of verse 20. It is in brackets because it is not found in the earliest Greek manuscripts of Romans.

See Romans 16:25-26… The word for “to establish” used here is the Greek word sterizo which means: “to make firm, stable, secure and immovable.”

So, Paul is saying that it is God who will make these believers in Rome, all believers really, eternally steadfast because of Christ.

Paul preached Christ, crucified, resurrected and coming again. In 1Corinthians 1:23 he says, “we preach Christ crucified,” in 1Corinthians 2:2 Paul says he

proclaimed nothing “except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” In 2Corinthians 4:5 Paul says, “we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord.”

The reason Paul calls the gospel “my gospel,” in Romans 16:25, is because he spent his life preaching and teaching this gospel (see Romans 1:1-7, 16-17; 3:22-26; 5:1-2, 6-8; 6:23; 8:1-2, 28-39; 10:9-13; 11:29; 12:1-2, 9-18; 13:8; 14:19; 15:1-2, 7).

The very heart of the Gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Who is both Lord and Savior.

Not only does the gospel of Christ establish those who believe and receive it, but it also reveals the mystery of God that was partly revealed in the Old Testament through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his twelve sons, and especially Judah through whom Christ would come, the Lamb of God, to be crucified for our sins and resurrected that we might receive forgiveness, eternal life, and the very presence of God in us, as the body of revelation provided in the New Testament proclaims (see Ephesians 1:3-10, 13-14; 2:11-22; 3:1-11; 4:3-6).

So, what is “the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey Him” (verses 25-27)?

Is it that God was going to send a Savior to take the penalty and punishment for our sins? Or that Gentiles, along with Jews, were to be saved? No, for both of those truths are repeatedly taught in the Old Testament.

I believe the “mystery” Paul is speaking of here in Romans 16, is clearly expressed in Colossians 1:25-27, where Paul tells us his purpose as God’s servant is, “to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Paul says “the mystery is… Christ in you,” speaking to Gentiles here, he makes clear that there would no longer be a separation or chasm between Jew and Gentile, for in Christ all are one, united to form one new people, God’s people, the very dwelling place of God, in whom God lives by His Spirit and (Galatians 3:28), “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

No wonder Paul closes his letter to the Romans as he does (Romans 16:27), “to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.”

This is not only saying that Christ has glorified God, but that God is honored and glorified as we embrace and exemplify what God has done through Christ’s death and resurrection, and in fact all the claims made in Scripture about God’s Son, because that glory will never end, it is forever through Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, Creator, Sustainer, and Judge over All (Ephesians 3:12), “In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” (20-21),

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Pastor Mike <‘(((><

Bible Text: Romans 15:20-33 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Paul wants to visit the church in Rome on his way to Spain, but first he

must bring financial gifts to the church in Jerusalem, from Gentile believers in Greece.

Paul had not previously gone to Rome or Spain, the reason, it would seem, was the unfinished work God had for him to do right where he was (see vv. 20-22).

Paul’s priority was to go to the Gentiles, in the regions near the Mediterranean Sea, where the gospel of Christ had not been preached, and it would seem that work must be completed before he would be free to go to Rome. Paul served the Lord tirelessly, taking the gospel of Christ thousands of miles on foot and by boat.

Paul was converted to Christ when he was about 30 years old; he was then personally trained by the Lord for 3 years before being sent to take the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles; and for the next 33 years Paul endured treacherous and trying journeys, which included being locked up again and again in jails and prison.

Paul’s First Missionary Journey is recorded in Acts 13:1-14:28, where we learn that he traveled with Barnabas and John Mark. The journey began in Antioch (Syria), and went through many places from Cyprus to Turkey and back to Antioch; Paul traveled about 1400 miles on this journey, between 46-48 A.D..

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey is recorded in Acts 15:36-18:22, here we learn that he traveled with Silas, Timothy, Priscilla and Aquila and Luke. The journey went from Jerusalem through Antioch (Syria), across Asia and Greece and back to Jerusalem; Paul traveled about 2800 miles on this journey, between 49-52 A.D.

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey is recorded in Acts 18:23-21:16, where we learn that he traveled with Timothy, Luke, and Others. The journey began in Antioch (Syria) and went through Turkey, Asia, Greece, and across the Mediterranean to Jerusalem; Paul traveled about 2700 miles on this journey, between 53-57 A.D.

Paul’s Fourth Journey began in Jerusalem, where he was arrested and sent to Caesarea, and from there, under Roman guard, he traveled around Cyprus, to Crete, Malta, and on to Rome, Italy, where he was on house arrest for two years and then acquitted; altogether Paul traveled about 2300 miles on this journey, between 59-62 A.D.

Paul had other travels after his release, in and around the Aegean and Mediterranean Sea (Greece, Asia, Crete) and then he returned to Rome where he was again arrested, convicted, imprisoned, and eventually died around 67-68 A.D. Eusebius, an early church historian, claimed that Paul was beheaded at the order of the Roman emperor Nero, shortly after much of Rome burned in a fire, that Nero blamed the Christians for starting.

There is no Scriptural record, and no validated record apart from Scripture, that Paul made it to Spain, although he clearly wanted to go there (vv. 23-24). History tells us that Spain wasn’t evangelized until the 3rd century A.D.; I believe that if Paul had made it to Spain, it would have been evangelized in the 1st century A.D.

According to vv. 25-26, Paul is going to Jerusalem, to bring financial gifts from Gentile believers in Greece, to believers in Jerusalem who were struggling to meet daily needs: many foreign Jews, converted at Pentecost, had remained in Jerusalem as guests of Jewish believers who lived there, a famine in Palestine had caused hard times; also, there were many Christian Jews who had lost their jobs due to persecution by the non-Christian Jews.

The Gentile believers in Greece were expressing their love for the Jewish Christians by sharing what they had with them, in an act of communion/ fellowship [koinonia].

Paul tells the Roman Christians (vv. 27-28) how the Grecian Christians were blessed to help their Jewish brothers and sisters with material goods, for all spiritual blessings granted through Christ had come to the Gentiles through the Jews, for Christ Himself was a Jew.

This fellowship between Jew and Gentile believers was important to Paul; we are all sinners, condemned were it not for Christ’s sacrifice (Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 8:1; 10:9-10), through the Cross all men, Jew and Gentile are made one people in Christ (Romans 10:11-13).

Paul deeply desired to strengthen the family relationship between Jew and Gentile believers which had not existed before the coming of Christ. Paul says he will see that the Gentile’s gifts are presented to the church in Jerusalem, after which, he hoped to visit the Roman church on his way to Spain.

See verse 29… Just as the love gifts from the Gentile believers in Greece will bless and encourage the Jewish believers in Jerusalem, Paul hopes that he will encourage the believers in Rome by the power of God’s

Spirit living and working in him, as he obediently serves Christ, fully trusting in God (Philippians 4:4-9, 12-13, 19-20).

Think about it, these words of belief and trust in God’s peace, provision and protection, were written by a man who suffered greatly for God, and most likely was put to death for his faith in God.

In 2Corinthians 11:24-27, Paul gives a brief overview of his struggles while serving the Lord the first 25 years of his ministry, up through the end of his 3rd Missionary Journey, but not including his final arrest, imprisonment, and of course his execution in Rome.

Back to Romans 15:30-32… Paul was getting ready to go to Jerusalem, he no doubt felt the spiritual oppression of what was waiting him, for the Jewish Religious Leaders would seek to silence Paul’s witness and to keep him from encouraging the Jewish Christians who were suffering much persecution and poverty; and so, Paul asks the believers in Rome to pray for him, that he might accomplish the task of bringing the Gentile’s love gifts to the Jewish Christians, that all the church in Judea might be blessed and refreshed, just as he hopes to bring blessing and refreshing to those in Rome.

See Romans 15:33… Paul gives a short but heartfelt benediction to the believers in Rome. God is the source of all peace, in fact He Himself is our peace, and He has made both Jew and Gentile into one people in Christ.

Paul’s life serving the Lord was far from a peaceful life outwardly or physically (cf 2Corinthians 11:24-27), but because of Paul’s intimate relationship with the God of Peace, he had the deep heartfelt and spiritual peace that God gives to those who faithfully seek to honor Him and to obey His Word, serving as messengers of the salvation that comes to all who repent, believe and follow Christ.

We are called to be witnesses and proclaimers of God’s Love, remaining willing and available to testify to God’s mercy and grace that has come through Jesus Christ.

May we all seek to be extraordinary missionaries like Paul.

Pastor Mike <‘(((><

Bible Text: Romans 15:7-13 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Romans 15:7… We are to accept one another just as Christ accepted us. The

word translated accept means to receive or welcome someone to yourself by showing them special care, concern and kindness.

In Acts 28:2, Paul had shipwrecked near Malta, where he says, “The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed [accepted] us all because it was raining and cold.”

Paul wrote his dear friend Philemon (v. 17), asking him to receive [accept] back his runaway slave Onesimus, as if it were Paul himself being welcomed.

In Romans 14:1 Paul exhorts us to accept one another without passing judgement on each other’s personal opinions, individual freedoms, or religious liberties.

Paul does not designate here (v. 7), if he is talking about the strong and weak, or Jew and Gentile believers; but that we ought to welcome each other with love and kindness, just as Christ accepted us. Jesus is our example, the purpose is to bring praise and glory to God.

Jesus showed no partiality but instead said (Matthew 11:28), “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Remember when He was raised up on the cross (Luke 23:34), Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” He was speaking on behalf of both Jew and Gentile for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus accepts sinners, all sinners who repent, and He does so while we are still sinners (Romans 5:8), that is the reason He came, as Paul declared in 1Timothy 1:15, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

In Matthew 9, Jesus is having dinner at Matthew’s house with both tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees were put off by this and asked Jesus’ disciples why He did such a thing. Jesus overheard and answered (vv. 12-13), “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick… I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Peter finally learned this sovereign truth and expressed it in Acts 10:34-35, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.”

All this is done for the glory of God, and although Jesus Christ was fully man, He was also fully God, and so He receives us unto Himself for His own glory, as well as for the glory of the Father (Philippians 2:9-11), “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Romans 15:8-12… Do you see? It has always been God’s plan for both Jew and Gentile, for people from all nations, to come to salvation, be born into God’s family, and spend eternity in heaven with Him.

So far, in the Book of Romans, we have seen this repeatedly made clear (Romans 1:1-5; 13-16; 3:29-30; 10:12-13; 11:11-14). God’s plan all along was to save both Jew and Gentile, without favoritism.

Jesus was born a Jew, He came not only to testify to the truth of the OT Scriptures (Matthew 5:17),”but to fulfill them,” all that is written in the Law and the Prophets; for He is the Lord of both Jew and Gentile.

All believers, Jew and Gentile alike, will praise God for His sovereign and eternal Truth, which has come to us through Christ, who is the Truth – and has been revealed in God’s Word, which is the Word of Truth – by way of God’s Spirit, who is the Spirit of Truth – so that we might, as children of God (children of the Truth), continue to speak, live by, and proclaim the Truth of God in Christ.

God foretold His plan to the Prophets – that He would save the Gentiles. In verse 9, Paul quotes Psalm 18:49; 2Samuel 22:50; in verse 10 he quotes Deuteronomy 32:43; in verse 11 he quotes Psalm 117:1, and in verse 12 he quotes Isaiah 11:10 (which is clearly talking about the Messiah, who existed before the time of David’s father Jesse, yet He would come after the time of David, in the future; and He will rule over all the nations (David’s family was from Bethlehem (city of David, Christ’s ancestry from Abraham>David>Joseph & Mary, Micah 5:2, “out of you (Bethlehem) will come for Me One who will be ruler over Israel, Whose origins are from of old, from ancient times (from the days of eternity).

This One who will come as KING of Kings, and LORD of Lords, will be Ruler over the whole world; both the Jews and the Gentiles will find their hope in Him, as has already been testified in the Scriptures by David, Samuel, Moses, and Isaiah.

Ephesians 4:4-6 proclaims the glorious unity that we have as Christians, for “there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
1Peter 1:3-5, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

In chapters 14 and 15 of Romans Paul speaks of unity within the fellowship of believers – among the strong and weak, the Jew and the Gentile – for there is an internal and external unity among those who belong to God, all those who hope in Christ are unified in Him.

Romans 15:13… Paul’s benediction is a prayer for God to fill us with His divine joy and peace, that as one people we might overflow with the hope that we have in Christ, which is made effectual by the Holy Spirit.

Christians are the only people who have a reason to rejoice, and this is solely because of the blessed hope we have in Christ the Lord: crucified, resurrected, and coming again to take us to be with Him in heaven forever.

Pastor Mike <‘(((><

Bible Text: Romans 15:1-6 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

God is all about unity, and the most marvelous and divine example is of course

the Trinity, of which we have come into fellowship with the Father, though the Son, made effectual by the Holy Spirit, evidence by our love for one another.

The Psalmist writes (Psalm 133:1), “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” Speaking of Israel God said (Jeremiah 32:38-39), “They will be My people and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear Me for their own good and for the good of their children after them.”

It was always God’s plan to include Gentiles (non-Jews) in His family (John 10:16), “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”

God’s ultimate plan is that there will be one people, unified in Christ, the Apostle John gives us a future picture of this (Revelation 21:1-4), “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’”

But no place is the heart of our Lord expressed more fully concerning Christian unity than in His prayer to the Father, for us (John 17:11), “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you, Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name —the name you gave Me — so that they may be one as We are one.”

The Holy Spirit came upon and dwelt within the believers at Pentecost, and Peter preached a short but stirring message (see Acts 2:21, 36-40) resulting in the spiritual unity of the believers which was immediately expressed (see Acts 2:41-47).

I love the way God uses Luke to express the spiritual atmosphere in the church as it was newly birthed (see Acts 4:32-37). As the church spread out and was established in other regions and cities, agape love among the believers was continually the standard for behavior and belief among God’s people (see Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 4:1-7; Colossians 3:12-17).

See Romans 15:1-2… What Paul taught in chapter 14, he states again here, that the stronger brother is to come alongside the weaker brother; for Christianity is not about self indulgence or personal liberty, but about unity in the family; which means, sometimes the stronger member must bear the failings [weaknesses] of the member who is spiritually immature concerning certain cultural or religious legalisms or taboos, that are not necessarily Biblical, e.g., prohibiting certain foods, drinks, styles of music, translations of the Bible, etc., as if by partaking of these one is made unrighteous or by the avoidance of these one is made righteous.

We have not been given new life from God in order to pursue our own freedoms and seek personal liberty; but in fact we ought to be willing to give up personal comforts and liberties if it is beneficial for fellow believers, or perhaps, might influence unbelievers for Christ (see Philippians 2:1-4; 1Corinthians 9:19-23).

Paul says in Romans 15:1-2, that we are not just to please ourselves, but that we are to please our neighbor, in order to build him up, for this is good. Romans 14:19 commands us, “make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”

You may need to give up some of your own liberty or perhaps a momentary comfort, in order not to harm the conscience or spiritual well-being of another believer, for the sake of unity within the whole congregation.

God wants us to be of one mind, singular in purpose, to honor and obey God’s Word, and to worship the Lord.

See Romans 15:3-4… Even Jesus Christ, God the Son, did not come to please Himself, but to please the Father in heaven, and we are to have that same attitude (see Philippians 2:5-8). Jesus, being fully man and fully God, was clearly submissive to the Father, and He did what the Father commanded Him to do, and said what the Father commanded Him to say, always obedient, always in conformity to the character and nature of God, and to the authority of God’s Word.

All Scripture was given by God for our instruction, exhortation, encouragement equipping, training and perseverance (2Timothy 3:16-17).

2Peter 1:20-21, “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were moved along by the Holy Spirit.”

It is through the God-breathed, God-authored, Scriptures that we find encouragement to persevere, to endure the trials and tribulations of this life, along with the hatred and persecution directed toward us because of Christ, without God’s Word and without God’s Spirit we would absolutely have no hope!

Psalms 42:5; 62:5; 119:49, 116, 166; 130:5 all exclaim and encourage us that our hope is in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, revealed to us in God’s Word, the 66 books of the Bible.

See Romans 15:5-6… God grants us perseverance, and so, He expects us to persevere; God grants us encouragement, and so, He expects us to be encouraged, but not only that, we are to be encouragers, so that as one people with one heart, one mind and one voice, we might glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, through the unity granted us in Him.

The prayer Jesus prayed to the Father, in the presence of His disciples, is all about unity (John 17:21-23), “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory that you gave Me, that they may be one as We are one: I in them and You in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.”

As Christians, we serve at God’s pleasure by the authority granted us in Christ, confirmed by God’s Spirit living in us. All the glory goes to God, the Holy Trinity: the Father is God, the Son is God, the Spirit is God, and they are always working in perfect harmony.

And that is what God wants for us, and from us, unity; in order that the world might know Him, and call upon the name of the Lord to be saved.

Those who genuinely belong to God through Christ will live in a manner that brings praise and honor and glory to God, while also encouraging one another, in order that we might bring the message of forgiveness, salvation and eternal life through Christ, to all who will listen; that they also might be one with the Father, just as we have been united with Him through Jesus Christ the Lord.

Pastor Mike <‘(((><

Bible Text: Romans 14:13-23 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Last week in verses 1-12, we were confronted with the reality that in the church there are those who feel bound by non doctrinal restrictions and those who feel a freedom to not be held captive to such disputable regulations, since they are not required by God in His Word.

We do have much freedom in Christ concerning a wide variety of matters that are disputable, because they are mostly based on one’s opinion, traditions, cultural expressions, and/or personal preferences; but even so, in our freedom we should never purposely bring harm or act in an unkind manner to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The priority, in verses 1-12, is exhorting the stronger [more mature] believer not to look down upon the weaker [less mature} believer for his legalistic constraints; and the weaker believer is not to judge the stronger believer for his liberated enjoyment of certain foods and drinks not forbidden nor commanded in the Scripture.

Read Romans 14:13-15… Paul tells us to stop doing one thing, that is detrimental to the Church, and start doing another, that is beneficial to Church.

Creating disputes, leading to dissension, over food and drink is simply uncalled for, and destructive, and has no place in the family of God. Besides, it is not about our individual rights to do this or that; the priority is to love one another, just as in Christ, God loves us; to apply the Royal Law and the Golden Rule of Scripture.

Sometimes a believer in Christ makes a big deal about their liberty to do this or that, i.e., drink alcohol, get a tattoo, listen to country music, 60s rock and roll, or even classical (just kidding, seeing if you are paying attention).

As we talked about last week, Christians have many freedoms to do or not not do certain things; but if they intentionally flaunt their freedom, purposely offending or harming the conscience of another believer who is less liberated, that is sin!

Notice in verse 14, Paul is very clear that “no food is unclean in
itself,” (meaning that it could defile you, have an effect on your spirit, your relationship with God) to which he adds, “But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.”

What Paul doesn’t mean is that all food or drink is good for you; for some foods are poisonous, others are just really bad for you. Jesus taught (Mark 7:15), “nothing outside of a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him,” (vv. 18-19), “nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean, for it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.”

Food and drink are not moral or spiritual, so it is not wrong to eat or drink this or that; but that is not the only priority here, we are all members of the same spiritual body, the Church, and we do not all grow at the same pace, and therefore, one’s conscience may have gained understanding and with it, liberty; where another’s conscience may be obtaining insight at a much slower pace.

Because we all come to Christ from different backgrounds, experiences, failures and successes, we must understand it is difficult at times to consider something permissible or acceptable if we were taught just the opposite or exposed to a much different system of values and freedoms.

Look at verse 15 again, it is not loving to flaunt our liberty before one whose conscience is troubled by our freedom. God holds the mature believer accountable to yield to the weaker brother, rather than harm his conscience knowingly.

But I must also say here, there is a time to not give in, especially when it has to do with the clear teaching of God’s Word on a certain matter; for it is not the loving thing to allow a weaker brother to continue thinking of something as bad when God says it is good. There are certain doctrines in the Scriptures we must hold fast to, and refuse to allow anyone to try and change our convictions, if the Bible is clear on such matters (Saturday is the correct day of worship, salvation is through water baptism, speaking in tongues is the sign of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, it is possible to go to heaven and back, even to be totally dead and come back to life, the 1611 KJ Bible is the only version authorized by God). Those are all heretical, false, teachings, abominations that cannot be allowed to stand as truth, but must be corrected and/or rebuked, accordingly.

Read Romans 14:16-18… Because of the context and the already expressed accountability of the stronger brother, before God, to be willing to yield in matters where the Scripture is not dogmatic, like food and drink, I believe this is talking about not elevating our freedom in Christ to a point of causing division with hose who do not agree with us on these disputable matters.

The freedom from sin’s curse and its bondage has come through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and so, to cause disunity in the body for the sake of our freedom to do this or that, is to distort the very gospel itself.

The good news of Christ, brings us (Ephesians 4) into the one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, one God and Father over all.

What’s important is our sacrificial love for one another within the family of God, not our freedoms or liberties.. The unbelieving world is watching us, and we do not want them to think that the priority of Christianity is based on whether or not you do or do not do a certain thing.

The main point of the Christian faith is not eating or drinking or the color of your hair, or the type of clothing you wear; but instead, it is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. A non-Christian, looking at a Christian, ought to see those things, not arguing, disputing and fighting but a unity of the Spirit and the love of God expressing His righteousness, peace and joy.

If we are sincerely serving Christ and trying to exemplify Him, we can easily give up some momentary indulgence in a pleasure that we enjoy and are free to participate in, if it is going to bother someone, or upset someone, or cause them to be troubled in their own conscience. Instead of insisting on our rights in certain circumstances, we should be wiling to yield those rights for the sake of unity in the body of believers.

Read Romans 14:19-21… We are free to enjoy our liberties, if we do so in such a way that we do not destroy peace, or mutual edification, or inhibit the learning and growing process of someone else. Paul is saying, whenever you are doing something that threatens the peace in the life of individual believer, so as to upset them or cause them harm, you need to lay down your freedom for a time.

Those who are strong in the Lord are to bear the burdens of those who are weak, which could be as simple as not insisting on your rights in the presence of those who would be highly offended by what you do.

Paul says flaunting your freedom to do this or that is wrong, and can (v. 20) “destroy the work of God for the sake of food.” If for the sake of some right or liberty to eat this or drink that, or do this or that, you impede or harm someone else’s growth in the Lord, it is wrong!

If someone flaunts his liberty in such a way as to upset another member of the body, it may harden them concerning their true freedom in Christ. It may drive them toward religious rituals and attempts at obtaining righteousness through law keeping; instead, we ought to help them understand the reason for our liberty, for we are saved by grace through Christ alone.

Look again at verses 20b-21, all food is clean, but it is wrong to coerce someone else beyond their convictions in order to feel acceptable or to experience their so-called freedom. Not everyone’s conscience is the same, and so to persist in persuading someone to do something they really don’t feel the freedom to do, can cause harm to their conscience, and we should never try to forcibly impose our conscience on theirs over a disputable matter.

Read Romans 14:22-23… Our liberty and freedom concerning these matters must always be from God’s perspective. We should never look down on or minimize the good things God has given us to enjoy, nor should we flaunt our freedom to enjoy this or that, at the expense of being unloving or insensitive toward those who

feel differently about certain freedoms than we do, and who may be offended or harmed by our actions.

God and God’s Word must be the basis for our faith, not our feelings, anybody else’s feelings, or anything else. We must examine our freedoms to do this or that, making sure it is pleasing to God and that our conscience is clear; we ought to do nothing out of an arrogance that seeks personal liberty at all costs.

If you feel guilty or troubled about certain freedoms you are engaged in, perhaps you are acting beyond what the Word of God allows and says, otherwise, you should feel happy, blessed and thankful for God’s provisions, concerning whatever it is you are indulging in.

If you really don’t have peace about something, on the basis of Scripture, and you continue to indulge yourself, you are going to be condemned by your own conscience, which will lead you to feel guilty.

Worse case scenario, if you continue to indulge in whatever it is, even though you feel guilty, you are no longer acting out of faith, but you are sinning. Paul says (v. 23b), “everything that does not come from faith is sin.”
Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to [God] must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

God provides many blessings for us to enjoy, food and drink are just two of those. God gives us the freedom to indulge in and partake of His good gifts. James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father.”

So how can we know whether or not something is from God and is pleasing to Him, so that we don’t take liberties or pursue freedoms that displease God? 1Timothy 4:4-5, “Everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

You must base your Christian liberty on what the Word of God declares — being sure that you are not acting out of self-indulgence, but out of a deep conviction that rests upon the Word of God.

Lets sum up today’s lesson: We should not deliberately offend, harm, or cause our brother or sister in Christ to stumble,nor should we deliberately do things that make them feel uncomfortable.

Instead, we should get our eyes off our desires and our freedoms, and we should think about others. We ought to be willing to give up our liberty if it threatens the peace or hinders the growth of another believer.

God’s Word is our authority and God’s Spirit is our guide. We should never do anything while doubting that it is pleasing to God, based on His Word, led by the Spirit. If we live this way, the watching world will see Christians displaying God’s love, righteousness, peace, and joy, for these are all gifts from God.

One of the marvelous freedoms we have is the choice to give up our rights for the benefit of others, especially when there is a good and right reason to do so; and when that happens, the unbelieving world will see that God’s love is the real focus, purpose, and object of the Christian life; not food, drink, style of clothing, type of music, denominational affiliation, political party, or the translation of the Bible.

See Romans 14:5-8… Life is so much more than food and drink, in fact, (John 14:6), “[Jesus Christ] is the way and the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him.”
Colossians 2:16-17, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
John 13:35, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

Bible Text: Romans 14:1-12 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Read verses 1-4… Paul is speaking about a conflict that is common to all churches, to all settings where those who belong to God congregate and fellowship. Wrong attitudes about or toward one another can do great harm to the honor of

God, the work of the church, and the welfare of those who belong to God. The problems Paul is talking about in this passage are concerning matters that the Scripture neither commands nor forbids; these may be matters of tradition or personal preference, but they can surely bring about confusion, disharmony, hurt, disagreement and dissension.

Paul seems to be centering in on the tension that exists between those in the church who have a weak faith and those who have a strong faith; those who are mature in the Lord and those who are not.

Notice (v. 1) this is a reference to “disputable” matters [i.e., opinions, personal preferences], and is directed to the more mature believer, who is instructed to accept the brother who is weaker.

Then Paul cites (v. 2) the subject of diet, evidently there were those who only ate vegetables and those who also ate meat; those who ate meat (v. 3), the stronger believers, were not to look down on the weaker believers who abstained from meat; and the weaker believers, were not to judge or condemn the stronger believers who felt the freedom to eat meat.

So, what is going on here? Well, both Jew and Gentile who had come to God through Christ, came with past experiences and biases that had been formed by their religious practice prior to confessing Christ.

Many converted Jews still felt the need to hold to Mosaic dietary laws and would only eat certain meats; and many converted Gentiles had come from different forms of pagan worship where meat had been sacrificed to idols and then sold in the marketplace.

Because of past practices, it was difficult for Jew and Gentile to realize new freedom in Christ to eat anything God called good: Jews were not under the restrictions of the Mosaic law, and the Gentiles weren’t to fear any kind of lingering evil in meat sold at the marketplace, no matter what deity it had been sacrificed to.

Many Jews were afraid of offending God by eating meat considered defiled under Mosaic law, and many Gentiles were afraid of eating meat that had been offered to a pagan idol; both of these were considered by Paul to be weak in faith, where as, those who understood that Mosaic dietary laws were no longer valid and that it did not matter if meat purchased at the marketplace had been offered to a pagan deity – were more mature understanding their freedom from dietary regulations.

For Christians to condemn or look down upon one another for reasons like diet or day of worship, was to go back into bondage under the law, and to forget that it is Christ alone who saves us, not law or ritual keeping (see Colossians 2:16-17; Galatians 5:13-15).

It is not about food or rituals or days of worship, it is not about one who does being better than one who doesn’t, or one who abstains being better than one who partakes; this is not talking about doctrinal or moral compromise, but the freedom we have in Christ, that must never disobey the clear teaching of the Word of God (see Romans 12:2; 2Timothy 3:16-17).

Look, if someone is tempted to abuse something or to be controlled by something, it is definitely better for that person to abstain from whatever it is; therefore, it is not loving for a brother or sister to look down on someone who doesn’t do this or that; any more than it is loving to wrongly judge someone who does something that we don’t do (we are not talking about disobeying God’s Word where it forbids certain practices or behaviors).

Does it really matter what version of the Bible a person uses, as long as it is an accurate version that doesn’t distort or falsify God’s Word. No!

Does it really matter if a person eats or drinks this or that, as long as it is not forbidden by God, dangerous to their health, or illegal? No!
1Corinthians 6:12, “‘Everything is permissible [lawful] for me’ — but not everything is beneficial [profitable]. ‘Everything is permissible [lawful] for me’ — but I will not be mastered by anything.’”

We have freedom in Christ, but more important than flaunting our freedoms, is to love, accept, and encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Each one of us is accountable to God (v. 4), He alone is our judge. We ought to be more concerned about how we are expressing our love for God and for one another, then we are about seeking our freedoms, lest we fall victim to our own pride, causing us to stumble and fall (see 1Corinthians 4:3-5).

Read verses 5-9… Whatever we eat or don’t eat, which ever day we choose to worship or not worship, no matter how we live our life and what we enjoy, whether we feel the freedom to do certain things or not (again, I’m speaking of those things that neither God’s Word, common sense, moral or civil law forbids), whatever we do or don’t do (v. 5), “we must be convinced in our own mind,” i.e., why are you doing this or that; why are you not doing this or that?

God has placed in our hearts the ability to judge right from wrong, and we should not go against our conscience; although, we live in a world that seeks to desensitize our conscience so that we will accept what is bad as good, and what is good as bad.

Clearly, on disputable matters, opinions, personal preferences, we should not allow our convictions to be imprisoned by another person’s conscience, neither should we try to liberate another person’s conscience from the prohibitions they are convicted of.

We should not try to force our religious liberties upon others, especially someone who is convicted to not do something that we feel the freedom to do; but neither should we allow others to force their religious-restrictions upon us, if we sincerely feel the freedom to do this or that which is not forbidden in God’s Word; but notice (v. 6), Paul says the stronger believer has greater responsibility before God not to lead weaker believers into anything that would cause harm to their conscience (see 1Corinthians 8:9-13).

Truth be told, however we treat or relate to other believers, is synonymous with how we treat the Lord (see Matthew 25:31-40).

Back to Romans 14 (vv. 7-9), neither the stronger nor the weaker believer lives only to himself or dies only to himself, because they both belong to the Lord. We are here to serve the Lord, not ourselves (Colossians 3:17) “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” 23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

Read verses 10-12… Jesus Christ is both Lord and Savior, but He is also the Creator, Sustainer, and Righteous Judge over All. It is the Lord who will judge each and every person, it is not up to us, as Paul has already made clear; but he reiterates it here again (see v. 10, cf. v. 3); Paul is saying, how dare you, what reason do you [the weaker, less mature, brother] have to judge [condemn] your brother for eating meat?

And by what right do you [the stronger, more mature, brother] look down upon [show contempt for] the one who doesn’t eat meat?

Where do we sometimes get the idea that we are the final judge or authority concerning certain views or opinions, that in reality, are disputable, for they are based on personal opinions and preferences, not on God’s Word.

Notice (v. 11), it is to Christ that every knee will bow and every tongue confess. I’m pretty sure that God will not be asking any of us to give an account of someone else’s sins, failings, or ineptitudes; but instead, (v. 12) we will each give an account of our own words and deeds when we stand before God.

Until that time comes (Romans 13:8), “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law,” and (1Peter 4:8), “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins,” (Jude 24-25), “To Him Who is able to keep you from

falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy — to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

Pastor Mike <‘(((><

Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Bible Text: Romans 13:11-14 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Read Romans 13:11-14… Christians are to be like Christ, as we put off the old self, and put on Christ, like removing soiled clothing and putting on clean clothing.

It is imperative (v. 11), that we understand the return of our Lord is closer now than when we first believed. We must be diligent and obedient and alert, not like someone in a sleepy stupor, for the unbelieving world is more and more opposed to Christ and to those who serve Him.

When Paul says we should understand the present time, he is using the Greek word kairos (season, era, age) not chronos (calendar, clock, chronological).

Do you notice the urgency in Paul’s words? He is not talking to unbelievers, but to Christians who are living like unbelievers, those who are spiritually dead.

Pauls says, it is not the time for spiritual glaucoma or for spiritual narcolepsy, it is time to wake up, to be alert, and to see the crisis at hand.

Paul says here (v. 11), salvation [eternity with Christ in heaven] is closer now than when you first believed in Him. When a person is saved in Christ, he is justified before God through Christ, he is also sanctified [set apart] to be conformed to the likeness of Christ, ultimately to be glorified [given a new eternal body], in order to live with God forever in heaven.

Until Jesus returns, we are to live for Him, looking forward to His return (see Titus 2:11-13; James 5:7-8; 1Peter 4:7-8).

As Christians we are acquitted of our sins, because Christ took our punishment, paying our sin debt in full, and we ought to then live live for Him (see 2Timothy 4:7-8).

We know salvation is closer, because it can’t be getting farther away, the time of the return of Christ grows nearer and nearer, and we need to be seeking to do what Christ told His first disciples to do (Acts 1:7-8), to be His witnesses throughout the world, to the ends of the earth.

Notice , Paul says (v. 12a) it is getting late, night is almost gone and the new day is almost here. Day and light are symbolic of the spiritual light of Christ and the children of God; night and darkness are symbolic of the deeds of darkness and the children of the devil; and sometimes it is difficult to tell who is who, but at God’s judgment they will be exposed (see Matthew 7:22-23).

Paul tells us (v. 12b) to take off, stop doing those things that are offensive to God and representative of those who are in darkness (see 1Thessalonians 5:1-8). Ephesians 4:22-24, “put off [lay aside] our old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; be made new in the attitude of our minds; by putting on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Colossians 2:6-7, “just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,” Colossians 3:9-10, “you have taken off your old self with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

We have been made right with God through Christ, and we are “in” Christ (see Romans 8:1; 2Corinthians 5:17).

At the moment of genuine salvation you are (Galatians 3:27) “baptized into Christ,” and “clothed with Christ,” i.e., you have put on Christ, and you should begin to look more like Him, and less like the person you were before coming to Christ.

We are justified through Christ (just if I’d never sinned), and sanctified, set apart for His glory and honor, as we grow in righteousness, serving Him.

Paul uses the illustration of taking off and putting on clothing, symbolic of our sanctification, it is a process.

Paul instructs us to put on the armor of light, the full armor of God (see Ephesians 6:11-17), for God is light and there is no darkness in Him, all those who follow Christ walk in the light of God (see 1John 1:5-7; 2:6).

If you have put on Christ, you are to be living for Him. If you have been made new on the inside, it should show on the outside, where you interact with others, and where people see you.

Christians should behave (v. 13) like those who belong to the day, as children of the light, not of the darkness; we must not be associated with drunkenness , sexual immorality, or lewd behavior, as those who belong to the night. Neither should we be constantly bickering, wanting our own way, or envying one another, for these create divisions in the church, causing us to look like those who do not know or serve God.

Instead (v. 14) we are to live like children of God, imitating Christ, removing anything that is displeasing to Him, so that we look and act more and more like Christ (see Ephesians 5:1-11).

We are to love one another as Christ loves us, and this is especially true today, when such adverse hatred for God is openly displayed by those who belong to the world. no wonder God commands us to continually come together for prayer, study, and fellowship (see nHebrews 10:24-25).

We are to encourage one another to earnestly seek to bring everything captive to the influence and the authority of Christ (see Colossians 2:8-10).

If you genuinely confess Christ as Lord, and trust Him as Savior, you eternally belong to God, and you are to live by the Word of God as you (Galatians 5:16), “walk by the Spirit, not carrying out the desires of the flesh.”

We live in a time, an age [kairos] when prayer and the Bible have been removed from the classroom, the public square, the market place, the government, and even the so-called church, which is today full of compromise, false teaching, false teachers, and corruption, as is reflected in its godless behavior, beliefs, practices, and preaching.

There has never been a more urgent time, then now, for true Christians to put on the Lord Jesus Christ: to feed upon, obey, live out, and proclaim the Word of God, in a manner that brings honor, glory and praise to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly love children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, live as children of light, in all goodness, righteousness and truth.”

Pastor Mike <‘((((><

Bible Text: Romans 13:8-10 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Read verses 8-10… So, basically this says… the only debt we continue to owe is the debt to love one another, and in doing this the law of God is fulfilled.

Now that is interesting, Paul just exhorted us (vv. 1-7) to submit to civil authorities and to pay our taxes, now he says we should have no debt. What does he mean?

Do you think he is talking about finances, i.e., that we aren’t to owe anyone any money? Let’s think about that. Neither the Old or New Testament forbids borrowing or lending money; although some requirements are given:
Exodus 22:25, “If you lend money to one of My people among you, who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest.”

Leviticus 25:35-36, “If one of your countryman becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. Do not take interest of any kid from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you.”

Psalm 15:1-2, “LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous… 5, who lends his money without usury [profit of interest]…
Proverbs 19:17, “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward him for what he has done.”

God is not against us owing or loaning money, but it is to be done for the right reasons and in the right way

The Mosaic law prohibited charging interest to those who were poor, but it permitted charging a reasonable interest rate to the one borrowing the money.

Jesus made references to borrowing and lending:

Matthew 5:42, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

Luke 6:35, “Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great and you will be sons of the Most High.”

So, it would appear that the Old and New Testaments both allow for those who are in need and have no other recourse, to borrow. There is nothing in either Testament that would prohibit one from borrowing money for a good reason, and another from receiving a reasonable interest on what they had loaned; but nowhere does Scripture justify the borrowing of money- going into debt, for unnecessary things, such as luxuries or extravagances.

Romans 13:8a tells us to owe nothing, to have no debt remaining or outstanding, i.e., we are to pay off our debts, loans, and whatever we borrow, on time, in full.

Romans 13:8b moves away from financial debt to speak to “the continuing debt of love for one another,” this to be continually being paid by all believers.

The good news is we have all we need, in Christ, to make these love debt payments by loving others; we will never be able to sufficiently pay off this debt, because it is incalculable – we owe it God, who in Christ, on the cross, paid our sin debt, having purchased us for God, because of God’s great love for us- and so, we are to be constantly paying Him back by loving one another.
John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. But this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
1John 4:7, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves, has been born of God and knows God.” 21, “And He has given me us command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
Colossians 3:12-14, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity.”
1Peter 1:22, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.”

Christians are more than equipped to pay this debt of love, for we are divinely enabled (Romans 5:5), “God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us,” (Philippians 4:19), “God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 13:8c says the law is fulfilled when we love our fellowman [our neighbor]. This love [agape] is not a feeling or an emotion, but is our selfless and humble service to God, offering ourselves, doing whatever is necessary to help those in need, on God’s behalf.

God’s love never rejoices in anything false or unholy, it never belittles or offends a person’s worth, nor does it cause them to stumble morally or spiritually, but instead it always upholds the truth, in response to the Holy Spirit and obedience to the Word of God.

The very first fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) is love, for (1John 4:16), “God is love.” And we are only able to love, because (1John 4:19), “[God] loved us first.” You see, God’s love is reciprocal love, we are able to pay our debt of love because we never run short of God’s love; God loves us so much that we can love others on His behalf.

Our debt to God is a love debt, not just to love other believers, but everyone; for we are Christ’s ambassadors and God is making His appeal through us, in order that the world might know God’s love, as we live for Him.

Romans 13:9-10 declares that God’s love does not commit adultery, or murder, nor does it steal, or covet – adultery, murder and theft are committed by way of physical actions; whereas coveting is something that may only take place inside a heart or mind.

All sin originates in the heart, as Jesus said (Matthew 15), “evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander,” etc., are all sins of the heart; for all that is evil comes from the heart of man.

There are two more of the Ten Commandments that Paul could have cited here: honor your mother and father, and do not bear false witness. All six of the above deal with human social and societal relationships.

Notice, the all inclusive clause covering all sins against other people, in the middle of verse 9 through the first part of verse 10, “and whatever other commandment there may be,” for God’s law is “summed up in this one rule: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ For ‘Love does no harm to its neighbor.’” Who is your neighbor?

The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) tells us anyone we come into contact with, especially one in need, is our neighbor; but the priority is not ‘who is my neighbor,’ but instead, whoever shows mercy to one who is in need, is a good neighbor to that person.

God’s love does no wrong to a neighbor, meaning, anyone. We are to (Philippians 2:3-4), “consider others better than ourselves…, to look not only to [our] own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

When we are genuinely loving our neighbor as ourself, we are fulfilling the golden rule (Matthew 7:12), “do to others as you would have them do to you,” and the royal law (James 2:8), “Love your neighbor as yourself,” for in doing this we have fulfilled all the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus summed this up in Luke 10:27, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all you soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself,” in other words, we are to love God completely, with our whole being: body, strength, mind, emotions, talents, abilities, resources, etc., and we are to then love others as we love [care for] ourself; for in doing so, we have fulfilled the law of God.
Galatians 5:14, “The entire law is summed up in a single command [or word]: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”

What is that single word? LOVE! When a Christian loves other people, as he himself is loved by Christ, he fulfills all of the moral requirements and obligations of the law of God, for this is the overriding and ruling principle of the new life we have in Christ (Ephesians 5:1-2), “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

1Peter 4:7-11, “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self- controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling,. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should speak as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

Pastor Mike

Bible Text: Romans 12:6-8 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

Last week I told you the signs and wonders gifts displayed by the Apostles, were given to them to validate their authority to speak for God, and that these gifts came to an end when the apostles passed from the scene and the New Testament was completed.

I told you that the next time “signs and wonders” appear, will be after the church is caught up to be with the Lord; false messiahs and false prophets will appear doing signs & wonders, and the Antichrist, empowered by Satan himself, will rise to power (Matthew 24:24; 2Thessalonians 2:9-10; Revelation 13:13-14).

I also want to reiterate that the gift of “tongues” [lit. languages], used during the transitional years after the birth of the Church, was never intended to be permanent in the work and function of the Church, this “gift” ceased to be operative before 100 A.D. (*For further study on this topic, on our website under the Heading Resources, select What Does the Bible Say About… then select Speaking in Tongues?)

Romans 12:6-8… There are seven spiritual gifts given here, all of which fall into the categories of speaking gifts and serving gifts; you’ll notice there is no mention of sign gifts, i.e., healing, miracles, or speaking in tongues.

Paul begins, the first part of verse 6, by stating that there are different gifts in the body of believers, provided by the grace of God (1Corinthians 12:7), “for the common good,” (1Corinthians 12:11) “[God] gives them to each one, just as He determines.”
Verse 6b… prophecy – This literally means “speaking forth,” in other words, proclaiming God’s Word. This was done by revelation, prior to the completion of the Bible, and then by reiteration [repeating, explaining, re- emphasizing], after the completion of the Bible.
1Peter 4:11a, “If anyone speaks, he should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.”
1Corinthians 14:3, “Everyone who prophecies speaks to men for their strengthening [instruction], encouragement [edification], and comfort [consolation or support].”
Verse 7a… service – This is every kind of practical service like [waiting tables, mowing the lawn, doing laundry], it is translated from a Greek word from which we get the term “deacon” [lit. minister, servant], i.e., wherever there is a need among the body of believers, this gift moves the believer to

fulfill that need.

1Peter 4:11b, If anyone serves, he should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”

In 1Corinthians 12:28 it is called the gift of “helps,” i.e., to help out in the church (via social committee, buildings & grounds, music, audio visual, making slides, janitorial, ushering, greeting, arranging flowers, making refreshments, serving in the nursery, etc.).
Verse 7b… teaching – This is the ability to understand, interpret, expose, clarify, and to systematically explain God’s Word, whether at a large church gathering, a home Bible Study, or more intimately, person to person.

This is pastoral teaching, Bible College and Seminary teaching, Sunday School teaching, Child Evangelism Fellowship and Vacation Bible Adventure teaching, i.e., wherever God’s truth is being taught.
Acts 20:20-21, “You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”
Matthew 28:19-20, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Verse 8a… encourage – This is the ability to come alongside other believers, calling them to obey and follow God’s Word; warning and reproving them concerning sin in their lives, while also consoling and strengthening those who are struggling or injured, in order to bring comfort and counsel from the Word of God.
1Corinthians 4:14, “I am not writing these things to shame you, but
to warn [counsel] you as my dear children.”
1Thessalonians 5:11, “Encourage one another and build each other
up.”
Hebrews 10:24-25, “let us consider how we may spur one another
on toward love and good deeds…” “let us encourage one another.”
Verse 8b… giving – Not out of your abundance, but is sacrificially sharing what you have with those who are in need; doing so with openhearted and open handed generosity, not looking for personal recognition, but giving quietly, out of a genuine and compassionate response to observed needs. Acts 2:44-45, “All the believers were together and had everything in

common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.”

Verse 8c… lead – This is literally “to stand before,” i.e., to steer or pilot, to guide, govern, or manage, with diligence [vigor and earnestness].

This word is used to describe leadership in the home and in the church:

1Timothy 3:1, 4-5, “Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.” He must manage [lead] his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?).”

Verse 8d… show mercy – This is to express sympathy and sensitivity to those who are suffering, in a way that helps lesson their afflictions, burdens, or sorrows.
James 2:15-16, “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?”

1John 3:16-18, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

Showing mercy is often expressed when someone visits those in hospitals, those confined to their homes, those in jail, those who are homeless or friendless, those who recently have suffered loss, and those who have special needs that aren’t being met or fulfilled by others. Proverbs 14:31, “He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors [God].”

Showing mercy is most exemplary of Christ Himself, and if it were up to me to select a gift from God that all believers would have in abundance and would use with great frequency, it would be showing mercy.
Luke 4:18-19, “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

What a difference it would make in this world, if every Christian had this gift, or at least, those who do have it would exercise it openly, freely, and

frequently.

Can you imagine what it would be like? There would be fewer needy people within the Family of God, because their needs would be mercifully met; not only that, but perhaps more unbelievers would come to salvation in response to the mercy shown them by Christians, those who have already received God’s mercy through Christ, in abundance.

All spiritual gifts (and natural talents ) given by God, to those who belong to Him, are given for God’s own glory and for the edification of the Church, in order that we might fulfill our purpose on earth – and that is to share the message of Christ with all who will listen because (1Timothy 2:3-4), “God our Savior wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.” God is patient (2Peter 3:9), “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Every Christian’s duty is to proclaim and share the good news, calling people to repentance and salvation in Christ (see 2Corinthians 5:17-21).

Romans 11:32, “God has bound all men over to disobedience, so that He may have mercy on them all.”

Romans 10:12-15, “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile— the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of Whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching [proclaiming] to them? And how can they preach [proclaim] unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”

Matthew 28:19-21, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

God’s greatest gift is Christ, through Him, we not only receive forgiveness and eternal life, but also “gifts” that we are to use in the Church, where we are to serve one another as if serving the Lord Himself; for we are to be working together as individual believers, unified for one purpose, bringing the good news of salvation to everyone who will listen: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, that He then appeared to His Disciples and many followers over 40 days, after which, He ascended back

into heaven, and He is coming back to get all who belong to Him, to take us to be together with Him in heaven, forever!

In His Grip, Pastor Mike