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Romans 15-16

Calvary Chapel Bible College

May 5, 2021

Homework

NKJV Recording Project Due

Memorize Romans 13:4

(Romans 13:4 NKJV) For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

Introduction

The letter of Paul to the Romans is considered Paul’s most important letter. This is why it is placed in front of all his others writings.

When and Where

The year is around AD 57 or 58

In your Bible, we’d place the writing of this letter around Acts 20:2 – that’s about when Paul wrote to the Romans from the city of Corinth.

Paul had been in Ephesus for three years, yet when persecution arose, he makes his way up to Macedonia, writes 2Corinthians at Philippi, and then heads south to Corinth where he writes his letter to Rome.

What it’s about

The first five chapters dealt with justification, how a person is made right with God.

The next three chapters will deal with sanctification, the process where we grow to be more like Jesus.

The next three chapters will unpack the differences between the Jew and Gentile, and God’s plan for His people.

In the last five chapters, Paul will launch into personal, practical matters – how do we live as Christians? What does the Christian life look like? How do we get along with one another?

In building his case for justification, Paul started by showing that

The Gentiles were guilty of sin (ch.1)

The Jews were also guilty (ch.2)

God provided Jesus to pay for our sins (ch.3)

Paul showed that faith like Abraham is all that’s needed for salvation (ch.4)

Paul showed that it’s reasonable for one person (Jesus) to affect all mankind, like Adam (ch.5)

Several weeks ago we moved into Paul’s next section: Sanctification

Chapter 6 talked about the connection between baptism, and the reality that we’ve been buried and raised from the dead, and sin no longer has an unbreakable hold on us.

Chapter 7 was about our continuing struggle of living with the flesh.

Chapter 8 is all about learning to live in the Spirit.

A few week ago we started the section where Paul begins to contrast the Jews and the Gentiles.

Paul talked about the sovereignty of God – how God chooses us and shows mercy to us. (ch.9)

He said that all it took for anyone to be saved was to “call on the name of the Lord” (ch.10)

Even though they are temporarily blinded, Paul has hinted that God isn’t finished with the Jewish people (ch.11)

We are now in the “Practical Section”

We’ve been talking about how to handle differences of opinions on the “gray” areas. There are many things that are clearly “black and white” for the Christian, but there are also many things that might be okay for some and not okay for others. What do we do when we come up against someone who has different convictions about one of these “gray” areas than we do?

We’ve seen that in these “gray” areas, there are people Paul classifies as “strong” and others who are “weak”.

The “strong” ones are the ones that don’t have a problem with the gray areas.

They look at a piece of chocolate cake and think, “I can eat it and still feel like I’m a good person”.

The “weak” ones are the ones that do have problems with some of those gray areas.

They look at a piece of chocolate cake and think, “I’m afraid God will be disappointed in me if I eat that cake”.

To the strong ones, Paul encourages them to be careful not to stumble those who are weak:

(Romans 14:21 NKJV) It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.

In other words, “Don’t eat chocolate cake in front of a weaker brother”.

To the weak ones, Paul encourages them to not ignore their conscience:

(Romans 14:22–23 NKJV) —22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Chapter 15 continues the same subject.

15:1-6 Carrying the weak

:1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

:1 bear with the scruples of the weak

strong – dunatos – able, powerful, mighty, strong

scruples – asthenema – infirmity; of error arising from weakness of mind; the “work or result of weakness”

weak – adunatos – (“not” + “strong”) without strength, impotent, powerless, weakly, disabled

You could translate this phrase, “We who are strong ought to carry the weaknesses of those who are not strong”

to bear – bastazo – to take up with the hands; to take up in order to carry or bear, to put upon one’s self (something) to be carried

The word is used in:

(Galatians 6:1–2 NKJV) —1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Lesson

Carry the weak.

Video: Lord of the Rings – I can carry you

(Mark 2:1–5 NKJV) —1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

The house that Jesus was at would have been the house of Peter’s mother-in-law. There is a little house in Capernaum that many think could have been the actual place where this took place. There are good reasons for thinking so. It is the only eight-sided (octagonal) structure in Capernaum. By the time a couple hundred years had passed, ancient churches all had one thing in common, they were built with eight sided walls. Some have suggested that this was because of this strange house in Capernaum.

The Roman Catholic church has even built a giant structure over the house, it looks like a space-ship.

It wouldn’t take too many people to fill up the house and crowd the streets.

The man who needed Jesus was paralyzed. He couldn’t get to Jesus on his own. Without his friends to carry him, he would have never been healed.

His four loving friends cared enough to carry him to Jesus, no matter what. They let nothing stop them. Even the crowds couldn’t stop them. They found a way to bring Him to Jesus.

Note: These friends didn’t just carry the fellow around town, they took him to Jesus.

Sometimes we can get good at carrying the weak ones, but where do we carry them? Carry them to Jesus. You do no good by just carrying them around on your back. You’ll wear out. Carry them to Jesus.

:1 and not to please ourselves

to please – aresko – to please; to accommodate one’s self to the opinions desires and interests of others

This is going to be one of the key words in our passage. We’ll see it pop up three times.

:2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.

:2 please his neighbor for his good

please – aresko – to please (second time used)

neighbor – when Jesus was discussing the command of loving your neighbor, a man got a little concerned…

(Luke 10:29 NKJV) —29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

By telling the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus defined the “neighbor” as whoever you run into.

good – agathos – useful; pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy; excellent, distinguished; upright, honorable

:2 leading to edification

edification – oikodome – (the act of) building, building up; the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness

We don’t just want to make people happy when we “please” them. We want to seek to build them up in the Lord.

:3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”

:3 even Christ did not please Himself

please – aresko – to please (third time used)

:3 The reproaches of those who reproached You

reproaches – oneidismos – a reproach; from oneidizo –revile; shame

Paul is quoting from a Psalm of David, one that was known to be prophetic, looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. One of the verses would speak prophetically of the crucifixion:

(Psalm 69:21 NKJV) They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

The verse Paul quotes is:

(Psalm 69:8–9 NKJV) —8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, And an alien to my mother’s children; 9 Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.

The passage is speaking of people who are mad at God, and so instead of yelling at God, they yell at people who they connect with God.

The insults and rebukes that Jesus faced ultimately came from people who were mad at God.

Yet He faced them anyway.

There are going to be people that you and I will encounter who are simply mad at God. And because you are someone who follows God, you’ll get an earful.

The point is that Jesus gave us an example to follow.

Lesson

Who do you do it for?

Who are you trying to please?

Why do we do things? Why do we do our “Christian” things?

Your motivation is important.

Jesus said that motivation was the difference between the “shepherd” and the “hired help”

(John 10:11–14 NKJV) —11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

The hireling watches sheep to get a paycheck. The shepherd watches the sheep because they are his, he has a sense of ownership.

The hireling is out to fleece the flock. The shepherd is out to feed the flock.

The hireling is working with the flock for what he can personally get out of it. The shepherd works for the flock for the sake of the flock.

Sometimes some of the good things we do are quite selfish. We are out to get something. It might not be a paycheck, but perhaps the pat on the back, the admiration of others, simply the attention.

A shepherd is doing things for the sake of the flock.

This was how Paul lived, looking to do what would build others up and not just do things for his own sake. Look at another passage where he talks about another set of “gray areas”. The cheaper meat was found at the meat markets behind the temples of the idols. Some people had difficulty with eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols.

(1 Corinthians 10:31–33 NKJV) —31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

I guess you could call Paul a “people pleaser”.

But his motivation wasn’t to please people so they would like him.

His motivation was to please people so they would listen to the gospel and be saved.

Are there things you might be willing to limit in your life if it meant that someone would come to the Lord?

That’s the right kind of “people pleasing”

:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

:4 Learning … patience … comfort … hope

were written before – prographo (“before” + “to write”) – to write before (of time)

Paul is saying that there are things in the Bible that were prophetic, they were written about things before they would take place.

learning – didaskalia – teaching, instruction

patience – hupomone (“under” + “to remain”) – steadfastness, endurance; the characteristic of a person who doesn’t change direction, even the greatest trials

comfort – paraklesis – exhortation, encouragement; urging to action.

hope – elpis – expectation of good

Hope is our goal. Hope is what we all want.

Paul gives us a clue as to some of the things that lead to hope. He kind of gives us a formula that looks like this:

learning + endurance + encouragement = hope

Learning is about our study of the Scriptures.

Endurance is about not quitting.

Encouragement is about how we keep each other going.

That all works to produce hope.

That would make a nifty sermon or Bible study some day.

Lesson

Learning

Pay attention to the Bible. Learn what it says.

Paul found that some of the stories out of the time of Moses were great examples to learn from:

(1 Cor 10:1-13 NKJV) Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, {2} all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, {3} all ate the same spiritual food, {4} and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

Paul’s point is that the people in the time of Moses had some pretty cool advantages. They had seen God work in a powerful way, first hand.

{5} But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. {6} Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.

These people had great advantages, but they didn’t use their advantages, they wasted them.

{7} And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."

Paul’s talking about the people worshipping the golden calf.

{8} Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;

Here he’s talking about how the young men of Israel started shacking up with the pretty young Moabite girls.

{9} nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; {10} nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

Several times we read about the people complaining in the wilderness.

{11} Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

These aren’t just nice little stories. They were written for our sake, that we would learn from them.

Sometimes we don’t learn our lessons unless we learn them the hard way – we have to stumble ourselves.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

We can learn some of our lessons the easy way – by learning them from the Scriptures, paying attention.

{12} Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

Pride and self-confidence are the quickest steps to taking a tumble.

When I hear a person say confidently, “Well, it’s been two hours, and I’ll never take another drink”, I start to cringe. The truth is you are always only a step away from falling.

{13} No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Giving in to temptation is not inevitable. You have a choice. Look for the exit.

Lesson

Endurance

You don’t receive the blessings if you don’t stay with it.

You’ll never win any race if you don’t stay in the race. You may not win first prize, but you won’t win any prize if you drop out of the race.

Trials exercise the muscle called “patience”. James uses that “hupomone” word to talk about it:

(James 1:2-4 NKJV) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, {3} knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. {4} But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

God’s goal in allowing trials into our lives is to help us build up the muscle of patience.

We live in a sinful, fallen world. There are going to be plenty of difficulties all around us, whether we are Christians or not. But God wants His people to be those who aren’t drowned in their trials. He wants His people to be able to swim through them. He wants us to show others how to swim. God doesn’t promise to take away the choppy seas, He teaches us how to swim.

Endurance builds up our stamina, it helps us get through the difficulties of life that we all face.

When you get out of shape, it’s easy to get winded. If you get on the exercise bike you might find it difficult to pedal for ten minutes. But you get on it every day and keep at it and your endurance builds up. Stay at it.

You might get winded. You might drop. You might fail. Just get back at it.

Lesson

Action

Listen from the Scripture

Let it comfort you. Let it encourage you. Let it urge you to action.

It’s hard enough to read the Bible, but sometimes we settle for just learning facts instead of gaining guidance.

Put things into practice.

Jesus told the parable about the two men who built their houses on different kinds of land and how they survived the storm.

One man built on sand, the other built on the rock. The guy that built on the rock survived the storm.

Jesus tied the whole story to what you do with what He says:

(Mat 7:24 NKJV) "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:

It’s not just hearing what Jesus says that helps you, it’s doing it.

It’s taking the “urge to action” seriously.

Lesson

The result is hope

When I put these elements into place, I find hope.

I find that others have walked the road I’m on and not only survived, but have thrived.

Here’s how Paul’s example works:

Things like what Paul has quoted from the Psalms in verse 3 were written to help encourage us to find hope.

If Jesus was willing to bear insults as an example of one who didn’t seek to please Himself, then maybe I could learn from Him.

And even more important, this principle was spoken of before Jesus was born! God thinks this principle is so important, that He spoke of it before it even happened!

God is really serious about me learning not to please myself, but to learn to build others up.

Even though Jesus suffered insults, God knew all about it beforehand. Nothing was a surprise to God. Nobody got God’s purposes for Jesus off track. Everything was right on target.

There’s hope in knowing that God is in control.

As you stay in God’s Word, you’re going to find lots of things jumping out of the page into your heart. That’s the way it is supposed to work. As you read the whole Bible, you’ll find yourself identifying with the various people and drawing encouragement from their examples. You’ll find hope. If they could do it, so can you.

:5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,

:5 may the God of patience and comfort

If we need patience and comfort (same words as v.4), God is the one to give it to us.

patience – hupomone (“under” + “to remain”) – steadfastness, constancy, endurance; the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings

comfort – paraklesis – a calling near, summons, (esp. for help); exhortation, admonition, encouragement; consolation, comfort, solace; that which affords comfort or refreshment

Lesson

Get it from God.

It’s a shame that we don’t go to the One who has what we need. Think of His patience towards us. He’s got LOTS of it to give.

:5 grant you to be like-minded

like-minded – lit. “same minded”

Learning to get along with each other

minded – phroneo – to have understanding; to have an opinion of one’s self; to be of the same mind i.e. agreed together, cherish the same views, be harmonious

:6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

:6 with one mind and one mouth glorify the God …

one mind – homothumadon (“rush along”) – with one mind, with one accord, with one passion; the word gives an image that is almost musical; a number of notes are sounded which, while different, harmonize in pitch and tone.

As the instruments of a great concert under the direction of a concert master, so the Holy Spirit blends together the lives of members of Christ’s church.

We need to learn to get along together so we can praise the Lord in unison, together, not in just a bunch of noise.

Illustration

A few years ago a gal went on the British version of American Idol, “Britain has Talent”. Her name is Susan Boyle. She was 47 years old, a spinster, never been kissed. She apparently was born with some learning disorders. But she learned to sing. She sings in church. When she got on stage, the audience was kind of chuckling at her appearance. She was asked what her dream was – it was to sing professionally. The looks on the audience’ faces were “yeah, right”.

Video: Susan Boyle – Britain’s God Talent 2009

When we learn to work at unity, music we make is beautiful.

We may be a bit ugly ourselves. We may think others are a bit ugly. But there’s a beauty that comes from unity.

Lesson

The blessing of unity

(Psalm 133 NKJV) — A Song of Ascents. Of David. 1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!

It’s a good thing when we learn to get along with each other.

2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.

We call the oil running down Aaron’s beard his “anointing”. It is a picture of the Holy Spirit being on his life.

There is a greater sense of “anointing”, the work of the Spirit, when we learn to get along in unity.

3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.

Mount Hermon is the mountain to the north of Israel. It has snow on it most of the year. Its melting snow is what results in the Jordan River and what waters the entire nation of Israel.

The blessing of unity is refreshing.

It’s a good thing when we get to worship together and give God glory.

It’s even better when we’re working at getting along with each other.

15:7-13 Glorify God Together

:7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

:7 Therefore receive one another

therefore – dio – wherefore, on account off

This is really the whole focus of what Paul has been saying since the beginning of chapter 14. In fact, even at the end of chapter 13 Paul was saying:

(Romans 13:8 NKJV) Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

receive – proslambano – to take to, to take as one's companion; to receive into one's home, adding the idea of kindness; to grant one access to one's heart

It’s for this purpose of bringing unified worship to the Lord that we need to accept each other.

This is the same word that was used back in:

(Romans 14:1 NKJV) —1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

received – proslambano – … same as word above.

:7 as Christ also received us …

God’s love for us was not conditional upon us living up to His standards. He loved us despite who we were.

(Romans 5:8 NKJV) —8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Our learning to “receive” one another ought to look like Jesus’ love (unconditional)

:7 to the glory of God

God was glorified when Jesus received us.

There might be times when we are embarrassed or ashamed to be with certain people.

Do you remember back in high school when certain kids were considered “uncool”? It wasn’t a good idea to be seen with certain kids. There was no glory in it for you if you were friends with the wrong crowd.

Paul hints that when we receive people like Jesus receives us, there is a type of “glory” in it. God is glorified.

(Luke 7:36–50 NKJV) —36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” 41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” 48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Simon the Pharisee didn’t think it was right for Jesus to allow this woman near.

Jesus loved her and received her.

Was God glorified in what Jesus did? Absolutely.

Lesson

Acceptance, even if they’re different.

His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant. Kinda esoteric and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college. Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students, but are not sure how to go about it. One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can’t find a seat. By now people are looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, trust me, this had never happened in this church before!) By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick. About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill. Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, a three-piece suit, and a pocket watch. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves, “You can’t blame him for what he’s going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?” It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man’s cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can’t even hear anyone breathing. The people are thinking, “The minister can’t even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.” And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won’t be alone. Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control he says, “What I’m about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget.”

- Author unknown

I pray that my church, that your church, might be a church like that. No matter how people might think we’ll respond, we would surprise them with our acceptance of people who are different.

I hope we’ll have an eye open to those who might feel out of place, and that we might make ourselves a little uncomfortable for the sake of loving others.

:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,

:8 Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision

servant – diakonos – one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master, a servant, attendant, minister

circumcision – peritome – circumcised; a term for the Jews

to confirm – bebaioo – to make firm, establish, confirm, make sure

promises – epaggelia – announcement; promise

Jesus became a servant to the Jews to show them that God’s promises of a Messiah were true, that God keeps His promises.

:9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sin g to Your name.”

:9 that the Gentiles might glorify God

Gentiles – ethnos – a multitude a tribe, people group; Paul uses the term for Gentile Christians

Take note of all the different words used to describe worship and praise in these next few verses. I count seven words describing this worship.

to glorify – doxazo – to praise, magnify, celebrate; to honor, adorn with luster, clothe with splendor; shining the spotlight on …

mercy – eleos – kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted

:9 I will confess to You among the Gentiles

confess – exomologeo – to confess; to profess; acknowledge joyfully and openly; to celebrate, give praise to

(Romans 15:9 NLT) …“For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles…”

:9 And sing to Your name

sing – psallo – to pluck off, pull out; to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang; to play on a stringed instrument, to sing to the music of the harp; in the NT to sing a hymn

Sounds like guitar worship music!

Jesus didn’t just come for the Jews, but for the Gentiles as well.

Those of us who are Gentiles can praise God for being merciful to us, a people who did not belong to Him.

All of this is from Psalm 18:49

(Psalm 18:49 NKJV) —49 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.

The idea is that Jesus, the Messiah, would be giving thanks to God among the Gentiles.

:10 And again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”

:10 Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!

Rejoice – euphraino (“good” + “understanding”) – to gladden, make joyful; to be glad, to be merry, to rejoice; to rejoice in, be delighted with a thing.

This is what you do when you have an understanding about something that is “good”.

Paul quotes here from Deut. 32:43.

(Deuteronomy 32:43 NKJV) —43 “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people.”

The Jews are God’s people. But because of His mercy, we Gentiles can give God praise alongside the Jews.

:11 And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!”

:11 Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!

Paul quotes from Psalm 117:1

Praise – aineo – to praise, extol, to sing praises in honor to God; from a word meaning to “tell a story”, to tell a story giving praise to someone.

This is the idea you see in some of the Psalms that give honor and praise to God for specific things that He has done. Like:

(Psalm 136:10–15 NKJV) —10 To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn, For His mercy endures forever; 11 And brought out Israel from among them, For His mercy endures forever; 12 With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, For His mercy endures forever; 13 To Him who divided the Red Sea in two, For His mercy endures forever; 14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His mercy endures forever; 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His mercy endures forever;

The Psalmist is telling the story of the Exodus, God’s great deliverance, reminding the people of God’s mercy at the same time.

:11 Laud Him, all you peoples

This line is also from Psalm 117:1

(Psa 117:1 NKJV) Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!

laud – epaineo – to approve, to praise; a stronger version of “praise” (above), telling one story after another

The Jews aren’t the only ones who can tell stories about how good God is. Those of us who are Gentiles should be able to tell a few stories of our own.

:12 And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”

:12 In Him the Gentiles shall hope

Paul is reminding his readers that the salvation of the Gentiles has not been that big of a secret. God has always planned on saving Gentiles as well as Jews.

hope – elpizo – to hope; to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence

Look at all the different descriptions of worship.

Paul quotes lastly from Isaiah 11:10

(Isaiah 11:10 NKJV) —10 “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.”

The “root of Jesse” is a reference to the Messiah. The Messiah would not just rule over Israel, but over the Gentiles as well. The Gentiles will trust in the Messiah for salvation.

It was always God’s intention that the Gentiles be included in salvation.

There are some theologians, even today, who claim that the idea of Gentiles becoming saved was totally Paul’s idea. They say that it was Paul that made up the idea that Gentiles could be saved. Wrong. It was God’s idea all along.

Lesson

Accept each other

Don’t miss the point that Paul is trying to make.

Verses 8-12 were all meant to reinforce what Paul said in verse 7.

We are to accept each other because Jesus accepted us.

Jesus not only accepted God’s chosen people the Jews, Jesus also accepted us yucky, icky Gentiles. In fact He had planned on saving us all along!

We ought to get along with each other too.

:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We’re going to see several of Paul’s “benedictions” or “blessings” today. These are great passages to memorize, great blessings to pray over people. (vs. 5 was kind of one too)

:13 Now may the God of hope

hope – elpis – expectation of good

Lesson

Go to the right store.

We’ve seen that if we need patience and comfort, we can go to God because He has patience and comfort (Rom. 15:4,5)

Now we see that if we need hope, He has hope.

Go where you’re going to find what you need.

When you need a piece of fine china, do you go to the Auto Parts store?

Where are some of the places people go to find “hope”, but are disappointed?

If you need hope, you need to go to God.

Sometimes we get our expectations on other things – I need a loan for the house, I need this relationship fixed, I need this disease healed.

What I really need is hope – that in the end God is going to make everything work out the way it ought to – even if it doesn’t match my expectations.

There are even stores that ought to have what you need, but when you go there, they don’t have the right thing. When we lived in Placentia, there was a certain office supply store nearby and I don’t even know why I bothered to go there, but whenever I did, they never had what I was looking for.

God always has hope. It’s never on back order. Always in stock.

:13 fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

fill – pleroo – to make full, to fill up; fill to the brim

joy – chara – joy, gladness

peace – eirene – a state of tranquility; peace between individuals, the state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, fearing nothing from God, content with your life.

believing – pisteuo – to think to be true, place confidence in

Lesson

Faith brings joy and peace

We often think of joy as being the result of fortunate circumstances like winning a TV game show. Good things happen and I’m happy.

God’s kind of joy comes when we trust Him.

It doesn’t matter what my circumstances are. I know He’s God. I know He’s in control. I can get excited about waiting to see what He’s going to do. Father always knows best.

Do I really trust Him? Then what’s keeping me from His joy?

We often think of peace as coming when we get rid of all conflict, like the umpire tossing the belligerent manager. If I can just get rid of this person who bugs me, I can have a little peace in my life.

God’s kind of peace comes when we are trusting in Him.

Video: OneTimeBlind – Trust Fall

The key to joy and peace is trust.

I need to trust Jesus.

I can have peace in the middle of a storm because I know Who is in control and I trust Him to take care of me.

Have you ever been faced with a huge problem that you couldn’t figure out? And then you called up somebody you trust and asked them to help. When they said, “No problem, I’ll take care of it”, it brings a sense of peace because you trust they can handle it. Even when the problem still hasn’t been solved yet, you can have peace because you know Who is handling the problem.

:13 that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

may abound – perisseuo – to exceed a fixed number of measure, overflow; the word is used of a flower going from a bud to full bloom.

God doesn’t want you to feel satisfied with just a little bud of hope. He wants the bud to come into full bloom.

He doesn’t believe in pulling into a gas station on empty and being satisfied with just a dollar’s worth of gas. He wants to fill your tank to overflowing with hope.

power – dunamis – strength, power, ability.

This is what Jesus promised when the Holy Spirit comes upon us:

(Acts 1:8 NKJV) —8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

In Acts, it’s the power to be witnesses. Here it’s the power to have hope.

Our God is the God of hope. There is no hope apart from Him. Paul prays that this God of hope might fill the Christians with joy and peace in their relationship of trusting Him. The result of God filling us with joy and peace is that the Holy Spirit enables us to overflow with hope.

When I trust God, He gives me joy and peace. The Holy Spirit is able to use the joy and peace to overflow me with hope.

Lesson

Overflowing Hope.

Trust produces joy and peace. When the Holy Spirit gets into this mix, it leads to overflowing hope.

My part is simply to trust Him.

(Mark 9:17–29 NKJV) —17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.” 19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”

The problem of powerlessness was due to a lack of faith. I think Jesus’ rebuke might be toward the disciples and their lack of trust.

20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. 21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

We often look at this as a way to get whatever we want.

What if God’s desire is that your problem does not go away? Could you survive?

When Daniel’s friends were faced with compromising their faith or being thrown into the fire, what were they trusting in?

(Daniel 3:17–18 NKJV) —17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

The issue of my “faith” is not about me believing that the miracle will come about, but believing that God will do what is right.

Am I trusting in the miracle or in the God who does miracles? Do you see the difference?

All things are possible to him who believes.

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

I love this simple, honest reply. I think God honors honesty like this.

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”

The implication is that prayer and fasting can serve to build our faith. The disciples had weak faith because they weren’t doing the kinds of things that are important to build their faith.

Jesus rebuked the “faithless generation” for having a difficulty in trusting Him, but He didn’t rebuke the individual man who admitted he had a problem with believing.

It’s okay to struggle with trusting Him. Just trust Him anyway. Ask Him to help you trust Him.

We are going to take our break.

I’m going to stop teaching Romans at this point. If you want a commentary on the rest of the book, you can download my notes.

There’s still plenty of good stuff in the rest of the book. I particularly love looking at all the various people that Paul mentions – a very rich study.

When we get back from our break, we will do our class presentations.

Break

From this point, no more powerpoint. Just reading and short comments as there’s time.

15:14-21 Paul’s ministry

:14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

:14 able also to admonish one another

goodness – agathosune – uprightness of heart and life, goodness, kindness

Even though there were problems in the church at Rome, there’s a sense in which Paul believed the best about people.

to admonish – noutheteo – to admonish, warn, exhort, literally, “to put in mind”. It’s a word that can describe much of what we would call “counseling”.

Lesson

You can counsel.

God has given you quite a lot to help others.

I remember seeing studies done on people who were complaining of certain emotional problems and the statistics of recovery for those who used professional counseling as opposed to those who just had some good friends. The rates of recovery were the same.

Now before you go out and start your own counseling clinic, it’s good to realize that there are plenty of situations that can be over our heads. There’s nothing wrong with encouraging someone to seek good counsel.

But there’s a lot you have to offer:

1. You can listen.

To tell you the truth, most of my “counseling” consists of listening. I have to admit that having the “aura” of being a pastor can make people think you have all the answers, but to tell you the truth, much of what I do is listen.

(James 1:19 NKJV) —19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

2. You have God’s Word.

There is incredible wisdom in God’s Word. If you’ll take time to learn it and hide it in your heart, you’ll find that you’ll have lots of very good, practical answers for people in need.

(2 Timothy 3:16–17 NKJV) —16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

3. You can relate.

Share what God has done for you. It’s not uncommon for you to find that something you’ve learned in your life will apply to the other person. God will use the things in your life to encourage others.

(2 Corinthians 1:3–4 NKJV) —3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

When we’ve been comforted by God, we can share that comfort with others.

4. You can pray.

You may not feel like you can find a Bible verse for every situation. You may not even have a clue as to what the person is going through because you’ve lived such a sheltered life.

But you can pray. You can always pray. It’s really not a last resort, it’s our first resort.

(James 5:16 NKJV) —16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

:15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God,

:15 I have written more boldly to you on some points

Even though they are well able to counsel and exhort each other, Paul still has a calling he has to follow. He still needs to address some things in Rome.

There are people with the mindset that they don’t need anybody. They would say to Paul, “We are able to counsel ourselves, we don’t need you telling us what to do!”

But these Romans needed Paul to say a few things to them.

:16 that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

:16 a minister of Jesus Christ

Paul uses some interesting language here that paints a specific picture:

minister – leitourgos – servant; of the temple; of one busied with holy things; of a priest

ministering – hierourgeo (“temple” + “work”) – (this is the only place this word is found in Scripture) to minister in the manner of a priest

Don’t be thinking “Catholic priest” here. Be thinking Jewish, Levitical priest.

offering – prosphora – the act of offering. In the NT a sacrifice.

But here, the thing that Paul is bringing before the temple of God is not an animal sacrifice, but the bringing of the Gentiles to the Lord.

The words Paul is using here are words used to describe a Levitical priest bringing sacrifices to God.

But the sacrifice that he brings is not a lamb or a goat, it’s the Gentiles.

:16 sanctified by the Holy Spirit

sanctified – hagiazo – to separate from profane things and dedicate to God; consecrate things to God; to purify

Perfect passive participle.

And when you bring a sacrifice, it needs to be “holy”, set apart for God, purified and appropriate to give to God.

Lesson

Sanctified

That process of being purified and becoming more like Jesus is called “sanctification”.

It’s a lifelong process.

It’s not about cleaning up your life so you can be loved and accepted by God.

Jesus has taken care of our acceptance before God.

But as long as we live in these bodies, God wants to be at work, conforming us to the image of God.

When we first come to God, God loves us just the way we are.

But He also loves us too much to leave us the way we are.

Paul shows us that sanctification is produced through three things:

1. By God’s Word

(“I have written you more boldly …” v.15)

That’s what Paul is writing, God’s Word.

(2 Timothy 3:16–17 NKJV) —16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2. By admonition

(“ written you more boldly … reminding you…” v.15)

(Proverbs 27:17 NKJV) —17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

We need people in our lives who will encourage us in the right direction. People who will “pull our covers”.

3. By the Holy Spirit

(“sanctified by the Holy Spirit” v.16)

Sanctification is the process of becoming “holy”.

That’s what the “Holy Spirit” is, holy.

(1 Thessalonians 4:3 NKJV) —3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;

(1 Thessalonians 4:8 NKJV) —8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

When He is at work in our lives, He wants to make changes, making us more “holy”.

:17 Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God.

Paul is saying that it’s okay to boast about what God has been doing.

:18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient—

Paul will be careful not to boast about the accomplishments he’s done on his own, but only the things that God has done through him.

:19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

:19 in mighty signs and wonders

Paul’s ministry was one that saw miracles. People were healed. Demons were cast out. A boy in Troas was raised from the dead.

In his travels, Paul has gone from the land of Israel, up into modern Syria and Turkey, over into the land of Greece. That’s a lot of travel considering he didn’t have airplanes, trains, or cars.

Show Google Earth video jumping from Jerusalem to Antioch, to Cyprus, to Ephesus, to Philippi, to Thessalonica, to Corinth, to Illyricum

:20 And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation,

:20 And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel,

made it my aim – philotimeomai (“love” + “honor”) – to be ambitious; to strive earnestly, make it one's aim

Paul wasn’t ashamed of the gospel:

(Rom 1:16 NKJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Instead, Paul considered the preaching of the gospel an honor he would strive for.

:20 lest I should build on another man's foundation,

There are two ways of building a ministry – you can build it by reaching people for Jesus who are lost or backslidden, or you can steal them from other churches.

Paul chose to do the first.

:21 but as it is written: “To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand.”

:21 To whom He was not announced

Paul quotes from Isaiah 52:15.

He has a Scriptural reason for not building on another man’s foundation.

He has a reason to make his aim the reaching of the lost, not the found.

Lesson

Don’t steal from another’s work

The other churches are not our “competition”. We are all on the same side.

Our goal ought to be to reach the lost for Jesus.

I see this as something to think about inside our church as well.

I love to hear of people wanting to start up new ministries.

But every once in a while someone will want to start up a new ministry that is already being done by someone else.

The new person may not be particularly fond of how the other person is doing it, so they want to venture out on their own.

What is most likely the problem is actually one of pride. Rather than humbling themselves and coming alongside the other person and helping them, they want to be in charge.

David and Absalom – two paths to the throne

David

The path that David took to become king was one that took time.

Saul was the first king of Israel, but he had a tough time walking with God. There came a time when God was ready for a new king.

The prophet Samuel was sent by God to pick out the new king, and it was the young shepherd boy David. But the actual crowning wouldn’t take place for years.

David would go on to kill the giant Goliath and then become one of King Saul’s chief army captains. Saul would become jealous of David. And David would spend a period of time running for his life.

Twice David found himself in the position of doing something about becoming king by killing Saul.

But both times David chose not to hurt Saul, and instead to put it in God’s hands. He wasn’t going to become king the wrong way.

Eventually the Philistines took care of Saul and David became king in God’s timing, in God’s way.

Absalom

When David was growing older and older, one of his sons began to wonder when it was going to be time for him to take Dad’s place.

(2 Samuel 15:1–6 NKJV) —1 After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a lawsuit came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.” 3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.” 4 Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.” 5 And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. 6 In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

This is certainly one way to get into ministry. Cut down the guy ahead of you behind his back. Tell everyone else how you can do it so much better than he can. Steal the hearts of the people.

It worked. Absalom became king. For a few weeks. David fled for his life. But David was supposed to be king. Absalom wasn’t. David gathered an army and defeated him.

Don’t build your ministry by trying to tear others down.

If you listen carefully to some preachers, they spend most of their time telling you why other people are “wrong” rather than simply pointing you to Jesus.

Don’t be trying to steal what others have worked hard at.

Let God do the building. Let God put you where you need to be.

15:22-33 Intentions for Rome

:22 For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you.

Paul has been yearning to visit Rome, yet every time Paul would think of going to Rome, a new opportunity to preach to an unreached area would crop up.

:23 But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you,

Paul had been in Ephesus for three years, building up a great church and seeing a great work done in the land of Asia Minor (modern Turkey). But trouble eventually developed, and Paul had to flee Ephesus for his life.

Paul has now traveled all the way to Corinth, where he is writing this letter to the Romans, and it’s stirring up his old longings to go to Rome.

:24 whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.

:24 whenever I journey to Spain

Spain – Show map. Before going to Spain, Paul will first make a trip to Jerusalem.

Paul’s plan was to go to Spain, but on the way he would stop at Rome.

I find it fascinating that Rome wasn’t Paul’s ultimate goal. It was Spain.

Why wasn’t his goal to go to Rome?

The gospel was already being preached in Rome.

He had people he wanted to see and visit with, but his ministry of preaching the gospel would be taking him to Spain.

Paul is thinking that once he’s finished his visit in Rome, perhaps the church there will help support him on his trip to Spain.

Lesson

Directions and decisions.

I love to take passages like this and examine them to try to get inside of Paul’s head and see how he thought. How did Paul make his decisions in life? Do we see any clues here? Is there anything we can apply to our lives?

1. Scriptural Principles

(Romans 15:21 NKJV) …but as it is written: “To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand.”

Paul had guiding principles in his life. One of them was to not preach the gospel in a place that already had a church. He wasn’t out to set up rival churches in the same city.

These principles were based on Scripture.

(Psalm 119:105 NKJV) —105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

God’s Word can light up the way we are to walk and give us direction.

2. Desires

(Romans 15:23 NKJV) …and having a great desire these many years to come to you,

Paul had a desire to see the folks in Rome, and God used that desire.

(Psalm 37:4 NKJV) —4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

When I find myself taking delight in the Lord, and He is the One thing that I am seeking, I will find that the Lord will be putting new desires into my heart. They will be His desires.

Have you been delighting yourself in the Lord? Do you have desires in your heart? Are they desires that you are not ashamed of before the Lord? It could be that God has put those desires in your life. It could be that some day He will do something to bring it about.

3. Plans

(Romans 15:24 NKJV) —24 whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you

He was making plans to see them. He said “I shall come to you”. He was counting on it.

Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that is we’re going to be really spiritual, then we shouldn’t make any plans and just close our eyes and we’ll somehow magically get to the place we ought to be.

It is spiritual to make plans.

(Proverbs 16:3 NKJV) —3 Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.

4. Trust

(Romans 15:24 NKJV) …For I hope to see you on my journey…

He was trusting God to help him with his plans.

(Proverbs 3:5–6 NKJV) —5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

5. Flexibility

It may not turn out anything like you’re expecting.

Paul will go to Rome, but not exactly the way he was thinking of.

He ended up leaving Corinth (where he was writing to the Romans) and when he got to Jerusalem, he was arrested. He then spent several years in jail and then finally appealed his case to Caesar. He was sent to Rome, all expenses paid, as a prisoner. He got there, but just not quite the way he may have originally expected.

Illustration

God called me to be a Senior Pastor 46 years ago. At first I really didn’t know how I’d get there, but eventually I decided that after going through seminary, I’d like to be an assistant pastor somewhere, and then become a senior pastor. Along the way, there were several things I definitely did not want to do. One was to work with Children’s Ministry. I carefully avoided taking any classes in Children’s Ministry that I absolutely didn’t have to. I also did not want to be involved in planting a church, starting from scratch. That was too scary. When I left seminary, I didn’t become an assistant pastor, I got a job as a teller-trainee. But I started getting involved, just helping out at Calvary Anaheim. I did eventually become an assistant pastor, but guess what my job was? Children’s Ministry. And yes, I am now a Senior Pastor, but it was only after we planted the church in Fullerton that it happened.

God wants to lead you. He may be giving you desires that will help. But be flexible. It may not happen the way you expect.

:25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.

Paul’s trip to Jerusalem was to help the church that was struggling with a tough economy.

:26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.

contribution – koinonia – fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, a collection, a contribution

Paul has been collecting funds from the Gentile churches in Greece and Asia Minor to help the church in Jerusalem.

You get glimpses of this same offering in the Corinthian letters as well (which were written while Paul was still in Ephesus):

(1 Cor 16:1 NKJV) Now concerning the collection for the saints…

:27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.

:27 they are their debtors

made partakers – koinoneo – to come into communion or fellowship with, to become a sharer, be made a partner

Lesson

Spiritual benefit obligates physical support.

Paul is saying that since the Gentiles owe their salvation to the Jerusalem church, they have a debt, an obligation to support them.

I learned about giving when I grew up in the Baptist church.

It is my understanding that a number of years ago, First Baptist Church of Van Nuys decided to kick out all those in the church that spoke in tongues. The following week, Jack Hayford’s church, Church on the Way, doubled in their attendance from 1,000 people to 2,000 people. But their income tripled! You have to hand it to the Baptists, they do teach their people about giving.

It’s sad, but the statistics show that a very, very small portion of the people going to a church do the majority of the giving that supports the church. Some people have the idea that giving to a church is like going to a movie. If they’re entertained, they’ll put a twenty in the offering.

It’s funny how churches try to motivate their people to give:

Illustration

One Sunday a pastor told his congregation that the church needed some extra money and asked the people to prayerfully consider giving a little extra in the offering plate. He said that whoever gave the most would be able to pick out three hymns. After the offering plates were passed, the pastor glanced down and noticed that someone had placed a $1,000 bill in the offering. He was so excited that he immediately shared his joy with his congregation and said he’d like to personally thank the person who placed the money in the plate. A very quiet, elderly, saintly lady all the way in the back shyly raised her hand. The pastor asked her to come to the front. Slowly she made her way to the pastor. He told her how wonderful it was that she gave so much and in thanksgiving asked her to pick out three hymns. Her eyes brightened as she looked over the congregation, pointed to the three handsomest men in the building and said, “I’ll take him and him and him.”

How much should you give?

As a young man at the Baptist church I was taught to “tithe”, to give a tenth of my income to the Lord.

I still think that is still a good, healthy, simple guideline.

I’ve had folks tell me that we are no longer under the law so we don’t need to tithe.

There are two problems with that.

First, the tithe was established before the Law. Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek. (Gen. 14:20)

(Genesis 14:20 NKJV) —20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.

Second, Jesus commended tithing:

(Luke 11:42 NKJV) —42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

Paul taught:

(2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV) —7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

A lot of people choke at the thought of giving God a tenth of their income.

There are a few folks in our church who actually do tithe, and I’m grateful. They are the ones that keep the doors open and the lights on.

To be honest, my personal conviction is that the tithe should be the minimum of where our giving starts at, not the top.

Yet ultimately, we need to learn to listen to the Lord and let Him guide us on our giving.

:28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain.

:29 But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

:30 Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,

So Paul is expecting to one day go to Rome, though how he gets there will be another story.

Paul is begging the saints in Rome to be praying for him.

:31 that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,

:31 that I may be delivered from those in Judea

Paul has already been getting this sense that he was going to be in trouble when he got to Judea.

As his trip would progress, there were continual prophesies warning him about the dangers up ahead.

Some feel that Paul was being disobedient to the Lord in ignoring these warnings. I feel that God was simply warning him to brace him for what was ahead.

If Paul wrote to the Romans around Acts 20:2, we get a glimpse of how his attitude plays out as he is on his way to Jerusalem and stops by Ephesus along the way:

(Acts 20:22–24 NKJV) —22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Paul knows what’s up ahead, but he’s not going to let it stop him.

:31 my service for Jerusalem – the money that he was bringing to Jerusalem.

:32 that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.

:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Paul’s prayers were answered.

He did come to the saints in Rome. He just didn’t come the way he thought he would. He came with an all-expense paid ticket, courtesy of Caesar.

16:1-2 Phebe

:1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,

:2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.

:1 I commend to you Phoebe

In the early church, there were no “Motel Sixes”. Typically when you traveled, you needed to stay with friends. It was a common practice for a church to write a letter of commendation for a person in the church, letting people know that this person could be trusted.

Cenchrea – Paul is writing to the Romans from Corinth. If you zoom into Corinth you notice that it’s located on an “isthmus”. Corinth had two harbors, one on the east and one on the west of the isthmus. Cenchrea was the harbor on the east.

Phoebe – She was apparently the one who traveled from Corinth to Rome to bring Paul’s letter. Her name means “bright” or “radiant”. We know nothing more of her than what is here.

servant – diakonos – one who executes the commands of another; a deacon. Circle the word in your Bibles.

Paul saw it okay to have women involved in ministry.

This doesn’t mean that she was the pastor of the church. Paul taught that a woman was not to teach or be in authority over men in the church (1Tim. 2:12). But that still leaves lots and lots of room for ministry.

Paul trusted this gal enough to entrust her with his copy of the letter to the Romans. Aren’t you glad she was a faithful person?

in a manner worthy – axios – suitably, worthily, in a manner worthy of. He wants them to treat her right. We are saints. Do we treat others as saints ought to treat people?

a helper – prostatis – a woman set over others; a female guardian, caring for the affairs of others and aiding them with her resources.

The idea is that Paul is telling them to help her because she has helped many others, including Paul.

16:3-16 Roman Saints

:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,

:4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.

:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila

fellow workers – sunergos – a companion in work, fellow worker. Circle the word “workers” in your text.

Priscilla was the wife and Aquila was the husband. The order of their names is usually given in this order. It has been suggested that Priscilla was the prominent one in ministry since her name always appears first.

Her name was “Prisca”, and “Priscilla” is a “diminuitive”, like calling her “Prissy”.

Aquila was a Jew from Pontus, which is an area in Asia, modern Turkey.

At some point in their life, they moved to Rome and lived there for a while until the Emperor Claudius kicked all the Jews out of Rome (Acts 18:2). When they left Rome, they went to live in Corinth, making a living as tentmakers, when the first met Paul.

They take an interest in Paul, took him into their home, and they worked together as tentmakers. (Acts 18:3).

When Paul eventually leaves Corinth, Aquila and Priscilla will accompany him to Ephesus, where he leaves them. (Acts 18:18-19)

While they’re in Ephesus, they’ll meet a young preacher named Apollos, and take an interest in him. Apollos had some rough edges, but they take him aside, train him, and he becomes a powerful witness. (Acts 18:26)

When Paul comes back to Ephesus to visit, and then later writes a letter back to the Corinthians, he mentions that they have a church in their home there in Ephesus. (1Cor.16:19)

(1 Cor 16:19 NKJV) The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

Now, as Paul is writing to the church in Rome, apparently Aquila and Priscilla had returned to Rome, and now once again, they have a church in their home (Rom. 16:5)

A few years from this time, just before Paul is executed in Rome, Paul writes to Timothy in Ephesus, and Aquila and Priscilla had again moved back to Ephesus. (2Tim.4:19)

Lesson

Friends to serve.

Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla seemed to be what we might call “friends”. They had some things in common, being Jewish and tentmakers. But they had more than that, they had Jesus. And they served the Lord together. They were a part of what Paul might call his “leadership team”.

Paul was not always an easy guy to get along with.

The noted commentator William Hendricksen makes the following observation:

During his missionary career Paul had colleagues and fellow-workers. But he deemed it necessary to oppose Peter to his face (Gal. 2:11f.). With Barnabas he had such a sharp disagreement that the two parted company (Acts 15:39). There was a time when Paul refused to allow Mark to remain one of his companions (Acts 15:38). He was going to reprimand Euodia and Syntyche (Phil. 4:2). And Demas was going to desert him (2 Tim. 4:10). But even though Prisca and Aquila in a sense stood closer to him than any others—for they were his companions both in trade and in faith—as far as the record shows, between Paul, on the one hand, and Prisca and Aquila, on the other, there was always perfect harmony! (Exposition of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1981], p. 503)

I think it says something about them that Paul never had a negative thing to say of them.

:4 who risked their own necks for my life

These people risked their lives for Paul.

We aren’t sure what Paul is referring to, but there is one possible situation. When Paul was in Ephesus, the silversmith Demetrius provoked the entire city to riot on account of Paul. He claimed that Paul was ruining Ephesus because so many people were turning to Jesus and not buying Demetrius’ silver idols. The entire city went into the huge amphitheater and were crying for action.

(Acts 19:30 NKJV) And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him.

Some have suggested that Priscilla and Aquila stepped in here somehow and got Paul out of danger.

:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house.

They’re at it again. They’ve opened up their home to the regular meeting of believers.

:5 Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.

beloved – circle the word in your text.

Epainetus – we know nothing more of this guy, other than he might have been related to some other folks that Paul mentions to the Corinthians

firstfruits – This guy was one of the first to believe in Corinth.

Achaia – This is the southern part of Greece, of which Corinth was a major city. This is where Paul is writing from.

Apparently Epaenetus had moved from Corinth to Rome.

Note: Pay attention to how many people Paul knows in Rome, even though he hasn’t been there yet himself.

:6 Greet Mary, who labored much for us.

:6 Mary, who labored much

We know nothing about this Mary.

labored – kopiao – to grow weary, tired, exhausted with toil or burdens or grief. Circle the word in your text.

:7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

:7 Andronicus and Junia – may have been a husband and wife.

countrymen – suggenes – of the same kin, akin to, related by blood; in a wider sense, of the same nation, a fellow countryman

These folks might have been Jews, or Paul might mean that they came from Tarsus, or even that they are relatives.

fellowprisoners – we don’t know what Paul means specifically here. He wasn’t in his long term prison mode yet. But he had been arrested and put in jail many times (2Cor. 11:23).

:7 among the apostles

Sometimes the word only is used to refer to the “twelve”. But the word is used to describe more guys than just the “twelve”. Barnabas and Paul were called “apostles” even though they were not a part of the “twelve” (Acts 14:14).

:7 in Christ before me – These guys had come to Christ before Paul had.

:8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.

Amplias –a common name among slaves.

beloved – circle the word in your text.

:9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.

Urbanus – a common, Roman, slave name, meaning “from the city”. Circle the words “worker” and “beloved”.

:10 Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.

Aristobulus – He may have been the brother of Herod Agrippa I, making him a close ally of the Emperor Claudius.

:11 Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

Herodion my countryman – possibly a relative of Paul’s. “Herodion” may be an indication that this person was also related to the household of Herod. Many of the Herods had names similar to this.

Narcissus – Scholars think that he was the personal secretary of Emperor Claudius.

It is possible that at least two households within the palace had Christians in them. These may have been some of the folks Paul mentions when he in prison in Rome and writes back to the Philippians:

(Phil 4:22 NKJV) All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar's household.

:12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.

Tryphena and Tryphosa – probably sisters, possibly twins. Both their names come from the same root word, meaning “softness”

labored – kopiao – to grow weary, tired, exhausted with toil or burdens or grief. Circle the words “labored” (2x) and “beloved”

:13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

Rufus

This doesn’t mean that Paul was a brother of Rufus, it means that he considered Rufus’ mother to be like a mother to him.

(Romans 16:13 NLT) and also his dear mother, who has been a mother to me.

Circle the word “mine”.

Mark tells us –

(Mark 15:21 NKJV) —21 Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.

It’s possible that this Rufus was the son of the man who carried the cross of Jesus. What an incredible legacy to grow up with.

:14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them.

The language indicates that one of the house churches was among these folks.

:15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

…and his sister – do you think Paul had a problem remembering some names like I do?

:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.

kiss – philema – a kiss; a sign of fraternal affection, Christians were accustomed to welcome or dismiss their companions in the faith. Circle the word in your text.

Not the same as our kisses. The men kissed men, women kissed women.

The kiss was either on the forehead, cheek, or in the case of men, on the beard.

The kiss was to be “holy”. Pure. Nothing sensuous. Just simple, brotherly love.

You see in Paul’s letter a picture of the church looked like in Rome.

After Paul mentions Phoebe, he mentions 28 people, and a couple of common traits keep popping up. I had you circle them.

Lesson

Loving

The church is all about loving one another. Jesus said,

(John 13:34–35 NKJV) —34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The chief thing that will show the world that we belong to Jesus is that we love one another like He loves us.

What’s difficult is that we tend to love a little differently than God loves.

Our love tends to be based on things we like about people. Usually we tend to love people that are a little more like us.

We are drawn to people who dress like we do, enjoy the same food as we do, like the same movies that we do, people who smell like we do.

But did you notice the wide variety of people in the church in Rome?

Simple tentmakers. Slaves. Men and women. People of high standing in the imperial court.

Often our churches are made up of people who are from the same economic or educational background. We often are people from the same political bent. They say when it comes to race and color, that Sunday morning is the most segregated day of the week.

It shouldn’t be so. We ought to love one another.

The longer you spend in one church, you are going to run into people that you don’t really care for much.

Some people are rude and obnoxious. Some tell bad jokes. Some people are socially awkward – they get you into a conversation and expect you to carry the conversation while they just stare at you.

Do you love them?

John wrote,

(1 John 4:7–8 NKJV) —7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Lesson

Serving

The church is all about serving the Lord together.

Some of that serving requires hard work. Working until you are exhausted.

Sometimes we don’t really want to be serving anyone…

Illustration

An 18^th-century vagabond in England, exhausted and famished, came to a roadside Inn with a sign reading: “George and the Dragon” He knocked. The innkeeper’s wife stuck her head out a window. “Could ye spare some victuals?” he asked. The woman glanced at his shabby, dirty clothes. “No!” she shouted. “Could I have a pint of ale?” “No!” she shouted. “Could I at least sleep in your stable?” “No!” she shouted again. The vagabond said, “Might I please...?” “What now?” the woman screeched, not allowing him to finish. “D’ye suppose,” he asked, “that I might have a word with George?”

Have you ever stopped to define what you think a mature Christian looks like?

Is it someone who knows a lot of facts about the Bible?

Is it someone who knows how to quote Bible verses from memory?

Is it someone who knows stories of what God did in the Jesus movement in the 60’s and 70’s?

Is it someone who has been going to the same church for twenty years?

Is it someone who is in charge of a ministry and has lots of people to boss around?

I’d say that each of those things might be a bit deceptive and not exactly what a mature Christian looks like.

A mature Christian is one who has learned to serve Christ.

Jesus said,

(Mark 10:42–45 NKJV) —42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

How long do you have to know the Lord before you can serve Him? You can start right away.

You can serve in an official capacity – like being an usher, teaching a Children’s class, or helping in the kitchen.

You can serve in an unofficial capacity – picking up trash around the grounds, making a point to look for new people in church and being kind and friendly to them, praying over the prayer list each week.

Just learn to serve, not be served.

16:17-20 Warning of Division

:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.

:17 note those who cause divisions and offenses

note – skopeo – to look at, observe, contemplate

The idea is to pay close attention to someone who fits this description.

Don’t ignore them. Mark them.

divisions – dichostasia – dissension, division. Literally, “twice standing”. These people are causing people to divide into groups.

offenses – skandalon – the movable trigger of a trap, any impediment placed in the way and causing one to stumble or fall

We saw Paul use this word when he was talking about handling the “gray” issues –

(Rom 14:13 NKJV) Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.

Whereas Paul was trying to show the people how to operate in love and not cause another person to stumble, these people were forcing certain issues and causing others to stumble.

“If he stumbles, why should I care?” they might say.

doctrine – didache – teaching; that which is taught

This is a pretty broad word. Don’t just think of it describing only things like who God is or how we are saved. It can carry some pretty practical things as well.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked about things like not being angry at others, learning to forgive, not lusting in your heart, loving your enemies, praying, not being anxious about the future, not judging others, and practicing what you preach. At the end of it all …

(Matthew 7:28 NKJV) —28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching,

avoid – ekklino – to turn aside, keep aloof from one's society; to shun one

Lesson

Watch out for dividers.

Some cause division through bad doctrine.

Through history there have been groups that come up and divide the church with their bad doctrine. Groups like Christian Science, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and even people in some of the mainline denominations who would deny that Jesus is God, or that the Bible is the Word of God.

Some cause division in the name of keeping doctrine pure.

I call them “heresy-hunters”. Often their books take things that pastors say out of context, twisting words, and causing the church to think in a very small manner.

Eventually people with this mindset get to the point where it’s just “me and you, and I’m beginning to worry about you”.

Some cause division by causing people in church to take sides.

Sometimes it’s not an issue of doctrine, but just not liking the way someone does something in church.

Most church splits are not over doctrine, but over very silly things like deciding what color the carpet should be.

These people will force you to take their side of an argument or disagreement.

We’ve seen churches (including our own) split over the strangest things.

:18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

:18 serve … their own belly

belly – koilia – the whole belly; the innermost part of a man, the soul, heart

Lesson

Division and selfishness.

If you’re ever going to learn to get along with others in this life, you’re going to have to learn somewhere along the line that you can’t always have it your way. There comes a time when you have to sacrifice your rights and your desires for the sake of others.

Paul wrote,

(Philippians 2:1–4 NLT) —1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Unity comes when you are willing to sacrifice your own comfort for the sake of others. Unity only can come when you are willing to humble yourself and to serve others.

Too often we can fall into a trap of thinking that true happiness comes when we finally get all of our needs met.

But the truth is that God’s desire for us finding true fulfillment is in learning to meet the needs of others and helping them out.

:18 by smooth words and flattering speech deceive

smooth words – chrestologia – fair speaking; the words “sound good”

flattering speech – eulogia – praise; polished language; this is the word often used for a “benediction”, a “eulogy”

deceive – exapatao – to deceive; to cheat

simple – akakos – harmless, free from guilt. Literally, “not evil”. NIV has “naïve”, NAS has “unsuspecting”.

Lesson

Watch out for flattery.

Men seldom flatter without a purpose; and they who listen to such music may expect to pay the piper.

Aesop (Fl. C. 550 B.C.)

Flattery is like chewing gum--enjoy it briefly, but don't swallow it!

--James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 207.

Illustration

In ancient Greece, the politically crafty philosopher Aristippus had learned to get along in court by flattering the tyrant King Denys. Aristippus looked down his nose at some of his less prosperous fellow philosophers and wise men who would not stoop that low. One day he saw his colleague Diogenes washing some vegetables and he said to him disdainfully: “If you would only learn to flatter King Denys you would not have to be washing lentils.”

Diogenes looked up slowly and in the same tone replied, “And you, if you had only learned to live on lentils, would not have to flatter King Denys.”

--James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 206.

(Proverbs 26:28 NLT) —28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin.

:19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.

wise – sophos – wise; cultivated, learned

good – agathos – of good constitution or nature; good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy

simple – akeraios – unmixed, pure as in wines or metals; of the mind, without a mixture of evil, free from guile, innocent, simple

evil – kakos – of a bad nature; base, wrong, wicked; troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful

Lesson

Be innocent with wickedness.

I don’t think we need to be so naïve that we don’t know what is evil, but we certainly don’t need to be playing with fire.

I know that some pastors listen to some of the garbage radio talk shows, supposedly so they can know what their people are listening to. That’s a dangerous approach. God says,

(Deu 12:29-31 NKJV) "When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, {30} "take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.' {31} "You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.

You don’t need to be experienced in evil things. You need to stay away from them.

I grew up as a pretty good kid. I received the Lord in eighth grade. I didn’t do drugs. I didn’t smoke. I didn’t drink. I have to admit that there were times when people would be sharing their testimony about the hard life they had before Jesus, that I’d kind of wish I had experienced some of those things. That’s a dangerous thing to wish for. Stay far away from evil.

Lesson

Be smart with the good things.

We don’t need to be ignorant of everything. Know what’s good. Get a doctorate in what is good. There’s too many good things to do that you don’t need to waste time with the bad stuff.

:20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

If we keep ourselves innocent in evil things, and smart in good things, we’ll see victory over Satan.

crush – suntribo – break, to break in pieces; crush

Lesson

Victory comes in obedience.

Sometimes we can’t help it when we’re tempted.

Luther said, “You can’t stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can keep it from building a nest in your hair.”

Joseph couldn’t control whether or not he was tempted:

(Gen 39:7-10 NKJV) And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." {8} But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. {9} "There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" {10} So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.

Joseph worked for this household. He was going to be near this woman every day. He could do nothing about that aspect.

(Gen 39:11-13 NKJV) But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, {12} that she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. {13} And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside,

But when the temptation came too close, he ran.

It cost him. He ended up in prison for a false accusation. But he still stayed close to the Lord.

And God rewarded him for his obedience.

16:21-24 Paul’s Friends

:21 Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you.

Timothy – Paul’s younger disciple. During Paul’s second and third journeys, Timothy would often be sent on short assignments to check up on the churches.

Timothy had been with Paul earlier in Macedonia, when he had written to the Corinthians –

(2 Cor 1:1 NKJV) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:

Now Timothy is in Corinth with Paul when he writes to the Romans.

fellow worker – sunergos – a companion in work, fellow worker

:22 I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.

This can be a bit confusing if you don’t understand the way Paul worked. Who is “Tertius”?

He’s Paul’s secretary. Paul is dictating this letter to Tertius. Tertius can’t resist and inserts this little greeting from himself.

:23 Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother.

Gaius – there was a man named Gaius in the Corinthian church (1Cor. 1:14)

(1 Cor 1:14 NKJV) I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,

treasurer – Erastus was the city treasurer in Corinth, a prominent man.

:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

16:25-27 Benediction

:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began

:26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—

The mystery is that God would ever do something as radical as saving pig-dog Gentiles.

:27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

:25 to Him who is able to establish you

to establish – sterizo (“steroids”) – to make stable, place firmly, fix; to strengthen, make firm

Lesson

Stability comes from God

The world around us is lacking a bit of stability.

Illustration

It’s not just the stock market that’s been telegraphing “trouble” about the economy. The price of thoroughbreds has watched Wall Street’s gyrations. Yearlings that sold for an average of $27,295 in 1994 were fetching $54,506 in 2000. But recent sales have seen a 20 percent declines from a year ago.

Moral: If you invest in horses, don’t expect stable prices.

Sometimes we wonder how we can ever keep going. We want to quit and run away. God is strong enough to keep us steady.

Jude writes,

(Jude 1:24 NKJV) Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

Isaiah writes,

(Isaiah 40:28–31 NKJV) —28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Are you waiting eagerly and expectantly for the Lord? Are you looking for Him to show up?

He’ll renew your strength, whether it’s enough for you to mount up with eagles’ wings, or just enough to keep walking.

Pericope Project

15:1-6 Carrying the weak

15:7-13 Glorify God Together

15:14-21 Paul’s ministry

15:22-33 Intentions for Rome

16:1-2 Phebe

16:3-16 Roman Saints

16:17-20 Warning of Division

16:21-24 Paul’s Friends

16:25-27 Benediction

Homework

No more! We’re all done!