With Christ Our Example.
All For The Glory Of God.
Remember: Romans Chapters 12 thru 15 is the CONTEXT of these recent lessons.
The Overarching Theme: Therefore I Urge You, Brothers, By The Mercies Of God, To Present Your Bodies A Living Sacrifice, Holy, Acceptable To God, Which Is Your Spiritual Service.
Don’t Be Conformed To This World, But Be Transformed By The Renewing Of Your Mind, So That You May Prove What Is The Good, Well-Pleasing, And Perfect Will Of God.
SIN, SALVATION, SANCTIFICATION, SOVEREIGNTY.
Now SERVICE: The Object of Service.
God's Glory Is The Object of Service.
From Sovereignty | To Service.
From Promises Fulfilled | To Paths Pursued.
From Righteousness Restored | To Righteousness Applied.
From Righteousness IN ELECTION | To Righteousness DISPLAYED.
From Slaves to God | To Slaves Serving God.
From Doctrine | To Duty.
From Life by Faith | To Service by Faith.
ROMANS 15: 1 thru 7.
ROMANS 15:
Verse 1. STRONG FAITH WILL PLEASE OTHERS.
Verse 2. LET EACH OF US PLEASE OUR NEIGHBOR.
Verse 3. FOR EVEN CHRIST DID NOT PLEASE HIMSELF.
Verse 4. SCRIPTURES GIVE HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
Verse 5. SCRIPTURES GIVE US INSTRUCTION.
Verses 6 thru 7. SCRIPTURES DEMANDS HARMONY.
VERSE 1: STRONG FAITH THAT PLEASES OTHERS.
We Who Are Strong In Faith:
Have An Obligation To Bear With The Failings Of The Weak.
Should Help Those Who Are Weak.
Need To Be Patient With The Weakness Of Those Who Are Powerless.
Should Be Aware That Others May Not Be So Strong And Have Doubts.
BUT NOT MATTER WHAT: In All This, We Should Not Just Do What Pleases Us.
The Implication Is That The Strong Are To Show Unconditional Love.
That Love Which Reaches Out And Picks Up The Weak Brother Because It Seeks His Highest Good.
It Does So Expecting Nothing In Return.
The Strong Believer Is Not To Be Pleasing Himself.
That Is, He Is Not To Be Gratifying His Own Selfish Desires.
Our First Concern Must Be For The Weak Brother’s Edification.
Our First Concern Must NOT Be For Self-Gratification.
Even If This Involves Personal Sacrifice And Self-Denial (saying "NO" To Self}.
VERSE 2: LET EACH OF US PLEASE OUR NEIGHBOR.
Let Each Of Us Please His Neighbor For His Good, To Build Him Up.
Each Of Us Should Live To Please His Neighbor. This Will Help Him Grow In Faith.
Each Of Us Should Please Our Neighbors For Their Good In Order To Build Them Up.
But Do What Pleases Them And Is For Their Good. We Should Do Whatever Helps Everyone Grow Stronger In Faith.
The Strong Should:
Try To Please Them.
Patiently Instruct Them.
Build Them Up In The Faith.
Show A Standard Of Conduct.
Love Them.
Not Treat Them As Second-Class Citizens.
Not Get Angry At The Weak.
Not Defy Them.
Not Cut Them Off From Love And Concern.
This Pleasing One’s Neighbor In This Context Refers To The Act Of The Believer:
Foregoing A Legitimate Act Because That Weaker Christian Thinks It To Be Wrong.
Because It Removes A Source Of Temptation To Him To Do That Thing.
Because It Makes His Attempt To Live A Life Pleasing To God Easier.
But Only In The Instance Where The Weaker Christian Would Be Edified Or Built Up In The Christian Life.
VERSE 3: FOR EVEN CHRIST DID NOT PLEASE HIMSELF.
Paul Appeals To Christ As The Supreme Example.
He Never Pleased Himself But Always Did The Will Of The Father.
He Took No Thought For Himself And Always Put Others First.
Since Christ Loved And Died For All Who Would Trust Him, Then We Should Love And Please All Our Brothers In Christ, For We Are One.
BUT AS IT IS WRITTEN THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED THEE FELL UPON ME:
Hebrews Chapter 12 Verse 2: Our Lord Who Instead Of The Joy Then Present With Him, Endured The Cross.
- Christ Did Not Please Himself But Took The Insults Meant For God.
- Jesus Fulfilled The Scriptures Taking Reproach That Were Cast Against God:
Cursing, Dishonor, Unbelief, Denial, Hostility, Shame, Rebellion.
Are We Willing To Please The Lord Despite Misunderstanding, Ridicule, Slander, Deprivation, Persecution, And Even Death? To Please Our Neighbors And Build Them Up?
VERSE 4: THE SCRIPTURES GIVE HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
The Old Testament Teaches Of Hope And Encouragement.
It Means That God Intends The Old Testament To Benefit Christians.
It Means That We Need To Study Both Testaments.
The Old Testament:
Relates The Story Of God’s History With His People.
Reveals God’s Power, Faithfulness, And Love.
Provides The Foundation For Understanding The New Testament.
Looks Forward To The Messiah Who Is To Come.
Teaches The Faith And Faithlessness Of God’s People.
Inspires By Their Stories.
Comforts By The Psalms.
Judges By The Prophets.
Gains Hope For The Believer From The Promises.
The Scriptures Help Us To:
Endure And Be Steadfast.
Survive The Difficult Times Of Life.
Know That God Redeems The Faithful.
Know What Is Right.
Be Assured That God Is With Us.
Tell The Story Of Jesus’ Life, Death, And Resurrection.
Proclaims The Promise That God Created Us For Life Eternal.
All Scripture Is Given By Inspiration Of God That Is Profitable:
For Doctrine. For Reproof.
For Correction. For Instruction In Righteousness.
So That The Man Of God May Be Perfect And Thoroughly Furnished.
VERSE 5: THE SCRIPTURES GIVE US INSTRUCTION.
WHY WE SHOULD STUDY THE OLD TESTAMENT?
ALL THE SCRIPTURES ARE:
1. For Our Instruction.
The Old Testament Stories Are Designed To Teach Us By Graphic Illustrations How God Taught Men To Live, Not To Please Themselves, But To Please God.
Be Willing To Learn:
What The Scriptures Teach.
That Encouragement Comes By The Truth Of Scripture.
Often Provide Full Assurance Of Hope.
2. Intended By God To Give Perseverance And Encouragement.
God Will Give You A Perspective On The Hard Situations You Face.
God Will Give You A Perspective That Helps You Endure.
3. For The Purpose Of Sustaining The Christian In Daily Living.
VERSE 6 and 7: A PRAYER TO BE IN HARMONY DESPITE DIFFERENCES OF CONVICTION.
When There Are Differences Of Conviction And Practices:
Agree On Doctrine But Accept Differences On Practices.
Pray For The Unity Of Believers:
Live In Complete Harmony With Each Other.
Encourage Us As We Wait For His Promises.
Join Together With One Voice.
Be Of One Mind.
Be Of One Mouth.
Giving Praise And Glory To God.
Accept Each Other.
Christ Died For Both The Weak And The Strong.
Therefore, Accept Each Other. Just As Christ Has Accepted You.
So That God Will Be Given Glory.
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