Lesson 156

Romans Chapter Twelve

Responsibilities in the Christian Life

Review: rejoicing in hope,

- The only way that we are able to develop the load carrying ability, the patient endurance that we need to have is through dealing with, working through the various pressures of life lived in a world under the curse of sin by applying the truth of the Word of God.

We are going to experience many pressures, tribulations, but in Christ, we have the resources available to patiently endure the various pressures of life but even more, in the midst of them to produce fruit, to have divine good production in our lives. Rom 5:3-4 illustrate

Another responsibility devoted to prayer

- the idea here is that with reference to prayer, keep on being devoted

Constant communion with God, is possible only with consistent fellowship.

12:13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

- Sphere = in the sphere of the needs of the saints

Time frame here is the winter of 56/57 when Romans is written.

- The responsibility here is this, Paul is saying to us, be concerned about the needs of other believers in the fellowship, not just when experiencing a time of overt persecution.

Believe the reason that he states saints is that Christian giving is always to be discriminatory; always are to give within very narrow boundaries. Gal 6:10 our dealing with others is to be prioritized.

12:13b practicing hospitality.

- When you think of hospitality, what comes to mind? Usually its entertaining guests in your home? This is more involved than that.

- filoxeni,a = love of strangers/foreign

- Biblically based welfare, Christian welfare, never looks to the gov’t;

* All these virtues assume that we have all presented our bodies as living, holy, sacrifices so that we are able to make proper application as necessary to carry out each one, as they are called for.

Now in vs:14 Paul branches out to those that persecute the believer.

First some things, specifically 3 things that we as believers need to remember; that is things that we should not expect!

#1 We should not expect that life is going to be fair!

#2 We should not expect that the world would be tolerant of us and our vpt as Christians. [ultimate intolerance is hate] Jn 15:18

#3 We should not expect that everyone will be our friend; will come out later when talking about dealing with enemies!

12:14 Our reaction as believers when wronged!

Need to distinguish between an action and a reaction.

The big question is, When we’re wronged do we respond based on how we feel? Or by what we know what the word says?

With verse 14 we discover what our reaction is to be to persecution.

What does it mean to bless?

Also need to answer what it means to curse our persecutor.

First lets find out what persecute means;

“to persecute” = diw,kw ; the word itself is a neutral one in its basic sense; to pursue, to run after; Used of a hunter pursuing game;

In the N.T. in Koine Greek, it also is used of pursuit with hostile intent; there is a range from verbal abuse/slander to social ostracism

There is a nuance of zealousness, an earnestness that is a part of the meaning.

If we are not now being persecuted, its not a part of our present experience, this verse is saying be prepared!

Now what does it mean to “bless?”

The word is euvloge,w; euv = good, well; loge,w to say/speak

Therefore to speak well of someone; or to speak something good;

Is Paul saying here that we should eulogize the persecutor?

What Paul is saying is that we should be ready to give good words to them, words of truth, I’ve got good news for you, God sent His Son to die for you, He bore the penalty for your sin.