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Psalms 84:1-12 NKJV A Psalm
of the Sons of Korah. How lovely is
Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints For the
courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the
sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay
her young— Even Your altars, O
LORD of hosts, My King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising
You. Selah Blessed is the man
whose strength is in You, Whose
heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of
Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools. They go from
strength to strength; Each one
appears before God in Zion. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O
God of Jacob! Selah O God, behold our shield, And look upon the face of Your
anointed. For a day in Your courts is
better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good
thing will He withhold From
those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You! Father God, I ask that you open the doors of Heaven and
pour out your love and Grace to all that turn to you. Watch over your children
and guide them in all they do. We give you all the glory and praise. Amen!
Romans 15:1-7 NKJV
I hope
chapter 14 wasn’t too confusing. The whole theme of Chapter 14 was directed
toward new believers and seasoned believers not nonbelievers. It was talking
about faith, a religious faith of rituals which is what many churches believe
in for salvation, not in Jesus and what He did for us. Paul was pointing out that a seasoned believer
may do something that appeared wrong to a new believer, but in reality the
seasoned believer placed his faith totally in Jesus Christ and what he endured
for us on the Cross. The seasoned believer knows that a religion based on
rituals, customs, manmade laws are useless when it comes to salvation. Paul was
pointing out to the seasoned believers to exercise great discernment before
they said or did anything in front of new believers. Paul’s concern was for the
new believers so they wouldn’t be lead astray by the actions of a seasoned
believer by not fully understanding the concept of total faith in Jesus.
Today
we start out with Chapter 15, and in reading the first few verses it is talking
about what I just explained in the previous paragraph. It seems to me that
Chapter 14 was ended in the wrong place. So we start out with Paul summarizing
the previous chapter.
1 We then
who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please
ourselves.
We
then who are strong; this
is referring to someone that has been a true believer for a few years and has
come to the understanding of what salvation is all about. They know that their
eternal life is based on faith in Jesus and what He did for them on the Cross
and that is all that is necessary. They know that man’s religious customs,
rituals, and church dogma hold no value in gaining entry into Heaven for
eternal life.
Ought
to bear with the scruples of the weak;
this phrase along with the previous one, again is talking to a seasoned
believer. Synonym for scruples is; sense of right and wrong, conscience,
principles, ethics, discernment, etc. What is being stated, is a person that is
strong in their faith needs to exercise their actions and speech with a new
believers conscience in mind, so as not to cause a new believer to stumble and
sin. We are to bear the weak in faith’s burden of not fully understanding faith.
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the
law of Christ.
Not
to please ourselves; as
a seasoned believer we are to conduct ourselves in a manner that is pleasing to
God so that His light will shine through us to those around us. We are to love
our neighbor as our self. Our focus is to be Jesus first and then our
neighbors. We are to place ourselves last as Jesus did. We are to wash the feet
of those around us. Paul kept his audience in mind at all times so that he
could communicate with them without offense. 1 Corinthians 9:22 to the weak
I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save
some. Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
2 Let each
of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.
Another way to say this
verse is; we should help others do what is right and build them up in their
faith in Jesus and the works of the Cross.
Let
each of us please his neighbor
for his good; here again this is referring to the
strong in faith helping the weak in faith.
Leading
to edification; when
the strong in faith helps the weak in faith to fully understand the true
meaning of scripture, they are building up the weak in faith. They are
stabilizing the message of the Cross.
3 For even
Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "THE REPROACHES OF
THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME."
For even Christ did not please
Himself; did Jesus live
to please Himself? Not at all, but to please His Father. All that Jesus did was
to glorify God our Father. It was His Father’s will that He did while here on
earth, and that is why He was, and is hated, because He stand for righteousness
in God’s eyes. He carried out God’s will and not mans will pertaining to God’s
word and salvation. Psalms
40:8 I delight to do Your will, O
my God, And Your law is within
my heart." John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but
the will of Him who sent Me.
Jesus is the Word. John
1:1 In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The
reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me; Paul coins this phrase from Psalm 69:9. Reproach
meaning; criticism; accusation; blame; rebuke, etc. It is because of the fall
of mankind that Jesus came to intercede for us and give the unbeliever the
opportunity to accept Him as their Saviour, if they so desire. Jesus was
willing to suffer accusation and hatred in order to do His Fathers will and good
to others. If Jesus could undergo extreme persecution and death for us and not
seek any pleasure for Himself, then how much more should we be willing to help strengthen
a weak Brother or Sister in a small matter!
4 For
whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we
through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
For
whatever things were written before;
this is referring to the Old Testament. “Written before”, is better stated as “written
aforetime; in the past; earlier times”.
Were
written for our learning;
the Old Testament was written as the foundation of the New Testament. It also
has numerous examples of the OT patriarchs and their lives and faith in God. Paul
and the other Apostles were always referring to OT scripture. The OT is for us
to learn from pertaining to faith and what faith truly is. Just as those of
Paul’s time and our time many interpret the Bible as law and trying to live by
law and not faith. The understanding of Faith is missed totally in most cases. John
5:39 You
search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life…….. It is that old adage of, “we have to
do something to earn salvation”, instead of just believing in what Jesus did
for us on the Cross and denying all religious doctrine, and placing our total
faith in Jesus.
That
we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope; it is through the study of scripture
and fully understanding what the finished work of the Cross truly means. Then
and only then we can have assurance of eternal happiness when we give our heart
to Jesus, accept Him as our Saviour, and place our Faith in Him. It isn’t just
knowing Jesus and what He did, but fully understanding what and why He did it
for us with our hearts and not our minds. This is where hope comes in. Our faith
produces patience, comfort, and hope when we go through life’s trials and
tribulations. We can turn to God’s Holy and True Word because the Word is
Jesus. In difficult times we can have comfort and patience in the Word of God
knowing as a true believer that Jesus is our Hope and one day we will be with
Him.
5 Now may
the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another,
according to Christ Jesus,
This verse can be stated
this way, “May God who gives patience, comfort, and encouragement, give you
live in complete harmony with each other as believers and followers of Christ
Jesus.”
Now
may the God of patience and comfort grant you; God is the author of patience and consolation
and is given to a believer for this very purpose, among other things.
To
be like-minded toward one another according to Christ Jesus; the Roman church was a diverse
community. It was made up of Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free people, rich
and poor, strong and weak. So it was difficult for them to accept one another. As
a true believer we all have like minds because we are one in Christ. A true
believer knows in their heart there is no such thing as church denominations
for salvation. When they accept Jesus, their heart is changed and they are able
to accept others as Christ accepted you, and God is given the glory. John 17:21-25 that they all may be
one, as You, Father, are in Me,
and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that
You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they
may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in
one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as
You have loved Me. 24 "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be
with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for
You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father!
The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that
You sent Me.
6 that you
may with one mind and one mouth
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
That you may with one
mind; one mind means being in one
accord, on the same wave length, in agreement of scripture and what they mean,
etc. Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they
were all with one accord in one place.;
It means united, with one purpose, without contentions, and strife’s. As a
believer one is to have the mind of Christ. Philippians 2:5 Let this
mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
And one mouth; this refers to prayers and praises. True
believers are to join together without contention and unkind feeling in the
worship of God. Divisions, strife, and contention in the church prevent union
in worship. Though the body may be
there and the church professedly
engages in public worship, it is a divided
service. Acts 4:24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice
to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is
in them,
Glorify
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; being of one mind and one mouth we are to praise God in union,
peace, and harmony if we claim to be true believers. The grace we received when
we became true believers should shine through us by overcoming the sources of
strife and contention among believers, and to bring peace within the church.
If we claim to be a true
believer then God is our Father and we are His children. As his children we are
to glorify Him as our Lord Jesus has commanded us to be united, and to love one
another. With the desire of honoring our Heavenly Father, we are to lay aside
contentions, and be united in the bands of love.
7 Therefore
receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.
Therefore receive one
another; we are to acknowledge
one another as Christians, and treat one another with love and respect even
though we may differ in opinion about many smaller matters that have nothing to
do with salvation. Keep in mind Paul is speaking to a church body that are
believers. Not that we aren’t to treat all people with love and respect, we
are, but he is addressing some conflict within the Roman Church. There was
probably some finger pointing going on and claims being made that little Miss
goodie two shoes was not a believer because she was eating meat. Remember
Chapter 14, that is exactly what was happening. Romans 14:3 Let not him
who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge
him who eats; for God has received him.
Just
as Christ also received us;
this phrase tells us that if we are received as Born Again Saints in God’s
eyes, then who are we to judge another brother or sister in Christ. That’s
Jesus job!
To
the glory of God; we
promote God’s glory when we conduct ourselves according to his will. We have
been redeemed and renewed in order to promote the honor of God. Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by
which He made us accepted in the Beloved. As Christ has received us in order to promote the glory
of God, we are to treat each other in a similar manner for a similar purpose.
The Church body is not to bicker amongst themselves when it comes to trivial
matters that don’t pertain to salvation.
I leave you with this
thought. Have you been involved with church disagreements on matters that don’t
pertain to salvation principles? Have you left a particular church because of
the contentions? Do you hold grudges against the church or people of that
church? If so, forgiveness and repentance is required based on God’s Word. Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and you
shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and
you will be forgiven.
Romans
1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,
for it is
the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…...
Psalms
51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit
within me.
John
3:3
Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I
say to you,
unless
one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Bill Wiesbrock
Last Week’s Trivia: Who was Adonibezek?
Answer: Adonibezek was the head of a
Canaanite tribe in southern Palestine. Adonibezek was captured after a battle
with the tribe of Judah. He had frequently boasted of having chopped off the
thumbs and big toes of seventy kings, and so he received similar torture and
mutilation from Judah. Judges 1:1-7.
This week’s Trivia: Who was Adonijah?
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