Romans 15 – 16 Romans 15 – 16 GOSPEL LIVING

2 distinct groups: 2 distinct groups:

Introductory Remark:Introductory Remark:A Brief Summary of Romans 14A Brief Summary of Romans 14

The state of one’s conscience The state of one’s conscience determines who is strong and who is determines who is strong and who is weakweak

2 distinct tendencies: 2 distinct tendencies:

The Strong

The WeakJudge the

Strong

Despise the Weak

A. Unity in Spite of Different A. Unity in Spite of Different Personal Convictions (15:1-6)Personal Convictions (15:1-6)

• 2 questions to discuss here:2 questions to discuss here:

1.1. What are these convictionsWhat are these convictions??

a)a) Conviction about food Conviction about food issues (14:1-4; 14-23)issues (14:1-4; 14-23)

b) Conviction about special b) Conviction about special days (14:5-22)days (14:5-22)

A. Unity in Spite of Different A. Unity in Spite of Different Personal Convictions (15:1-6)Personal Convictions (15:1-6)

• 2 questions to discuss here:2 questions to discuss here:

2.2. How do we remain unitedHow do we remain united??

a)a) By bearing the infirmities of the weak By bearing the infirmities of the weak (15:1)(15:1)

b)b) By pleasing our neighbours rather than By pleasing our neighbours rather than ourselves (15:2)ourselves (15:2)

We should emulate the example of We should emulate the example of our Lord Jesus (15:3).our Lord Jesus (15:3).

B. Unity In Spite of Different B. Unity In Spite of Different Racial Backgrounds (15:7-13)Racial Backgrounds (15:7-13)

• How do we maintain unity in the Body of How do we maintain unity in the Body of Christ?Christ?

a)a) By accepting one another without any By accepting one another without any prior conditions (15:7)prior conditions (15:7)

b)b) By being filled with all joy and peace By being filled with all joy and peace from the Holy Spirit (15:13)from the Holy Spirit (15:13)

• God has already reconciled Jews and God has already reconciled Jews and Gentiles in one body through the Cross Gentiles in one body through the Cross (Ephesians 2:14-16) (Ephesians 2:14-16)

C. The Special Commission of C. The Special Commission of Paul to the Gentiles (15:14-33)Paul to the Gentiles (15:14-33)

a)a) Paul was appointed by Jesus to be a Paul was appointed by Jesus to be a servant to the Gentiles (15:16)servant to the Gentiles (15:16)

b)b) Paul relied on the power of the Holy Spirit Paul relied on the power of the Holy Spirit to evangelise the Gentiles (15:18-19) to evangelise the Gentiles (15:18-19)

c)c) Paul wanted to proclaim the gospel to Paul wanted to proclaim the gospel to Gentiles who never heard of Jesus (15:20)Gentiles who never heard of Jesus (15:20)

Paul had a real compassion for Paul had a real compassion for the lost people. What about us the lost people. What about us today?today?

Romans 16: Personal Greetings Romans 16: Personal Greetings and Doxologyand Doxology

• One striking aspect of the doxology (vv.25-27) One striking aspect of the doxology (vv.25-27) is the phrase: is the phrase: ‘the obedience of faith’‘the obedience of faith’. .

It is exactly the same phrase as in It is exactly the same phrase as in Romans Romans 1:51:5. .

• Why did Paul Why did Paul beginbegin and and concludeconclude his epistle his epistle to the Romans with the same phrase?to the Romans with the same phrase?