Roman 7

Intro- talk about elections

The New International Version (Chapter 13)

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4

Paul for Everyone, Romans Part 2: Chapters 9–16 The Divine Purpose, and Limited Role, of Ruling Authorities (Romans 13:1–7)

The Christians are called to believe, though, that the civic authorities, great and small, are there because the one true God wants his world to be ordered, not chaotic. This does not validate particular actions of particular governments. It is merely to say that some government is always necessary, in a world where evil flourishes when unchecked.

The New International Version (Chapter 13)

4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

Order honors God, He is a God of peace and order.

The New International Version (Chapter 13)

6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

The New International Version (Chapter 13)

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” y and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” a 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Jesus (Love) is the fulfillment of the law.

The New International Version (Chapter 13)

11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

The New International Version (Chapter 13)

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. k

The New International Version (Chapter 14)

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

A mature believer will give up things that aren’t wrong to keep a weaker believer in the right.

Don’t make a major issues over a minor disagreement.

Major on the majors and minor on the minors.

The New International Version (Chapter 14)

5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God

The New International Version (Chapter 14)

7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.

Our lives, choices, and the consequences of our choices, have real effects on others.

8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

The New International Version (Chapter 14)

10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:“ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,‘every knee will bow before me;every tongue will acknowledge God.’ ” z

The New International Version (Chapter 14)

12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

How we live affects others, to be an intentional stumbling block to others is to be living in sin.

The New International Version (Chapter 14)

I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.

The New International Version (Chapter 14)

16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

The Kingdom isn’t about rule and regulations, its about peace and presences.

There is no experience in this world that is worth sabotaging someone else's eternity for.

Loving our neighbor sometime mean giving up things that aren’t bad.

God is honored and reflected when we seek order and justice.