Paul sends greetings from his friends.
Click here for an online Bible. Romans 16:19-24
Paul provides some encouragement for the church of Rome. Their obedience to God has been noteworthy. Paul rejoices in their obedience. But he warns them to cling to the good and avoid the bad.
They can take heart because God is the winner in the struggle against evil. Paul expects the second coming of Christ to occur soon. From our vantage, we know that soon is not the way we would define soon. Yet we are too live as if it could happen any day.
Paul sends greetings to Rome from his fellow Christians in Corinth. Many of these names we see in the book of Acts.
We often think of Paul as all alone or with only his trusted Timothy or Silas. Here we see that there are many fellow believers who labored alongside of Paul in the spread of the gospel. Most of their names we don’t know. Yet they started the early church which took the gospel to the world.
We have a responsibility just as they did. We are to be part of a larger effort to take the gospel to the world. Some of those Paul mentioned traveled with him and started new churches. Others stayed in their home towns and served the Lord there. The same is true for us. Some are called to be missionaries and take the gospel to remote areas while most of us stay in our home towns and serve.
Our home towns are still the mission field. We encounter people every day that Jesus died for. They need to here the gospel. We work alongside of others day in and day out. They need to see us live our faith.
Christianity is a team effort. There are no spectators.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Friday Romans 16:17-18
Paul warns the Roman church about divisive people.
Click here for an online Bible. Romans 16:17-18
As Paul closes his letter, he has been making some personal comments regarding people he knows. He has just made the point of the necessity of unity in the church. We should come together and let our desire for Christ’s mission to override our individual differences. We should desire unity and work together.
Now, Paul inserts a warning to the Church. We must not let pursuit of unity go unchecked. We accept all people regardless of their backgrounds, but we do not accept all ideas or motivations. Unity is based on a common faith. It is grounded in the mission of Christ. Anyone who disrupts the mission or is not grounded in the faith has broken the unity. We can not sacrifice the mission for a false unity.
Any attempt at unity apart from the common faith and mission is a fake unity. I guess you could call it a kind of unity, but it is a unity based on human relationship, not the Christian faith. As the body of Christ, our Christian unity can only be based on following Christ.
In the modern American church, we have often embraced the wrong standards. We celebrate individualism and freedom of speech. These are not bad concepts, but they can be grossly misapplied in the church. Anybody demanding their rights in a church setting usually is the illustration of this passage in Romans. Using Paul’s words, these people are seeking to satisfy their own appetite.
We seek unity. We love people and openly accept people. Yet we are also to be on guard. Paul’s warning is a real danger. There are people who are pushing their own agendas. The church is often a place where these people can push their weight around since the people of the church want to be nice.
Pursue unity. Follow Christ.
Click here for an online Bible. Romans 16:17-18
As Paul closes his letter, he has been making some personal comments regarding people he knows. He has just made the point of the necessity of unity in the church. We should come together and let our desire for Christ’s mission to override our individual differences. We should desire unity and work together.
Now, Paul inserts a warning to the Church. We must not let pursuit of unity go unchecked. We accept all people regardless of their backgrounds, but we do not accept all ideas or motivations. Unity is based on a common faith. It is grounded in the mission of Christ. Anyone who disrupts the mission or is not grounded in the faith has broken the unity. We can not sacrifice the mission for a false unity.
Any attempt at unity apart from the common faith and mission is a fake unity. I guess you could call it a kind of unity, but it is a unity based on human relationship, not the Christian faith. As the body of Christ, our Christian unity can only be based on following Christ.
In the modern American church, we have often embraced the wrong standards. We celebrate individualism and freedom of speech. These are not bad concepts, but they can be grossly misapplied in the church. Anybody demanding their rights in a church setting usually is the illustration of this passage in Romans. Using Paul’s words, these people are seeking to satisfy their own appetite.
We seek unity. We love people and openly accept people. Yet we are also to be on guard. Paul’s warning is a real danger. There are people who are pushing their own agendas. The church is often a place where these people can push their weight around since the people of the church want to be nice.
Pursue unity. Follow Christ.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday Romans 16:3-16
Paul sends greetings to his friends in Rome.
Click here for an online Bible. Romans 16:3-16
Paul has mentioned Phebe who was traveling to Rome from where Paul was. She was likely the carrier of the letter. Now, Paul mentions several people in Rome that he wants to send greetings to.
He mentions 28 people. It is a mix of people. Some we know about, like Priscilla and Aquila who we see in Acts 18. The others, we don’t know much about. It seems to be a broad mixture of people. Some are Jews and others are Gentiles. There are both men and women. There seem to be slaves. Ampliatus, Urbanus, Hermes, Philologus and Julia were common slave names. Aristobulus was probably a grandson of Herod the Great and a friend of the Emperor.
The point is that a mixture of people from a variety of backgrounds came together to be the church of Rome. Too often we let our own differences with people create barriers in Christianity. We segregate into churches of different races and socioeconomic backgrounds. We are all going to be together in heaven for eternity, so we should be able to be together now.
Wouldn’t it be great if our love for Christ and His people would be greater than our earthly differences? I know for many of you, that is your desire also. Make it a matter of prayer.
Click here for an online Bible. Romans 16:3-16
Paul has mentioned Phebe who was traveling to Rome from where Paul was. She was likely the carrier of the letter. Now, Paul mentions several people in Rome that he wants to send greetings to.
He mentions 28 people. It is a mix of people. Some we know about, like Priscilla and Aquila who we see in Acts 18. The others, we don’t know much about. It seems to be a broad mixture of people. Some are Jews and others are Gentiles. There are both men and women. There seem to be slaves. Ampliatus, Urbanus, Hermes, Philologus and Julia were common slave names. Aristobulus was probably a grandson of Herod the Great and a friend of the Emperor.
The point is that a mixture of people from a variety of backgrounds came together to be the church of Rome. Too often we let our own differences with people create barriers in Christianity. We segregate into churches of different races and socioeconomic backgrounds. We are all going to be together in heaven for eternity, so we should be able to be together now.
Wouldn’t it be great if our love for Christ and His people would be greater than our earthly differences? I know for many of you, that is your desire also. Make it a matter of prayer.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Wednesday Romans 16:1-2
Paul makes some personal comments.
Click here for an online Bible. Romans 16:1-2
Paul begins to close out his letter to the Roman church with some personal notes. Remember that Paul is probably writing this letter from Corinth in Greece. He makes note of a lady named Phebe from the church in Cenchrea. Her hometown was a seaport near Corinth. Apparently, she was traveling to Rome.
Paul told the Romans to receive her as a sister in the Lord and treat her well. He did not say why she was going to Rome just that she was going there. She had been a great help to the churches in the area of Corinth so Paul expected the church of Rome to be a great help to her.
As Christians, we have a relationship as brothers and sisters in Christ. This relationship transcends geographical boundaries. Any Christian from any place in the world is my brother or sister.
Notice also, that Phebe did not just show up and demand help from the Roman church. Paul interceded on her behalf. He told the Roman church of her dedication to Christ and the church.
The lesson here is that when we dedicate ourselves to the service of the Lord, others take notice and watch out for us. God will provide blessing through His people.
Click here for an online Bible. Romans 16:1-2
Paul begins to close out his letter to the Roman church with some personal notes. Remember that Paul is probably writing this letter from Corinth in Greece. He makes note of a lady named Phebe from the church in Cenchrea. Her hometown was a seaport near Corinth. Apparently, she was traveling to Rome.
Paul told the Romans to receive her as a sister in the Lord and treat her well. He did not say why she was going to Rome just that she was going there. She had been a great help to the churches in the area of Corinth so Paul expected the church of Rome to be a great help to her.
As Christians, we have a relationship as brothers and sisters in Christ. This relationship transcends geographical boundaries. Any Christian from any place in the world is my brother or sister.
Notice also, that Phebe did not just show up and demand help from the Roman church. Paul interceded on her behalf. He told the Roman church of her dedication to Christ and the church.
The lesson here is that when we dedicate ourselves to the service of the Lord, others take notice and watch out for us. God will provide blessing through His people.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Tuesday Romans 15:22-33
Paul looks to the future of his ministry.
Click here for an online Bible. Romans 15:22-33
Paul had desired for some time to come to Rome, but he couldn’t because he was too busy taking the gospel to other areas. He still wanted to come to Rome after he took the collection of money to Jerusalem. The churches of Greece had provided money for Paul to take to the church in Jerusalem to care for the poor.
The timeframe of the events in Paul’s life are given in the book of Acts. He is probably leaving Corinth (Acts 20:1-3). He will go and meet with the elders from Ephesus on his way and then go to Jerusalem. His plan is then to travel to Spain but stop in Rome on the way.
He is aware of potential trouble in Jerusalem. The Jewish leaders there are likely to accuse him of something. And that is exactly what happens.
His desire is to take the gospel to the lost so that sinners can be brought to repentance. That is God’s desire and it is Paul’s desire. His life-focus is service to God by spreading the gospel. He wants the Roman church to be part of the mission too. When he stops at Rome on his way to Spain, he will likely solicit their support in a material way. He also would likely invite many of them to go with him to Spain. He also solicits their prayer support. He wants them to pray for him in Jerusalem. His motivation is not personal safety, but the mission.
Our focus should be the mission. Living out the gospel in the midst of unbelievers. We also are called to pray for the mission. Pray for the lost in your life. Pray for the church and its mission. Pray for our missionaries. Pray that we can grow as disciples.
Pray.
Click here for an online Bible. Romans 15:22-33
Paul had desired for some time to come to Rome, but he couldn’t because he was too busy taking the gospel to other areas. He still wanted to come to Rome after he took the collection of money to Jerusalem. The churches of Greece had provided money for Paul to take to the church in Jerusalem to care for the poor.
The timeframe of the events in Paul’s life are given in the book of Acts. He is probably leaving Corinth (Acts 20:1-3). He will go and meet with the elders from Ephesus on his way and then go to Jerusalem. His plan is then to travel to Spain but stop in Rome on the way.
He is aware of potential trouble in Jerusalem. The Jewish leaders there are likely to accuse him of something. And that is exactly what happens.
His desire is to take the gospel to the lost so that sinners can be brought to repentance. That is God’s desire and it is Paul’s desire. His life-focus is service to God by spreading the gospel. He wants the Roman church to be part of the mission too. When he stops at Rome on his way to Spain, he will likely solicit their support in a material way. He also would likely invite many of them to go with him to Spain. He also solicits their prayer support. He wants them to pray for him in Jerusalem. His motivation is not personal safety, but the mission.
Our focus should be the mission. Living out the gospel in the midst of unbelievers. We also are called to pray for the mission. Pray for the lost in your life. Pray for the church and its mission. Pray for our missionaries. Pray that we can grow as disciples.
Pray.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Monday Romans 15:14-21
It’s all about the gospel.
Click here for an online Bible. Romans 15:14-21
Paul tells the Romans that he has confidence in them. He has spoken to them very strongly but he believes that they are a good church and able to carry out their mission. But he is still going to speak boldly.
His mission is to take the gospel to the Gentiles. Notice his motivation. I am sure he is motivated by love for the lost, but here he says that his motivation is God. He wants the Gentile to become an offering to God.
Similarly, our motivation must include a heart for the lost, but our primary motivation is God Himself. He desires that people come to know Him. We want to please God. So we take the gospel to the world because it is pleasing to God. Like Paul, we desire to please God. And He is pleased by the repentance of sinners.
They are made acceptable to God by the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. They are made holy by God (the Holy Spirit) so that they can be accepted by God (the Father) through the mediation of God (the Son). Salvation is a God thing, but we have a role. God works through His people. We are the intermediaries who bring the gospel to the lost. God saves, but we tell.
Paul’s desire was to take the gospel to places where they had never heard about Christ. He did not want to build on anyone else’s foundation. He wanted to lay a foundation. Most of us are working on foundations already laid. We are part of a team living out the gospel for others to see. When others see the credibility of the gospel in our lives, they are more open to coming to faith. When they see consistent godly living in most of the Christians around them, they can not deny the power of the gospel.
Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles from Jerusalem to Illyricum. We are the apostles to those who encounter us each day.
Click here for an online Bible. Romans 15:14-21
Paul tells the Romans that he has confidence in them. He has spoken to them very strongly but he believes that they are a good church and able to carry out their mission. But he is still going to speak boldly.
His mission is to take the gospel to the Gentiles. Notice his motivation. I am sure he is motivated by love for the lost, but here he says that his motivation is God. He wants the Gentile to become an offering to God.
Similarly, our motivation must include a heart for the lost, but our primary motivation is God Himself. He desires that people come to know Him. We want to please God. So we take the gospel to the world because it is pleasing to God. Like Paul, we desire to please God. And He is pleased by the repentance of sinners.
They are made acceptable to God by the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. They are made holy by God (the Holy Spirit) so that they can be accepted by God (the Father) through the mediation of God (the Son). Salvation is a God thing, but we have a role. God works through His people. We are the intermediaries who bring the gospel to the lost. God saves, but we tell.
Paul’s desire was to take the gospel to places where they had never heard about Christ. He did not want to build on anyone else’s foundation. He wanted to lay a foundation. Most of us are working on foundations already laid. We are part of a team living out the gospel for others to see. When others see the credibility of the gospel in our lives, they are more open to coming to faith. When they see consistent godly living in most of the Christians around them, they can not deny the power of the gospel.
Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles from Jerusalem to Illyricum. We are the apostles to those who encounter us each day.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Sunday Romans 15:7-13
Unity in the church matters greatly.
Click here for an online Bible. Romans 15:7-13
Paul’s concern is for unity within the church of Rome. There was a lot of potential conflict between the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians. They came from such different backgrounds that conflict was very likely.
Paul uses several quotes from the Old Testament to show them that the situation in which they find themselves is what God had intended all along. He chose the Jewish people to be His special community, but He had always intended to include all nations into the community.
Neither group should feel superior or inferior. They were all called by God to respond to the gospel. The mission was superior to their cultural backgrounds. They were now called to unity in Christ.
Sometimes our church backgrounds get in the way of unity. We are so sure about the “right” way to do things that we often lose sight of the mission that Christ has given us. We have to see beyond our culture (especially church culture) to see what Christ has called us to be and called us to do.
Click here for an online Bible. Romans 15:7-13
Paul’s concern is for unity within the church of Rome. There was a lot of potential conflict between the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians. They came from such different backgrounds that conflict was very likely.
Paul uses several quotes from the Old Testament to show them that the situation in which they find themselves is what God had intended all along. He chose the Jewish people to be His special community, but He had always intended to include all nations into the community.
Neither group should feel superior or inferior. They were all called by God to respond to the gospel. The mission was superior to their cultural backgrounds. They were now called to unity in Christ.
Sometimes our church backgrounds get in the way of unity. We are so sure about the “right” way to do things that we often lose sight of the mission that Christ has given us. We have to see beyond our culture (especially church culture) to see what Christ has called us to be and called us to do.
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