Romans

Romans - The Weak and The Strong

The Weak and The Strong

Dave Riddle - 1/26/20

Key Passage: Romans 14:1-15:13

In this context, “the weak” are most likely Jewish Christians who are hung up on strict dietary and ceremonial laws.

Full and Total Acceptance

  • Romans 14:1

    • Welcome them and don’t quarrel over opinions!

    • “Welcome” - proslambanō (προσλαμβάνω) take hold of; bring along; lead aside; welcome; gather together; take as ones helper; partner. 

    • Love them.

  • Romans 14:2

    • Freedom vs. strict adherence 

No Contempt or Condemnation

  • Romans 14:3-13a

    • We can’t allow minor disagreements to cause division among us.

    • We welcome them:

      • Because God does.

      • Because of Christ’s work

      • Because they’re our brothers and sisters.

      • Because we will ALL stand before God’s judgement some day.

Seek Peace and Health, not Stress and Destruction

  • Romans 14:13b-23

    • 14:13 - don’t cause stress and strife

    • 14:19 - pursue peace and build others up.

Choose to Support Others More than Satisfying Self

  • Romans 15:1-13 

    • 15:1 - the strong have an obligation to bear the weakness of the weak.

    • 15:2 - how do my choices impact others and help them grow in their faith?

Practical exhortations built on theological foundations.

Therefore...

  • Romans 15:7

    • Accept (proslambanō) one another, just as Christ also accepted (proslambanō) you!

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Romans - Government Matters

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Romans - Government Matters

Dave Riddle - 1/05/20

Key Passage: Romans 13:1-7

The Authority of the State

  • Romans 13:1 - let everyone submit

  • “Submit” - hypotassō (Greek: ὑποτάσσω) to place; arrange under; to post under; to subject; to be obedient, to carry a burden

    • Luke 2:51 - Jesus submitted to his parents’ authority.

    • Ephesians 5:21 - submit yourself to one another

    • John 19:11 - you would have no authority over me if it had not been given to you from above.

The Function of the State

  • Romans 13:3-4

    • We know that this isn’t always true.

    • Paul is expressing the ideal.

      • 1. The state should exist to restrict and punish evil.

      • 2. The state should promote and reward goodness

    • Is wrong to speak out against authority? No!

      • We have a right and a responsibility to do so when the state isn’t living up to these ideals.

Our Relationship with the State

  • Romans 13:5

    • Therefore, you must submit.

      • What about when the will of the state is at direct odds with the will of God?

      • Acts 5:27-29

        • We must obey God rather than men.

    • Romans 12:18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone

  • Romans 13:6-7

    • what do we owe?

      • Tangible - tolls and taxes

      • Intangible - respect and honor

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A Loving Koinōnia

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Romans 12 - A Loving Koinōnia
Dave Riddle - 10/6/19

Key Passage: Romans 12:9-16

koinōnia (Greek: κοινωνία) - fellowship, association, community, intimacy, joint participation (the share which one has in anything), communion. 

Sincerity

  • Romans 12:9

    • Let love be without hypocrisy

    • anypokritos (Greek: ἀνυπόκριτος) - originally used to refer to actors or one playing a part: unfeigned, undisguised, sincere.

Spiritual Sensitivity 

  • Romans 12:9

    • Detest evil

    • Cling to what is good

Affection

  • Romans 12:10

    • Love one another deeply.

    • Be devoted to one another

    • As brothers and sisters

Esteem

  • Romans 12:10

    • Outdo one another in showing honor.

    • Honor one another above yourselves.

Passion

  • Romans 12:11

    • Don’t be lazy, don’t lack zeal.

    • Be fervent - zeō (Greek: ζέω) - to be hot (boil, of liquids; or glow, of solids), i.e. (figuratively) be fervid (earnest):—be fervent.

Resolute

  • Romans 12:12

    • The picture of someone who is determined.

    • Hopefulness rather than hopelessness

Big Hearts

  • Romans 12:13

    • Share with the saints in their needs

    • Emotionally, spiritually, and practically!

Open Arms

  • Romans 12:13

    • Pursue hospitality

    • philoxenia (Greek: φιλοξενία) - love to strangers, hospitality

    • Not just waiting but actively looking for opportunities to show hospitality to strangers.

Unnatural and Unexpected 

  • Romans 12:14

    • Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse

Empathy

  • Romans 12:15

    • Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

    • Not just sympathetic but empathic.

One Accord

  • Romans 12:16

    • Live in harmony with one another.

    • Of one mind.

Down to Earth

  • Romans 12:16

    • Associate with the humble.

Which one or two of these areas is the Holy Spirit highlighting in your own life?


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Intro to Koinonia

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Romans 12 - Intro to Koinōnia
Dave Riddle - 09/22/19

Key Passage: Romans 12:3-8

koinōnia (Greek: κοινωνία) - fellowship, association, community, intimacy, joint participation (the share which one has in anything), communion. 

Humble, wise self-assessment

  • Romans 12:3

  • we need to have an accurate assessment of ourselves.

    • See ourselves as God sees us.


A single body; many pieces and roles

  • Romans 12:4

  • Unity! One body.

Diversity! Many roles.

Deeply connected

  • Romans 12:5

  • Individually members of one another.

Gifted

  • Romans 12:6

    • Different than talent

    • Gifts of the spirit

  • Speaking gifts

    • didaskō - teaching for transformation.

  • Service gifts

Grace and Faith are indispensable 

  • Romans 12:3

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The Surrendered Life

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Romans 12 - The Surrendered Life
Dave Riddle - 09/15/19

Key Passage: Romans 12:1-2

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you:” - Romans 12:1 (Message)

An Impassioned Plea

  • I urge you (Romans 12:1)

    • parakaleō (Greek: παρακαλέω) - to admonish, exhort. to beg, entreat, beseech...

To whom? All the family of God.

  • Romans 12:1 - “therefore brothers and sisters...”

On what grounds? God’s mercies.

  • Mercies plural

  • Not because of anything we’ve done, but because the mercy he shows us again and again.

This call has two facets

  • A Living Sacrifice (12:1)

    • Our bodies

      • A shocking statement for Paul’s Roman audience who saw the body as a grave.

    • Our worship

      • Our body is not a tomb, but a tool to worship God in everything we do!

      • Our physical bodies become a spiritual act of worship.

  • Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (12:2)

    • Don’t just be like everyone else. (Conformity)

    • Allow yourself to be transformed.

      • Daily and continually, not a one time event.

      • metamorphoō (Greek: μεταμορφόω) - to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure.

    • The world’s standards and God’s will are so far apart that you cannot just take a little bit of each.


A Redemption Mystery

Romans 11 - A Redemption Mystery

Dave Riddle - 05/19/19

Key Passage: Romans 11:25-32

“This mystery” 

  • Romans 11:25

  • Greek word mysterion (μυστήριον); a secret hidden in the past but now revealed.

Three Connected Truths 

  1. Israel

    • Romans 11:25

      • “A partial hardening has come upon Israel...”

  2. Gentiles

    • Romans 11:25

      • “...until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”

      • Fullness = plērōma (πλήρωμα)

  3. Israel

    • Romans 11:26

      • “...all Israel will be saved,”

      • “Israel” - who is Paul referring to?

        • The church?

        • The ethnic/national Israel (The descendants of Abraham)?

        • Not Israel as a whole, but Israel as a community?

        • Those who put their faith in the Christ.

The Redeemer

  • Romans 11:26b-27

  • A salvation from sin through faith in Jesus.

Two Concluding Statements

  1. God’s election remains

    • Romans 11:28-29

    • They are still God’s chosen people.

    • He keeps his covenant with the patriarchs.

  2. God shows Mercy to the disobedient

    • Romans 11:30-32

    • A universal act of disobedience is met with divine mercy!

    • All of us are candidates for the lavish love of God.

God of Grafting

Romans 11 - God of Grafting

Dave Riddle - 05/12/19

Key Passage: Romans 11:17-24

The Allegory of the Olive Tree

A Warning to Gentile Believers

  • Don’t be Arrogant 

    • Romans 11:20-21

  • Don’t be Puffed with Pride

    • Romans 11:18

  • Through Faith Alone

    • Romans 11:20

A Promise to Jewish Unbelievers 

  • Those cut off can be grafted in again

    • Romans 11:23

    • By Faith!

      • Romans 11:20

  • Key word: persist/remain

    • Romans 11:22-23

    • epimenō (Greek: ἐπιμένω) - to stay at or with, to tarry still, still to abide, to continue, remain. of tarrying in a place. to persevere.

    • Colossians 1:21-23


Chain of Blessing

Romans 11 - Chain of Blessing

Dave Riddle - 05/05/19

Key Passage: Romans 11:11-16

Link 1: Israel’s Loss Leads to the Gentiles’ Gain

  • Romans 11:11

  • Acts 13:46

    • Repeated in Ephesus, Corinth, and Rome

Link 2: Gentile salvation makes Israel jealous

  • Romans 11:11

  • Romans 11:13

Link 3: Israeli restoration brings a worldwide blessing

  • Romans 11:15

Paul’s Commentary on His Ministry

  • Romans 11:13

    • I want you to understand how important my job is!

Paul wants to stir up Envy

  • Romans 11:14

New life for some

  • Romans 11:14

In Conclusion

  • An escalated restatement...

    • Romans 11:15

  • ...including two simple metaphors.

    • Romans 11:16

      • A batch of dough

      • A tree and its branches

Always a Trace

Romans 11 - Always a Trace

Dave Riddle - 04/28/19

Key Passage: Romans 11:1-10

Question: Is God Done with Israel!?

Answer 1: No, He is faithful!

  • A theological answer.

  • Romans 11:2a

  • Foreknew: to have knowledge before hand: of those whom God elected to salvation.

  • As humans we frequently break promises, but God is faithful. 

  • It is outside his character to be unfaithful.

Answer 2: Look at me.

  • An anecdotal answer

  • Romans 11:1c

  • Even someone as bad as Paul was not beyond the reach of God.

Answer 3: Check out history

  • A historical answer

  • Romans 11:2b

  • 1 Kings 18 and 19

    • The seven thousand 

And so, today...

A remnant, chosen by grace

  • Romans 11:5

  • Not by the law, but by grace through Jesus.

The remainder, hardened

  • Romans 11:7-10

  • A combination of human responsibility and divine sovereignty.

    • See the example of pharaoh (covered in Romans 9 - Divine Decisions Pt. 2 on 10/28/18)