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Compare Romans 16, Paul’s conclusion of his letter to the Christians in Rome, to a high school yearbook. During the high school years, we are supposed to learn skills, knowledge, and an approach to life that will get us launched into adulthood. The book of Romans also records truths that should be foundational building blocks for life, the essentials upon which we ought to build our lives.

The high school yearbook is the history of the events, ideas, and accomplishments that took place during the year, but it also contains a collection of handwritten names, greetings, memories, and thoughts about life. We find at the end of the book of Romans some very personal words, too.

These first individuals Paul mentions represent two groups which emerge in the list of names.  Phoebe represents the group of people whose origins are in Corinth where Paul is staying for three months and writing this letter.  She was from the church in Cenchrea, which was the port of Corinth, located about nine miles east of the city.    Priscilla and Aquila represent the people in Rome, to whom the letter is addressed.

One of the characteristics of the entire list of names is its variety.  Contrary to the culture of the day, men and women are named together in their ministries, their friendship, and their impact on the world they live in.   We find further variety in the combination of slaves and high government officials, couples and singles, Jews and Gentiles, and homeowners and itinerants.

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Previous: 23 Romans 15:14-33 Paul’s Reflections

Series: Romans: Justification by Faith

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Paul closes Romans as he began, with a personal word about himself and the church in Rome. Reflecting on his life so far and where God will take him next, Paul discusses two themes: 1) the situation of church at Rome, and 2) the future of his ministry. As you study Romans 15, you might want to compare what Paul says to your own church and ministry.

Paul says the church at Rome has three positive qualities:

• They are full of goodness in the sense that they are motivated by a sense of goodness, because God has changed their hearts to strive for it.
• They are complete in knowledge in that they fully understand the gospel.
• They are competent to teach one another, sharing the wisdom God has given them so far.

Paul says the church at Rome lacks two qualities:

• No matter how well taught, they still need a bold reminder of the truth.
• They still need a “priestly ministry” — someone to speak to them about God and remind them of the truth.

Now Paul speaks of his own ministry:

• His boast and worth stem from what Christ has accomplished through him.
• He is delighted to be who he is.  He is so confident because he has seen Christ at work.
• He has finished his work in the east and is looking west toward Rome and Spain.
• Paul planned ahead, but his plans were flexible, he was persistent and he involved a team.

Paul’s three prayer requests were granted in a surprising way.

• He was rescued from the unbelievers in Judea by being placed in Roman custody after being beaten.
• His service to Jerusalem was acceptable but stirred up a lot of trouble.
• He did go to Rome but it was over 2 years later and involved prison and a shipwreck.

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Next: 24 Romans 16 – Paul’s Roman Yearbook

Previous: 22 Romans 14:19-15:13 Handling Disagreement

Series: Romans: Justification by Faith

Study: Romans Resources

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Have you ever noticed, how much easier it is much easier to destroy something beautiful and worthy than to build it? Building up and tearing down is at the heart of Romans 14-15.  Paul’s going to encourage us to build each other up and remind us that this building takes a lot longer to accomplish, than does tearing down.

Review

In Romans 1-8 Paul explained the glory of the gospel and the greatness of God — how no one can be saved by keeping the law. We can only be saved by trusting that God, because of the blood of Jesus Christ, will forgive us and solve the problem of sin in our lives.

In Romans 9-11, he argued that God did not fail Israel, nor reject them and that proves He will be faithful to Gentile believers as well.

In Romans 12, he turned practical.  He says, “It is only reasonable that we worship this God with our bodies.” The rest of the book then discusses how the gospel should make our lives different.

In Romans 13, he told us to submit those in authority, keep ourselves free from debt, and free from darkness, so that we are free to serve God.

In Romans 14-15, he discusses the favorite indoor sport of Christians: trying to change each other.

Outline

• Romans 14:1-12 – What you should not do
• Romans 14:13-24 – What you can do
• Romans 15:1-13 – What happens when you handle it the right way

Romans 14:1 opens “Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions (NASB).”  In the areas that are debatable — areas where God has not spoken about what is right or wrong — we are not to judge each other and question “how can you be a Christian and do that?”

Paul says accept each other for two reasons.  1) We are not to judge because it is not my responsibility to change my sister. She is not my servant., she is God’s servant.  It is his job to grow each of us in the faith.  2) God can see what I can’t see:  the inner conviction of the heart.

Instead we are to judge ourselves and how our actions are affecting other people.  It is more important that we have peace and unity and righteousness, than that we exercise our freedom in an area.

Motivation matters

• The idea of “upbuilding” (14:19) means to construct something.  It is investing your life, striving to create something sturdy that will withstand whatever hurricane comes along.
• The word “destory (14:20) means to tear something down.
• In 14:20 Paul makes the unambiguous statement that all food is clean.  But just knowing that all food is clean does not mean we know how to live.  So, he gives us two examples.
• First, in 14:22 is the person who does not make his brother stumble by the exercise of his freedom. Before you take an action in a certain area, examine your heart and your convictions and your motivations before God.
• Second in 14:23, is the person who does not act in accordance with his convictions.  If you violate your conscience in order to have the approval of your circle of friends, then it is sin, even though what you are doing in itself isn’t wrong.
• Paul’s examples highlight the importance of asking not just what people are doing but why are they doing it.

Endurance

• Building a church community that loves each other with passion and generosity and builds each other up is a long, hard process.  It takes a long time to build and can be torn down in minutes.
• This is the first time Paul has referred to the strong. The argument until this point is that both the weak and the relatively less weak have the same problem.
• By “strong” he means those who have maturity and character and humility, who have learned to walk with the Lord and grow wise in His ways.
• The strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, despite the tendency is to want to please themselves.
• The “weak” are not going to change overnight.  We will find we need endurance in this area.
• We are to glorify God together.

Conclusion

• Romans 15:7 summarizes the section:  We are to accept one another as Christ has accepted us.
• He says to the Jews who are in Rome receiving this letter, “Christ became a servant of the Jews, but not because you particular Jews in Rome were superior or worthwhile.  Rather because he made promises to the patriarchs.”
• He says to the Gentiles, “You don’t deserve anything you have received, but a merciful God is going to include you as well.”
• Then he goes quotes from Psalms and Deuteronomy and finally Isaiah. Notice the progression.
• 15:9 “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” [Psalm 18:49] – We hear one singer who knows God standing in the midst of the Gentiles singing praise to God’s name as they listen.
• 15:10 And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” [Deut. 32:43] – Now there are two groups rejoicing together. Not a singer singing amidst the Gentiles, but both Gentiles and Jews together are allowed to sing.
• 15:11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” [Psalm 117:1] – The Gentiles are directly invited to sing his praise, without reference to whether anybody else is singing or not.
• 15:12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” [Isaiah 11:10] –  Finally, the focus is not on who is singing but on the one being sung to.

Summary

To sum up, what Paul has said to us is:

1. Do not deliberately stumble or shock your brother or sister. Do not deliberately do things that will offend them.
2. Give up your right when it threatens the peace or hinders the growth of another individual. Be alert to judge yourself in that area.
3. Never act from doubt. Act only from conviction, by the Word, and by the Spirit of God.
4. Choose to please your neighbor rather than yourself.
5. Be careful that your giving in does not confirm your neighbor in his weakness, but encourages him to grow in the Lord.

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Next: 23 Romans 15:14-33 Paul’s Reflections

Previous: 21 Romans 14:1-20 The Problem of Christian Taboos

Series: Romans: Justification by Faith

Study: Romans Resources

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Review

In Romans 1-8 Paul explained the glory of the gospel and the greatness of God — how no one can be saved by keeping the law; we can only be saved by trusting that God, because of the blood of Jesus Christ, will forgive us and solve the problem of sin in our lives.

Then in Romans 9-11, he examines how God treated Israel.  He argues that God neither failed nor rejected Israel and He will be faithful to Gentile believers as well.

Finally in Romans 12 he turns to believers and says, “It is only reasonable that we worship this God with our bodies.” The rest of the book then talks about our practical response to the greatness of the gospel: How should it make our lives different?

Chapter 12:3 has implications for everything that comes after it:

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

One practical result of growing faith is that we learn to see ourselves more accurately.  We stop thinking of ourselves too seriously, stop believing we’re more important than others and stop demanding that all our rights and needs be met.  In Romans 12, Paul told us to be sober about ourselves, to be accurate and realistic and not take ourselves too seriously.

Then in our dealings with others to be passionate in our relationships, to care deeply and to be committed to them; and to be generous — to give ourselves away, to try to do more than our share and looks for ways to outdo each other in service.

In Romans 13:1-7, we looked at how that should affect our attitude toward government and those in authority over us.

In Romans 13:8-14, Paul explains what it means to be able to live as people who are free to love one another and free of self-recrimination, guilt, uncertainty, or doubt. The passage speaks of freedom from debt and freedom from darkness.

Passage

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Previous: 19 Romans 13:1-7 Submission, Fearlessness and Conscience

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In Romans 9-11 Paul is asking hard questions about the Jewish people.  Their history began with the faith of Abraham. They were given a unique calling, unique opportunities, unique responsibility, and unique information.

When the Jews as a nation (or the church as a community imitating them) make the observation that God has chosen them, that they are part of his plan, then pride has its greatest opportunity to express itself.

In part, Romans 9-11 is an explanation of how people can be caught in spiritual pride and how the advantages of knowing about God and His truth can be twisted into something that actually drives us away from God.

Study Questions

1. Study the doxology & exhortation in verses 11:33-12:2. What’s the main point? How is it an appropriate
   response to chapters 9-11?
2. What do verses 3-8 teach us about our own abilities? (Note vs 3 particularly)
3. Based on this chapter, how would you define spiritual gifts?
4. Is 9a “Let Love be without hypocrisy” a fair summary of the rest of the chapter? Why?
5. Summarize the “dos” and “do nots” in verses 9-21. What do they teach us about love?
6. In light of chapters 1-11, on what basis can you hope to live the way chapter 9 describes?

Next: 19 Romans 13:1-7 Submission, Fearlessness and Conscience

Previous:17 Romans 11:1-32 Did God Reject His People?

Series: Romans: Justification by Faith

Study: Romans Resources