Tag: Romans

ben white ouitrfhneke unsplash

Romans- Week 14- Day 1- Romans 15:14-16

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

14And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.  (15)  Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,  (16)  That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

Romans 15:14-16

Explanation:

Paul was sincerely concerned about describing his true motives for writing this letter to the church at Rome.  It was a church that he did not start, and had never met face to face.  At the end or writing such a substantial, bold and direct letter to them he wanted them to know his heart for them and his calling from God to them.

He makes a statement in verse 14 about His belief about God’s working in them.  He says that he was confident that they were full of goodness, filled with knowledge, and able to admonish one another.  This is language that emcompasses a broad and deep understanding of spiritual maturity.  They valued things that were good.  They understood and valued the Word of God that they had.  They used their valuing of what is good, and their knowledge of the Word of God to encourage the good and discourage the bad in one another.

He goes on to say that even though he believes this about them, he has written them this bold letter because of God’s calling and grace in his life.  Their church was a gentile church, and God had called Paul to be the apostle to the gentiles.  In sending them this letter He was being obedient to God in helping to encourage and build up the gentiles in this church and thereby glorify and honor God.

Application:

I’m struck by the threefold description of those in this church.  I propose three application questions that are driven by this description:

1.  Do I properly value and exhibit goodness?

2.  Am I growing in my knowledge of God’s wisdom and knowledge?

3.  Am I in relationships where calling out sin and encouraging one another happens?

Also, I think Paul balances the perceptions of the people here with the authority with which he speaks to them.  He understands how he could be taken, but also gives them the reason why he risks that perception.  He was living out His calling from God.  This is the kind of courage and discernment we must exhibit as people who are disciples of Jesus Christ.

Response:

Which of the three questions above is the most critical for me to work on in my life?

attentie attentie ig7vn6okgne unsplash

Romans- Week 13- Day 4- Romans 14:11

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account o himself to God.

Romans 14:11-12

Explanation:

Remember the context of this verse is a call to not judge another brother in Christ when they have a different opinion on you on a “doubtful disputation”.  Paul is making the case that they answer to God and not to you.  In this context he states the truth that everyone will eventually bow their knee to God as ruler and sovereign over everything.  He quotes the prophet Isaiah who said,

I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. 

Isaiah 45:23 

This verse highlights the supremacy of Christ.  We know that the Paul revealed in Philippians that Christ will be glorified in this way.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  (10)  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  (11)  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  

Philippians 2:9-11 

Application:

Every person will acknowledge Christ as Lord.

Every person will give some kind of accounting of themselves to God.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:1

If you wait to give an accounting then and will not bow the knee now the Bible says you are condemned already.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  (18)  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:17-18 

We ought not to reject brothers and sisters in Christ based on arguments that are not clear in scripture.

Response:

1 Question and 1 Statement:

  1. Are you ready to meet God?
  2. Don’t separate and argue with your brother over “doubtful disputations”.
Photo by Bill Oxford on Unsplash

Romans- Week 13- Day 3- Romans 14:9-10

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.  (10)  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 

Romans 14:9-10

Explanation:

Christ death, burial and resurrection are proof that we can be saved from the power of death by the resurrection life of Jesus Christ!  Those who are in Christ are subject to him both in death and life.  Therefore we should not be the judge of our brothers and sisters in Christ when dealing with matters that are “doubtful disputations”.  We are not the judge of them.  Christ is the judge.  We shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ.  We will give an accounting of what we did in these bodies.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5:10 

Application:

We should spend the majority of our time holding ourselves to account of what is clear in scripture and what violates our own conscience.  We should also take responsibility for helping our brothers and sisters in Christ be provoked to love and to good works that are clearly taught in scripture.  It is a waste of time and harmful to the ministry of God to argue and feud over matters that aren’t clear in scripture.  They create disunity and harm to the cause of Christ.  In these matters we must be fully persuaded in our minds.  We must also realize that we will give an accounting of ourselves to God, and so will our brother and sister in Christ.

Response:

– We should take continual inventory of our own relationship with God.  How is your relationship with Him today?

– We should make things write with our brother and sister in Christ where unity is possible.

icons8 team r enaopw8rs unsplash

Romans- Week 13-Day 2- Romans 14:5-8

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.  (6)  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.  (7)  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.  (8)  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. 

Romans 14:5-8

Explanation:

Paul continues with two positions on what he has already characteried as “doubtful disputations” in verse 1.  The first argument is how to regard the holy days of the old testament for the believer.  This is much like the previous issue of what to eat and what not to eat.  Paul takes the position that people ought to be kind and receive each other regardless of which position they take on these “doubtful disputations”.  He points to the motive that each person has for taking the position they do.  Even though different believers take differing and often opposite positions their motive is the same. They take the position that they do to be right with the Lord and honor him.  It is not a good thing to get in the habit of violating ones own conscience even if you are finding yourself feeling guilty for something that isn’t necessarily wrong.  It  is a good thing to be sensitive to your God given conscience. It guards unity when we allow each other the room to take the positions that we do on matters such as these.

Application:

Here are some principles:

1. We must show each other grace.  In matters that are not clearly delineated in scripture we must show each other grace when we don’t come to the same conclusion.

2. We must not violate our own consciences. It is a dangerous thing to begin to live in a way that goes against our consciences, except when our consciences are informed by the Word of God.

3.  We must assume the best in others.  The scripture says that love hopes all things.  This means that the loving thing to do is to think of the best possible motives in the other person.  In the above scripture it is to recognize that each believer is coming to their position because they want to honor God.

Response:

1.  Where do you need to show grace today?

2.  Where are you violating your own conscience?

3.  Where are you assuming the worst in others rather than the best in others?