Introduction
This morning I want to share with us all a few closing Scriptures and thoughts in relation to Paul’s letter to the Roman church. This letter is full of good theology for the believers to consider and practical application for them to engage with. Our Christian walk is one of right thinking that leads to right living and that is one of the main points to consider when reading Romans. Unfortunately, we see a struggle in the church, whether in Paul’s day or in our day, when people argue and disagree with each other and right thinking is thrown out the window. This in turn affects right living and how we should love and accept and forgive each other. Paul captures this tension wonderfully in Romans 12:1-2 - “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” We have a lifetime of learning before us as followers and students of Jesus.
· Do not conform… This refers to ideas being assumed and believed upon by outward expressions and influences. In other words, Paul is saying to the church to stop living and patterning your life after this world, its beliefs or habits, its mannerisms or speech. The world’s religions and political ideologies do not represent God’s Kingdom.
· But be transformed… Instead of pretending to be Christians, while conforming to the world, Paul wants believers to be transformed, changed from the inside out, or transfigured like in Matthew 17:2, where the manner of his outward expression was changed before the disciples, and his face shone as the sun, and his clothing was white as the light. Transformed in the Greek language leads us to metamorphosis, where we see a caterpillar changed into a butterfly.
In our journey of faith with Jesus, we present ourselves to him and are transformed and change into his likeness. This means our thinking changes, our emotions come into order, from the inside out and we no longer conform to the ways of the world. We think and act and live like Jesus. In the final chapters of Romans 13 – 16, Paul highlights a few more values for the church in Rome to consider. So, let’s jump into the final chapters of Romans…
Submission to Authorities
Authority was a huge burden and issue in Paul’s day for the church. They were under Roman rule. In the previous chapters Paul helps them to understand that the church is the Body of Christ and is significantly different from secular society. One of the first points Paul speaks to is that God is the one who created and developed human government – “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Rom 13:1). This does not mean that secular governments are fully following God’s rule and order, but it does mean that in order for law and order to be established in any country, one must submit to authorities. So, in the case of the Roman State, for its own self-interest, Paul exhorts the believers to follow the law… If its citizens lied and stole and murdered one another, the state would fall to enemies from outside or to corruption from within.
So, Paul tells them to pay their taxes… Paul tells them to love their fellow man… Paul tells them to obey God’s moral laws… Paul tells them to put on the amour of light and to avoid the wickedness of Roman society. We do know that eventually, the Roman Empire does crumble due to not following God’s kingdom ways.
Upholding Unity
In the remaining chapters I see Paul’s desire to establish harmony among the believers. He moves from authority and secular society back to the church and how they were to relate to each other as believers. If there is a lack of love and unity in the Body of Christ, how can we be salt and light to the secular world around us. If our thinking is screwy in relation to God and his ways, then our lifestyles will not appropriately represent Jesus Christ. There are several key passages that I want to highlight as we move forward in our study this morning. As well, there are several key points I want us to consider when seeking to walk in unity and harmony with each other.
Accepting One Another… Paul has had to deal with some conflict within the church of Rome. The believers, Jews and Gentiles, wrestled with different issues related to theology, politics, concerns over food, and holy days to name a few. The same is true in our day. These are not circumstances which are identified as sin. However, they are issues which seem right to some and wrong to others. Paul wants them to learn how to accept different opinions without breaking unity.
What does this look like practically?
· Accept those who faith is less mature and do not pass judgement (Rom 14:1). Learn how to welcome and befriend those who have different opinions. You don’t always have to be right.
· Accept the Lord Jesus Christ together. Jesus is Lord despite our differences. Diverse thinking can motivate one to greater learning.
· Accept what you believe without criticizing of others. Get rid of a critical or complaining attitude. It is important to know your personal convictions without condemning others.
Here are some key verses to look at… Romans 14:17-18 – “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
Selflessness… One of the profound aspects of Jesus’ life is that of self-sacrifice. He did not flaunt himself as the Son of God or the Son of Man but gave up his life for each and every one of us. He lay down his freedom so that we could truly be free. What does this look like when we engage with this aspect of Christlikeness? Some, who have the freedom to do what others question, may in the exercise of that freedom, cause that brother or sister harm. In other words, Paul affirms the freedom and responsibility for believers to live by their own convictions. Yet they must careful not to show them off at the expense of others, who may take up an offense. In this area, Paul gives several practical suggestions:
· “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food…” (Rom 14:19-20)
· “So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God…” (Rom 14:22).
· “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up” (Rom 15:1-2).
Paul is trying to get the church in Rome towards the goal of unity. “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Rom 15:5-7).
In closing, Paul addresses the church of Rome in prayer and confidence. “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” (Rom 15:13). He lets them know that they do not need him in one sense but are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another; that is high praise for the Roman believers (Rom 15:14). Even though at this point Paul had yet to visit Rome, he would soon make the journey. Paul closes with personal greetings and makes mention of the saints of God by name. At one point in his life Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees who persecuted the Jesus’ family. Now we see Paul in these closing verses revealing his personal connection with people, a man of friendship and love.
In Conclusion
We have come to the close of our study through the Letter of Paul to the Romans. This is a powerful book of Scripture revealing theology and practical living. The power of the Gospel is spoken to and applied throughout the entire book. God’s kind of righteousness has broken through the hardness of religion and secularism and touched the hearts of both Jews and Gentiles. Paul makes it clear that God is at work through the Gospel, transforming the lives of believers everywhere. In Christ, we belong to a family, community is ours and we are known by name. What a powerful message to us today.
“Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen” (Romans 16:25-27)
Let’s pray…