Teachers: This lesson continues Paul's emphasis on the way strong Christians respect and treat weak Christians. Please call the class' attention to the obvious. An honest awareness of God's mercy changes the way Christians treat people. This quarter's text studied the section of Romans 12:1 to 15:13. Note the over all emphasis of the section. The body illustration (12:3-8); Christian/Christian interaction (12:9-16); interaction with enemies (12:17-21); interaction with the Roman government (13:1-7); interaction with people in general (13:8-10); interaction between strong Christians and weak Christians (14:1-12); forbearance regarding another Christian's conscience (14:13-23); and the strong Christian helping the weak Christian (15:1-13) all focus on the manner in which Christians treat people. The appropriate Christian reaction to God's mercy is being merciful to other people. Please call attention to this fact: Paul's core emphasis in this section is found in the way Christians treat each other [the body illustration; Christian/Christian interaction; interaction between strong and weak Christians; forbearance of another Christian's conscience; the strong Christian helping the weak Christian].
Begin your study by looking at the Romans 12-15:13 section in a single, comprehensive view. Rather than examining the "individual trees" in this section, get an overall picture of the "forest." After an in-depth examination of the basic concepts concerning salvation (chapters 1-11), Paul began a new section in 12:1. This section made practical applications of the concepts in the first eleven chapters. It is as if Paul said, "If you trust God's workings that produced salvation for everyone, you will behave in this manner."
Please assist your class as they develop their comprehensive awareness of Paul's emphasis from Romans 12:1 to 15:13.
Remember the context. In Rome, Jewish Christians and Christians who were not Jews experienced significant disagreement. Relationships within Rome's Christian community were strained. Can you imagine the discussions, arguments, even confrontations that occurred as Christians debated who were the strong? Can you hear some Jewish Christians arguing they were the spiritually strong because of their history, their knowledge of the scriptures, and their messages from the prophets? Can you hear some Christians who were not Jews arguing they were the spiritually strong because they better understood God's accomplishments in Christ? Can you see some Jewish Christians struggling to understand God's purpose through Israel was to send Jesus to become the Christ for all people? [These Jewish Christians had almost 1500 years of Jewish tradition to adjust!] Can you see some Christians who were not Jews struggling to understand the one God who sent Jesus Christ? [Their religious past had hundreds of years of experience in acknowledging many gods, not one God.]
Help your class see "the real problem." These were people. Just like people who are Christians today, they struggled with attitudes, opinions, control issues, and both superiority and inferiority complexes. Make the problem human. Make the reactions human. Make the situation human. In no age has adjustment to radical change been simple. Paul's teachings called for radical change.
The result: devout Jewish Christians argued with devout Christians who were not Jews about who were the strong. "Who called the shots in Rome's Christian community? Who had the lead? Who determined what was and was not done?" In the context of today's church, should the elders be Jewish Christians, Christians who were not Jews, or a mix? As the devout argued, the weak "fell through the cracks." Confused and struggling, the weak lived in the religious fog of a paganistic society that influenced every aspect of their everyday lives. The devout were unconcerned because the important issue was who determined the direction of Rome's Christian community and controlled what happened.
Seemingly the issue never changes: who should be in control. "I" always have the desire to make "you" conformed to my concerns and emphases. "I" have it right. "I" know what "I" am talking about. "I" am well informed. "I" understand. However, "I" have my questions and doubts about "you." And, of course, God sees matters the way "I" do.
Simplifying and paraphrasing Paul's instruction to Christians in Rome, he said [beginning in chapter 12], "If you understand God's workings to produce the salvation of all people, this is how you will behave. First, you will understand your indebtedness to God's mercy. Second you will climb on God's altar every day.
It is important to understand biblical concepts. It is equally important to allow God to teach us godly conduct. It is important to understand biblical commands. It is equally important to be a godly person in all relationships. It is important to understand biblical theology. It is equally important to behave in a Christlike manner.
Note Paul's emphasis. (1) This is how Christians behave toward each other. (2) This is how Christians behave toward the evil. (3) This is how Christians respect Rome's government. (4) This is how Christians behave toward other people. (5) This is how strong Christians behave toward weak Christians.
Paul's emphasis on the proper treatment of people is striking. When I understand God's concepts that serve as the foundation of salvation, I will reflect my understanding in the way I treat people. Nowhere will my understanding be more obvious than in the way I treat other Christians.
Note which relationship received the most emphasis [by volume of words]. Paul devoted almost a chapter and a half to the strong Christian's responsibility to the weak Christian. Obviously, among Christians in Rome, that was a primary problem. But does that not always tend to be the primary problem in any congregation? In an individual Christian's list of spiritual priorities, do we not decide that caring for the weak is neither as important nor as essential as other "spiritual priorities?"
Paul's continuing lesson stresses strong Christians should care for weak Christias. We must follow his emphasis. Today's Christians desperately need to understand Paul's teachings. An honest understanding of Paul's teachings concerning Christian/Christian interaction would destroy some of the most hurtful, painful problems among Christians.
Note Paul's emphasis. Remember, verses were not added to the text until the 1500's [in a Greek New Testament in 1551, and in a New Testament of what became the Geneva Bible in 1557]. Verse divisions were added hundreds of years after Paul wrote his letter to Christians in Rome. The significance: Romans 14 and 15 were merely a continuing emphasis in his letter.
Keep the point of the above paragraph simple. Paul wrote a letter. That letter was not divided into verses. Chapters 14 and 15 contain a continuing emphasis. Strong Christians should use their awareness of God's mercy as they help weaker Christians.
Note the truth Paul stressed: strong Christian ought to bear the weakness of Christians without strength. No Christian exists to please himself or herself. On a mature Christian's priority list, commitment to mercy eliminates "my preference." A Christian's devotion to personal preferences decreases usefulness to God's will. A mature Christian's devotion is to edifying others. In a mature Christian, spiritually building up others, advancing the spiritual maturity of others, and the spiritual development of others receives priority over personal preference.
Personal preferences are a powerful force in many congregations. In such congregations, personal preferences are "the only way" things must be done. A set of preferences controls the situation, and it has for a generation or more. Christians must become more aware of the personal benefits of God's mercy. When Christians develop that awareness, they become much more concerned about helping weaker Christians grow and develop spiritually than having personal preferences prevail.
Why should that be a standard for spiritual maturity? Why should God recognize that standard? Surely the spiritually strong should have and enjoy "the privilege" of having their preferences predominate! That is the way it works in the everyday world! The preferences of those holding the power control the situation! In common society, yes. Among God's people, no.
Inside the community of Christians is one of the few places in western civilization where the strong should not force their preferences on the weak.
Jesus Christ is the reason that standard is recognized among God's people. Jesus' life and death were not about pleasing himself. For that reason God's will could be accomplished through him.
There is a reason that the strong do not force their preferences on the weak in a Christian community. That reason is directly related to Jesus Christ. Jesus lived and died for our benefit. He who was truly strong concerned himself with the spiritual well being of the truly weak. Jesus neither lived nor died to please himself. In sacrificial ways, he surrendered all personal preferences for our benefit. Even though he did not want to experience death on the cross, for our sakes he accepted crucifixion (Matthew 26:39).
Note Paul affirmed Psalms 69:9 existed to instruct Christians. It existed to urge Christians to trust God as their source of perseverance and encouragement. Paul said Old Testament scripture was written to give Christians hope.
The Old Testament is God's scripture just as certainly as the New Testament is God's scripture. It is God's intention that Old Testament scriptures bless Christians. Understanding those scriptures give Christians hope. Those scriptures were used extensively in the first century church.
Note Christians who came to opposite conclusions about sacrificial meat offered to idols could be "of the same mind with one another." Paul did not argue that Christians must hold identical positions and conclusions to be of one mind. Then how could they be of one mind? They were of one mind about Jesus the Christ. Weak Christians, strong Christians, Jewish Christians, and Christians who are not Jews must be of the same mind about Jesus the Christ.
Christians who disagree can be "of the same mind." "Being of the same mind" does not mean that Christians come to identical conclusions in all matters. Obviously, the Christian who ate vegetables and the Christian who ate sacrificial meat did not reach the same conclusions about the religious significance of certain foods. They did not reach the same conclusions about eating sacrificial meat. They did not reach the same conclusions about such meals honoring or not honoring an idol. "Being of the same mind" focused on a common faith in Jesus being the Christ. It focused on a common understanding of what it means for Jesus to be the Christ. As Paul pointed out in 14:6, both the vegetarian Christian and the meat eating Christian had identical motivations: both honored Jesus Christ in what they did.
Note Christians were of the same mind about Christ for the purpose of glorifying God. They accepted each other just as Christ accepted all of them. The end result of acceptance is the glorification of God.
Each Christian must be committed to glorifying God in what he or she says and does. Each Christian must honor his or her conscience if he or she gives God glory.
Note that Christ was the servant to the Jews confirming that God kept promises made to their ancestors. At the same time Christ was servant to those who were not Jews so they could glorify God for His mercy. Paul documented God's commitment to providing mercy for people who were not Jews by citing 2 Samuel 22:50; Deuteronomy 32:43; Psalm 117:1; and Isaiah 11:10.
God sent Jesus Christ to benefit Jews in ways they could relate to and understand. God also sent Jesus Christ to benefit people who were not Jews in ways they could relate to and understand. When God made His promises to Abraham [the man who began the Jewish people], God intended to bring a blessing to all people, not just to the descendants of Abraham (Genesis 12:3, 22:18; Galatians 3:8). To the Jews, God declared through Jesus Christ, "I keep my promises. I honor my commitments." To those who were not Jews, God declared through Jesus Christ, "I extend mercy to all people" (remember Acts 10:34,35).
Note Paul said that their hope would fill them with joy and peace if they believed. Changes in their understanding and behavior would occur only if they trusted God enough to climb on the altar.
Only through trust in God produced by trusting what God did in Jesus Christ can a Christian find and live in peace and hope. The foundation of Christian peace and hope stands on an understanding and trust of God's accomplishments in Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. We must never place our trust in our response to God's accomplishments in Jesus Christ. We must always place our trust in God's achievements in Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.
Personal thought questions: share your thoughts only if you choose to share them.
Ask your class if they as individuals are aware of those they encourage and discourage.
Ask your class if they realize as individuals that some people will be attracted to Christ or repelled from Christ because they as individuals encourage or discourage people.
Link to Student Guide
Quarter 3, Lesson 12