Romans: The Grand Adventure (7)
Chapter 12:1-16:27
In light of God's faithfulness to his promises to the humans race
even though we rebelled against him-in light of God's faithfulness how
should his people live in the world and with one another? It's important
that we drink in all the rich truth Paul has revealed but how is it to
be lived out? What follows in the next three and a half chapters is a
profile of how God's elect people, the church, should respond to
everyone around them.
In our relationship to God and the congregation we are offer
ourselves in completeness but function in the specific role for which
God has gifted us (12:1-8). In our inter-personal relationships we are
to be generous and open (12:9-13). In relation to those who are actively
our enemies we are to follow the Master's line of blessing when cursed
(12:14-21).
In relation to political authorities God's people are to see them as
ministers of God on the political stage. They are empowered by God to
see that his creation goods get to the people God has committed to them.
Because this is true God's people are to see them as fellow-ministers
though at a different level and with a different specific agenda
(13:1-7).
In relation to behaviour and its basic motivation we are to act out
of love which will mean we won't live irresponsibly or pursue the harm
of any human being (13:8-14). We are to take seriously the ethical call
of the Torah because we are people of the day who have been raised from a
moral sleep.
In relation to church unity in the face of temptations to fragment we
are to receive one another as Christ has received all of us into his
body with our different religious and theological baggage. This we
should do because Christ alone is Lord and because he has called us both
to himself (14:1-15:13).
In relation to promoting the spread of the gospel. Paul is a
missionary and wants to preach the gospel throughout the world so he is
laying the theological groundwork for his appeal for help. Having told
them what he teaches/preaches he is free to ask their help by being a
sort of home base for his further travels into Spain and other places
(15:24). He would no doubt want their financial supports if it came to
that but he would like their blessing so that his work would not be
needlessly hindered by his own brothers and sisters.
He salutes old friends and converts (16:1-16). In doing
this he is confirming relationships, of course, but he's also laying out
his credentials. He is well known to many people at Rome so he isn't
coming in as some sinister and unknown figure. If the church leaders at
Rome need to check him out there are plenty of people who could vouch
for him. He closes the book as he began it with a reassertion of his
apostolic commission and gospel.
©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.
Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.
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