Romans 13-15

Romans 13

Submission to Governing Authorities

• Paul teaches believers to be subject to governing authorities
• Authorities exist under God’s allowance
• Government functions to:
  • Punish evil
  • reward good
• Believers should:
  • respect authority
  • pay taxes
  • give honor where due

Love Fulfills the Law

• Believers should owe no one anything except love
• Paul lists commandments:
  • adultery
  • murder
  • stealing
  • coveting
• “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 
• Love fulfills the Law because it seeks no harm

Wake Up and Put on Christ

• Salvation is nearer than before
  • night passing
  • day approaching
• Believers should:
  • cast off works of darkness
  • put on armor of light

Final command: “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh…” 

Romans 14

Similar themes in this chapter to 1 Corinthians 8-10

Welcome the Weak in Faith

• Believers should welcome weaker Christians
• Food dispute discussed (some Christians refused to eat meat sacrificed to gods) 
• Do not despise or judge! 
• God is the ultimate judge

Different Convictions

• Some esteem certain days differently (holidays etc.) 
• Others treat all days alike
• Each believer should live to the Lord
• Christians belong to the Lord in:
  • life
  • death

God Is the Judge

• Believers should stop condemning one another
• Everyone will stand before God’s judgment seat
• Paul quotes Isaiah 45:23

 Do Not Cause Others to Stumble

• Freedom should not harm weaker believers
• Food itself is not spiritually unclean
• But exercising our freedom wrongly can hurt other people if it makes them stumble
• Kingdom priorities:
  • righteousness
  • peace
  • joy in the Holy Spirit
• We must walk in love with one another

“Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”

Romans 15

 Bear with One Another

• Strong believers should help the weak
• Christ is the model of selflessness
  • Paul quotes Psalm 69:9
  • “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”
• Scripture gives:
  • endurance
  • encouragement
  • hope
  • For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction
• Our goal is UNIFIED worship of God as one voice

Christ for Jews and Gentiles

• Believers should welcome one another
• Christ became servant to:
  • confirm God’s promises to Israel
  • bring Gentiles into praise
• Paul has multiple OT quotes:
  • 2 Samuel 22 / Psalms 18
  • Deuteronomy
  • Psalm 117
  • Isaiah
• Ends with blessing of:
  • joy
  • peace
  • hope

 Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles

• Paul explains his ministry calling as ministering the gospel to Gentiles
• Goal is to preach where Christ not yet named
• Paul quotes Isaiah 52:15 “Those who have never been told of him will see,
•     and those who have never heard will understand.”

 Paul’s Travel Plans and Requests

• Paul plans to visit Rome and eventually go to Spain
• First traveling to Jerusalem with financial aid
• Requests prayer for:
  • protection from those who do not believe
  • fruitful ministry to the saints
  • joyful fellowship

Application:

Love is so important to Christian living. Whether it involves our appointed leaders, our weak brothers, or those we debate with, everything should be done in faith and love. Believers should avoid dividing over secondary issues. Even though we have freedom in Christ, our freedom should be guided by love, not selfishness.