It has been wonderful to immerse ourselves in Worship with the Epistle to the Romans but, sadly, today this reading will be over, but, please, Brethren, do not despair, as you can always go back to these wonderful verses. But, it is time to go on. In
Romans 13-16 we encounter, once again, several issues that are pivotal if we wish to Submit to Jesus in the correct manner. And
we do. These issues are as follows:
- Stuff about secular authorities
- Paul knew that Jesus would come again any minute
- How to deal with repulsive vegetarians
- Paul's strategy plan for the future
- Social media
Let us start with
Romans 13. Hitherto, this Epistle has been about
very pleasant stuff for us True Christians™. It has told us why we must oppose the
gay menace, why the
Jews are (mostly) condemned, how we are
secured in Eternal Life in Jesus because of our Faith,
etc. Now it is time to assess some
hard and challenging issues, albeit necessary and Godly. We do know that many laws of the fallen atheist leaders of our country are
corrupted and
evil. But we must take them as
tests.
God still wants us to
obey the law of the land, even when it opposes His own Word.
Romans 13:1-2
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
This is
hard. We can, of course, fight this from within the system by voting for God's own conservative candidates in elections. In addition, Paul knew that
the Time was near and
Jesus would soon perform His
Second Coming, so we don't have to wait for Him much longer, and then
God will have vengeance and do revenge for us (Romans 12:19; we've just covered that)
Romans 13:11-12
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Next,
Romans 14. More orders that seem at first
hard to fulfill, but by remembering Romans 12:19, we'll
manage. How to deal with those who are pitiful weaklings?
Romans 14:2-3
For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Here we can see how
vegetarians are weaklings who deserve not only our horrified astonishment but also our
pity. We can also see that God hath received those who eat all foodstuffs,
i.e., meats. Furthermore,
it is totally unacceptable for vegetarians to judge meateaters.
God will
revenge that (Romans 12:19).
Romans 14:14
I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
However,
vegetarians are so weak that any direct confrontation might make them
stumble totally out of Jesus's scope, so it is better to
humor them for a while and
not criticize them
when (if) we visit their households, which would obviously not take place in a
True Christian™ community but is a distinct possibility while on a mission.
Romans 14:20-22
For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
So, if you share a meal with an aspiring Christian who is still a vegetarian, conform to his rules for the time being and
prepare a nice ham sandwich as a packed lunch to eat on the way home. Then you can slowly explain to the herbivorous acolyte that meat is a sign of strong, pure Faith in
Jesus and he'll come around and may eventually reach Heaven.
In
Romans 15, Paul elaborates on the strength of
us True Believers™. We are above petty insults. we only use occasional harsh words because they are necessary to bring sinners closer to Jesus!
Romans 15:4
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
The sinners will get it eventually. Either their eyes will be opened or, alternatively, their eyelids will be
burned asunder once they enter
Hell and realize that we were right (Matthew 8:12). Paul also sends us a message through time saying that
he trusts us, that
we are the standard-bearers of Jesus!
Romans 15:14
And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
Next, Paul constructs a concise but useful
itinerary about his future endeavors. First, again, a short but
persuasive CV.
Romans 15:18-19
For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
Next,
detailed travel plans. First Jerusalem and then:
Romans 15:24
Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
Again,
Biblical prophecy that was proven True™, as in Acts we can read as follows:
Acts 28:16
And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
The Bible told us that Paul would be going to Rome. The Bible reveals that he went to Rome. This, among other verses, proves beyond any reasonable doubt that
the Bible is all True™ and precious.
Romans 16. We get a rare and valuable insight into the workings of
social media during Paul's time. In addition to being a message from Jesus, God allowed Paul to use the Epistle as a
Status Update. He shared these musings with the gang (Romans 16:1-23). We learn who were the ones who shared Paul's media profile. They were as follows (based on Romans 16:1-23):
Quote:
Phebe, Priscilla, Aquila, Epaenetus, Mary, Andronicus, Junia, Amplias, Urbane, Stachys his beloved, Apelles, Aristobulus' household, Herodion, household of Narcissus, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
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We can presume that all these
shared Paul's updates and thus helped to spread the Good Message of Jesus. The Epistle also offered several useful
tweets for the masses. Some of the best are as follows:
#Romans 3:23 (56 characters)
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
#Romans 6:23 (97 characters)
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
#Romans 1:18 (135 characters)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
#Romans 1:30 (105 characters)
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
We can clearly see despite the claims of the atheist nerds, it was
Jesus who through Paul
invented the social media. The main purpose of social media is to
tweet about Jesus and to warn the sinners against the
Wrath of God (Romans 12:19). It is by the Grace of God that we, as
True Christians™ carry on this legacy on our Godly Forum.
Next Time: False Christians and How to Deal with Them!
Yours in Christ,
Elmer