Romans 13 "Proper Behavior"

 Here in chapter 13 Paul is encouraging the believers in Rome to do three things; submit to government (vv.1-7), love their neighbors (vv.8-10) and to put on the LORD Jesus Christ (vv.11-14). All three of these directives can be combined into one major topic, “proper behavior”.

We as Christians should be subjective to the governing authorities appointed by God and not resist them. Proper behavior demands that we follow the law, not only because of the consequences if we don’t, but for our own conscience sake (v.5) and witness.

Likewise, proper behavior calls us to treat our neighbors with love and respect. In-so-doing, we have fulfilled God’s greatest commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (v.9).

Finally as a Christian, proper behavior calls us to, “put on the armor of  light” (v.12) and to walk properly as a living example to others by, “putting on the LORD Jesus Christ and making no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (v.14). 

The key to all this is gearing up every day with God’s Word. Only by putting on our armor, can we fight against the “principalities and powers” of the dark side that war against us. Only then can we walk properly as children of the light, Jedi’s for Christ.

The Truth: “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.” (Isaiah 1:16-17)

Romans 12 "Overcome Evil With Good

"Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (v.21)

There is an old saying: Returning evil for good is devil-like, evil for evil is beast-like, good for good is man-like, and good for evil is God-like. 

How many times have we all thought of getting revenge, make someone pay, returning evil for evil? It truly is our nature to lash out rather than show leniency or to take the higher road. However, Paul is telling us here, we must rise to that God-like point as Christians and overcome evil with good.

CH Spurgeon put it this way, “The text appears to give us a choice between two things, and bids us to choose the better one. You must either be overcome by evil, or you must yourself overcome evil. One of the two. You cannot let evil alone, and evil will not let you alone. You must fight, and in the battle you must either con­quer or be conquered. It (the text) inculcates not merely passive non-resistance, but it teaches us active benevo­lence to enemies. "Overcome evil with good," with direct and overt acts of kindness. If any man has done you a wrong, do not only forgive it, but also avenge it by doing him a favor.”

The longer I live the more I realize the power behind this great truth of returning good for evil. It demonstrates true Christian love and can possibly bring about a change of heart and soul. And that is the real challenge in life is it not, to “overcome evil?” For it’s influence is truly all around us, battling for a piece of us every day. But, Paul has given us here the key to this victory. Starting with verse 9, and going through verse 21 spend some time looking closely at each verse and how you can make it apply more completely to your life and those around you. Shalom. 

The Truth:  “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)  

Romans 11 “The Principal of the Remnant”

“God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, “LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” (vv.2-5)

God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew… at this present time there is a remnant: In Paul’s day Israel as a group generally rejected their Messiah. Yet a substantial remnant embraces the gospel of Jesus Christ, and God has often worked in Israel through a faithful remnant (as He did in the time of Elijah). Elijah thought that God had cast off the nation and he was the only one left serving the Lord. But God showed him that there was in fact a substantial remnant – though it was only a remnant, it was actually there. 

Here in chapter 11 Paul is making it abundantly clear that no matter how far Israel has moved away from God, no matter how badly they have “blown it," God has not rejected His people. Just as there was a remnant in Elijah’s day, so too, Paul says, there will always be a remnant of believers in Israel, not referring to Jewish believers who kept the law, but of those who were at present saved by grace.

As a result of many Jews rejecting Christ as their Messiah (blinded by God), there remains today only a minority (remnant) in Israel who are believers, meaning there is also a blinded majority. This group will remain blind to their Messiah until the full number of Gentiles are saved (v.25). Once that occurs, it will usher in the Rapture and the completion of the Gentile Age (the church) and the blindness will be removed.

The best thing we as Christians can do for the people of Israel is to pray that they will find the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ before that day comes and become a part of the remnant by God’s grace. There has been and always will be a remnant by which God will fulfill His promises to Israel, "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (v. 29).

Make no mistake, God will keep His promises to Israel come what may. And we as Gentiles, the unnatural branch, should not be "high minded." For God did not cut them (unbelieving Jews) off to make room for us, they were cut off because of their unbelief (vv. 21-22). We (gentiles) were grafted in because of our faith in Christ - not His chosen people, but adopted through faith.

Therefore, let us who have been grafted in, pray in the largest remnant ever for Israel, that God's grace will be abundantly poured out on His people. Amen?

The Truth: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:9)

Romans 10 "God's Righteousness Imparted By Faith"

 "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (v.13)

People have many different reasons for rejecting the gospel. A common one is to blame Christians for something they did or did not do. These critics say, “I know a Christian who treated me poorly.” Or, “I went to church, and no one talked to me.” Indeed, Christians aren’t perfect, and many can be bad examples. But blaming others doesn’t remove one’s accountability to God.

The truth of the gospel does not depend on the way others live out their faith. Salvation is about Jesus alone, and what the individual heart does with Him. For, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (v.9). 

Some people may use Christians as an excuse to reject the gospel. But they certainly can’t point a finger of blame at Jesus. He is sinless and perfect in every way. Pilate said of Him, “I have found no fault in this Man” (Luke 23:14). Then Jesus did what no one else could do—He suffered death on a cross to provide salvation for all who believe in Him. That makes it tough for anyone to say, “I’m not going to become a Christian because I don’t like what Jesus did.”

Bothers and sisters, don’t get sidetracked by looking at the faults of others. Look to the One who has no faults, Jesus. He alone is the way to salvation and eternal life. 

The Truth: “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

Romans 9 "Paul Laments"

“I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh.” (v.3)

What a remarkable statement! Far from thinking about himself, Paul affirmed that he would willingly exchange his eternity for theirs. Much like Moses who was willing to have his name blotted out of God's Book of life for his kinsmen (Exodus 32:32). What love.

As we continue to read the text, it is also pretty obvious from Paul's anguish over his unbelieving fellow Jews that he didn't think God was finished with the children of Israel. There is no argument that God chose Israel to be His representative people on earth (vv.4-5), but not all will enter into His kingdom because of nationality (vv.6-8). Only those who would receive and believe God's promise - which today, through God’s grace, includes you and me (v.25). 

Just as Paul had a great burden and desire for his fellow Jews to be saved, I'm sure each and every one of us have those in our family we "lament" for as well. The blinders are on so many today and just as the Psalmist urged us to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" the peace that comes through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also pray for each others loved ones. Yes our hearts are heavy, and we often lament, breakdown, cry out to God for His mercy and love to overwhelm our prodigals. But be encouraged my brothers, He hears us and all things are working together according to His will. 

The Truth: “The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16) 

Romans 8 “No Condemnation in Christ “

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." (v.1)

The great truth of chapter 8 is summed up here in verse one. If we are in Christ, meaning if we have accepted Him as Savior and LORD, we do not need to live in doubt or fear of our salvation. We can never be more free from the condemnation of God’s righteous judgment (the great white Throne), than we are today.

Oh your heart may condemn you; your memory may haunt you; the great accuser of souls may come against you; your faith may become weak and lose its power and grip; your sense of unworthiness may become increasingly heavy on your soul but, none of these things can touch your acceptance with God – if you meet His one all inclusive condition, “accept His Son.” Then there is no condemnation, for you are in Christ Jesus.

Furthermore, "Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus” (v.39). For God is the one who justifies (v.33), Christ is the one who died, was raised, sits at the right hand of the Father, who also intercedes for us (v.34). So, who is the one who condemns? Ah, yes, Satan. And will God listen to him when it comes to us, His children, His adopted sons/daughters, the very ones He gave His Son up for in order to save? I think not. So the question becomes, why do you?

Now is the time to commit yourself to His care and keeping, that His grace may be afforded to you on that “great day” of His coming, that you may be justified through His Son. (see prayer to the right on this page "connect with God.")

The Truth: “This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in them.” (1 John 3:23-24) 

Romans 7 "The Inner Conflict"

“For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Who shall deliver me...? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (v.17)

The seventh chapter of Romans reflects the inward conflict of the Christian soul who has not yet learned to use the full power of the Holy Spirit. It is the endeavour of a man to keep pure and holy in his own strength, in his own power and of his own will. But man’s nature, being bent towards rebellion, is unable to fight against the dark side on his own. As the scripture says, “Satan cannot cast out Satan.” Therefore, the will of man is unable to cast out its own evil and falls prey to the dark side.

Who has not, again and again, experienced failure after the most earnest desire to do right? The bitterness of our nature overcomes the better choice, of which we are conscious and later sorrowful. Thankfully, there is a better way.  In chapter eight, we will see how the full power of the Holy Spirit helps us to overcome evil. It is only when we learn to hand over our inner self to the Spirit of God that we can become "more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Romans 8:37).

It is a great comfort to know that the Spirit of God is prepared to renew our inward man day by day, and to make us free from the law of sin and death. All we must do is use it!

The Truth:  “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16) 

Romans 6 "To Whom Do You Yield?"

“Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants, they are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (v.16)

The truth is very man is ruled. No man is supreme; no man is master of his fate or captain of his soul. We are all governed by an outside power, either the power of God or by the power of Satan, and it is our choice. But whomever we yield yourselves servants to obey (God or Satan), his servants we become.

This struggle of whom we yield ourselves to goes back to the Garden of Eden where God said to man, "Thou shall not eat of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, and in the day you do, you are going to die." Satan then came along and said, "You won’t die, you will become just like God,” and thus the great struggle began. The eventual decision by Eve to eat of the tree (her choice) was one of obedience to Satan and disobedience to God. In yielding herself in obedience to Satan she became his servant.

Today, the same is true for us. We can choose to yield to God, to His Word, to His will, or we can choose to yield ourselves as a servant of disobedience, and become a servant of Satan. The outcome of this great struggle between good and evil, righteousness and unrighteousness, life and death, are found in verse 23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD.” 

Every man is in one of two categories: either a servant of sin, or a servant of God. To whom do you yield?

The Truth: “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)