3. The Christian life
a. Transformed living - Romans 12:1-21
b. Obedience to authorities - Romans 13:1-14
c. Judging - Romans 14:1-22
d. Unity - Romans 15:1-14
4. Paul plans to come to Rome - Romans 15:15-33
5. Personal matters - Romans 16:1-27
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)
The closer I draw to Christ, the more clearly I see how utterly depraved and sinful I was and am...though He has covered me, I still battle this mortal flesh to bring it into subjection. The verse above echoes the cry of my heart. I do not want to be puffed up and think more highly of myself. He calls and equips each saint differently, yet in such a fashion as to edify and encourage the Bride, not to pander to our egos. Lord help Your people to not exalt themselves, but to be humble and contrite before You. Show us how you have gifted and prepared Your vessels.
The gifts: Prophecy ~ ministry ~ teaching ~ exhortation ~ giving ~ ruling ~ mercy.
Attributes: Not slothful in business ~ fervent in spirit ~ serving the Lord ~ rejoicing in hope ~ patient in tribulation ~ instant in prayer ~ distributing to the saints ~ hospitable ~ blessing ~ rejoicing with those who rejoice ~ weeping with those that weep.
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4)
I had this verse in mind recently. Now that it is upon me and I've looked at the word definitions and commentaries I find it substantiates my initial perception. The Word of God, whether it be OT or NT is written for our learning. The early church would have had only the OT to give them guidance as the testimony and epistles of the apostles and disciples were being written and distributed. What was written to instruct Israel was to carry over. This does not mean what Jesus' fulfilled, but there is a LOT to learn, especially from Israel's rebellion.
The question that keeps repeating itself in my mind - what has the church taken on, that she should be able to look back at Israel and see how NOT to behave?
Gill's commentary: For whatsoever things were written aforetime,.... In the books of the Old Testament; the apostle says this, to vindicate the pertinency of the above citation, and to prevent any objection that might be made against it; since whatsoever was written in that psalm did not belong personally to David, but to Christ; and what is written concerning him, is designed for the use and instruction of his people; yea, whatever is written anywhere in the sacred Scriptures,
were written for our learning; to instruct in the knowledge of Christ, of his person, offices, grace, righteousness, obedience, sufferings, death, resurrection, and ascension; and of the great salvation and redemption he came to obtain, and has obtained; and to teach us the doctrines of grace, of pardon through the blood of Christ, atonement by his sacrifice, justification by his righteousness, acceptance in his person, and eternal life through him; as also to inform us of our duty, and how we ought to behave both towards God and men.
Salute one another with an holy kiss. (Romans 16:16a)
Holy kiss - okay, I have seen that phrase quite a bit. What does that mean? It is used 4x in Scripture. Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; and 1 Thessalonians 5:26.
Salute or greet - G782 - From G1 (as a particle of union) and a presumed form of G4685; to enfold in the arms, that is, (by implication) to salute, (figuratively) to welcome.
holy - G40 - From ἅγος hagos (an awful thing) compare G53, [H2282]; sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated).
kiss - G5370 - From G5368; a kiss. G5368 - From G5384; to be a friend to (fond of [an individual or an object]), that is, have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling; while G25 is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety: the two thus stand related very much as G2309 and G1014, or as G2372 and G3563 respectively; the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head); specifically to kiss (as a mark of tenderness).
Gill's commentary: Salute one another with an holy kiss,.... Christian salutation is a wishing all temporal, spiritual, and eternal happiness, to one another; and which, as it should be mutual, should be also hearty and sincere, and this is meant by the "holy kiss"; the allusion is to a common custom in most nations, used by friends at meeting or parting, to kiss each other, in token of their hearty love, and sincere affection and friendship for each other; and is called "holy", to distinguish it from an unchaste and lascivious one; and from an hypocritical and deceitful one, such an one as Joab gave to Amasa, when, inquiring of his health, he took him by the beard to kiss him, and stabbed him under the fifth rib, 2Sa_20:9; and as Judas, who cried, hail master, to Christ, and kissed him, and betrayed him into the hands of his enemies, Mat_26:49. I say, it is an allusion to this custom, for it is only an allusion; the apostle did not mean that any outward action should be made use of, only that their Christian salutations should not be mere complaisance, or expressed by bare words, and outward gestures and actions, either of the hand or mouth; but that they should spring from real love and true friendship, and be without dissimulation, hearty and sincere.
Which puts me in mind of the verse recently read in Romans 12:9:
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
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