Paul now leaves the very difficult things behind with an Amen, and starts a new section or thought.
The epistle to the Romans is intensely theological, doctrinal, as well bewildering. Many times we do not know what Paul means, and he may not know either. For he is writing under the inspiration of the Spirit of God.
He has shown that God's electing grace is available to all with no regard to one's race nor nationality. It is a mystery that is far too deep to understand, so it must be accepted by faith. Moreover, God cannot be questioned as to why or how his electing grace works.
In this chapter, Paul moves from the bewilderment of chapters 9, 10 & 11 to the practical. He will now tell us how the confusing things he has said works out in practical action.
It is certainly good to study and try to develop the deep things of God, but without those things working out in our lives, the study is worthless effort. Our Christian duty is certainly to study to show ourselves approved unto God and to equip us to answer for the hope that is within us, but knowledge does not exempt us from duty and responsibility as Paul will now start to develop.
Few men are called upon to develop the deep theological ideas and implications of the first 11 chapters of Romans. Those who cannot understand the first 11 chapters should start in chapter 12, for all can understand from here on.
This chapter can be described overall as explaining the duties of believers, both in general and in particular.
It can be divided into two parts:
"The first, vs. 1-8, treats of piety towards God, and the proper estimation and use of the various gifts and offices employed or exercised in the church.
"The second, vs. 9-21, relates to love and its various manifestations towards different classes of men."
Notice here that Paul writes commandments to Christians. That means that a Christian can be lacking in the following attributes that Paul is going to develop. As we look around, we see that most professed Christians are totally ignorant of these laws of Christ as outlined by Paul. That does not mean they are not Christians, but it does mean that they do not know Scripture, and they have not had the renewing called for by Paul.
V. 1. I beseech you therefore... After finishing the benefits and mysteries of God, Paul calls on all men to do something.
By the mercies of God that ye present your bodies... Paul did not say present yourselves, but present your bodies... And he means our living flesh, not some mystical experience. It is the physical flesh that must be subdued to the demands of the laws of Christ.
This is not done by barbarous customs of mutilation; that is, things like tattoos and piercings. Present your bodies does not mean put a knife to a vein and bleed to death for the Lord. The old sacrifice was easy to fulfill, as it called for a bullock or a ram.
Under the gospel, we are called to sacrifice our living members; that is, we are not to close our ears lest we should hear music. Rather, we are to open the ear and say, let me hear, for I can now judge properly. Are the tones pure? Is the meaning holy? My living ears are a holy sacrifice to the Lord, and acceptable unto him. I can now reject the suggestions of evil that come to my ears, and can respond to the tone of purity.
The Gospel of Paul, nor any other Apostle, does not permit us to hide away from the world. We are to say to the world, Who are you? What can you do? What is your power? What is your purpose and intent? I no longer must hide away from your power, for you have lost your power through Christ.
Yes, the world at one time had us bound with cart ropes and wagon chains, and was dragging us behind it toward the pit. Yes, the world had us convinced, conquered and nearly destroyed.
We must now say to the world: I have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. I no longer must shut myself off from you in fear. I have presented my physical body, my arms, legs, eyes, ears, feet, tongue, as an acceptable holy sacrifice to the God of my salvation.
Paul's theology is practical Christian conduct. Theology is not arguments and fights over words, nor arguments over who has advanced to be best in character. Theologians who never come out of their theological cloud should never have gotten into it. They misrepresent the kingdom of God. They are word-choppers, murders of human thought and language. They are spoiling wolves that seek to live off the flock of Christ.
Sermons with no practical Christian life application should never have been preached.
your reasonable service. God requires reasonable service. That is, the service of our reason. Paul would not have reason driven removed from the church. Reason, sanctified by the Word of God, must rule in the church. How many religious leaders demand that godly reason be left at the door when their people listen to them, so they can fleece the flock.
Paul would not have our sanctified reason shut off from the world. How often to we see men demanding others to follow them to destruction without reason. That is, "Don't think through Scripturally what I am doing; just follow me."
Paul would not have us shut our sanctified reason behind closed doors. We are to put our physical sacrificed members to work in the world.
Paul demands that our reason bow before the cross of Christ. In doing so, we cannot shut ourselves off from the world. Rather, the world must be subject to our sanctified reason, as we subdue all things to Christ and his kingdom.
Paul's exhortation does not end with the body.
V. 2, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The first verse deals with the body in right relationship with God. This second verse deals with the mind, and making it acceptable unto God. Thus, the whole man is consecrated to God.
be not conformed to this world as the many around us are. Our world is much bigger than just the physical, and maybe even richly adorned. But our new world is now eternal, as we look forward to the city built without hands, and eternal in the heavens.
Renewed... The mind is to be renewed, filled with holy energy. It is to be as fresh as the morning dew.
Why? The mind is to become place of moral criticism. That is, as we are in the world, but not of the world, our renewed mind must evaluate, prove, test, look and consider carefully so we can know what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
As Joseph Parker (1830-1902) says, that "we may know the will of God from that which is supposed to be the will of God; that you may have the faculty of discrimination, the judgment that will not be satisfied with broad definitions, but must go into critical distinctions, so that the mind cannot be imposed upon by false revelation."
Over the years, I have been associated with professed Christian men who had no discrimination between the will of God and the supposed will of God. They either did not know Scripture or refused to follow Scripture as they sought to advance the kingdoms of men while ignoring the kingdom of God, and all in the name of the Christian God.
They read and study all kinds of books and authors, yet know very little of the word of God.
My wife and I asked a man and wife who felt qualified to lead others in marriage counseling how many times he had read his bible through. NONE, he said, yet they felt qualified to spiritually lead others through their marital trials and tribulations because both of them had been divorced. They were lay people, but I have been told of more than one pastor who has divorced, remarried, and now feels qualified to counsel others.
Those who have had their mind renewed by the word of God cannot be led astray by false "Christian" ideas and gospels.
Unlike the deep theology of the previous chapters, Paul here uses simple words in describing Christian responsibility. We are without excuse.
Vv. 3-8. According as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith...
Not to think... The standard of measurement is our Christian character. We must not fall into that trap of judging according to natural ability, rank, wealth, eloquence or worldly office.
Soberly... Be honest and humble, and measure ourselves as God measures us by his word.
measure of faith. That is, we are to serve God according to whatever faith each man has.
James tells us that faith without works is dead. How do our Christian works line up with our profession of faith?
We will be judged in that day according to our faith as exhibited in our works.
2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Every person has a gift of faith, and according to every person's particular gift of faith, he is to work, whether he is prophet, minister or servant or exhorter.
1 Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
Paul warns against pride and conceit. We are to contain ourselves within the bounds of our abilities.
Self-esteem must be destroyed.
Illustration:
One of the pastor's in Moorefield has stopped coming to the Association meetings, evidently because her church was not selected by the Sr class last year to have the Bacaloriat service in.
V. 4. God has given every person his measure of faith which is to result in works. He compares the various abilities to different parts of the body. Each member of the body is necessary in order for the body to operate properly.
Rather than jealousy and envy among our body members, there must be unity for the body to function properly. Paul lists various abilities, and rather than the abilities competing against one another because of pride, they must work together for the body of Christ to function properly.
See 1 Corinthians 12:12-31.
Referring back to 2 Corinthians 5:10, we will not answer for how good that other member of the body fulfilled his or her gift, or duty, but how good we did.
John 21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? 21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
V. 5, and every one members one of another.
The Lord designed us to be dependent upon one another. The eye cannot say to the feet, "I have no need of you!" We consider the body physically handicapped when a member of our body does not fulfill its duty and responsibility properly, or when a part is missing.
The body of Christ is made up of many different individuals, with many different callings and talents.
First, no member of the church should consider himself unimportant, though he may not have the wealth or talent of another.
Second, God designed that we should be different; therefore we need one another.
Third, we must not look down on others. We are all necessary
for the body of Christ to work properly.
V. 6-8
According to the proportion of faith.
Literally, according to whatever faith each man has. That is to say, Every person has a gift of faith, and according to every man's particular gift of faith let him work, whether he be prophet or minister or servant or exhorter.
I like what Parker says here: A problem is that the man who has little faith will quarrel with the man who is all faith. It is very rarely you hear the great dog bark, but no whip can keep the little dog quiet. The person with little faith will have tremendous criticism. He can tell you who is right and who is wrong, as he speaks his own condemnation.
The Apostle Paul recognizes differences, the proportions and the various gifts given by God to his children.
All Paul insists upon is personal simplicity and sincerity in the conviction in the gift into which we are called.
Notice, however, there is no gift of criticism given, though each of us use it freely.
Again, quoting Joseph Parker:
Is any man called to be a poet ? let him gather his singing robes around him, and awake with the lark, and sing to us from heaven's gate of the glory land and all the vision that makes heaven's eternal summer. Is any man called to be a servant ? let him stoop to his work honestly and lovingly, and worshippingly, and he shall find in the ground the mystery wrought by the sun, roots rich with fruit. Is any man called to give ? let him give with both hands richly, simply ; " let him do it with simplicity," that is, with only one meaning. Simplicity is the single fold, open and read of all men ; duplicity is the double fold, between the folds who can tell what may be hidden ? complexity is the multifold ; simplicity is lost. He that giveth let him give with simplicity, with an open, frank, generous nature ; not asking how much other people are going to give, not making an investment of it, not causing it to suffer because being done ostentatiously, but let him give with real genuine heartiness. "He that sheweth mercy with cheerfulness." There is a mercy which says, Now behold me, I am going to be very merciful : I could crush you, but I will not ; I could just simply annihilate you, but I will not ; I could bring to bear upon you an instrument that would grind you to powder, but will not. The Apostle Paul will not have mercy of that kind. Mercy is to be radiant, tuneful, joyous, happy ; mercy is to say, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him ; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet ; bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and be merry : for this my son was dead, and is alive again ; lost, and is found ; make the welkin ring!
The Apostle Paul will have good things done in a good way. He will have nothing done in a sloppy manner.
If you are called to be a prophet, prophesy according to your faculty, your spiritual gift, your immense faith. "Or ministry :" serving, that is ; let us attend to our ministering our serving, and be absorbed in it. Or if we are called to teaching let us sit down with the little scholars and make them understand first the letter, then the syllable, then the word, then the thought, then the music. Or if we are called to exhortation : literally, to encouragement, to stimulate men, cheer them on under difficult tasks : let us wait on that function as if it were the greatest in the Church. It we are called to rule, let us do it "with diligence " ; and if we are called to show mercy let mercy come forth, not robed in sackcloth with ashes sprinkled on its head, but let mercy be liberated like an angel, and come out to sing its pardons and proclaim its welcomes in music.
Finally, we must not look down on others because we do not think their gift is important or as good as ours:
Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Conclusion:
First, The Gospel of Paul, nor any other Apostle, does not permit us to hide away from the world. We are to say to the world, I no longer must hide away from your power, for you have lost your power through Christ. The advancement of the kingdom of God requires public involvement.
Second, we each have been given an unique gift by the Spirit of God at our conversion. It is our responsibility to find recognize that gift, and use it for God's glory.
Third, God condemns busy-bodies who are concerned about how others act or how others use their gifts. He says unto us, what is that to you? Follow thou me. We have enough trouble presenting our own physical bodies to God as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service.
Romans 12:9-21
This is the second half of "The Christian Ideal."
This chapter, along with the Sermon on the Mount, lays out what ought to be in our Christian life. Yet because of our inborn sinful nature, the laws laid out here are impossible to keep. These are the Christian precepts that, in the Grace of God, we are to strive toward, pray for and desire for. The Lord Jesus alone is the only one who obtained to these Ideals, but that is no excuse for us not to strive toward this prize of the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
We should never be satisfied with our accomplishments of these Ideals, but always be pressing ahead.
In fact, we pointed out last time that we will answer for how well we followed these commandments.
But there is no hope of following these ideal Christian virtues without Christ, for these things are a result of Christ in us, our hope of Glory. Even if one could follow them without Christ, he will still be lost
"But Lord, we have done all of these wonderful works. He will still say ‘Depart from me ye workers of iniquity. I never knew you.'"
Many morally good people will be in the eternal fires of hell because they felt their morality was sufficient to stand before the Lord in that day that is appointed to all men.
The second section of this chapter is vv. 9-21, and it relates to love and love's various manifestations towards different classes of men.
Let love be without dissimulation... that is, two-faced. The hypocrite smiles with one face, and frowns with the other. In fact, while they praise with one mouth, the other is deceit, and the poison of asps is under their lips. (Rom 3:13)
Professed love is commonly used to gain what we want. Paul makes it clear in 1 Cor 13 that hypocritical or pretended love is no love at all.
Paul says, Let there be no hypocrisy in love. Love is to be without double meanings, or shaded meanings, or double-dealings.
Love does not say to the lovely and "refined", take this good place in my life, while it says to the poor and infirmed, sit here under my footstool. (James 2:3.)
Honest and pure love will abhor that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good. The context of the word love requires abhorrence of evil. The word abhor is intense. It means an intense hatred, and is only use here in the New Testament. We cannot place too much emphasis on abhortance of evil.
Certainly, we are to abhor all evil, but in this context, we are to especially abhor duplicity or hypocrisy of false love.
Sadly, our fallen nature loves the evil, and it abhors the good. We are drawn to evil as a moth to the flame, and the results are the same: Destrution.
Banks have lots of money, our money. In Shreveport, a bank built the tallest building in the city. because the building was so high, it could be seen for miles. They put a monstrous American flag on the top, so when you could see the building from miles out, you could see the flag. The flew the flag day and night, so they had very powerful lights on the flag at night. The lit flag could be seen from the far reaches of the parish. The lights drew bugs from many miles, and men who studied bugs and moths would visit regularly to inspect the dead moths.
Our nature is like that. If we entertain the faintest glimpse of evil, we will be drawn and destroyed just as those moths are to that powerful light. The power to overcome that draw is from the indwelling spirit of God.
At the very slightest opportunity, the evil beast will enter into our sanctuary; he will sit down and make himself right at home. He is to be bared with steely resolve at every entrance. Can this be done? Not wholly, but baring him completely is the Christina Ideal.
We can certainly do more to bar this evil beast than what we do. No matter how hard we might look for excuses, we have no excuse for this evil beast's entrance into the holy place. Nor for allowing him to remain there.
Paul moves on to the next Christian Ideal.
V. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Looking preferring up, I was not expecting this meaning. It means setting an example and being first to meet the need. That is, to anticipate the needs of another.
Who can be first—the most courteous, gentle, civil, helpful. How many times have we heard speakers say, "That is what I was going to say, but the previous speaker beat me to it?"
Our affection and brotherly love is shown in how quick we are to help those in distress.
When we see a need, we should be the first to meet it rather than procrastinating, and hoping someone else will do it.
However, we must avoid hypocrisy. We must not run to help in order to outrun another, so we can say, "Look at what I have done." We must not allow hypocrisy to motivate our actions toward others, particularly those of the household of faith.
V. 11, not slothful in business… This passage does not justify putting business dealings before everything else. There are many passages that deal with working hard and fulfilling our responsibility for our paycheck. However, this is not one of them. This passage has nothing to do with business as we think of business; that is, earning a living.
Rather, we see from the context, that it is referring to spiritual business, business with the eternal, with heaven and with God. It has to do with prayer, exporting requests, praise psalms, and importing blessings and answers.
Did not the Lord say that he must be about his Father's business? The business was heavenly business. It involved representing and establishing the kingdom of God on earth.
Our primary business is to be right with God and keep that proper relationship.
Are we slothful in the heavenly business to which we have been called?
Our business is outlined in the gifts of vv. 6-8. Let us not be slothful in using the spiritual abilities God has given us.
Fervent in spirit… That is, hot, more than hot, boiling over, overflowing with energy, The world would call this fanaticism. I suppose we could compare this with what the followers of Mohammed do, without the destruction that goes with it. Burn the Koran or any holy book, and the world is in turmoil. Burn a Bible, and Christians say, Ho Hum, Imagine that.
"It's an Obama World...Gay Flag Flies at Afghan Base But teh Christian Cross Is Banned" from the "worship" tent because it was too offensive. (http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/03/its-an-obama-world-gay-flag-flies-at-afghan-base-but-the-christian-cross-is-banned/)
Where is our fanaticism for the Lord on the job, in the community or in our family?
Serving the Lord… clarifies Paul's statement. Seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Serving God on our knees, in his word. Working for God and working with God in the corrupt world around us.
1 Corinthians 3: 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God (in this corrupt world): ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
Work is a nasty word in today's society. Everyone wants a desk job that will not tax much more than his brain.
Vv. 12, 13 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
One understanding of rejoicing in hope is in our hope of heaven. That is a legitimate understanding elsewhere, but not here. Heaven does not fit this context. This is a command we really can know very little or nothing about because of our circumstances. We have sufficient money, health, safety and friends, so we cannot understand this passages as it was written.
There are other Christens in the world today who can understand what Paul is saying.
Paul, and the other New Testament authors, lived and wrote during the reign of Nero, Emperor of Rome A.D. 54-68. We cannot imagine what these early Christians endured under Nero. Let me give you a short quote from Rulers of New Testament Times, by Charles Ludwig, Accent Books:
The shadows were lengthening across the warm hills of Rome as busy slaves erected final crosses in Nero's magnificent gardens. While they worked, soldiers brought in Christians and either tied them or nailed them to crosses. Next, they soaked them with inflammable pitch.
Darkness had frequently put a stop to the Emperor's chariot
racing. This evening it would be different! The burning Christians
would provide the light. Soon the chariots were lined up, the
crosses were lit, and the horses leaped forward. As the clatter
of the chariot wheels mingled, the crowds cheered. But there was
no real enthusiasm in their cheers. Such flagrant cruelty was
too much—even for them.
Seeing that he had displeased the crowd, Nero never repeated this
performance. Instead, he contented himself by throwing Christians
to the lions; by dressing them in animal skins and turning the
dogs on them; and by killing those who were Roman citizens with
the sword.
Today, Nero is remembered for his cruelties—and especially
for having beheaded Paul. …
Furthermore, on July 19, A.D. 64, a fire broke out in Rome, and burned for 6 days. Nero was greatly distressed because the libraries and museums had been destroyed. And then one night, he was seen with a lyre in his hands, singing of the sack of Troy. Soon word spread that Nero had started the fire. Desperate for a scapegoat, he blamed the fire on the Christians. Nero turned Rome against the Christians, and "They were put to death with exquisite cruelty, and to their sufferings Nero added mockery and derision…At length the brutality of these measures filled every breast with pity. Humanity relented in favor of the Christians.
As we see from the dates of Nero, A.D. 54-68, a very good portion of New Testament times was under Nero, and all of the New Testament authors wrote under his extremely cruel reign. Romans' date is A.D. 55-58. That is, except John, who wrote the Revelation in the late 60s.
Paul wrote to those facing the darkest night, tribulation, even slaughter as sheep and many Christians today face from the Muslims:
Romans 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
They had nothing to live upon except their prayers and faith. We cannot identify with these words because of our circumstances. However, many Christians who live under Muslim rule can certainly identify with Paul's exhortation here.
All of that to say this about v. 12. About all those to whom Paul wrote had was prayer and hope. Paul's words in v. 12 have very little if any true meaning for Christianity since Constantine's A.D. 312 edict of Toleration, with the exception of those who were persecuted by Rome and who are now being persecuted by the Muslims.
V. 13, Distributing to the necessity of the saints.
Scripture does require sharing our physical resources with those in need, particularly of the household of faith, as well as having hospitality in our open home, but that is not the case here.
The historical context is Rome of his day, and the cruelty going against Christians who had nothing to live on except their hope and prayers.
The saints here were being hunted by the Jews as well as by Rome. Remember Paul who had dedicated his life to hunt down and kill Christians. Can we suppose that the hunt ended with Paul's conversion?
The hospitality here would be a quietly opened door just enough to see who was there, so the hunted could be invited in and nursed, fed and comforted. He had hazarded his life for the Lord, and the comforter would be hazarding his life for the comfort he was giving.
I like Parker's statement here on hospitality, and it speaks to me:
"Hospitality" is not a word that has retained its best meanings. Here again we come upon interchange and exchange ; as, for example, he who bids to the feast expects himself to be bidden. That is natural and legitimate enjoyment; within its own limits it is proper, and a necessary development of civilization : but keeping to the text, and to the limits to the apostolic exhortation, the men who were exhorted to be given to hospitality were men who had the care of the church, men who only got bread into the house that they might give it away…. Let us pray for opportunities to give all this bread away." (Preaching through the Bible, Joseph Parker, vol. 26, p. 108.)
The heroic days of Christianity are dead, but there are signs of those days returning as God raises up evil men to judge evil Christianity.
V. 13, Hospitality… Is it known today? We exhibit hospitality naturally expecting hospitality in return.
Another point: distributing to the necessity of saints. We read in the book of Acts that the faithful members of the first church in Jerusalem sold all they had, put it in a common pot, and used it to support the themselves and expansion of the Gospel.
The reason was because they believed our Lord's words of Matthew 24 that their generation would see the total destruction of Jerusalem. The Lord's words were common knowledge, so they did not take advantage of the unbelievers, for the unbelievers had the same opportunity to prepare for that destruction. So they sold all they had, for they understood that soon all would be no more than a heap of rubble.
In Romans 15:26, Paul talks about support for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. The context refers to the saints at Jerusalem who had made themselves poor for the sake of the gospel in Jerusalem, for they knew time was short, and any physical property they had would soon be less than worthless.
V. 16, Mind not high things don't be high minded, but condescend to men of low estate… Do not court the rich nor powerful; do not pass by the poor man in order to court the great man. We have seen that these first Christians were despised and rejected of men, and often captured for prison and death by the most horrible means. "False or man-pleasing professors would endeavor to escape all this disgrace and danger by getting into the favour of the great, the worldly, and the irreligious." Adam Clarke.
This sounds so much like many professed Christians of our day. They want to associate with the exalted men of the world for their own advantage, and not for Christ. They drink of the world's spirit for what is in it for themselves.
As I thought on this passage, I was reminded of a man in the church in Elkton Md., John Byler. He could have been considered rich, but he did not consider himself rich. He had a large commercial garden in NJ from which he supplied fresh vegetables for the NJ market. In fact, he purchased a helicopter so he could fly back and forth to church.
Obviously, the pastor worked hard to make him a friend. John was a very good, honest and sincere Christian. The pastor asked me to take him on visitation with me as I visited the new families from the bus routs. We became good friends.
I sat beside him one night in church, and noticed his tie. Normally, when you tie a tie, the last part of the knot is down through the previous wrap around the knot. He left that last part of the knot on the top, rather than poking it down through the last loop. I ask him why he did that. His answer has stuck with me these many years. His answer was not in a proud way, but just a simple statement: "I wanted to see how many would imitate me."
Christians want to make friends with those they consider important, for their own benefit.
Condensed… That is, be with those of low estate, as Christ was with them. There are people who will not eat with others because they are considered too low of an estate for them to associate with.
We are to know all kinds of men. It was the multitude who followed Christ, yet the respectable people condemned him for eating with the sinners.
James presents plenty of warning against ignoring those of low estate.
V. 16, be not wise in your own conceits. We must take counsel with one another.
Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in
the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but
in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and
in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
We my learn something even from a fool. We do not need to believe
everything that is said on a subject, but we should listen. Listen
well; be good hearers. Do not suppose that all wisdom abides with
us. As Job said, "no doubt but that you are the people, and
wisdom shall die with you."
There have been times that I have received better counsel from the unsaved than from other believers.
V. 17 presents one of the most difficult of all the Christian virtues: Provide…, think or mediate beforehand. Don't leave the matter up to the emotions, feelings or excitement of the moment.
In order for God to work according to v 19, vv. 17, 18 must be obeyed.
V. 19, give place unto wrath The idea here is to stand back out of the way so God can work. I must not stand between God and the working of his providence. As we return good for evil on our personal level, , as in vv. 14, 17 & 18, we allow God to reward each person according to their actions.
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
It is a fool who seeks to do his own vengeance. We must stand back and let the sword of the Lord fall where it may.
Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink. For in so doing "thou shalt" bring the right vengeance upon him.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Other than the Christian religion, what other religion has said this? Mohammedanism sure does not say this.
It is because of the miracle of the Cross in the hearts of the believers that the Cross will stand forever as the hope of the world.
uploaded, sermon audio
used, 3/25/12
Romans 12
Paul now leaves the very difficult things behind with an Amen, and starts a new section or thought.
The epistle to the Romans is intensely theological, doctrinal, as well bewildering. Many times we do not know what Paul means, and he may not know either. For he is writing under the inspiration of the Spirit of God.
He has shown that God's electing grace is available to all with no regard to onefs race nor nationality. It is a mystery that is far too deep to understand, so it must be accepted by faith. Moreover, God cannot be questioned as to why or how his electing grace works.
In this chapter, Paul moves from the bewilderment of chapters 9, 10 & 11 to the practical. He will now tell us how the confusing things he has said works out in practical action.
It is certainly good to study and try to develop the deep things of God, but without those things working out in our lives, the study is worthless effort. Our Christian duty is certainly to study to show ourselves approved unto God and to equip us to answer for the hope that is within us, but knowledge does not exempt us from duty and responsibility as Paul will now start to develop.
Few men are called upon to develop the deep theological ideas and implications of the first 11 chapters of Romans. Those who cannot understand the first 11 chapters should start in chapter 12, for all can understand from here on.
This chapter can be described overall as explaining the duties of believers, both in general and in particular.
It can be divided into two parts:
The first, vs. 1-8, treats of piety towards God, and the proper estimation and use of the various gifts and offices employed or exercised in the church.
The second, vs. 9-21, relates to love and its various manifestations towards different classes of men.
Notice here that Paul writes commandments to Christians. That means that a Christian can be lacking in the following attributes that Paul is going to develop. As we look around, we see that most professed Christians are totally ignorant of these laws of Christ as outlined by Paul. That does not mean they are not Christians, but it does mean that they do not know Scripture, and they have not had the renewing called for by Paul.
V. 1. I beseech you therefore... After finishing the benefits and mysteries of God, Paul calls on all men to do something.
By the mercies of God that ye present your bodies... Paul did not say present yourselves, but present your bodies... And he means our living flesh, not some mystical experience. It is the physical flesh that must be subdued to the demands of the laws of Christ.
This is not done by barbarous customs of mutilation; that is, things like tattoos and piercings. Present your bodies does not mean put a knife to a vein and bleed to death for the Lord. The old sacrifice was easy to fulfill, as it called for a bullock or a ram.
Under the gospel, we are called to sacrifice our living members; that is, we are not to close our ears lest we should hear music. Rather, we are to open the ear and say, let me hear, for I can now judge properly. Are the tones pure? Is the meaning holy? My living ears are a holy sacrifice to the Lord, and acceptable unto him. I can now reject the suggestions of evil that come to my ears, and can respond to the tone of purity.
The Gospel of Paul, nor any other Apostle, does not permit us to hide away from the world. We are to say to the world, Who are you? What can you do? What is your power? What is your purpose and intent? I no longer must hide away from your power, for you have lost your power through Christ.
Yes, the world at one time had us bound with cart ropes and wagon chains, and was dragging us behind it toward the pit. Yes, the world had us convinced, conquered and nearly destroyed.
We must now say to the world: I have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. I no longer must shut myself off from you in fear. I have presented my physical body, my arms, legs, eyes, ears, feet, tongue, as an acceptable holy sacrifice to the God of my salvation.
Paul's theology is practical Christian conduct. Theology is not arguments and fights over words, nor arguments over who has advanced to be best in character. Theologians who never come out of their theological cloud should never have gotten into it. They misrepresent the kingdom of God. They are word-choppers, murders of human thought and language. They are spoiling wolves that seek to live off the flock of Christ.
Sermons with no practical Christian life application should never have been preached.
your reasonable service. God requires reasonable service. That is, the service of our reason. Paul would not have reason driven removed from the church. Reason, sanctified by the Word of God, must rule in the church. How many religious leaders demand that godly reason be left at the door when their people listen to them, so they can fleece the flock.
Paul would not have our sanctified reason shut off from the world. How often to we see men demanding others to follow them to destruction without reason. That is, gDonft think through Scripturally what I am doing; just follow me.h
Paul would not have us shut our sanctified reason behind closed doors. We are to put our physical sacrificed members to work in the world.
Paul demands that our reason bow before the cross of Christ. In doing so, we cannot shut ourselves off from the world. Rather, the world must be subject to our sanctified reason, as we subdue all things to Christ and his kingdom.
Paul's exhortation does not end with the body.
V. 2, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The first verse deals with the body in right relationship with God. This second verse deals with the mind, and making it acceptable unto God. Thus, the whole man is consecrated to God.
be not conformed to this world as the many around us are. Our world is much bigger than just the physical, and maybe even richly adorned. But our new world is now eternal, as we look forward to the city built without hands, and eternal in the heavens.
Renewed... The mind is to be renewed, filled with holy energy. It is to be as fresh as the morning dew.
Why? The mind is to become place of moral criticism. That is, as we are in the world, but not of the world, our renewed mind must evaluate, prove, test, look and consider carefully so we can know what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
As Joseph Parker (1830-1902) says, that "we may know the will of God from that which is supposed to be the will of God; that you may have the faculty of discrimination, the judgment that will not be satisfied with broad definitions, but must go into critical distinctions, so that the mind cannot be imposed upon by false revelation."
Over the years, I have been associated with professed Christian men who had no discrimination between the will of God and the supposed will of God. They either did not know Scripture or refused to follow Scripture as they sought to advance the kingdoms of men while ignoring the kingdom of God, and all in the name of the Christian God.
They read and study all kinds of books and authors, yet know very little of the word of God.
My wife and I asked a man and wife who felt qualified to lead others in marriage counseling how many times he had read his bible through. NONE, he said, yet they felt qualified to spiritually lead others through their marital trials and tribulations because both of them had been divorced. They were lay people, but I have been told of more than one pastor who has divorced, remarried, and now feels qualified to counsel others.
Those who have had their mind renewed by the word of God cannot be led astray by false "Christian" ideas and gospels.
Unlike the deep theology of the previous chapters, Paul here uses simple words in describing Christian responsibility. We are without excuse.
Vv. 3-8. According as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith...
Not to think... The standard of measurement is our Christian character. We must not fall into that trap of judging according to natural ability, rank, wealth, eloquence or worldly office.
Soberly... Be honest and humble, and measure ourselves as God measures us by his word.
measure of faith. That is, we are to serve God according to whatever faith each man has.
James tells us that faith without works is dead. How do our Christian works line up with our profession of faith?
We will be judged in that day according to our faith as exhibited in our works.
2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Every person has a gift of faith, and according to every person's particular gift of faith, he is to work, whether he is prophet, minister or servant or exhorter.
1 Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
Paul warns against pride and conceit. We are to contain ourselves within the bounds of our abilities.
Self-esteem must be destroyed.
Illustration:
One of the pastor's in Moorefield has stopped coming to the Association meetings, evidently because her church was not selected by the Sr class last year to have the Bacaloriat service in.
V. 4. God has given every person his measure of faith which is to result in works. He compares the various abilities to different parts of the body. Each member of the body is necessary in order for the body to operate properly.
Rather than jealousy and envy among our body members, there must be unity for the body to function properly. Paul lists various abilities, and rather than the abilities competing against one another because of pride, they must work together for the body of Christ to function properly.
See 1 Corinthians 12:12-31.
Referring back to 2 Corinthians 5:10, we will not answer for how good that other member of the body fulfilled his or her gift, or duty, but how good we did.
John 21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? 21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
V. 5, and every one members one of another.
The Lord designed us to be dependent upon one another. The eye cannot say to the feet, gI have no need of you!h We consider the body physically handicapped when a member of our body does not fulfill its duty and responsibility properly, or when a part is missing.
The body of Christ is made up of many different individuals, with many different callings and talents.
First, no member of the church should consider himself unimportant, though he may not have the wealth or talent of another.
Second, God designed that we should be different; therefore we need one another.
Third, we must not look down on others. We are all necessary for the body of Christ to work properly.
V. 6-8
According to the proportion of faith.
Literally, according to whatever faith each man has. That is to say, Every person has a gift of faith, and according to every man's particular gift of faith let him work, whether he be prophet or minister or servant or exhorter.
I like what Parker says here: A problem is that the man who has little faith will quarrel with the man who is all faith. It is very rarely you hear the great dog bark, but no whip can keep the little dog quiet. The person with little faith will have tremendous criticism. He can tell you who is right and who is wrong, as he speaks his own condemnation.
The Apostle Paul recognizes differences, the proportions and the various gifts given by God to his children.
All Paul insists upon is personal simplicity and sincerity in the conviction in the gift into which we are called.
Notice, however, there is no gift of criticism given, though each of us use it freely.
Again, quoting Joseph Parker:
Is any man called to be a poet ? let him gather his singing robes around him, and awake with the lark, and sing to us from heaven's gate of the glory land and all the vision that makes heaven's eternal summer. Is any man called to be a servant ? let him stoop to his work honestly and lovingly, and worshippingly, and he shall find in the ground the mystery wrought by the sun, roots rich with fruit. Is any man called to give ? let him give with both hands richly, simply ; " let him do it with simplicity," that is, with only one meaning. Simplicity is the single fold, open and read of all men ; duplicity is the double fold, between the folds who can tell what may be hidden ? complexity is the multifold ; simplicity is lost. He that giveth let him give with simplicity, with an open, frank, generous nature ; not asking how much other people are going to give, not making an investment of it, not causing it to suffer because being done ostentatiously, but let him give with real genuine heartiness. "He that sheweth mercy with cheerfulness." There is a mercy which says, Now behold me, I am going to be very merciful : I could crush you, but I will not ; I could just simply annihilate you, but I will not ; I could bring to bear upon you an instrument that would grind you to powder, but will not. The Apostle Paul will not have mercy of that kind. Mercy is to be radiant, tuneful, joyous, happy ; mercy is to say, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him ; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet ; bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and be merry : for this my son was dead, and is alive again ; lost, and is found ; make the welkin ring!
The Apostle Paul will have good things done in a good way. He will have nothing done in a sloppy manner.
If you are called to be a prophet, prophesy according to your faculty, your spiritual gift, your immense faith. "Or ministry :" serving, that is ; let us attend to our ministering our serving, and be absorbed in it. Or if we are called to teaching let us sit down with the little scholars and make them understand first the letter, then the syllable, then the word, then the thought, then the music. Or if we are called to exhortation : literally, to encouragement, to stimulate men, cheer them on under difficult tasks : let us wait on that function as if it were the greatest in the Church. It we are called to rule, let us do it "with diligence " ; and if we are called to show mercy let mercy come forth, not robed in sackcloth with ashes sprinkled on its head, but let mercy be liberated like an angel, and come out to sing its pardons and proclaim its welcomes in music.
Finally, we must not look down on others because we do not think their gift is important or as good as ours:
Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another manfs servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Conclusion:
First, The Gospel of Paul, nor any other Apostle, does not permit us to hide away from the world. We are to say to the world, I no longer must hide away from your power, for you have lost your power through Christ. The advancement of the kingdom of God requires public involvement.
Second, we each have been given an unique gift by the Spirit of God at our conversion. It is our responsibility to find recognize that gift, and use it for Godfs glory.
Third, God condemns busy-bodies who are concerned about how others act or how others use their gifts. He says unto us, what is that to you? Follow thou me. We have enough trouble presenting our own physical bodies to God as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service.
To here. 3/25/12
5/13/12
posted, 5/20/22
Romans 12:9-21
Chapter 12 could be called "The Christian Ideal"
This is the second half of "The Christian Ideal."
This chapter, along with the Sermon on the Mount, lays out what ought to be in our Christian life. Yet because of our inborn sinful nature, the laws laid out here are impossible to keep. These are the Christian precepts that, in the Grace of God, we are to strive toward, pray for and desire for. The Lord Jesus alone is the only one who obtained to these Ideals, but that is no excuse for us not to strive toward this prize of the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
We should never be satisfied with our accomplishments of these Ideals, but always be pressing ahead.
In fact, we pointed out last time that we will answer for how well we followed these commandments.
But there is no hope of following these ideal Christian virtues without Christ, for these things are a result of Christ in us, our hope of Glory. Even if one could follow them without Christ, he will still be lost
gBut Lord, we have done all of these wonderful works. He will still say eDepart from me ye workers of iniquity. I never knew you.fh
Many morally good people will be in the eternal fires of hell because they felt their morality was sufficient to stand before the Lord in that day that is appointed to all men.
The second section of this chapter is vv. 9-21, and it relates to love and lovefs various manifestations towards different classes of men.
Let love be without dissimulation... that is, two-faced. The hypocrite smiles with one face, and frowns with the other. In fact, while they praise with one mouth, the other is deceit, and the poison of asps is under their lips. )Rom 3:13(
Professed love is commonly used to gain what we want. Paul makes it clear in 1 Cor 13 that hypocritical or pretended love is no love at all.
Paul says, Let there be no hypocrisy in love. Love is to be without double meanings, or shaded meanings, or double-dealings.
Love does not say to the lovely and "refined", take this good place in my life, while it says to the poor and infirmed, sit here under my footstool. (James 2:3.)
Honest and pure love will abhor that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good. The context of the word love requires abhorrence of evil. The word abhor is intense. It means an intense hatred, and is only use here in the New Testament. We cannot place too much emphasis on abhortance of evil.
Certainly, we are to abhor all evil, but in this context, we are to especially abhor duplicity or hypocrisy of false love.
Sadly, our fallen nature loves the evil, and it abhors the good. We are drawn to evil as a moth to the flame, and the results are the same: Destrution.
Banks have lots of money, our money. In Shreveport, a bank built the tallest building in the city. because the building was so high, it could be seen for miles. They put a monstrous American flag on the top, so when you could see the building from miles out, you could see the flag. The flew the flag day and night, so they had very powerful lights on the flag at night. The lit flag could be seen from the far reaches of the parish. The lights drew bugs from many miles, and men who studied bugs and moths would visit regularly to inspect the dead moths.
Our nature is like that. If we entertain the faintest glimpse of evil, we will be drawn and destroyed just as those moths are to that powerful light. The power to overcome that draw is from the indwelling spirit of God.
At the very slightest opportunity, the evil beast will enter into our sanctuary; he will sit down and make himself right at home. He is to be bared with steely resolve at every entrance. Can this be done? Not wholly, but baring him completely is the Christina Ideal.
We can certainly do more to bar this evil beast than what we do. No matter how hard we might look for excuses, we have no excuse for this evil beast's entrance into the holy place. Nor for allowing him to remain there.
Paul moves on to the next Christian Ideal.
V. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Looking preferring up, I was not expecting this meaning. It means setting an example and being first to meet the need. That is, to anticipate the needs of another.
Who can be first\the most courteous, gentle, civil, helpful. How many times have we heard speakers say, gThat is what I was going to say, but the previous speaker beat me to it?h
Our affection and brotherly love is shown in how quick we are to help those in distress.
When we see a need, we should be the first to meet it rather than procrastinating, and hoping someone else will do it.
However, we must avoid hypocrisy. We must not run to help in order to outrun another, so we can say, gLook at what I have done.h We must not allow hypocrisy to motivate our actions toward others, particularly those of the household of faith.
V. 11, not slothful in businessc This passage does not justify putting business dealings before everything else. There are many passages that deal with working hard and fulfilling our responsibility for our paycheck. However, this is not one of them. This passage has nothing to do with business as we think of business; that is, earning a living.
Rather, we see from the context, that it is referring to spiritual business, business with the eternal, with heaven and with God. It has to do with prayer, exporting requests, praise psalms, and importing blessings and answers.
Did not the Lord say that he must be about his Fatherfs business? The business was heavenly business. It involved representing and establishing the kingdom of God on earth.
Our primary business is to be right with God and keep that proper relationship.
Are we slothful in the heavenly business to which we have been called?
Our business is outlined in the gifts of vv. 6-8. Let us not be slothful in using the spiritual abilities God has given us.
Fervent in spiritc That is, hot, more than hot, boiling over, overflowing with energy, The world would call this fanaticism. I suppose we could compare this with what the followers of Mohammed do, without the destruction that goes with it. Burn the Koran or any holy book, and the world is in turmoil. Burn a Bible, and Christians say, Ho Hum, Imagine that.
"It's an Obama World...Gay Flag Flies at Afghan Base But teh Christian Cross Is Banned" from the "worship" tent because it was too offensive. (http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/03/its-an-obama-world-gay-flag-flies-at-afghan-base-but-the-christian-cross-is-banned/)
Where is our fanaticism for the Lord on the job, in the community or in our family?
Serving the Lordc clarifies Paulfs statement. Seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Serving God on our knees, in his word. Working for God and working with God in the corrupt world around us.
1 Corinthians 3: 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God (in this corrupt world): ye are Godfs husbandry, ye are Godfs building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
Work is a nasty word in todayfs society. Everyone wants a desk job that will not tax much more than his brain.
Vv. 12, 13 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
One understanding of rejoicing in hope is in our hope of heaven. That is a legitimate understanding elsewhere, but not here. Heaven does not fit this context. This is a command we really can know very little or nothing about because of our circumstances. We have sufficient money, health, safety and friends, so we cannot understand this passages as it was written.
There are other Christens in the world today who can understand what Paul is saying.
Paul, and the other New Testament authors, lived and wrote during the reign of Nero, Emperor of Rome A.D. 54-68. We cannot imagine what these early Christians endured under Nero. Let me give you a short quote from Rulers of New Testament Times, by Charles Ludwig, Accent Books:
The shadows were lengthening across the warm hills of Rome as busy slaves erected final crosses in Nero's magnificent gardens. While they worked, soldiers brought in Christians and either tied them or nailed them to crosses. Next, they soaked them with inflammable pitch.
Darkness had frequently put a stop to the Emperor's chariot
racing. This evening it would be different! The burning Christians
would provide the light. Soon the chariots were lined up, the
crosses were lit, and the horses leaped forward. As the clatter
of the chariot wheels mingled, the crowds cheered. But there was
no real enthusiasm in their cheers. Such flagrant cruelty was
too much\even for them.
Seeing that he had displeased the crowd, Nero never repeated this
performance. Instead, he contented himself by throwing Christians
to the lions; by dressing them in animal skins and turning the
dogs on them; and by killing those who were Roman citizens with
the sword.
Today, Nero is remembered for his cruelties\and especially
for having beheaded Paul. c
Furthermore, on July 19, A.D. 64, a fire broke out in Rome, and burned for 6 days. Nero was greatly distressed because the libraries and museums had been destroyed. And then one night, he was seen with a lyre in his hands, singing of the sack of Troy. Soon word spread that Nero had started the fire. Desperate for a scapegoat, he blamed the fire on the Christians. Nero turned Rome against the Christians, and gThey were put to death with exquisite cruelty, and to their sufferings Nero added mockery and derisioncAt length the brutality of these measures filled every breast with pity. Humanity relented in favor of the Christians.
As we see from the dates of Nero, A.D. 54-68, a very good portion of New Testament times was under Nero, and all of the New Testament authors wrote under his extremely cruel reign. Romansf date is A.D. 55-58. That is, except John, who wrote the Revelation in the late 60s.
Paul wrote to those facing the darkest night, tribulation, even slaughter as sheep and many Christians today face from the Muslims:
Romans 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
They had nothing to live upon except their prayers and faith. We cannot identify with these words because of our circumstances. However, many Christians who live under Muslim rule can certainly identify with Paulfs exhortation here.
All of that to say this about v. 12. About all those to whom Paul wrote had was prayer and hope. Paulfs words in v. 12 have very little if any true meaning for Christianity since Constantinefs A.D. 312 edict of Toleration, with the exception of those who were persecuted by Rome and who are now being persecuted by the Muslims.
V. 13, Distributing to the necessity of the saints.
Scripture does require sharing our physical resources with those in need, particularly of the household of faith, as well as having hospitality in our open home, but that is not the case here.
The historical context is Rome of his day, and the cruelty going against Christians who had nothing to live on except their hope and prayers.
The saints here were being hunted by the Jews as well as by Rome. Remember Paul who had dedicated his life to hunt down and kill Christians. Can we suppose that the hunt ended with Paulfs conversion?
The hospitality here would be a quietly opened door just enough to see who was there, so the hunted could be invited in and nursed, fed and comforted. He had hazarded his life for the Lord, and the comforter would be hazarding his life for the comfort he was giving.
I like Parkerfs statement here on hospitality, and it speaks to me:
gHospitalityh is not a word that has retained its best meanings. Here again we come upon interchange and exchange ; as, for example, he who bids to the feast expects himself to be bidden. That is natural and legitimate enjoyment; within its own limits it is proper, and a necessary development of civilization : but keeping to the text, and to the limits to the apostolic exhortation, the men who were exhorted to be given to hospitality were men who had the care of the church, men who only got bread into the house that they might give it awayc. Let us pray for opportunities to give all this bread away.h (Preaching through the Bible, Joseph Parker, vol. 26, p. 108.)
The heroic days of Christianity are dead, but there are signs of those days returning as God raises up evil men to judge evil Christianity.
V. 13, Hospitalityc Is it known today? We exhibit hospitality naturally expecting hospitality in return.
Another point: distributing to the necessity of saints. We read in the book of Acts that the faithful members of the first church in Jerusalem sold all they had, put it in a common pot, and used it to support the themselves and expansion of the Gospel.
The reason was because they believed our Lordfs words of Matthew 24 that their generation would see the total destruction of Jerusalem. The Lordfs words were common knowledge, so they did not take advantage of the unbelievers, for the unbelievers had the same opportunity to prepare for that destruction. So they sold all they had, for they understood that soon all would be no more than a heap of rubble.
In Romans 15:26, Paul talks about support for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. The context refers to the saints at Jerusalem who had made themselves poor for the sake of the gospel in Jerusalem, for they knew time was short, and any physical property they had would soon be less than worthless.
V. 16, Mind not high things donft be high minded, but condescend to men of low estatec Do not court the rich nor powerful; do not pass by the poor man in order to court the great man. We have seen that these first Christians were despised and rejected of men, and often captured for prison and death by the most horrible means. gFalse or man-pleasing professors would endeavor to escape all this disgrace and danger by getting into the favour of the great, the worldly, and the irreligious.h Adam Clarke.
This sounds so much like many professed Christians of our day. They want to associate with the exalted men of the world for their own advantage, and not for Christ. They drink of the worldfs spirit for what is in it for themselves.
As I thought on this passage, I was reminded of a man in the church in Elkton Md., John Byler. He could have been considered rich, but he did not consider himself rich. He had a large commercial garden in NJ from which he supplied fresh vegetables for the NJ market. In fact, he purchased a helicopter so he could fly back and forth to church.
Obviously, the pastor worked hard to make him a friend. John was a very good, honest and sincere Christian. The pastor asked me to take him on visitation with me as I visited the new families from the bus routs. We became good friends.
I sat beside him one night in church, and noticed his tie. Normally, when you tie a tie, the last part of the knot is down through the previous wrap around the knot. He left that last part of the knot on the top, rather than poking it down through the last loop. I ask him why he did that. His answer has stuck with me these many years. His answer was not in a proud way, but just a simple statement: gI wanted to see how many would imitate me.h
Christians want to make friends with those they consider important, for their own benefit.
Condensedc That is, be with those of low estate, as Christ was with them. There are people who will not eat with others because they are considered too low of an estate for them to associate with.
We are to know all kinds of men. It was the multitude who followed Christ, yet the respectable people condemned him for eating with the sinners.
James presents plenty of warning against ignoring those of low estate.
V. 16, be not wise in your own conceits. We must take counsel with one another.
Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in
the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but
in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and
in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
We my learn something even from a fool. We do not need to believe
everything that is said on a subject, but we should listen. Listen
well; be good hearers. Do not suppose that all wisdom abides with
us. As Job said, gno doubt but that you are the people,
and wisdom shall die with you.h
There have been times that I have received better counsel from the unsaved than from other believers.
V. 17 presents one of the most difficult of all the Christian virtues: Providec, think or mediate beforehand. Donft leave the matter up to the emotions, feelings or excitement of the moment.
In order for God to work according to v 19, vv. 17, 18 must be obeyed.
V. 19, give place unto wrath The idea here is to stand back out of the way so God can work. I must not stand between God and the working of his providence. As we return good for evil on our personal level, , as in vv. 14, 17 & 18, we allow God to reward each person according to their actions.
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
It is a fool who seeks to do his own vengeance. We must stand back and let the sword of the Lord fall where it may.
Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink. For in so doing "thou shalth bring the right vengeance upon him.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Other than the Christian religion, what other religion has said this? Mohammedanism sure does not say this.
It is because of the miracle of the Cross in the hearts of the believers that the Cross will stand forever as the hope of the world.