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SECTION f – The Conduct of The
Saints (12:01
– 15:07)
Balanced
by SECTION F – The Conduct of Mankind (1:18
– 3:20)
Romans Twelve – Verses 9 to 21
09. Let love be unfeigned.
Abhorring that which is wicked,
clinging to good,
‘…Let love be unfeigned…’
The love we show towards others should be sincere -
not hypocritical. We must really love people and not just make it
look as if we do. The welfare of others should be our constant and
consistent motivation.
1Cor.10:23,24 All is allowed me, but not all is expedient.
All is allowed me, but not all is edifying.
24 Let no one be seeking the welfare of
himself, but that of another.
2Cor.1:12 For our boasting is this, the testimony of our
conscience,
that in holiness
and sincerity of God,
not in fleshly
wisdom,
but in the grace of God,
we behaved ourselves in the world, yet
more superabundantly toward you.
2Cor.11:3 Yet I fear lest somehow,
as the serpent deludes Eve by its craftiness,
your apprehensions should be corrupted
from the
singleness and pureness which is in Christ.
1Thes.5:12-15 … perceive those who are toiling
among you
and presiding over you in the Lord and
admonishing you,
13 and to deem them exceedingly
distinguished in love, because of their work.
Be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we are entreating you, brethren; admonish
the disorderly,
comfort the fainthearted, uphold the
infirm, be patient toward all.
15 See that no one may be rendering evil
for evil to anyone,
but always
pursue that which is good for
one another as well as for all
1Tim.1:5,6 Now the consummation of the
charge
is love
out of a clean heart and a good conscience and unfeigned faith,
6 from which some, swerving, were turned
aside into vain prating,
‘…Abhorring that which is wicked, clinging
to good …’
It is interesting to note
the use of ‘wicked’ [from the Greek ponêron] in this context. It
usually involves a vengeful motivation, a desire to cause
damage or destruction whether physical or spiritual. To cane a child is to
cause him pain and, by itself, this is an evil [from the Greek kakon].
But, if it is done with the intention of correcting him, diverting him from
wrong or even dangerous behaviour, and for his benefit, the action is not
wicked but good. On the other hand, if it is done out of anger and
frustration to protect one’s ‘reputation’, or out of vengeance and
vindictiveness, then it is wicked.
Mt.15:19 For out of the heart
are coming wicked reasonings,
murders, adulteries, prostitutions, thefts,
false testimonies, calumnies.
Mk.7:21-23 For from inside, out of
the heart of men,
are going out evil reasonings,
prostitutions, thefts, murders,
22 adulteries, greed, wickedness, guile,
wantonness,
a wicked eye, calumny, pride, imprudence.
23 All these wicked
inside things are going out;
and those are contaminating the man
However, motivation may be ambiguous and even used as
justification and an excuse. So we are told to withdraw from that which is
evil and, instead, do good.
1Thes.5:22 From everything wicked
to the perception, abstain.
Ps.34:14 Withdraw from evil, and do
good; Seek peace, and pursue
it.
1Pet.3:11 Now let him avoid evil and
do good.
Let him seek peace and pursue it,
Ps.45:7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
Therefore Elohim Your Elohim has anointed
You
With the oil of elation beyond Your partners.
Heb.1:9 Thou lovest righteousness and hatest injustice;
Therefore Thou art anointed by God, Thy God,
with the oil of exultation beyond Thy
partners."
1Thes.5:15 See that no one may be
rendering evil for evil to anyone,
but always pursue that which is good for
one another as well as for all.
Gal.1:4 Who gives Himself for our
sins,
so that He might extricate us out of the present
wicked eon,
Satan, the
Adversary of God and men, with his sinister cunning and penchant to cause
destruction and disharmony, is often referred to as ‘the wicked one’. (See
Mt.5:37; 6:13; 13:19,38; Jn.17:15; Eph.6:16; 2Thes.3:3; 1Jn.5:19)
10. let us have fond affection for one another with brotherly fondness,
in honor deeming one another first,
‘…let
us have fond affection for one another with brotherly fondness,…’
It is declared
that the love believers should be having for one another is a characteristic
of disciples of Jesus Christ.
Jn.13:34,35 A new precept am I giving to
you,
that you be
loving one another;
according
as I love you, that you also be loving one another.
35 By this
all shall be knowing that you are My disciples,
if you should be having love for one another."
Gal.5:13,14 For you were called for freedom,
brethren,
only use not the freedom for an incentive to the
flesh,
but through love be slaving for one another.
14 For the entire law is fulfilled in one
word, in this:
"You
shall love your associate as yourself."
Eph.4:1-5 I am entreating you, then, I,
the prisoner in the Lord,
to walk
worthily of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all humility and meekness, with patience,
bearing
with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit with the tie of peace:
4 one body and one spirit,
according as you were called also with one expectation of your
calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all,
Who is over all and through all and in all.
2Thes.1:3,4 We ought to be thanking God always
concerning you, brethren,
according as it is meet; seeing that your faith
is flourishing
and the
love of each one of you all for one another is increasing,
4 so that we ourselves glory in you in the
ecclesias of God,
for your endurance and faith in all your
persecutions
and the afflictions with which you are bearing--
Here, believers are given a
more intimate context – that of members of a family. It is to be
with ‘fond affection’ and ‘brotherly fondness’ for one
another.
1Tim.5:1,2 An elderly man you should not be
upbraiding,
but be entreating him as a father, the
younger men as brethren,
2 the elder women as mothers, the
younger as sisters, in all purity.
Mt.12:50 For anyone whoever
should be doing the will of My Father Who is in the heavens,
he is My brother and
sister and mother!
1Thes.4:9 Now, concerning brotherly
fondness, we have no need to be writing to you,
for you yourselves are taught by God to be loving one another,
Phil.2:3,4 nothing according with
faction, nor yet according with vainglory--
but with humility, deeming one another superior
to one's self,
4 not each noting that which is his own,
but each that of others also.
This does not mean that we
should be ‘broadminded’ to the point of being permissive even, that we do
not correct faulty doctrine and improper behaviour. As we all have the
spirit of sonship, each and every one should have a desire to adjust
his understanding and walk to befit his calling.
Gal.6:1,2 Brethren, if a man
should be precipitated, also, in some offense,
you, who are spiritual, be attuning
such a one, in a spirit of meekness,
noting yourself, that you, also, may not be
tried.
2 Bear one another's burdens, and
thus fill up the law of Christ.
2Tim.2:24-26 Now a slave of the Lord
must not be fighting,
but be gentle toward all, apt to teach,
bearing with evil,
25 with meekness training those who are
antagonizing, seeing whether
God may be giving them repentance to come
into a realization of the truth,
26 and they will be sobering up out of
the trap of the Adversary,
having been caught alive by him, for that one's
will.
1Tim.5:20 Those who are sinning be
exposing in the sight of all,
that the rest also may have fear.
21 I am conjuring, in the sight of God and
Christ Jesus and the chosen messengers,
that you should guard these things, apart
from prejudice,
22 doing nothing from bias.
Gal.2:11-14 Now when Cephas came to Antioch,
I withstood him to the face, for he was
self-censured.
12 For, before the coming of some from
James,
he ate together with those of the nations. Yet
when they came,
he shrank back, and severed himself, fearing
those of the Circumcision.
13 And the rest of the Jews also play
the hypocrite with him,
so that Barnabas also was led away with their
hypocrisy.
14 But when I perceived
that they are not correct in their attitude
toward the truth of the evangel,
I said to Cephas in front of all,
"If you, being inherently a Jew, are living
as the nations, and not as the Jews,
how are you compelling the nations to be
judaizing?"
11. in diligence not slothful, fervent in spirit, slaving for the Lord,
‘…in diligence not slothful, fervent in spirit,…’
We should constantly and consistently
apply ourselves towards the completion of what we should be doing as
believers. We should not become discouraged and despondent when things do
not seem to be working out.
2Thes.3:10-12 For even when we were
with you, we gave this charge to you:
that "If anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat."
11 For we are hearing that some among you
are walking disorderly,
working at nothing, but are meddling.
12 Now such we are charging and entreating
in the Lord Jesus Christ,
that, working with quietness, they may be eating
their own bread.
Gal.6:9,10 Now we may not be despondent
in ideal doing,
for in due season we shall be reaping, if we do
not faint.
10 Consequently, then, as we have occasion,
we are working for the good of all, yet
specially for the family of faith.
2Thes.3:13 Now you, brethren, should not be
despondent in ideal doing.
We are to be
whole-heartedly diligent in the work that God graciously grants us for
participation in the evangel. The outcome of our work, the results of our
efforts, however, are outside our determination. The work is
ours to do; the growth is God’s to give.
1Cor.3:5-7 What, then, is Apollos? Now what is
Paul?
Servants are they, through whom you believe, and
as the Lord gives to each.
6 I plant, Apollos irrigates, but God
makes it grow up.
7 So that, neither is he who is planting
anything, nor he who is irrigating,
but God Who makes it grow up.
‘…slaving for the Lord,…’
The fact is that if Jesus is our Lord then we are
His slaves. We should appreciate the grace we are given to be slaving for
Him, actually counting it a signal honour. But, too often, we segregate our
secular lives from our spiritual calling. So we seldom see our vocations,
our daily ‘grind’, as opportunities to serve the Lord and, hence, our
diligence in serving Him through our ‘mundane’ and ‘boring’ daily toil may
suffer.
Eph.6:5-8 Slaves, be obeying your masters according to the flesh
with fear and trembling, in the singleness of
your heart, as to Christ,
6 not with eye-slavery, as man-pleasers,
but as
slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul,
7 with good humor slaving as to the Lord and not to men,
8 being aware that, whatsoever good each one
should be doing,
for this he will be requited by the Lord,
whether slave or free.
Col.3:22-24 Slaves, obey in all things your masters
according to the flesh,
not with eye-slavery, as manpleasers,
but with singleness of heart, fearing the
Lord.
23 All, whatsoever you may be doing, work
from the soul,
as to the
Lord
and not to men,
24 Being aware that from the Lord
you will be getting the compensation of the
enjoyment of an allotment:
for the Lord Christ are you slaving.
12. rejoicing in expectation,
enduring affliction, persevering in
prayer,
‘…rejoicing
in expectation…’
It is impossible to be paid for what one is truly
worth – bosses will go out of business if employees are. But where service
under our Lord is concerned, He can reward with much more than one is worth
– without any danger of having to close shop. This assurance should have us
rejoicing in expectation of rewards that will be dispensed when our Lord
comes for us. However, there will be no wages for incorrect service or for
shoddy and careless work.
1Cor.3:11-14 For other foundation
can no one lay
beside that which is laid, which is Jesus
Christ.
12 Now if anyone is building on this
foundation
gold and silver, precious stones, wood, grass,
straw,
13 each one's work will become apparent,
for the day will make it evident, for it is
being revealed by fire.
And the fire, it will be testing each one's
work--what kind it is.
14 If anyone's work will be remaining
which he builds on it, he will get wages.
15 If anyone's work shall be burned up, he
will forfeit it,
yet he shall be saved, yet thus, as through
fire.
The way Scripture puts it,
to ‘be rejoicing’ is almost a command to believers. The fact is that if we
see the evangel for what it actually is, we cannot help but be
rejoicing – perhaps even if we are told not to.
Phil.4:4 Be rejoicing in the Lord always! Again, I will
declare, be rejoicing!
1Thes.5:16 Be rejoicing always.
Tit.2:13 anticipating that happy expectation,
even the advent of the glory of the great God
and our Saviour Jesus Christ,
Rom.5:2 through Whom we have
the access also, by faith,
into this grace in which we stand,
and we may be glorying in expectation of the glory of God.
Rom.15:13 Now may the God of
expectation
be filling you with all joy and peace in
believing,
for you to be super-abounding in expectation, in the power of holy spirit.
Col.1:27 to whom God wills to
make known
what are the glorious riches of this secret
among the nations, which is:
Christ among you, the expectation of glory--
‘…enduring
affliction…’
God endows us with the power to endure – but we seldom
recognize or utilize this fact and miss out on the joy arising from the realization
that God is working in us through these experience. God has a reason
for ‘putting us through the paces’.
Phil.2:12,13 …with fear and
trembling, be carrying your own salvation into effect,
13 for it is God Who is operating
in you
to will as well as to work for the sake
of His delight.
Col.1:10,11 you to walk worthily of the Lord
for all pleasing,
bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in
the realization of God;
11 being endued with all power, in
accord with the might of His glory,
for all
endurance and patience with joy;
2Thes.1:4,5 so that we ourselves glory in you
in the ecclesias of God,
for your endurance and faith in all your
persecutions
and the afflictions with which you are
bearing--
5 a display of the just judging of God,
to deem you worthy of the kingdom of God,
for which you are suffering also,
Rom.5:3-5 Yet not only so, but we may be glorying also in afflictions,
having perceived that affliction is producing endurance,
4 yet endurance testedness, yet testedness expectation.
5 Now expectation is not mortifying,
seeing that the love of God has been poured out
in our hearts
through the holy spirit which is being given to
us.
2Tim.2;11,12 Faithful is the saying:
"For if we died together, we shall be living
together also;
12 if we are enduring, we shall be reigning
together also;
But, for those who prefer ‘peace and quiet’ in their
own comfort zone, and are unwilling to go through the hardships and
persecutions that are the lot for believers, thereby disowning Christ as
their Lord, though the guarantee of vivification remains valid, reigning
with Christ will not be an expectation.
2Tim.3:12 …all who are wanting to live
devoutly in Christ Jesus
shall be persecuted.
Phil.1:29 for to you it is graciously
granted, for Christ's sake,
not only to be believing on Him, but to be
suffering for His sake also,
2Tim.2:11-13 Faithful is the saying:
"For if we died together, we shall be
living together also;
12 if we are enduring, we shall
be reigning together also;
if we are disowning, He also will be disowning
us;
13 if we are disbelieving, He is remaining
faithful--He cannot disown Himself."
2Thes.1:4,5 so that we ourselves
glory in you in the ecclesias of God,
for your endurance and faith
in all your persecutions and the
afflictions with which you are bearing--
5 a display of the just judging of God, to
deem you worthy of the kingdom of God,
for which you are suffering also,
‘…persevering
in prayer…’
To know the true
God is a transcendent honour. To be able to speak to Him in a precious
relationship as our God and Father is a special privilege. To know that He
hears us, even inspiring us to pray in accord with His will, is a cause for
rejoicing and comfort.
We are told to be persevering
in prayer, to pray un-intermittently, constantly and consistently. To pray
that the evangel may be preached as it should be, in clarity and with
boldness, is one of the ways we become participants in it.
Col.4:2-4 In prayer be
persevering, watching in it with thanksgiving,
3 praying at the same time concerning us
also,
that God should be opening for us a door
of the word,
to speak the secret of Christ, because of which I am
bound also,
4 that I should be making it manifest, as
I must speak.
Eph.6:18-20 During every prayer and
petition be praying on every occasion
(in spirit being vigilant also for it with
all perseverance and petition
concerning all the saints, 19 and for me), that to me
expression may be granted, in the opening
of my mouth with boldness,
to make known the secret of the
evangel,
20 for which I am conducting an embassy in a
chain,
that in it I should be speaking boldly, as I must
speak.
1Thes.5:16-18 Be rejoicing always.
17 Be praying unintermittingly.
18 In everything be giving thanks,
for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus for you.
Praying with perseverance
does mean that we should be in a constant attitude of prayer and not
reserve it for particular times and emergencies only. Prayer by rote is just
useless repetition and meaningless. And how would any father feel if his
children only speak to him by reading from a book of set scripts, like a
prayer book? Does God hear us only on Sundays, or only from towering
minarets or only if we spin a long line of prayer wheels? How we limit God,
the One who knows our minds and hearts!
Mt.6:7.8 Now, in praying,
you should not use useless repetitions even
as those of the nations.
For they are supposing that they will be
hearkened to in their loquacity.
8 Do not, then, be like them,
for aware is God, your Father, of what you have
need before you request Him
Rom.8:27 Now He Who is searching
the hearts
is aware what is the disposition of the
spirit,
for in accord with God is it pleading for
the saints.
13. contributing to the needs of the
saints, pursuing hospitality.
We cannot even begin to
loosen the poverty that constricts the poor of the world in its tentacles
(Mt.26:11). And we are not expected to since it is a part of God’s plan for
this and the next eon. It will only be removed with the creation of the new
earth.
But we have the privilege
of attending to the needs of those in the ecclesia. The ‘snatching-away’
has not occurred yet. Believers are still mortal and have needs just like
anybody else. Some may be able to adequately support themselves while
others may be in difficulties, even in want. Can we truly say that we love
God and our fellow men if we ignore the needy within the ecclesia?
Act.20:34,35 You know that these hands subserve
my needs,
and of
those who are with me.
35 All I intimate to you,
that, thus toiling, you must be supporting
the infirm.
Besides, remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
that He said,
`Happy is it to
give rather than to get.'
Heb.13:16 Now of well doing and contributing be not forgetful,
for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Gal.6:9,10 Now we may not be
despondent in ideal doing,
for in due season we shall be reaping, if we do
not faint.
10 Consequently, then, as
we have occasion,
we are working for the good of all, yet specially
for the family of faith.
Heb.6:10 For God is not unjust,
to be forgetting your work and the love which
you display for His name
when you
serve the saints, and are serving.
Heb:13:2 Be not forgetting hospitality,
1Jn.3:17 Now whoever may be
having a livelihood in this world,
and may be beholding his brother having need,
and should be locking his compassions
from him--
how is the love of God remaining in him?
1Cor.9:13,14 Are you not aware that the workers
at the sacred things
are eating of the things of the sanctuary?
Those settling beside the altar have their
portion with the altar.
14 Thus the Lord also
prescribes
that those
who are announcing the evangel are to be living of the evangel.
Gal.6:6-8 Now let him who is
being instructed in the word
be
contributing to him who is instructing, in all good things.
7 Be not deceived, God is not to be sneered at,
for whatsoever a man may be sowing, this shall
he be reaping also, ‑
8 for he who is sowing for his own flesh,
from the flesh shall be reaping corruption,
yet he who is sowing for the spirit,
from the spirit shall be reaping life
eonian.
2Cor.9:6,7 who is sowing sparingly,
sparingly shall be reaping also,
and who is sowing bountifully, bountifully shall
be reaping also,
7 each according as he has proposed in his heart,
not
sorrowfully, nor of compulsion, for the gleeful giver is loved by God.
2Cor.8:1-5 Now we are making known to you,
brethren,
the grace of God which has been bestowed
in the ecclesias of Macedonia,
2 for, in a test of much affliction,
the superabundance of their joy and the
corresponding depth of their poverty
superabounds to the riches of their
generosity,
3 for, according to their ability, I
am testifying,
and beyond their ability, of their own accord,
4 with much entreaty beseeching of us the
grace
and the fellowship of the service for the
saints;
5 and not according as we expect,
but themselves they give first to the Lord,
and to us through the will of God.
This love should be real
and sincere - not put-on, not a mere facade, and not hypocritical. We
should actively discard whatever is not conducive to family harmony, doing
all for the Lord's sake, with a
positive, active attitude, and being mutually supportive of one another.
1Cor.13:1-8 If I should be speaking
in the languages of men and of the messengers,
yet should have no love,
I have become resounding copper or a clanging
cymbal.
2 And if I should have prophecy
and should be perceiving all secrets and all
knowledge,
and if I should have all faith, so as to
transport mountains,
yet have no love, I am nothing.
3 And if ever I should be morselling out
all my possessions,
and if I should be giving up my body, that I
should be boasting,
yet may have no love, in nothing do I
benefit.
4 Love is patient, is kind. Love is not jealous.
Love is not bragging, is not puffed up,
5 is not indecent, is not self-seeking, is not
incensed,
is not taking account of evil,
6 is not rejoicing in injustice, yet is
rejoicing together with the truth,
7 is forgoing all, is believing all, is expecting
all, is enduring all.
8 Love is never lapsing: yet, whether
prophecies, they will be discarded,
or languages, they will cease, or knowledge, it
will be discarded.
1Cor.13:13 Yet now are remaining
faith, expectation, love--these three.
Yet the greatest of these is love.
14. Bless those who are
persecuting you: bless, and do not curse,
The
conduct of the saints in any given economy is based on God's dispensation.
If He dispenses law, He requires conduct in accord with law. Mercy calls
for a higher standard, while grace appeals for the highest type of loving
deportment under even the most trying circumstances. The law allowed men to
hate their enemies, to exact an equivalent, as an eye for an eye, and,
indeed, to act toward one another as God dealt with them. God's grace,
then, is the model after which we may pattern our conduct. As He never
curses now, we may not curse, but bless even those who are persecuting
us. Concordant Commentary
It is one thing to forgive
a person who has done you wrong or hurt you. It is quite another to do so while
the persecution is ongoing. To bless the perpetrator in such
a situation calls for something ‘above the call of duty’, so to speak. It
is not the normal response expected. But Christ set the example for us.
Instead of bringing on a curse and condemnation for the crime they were
committing, He prayed for those who were crucifying Him to be forgiven. And
Stephen, the first martyr, followed in His footsteps.
Lk.23:33,34 And when they came away to the
place called "Skull,"
there they crucify Him,…
34 Now Jesus said, "Father, forgive
them, for they are not aware what they are doing."…
1Cor.2:8 … not one of the chief men of this
eon knows,
for if they know, they would not
crucify the Lord of glory.
Act.7:59,60 And they pelted Stephen with
stones,
while he is invoking and saying, "Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit!"
60 Now, kneeling, he cries with a loud
voice,
"Lord, Thou shouldst
not stand against them this sin!"
And saying this, he was put to repose.
We are expected to have
this same attitude. The love that God endows us with through His spirit
goes even further than that which we have for our loved ones. It goes to
those who do not love us, active enemies even.
Rom.5:6 For Christ, while we
are still infirm, still in accord with the era,
for the sake of the irreverent, died.
Rom.5:8 yet God is commending this love of
His to us, seeing that,
while we are still sinners, Christ died for our
sakes.
Mt.5:44-48 Yet I am saying to you,
Love your enemies, and
pray for those who are persecuting
you,
45 so that you may become sons of your
Father Who is in the heavens,
for He causes His sun to rise on the wicked and
the good,
and makes it rain on the just and the
unjust.
46 For if ever you should love those who
are loving you, what wages have you?
Are not the tribute collectors also doing the
same?
47 And if ever you should greet your
brothers only,
what are
you doing that is excessive?
Are not those of the nations also doing the
same?
48 You, then, shall be perfect as your
heavenly Father is perfect.
Lk.6:28-30 Bless those who are cursing you.
Pray concerning those who are
traducing you.
[Webster’s ‘traduce’
- To represent as blameable; to condemn.
- To calumniate; to vilify; to defame; wilfully to
misrepresent.]
Lk,6:29,30 To him who is beating you on the
cheek, be tendering the other also.
And you should not be preventing him who is
taking away your cloak
from taking your tunic also.
30 Now you, be giving to everyone who is
requesting,
and from him who is taking away what is
yours be not demanding it.
Lk.6:32-35 And if you are loving those loving
you, what thanks is it to you?
For sinners also are loving those loving
them.
33 And if you should be doing good to those
doing good to you,
what thanks is it to you? For sinners also are
doing the same.
34 And if you should ever be lending to
those
from whom you are expecting to get back, what
thanks is it to you?
For sinners also are lending to sinners, that
they may get back the equivalent.
35 Moreover, be loving your enemies,
and be doing good, and be lending, expecting
nothing from them,
and your wages will be vast in the heavens,
and you will be sons of the Most High,
for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
1Cor.4:12,13 Being reviled, we are blessing;
being persecuted, we are bearing with it;
13 being calumniated, we are entreating….
1Pet.2:21-23 For this were you
called,
seeing that Christ also suffered for your
sakes,
leaving you a
copy, that you should be following up in the footprints of Him
22 Who does no sin, neither was guile found
in His mouth;
23 Who, being reviled,
reviled not again;
suffering, threatened not, yet gave it over to
Him Who is judging justly,
15. so as to be rejoicing with those
rejoicing, lamenting with those lamenting.
We should have an
empathy for those around us rather than being cold and clinical and merely
observers of what goes on. We should have a deep sympathy for those who are
suffering and in need of comfort. We should really be in fellowship within the
ecclesia.
1Cor.12:26 And whether one member is
suffering, all the members are sympathizing,
or one member is being esteemed, all the
members are rejoicing with it.
Jn.11:33-36 Jesus, then, as He perceived her
lamenting
and the Jews coming with her lamenting, mutters
in spirit, and disturbs Himself.
34 And He said, "Where have you placed
him?"
They are saying to Him, "Lord, come and
see."
35 Jesus weeps.
2Cor.11:29 Who is weak and I am not weak?
Who is snared and I am not on fire?
16. being
mutually disposed to one another,
not being disposed to that which is high, but being led away to the
humble.
Do not come to pass for
prudent with yourselves.
'..being mutually disposed.... but being led
away to the humble. '
This advice is not for just one or two
to adhere to – it is for each and every one to diligently work at in
relation to all others in the ecclesia. The key here is ‘mutually’,
something that works both ways.
Rom.15:5 Now may the God of
endurance and consolation grant you
to be mutually
disposed to one another, according to Christ Jesus,
Phil.2:2-4 fill my joy full, that
you may be mutually disposed,
having mutual love, joined in soul, being
disposed to one thing--
3 nothing according with faction, nor yet
according with vainglory--
but with
humility, deeming one another superior to one's self,
4 not each noting that which is his own,
but each that of others also.
1Cor.1:10 I am entreating you,
brethren,
through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all may be saying the same thing,
and there may be no schisms among you,
but you may be attuned to the same mind and to the same opinion.
Phil.2:5-8 For let this disposition be in you, which is
in Christ Jesus also,
6 Who, being inherently in the form of God,
deems it not pillaging to be equal with
God,
7 nevertheless empties Himself, taking the
form of a slave,
coming to be in the likeness of humanity,
8 and, being found in fashion as a human, He
humbles Himself,
becoming obedient unto death, even the death of
the cross.
1Pet.3:8 Be all of a like disposition, sympathetic, fond of the brethren,
tenderly compassionate, of a humble disposition,
And this will be very difficult if pride
gets in the way. Pride is evident in any being overbearing, being brash and
careless, and being callous to the feelings of others or, more subtly, in
being oversensitive to issues and situations in fellowship.
1Cor.4:6 … you may be learning not to be disposed
above what is written,
that you may not be puffed up, one over
the one, against the other.
Col.3:12,13 Put on, then, as God's
chosen ones, holy and beloved,
pitiful compassions, kindness, humility,
meekness, patience,
13 bearing with one another and dealing
graciously among yourselves,
if anyone should be having a complaint against
any.
According as the Lord also deals graciously
with you, thus also you.
'...do not come to pass for prudent with
yourselves…'
Not one of us, believers, should imagine
that our knowledge and experience puts us in a class above those who do not
have as much. What we do have has been given under God’s grace – so, what
is there in us to be boasting about? Such pride accords with the wisdom of
the world.
1Cor.3:18 Let no one be deluding
himself.
If anyone among you is presuming to be wise
in this eon,
let him become stupid, that he may be
becoming wise,
19 for the wisdom of this world is stupidity
with God.
For it is written, "He is clutching the wise
in their craftiness."
20 And again, The Lord knows the reasonings
of the wise, that they are vain.
Rom.11:25 For I am not willing
for you to be ignorant of this secret, brethren,
lest you
may be passing for prudent among yourselves,
that callousness, in part, on Israel has come,
until the complement of the nations may be
entering.
1Cor.8:1,2 … Knowledge puffs up, yet love
builds up.
2 If anyone is presuming to know
anything,
he knew not as yet according as he must know.
1Cor.4:10 We are stupid because of Christ,
yet you are prudent in Christ.
We are weak, yet you are strong. You are
glorious, yet we are dishonored.
11 Until the present hour we are hungering
also and thirsting, and are naked
and are buffeted and unsettled and toiling,
working with our own hands.
Gal.6:1-5 Brethren, if a man should be
precipitated, also, in some offense,
you, who are spiritual, be attuning such a one,
in a
spirit of meekness, noting yourself, that you, also, may not be
tried.
2 Bear one another's burdens, and thus fill
up the law of Christ.
3 For if anyone is supposing himself to be
anything,
being
nothing,
he is imposing on himself.
4 Now let each one be testing his own
work,
and then he shall be having his boast for
himself alone,
and not for another, 5 for each one shall be bearing his own load.
1Cor.4:7 For who is making you to
discriminate?
Now what have you which you did not obtain?
Now if you obtained it also, why are you
boasting as though not obtaining?
17. To no one
render evil for evil,
making ideal provision in the sight of all men,
We, who have been given to believe, understand that
God is working all together for the good of all. God has determined the
course of our lives – even the experiences of evil that are our lot.
1Thes.5:15 See that no one may be rendering evil for evil
to anyone,
but always pursue that which is good for one another as well as for all.
1Pet.3:9 not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling,
but, on the contrary, blessing, seeing that you
were called for this,
that you should be enjoying the allotment of
blessing,
Rom.12:21 Be not conquered by
evil; but conquer evil with good.
As sons of God,
our walk should be circumspect so that we uphold the good name of our Lord
Jesus Christ and that of God our Father.
2Cor.8:21 we are providing the ideal, not only in the
sight of the Lord,
but in the
sight of men also.
Col.4:5,6 In wisdom be walking toward those outside, reclaiming the
era,
6 your word being always with grace, seasoned
with salt,
perceiving how
you must answer each one.
1Thes.4:11,12 that you be ambitious to be quiet,
and to be engaged in your own affairs,
and to be working with your hands, according as
we charge you,
12 that you may be walking respectably toward those outside
and you may have need of nothing.
1Thes.5:22 From everything wicked to the perception, abstain.
1Pet.2:12 having your behavior among the nations
ideal,
that in that in which they are speaking against
you as of evildoers,
by being
spectators of ideal acts
they should be glorifying God in the day of
visitation.
1Pet.3:16 having a good conscience, that,
in what they are speaking against you as of
evildoers,
they may be mortified, who traduce your good behavior in Christ.
18. if
possible that which comes out from yourselves.
Being at peace with all mankind,
If
God should avenge Himself on His enemies where would we be? We were His
enemies and as such we were conciliated by the death of His Son. Hence we
should never avenge ourselves.
Concordant Commentary
It looks as if
this verse was not divided properly – the first part should follow the
previous sentence and should read
‘…making provision in the sight of all men, if possible that which
comes out from yourselves.’ So, this provision would involve some sacrifice
on the part of the provider. He may have to give up some free time, or put
in some extra effort, or even contribute some not easily spared money.
2Cor.8:1-5 Now we are making known to
you, brethren,
the grace of God which has been bestowed in the
ecclesias of Macedonia,
2 for, in a test of much affliction, the
superabundance of their joy
and the corresponding depth of their
poverty
superabounds to the riches of their
generosity,
3 for, according to their ability, I am
testifying,
and beyond their ability, of their own accord,
4 with much entreaty beseeching of us
the grace and the fellowship of the service
for the saints;
5 and not according as we expect, but
themselves they give first to the Lord,
and to us through the will of God.
2Cor.6:10 as sorrowing, yet ever rejoicing, as
poor, yet enriching many,
as having nothing, and retaining all.
2Cor.8:11-14 Yet now complete the doing also,
so that, even as the eagerness to will,
thus also may be the completion, out
of what you have.
12 For if eagerness lies before, it is most
acceptable
according to whatever one may have, not
according to what he has not.
13 For it is not, that, to others ease, yet
to you affliction,
14 but by an equality, in the current
occasion,
your superabundance is for their want,
that their superabundance also may be coming to
be for your want,
so that there may be coming to be an equality,
2Cor.9:7 each according as he
has proposed in his heart,
not sorrowfully, nor of compulsion, for the gleeful giver
is loved by God.
19. you are not avenging yourselves, beloved,
but be giving place to His indignation,
for it is written, Mine is vengeance! I
will repay! the Lord is saying.
Here, too, we need to bring down the last part of the
previous verse so that it reads:
‘Being at peace with all mankind, you are not
avenging yourselves…’.
‘Being at peace’ and ‘having peace’ may be two different
things. Believers, through being justified by faith, are having
peace with God; they are reconciled to Him. But, though God is at peace
with all mankind because of the sacrifice of His Son, they are not
at peace with Him; there is no reconciliation and thus, they are not
having peace.
Rom.5:1,2 Being, then, justified by faith,
we may be having peace toward God,
through our Lord, Jesus Christ,
2 through Whom we have
the access also, by faith,
into this grace in which we stand,
and we may be glorying in expectation of
the glory of God.
So, being at peace with all mankind does not eliminate
suspicion and enmity in their minds against us. But, we are not to avenge
ourselves on any provocation because that is the reserve of our Lord
Who is deeply concerned over our welfare. The Lord knows exactly what He is
doing. As mentioned earlier, we should even pray for the benefit of our
persecutors.
2Thes.1:4-10 so that we ourselves
glory in you in the ecclesias of God,
for your endurance and faith in all your
persecutions and the afflictions
with which you are bearing-- 5 a display of the just judging of God,
to deem
you worthy
of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering also,
6 if so be that it is just of God to repay
affliction to those afflicting you,
7 and to you who are being afflicted, ease,
with us,
at the unveiling of the Lord Jesus from heaven
with His powerful messengers, 8 in flaming fire,
dealing out vengeance to those who are not
acquainted with God
and those who are not obeying the evangel of our
Lord Jesus Christ--
9 who shall incur the justice of eonian
extermination from the face of the Lord,
and from the glory of His strength--
10 whenever He may be
coming to be glorified in His saints
and to be marveled at in all who believe
(seeing that our testimony to you was believed)
in that day.
We are not even to be like Israel. She refrains from
vengeance just so that that of the Lord will not be discounted, made less
severe, on her enemies. Israel expects and demands full satisfaction for
any wrongs suffered.
Prov.24:17-19 At the fall of your enemy do
not rejoice,
And at his stumbling do not let your heart
exult,
18 Lest Yahweh should see
and it be evil in His eyes,
So that He
turns away His anger from him.
19 Do not grow hot over evildoers; Do not be jealous over the wicked;
Prov.24:29 Do
not say, Just as he did to me, so shall I do to him;
I shall render to the man according to his
deeds.
Ps.94:1-4 O El of avenging, Yahweh, El of avenging, shine forth!
2 Lift Yourself up, O Judge of the earth; Turn
back a requital upon the proud.
3 How long shall the wicked, O Yahweh, How long
shall the wicked be joyous,
4 Shall they utter, shall they speak with
impertinence,
Shall they vaunt themselves, All these
contrivers of lawlessness?
Heb.10:30,31 For we are acquainted
with Him Who is saying,
Mine is
vengeance!
I will repay! the Lord is saying,
and again, "The Lord will be judging His
people"
31 Fearful is it to be falling into the
hands of the living God!
20. But
"If your enemy should be hungering, give him the morsel;
if he should be thirsting, give him to drink, for in doing this
you will be heaping embers of fire on his
head."
An
enemy in distress, instead of calling for hate and vengeance, is a special
opportunity for the display of God's grace. The "morsel," a
special portion of food with which a host favored an honored guest, was a
token of esteem and consideration. Mercy might provide an enemy with food,
but grace accompanies the gift with every mark of love and honor. This is
the way in which God vanquished our enmity, hence we should do
likewise. Concordant Commentary
‘…If
your enemy should be hungering, give him the morsel…’
While we were enemies and irreverent, God gave us His best
and most precious possession, His Son. So, the instruction for
us to love our enemies to the point of giving them of our best is something
that we, ourselves, have had first hand experience of. As sons of God, we
are not only to provide our enemies their needs, we are to give of our
best.
Rom.5:8 yet God is
commending this love of His to us,
seeing that, while we are still sinners,
Christ died for our sakes.
Jn.3:16 For thus God loves
the world,
so that He gives His only-begotten Son,…
‘…for in doing this you will be heaping embers of fire on his
head….’
The world does
not operate under this principle of giving the morsel to enemies. An enemy would
be taken aback at receiving such consideration. The ‘heaping embers of fire
on his head’ says that the conscience of the enemy may be disturbed and
could cause him to reassess the situation that brought on the enmity he has
for the giver.
Prov.25:21,22 If one hating you is
hungry, give him bread to eat,
And if he is thirsty, give him water to
drink,
22 For you will be banking embers on his
head,
And Yahweh Himself shall repay you.
21. Be not conquered by evil; but
conquer evil with good.
In the world we
will experience evil, in fact we will be surrounded by evil. The media
makes its profits by informing on the evils that take place all over the
planet all the time. If it were to speak of good it would, probably, run
out of material in a short time. News is consistently bad – maybe ‘no news
is good news’ after all.
But, are we to despair as situations get from bad to
worse, as crimes skyrocket and natural calamities strike havoc? We need to keep in mind the
fundamental fact of God. He is…
Eph.1:11 … the One Who is operating all
in accord with the counsel of His will,..
This is the encouragement and comfort God
gives to believers. While evil abounds, God’s grace overwhelms.
1Pet.2:20-23 For what credit is it if, sinning and being buffeted, you will
be enduring it?
But if, doing
good and suffering, you will be enduring, this is grace with God.
21 For this were you called,
seeing that Christ also suffered for your sakes,
leaving you a copy, that you should be
following up in the footprints of Him
22 Who does no sin, neither was guile found
in His mouth;
23 Who, being reviled, reviled not again;
suffering, threatened not,
yet gave it over to Him Who is judging
justly,
When we meet with
adversity and opposition we are not to retaliate. Instead, we are to seek
to understand and empathize with such people, remaining humble always, not
holding to a high opinion of self. Revenge is out of the question. The Lord
knows how to deal with such evildoers.
2Thes.1:6-10 if so be that it is
just of God to repay affliction to those afflicting you,
7 and to you who are being afflicted, ease, with
us,
at the unveiling of the Lord Jesus from heaven
with His powerful messengers, 8 in flaming fire,
dealing out vengeance to those who are not
acquainted with God
and those who are not obeying the evangel of our
Lord Jesus Christ--
9 who shall incur the justice of eonian
extermination from the face of the Lord,
and from the glory of His strength--
10 whenever He may be coming to be glorified
in His saints
and to be marveled at in all who believe
(seeing that our testimony to you was believed)
in that day.
We should wait
for Him to take whatever action HE deems fit. We should, understandingly,
be loving and generous to those who persecute us, so that their consciences
may be aroused to reconsider their adverse behaviour. Instead of fighting
evil with evil; instead of being overcome by evil, we are to overwhelm evil
with good.
The evangel of grace declares that ALL is out of God.
In His design, those who persecute us are under the control of the
Adversary and are, therefore, acting under his evil urgings which, they do
not even realise, has such a strong influence over them. To them, their
much-vaunted ‘free will’ is the determining factor for their decisions and
actions. They claim that if that is not so, humans are nothing but puppets.
Little do they realize that their strings are being pulled by ‘the spirit
that is now operating in the sons of stubbornness’.
2Cor.5:18 Yet all is of God,….
1Cor.8:6 … there is one God, the Father, out
of Whom all is,…
1Jn.5:19 … the whole world is lying
in the wicked one.
Rev.12:9 And the great dragon … the
ancient serpent
called Adversary and Satan, who is deceiving the
whole inhabited earth.
Eph.2:2 …once you walked, in accord with
the eon of this world,
in accord with the chief of the jurisdiction of
the air,
the spirit now operating in the sons of
stubbornness
Ours is not to
fight with flesh and blood. Our real enemies are the spiritual forces of
darkness, the celestial superpowers.
Eph.6:10-12 … be invigorated in the Lord and in
the might of His strength.
11 Put on the panoply of
God,
to enable you to stand up to the stratagems
of the Adversary,
12 for it is not ours to wrestle with blood
and flesh,
but with the sovereignties, with the
authorities,
with the world-mights of this darkness,
with the spiritual forces of wickedness
among the celestials.
To retaliate
under persecution is to show that we have not truly grasped the import and
the impact of our evangel of grace and of peace!
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Index of Articles - Romans
June 2009
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