Transcript

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 15-16 NCV

Executive Producer

John

Podcast Introduction

This is Epistles Sunday. We’ll close the book of Romans with the reading of chapters 15 and16. I’m calling today’s episode “Unity.”

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Eean Chen on Unsplash

Comments on Romans 15-16

Thoughts on Romans 15

It doesn’t take a genius to notice that the enemy is doing everything possible to divide us. Black/white. Boomers/Millennials/Zoomers. Male/Female/Trans. Rich/poor. Conservative/Liberal/Left. Gay/Straight/?. Believer/Atheist. On and on it goes. Why do you suppose the enemy wants people so divided? Because if we’re fighting each other, we are weak. We won’t have time to notice who the real enemy is.

Paul begins to wrap up his letter to the Romans here in chapter 15 with a call for unity among the believers. 

Paul encourages both Jewish believers and non Jewish believers to be in harmony. And he told those who were strong in the faith to help those who were weaker. 

Since we are all part of Christ’s body, we are one body. A few years ago I had an accident on my motorcycle, and I ended up with a broken left ankle and torn meniscus in my knee. And guess what. My whole body was effected by those injuries. I was basically laid up for about three months. Sure, I could get around with crutches, but I really couldn't do anything constructive. Once I got out of my cast, once I got a little bit of mobility, I wore one of those big boots. But there was still some pain and stiffness in the ankle. I limped, which was my body doing what it could to ease the pain and make up for the stiffness. It was trying to help the ankle, so that it could recover, so it can gain strength. The parts of my body that were strong were trying to help the weak part. 

This is what Paul told the Roman church they should do. Those strong in the faith should help the weaker members. Encourage them. Help them through times of weakness. Lift them up. Love them.

Don’t think of yourself as something special if your faith is strong, or if you’ve been a believer for a long time. Consider that you have a big responsibility to encourage others who are not as far along as you are. 

In doing this, we bring glory to God, people will know that we are HIs, and they just might see that He is the answer to the division they see so prevalent today.

We are called to be salt and light, to proclaim His name, to let people know that there is an answer to the terrible things that are happening in the world right now. Jesus is the answer. 

Beloved, as salt and light, we can’t hide the light under a basket. We are to let our light shine. Show people that there is hope, that there is a God that loves them, that they are of immeasurable worth, that Jesus paid the ultimate price to redeem them, and that He wants to give them life, an abundant life. The turmoil of this world is temporary. There is a future, and it is bright for those who know Jesus. This is our message, beloved. 

Thoughts on Romans 16

In chapter 16, vv 17 & 18 we read: “Brothers and sisters, I ask you to look out for those who cause people to be against each other and who upset other people’s faith. They are against the true teaching you learned, so stay away from them. Such people are not serving our Lord Christ but are only doing what pleases themselves. They use fancy talk and fine words to fool the minds of those who do not know about evil.”

So many messages out there today are aimed at tearing down our faith in Christ, and the Judeo-Christian values that have brought us so far. We hear it from nearly every quarter. News organizations, politicians, school teachers, even some from the pulpit.

Be wary, beloved. Stay away from false teachers. They are everywhere. Compare what they say to what scripture teaches. If it doesn’t line up, reject it. I have even had close family members fall victim to...