Since we will not have Life Bible Studies on 11/27, you may want to direct members to to access this lesson.

Transcription

1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview November 27, 2011 "Does Your Life Speak Well of God?" Background: Romans 15:1-16:27 Lesson: Romans 15:1-13 Motivation: A familiar church creed begins "The chief end of man is to glorify God..." We find in this lesson that unity in the Body glorifies God; 1 Cor. 10:31; Micah 6:8. Since we will not have Life Bible Studies on 11/27, you may want to direct members to to access this lesson. Examination: I. Be a Tribute to God (Romans 15:1-13) A. Serve Others 1. Maturity "We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves." (1) Consistently in God's Word we find that more mature Christians are held to a higher level of responsibility than those less mature. (Matt. 5:23-24; James 3:1). In continuing the discussion of Chapter 14, Paul emphasizes this principle again. "Scruples" is variously translated "infirmities", "failings" 1 / 19

2 , and "weaknesses". While it certainly is true in the physical realm, that the strong should help the weak, it primarily relates in this instance to Christian maturity. The more mature a person is in the Christian faith, the less he/she will live for self-pleasure and the more he/she will seek to please God. 2. Mentoring "Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification." (2) Two aspects of mentoring are presented: a. Encourage "please his neighbor" - The Amplified Bible renders this &quo t;make happy." By bearing with the weak and putting their concerns ahead of our own, we will encourage them and demonstrate Christ likeness. b. Edify "leading to edification" - This phrase is variously translated " build him up," "help him grow," and "help in his development." Our "bearing" with the weak is not a passive exercise that overlooks weakness. Rather, it involves constructive steps springing from a desire for peace (14:19) that leads to the weaker becoming stronger in the faith. Col. 2: Method "For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.'" (3) Jesus is the ultimate example of the strong bearing with the weak. 2 / 19

3 Though He could have called "more than twelve legions of angels" (Matt. 26:53) to defend Him, He endured mockery, insult, torture and even death for our sakes. His method was not to please Himself but to please His Heavenly Father. 4. Message "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) Another argument for this principle of service is the clear instruction of Scripture. In the previous verse, Paul quoted from Psalm 69:9. Thou gh the Psalm is Messianic, it reminds us of our responsibility to endure hardship for a greater good (Rom. 5:1-5). It's also a good reminder of why we study God's Word: B. Get Along With Others 1. Goal "Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be likeminded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus." (5) Unity is our goal with the understanding that it is also a grace gift. God must "grant" it to us. The gift of "like-mindedness" will only be possible if we take on the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5-11) and follow his example. a. Unity is initiated by God. b. Unity involves patience and comfort. 3 / 19

4 c. Unity issues from a desire to glorify God. 2. Glory "That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (6) In 1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul cites our ultimate mission statement: "Therefo re, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" C. Treat Others Well (7-12) "Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. 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, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy." Paul cites four passages in an appeal for unity (Ps. 18:50; Deut. 32:43; Ps. 117:1; Isa. 11:10). D. Find Hope In the Spirit "Now may the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (13). Paul concludes with a prayer for his readers: (2 Pet. 3:9) 1. He prays to "the God of all hope" - Hope is only found for eternity in Him. Any other basis for hope is temporary. Titus 2: He prays for filling - Hope must be a grace gift granted by God through the filling of His Spirit. 4 / 19

5 3. He prays for joy - The results of the proper disposition (5) will be unity resulting in joy. G od's Word never paints our Christian experience as a grim business to be endured. Rather, the Christian life is to be lived in abundance with great joy (John 10:10; 15:11). 4. He prays for peace - Another result of unity will be peace, one of our goals in the Body (14:19). 5. He prays for belief - God's grace gifts are accepted by faith based on belief in His Word. 6. He prays for hope - Since God is the "God of all hope," His followers should be noted for abounding in hope. Faith and hope are tied together. Since we cannot please God without faith, (Heb. 11:6) hope should be in abundant supply to true followers of Christ. 7. He prays for power - Our power is only available through God's Holy Spirit. John 15:5; Mark 10:27 II. Seek Others Prayers (15:14-33) A. Ministry Among Gentiles (14-19) Paul's benediction reveals much about himself; notice his personal characteristics: 5 / 19

6 1. Positive "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) Paul expected the best of the Roman believers. a. "Full of goodness" - This epistle began with the theology of sin and judgment. But, rather than remind them of their sinful nature, Paul prefers to remind them of their redeemed nature which results in goodness. b. "Filled with all knowledge" - Paul is referring to their equipping with Christian learning. He's reminding the reader that he/she has everything needed to be successful in the Christian life. (John 16:13; Col. 2:2-3) c. "Able to admonish one another" - All of us are smarter than any one of us. Within this verse we find Christian accountability and community. Ch ristianity is designed to be experienced within a Body. God doesn't call "Lone Rangers." 2. Persuasive "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) The bold points of emphasis may refer to the "certainly not!" responses to Paul's unseen objector (3:6, 6:2, 6:15, 7:7). 3. Purposeful "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) Paul's initial calling on the road to Damascus was to "bear My name before Gentiles, Kings and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:15). 6 / 19

7 At the conclusion of Acts, Paul found disbelief among some of the Jews and declared "Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!" Eph. 2:14-15 (Acts 28:28). In Romans 11:13, Paul called himself "the apostle to the Gentiles." (Gal. 2:8; 1 Tim. 2:7). This apostle understood his calling and ordered his life according to God's priorities. His ministry involved the "gospel of God" and pictured the Gentiles as an acceptable offering to God "Sanctified by the Holy Spirit." 4. Full of Praise "Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God." (17) Paul's humility is revealed in that his only boasting was concerning God's work. 5. Perceptive "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." (18) This is the flipside of Philippians 4:13. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Here he is stating that he can't do anything with lasting worth apart from Christ. 6. Powerful "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) "Signs and wonders" by the power of the Holy Spirit were validators of the truthfulness of the message of Christ. We see such miracles in the ministry of Jesus and the apostles. Some try to replicate these signs & wonders today to validate their own message. In fact, the anti-christ will validate his position with counterfeit signs and wonders (2 Thes. 2:9). 7 / 19

8 Jesus promised that we (Christians) would "do even greater things than these" (John 14:12 NIV). While many signs and wonders involved physical healing, as we minister in the power of the Holy Spirit and witness to our Faith, we can see spiritual healing and resurrection. 7. Pioneering "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, but as it is written: To whom He was not announced, they shall see; and those who have not heard shall understand'". Paul was unafraid to take the Gospel into new areas. His long range vision was to take the gospel to Spain (24, 28). The Old Testament verse is from Isaiah 52:15. B. Desire to go to Rome (23-27) 1. Rome "For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you." (22) Probably many Christians in Rome wondered why Paul spent his time in the "backwater towns" of Asia Minor. He cites two reasons: 1) A church was already established in Rome; Paul was called to a ministry of planting new churches, not building "on another man's foundation" (20), and 2) the work "from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum" consumed his time and produced obstacles of its own (2 Cor. 11:16-30; Acts 28:28). 2. Greece "But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you." (23) Paul probably wrote this epistle from Greece during his third missionary journey. 8 / 19

9 Having planted churches that were now self-sustaining, Paul at last felt the freedom to visit Rome. 3. Spain "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) Believer's Study Bible, p. 1620: 15:24 "Paul is contemplating a more extensive missionary journey than any before undertaken. He will return to Jerusalem with the collection from Greece, and then, on his way to Spain, he will visit the Roman Christians. Although those plans were revised by imprisonment in Jerusalem, the end result was the same: Paul saw Rome (cf. Acts 28). Strong tradition and some evidence suggest that after release from prison in Rome he did travel to Spain in missionary activity." 4. Jerusalem "But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 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." (25-27) For a fuller discourse on this offering for Jerusalem, read 2 Corinthians 8 & 9. C. Request for Prayer (28-33) 9 / 19

10 1. A Prayer Request "Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. 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." (28-30) It should be instructive to each of us that Paul was not only a prayer warrior but also a prayer requester. This giant of the faith felt a need for others to pray for him. Those of us who haven't been used by the Holy Spirit to write two-thirds of the New Testament should feel a similar need to have others pray for us. (Eph. 6:18-20) 2. A Request Denied "That I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe." (31a) Paul prayed to be delivered but, in fact, was taken captive, threatened with scourging and imprisoned (Acts 22:24ff). He knew in advance that Jerusalem posed dangers for him (Acts 21:4, 11-12), yet, he went into this dangerous mission field to fulfill his calling. As HFBC continues to send more and more volunteers into increasingly dangerous places, we should be reminded: a. Prayer for safety is always appropriate. We should not cease praying for our Missionaries and volunteers. b. Safety and comfort are not always God's Will. Peter writes that those who suffer for Christ's glory and according to God's will should rejoice (1 Pet. 4:12-19). c. God's calling on our lives takes precedence over our safety. Paul wrote earlier "W hether we live or die, we are the Lord's" 10 / 19

11 (14:8). 3. A Request Granted "And that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen." (31b -33) Paul not only requested prayer for safety, but also for a good reception from the Jerusalem church (Acts 21:17) and that he would come to Rome with joy and refreshment (Acts 28:15). Paul didn't foresee that he would be taken to Rome at the government's expense; but, his prayers were answered. III. Commend Others (Romans 16:1-24) A. Commendations and Greetings (1-16) 1. Phoebe "I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she had need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also." (1-2) Believer's Study Bible, p. 1620: 16:1 "Phoebe is called a servant' ( diakonon, Gk.) of the church in Cenchrea. The word servant' is the same word sometimes translated deacon.' Did the early church have deaconesses? The answer lies in the generic and the technical uses of the term. The word diakonon basically means minister' of spiritual servant.' 11 / 19

12 In that sense, the early church had numerous deaconesses who were most effective in their work for Christ. The technical meaning of diakonon (cf. 1 Tim. 3:8-13) was restricted to a functional ecclesiastical office which was held only by men set aside for that endeavor." 2. Priscilla and Aquila "Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles." (3-4) We first encounter Priscilla & Aquila in Acts 18:1-3: "After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers." Believer's Study Bible, p. 1575: Acts 18:2 "When Paul met Aquila and his wife Priscilla, presumably they were already Christians. They had recently come from Italy because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome. This formal outbreak of anti-semitism occurred in about A.D. 49, when there were approximately 20,000 Jews in Rome. They were unpopular; Tiberius had exiled 4,000 from Rome to Sardinia. Suetonius maintained that Claudius's decree against the Jews came because the Jews were in a state of constant tumult at the instigation of one Christus."' The Jews probably pronounced the name Christ' approximately this way." Acts 18:18, 26; 1 Cor. 16:19; 2 Tim. 4: / 19

13 3. House Churches "Likewise greet the church that is in their house" (5a) Believer's Study Bible, p. 1621: 16:5 "An insight into the life of the early church may certainly be gained from this text. Apparently the church at Rome had already experienced such extensive growth that an assembly of the entire congregation was becoming difficult. Also, Rome was a large city with numerous suburbs and slums. Geographically, the meeting place may have been difficult for some. Evidently Priscilla and Aquila, the indefatigable missionary duo, had established a new mission church in their own home. Not only had the numbers of the Christians greatly increased, but also the congregations themselves were beginning to increase in number." 4. Various Greetings Although Paul had not personally been to Rome, note how familiar he was with the church leaders. In an age of primitive (by our standards) communication, the early church went to extraordinary efforts to keep in touch and pray for one another. How much more should we do this today! Most of the names mentioned were common in that day; however, commentators offer the following speculation: "Epaenetus" (5) - "my beloved" or "my dear brother" ; an early convert in Asia. "Mary" (6) - Of the 24 names mentioned, six are women, an argument against a perceived anti-female bias on Paul's part that some have claimed. "Andronicus and Junia" (7) - Since Junia was a common female name, they are possibly husband and wife. "Apostles" 13 / 19

14 is used as missionary rather than a designation for high office. (1 Cor. 9:11). "Amplias" (8) - William Barclay notes that this name is ornately and prominently carved on the earliest Christian Catacombs in Rome. The fact that a single name is carved rather than the traditional three names of a Roman, probably denotes a slave. The prominence of the carving indicates a church leader. Once again we have the evidence that the ground is level at the foot of the cross. "The household of Aristobulus" (10) - There was a grandson of Herod the Great by this name who resided in Rome and was a close friend of Emperor Claudius. Since the next name mentioned is Herodion, this household could represent the extended family and slaves of Herod's grandson. Upon his death, the slaves would have joined the emperor's household. This may have been part of Paul's reference to "Caesar's household" in Philippians 4:22. "The household of Narcissus" (10) - Emperor Claudius also had a powerful secretary by this name who amassed a huge fortune of money and slaves. Again, upon his death, they would have been regarded as a part of Caesar's household. In all, thirteen of the twenty-four names are found in documents or inscriptions related to the Roman Emperor. "Tryphena and Tryphosa" (12) - are translated form the Greek "dainty" and "delicate." Yet the word Paul uses for "labored" is "worked to the point of exhaustion" (also used of Mary in verse 6). As one who himself was a hard worker, Paul admired these hard working women. "Rufus" (13) - In Mark 15:21, Simon of Cyrene is described as the father of 14 / 19

15 "Alexander and Rufus" as these two sons were well known to the Christian community. "Nereus" (15) - possibly the chamberlain Flavius Clemens, a consul of Rome, and his wife Domatilla, the great granddaughter of Emperor Vespasian. In AD 95 these two were condemned for being Christians; he was executed and she was exiled. If this is the same Nereus who served them, he was probably the instrument God used to bring them to Christ. B. Admonitions and Accolades (17-20) 1. Admonition Against False Teachers "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 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." (17-18) 1 John 2:18-19, 1 Tim. 6:3-8. Notice the characteristics of the false teachers we are to avoid: 1) Cause dissension, 2) cause hindrances, 3) teach contrary doctrine, 4) motivated by physical appetites (money, sex, hunger), 5) depend on smooth words and flattering speech instead of God's truth. 2. Accolades for Roman Christians "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. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." (19-20) a. Great "your obedience" - Although the false teachers posed a big threat, Paul trusted the church at Rome to do the right thing. 15 / 19

16 b. Good "be wise to what is good" - It's not rocket science; do the right thing! "Simple concerning evil" is also translated as "pure", "innocent," "guileless." Matt. 10:16 c. God "God of peace" - Peace has been a consistent theme in Romans (1:7, 2:10, 5:1, 8:6, 12:18, 14:17-19, 15:13, 15:33). God will triumph over Satan (Gen. 3:15). d. Grace "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ" - Grace has also been a major theme (1:5-7, 3:24, 4:16, 5:2, 5:15-21, 6:14-15, 11:5-6, 12:3-6, 15:15). C. Greetings from Friends "Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you. I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." (21-24) William Barclay notes: "It is tempting to try to identify the group of friends who send their greetings along with Paul's. Timothy was Paul's right hand man, the man whom Paul saw as his successor and of whom he later said that no one knew his mind so well (Philippians 2:19, 20). Lucius may be the Lucius of Cyrene, who was one of the prophets and teachers of Antioch who first sent Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journeys (Acts 13:1). Jason may be the Jason who gave Paul hospitality at Thessalonica and suffered for it at the 16 / 19

17 hands of the mob (Acts 17:5-9). Sosipater may be the Sopater of Beroea who took his Church's share of the collection to Jerusalem with Paul (Acts 20:4). Gaius may be the Gaius who was one of the two people whom Paul baptized at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:14). For the first and only time, we know the name of an amanuensis who actually penned this letter to Paul's dictation, for Tertius slipped in his own greeting. No great man can do his work without the aid that humble helpers give him. Paul's other secretaries are anonymous, so that Tertius is the representative of those humble unknowns who were penmen for Paul. One of the most interesting things in the whole chapter is the way in which again and again Paul characterizes people in a single sentence. Here there are two great summaries. Gai us is the man of hospitality; Quartus is the brother. It is a great thing to go down to history as the man with the open house or as the man with the brotherly heart. Someday people will sum us up in one sentence. What will that sentence be?" The Letter to the Romans, p IV. Praise God (16:25-27) "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 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the 17 / 19

18 everlasting God, for obedience to the faith - to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen." (25-27) Glory goes to God through Jesus who: 1. Is able to establish you (25) using the sacrifice and teaching of Jesus. 2 Cor. 9:8; Eph. 3:20-21; Jude Has revealed the mystery through the scriptures (26) (Eph. 1:9, cf. 3-14) Heb. 13:20 3. Will make the gospel known to the nations (27) Rev. 7:9 Application: 1. Unity in the Body involves a series of personal relations. 2. Unity in the Body involves making right choices (good over evil). 3. Unity in the Body results in the gospel being spread to the nations. Adult Leader Pack: Item 20: Poster: Remember; Illustrator: p. 53; "Approved: A Word Study" Notes: **You may access David's Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: 18 / 19

19 Dates: 2011: 8/24-11/16 - Midlink & Meal; 8/25-11/17 - College Kardia; 10/31 - First Fest; 11/ 10 - UBA Quarterly Assoc. Meeting; 11/12 - Men Pray Event; 11/13 - Make it Your Church Orientation; 11/13 - Parent Commitment; 11/13 - Christmas Store Collection; 11/18 & 20 - Thy Will be Done Seminars; 11/ Thanksgiving Holiday, church offices closed; 11/27 - Thanksgiving Weekend; 12/1 - Women's Christmas Banquet; 12/2 - Parents Night Out; 12/3 - Christmas Store; 12/ Christmas Celebration 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm.; 12/11 -Eve. Svc. in gym + LBS; 12/17 - Candy Cane Lane; 12/17 - Deacon's Christmas Party; 12/ Christmas Holidays - church offices closed; 12/24 - Christmas Eve 2, 4 & 6:00 pm; 12/25 - Christmas Day - 2 svc. 9:30 & 11:00 am, no LBS; 12/31 - New Year's Eve Party - Summit. 19 / 19