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Romans

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Making Others Stumble and Fall

Romans 14:13-16

Destructive criticism is obviously evil: it ruins relationships and reputations.  But it is just as wicked to encourage or pressurise people to act against their conscience.  They may be well intentioned but undiscerning of both God’s will for that person and their conscience.  Some believers wrongly assume that what they do, and the way they do it, must be God’s will for every Christian.  While Biblical doctrine is clear and must not be compromised, the exact way in which it is expressed may vary according to circumstances (2 Kings 5:18-19).

Relationship not Rules

Romans 14:17-18

All religions, including secularism and humanism, have one thing in common - rules!  Religion implicitly says, 'obey the rules, or at least try hard, and you will be acceptable' (Colossians 2:20-23).  Yet, as human beings, we are incapable of following all the rules all the time ...

Don't Make Other People Fall

Romans 14:19-21

God is working in all of His children.  But we all start from a different place to each other - our religious background, ethnic culture, social habits, cultural preferences and many more elements of our past life including the ways in which we have sinned and rebelled against God’s authority.  So, we ought to realise that He is doing different things in each of us, enabling us to conform our hearts and actions to His will (Philippians 2:13).  

Don't Condemn Yourself

Romans 14:22-23

God is working on all of us; and in each of us in a different way - taking us from where we were to where He wants us.  On the way, He wants us to think through all the issues He presents to us, so that we can fully agree with Him that we are doing what is right and pleasing to Him.  He does not want us to do things just because other people think it is right, but because our conscience conforms to His Word and is at peace and eager to do His will.

Strength Expressed in Service

Romans 15:1-3

Our human nature delights to use our own strength for our own purposes (Luke 12:16-21).  This includes our abilities, possessions, relationships and even the spiritual understanding we treasure.  However, Paul taught the church in Rome that strength is best expressed in service of people who are weak, as Jesus did (Matthew 20:25-28).

The Scriptures of Hope

Romans 15:4

In the Bible, 'hope' is a special word which means 'the confident expectation that God will do what He has promised’.  This is especially true about the certain coming again of Jesus (Titus 2:13), and our confidence that we will be acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:6).  Without this hope as an anchor for our souls (Hebrews 6:19), we would be pulled off track by life's many uncertainties and tests.  The Lord has promised to lead us in safety, even though the devil will tempt us and we sometimes fail Him: but the outcome of the believer's relationship with God is assured (2

Endurance and Encouragement

Romans 15:5-6

Endurance is the internal ability to keep going despite hardship, suffering and opposition.  It is a quality that does not boast, because endurance is busy facing down the pain and continuing to do what is right.

Included in Christ

Romans 15:7-10

It must have been difficult for the believers in Rome who had a Jewish background.  They had grown up believing that only the children of Israel (Jacob’s new name) and their descendants could be included in God’s family.  Then as they heard the gospel and trusted in Jesus, they found that non-Jews (Gentiles) were also discovering Jesus.  So those who worshipped Jesus came from such different backgrounds … how would they relate together?

Overflowing with Hope

Romans 15:11-13

It is horrible to be excluded.  That is why there is such joy when people realise that Jesus (the 'Root of Jesse') is not only appointed the King over Israel, but also over every person in every other nation too.  Everybody who welcomes Jesus is included in His kingdom.  First, they hear the gospel; when they receive Jesus, they are marked as ‘belonging to God’ by the Holy Spirit who guarantees that they will always be part of His great family (Ephesians 1:13-14).  

Knowledgeable but Need to be Reminded

Romans 15:14-16

Although we may know that something is true, it is not always easy to apply it in a new context.  Neither is it always obvious how we should teach others a new way to live.  As Paul came to the end of his letter to the church in Rome, he wanted to encourage them.  He wanted to affirm them that they already understood the essential Christian doctrines and were teaching one another (1 Corinthians 1:4-9).  He did not doubt their sincerity or knowledge; he had heard that they were following Jesus as best as they could but their faith needed to be strengthened by truth.

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