“THE BOOK OF
ROMANS”
Part 8 of 8
Ch
12,13,14,15 = Service
& worship
Ch. 12 -
Living sacrifices
Christian behaviour
This
12th chapter teaches us the
nature of the true worship of God. We are called to offer up sacrifices
to the
Lord, but not about money or houses as prescribed under the law. No,
these
sacrifices are to be our own bodies in everyday living, as we are to be
living
sacrifices and slay our own lusts in our service toward others. This is
true
worship and is a daily thing. Many Christians miss this point believing
that
worship only belongs in church on a Sunday.
Paul
describes the outward conduct required
of Christians in how we are to teach, preach, rule, serve, give,
suffer, love,
live and act towards our friends, enemies and everybody else. These are
the
works that God requires and are faith in action. This is true worship
to God.
Our
duty towards government
Paul
states that the civil government is there for our good. They are God’s
ministers
(Rom 13:6). We are to obey them as far as is possible in the
Lord. We
do not steal from them at tax time for example. They are there for our
protection as the wicked are not free to do evil as they wish. This is
why the
civil government must be honoured for what it can provide in
maintaining law
and order. Paul restates the last five of the Ten Commandments of adultery,
steal, kill, witness and covet under loving thy neighbour
as thyself
(Rom 13:9).
Our duty towards weaker brethren
Paul
teaches us to bear those weak in the faith very tenderly and not to
injure
them. Accordingly it may be sometimes better to yield somewhat to those
who are
weaker in the faith such that the effects of the gospel is maintained
and not
perish. As babies in the faith, they have tender consciences and can be
confused until they know the truth about things regarding food (Rom
14:2) days
(Rom 14:5) and drink (Rom 14:17).
Ch. 15 – Christian love
We are not to please ourselves
In
this chapter Paul outlines that we are not to please ourselves when it
comes to
other Christians. He refers to the frailty of their manifest sins,
their
unpleasant manners, habits and imperfections. Indeed, we are reminded
that
Christ has longsuffering to us every day. This is summed up in verses
four and
five. For
whatsoever things were written aforetime were
written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the
scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation
grant you
to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: Rom 15:4-5
Paul puts forward his
qualifications as the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles (Rom
15:16) but
not on another man’s territory/foundation (Rom 15:20). He reveals his
wish to
come to Rome via Spain (Rom 15:24) and of his current endeavour to take
some
money to the poor saints in Jerusalem. He finishes by praying that he
will be
delivered from unbelievers (Rom 15:31).
Ch 16 =
Salutations and
warning
Ch. 16 – Salutations
Warning – all those whose idol is
their belly (Roman Catholic church)
In
the first sixteen verses of this chapter Paul mentions and salutes the
saints
in Rome. He finishes with the warning of those that would have doctrine
contrary to Paul. He says their god is
their belly and are smooth talkers that can deceive the simple
minded saint
(Rom 16:18). For it is out of Rome, for two thousand years, and through
the
Roman Catholic system, that they have overwhelmed the world. They are
truly
called the whore of Babylon (Rev 17:1,15, 16; 19:2). Paul denounces
them, warns
us of them and that God would save us from them. Indeed, the flesh wars
against
the Spirit (Gal 5:17) and as the days get darker and the word of God
disappears, the world is indeed becoming more fleshy.
Why their belly? Paul
also knew that in the future, Rome’s priests would say their wafer is
the
actual body of Jesus. You must eat their ‘magic cookie’ and have
‘jesus’ in
your belly to be accepted by God. Absolute blasphemy!
**** ****
Harley Hitchcock
www.
AustralianBibleMinistries
.com