Romans 12-15
The Christian life
Romans 12
Romans 12 explains our Christian life from the point of our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation. Now, it is our priority to serve the Lord Jesus with our body, mind, soul, and spirit. It is a transformation, which is a changing of our priorities from “me” to “Christ’s.” This is described as a “living sacrifice.” It is by God’s mercy that we are offered this privilege. Our bodies/flesh serve self, so we, with the assisting grace of God, serve God—His beliefs, His worldview, His lifestyle, and His rules. We learn these things by reading and studying the Scriptures. The Scriptures will totally transform us from the former worldly life to a godly life. With greater knowledge (facts) and understanding (the why’s and wherefore’s of the facts, that is, how they operate), we, then, can test a situation or thought to be God approved or God not approved. Paul expands on the principle to teach the gifts to the church and the marks of a true Christian.
Romans 13
Romans 13 contains more rules of the Law of Christ. We are to obey the government as much as possible remembering that God is the highest authority, but there is a time to obey God resulting in disobedience to government (Acts 4:19). Next, Paul shows practical applications of Christian love in every day life.
Romans 14
Romans 14 continues Paul’s teaching of the practical applications of Christian love in every day life. Faith to do something is good, but if in doing it we harm another’s faith, we are sinning. So, it is better not to doing something that another feels is wrong. We can do that (eating non-Kosher food, etc.) in private in that case. The examples Paul gives are a vegan instead of meat eater or worshipping on one day or all days. We are not to despise one another. Romans 14:10-11 (NKJV) But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written: “As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” This judgment is only for believers to be rewarded or ashamed of how we served or didn’t serve the Lord. Compare 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 (we believers are the ones who build on the foundation; it refers to our Christian life of service with our worldview, lifestyle, following God’s rules, and doing things to glorify God).
Verses 14-23: Eating Kosher or not is meaningless, says Paul. Romans 14:16-17 (NKJV) Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15
Romans 15 continues Paul’s teaching from the same.
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- Verses 1-7 teach why and how we are to bear one another’s burdens by listening, assisting, grieving, rejoicing, etc. with other believers. We can always pray.
- Verse 8-13 begins a new topic that of the blessing of Jesus Christ to the Jews and the Gentiles. All believers are now Christians, not adhering to the previous separation of the two groups.
- Verses 14-21 Paul addresses the Romans believers again with some closing thoughts.
- Verses 22-33 explains Paul’s desire to visit the Roman believers.
Romans 16
Romans 16 contains greetings to individuals and some final thoughts warning against divisions in the church, thanking them for their obedience to Christ, and the promise that God will bruise satan shortly.
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- Verses 1-16 and 21-23 contains greetings to individuals.
- Verse 17-20: some final thoughts warning against divisions in the church.
- Verses 24-27 Paul’s offers prayer and blessings to the Roman believers.