Pg.1
Opening Prayer
Father God we ask your blessing on this study tonight, that you would open our minds and our hearts to your word. Bring us to the realization of those matters that you would have us learn from this study. Help us to realize that we are vessels that you use to further your Kingdom on this earth. Be with those of our group who cannot be here today, we pray you will share our blessing with them. Be with those of us who are suffering illness and those who care for them. Restore their health and bring them back into our midst. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen
What is a Gentile Christian to do?
The beginning of the 15th chapter finds us still needing to adjust our attitude and conduct towards the less fortunate in our midst, and the weak in the faith. To offer our help and encouragement.
Paul writes that everything in the Scripture, meaning what we call the Old Testament, was written to instruct us in the Christian hope. Throughout the Old Testament we see God’s faithfulness in spite of man’s sin. We see the saints going through times of suffering and discouragement. We see the saints exiled to the wilderness, with no apparent future. But we also see that in time, God brings them back for greater service than before. The kingdom of God never shrinks; it may flow underground for a season, but it always emerges mightier than before. God is not going to be the loser in history. Thus, with the encouragements of the Scripture before us (Old and New Testaments), we should have hope. And following God’s example, we should encourage one another
Romans 15: 1-6 what have we learned?
1. We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Discussion
It shall ever be, that our wealth, our time, and our effort be devoted to family and friends and those of like mind who have the same desires, hopes and needs as do we. We are drawn to those who think, act and live much the same as ourselves. But there is a distinct difference that separates us as Christians, from the secular world, and that is the fact that as Christians it is incumbent upon each of us to care about and offer support to the weak in the faith, and the downtrodden, the struggling believer and the disadvantaged in our midst, to help them grow stronger and more positive, and to offer them what we can to help them in their plight . That is what Jesus did.
What we have learned up to this point in our faith as Christians, should give us encouragement to make the effort , for in so doing we are spreading the message of the gospel and adding to our numbers which is helping fulfill the charge that Jesus Christ gave the disciples. (Matthew 28:19) These words of Christ's are the charge to every individual who would call themselves Christian, so that we would indeed glorify God with our effort, and with all our heart, mind and soul.
Pg.2
Questions
1. How might a Christian come to bear with the failings of the weak? And what does it involve?
2. How can one be an encourager for a neighbor, for a friend, for a Christian worker? 3. How would that same principle apply, ( question 2), to someone we do not even know?
3. What are some of the ways that offering encouragement can actually make one dependent?
4. Name some of the matters in the secular world that should concern Christians?
5. What do you feel is the overarching principle of the above verses?
Why are we to do it ?
Here Paul is telling the Roman Church that Christ’s work brings together Jew and Gentile as one people deeply grateful for their redemption. Because salvation comes to the Gentiles through the Jewish people on account of Christ, Jesus also became a servant in order that the Gentiles would glorify God for His mercy in saving them from their sins as well. (Galatians 3:13). As Christ welcomes us, so does God the Father welcome us, and we are thereby responsible to welcome all who profess faith in Jesus Christ. What about those who do not profess that faith?
Romans 15: 7-13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name." 10 Again, it says, "Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people." 11 And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him."12 And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope." 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
What would Jesus do ?
Jesus receives without distinction or exception all who repent and believe in Him alone. He does not turn away those who are spiritually immature, and His love for mature believers is not greater than His love for those who are babes in Christ. Nor does He reject those who do not yet fully understand the extent of their freedom in Him. If Jesus Christ can accept with open arms those who are misguided about matters not essential to salvation, we must do the same. Christ died for the lost sinners of the world, and rose again to serve the purposes of God in bringing salvation to all of mankind, not just a chosen few. (John 3:16) is the proof of that.
What did God do ?
Of the many promises God made to His people Israel, none is more apropos for what Paul was writing here than God’s promise to Abraham. In Genesis 22:18, God told Abraham, “Through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.” This was a promise God made before the Jewish people even became a people. It was long before their exodus from Egypt, before God giving the Law, and before any of the kings. God’s great plan to redeem mankind from the curse of sin and death caused by Adam and Eve was to reach out in love to the whole world through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus came so that people may receive mercy. Because of God’s great mercy, the appropriate response to this is to rejoice and praise God.
Pg.3
Questions
1. How is it that Jesus became a servant to save the gentiles, what did he do to exemplify that?
2. Do we foresee a day when Jews and Gentiles will really be united in one body?
3. How did it happen that the work of Christ blessed both the Gentiles and the Jews?
4. In today's liberated society do you see a general criticism of the Christian faith?
5. Is the Belief that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation a biased arrogance of Christians?
Scripture References
Mat thew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole." 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit
Closing Prayer. Father God, we thank you for the gift of Your Son Jesus, the Strong Deliverer of our salvation and for the Holy Spirit our Helper who leads us in our struggle against sin. We pray that You will enhance our desire and ability to learn more of what we can become by following the teachings of Jesus and through the study of Your word as given to us in the gospel. We pray now for Your comfort and healing to be upon those who are suffering from health or other issues in this
Pg.4
Meditation
We have studied, and actually put into practice that believers are to receive one another even when they disagree on minor issues, because God in Christ has received believers in the faith even though they are not all of the same accord on all issues. In Romans 15:8-12, Paul makes relevant the justification for Christians to welcome one another by reminding the Church of God’s purpose to bring Jews and Gentiles together in worship under the cross of Jesus Christ, his life death and resurrection, for the purpose of salvation to all who will repent of their sins and come to him.
Paul looks back to the patriarchs, stating that Christ came as a servant to the people to confirm the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In stating that Jesus was a servant to Jews, not as a slave but as a savior, one who serves each in his great love for all. His point is that the Son of God came to meet the needs of His people, to serve them at the deepest level possible in saving them from sin. Not Just the Jews, but all of mankind.
What were the promises given to the patriarchs? Gen 12:1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. 2 "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. All of these were given with the intention that Abraham’s family would become a blessing to all the families of the earth.
By coming to meet the needs of the Jews for salvation, Jesus confirmed that Abraham’s family according to the flesh blesses the whole world, for salvation for the Gentiles comes through the Jewish Messiah born to the Jewish people.
Christ came to meet the needs of all people, to humble Himself and give His life, to rescue us from the curse of sin bound to us by Satan's lies. He did this to serve as the answer to God's will that all who call upon His Son for their salvation, and accept the sacrifice that Christ has made for our sake will be saved. Which means that as Christians, followers of Christ, we are to welcome all who trust in Christ alone no matter their background. Jesus has made the necessary sacrifice, His work is finished, He has confirmed the promises of God and therefore we are to bond with all Christians of every nationality, with a unity that is grounded in the truth of our Lord’s love for all mankind, and His gift of eternal life to all who share that faith as True Believers.
Praise be to God the father of all creation.
No comments:
Post a Comment