ROMANS 33
We will begin this lesson in Romans 15:1 "We then that are strong
ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please
ourselves."
We know that to whom much knowledge of the Word is given, much is
required. I Thessalonians 5:14 "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them
that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be
patient toward all [men]." Another Scripture we need to look at is
Luke 12:48 "But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of
stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever much
is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have
committed much, of him they will ask the more." You see, God holds us
responsible for what we know. The shepherds that God has placed over
the flock, God requires to bring His message to the sheep.
Romans 15:2 "Let every one of us please [his] neighbor for [his]
good to edification."
We see a statement by Paul about how He tried to win people to
Christ by meeting them on their ground. I Corinthians 9:19 "For though
I be free from all [men], yet have I made myself servant unto all,
that I might gain the more." I Corinthians 9:20 "And unto the Jews I
became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under
the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the
law;" I Corinthians 9:21 "To them that are without law, as without
law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that
I might gain them that are without law." I Corinthians 9:22 "To the
weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all
things to all [men], that I might by all means save some."
Romans 15:3 "For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is
written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me."
When Jesus was facing death of His body on the cross, He asked
for the cup to pass from Him. His very next statement was not my will
but thine Father. Jesus submitted His will to the Father. Psalms 40:8
"I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [is] within my
heart." This really is the desire of true Christians; to do the will
of God. John 8:29 "And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath
not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him."
Romans 15:4 "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were
written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the
scriptures might have hope."
Galatians 3:24 "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring
us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." Galatians 3:25
"But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."
We know that faith comes by hearing and the hearing must be the word
of God. Our hope comes from knowing the word of God. We have said
before that, the power is in the spoken and written Word of God.
Romans 15:5 "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to
be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:"
It is very important that we Christians be in one accord. We are
all part of the family of God and will live in heaven together. We
need to learn to live peaceably here with each other. Romans 12:18 "If
it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."
Consolation in the Scripture above means comfort. In the upper room on
the day of Pentecost, they were in one accord. This pleased God and
the Holy Ghost fell with power from on high. The unity that God wants
us to have is unity of the Spirit.
Romans 15:6 "That ye may with one mind [and] one mouth glorify
God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 1:3 "Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly
[places] in Christ:" We must all be together on the fact that Jesus
Christ our Saviour and Lord is also the Resurrection and our Life. Our
praises to the Father should go up continually for giving His only
begotten Son that we might be saved. 1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed [be] the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant
mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead,"
Romans 15:7 "Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also
received us to the glory of God."
We really cannot do anything directly for God. In the 25th
chapter of Matthew, we read that if we have done it to the least of
these our brethren, we have done it to God. Read all of Matthew
chapter 25 for the whole message. We are taught to love our neighbor
as we love ourself.
Romans 15:8 "Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the
circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises [made] unto
the fathers:"
Jesus came first to the physical house of Israel. The promises
here mentioned are the ones made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We know
also, that all believers in Christ are heirs of the promises to
Abraham. Galatians 3:29 "And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye
Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Jesus says He
was sent to the house of Israel in Matthew 15:24 "But he answered and
said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Romans 15:9 "And that the Gentiles might glorify God for [his]
mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among
the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name."
There were two promises of this very thing in the Old Testament.
II Samuel 22:50 "Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among
the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name." Psalms 18:49
"Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen,
and sing praises unto thy name." Galatians 3:14 "That the blessing of
Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might
receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Acts 15:7 "And when
there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men
[and] brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice
among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the
gospel, and believe." We Gentile believers have much to glorify God
for.
Romans 15:10 "And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his
people."
Isaiah 24:15 "Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, [even]
the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea." As I
have said so many times in these lessons, I believe there is a
physical house of Israel and a spiritual house of Israel. We Gentiles
have been grafted into the tree of life. We are now Israel just like
the natural Jew, by adoption into the family of God.
Romans 15:11 "And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and
laud him, all ye people."
Psalms 117:1 "O Praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all
ye people." We know that this could not be just the Jews, because
nations is plural. The physical house of Israel is just one nation.
God inhabits the praises of His people. We should praise Him, because
He has brought us life. I Corinthians 15:45 "And so it is written, The
first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a
quickening spirit." Jesus Christ [the second Adam] brought us life
when He quickened our spirit.
Romans 15:12 "And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of
Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall
the Gentiles trust."
Isaiah 11:1 "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of
Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:" This promise of the
Branch is promising that Jesus will come to save all of us. Jeremiah
16:19 "O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day
of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the
earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity,
and [things] wherein [there is] no profit." The plan of God from the
beginning of the earth was to make the way open for salvation to
whosoever will.
Romans 15:13 "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the
Holy Ghost."
The great hope is of the resurrection. God is our only hope. What
a wonderful request here from Paul to all of us. II Thessalonians 2:16
"Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which
hath loved us, and hath given [us] everlasting consolation and good
hope through grace," II Thessalonians 2:17 "Comfort your hearts, and
stablish you in every good word and work." John 14:1 "Let not your
heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." God
expects us to believe and He will do the rest.
Notes
Questions 33
1. Who should bear the infirmities of the weak?
2. Who does God require much of?
3. Who are we to warn?
4. He that knew not and committed sin will receive what punishment?
5. Romans ch.15 v.2 says, to please whom?
6. What did Paul do so that he might win some to Christ?
7. When Jesus was facing the cross, whose will did He submit His will
to?
8. We through patience and comfort of what might have hope?
9. The law was our _____________ to bring us to Christ.
10. We are justified by what?
11. How does faith come?
12. We Christians are all part of what family?
13. How are we to live with all men that we read in Romans ch.12 v.18?
14. What is the unity that God wants us to have?
15. What is Jesus, besides our Saviour and Lord?
16. How do we do things for God?
17. Jesus Christ was a minister of the ____________.
18. What 3 patriarchs were these promises made to?
19. Who are heirs of the promise through Abraham?
20. The blessings of Abraham came to the Gentiles through whom?
21. What is the great hope?
22. Who is the Branch spoken of in Isaiah ch.11 v.1?
23. Romans ch.15 v.13 says, we abound in hope through what power?
24. What are we told not to let our heart do in John ch.14 v.1?
Notes
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