Book of Romans - Ch. 15, Vs. 1-33 (09/01/2002)

I have a question for you. Since God is sovereign, I want you to name something bad that happened to you this past week. Nobody? But that wasn't bad. Then why do we act like it so many times? Nothing bad happens.

Yes, and that's something I don't do. I guess this is about as big as I smile. Open your books to Romans 15. I should say open your Bibles to Romans 15. We're rapidly bringing this book to a close. Paul still has a few things he wants to say to us.

Bearing the Weak and Pleasing the Neighbor

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves. So there are strong Christians. There are weak Christians. The word bear, means here to be patient with them, bringing them along in their understanding.

Turn to the book of Jude quickly, if you will, please, to the first chapter in the 20th verse. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life, and with some have compassion, making a difference, and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, even as a garment spotted by the flesh, the scruples, which rise through weakness of faith, such as their language.

Perhaps they use terms and words not becoming a Christian. Well, this doesn't negate their salvation, does it? But it does affect their witness. Not to please ourselves, thinking of others first. Always think of others too.

Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. Now, where to please our neighbor? In everything, Virg? Well, I can't believe that's everything. I've got some neighbors that I sure wouldn't want to please in some things.

It should be only in that which is good for the neighbor, not anything that causes you to violate your Christian principles. For even Christ pleased not himself, but as it is written, the reproaches of them that reproach thee fell on me.

Christ's Will and the Scriptures Written for Our Learning

Christ pleased not himself. How do we know this? Let's look to Luke 22. It's interesting to go through the New Testament, especially the Gospels, and look at Christ's will. Luke 22, 41, and he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast and kneeled down and prayed.

Greg, how far can you throw a stone? What does it mean here about a stone's cast? All right. Kneeled down and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.

So we see that he would rather not have tasted that cup. Then in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty may be rich.

Back in Luke 22, 41, and he was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw saying, Father, forgive them. Remove not this stone from me. Remove this cup from me. We find that it's hard to believe, but Jesus had a will of his own, didn't he?

For, for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope. Everything was written just for me, just for you, just for us.

Joy, what does that include? Well, what was written? What, what was written? What's written? All right. So we can get instructions from Genesis 1, 1. Learning that we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope.

Patience. What does patience really mean? David? All right. How can you make that more personal? All right. Patience is never taking your eyes off of that goal. Always facing it. Always working. Never discouraged.

The Bible is not a book that has a list of all possible problems. All indexed, labeled. It is only by our diligent study and by the leadership of the Holy Spirit that we learn. If you have learned anything, today or ever, it has been the Holy Spirit that taught you.

By our ability to study and to retain, are we able to see the truth as God brings the experience to us each day. You know, you learn a truth in the Bible, then he brings an experience that puts it to use.

Unity of Mind and Mouth in the Church

Now, God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded, one toward another, according to Jesus Christ. Well, does this mean total harmony? Does it mean that we all think exactly alike? What does it mean, Russell?

All right. All right. We cannot think alike, but we can agree, can't we? How was Jesus the Christ-minded? How was he-minded? To do the will of God, the Father. Total unselfishness. Total. Didn't mean he couldn't express his will, but he did the Father's will.

That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. One mouth, so that each of you will speak together as one, like a good choir singing, so that you can understand each word.

It takes practice. There used to be a program way back in the early days of television, Mitch Miller. He had a 50 or maybe 100 voice choir, all men, and they sung with one mouth. You could understand everything.

That's what he's talking about. Romans 7. Wherefore, receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God, to grant access to one's heart, to be able to not need to be always on the guard as to what you say.

Receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. We were received by Christ for and to the glory of the Heavenly Father, not for himself. 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, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for this mercy.

As it is written, for this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again, he saith, rejoice ye Gentiles with this principle. And again, praise the Lord all ye Gentiles, and laud him all ye people.

And again, Isaiah saith, there shall be a root of Jesse, and that he shall rise to reign over the Gentiles. To him shall the Gentiles trust. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, believing that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Believing, Fullness of Knowledge, and Paul's Apostolic Calling

Believing. It all seems so simple. If we could believe with a believing belief, we would be happy today. We would be joyful today. Believing. Well, let's see. Let's look at this word. Russell, what is believing?

All right. Myron, what's believing? Believing is a confidence in, about, and expecting. So I just intend the word for believing. All right. How do we go about believing, Myron?

If I say it, then you go about believing.

Well, that's all true. Anyone else want to take a stab at it? Diane? All right. All right. Roger? Believing is arriving at a decision based upon facts outside of yourself. In the act of habitually believing means to believe with a belief that the believing is belief.

Arriving at a decision based upon facts outside of yourself. That's the way you believe. We believe in Christ based upon facts outside of myself. I believe. And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others, admonish one another.

Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly unto you in some sort by putting you in mind because of the grace that is given to me in God. Virgil, why did Paul write to the Romans? All right. Did he have a choice?

Yes. That's right. None of you had a choice this morning. That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. Paul had no choice in this. In fact, he was choosing to kill Gentiles, but he got sidetracked. I have therefore, wherefore, I may glorify through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God, for I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed.

What is he saying in this portion of the scripture, David? I will not dare speak of any of those things that has been done by others. He is saying, I will not use stories of my life, my past experiences to teach you the truth.

The message is not of me, but it is his words by me through mighty signs and wonders by the powers of the Holy Spirit. God, so that from Jerusalem and round about unto Iliconium, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

If we could all say that. Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another's foundation. But as it is written, to whom he was not spoken of, they shall see, and that they have not heard shall understand.

Paul went to virgin territory. He didn't go to where there was a church. He went to where there wasn't a church. For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you, but now having no more place in these parts and having a great desire, thus many years, to come unto you, whereof I shall take my journey to Spain.

I will come to you, for I trust to see you in my journey and to be brought on my way thither by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your coming. He mentions Spain here. Do you think he went to Spain?

Myron, do you think Paul went to Spain? What? Well, in one of the gospels he says, I have finished my course. I don't know whether he went to Spain or not. There's no tangible record of it. But now I'm going to Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

The Gentiles' Contribution and Paul's Journey to Jerusalem and Rome

David, why was he going to Jerusalem? All right. He said, I want to give it to them with my own hand. John, why did he want to give it to them himself? Well, let's see. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Acacia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

It has pleased them verily, and their debtor they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of the spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. And before we get to the carnal things and spiritual things, Paul, before his ministry started, what was he doing, Myron?

Did that include the church in Jerusalem? Absolutely. This is why he wanted to give the offering to them personally, was because he had personally tried to destroy that church. It meant a great deal to him to be able to support them.

That's right. That he loved them. I'm sure like any church in any age, it was rather hard to convince some. No. Sure. That's right. Now it had changed his life. His life. His life. He had to do what Paul had to do.

He went against what was told him. That's right. That's right. He went fully knowing what would happen. Now in the 27th verse, for if the Gentiles have been made partakers of spiritual things, you have blessed the Gentiles.

The blessing has come through you spiritually to spiritual things. Their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. David, what is the principle that we have here? That's right. You will have in your lifetime several teachers, perhaps, that teach the spiritual things to you.

You cannot give to them the same spiritual things, but you can care for them carnally. By carnal things, I mean by things in this earth. When, therefore, I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come to you unto Spain.

And I am sure that when I come unto you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake and for the love of the Spirit that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.

Prayer, Deliverance, and the Will of God

What does the word strive mean, Russell? All right. Myron, you're our source this morning. What does the word strive mean? Very good. That I may be delivered from them that do not believe. In Judea, and that my service, which I have for Jerusalem, may be accepted of the saints.

That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God and may with you be refreshed. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Paul prayed that he would complete his journey, both Jerusalem and then to Rome.

He wanted to go to Spain. That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God. Is there any joy outside of the will of God? The only joy you will ever experience is in Christ. Now those outside of the joy that are not in Christ, they think they have joy.

They think they love one another. There's no way to convince them that they don't, because they love them the most their heart is.

Able to, but they don't love them. Yeah. And, you know, I've heard people teach that having not had a good will in the first place doesn't mean that you can't talk about it. But what it's possible now is that you get over that good will.

Good is what God knows his will is for us. Acceptable is what God wants his will to be in us. He wants it to be acceptable to us. He wants us to accept his will. And perfect or complete is what God's will is when we accept the good.

Will of God. That's right. I hope you all got that. Is there anything else from anyone? Well, we're five minutes early. Merge, would you dismiss us, please?