The Epistle of Saint Paul The Apostle to the Romans continues without comment:
The Duties of Christians:
I exhort you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice, living, holy, pleasing to God—your spiritual service. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed into the newness of your mind, that you may discern what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Humility and Concord:
By the grace that has been given to me, I say to each one among you: let no one rate himself more than he ought, but let him rate himself according to moderation, and as according to as God has appointed to each one the measure of faith. For just as in one body we have many members, yet all the members have not the same function, so we, the many, are one body in Christ, but severally members one of another. But we have gifts differing according to the grace that has been given us, such as prophecy to be used according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, in ministering; or he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhorting; he who gives, in simplicity; he who presides, with carefulness; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Fraternal Charity:
Let love be without pretense. Hate what is evil, hold to what is good. Love one another with fraternal charity, anticipating one another with honor. Be not slothful in zeal; be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope. Be patient in tribulation, persevering in prayer. Share the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Be of one mind towards another. Do not set your mind on high things but condescend to the lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits. To no man render evil for evil, but provide good things not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as far as in you lies, be at peace with all men. Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” But “If thy enemy is hungry, give him food; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head.” Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Obedience:
Let everyone be subject to the higher authorities, for there exists no authority except from God, and those who exist have been appointed by God. Therefore he who resists the authority resists the ordinance of God; and they that resist bring on themselves condemnation. For rulers are a terror not to the good work but to the evil. Dost thou wish, then, not to fear authority? Do what is good and thou wilt have praise from it. For it is God’s minister to thee for good. But if thou does what is evil, fear, for not without reason does it carry the sword. For it is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who does evil. Wherefore you must needs be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For this is also why you pay tribute, for they are the ministers of God, serving unto this very end. Render to all men whatever is their due; tribute to whom tribute is due; taxes to whom taxes are due; fear to whom fear is due; honor to whom honor is due.
Charity a Social Duty:
Owe no man anything except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law. For “Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shall not covet”; and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Loves does no evil to a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the Law.
The Spirit of Christ:
And this do, understanding the time, for it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we came to believe. The night is far advanced, the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light. Let us walk becomingly as in the day, not in revelry or drunkenness, not in debauchery and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and as for the flesh, take no thought for its lusts.
Mutual Forbearance:
But him who is weak in faith, receive, without disputes about opinions. For one believes he may eat all things; but he who is weak, let him eat vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let him who does not eat judge him who eats: for God has received him. Who art thou to judge another’s servant? To his own lord he stands or falls; but he will stand, for God is able to make him stand. For one esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let everyone be convinced in his own mind. He who regards the day, regards it for the Lord; and he who eats, eats for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God. And he who does not eat, abstains for the Lord, and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself; for if we live, we live to the Lord, or if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? Or thou, why dost thou despise thy brother? For we shall all stand at the judgment-seat of God; for it is written “As I live, says the Lord, to me every knee shall bend, and every tongue shall give praise to God.”
Charity and Peace:
Therefore every one of us will render an account for himself to God. Therefore let us no longer judge one another, but rather judge this, that you should not put a stumbling-block or a hindrance in your brother’s way. I know and am confident in the Lord Jesus that nothing is of itself unclean; but to him that regards anything as unclean, to him it is unclean. If, then, thy brother is grieved because of thy food, no longer dost thou walk according to charity. Do not with thy food destroy him for whom Christ died. Let not, then, our good be reviled. For the kingdom of God does not exist in food and drink, but in justice and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit; for he who in this way serves Christ pleases God and is approved by men. Let us, then, follow after the things that make for peace, and let us safeguard the things that make for mutual edification. Do not for the sake of food destroy the work of God! All things indeed are clean; but a thing is evil for the man who eats through scandal. It is good not to eat meat and not to drink wine, nor to do anything by which thy brother is offended or scandalized or weakened. Thou hast faith. Keep it to thyself before God. Blessed is he who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But he who hesitates, if he eats, is condemned, because it is not from faith; for all that is not from faith is sin.
And there you have it–the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ is Love!
Day 144: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; The Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ is Love!
Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Epistle of Saint Paul The Apostle to the Romans, Chapters 12-14.
Bible Notes:
Saint Paul in this letter gives the fullest explanation of his doctrine. In the first eleven chapters he explains that justification is through faith in Christ and not through the works of the Jewish Law. The last five chapters are directions for the conduct of a Christian life.
Romans Chapter 12: The duties of Christians; Humility and concord; Fraternal charity.
The Duties of Christians:
I exhort you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice, living, holy, pleasing to God—your spiritual service. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed into the newness of your mind, that you may discern what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Humility and Concord:
By the grace that has been given to me, I say to each one among you: let no one rate himself more than he ought, but let him rate himself according to moderation, and as according to as God has appointed to each one the measure of faith. For just as in one body we have many members, yet all the members have not the same function, so we, the many, are one body in Christ, but severally members one of another. But we have gifts differing according to the grace that has been given us, such as prophecy to be used according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, in ministering; or he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhorting; he who gives, in simplicity; he who presides, with carefulness; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Fraternal Charity:
Let love be without pretense. Hate what is evil, hold to what is good. Love one another with fraternal charity, anticipating one another with honor. Be not slothful in zeal; be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope. Be patient in tribulation, persevering in prayer. Share the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Be of one mind towards another. Do not set your mind on high things but condescend to the lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits. To no man render evil for evil, but provide good things not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as far as in you lies, be at peace with all men. Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” But “If thy enemy is hungry, give him food; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head.” Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans Chapter 13: Obedience; Charity a social duty; The spirit of Christ.
Obedience:
Let everyone be subject to the higher authorities, for there exists no authority except from God, and those who exist have been appointed by God. Therefore he who resists the authority resists the ordinance of God; and they that resist bring on themselves condemnation. For rulers are a terror not to the good work but to the evil. Dost thou wish, then, not to fear authority? Do what is good and thou wilt have praise from it. For it is God’s minister to thee for good. But if thou does what is evil, fear, for not without reason does it carry the sword. For it is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who does evil. Wherefore you must needs be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For this is also why you pay tribute, for they are the ministers of God, serving unto this very end. Render to all men whatever is their due; tribute to whom tribute is due; taxes to whom taxes are due; fear to whom fear is due; honor to whom honor is due.
Charity a Social Duty:
Owe no man anything except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law. For “Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shall not covet”; and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Loves does no evil to a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the Law.
Note: The Commandments omitted from above four: 1) I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt have no other gods before me. 2) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. 3) Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. 4) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 5) Honour thy father and thy mother. 6) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
The Spirit of Christ:
And this do, understanding the time, for it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we came to believe. The night is far advanced, the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light. Let us walk becomingly as in the day, not in revelry or drunkenness, not in debauchery and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and as for the flesh, take no thought for its lusts.
Romans Chapter 14: Mutual forbearance; Charity and peace.
Mutual Forbearance:
But him who is weak in faith, receive, without disputes about opinions. For one believes he may eat all things; but he who is weak, let him eat vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let him who does not eat judge him who eats: for God has received him. Who art thou to judge another’s servant? To his own lord he stands or falls; but he will stand, for God is able to make him stand. For one esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let everyone be convinced in his own mind. He who regards the day, regards it for the Lord; and he who eats, eats for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God. And he who does not eat, abstains for the Lord, and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself; for if we live, we live to the Lord, or if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? Or thou, why dost thou despise thy brother? For we shall all stand at the judgment-seat of God; for it is written “As I live, says the Lord, to me every knee shall bend, and every tongue shall give praise to God.”
Charity and Peace:
Therefore every one of us will render an account for himself to God. Therefore let us no longer judge one another, but rather judge this, that you should not put a stumbling-block or a hindrance in your brother’s way. I know and am confident in the Lord Jesus that nothing is of itself unclean; but to him that regards anything as unclean, to him it is unclean. If, then, thy brother is grieved because of thy food, no longer dost thou walk according to charity. Do not with thy food destroy him for whom Christ died. Let not, then, our good be reviled. For the kingdom of God does not exist in food and drink, but in justice and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit; for he who in this way serves Christ pleases God and is approved by men. Let us, then, follow after the things that make for peace, and let us safeguard the things that make for mutual edification. Do not for the sake of food destroy the work of God! All things indeed are clean; but a thing is evil for the man who eats through scandal. It is good not to eat meat and not to drink wine, nor to do anything by which thy brother is offended or scandalized or weakened. Thou hast faith. Keep it to thyself before God. Blessed is he who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But he who hesitates, if he eats, is condemned, because it is not from faith; for all that is not from faith is sin.
Speak Your Mind