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SECTION f (continued) – The Conduct
of The Saints (12:01
– 15:07)
Balanced
by SECTION F – The Conduct of Mankind (1:18
– 3:20)
Romans Thirteen – Verses 1 to 14
01. Let every
soul be subject to the superior authorities,
for there is no authority except under God.
Now those
which are, have been set under God,
Unlike Israel, we do not come into conflict with the
rulers of the world. The setting up of the kingdom will involve the
subjection of them all to the suzerainty of Christ. But we have no place in
that earthly kingdom. While Israel is thrust aside we must recognize the
existing authorities. God is not at variance with present governments. It
is not a question of obeying God rather than man, as when Peter refused the
orders of the Sanhedrin. We must not withstand regularly constituted
magistrates, but depend on God to overrule their acts, if they seem to
conflict with our duty to God or our convictions of His truth. Our conflict
is with the sovereignties, and the authorities and the world mights, the
spiritual forces of wickedness among the celestials. We are to be sandaled
with the evangel of peace (Eph.6:12-15).
Concordant Commentary
As believers, under the authority of our Lord, we are
expected to adhere to this directive. Often, it is a tough task, indeed, especially
when we see and experience the ungodly behaviour of those in authority with
the ever-attendant corruption and injustice, hypocrisy and deception. But,
without an experience of God in their lives, they are ignorant of the fact
that they cannot help but be active participants to the downward spiral of
humanity to the lowest depths of depravity.
Rom.1:21,22 knowing God, not as God
do they glorify or thank Him,
but vain were they made in their reasonings,
and darkened is their unintelligent heart.
22 Alleging themselves to be wise, they
are made stupid,
Rom.1:28,29 …according as they do
not test God, to have Him in recognition,
God gives them over to a disqualified mind,
to do that which is not befitting,
29 filled with all injustice, wickedness,
evil, greed,…
Governments of the world,
under systems of democracy, or communism, or whatever –cracy and -ism,
are in accord with the wisdom of the world, methods that spring out from
such disqualified minds, from among the sons of stubbornness, and are under
the influence of the Adversary, the deceiver of the whole world. As
such, what real answers can they give to the problems facing the masses?
Each system proves to be inadequate as it cannot eliminate the innate selfishness
in men – all of whom are constituted sinners.
1Jn.5:19 We are aware that we
are of God,
and the whole world
is lying in the wicked one.
Rom.5:19 … through the disobedience of the
one man,
the many were constituted
sinners,…
We need to keep in mind
that we are representatives of another realm, ambassadors of
another kingdom. As such we are not involved in the politics and the
running of the country we live in – we overstep the limits of our position
if we do. The only one who has the authority to set things right is Christ,
our Lord – and He will execute His powers when the set time comes. We must
leave it in His capable hands. Meanwhile, as respectful and respectable
‘foreign diplomats’, so to speak, we are not to ignore or break the laws of
the country we are guests in.
It is revealed to us,
believers, that God is operating all in accord with the counsel of
His will and that ALL is of God. He is the Supreme and, as such, He
controls all that goes on. Except it be under God, no authority
exists. Thus it is that all the flawed systems of government in the world
are also ‘of God’ as these are presently expedient towards the
revelation of God to His creatures.
Eph.1:11 …the One Who is
operating all in accord with the counsel of His will,
1Cor.8:6 … there is one God,
the Father, out of Whom all is,…
2Cor.5:18 Yet all is of God,…
Rom.11:36 … out of Him and through
Him and for Him is all…
Jn.3:27 John answered and said,
"A man can not get anything if it should
not be given him out of heaven.
1Sam.2:7,8 Yahweh dispossesses, and He
makes rich,
He makes low, yea, He makes high. 8 He raises from the dust
the poor,
From a dunghill He lifts up the needy, To
cause [them] to sit with nobles,
Yea, a throne of honor He does cause them
to inherit,
For to Yahweh [are] the fixtures of
earth,
And He sets on them the habitable
world.
Prov.8:15,16 By me kings
reign,
And chancellors make statutes of
righteousness.
16 By me chiefs control
affairs, and patrons, all who are judging on the earth.
Jer.27:5 … I--I have made the
earth with man,
and the cattle that [are] on the face of the
earth,
by My great power, and by My stretched-out arm,
and I have given it to whom it has been
right in Mine eyes.
Dan.2:21,22 He is altering
the eras and the stated times,
causing kings to pass away and causing
kings to rise,
granting wisdom to the wise and knowledge
to those knowing understanding.
22 He is revealing the deep and the
concealed things;
knowing what is in the darkness since with Him a
stream of light solves them
Dan.4:35 All abiding on the earth are
reckoned as naught:
According to His will is He doing
in the army of the heavens and with those
abiding on the earth.
And no one will actually clap with his
hands and say to Him, "What doest Thou?"
Act.17:24-27 The God Who makes the
world and all that is in it,
He, the Lord inherent of heaven and earth,
is not dwelling in temples made by hands,
25 neither is He attended by human hands,
as if requiring anything,
since He Himself gives to all life and
breath and all.
26 Besides, He makes out of
one every nation of mankind,
to be dwelling on all the surface of the earth,
specifying the setting of the seasons and
the bounds of their dwelling,
for them to be seeking God, if,
consequently,
27 they may surely grope for Him and may be
finding Him,
though to be sure, not far from each one of us
is He inherent,
Jesus Christ, in His ‘ideal avowal’ to Pilate,
declared this fact of God’s supremacy over all in no uncertain terms.
Jn.19:11 Jesus answered him,
"No authority have you against Me in anything,
except it were given to you from
above….
The experience of Nebuchadnessar, detailed in the book
of Daniel, is an example of God’s overrule in the affairs of government.
Dan.4:17 ... unto the intent that the living
shall know
that the Supreme is in authority in the
kingdom of mortals,
and to whom He is willing is He giving
it, ...
Dan.4:25,26 ...the Supreme
is in authority in the kingdom of mortals,
and that to whom He is willing He is
giving it. ...
26 …your kingdom will be set up for you
again
when you shall know that jurisdiction is of
the heavens.
Dan.5:21 From the sons of
mortals was he shoved,
his heart was made equal to an animal's
and with the wild donkeys was his abode.
Herbage are they feeding to him, as oxen,
and by the night mist of the heavens was his
frame streaked, till he knew
that the Supreme Eloah
is in authority in the kingdom of mortals,
and whom He is willing is He
setting up over it.
Jer.27:6,7 `And now, I--I have given all
these lands
into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,
My servant,
and also the beast of the field I have given to
him to serve him;
7 And served him have all the nations, and his
son, and his son's son,
till the coming in of the time of his land, also
it;
and done service for him have many nations and
great kings
Dan.2:37-40 You, O king, are king of kings,
seeing that the Eloah of the
heavens grants a safeguarded kingdom to you,
and might and honor and esteem.
38 In every place where the sons of mortals
are abiding,
the animal of the field, the flyer of the
heavens, and the fish of the sea,
He grants into your hand. He
gives you authority over them all.
You are the head that is gold.
39 "In your place shall arise another
kingdom of the earth,
inferior to you, that is silver;
and another kingdom, the third, that is copper,
shall have authority in all the earth.
40 "The fourth kingdom
shall be mighty as iron,
forasmuch as iron is pulverizing and overcoming
all.
As iron that smashes, all these shall it
pulverize and smash.
Dan.4:24,25 It is a sentence of
severance, inflicted by the Supreme,
that reaches to my lord, the king;
25 for they shall shove you from mortals,
and with the animals of the field is to be your
abode,
and herbage will they feed to you, as oxen,
and with the night mist of the heavens will you
be streaked;
thus seven seasons shall pass on over you
till you shall know that the Supreme is in
authority in the kingdom of mortals,
and that to whom He is willing He is giving
it.
Dan.4:32 From mortals are they
shoving you,
and with the animals of the field is your abode.
Herbage will they feed to you, as oxen.
Thus seven seasons shall pass on over you
till you shall know that the Supreme is in
authority in the kingdom of mortals
and to whom He is willing He is giving it."
Dan.5:18-21 You, O king!
The Supreme Eloah granted the kingdom and
majesty
and esteem and honor to Nebuchadnezzar your
grandfather.
19 And from the majesty that He granted to
him, all peoples, leagues,
and language-groups were stirred and terrified
before him.
Whom he will he is despatching, and whom he will
he is preserving alive;
whom he will he exalts, and whom he will he
abases.
20 Yet when his heart was
exalted and his spirit was mightily arrogant,
he was deposed from the throne of his kingdom
and they caused his esteem to pass away from
him:
21 From the sons of mortals was he shoved,
his heart was made equal to an animal's
and with the wild donkeys was his abode.
Herbage are they feeding to him, as oxen,
and by the night mist of the heavens was his
frame streaked,
till he knew that the Supreme Eloah is in
authority in the kingdom of mortals,
and whom He is willing is He setting up over it.
Following this injunction
from our Lord, in the verse we are studying, we should be subject to those
in positions of authority because it is GOD (the Greek Theos
means PLACEr) Who has, by design, in
accord with the counsel of His own will, placed them there. We are advised to even pray for them, so
that they will rule well to the end that we can live in peace and safety.
Tit.3:1 Remind them to
be subject to sovereignties, to authorities;
to be yielding, and to be ready for every good
work,
1Tim.2:1-3 I am entreating, then, first
of all,
that petitions, prayers, pleadings, thanksgiving
be made for all mankind,
2 for kings and all those being in a superior
station,
that we may be leading a mild and quiet life in
all devoutness and gravity,
3 for this is ideal and welcome in the sight of
our Saviour, God,
1Pet.2:13-19 You may be subject to every human creation
because of the Lord, whether to
the king, as a superior,
14 or to governors, as being sent by him
for vengeance on evildoers, yet for the applause
of doers of good.
15 For thus it is
the will of God,
by doing good to be muzzling the ignorance of
imprudent men;
16 as free, and not as
having freedom for a cover over evil, but as God's slaves.
17 Honor all; love the brotherhood; fear
God; honor the king.
18 Domestics may do it by being subject
to your owners, with all fear,
not only to the good and lenient, but to the
crooked also;
19 for this is grace, if, because of consciousness of God,
anyone is undergoing sorrows, suffering
unjustly.
02. so that he
who is resisting an authority
has withstood God's mandate.
Now those
who have withstood, will be getting
judgment for themselves,
It follows that
to resist such God-delegated authority is to reject the authority of God
Himself. And those who do, displease God, and can expect to face punitive
action for their rebellious behaviour from those who have the rule.
Those in government are not saints – not by any
stretch of the imagination. It is said that power corrupts and so we see
the corruption and its effects of injustice and inequality and depravity
that abound around us. But we are expected to acknowledge and appreciate
God’s hand in our experience of such an environment. Only the government of
God can be truly benevolent and beneficent, wholesome.
Even under persecution by such authorities we are to
remember the context God has graciously put us in – for our good.
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,
1Thes.3:3 No one is to be swayed
by these afflictions,
for you yourselves are aware that we are located
for this.
03. for
magistrates are not a fear to the good act, but to the evil.
Now you do not want to be fearing the authority.
Do good, and you will be having applause
from it.
We come to realize that no government is circumspect
and we can expect bias in their treatment of the various strata in society.
But, governments are a necessity if anarchy and chaos are not to set in.
With ‘law and order’ there is some semblance of control of behaviour so
that society can function.
1Pet.3:13,14 And is there anyone
who will be illtreating you, if you should
become zealous of good?
14 Yet if you may be suffering also because
of righteousness, happy are you.
Now you may not be afraid with their fear, nor yet
be disturbed,
04. For it is
God's servant for your good.
Now if you should be doing evil, fear,
for not feignedly is it wearing the sword.
For it is God's servant,
an avenger for indignation to him who
is committing evil.
It is not for us to even think of overthrowing
governments even if we are convinced that these have failed to properly
carry out the mandate they have been given. We cannot be involved in
resistance movements and uprisings – we must not even think of changing
what God has decided to be the order of the day. We are to behave as
ambassadors of another realm and not become embroiled in criminal
activities that will bring deserved repercussions.
05. Wherefore it is necessary
to be subject,
not only because of indignation,
but also because of conscience
The
true believer should make the most exemplary citizen, for he has a deeper
motive and a more powerful impulse to obedience than the unbeliever. He
recognizes the civil authorities as God's servants and has a conscience
which should make him most law-abiding. The unbeliever is deterred from
evil by fear and respect for a human institution. We recognize existing
governments as of divine origin.
Concordant Commentary
In a time when it is the ‘in-thing’ to make a stand for
justice and fair play against authorities that flout these principles, we
must resist the call to get onto the bandwagon. Though we refrain from
interference with the authorities to avoid their wrath, it is also with the
realization that such involvement is not pleasing to the Lord.
Act.24:16 "In this, I am exerting myself
also, to have a conscience
which is no stumbling block toward God and men,
continually
Heb.13:18 Pray concerning us, for
we are persuaded
that we have an
ideal conscience, in all wanting to behave ideally.
In review, God has placed
these people in authority for good, and so, those who do good do not have
to fear these authorities - in fact, they can even expect to be rewarded
for their service. To oppose such authority, therefore, constitutes a
rejection of GOD's mandate and those who do so deservedly draw upon
themselves the consequent penalties. We should be subject not only because
of the power such authority wields, but also because our consciences should
be tuned to pleasing the Lord in our walk.
06. For
therefore you are settling taxes also,
for they are God's ministers, perpetuated
for this self-same thing.
It may seem a strange paradox, yet it is a sad
fact that many who are ministers of God in name, are not so in truth, and
many a magistrate, who would not dare consider himself a minister of God,
is such in fact, in the execution of his office. Concordant Commentary
For any human government to function at all, there
must be some system of finance to underwrite its undertakings and
responsibilities. Such fiscal demands are met through some system of
taxation. So as not to undermine such authorities it is our duty to pay our
dues for it is God Who gives them their mandate.
07. Render to
all their dues,
to whom tax, tax, to whom tribute, tribute,
to whom fear, fear, to whom honor, honor.
It is not a matter of
choice for us – we are instructed to subject ourselves, and give due
respect, to all authorities that God places over us.
Mt.22:17-21 Tell us, then, what you are
supposing.
Is it allowed to give poll tax to Caesar, or
not?"
18 Now Jesus, knowing their wickedness,
said,
"Why are you trying Me, hypocrites?
19 Exhibit to Me the poll tax
currency." Now they bring to Him a denarius.
20 And He is saying to them, "Whose is
this image and the inscription?"
21 They are saying, "Caesar's."
Then He is saying to them,
"Be paying, then, Caesar's to
Caesar, and God's to God."
Lk.20:25 Now He said to them,
"Now then, be paying Caesar's to
Caesar, and God's to God."
Lev.19:32 In the presence of the
greyhaired
shall you rise and honor the face of the old.
You will fear your Elohim: I am Yahweh.
Eph.6:2 Honor your father and mother"
(which is the first precept with a promise),
Eph.6:5-7 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,
1Tim.5:17,18 Let elders who have presided ideally be counted
worthy of double honor, especially those who are
toiling in word and teaching,
18 for the scripture is saying: "A
threshing ox you shall not be muzzling,"
and "Worthy is the worker of his
wages."
1Tim.6:1,2 Whoever are slaves
under the yoke,
let them deem their own owners worthy of
all honor,
lest the name of God and the teaching may be
blasphemed.
2 Yet let those having believing owners not be despising
them
seeing that they are brethren,
but rather let them slave for them,
seeing that they are believing and beloved,
being supported by the slave's benefaction. These things teach and entreat.
1Pet.2:17-19 Honor all; love the
brotherhood; fear God; honor the king.
18 Domestics may do it by being subject to
your owners, with all fear,
not only to the good and lenient, but to
the crooked also;
19 for this is grace, if, because of
consciousness of God,
anyone is undergoing sorrows, suffering
unjustly.
1Pet.3:7 Husbands, likewise,
may do it by making a home with them according
to knowledge,
awarding honor to the feminine as to the
weaker vessel, as to
those who are also joint enjoyers of the
allotment of the varied grace of life,
that your prayers be not hindered.
08. To no one
owe anything, except to be loving one another,
for he
who is loving another has fulfilled law.
The
debtor is the servant of the lender. The servant of God should never be
under obligation to another. Love alone is the great debt which never can
be fully discharged. Law is useless where there is love, for every precept
is more than met by the dictates of love. Apart from love law is a broken
fragment, incomplete, unsatisfactory. Love is its complement, and rounds it
out to a satisfactory, complete whole.
Concordant
Commentary
We are instructed to not
owe anyone anything, to not become obligated to
anyone. The emphasized only excepted ‘commodity’ is love. We already owe
God everything we have and everything we are. He has even
given us His most beloved possession, the Son of His love
(Col.1:13). So, are we doing Him any favour by carrying out His instruction
to love one another?
Jn.3:16 …thus God loves the world,
so that He gives His only-begotten Son,…
Mt.3:17 … "This is My Son, the
Beloved, in Whom I delight."
Col.1:13 Who rescues us out of the
jurisdiction of Darkness,
and transports us into the kingdom of the Son
of His love,
The law given through Moses
is the written standard of righteous behaviour that God expects of His
chosen people, Israel. Though it is not meant to justify anyone, it does
declare what sin is - so that we know what displeases
God. And, though not directed to us, and not requiring our observance of
it, the law, in what it was designed for, is just and holy and good.
Gal.2:16 having perceived that a
man is not being justified by works of law,
except alone through the faith of Christ
Jesus,
we also believe in Christ Jesus
that we may be justified by the faith of Christ
and not by works of law,
seeing that by works of law shall no
flesh at all be justified.
Rom.3:20 … by works of law, no
flesh at all shall be justified in His sight,
for through law is the recognition of sin.
Rom.7:12 … the law, indeed, is holy,
and the precept holy and just and good.
Jesus declared that this
law is based on the fundamental principle of love towards God and on its
corollary – love towards associates. All other directions of the law are
derivatives of these two related principles. The fact is that one cannot
claim to be loving God if he does not love his associate.
Mt.22:37-40 Now He averred to him, "You
shall be loving the Lord your God
with your whole heart, and with your whole
soul,
and with your whole comprehension.
38 This is the great and foremost
precept.
39 Yet the second is like
it: `You shall be loving your associate as yourself.'
40 On these two precepts
is hanging the whole law and the prophets."
Jas.2:8-9 Howbeit, if you are discharging the
royal law, according to the scripture,
"You shall be loving your associate as
yourself," you are doing ideally.
9 Yet if you are showing partiality, you are
working sin,
being exposed by the law as
trangressors.
1Jn.4:19 We are loving God, for He first loves us.
1Jn.4:20,21 If anyone should be saying that "I am
loving God,"
and should be hating his brother, he is a liar;
for he who is not loving his brother whom he has
seen
can not be loving God Whom he has not seen.
21 And this precept have we from Him,
that he who is loving God may be loving
his brother also.
Paul tells us, of the
Uncircumcision, that the love God expects us to have for others actually
fulfills all the requirements of that law, which He gave to Israel, without
our having to observe that law as an imperative.
Gal.5:14 For the entire
law is fulfilled in one word, in this:
"You shall love your associate as
yourself."
Loving one another demonstrates that we understand
where we are at – a realization that comes with spiritual maturity.
Col.3:14 Now over all these put on love,
which is the tie of maturity.
09. For this: "You
shall not commit adultery," "you shall not
murder,"
"you shall not steal," "you
shall not testify falsely," "you shall not covet,"
and if there
is any other precept, it is summed
up in this saying,
in this: "You shall love your associate
as yourself."
These commandments are found in the law given through Moses
on Sinai. Can we imagine what would have resulted with around two million
stubborn and rebellious people during their desert wanderings if such a
codified law was not observed?
Ex.20:13-17 You shall not murder.
14 You shall not commit adultery.
15 You shall not steal.
16 You shall not answer against your
associate with false testimony.
17 You shall not covet the house of your associate.
You shall not covet the wife of your associate,
his field, his servant or his maidservant, his
bull, his donkey
or anything which is your associate's.
Deut.5:17-22 You shall not murder.
18 You shall not commit adultery.
19 You shall not
steal.
20 You shall not answer against your
associate with false testimony.
21 You shall not covet the wife of your
associate.
You shall not lust after the house of your
associate,
his field, his servant or his maidservant, his
bull, his donkey
or anything which is your associate's.
22 These were the words Yahweh spoke
to your whole assembly at the mountain,
in a loud voice from the midst of the fire, the
darkness, the cloud
and the murkiness; and He added no more.
He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave
them to me.
Lev.19:18 You shall not avenge
nor shall you be resentful against the sons of your
people.
You will love your associate as yourself: I am Yahweh.
Jesus reiterated these, which were part of ‘the
oracles of God’, to His disciples during His ministry in Israel.
Mk.10:19 With the precepts you
are acquainted:
You should not be murdering.
You should not be committing adultery.
You should not be stealing.
You should not be testifying falsely.
You should not be cheating.
`Be honoring your father and mother.'"
Lk.10:27,28 Now he, answering, said,
"You shall be loving the Lord your God out
of your whole heart,
and with your whole soul, and with your whole
strength,
and with your whole comprehension,
and `your associate as
yourself.'"
28 Now He said to him, "Correctly have
you answered.
This be doing and you shall be
living."
10. Love is
not working evil to an associate.
The complement, then, of law, is love.
Paul declares, therefore,
that loving our associates sums up this section of the ‘ten commandments’.
And, elsewhere, he gives a summary of what this love entails.
1Cor.13:4-8 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:…
Gal.5:14,15 For the entire law is fulfilled in
one word, in this:
"You shall love your associate as
yourself."
15 Now if you are biting
and devouring one another,
beware that you may not be consumed by one
another.
The apostle John, for whom the Lord showed a special
love, writes much on this subject, too. Through him it is declared that
this love for one another is the signal characteristic of disciples of the
Lord.
1Jn.5:3 For this is the love of God, that
we may be keeping His precepts.
And His precepts are not heavy,
John.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.
11. This,
also, do, being aware of the
era,
that it
is already the hour for us to be roused out of sleep,
for now is our salvation nearer than
when we believe.
Time,
in Scripture, is variously characterized. We make an effort to distinguish
between the various terms used. The longest divisions of time are the five
great eons or ages. The present eon stretches all the way from the flood to
the coming advent of Christ. But there are shorter divisions of time, often
spoken of under the term SEASON. Sometimes this refers to a literal season
of the year, as the harvest season (Mt.13:30). Usually, however, it denotes
some characteristic period or era, as in this scripture. It is illustrated
by the dawning of the day. Deeds of darkness are done at night. But this is
not the era of darkness but of light. The full day is approaching when our
salvation will be complete at His advent. Just as we rouse ourselves in the
morning, preparatory to the duties of the day, so, in this larger sense,
our conduct should reflect the coming of the light and not be tainted with
the dark doings which seek the shades of night to hide their shame.
Concordant
Commentary
We, even as believers, do not know how long more we
will have for our meeting with our Lord in the air. The fact is that each
day that passes brings us one more step closer to our appointment to meet
the Lord at the snatching away. Therefore, our expectation should not
waver, our fervour should not wane, and our love for one another should
remain steadfast, as we anticipate that great and joyous day. Let us be
invigorated in spirit as we await His presence, as that moment approaches
us.
Eph.5:14-17 Wherefore He is saying,
"Rouse! O drowsy one,
and rise from among the dead, and Christ shall
dawn upon you!"
15 Be observing accurately, then, brethren, how
you are walking,
not as unwise, but as wise,
16 reclaiming the era, for the days are
wicked.
17 Therefore do not become
imprudent,
but understand what the will of the Lord is.
1Thes.5:4-11 Now you, brethren,
are not in darkness, that the day may be overtaking
you as a thief,
5 for you are all sons of the light and
sons of the day.
We are not of the night nor of the
darkness.
6 Consequently, then, we may not be
drowsing, even as the rest,
but we may be watching and be sober.
7 For those who are drowsing are drowsing
at night,
and those who are drunk are drunk at night.
8 Yet we, being of the day, may be sober,
putting on the cuirass of faith and love,
and the helmet, the expectation of
salvation,
9 for God did not appoint us to
indignation, but to the procuring of salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for our sakes,
that, whether we may be watching or drowsing,
we should be living at the same time together
with Him.
11 Wherefore, console one another and edify
one the other,
according as you are doing also.
12. The night
progresses, yet the day is near.
We, then, should be putting off the acts
of darkness,
yet should be putting on the implements of
light.
The world is in a spin, accelerating downward to an appointment
with the indignation of God. We, too, were part of this freefall – until
God intervened on our behalf. We should be aware of the dangerous
attraction these acts of darkness pose.
1Jn.2:8-11 Again, a new precept am
I writing to you, which is true in Him and in you,
for the darkness is passing by, and the true light already
is appearing.
Eph.5:11-13 And be not joint participants in
the unfruitful acts of darkness,
yet rather be exposing them also,
12 for it is a shame even to speak of the
hidden things occurring, done by them.
13 Now all that which is
being exposed, by the light is made manifest,
for everything which is making manifest is
light.
Col.3:6,7 … the indignation of God is
coming on the sons of stubbornness--
7 among whom you also once walked, when
you lived in these things.
1Jn.2:9 He who is saying that he is in
the light
and is hating his brother is a liar and
is in darkness hitherto.
1Jn.2:11 Yet he who is hating his brother is
in darkness
and in darkness is walking,
and is not aware whither he is going, for the
darkness blinds his eyes.
We are not adjusting to balance out acts of darkness
and acts of light. Rather, we are striking for a complete imbalance towards
the positive side.
Rom.6:13 Nor yet be presenting your members, as
implements of injustice, to Sin,
but present yourselves to God as if alive from
among the dead,
and your members as implements of
righteousness to God.
Eph.5:9,10 As children of light be
walking
(for the fruit of the light is in all
goodness and righteousness and truth),
10 testing what is well pleasing to the
Lord.
1Jn.2:10 He who is loving his brother is
remaining in the light,
and there is no snare in him.
And, let us not think that we can do it on our own
steam – we are bound to fail if we do. We need to rely on the living God
and on the invigoration in the Lord.
Phil.4:13 For all am I strong in
Him Who is invigorating me--Christ!
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.
Eph.6:13 Therefore take up the panoply of
God
that you may be enabled to withstand in
the wicked day,
and having effected all, to stand.
13. As in the day, respectably,
should we be walking,
not in revelries and drunkenness,
not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy,
Our walk, even it
be in the darkest night, should be circumspect, with a clear conscience,
bringing glory to the name of Christ, our Lord.
Eph.4:1-7 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.
7 Now to each one of us was
given grace
in accord with the measure of
the gratuity of Christ.
Eph.4:17-20 This, then, I am saying and
attesting in the Lord:
By no means are
you still to be walking
according as those of the
nations also are walking, in the vanity of their
mind,
18 their comprehension
being darkened, being estranged from the life of God
because of the ignorance that
is in them,
because of the callousness of
their hearts,
19 who, being past
feeling,
in greed give themselves up
with wantonness to all uncleanness as a vocation.
20 Now you did not thus
learn Christ,
Eph.5:8-12 for you were once
darkness, yet now you are light in the Lord.
9 As children of light be walking
(for the fruit of the light is in all goodness
and righteousness and truth),
10 testing what is well pleasing to the
Lord.
11 And be not joint participants in
the unfruitful acts of darkness,
yet rather be exposing them also,
12 for it is a shame even to speak of the
hidden things occurring, done by them.
Eph.5:15-17 Be observing accurately,
then, brethren, how you are walking,
not as unwise, but as wise,
16 reclaiming the era, for the days are
wicked.
17 therefore do not become
imprudent,
but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Phil.1:27 Only be citizens walking
worthily of the evangel of Christ,
that, whether coming and making your
acquaintance, or being absent,
I should be hearing of your concerns, that
you are standing firm
in one spirit, one soul, competing
together in the faith of the evangel,
Phil.3:16-19 Moreover,
in what we outstrip others, there is to be a
mutual disposition
to be observing the elements by the same
rule.
17 Become imitators together of me,
brethren,
and be noting those who are walking thus,
according as you have us for a
model,
18 for many are walking, of whom I often
told you,
yet now am lamenting also as I tell it, who are enemies of the cross of Christ,
19 whose consummation is
destruction, whose god is their bowels,
and whose glory is in their shame, who to the
terrestrial are disposed.
Phil.4:8,9 For the rest, brethren, whatever is
true, whatever is grave,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is
agreeable,
whatever is renowned-- if there is any virtue,
and if any applause,
be taking these into account.
9 What you learned also, and accepted and hear
and perceived in me,
these be putting into practice, and the God of peace
will be with you.
Col.1:10 you to walk worthily of the Lord
for all pleasing,
bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in
the realization of God;
1Thes.2:11,12 …consoling and comforting you and
attesting unto you
12 to be walking worthily of God,
Who calls you into His own kingdom and
glory.
1Thes.4:10-12 …Now we are entreating
you, brethren,
to be superabounding yet more,
11 and 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.
1Pet.2:11,12 Beloved, I am
entreating you, as sojourners and expatriates,
to be abstaining from the fleshly lusts which
are warring against the soul,
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.
1Jn.2:6 In this we know that we
are in Him:
he who is saying that he is remaining in Him
ought also himself to be walking according as He
walks.
Isa.28:7 And, moreover, these by wine, do
err, and by an intoxicant they stray.
Priest and prophet err by an intoxicant.
They are swallowed up because of the wine.
They stray because of the intoxicant. They err
in sight, quaver in mediation,
Lk.21:34,35 Now take heed to yourselves, lest
at some time
your hearts should be burdened with crapulence
and drunkenness
and the worries of life's affairs,
and that day may be standing by you
unawares,
35 as a trap, for it will intrude on all
those sitting on the surface of the entire earth.
Col.3:5,6 Deaden, then, your members that are
on the earth:
prostitution, uncleanness, passion, evil desire
and greed, which is idolatry,
6 because of which the indignation of God
is coming on the sons of stubbornness--
1Thes.4:3-5 For this is the will of God: your
holiness.
You are to be abstaining from all
prostitution;
4 each of you is to be aware of his own
vessel,
to be acquiring it in holiness and honor,
5 not in lustful passion
even as the nations also who are not acquainted
with God.
Gal.5:15 Now if you are biting
and devouring one another,
beware that you may not be consumed by one
another.
Jas.3:14-16 Now if you are having bitter
jealousy and faction in your heart,
are you not vaunting against and falsifying the
truth?
15 This is not the wisdom coming down from
above,
but terrestrial, soulish, demoniacal.
16 For wherever jealousy
and faction are,
there is turbulence also, and every bad
practice.
Gal.5:25,26 If we may be living in
spirit,
in spirit we may be observing the elements
also.
26 We may not become vainglorious,
challenging one another, envying 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.
14. but put on
the Lord Jesus Christ,
and be making no provision for the lusts of the
flesh.
So, we should put away from us any behaviour that
would give a bad example for others and should, on the other hand, do what does
edify our brothers. We must `put on' the Lord Jesus Christ and `put off'
all distractions which would entice us away to fleshly gratification.
Gal.3:27,28 For whoever are baptized into
Christ, put on Christ,
28 in Whom there is no Jew
nor yet Greek, there is no slave nor yet free,
there is no male and female, for you all are one
in Christ Jesus.
Gal.5:16 Now I am saying, Walk
in spirit,
and you should under no circumstances be
consummating the lust of the flesh.
Eph.4:23,24 yet to be rejuvenated in the spirit
of your mind,
24 and to put on the new humanity
which, in accord with God,
is being created in righteousness and benignity
of the truth.
Col.3:9-13 …stripping off the old
humanity together with its practices,
10 and putting on the
young, which is being renewed into recognition,
to accord with the Image of the One Who creates
it,
11 wherein there is no Greek and Jew,
Circumcision and Uncircumcision,
barbarian, Scythian, slave, freeman, but all and
in all is Christ.
12 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.
Rom.8:13 for if you are living in accord
with flesh, you are about to be dying.
Yet if, in spirit, you are putting the
practices of the body to death,
you will be living.
Gal.5:16,17 Now I am saying, Walk in spirit,
and you should under no circumstances be
consummating the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh is lusting against the
spirit, yet the spirit against the flesh.
Now these are opposing one another,
lest you should be doing whatever you may want.
Gal.5:24 Now those of Christ Jesus
crucify the flesh together with its
passions, and lusts.
Col.3:5-8 Deaden, then, your members that are
on the earth:
prostitution, uncleanness, passion, evil desire
and greed, which is idolatry,
6 because of which
the indignation of God is coming on the sons of
stubbornness--
7 among whom you also once walked, when you lived
in these things.
8 Yet now you also be putting away all these:
anger, fury, malice, calumny, obscenity out
of your mouth.
1Jn.2:15-17 Be not loving the world,
neither that which is in the world.
If ever anyone is loving the world, the love of
the Father is not in him,
16 for everything that is in the world, the
desire of the flesh,
and the desire of the eyes, and the ostentation
of living,
is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world is passing by, and its
desire,
yet he who is doing the will of God is remaining
for the eon.
1Cor.6:12 All is allowed me, but not all
is expedient.
All is allowed me, but I will not be put under
its authority by anything.
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.
1Cor.10:31-33 Then, whether you are eating or
drinking,
or anything you are doing, do all for the glory
of God.
32 And become not a
stumbling block
to Jews as well as to Greeks and to the ecclesia
of God,
33 according as I also am pleasing all in
all things,
not seeking my own expedience, but that of the
many, that they may be saved.
Phil.2:2-4 … 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.
Eph.5:9-14 As children of light be walking
(for
the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
10 testing what is well
pleasing to the Lord.
11 And be not joint
participants in the unfruitful acts of darkness,
yet rather be exposing them also,
12 for it is a shame even to speak of the
hidden things occurring, done by them.
13 Now all that which is being exposed, by
the light is made manifest,
for everything which is making manifest is
light.
14 Wherefore He is saying,
"Rouse! O drowsy one, and rise from among
the dead,
and Christ shall dawn upon you!"
1Thes.5:4-11 Now you, brethren, are not in
darkness,
that the day may be overtaking you as a thief,
5 for you are all sons of the light and sons of
the day.
We are not of the night nor of the darkness.
6 Consequently, then, we may not be drowsing,
even as the rest,
but we may be watching and be sober.
7 For those who are drowsing are drowsing at
night,
and those who are drunk are drunk at night.
8 Yet we, being of the day, may be sober,
putting on the cuirass of faith and love,
and the helmet, the expectation of salvation,
9 for God did not appoint us to
indignation,
but to the procuring of salvation through our
Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for our sakes, that, whether we
may be watching or drowsing,
we should be living at the same time together
with Him.
11 Wherefore, console one another and edify
one the other, ...
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Index of Articles - Romans
July 2009
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