Romans Part 4

We have been looking at Paul’s letters to the Roman church.

This is one of his longest letters, and it is a comprehensive look at how Paul sees the gospel, and addresses theological concrens.

HE started by putting the world on trial before God, and concluded that all the world has fallen short of the Glory of God, and that without Jesus, the wrath of God would crush us.

then he looked at how Jesus is able to offer salvation - and using financial language describes how Jesus’s Righteousness, by being the only person to perfectly follow God’s law, and die in our place is enough to undo the sin of Adam that cursed all mankind, and he offers that righteousness freely to any willing to follow him.

last week we saw how even though we are saved, our bodies are still imperfect and bound by sin, but in Jesus, when we try to follow him we are not bound anymore by sin, Salvation in Jesus Christ allows us to overcome sin and death, and so we can go and boldly proclaim the gospel.

This week were going to look at the last couple chapters - where Paul turns toward living and working together with other believers.

He starts by telling us to sacrifice our own desires.

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

One of the biggest hurdles we have as believers is giving up our own desires so that we can learn to desire what God desires, and by sacrificing ourselves we grow closer to God as a result.

Romans 12:3–8 ESV

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

another benefit of sacrificing our own desires is that we work better with others, which is exactly as it should be.

THe church is often described as the Body of Christ, and each part of the body has its own roles.

Paul says that the church should operate like this with each person using their gifts to help further the church in some way.

so, I am the pastor/teacher, i teach and guide the church, but i am not the only person here.

We have several people who are gifted with other skills, some do hospitality and cooking, some help with the church finances, some help encourage others, but we are supposed to work together,

and paul tells us that since we are working together, we should follow Jesus’s final command, to love one another.

Romans 13:8–10 ESV

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

This was jesus’s argument when asked what the greatest command ment was:

Love God, Love Others,

if you do that you will essentially follow the rest of the commandments.

So we are to love one another, as jesus commanded, and when Jesus commanded it he said,

John 13:34–35 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

So church we need to learn to love each other as jesus loves us?

how much did jesus love us, that while we were sinners he died for us, when we were against him he died for us, though we were not worthy, he died for us.

So how can we apply that to the church today?

one way is to not quarrel with each other over differences in opinion.

In Paul’s day one controversy coming throguh the roman church was whether or not it was okay to eat meat that had been sacrificed to false idols,

during those days, anytime an animal was slaughtered it was likely done by a preist to zeus, or aphrodity, or some other Greco-roman God.

and because there was no real way to stor the meat, it was eaten at a feast as a major social gathering

so if you refused to eat the meat you were cutting yourself off from friends and family that you could talk to about Jesus

So there was a difference of opinion:

Some said if i eat the meat than i am partaking in worship of a false god,

Some said, well those gods dont even exist, so the sacrifice in meaningless and so i can eat the meat and use the opportunity to share the gospel with others.

So paul takes this argument and Shows the church how we ought to act towards each other when we are on opposite sides of the argument

Romans 14:1–6 ESV

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

Well this is all well and good, but we don’t tend to argue over whether or not its okay to eat meat sacrificed to idols, because that is not a thing in our culture.

But we can apply the same principle to our lives today.

Should we have a Christmas Tree?

I would say yes, but there are many who will say that the practice is rooted in paganism

Should we celebrate Halloween?

some may say Trick or treating is harmless, but that night is used by pagans.

Should Christians do yoga?

Its healthy, but the positions of yoga are positions of worship to the hindu gods.

OR how about something that actually is food?

Can Christians drink alchohol?

Jesus drank wine - and made the BEST wine. but there are dangers to drinking too much.

Or Politics

These are many questions and controversies that plauge the modern day church, and if we want to look at what paul advises he basically says, if you have a good reason to do it, do it, if you have a good reason to abstain, abstain, let each other be. Although he does point out that there are guidelines to this approach.

Romans 14:13–23 ESV

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Nothing is unclean - that is to say off limits because Jesus’s death on the cross means we are free from such labels, but just because we can do it doesn’t always mean we should, and the guideline is if you do something that could damage you or another person’s faith, you should stop.

If celebrating Halloween might lead you or your family towards pagan practices it should be avoided.

if doing yoga leads you to exploring more eastern mysticism practices you should stop.

If drinking alchohol could cause someone else to stumble, or relapse, you should avoid it, not because it is essentially wrong, but because we are trying to build each other up, and that is easier when we are not putting out stumbling blocks for others.

OR heres a big one - politics.

there is a reason why i do not preach politics from the pulpit, because if i say something overtly political it could alienate many people who believe differently. and that damages the reputation of the church.

So we need to work together church, and that means it is okay if we disagree on different things, and it may mean abstaining from things that we would like to do, or at the very least not arguing with those who uphold different values than we do.

So long as we agree that Jesus Christ died for our sins.

Romans 15:1–7 ESV

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

IF we learn to sacrifice our own intrests for the sake of others, then we are learning to love each other as Christ loved us.

As a Church that should be our goal.

and it doesn’t just have to be - do not argue needlessly with each other

But find other ways we can sacrifice of our time, and our comforts, to help others both within the church and outside the church.

Another way we can look at this is with the upcomming thanksgiving dinner.

many of us are going to be spending time with extended family this week.

and family gatherings can often be stressful.

what if, instead of arguing with them about your opinions of politics, or Christmas trees, or drinking, you actually focused on giving thanks for them.

And learned to love them like JEsus does. giving up your own interests so that Christ may shine.

The last couple chapters of Romans are mostly personal greetings that Paul and the people he is with give to the Roman church.

But lets quickly summarize what we learned.

All mankind has sinned and fallen short.

Only Jesus was righteous.

Jesus offers us his righteousness and salvation freely,

if only we put our trust and obedience in him

When we put our faith in Christ our sins no longer count

So we are free to try and live good lives, because we have defeated sin and Death.

And since we are free we should work together with each other

Using our gifts and talents to help each other

giving up our own selfish and sinful desires for the good of others.