A. INTRODUCTION
1. I really like our church's name. It's certainly not original, Indeed, when Dave Unruh and Lynn Corbett began the process of obtaining legal status with the federal government, they were informed that the name "Church of the Saviour" was so common that we would have to add something to it which would set it apart from the many other so-named congregations around the country. Hence our formal monicker: "The Church of the Saviour at Myersville, Maryland."
2. Our name plainly declares to whom we, as a local church, belong: Jesus Christ, God's Son, Saviour. This local body of believers does not belong to a denomination or a fellowship of other churches. It isn't the elders' church or, most certainly, my church; it's not even your church. We belong to Christ. We are a local congregation of the full assembly of all the saints from every age, every race, every culture who together constitute the "b __ __ __ __ of Christ." He has out His church with two sets of definitive injunctions.
a. The G __ __ __ __ C __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
MATTHEW 28:18-20 [ NIV ]
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
b. The G __ __ __ __ C __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
MATTHEW 22:37-40 [ NIV ]
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
3. All of the other functional activities of the local church are exercised in the light of these two charges. All doctrine must be understood with the frame of reference of these two fiats.
4. Is one more important than the other? That is not for us to say, but the Bible's special emphasis on the vital importance of agape is certainly significant.
a. JOHN 13:34-35 [ NIV ]
A New command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
b. JAMES 2:8 [ NIV ]
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.
c. Galatians 6:2 [ NIV ]
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
5. Paul devotes a great deal of his epistle to the Roman Christians to the subject of agape.
a. He began in Romans 12:9-13 [ NIV ]:
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
b. He continues in this morning's text passage, which comes hard on the heels of Paul's instructions regarding Christian civics. "In returning to the personal ethics of agape in verses 8-10 Paul recalls that good citizenship (13:1-7) is neither the sum of nor a substitute for true Christianity. Beneath civic duties and good causes, even beneath personal world-views and life-styles, lies the essential and indispensable characteristic of Christian faith, love for others." - James R. Edwards: Romans ( Volume 6, New International Biblical Commentary )
B. TEXT: Romans 13:8 - 14:23
1. Romans 13:8-14
a. Some see v.8 as a New Testament commandment which forbids indebtedness. Yet the Bible does not forbid legal transactions which involve interest. What the Bible does forbid in the regard include:
(1) charging high interest;
(2) robbing the brethren; and
(3) failing to pay honest debts.
(4) ref: Exodus 22:25-27
Nehemiah 5:1-11
Luke 19:22-23
b. The first part of v.8 is properly seen in the context of v.1-7.
(1) In concluding his thoughts on the Christian's duty to the state, Paul declares that believers must pay every legal obligation which he/she owes to the government..
(2) He now uses this concept of honest obligation as a bridge to a consideration of that obligation which can never be fully discharged: the d __ __ __ of l __ __ __.
c. In some religions love is seen as a state of "higher consciousness" from which issue forth feelings of abstract benevolence. One of the distinguishing characteristics of the Christian faith, however, is the specific objectivity in which disciples are called to exercise love (Greek: agape). This love is divine in nature and divine at its source. It is by no means either "general" in scope or abstract in concept. According to James Edwards, "it is a will in search of an object."
The object?
(1) one a __ __ __ __ __ __ (v.8)
(2) f __ __ __ __ __ m __ __ (v.8)
(3) our n __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (v.9-10)
When Jesus issued His "Great Commandment" he was confronted with the question: "And who is my neighbor?" His answer to that question revealed a radical departure from the common understanding of "neighbor" as taught in the synagogues. Rabbinic teaching would not extend the title of "neighbor" to any Gentile.
ref: Luke 10:25-37
"The other person represents God's claim on our love. We normally think of our neighbor as a person who is like us, but in the parables of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-27) and Final Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46) the neighbor is very much unlike us. Others are our neighbors not because they are like us, not even because they are chosen by us, but because they are given to us by God with a need which we can meet. Indeed, Christ himself meets us in that need (Matthew 25:40, 45)." - James R. Edwards: Op. cit.
d. Paul agrees with Jesus when he declares that such love f __ __ __ __ __ __ __ the Law, particularly those parts of the Decalogue which address godly behaviour to others.
(1) Some see v.9 as a command to self-love, arguing that one cannot really love others unless one loves one's self. Sadly, this is a cornerstone of much of what passes for Christian Counseling today. The Old Testament verse from which Paul quotes here is Leviticus 19:18, which ends with God declaring: "I am the Lord!" This serves to direct our attention away from self and toward God Almighty. The only valid source of wholesome self love for the disciple is presented by Christ in Matthew 16:24-25.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." [ NIV ]
(2) Paul in v.9 does not attempt to list all the related commandments of the Decalogue. He gives them in random order, and many manuscripts do not include the "don't bear false witness" reference.
e. In v.11-14 Paul encourages Christians to exercise godly behaviour in light of "the purifying motive of hope" ( Erdman ) or the "threat of time" ( Barclay ).
(1) Our salvation here would seem to be a reference to the "completed" salvation of all believers, which will be fully realized only upon the return of Christ. It seems apparent from his epistles that Paul anticipated Christ's return during his own lifetime. As he grew older he seemed to curtail his expectations, if we interpret the tone of his final epistles correctly. This reluctant acceptance of "parousia delay" has troubled some Bible scholars, who connect Paul's diminished anticipation with Christ's declarations in Matthew 16:28 and Matthew 24:34 and His anguished cry to God from the cross, My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? to form "proof texts" for a denial of the second coming. Perhaps the most famous of these scholars was Albert Schweitzer, who went on to gain international acclaim as a great humanitarian while serving in Africa as a medical missionary.
ref: 2 Peter 3:8-14
(2) Great contrasts are included in these verses. Our behaviour in light of what we know about the future should be dinstinctive from that of those who have no hope.
- a __ __ __ __ as opposed to s __ __ __ __ __ __ __
- l __ __ __ __ instead of d __ __ __ __ __ __ __
- d __ __ as opposed to n __ __ __ __
(3) V.14 repeats a concept common to Paul's epistles: "Put on" ("c __ __ __ __ __ yourself with") Christ.
ref: Galatians 3:26-29
Ephesians 3:5-17
Colossians 43:5-17
(4) V.13-14 were used by the Holy Spirit in the year A.D.386 to change the life of a young Carthaginian scholar who would have an astonishing impact on the church. His name was Aurelius Augustius, known in history as St. Augustine.
2. Romans 14:1-23
a. In chapter 14 Paul again provides practical instruction in the application of a general Bible principle. At issue in the passage is the matter of "scruples," defined by Webster as "doubts arising from difficulty in deciding what is right, proper, etc."
(1) "Some things are unquestionably right, and others are as unquestionably wrong, but there are still others as to which the consciences of men differ. These 'questions of conscience' arise among Christians and become the sources of serious trouble. Christians who are overscrupulous are apt to condemn others as lax or 'inconsistent,' while those who feel no scruples as to the practices in question are tempted to despise their fellow Christians as bigoted or fanatical or narrow." - Charles R. Erdman: The Epistle of Paul to the Romans
(2) "... the problem is how to handle conscientious differences in matters on which Scripture is either silent or seeming equivocal, in such a way as to prevent them from disrupting the Christian fellowship." - John Stott: Romans
b. There were apparently two such issues of "doubtful things" (KJV), or "doubtful points" (NEB), or "disputable matters" (NIV), or "opinions" (RSV).
(1) The first was the matter of "wholesome" food, particularly m __ __ __. While we cannot be sure, there appears to have been three possible areas of dispute.
- Perhaps certain believers were v __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
- It may have been a matter of whether or not only k __ __ __ __ ("properly prepared") meats should be eaten.
- Since the main source of meat in the Roman marketplace was portions left over from pagan worship and rituals, there might have been dissention over whether or not it was fitting for Christians to partake of these "spiritually soiled" cuts of meat.
ref: Acts 16:12-21
(2) The second area of dispute involved h __ __ __ __ __ __ __. The Jewish calendar was filled with them, and it is logical to assume that many Jewish Christians in Rome felt very strongly that these special days and feasts should be retained in the Christian community, while others felt just as strongly that many, if not all, of them came under the Old Covenant and should be done away with.
(3) Of course, there were others issues of dialogismoi ("disputed matters") in the early church, some of which we may recognize. Among them:
- the place of S __ __ __ __ __ __ worship
- c __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
- the wearing of j __ __ __ __ __ __
- the place of spiritual g __ __ __ __
- the role of w __ __ __ __ in the local church
- so-called "mixed m __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __"
c. Paul extends the overriding commandment of Christ for agape to the arena of scruples in the form of four great principles.
(1) Do not j __ __ __ __ others on the basis of your personal convictions regarding scruples. (14:1-14)
(2) Be prepared to lay your own l __ __ __ __ __ __ on the altar of sacrifice on behalf of others. (14:15-19) This is commonly stated as "Don't be a s __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ b __ __ __ __."
(3) Do not e __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ others to go against their own convictions. (14:20-21)
(4) Do not go against your own personal convictions. To do so is s __ __. (14:22-23)
C. APPLICATION
1. Each believer has the responsibility to develop a strong conscience. This must be a joint effort with the Holy Spirit, and is part and parcel of the process of sanctification.
a. D __ __ __ __ __ your faith.
b. D __ __ __ __ __ __ your faith.
c. Be prepared, then, to d __ __ __ __ __ your faith.
2. The great freedom in Christ available to every believer must not itself become his or her master.
a. "A Christian is a most free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a most dutiful servant of all, subject to all." - Martin Luther: "On the Liberty of a Christian"
b. Romans 15:1-7 [ TLB ]
Even if we believe that it makes no difference to the Lord whether we do these things, still we cannot just go ahead and do them to please ourselves; for we must bear the "burden" of being considerate of the doubts and fears of others -- of those who feel these things are wrong. Let's please the other fellow, not ourselves, and do what is for his good and thus build him up in the Lord. Christ didn't please himself. As the Psalmist said, "He came for the very purpose of suffering under the insults of those who were against the Lord."
These things that were written in the Scriptures so long ago are to teach us patience and to encourage us, so that we will look forward expectantly to the time when God will conquer sin and death.
May God who gives patience, steadiness, and encouragement help you to live in complete harmony with each other -- each with the attitude of Christ toward the other. And then all of us can praise the Lord together with one voice, giving glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, warmly welcome each other into the churchj, just as Christ has warmly welcomed you; then God will be glorified.
D I S C U S S I O N G U I D E
1. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Which of the qualities listed might apply directly to scruples' debates in the church?
2. Read Romans 14:12-19 and 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.
a. Should a missionary in India avoid meat because many Hindus think eating meat is immoral? Why, or why not?
b. Should a Christian woman in a Moslem country cover herself as Moslem women do? Why, or why not?
c. Is it right to drink alcohol among those who abstain for moral or personal reasons? Why, or why not?
d. Read Galatians 2:11-14, Paul's account of a confrontation he had with Peter in Antioch. Having said what he said in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, was Paul guilty of a double standard here? Why, or why not?
3. How do you defend most Christians' weekly assembly on Sunday, rather than on the Sabbath?
4. What were, and are, the essentials of faith and practice about which there should be no compromise?
5. Dependent, independent, interdependent -- how would you describe how each one works in the course of believers' relating with one another? Which do you find most desireable? Why?
6. How should a Christian respond upon discovering an official church doctrine or policy which does not constitute false teaching, but with which he or she does not agree?
7. One of the most hotly-debated dialogismoi ("disputed matters") in churches today is over the role of women. Write your position on one of the following questions below. Cite Scripture to support your convictions.
a. 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 states that women should have their heads covered when worshiping in church. Why doesn't our church insist on this practice?
b. Should women be allowed to teach classes which are attended by adult males?
c. Should women be allowed to hold the office of deacon, elder, or pastor?
d. What do "headship" and "submission" in Christian marriage constitute?
