Romans 15:8-13 is the portion of our study here on the Unchanging Word Bible broadcast.

The great truth expressed in these verses is that Christ has accepted us for the glory of God. 

No matter what the social, racial, economic, political, cultural or ethnic distinctions or whether Jew or Gentile, Christ has accepted us to the Glory of God. 

The Lord Jesus, in these verses, has a ministry to both the Jew and Gentile. His ministry to us who truly know Him, whether Jew of Gentile, results in our fellowship one with another with out distinctions.

Is this really possible? With the God of Hope, we can have joy and peace in believing by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Our hope is built upon the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

He is truly alive and we can know Him in daily experience.

Is this your experience and hope, dear friend. By faith in Him, it can be.

Let's turn to Romans 15:8 with Dr. Mitchell.

The Unchanging Word Bible broadcast is in Romans 15:1-7 in our lesson for today.

Chapter 15 continues the same theme started in Romans 14 of the relationship of Christians with Christians and the principle of personal liberty that is controlled by love.

In verses 1-7, Dr. Mitchell points out the differences between liberty and license, between pleasing oneself only and seeking the good of one's neighbor.  

We have the example of Christ who pleased not Himself, for He delighted to do the will of God His Father and bore the reproaches of those who showed contempt for God His Father.

The importance and necessity of Scripture as the source of encouragement is stated.

Do you notice that when Paul wrote these verses, he was referring to the Old Testament, most likely a translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, known as the Septuagint a.k.a. LXX. Paul used a translation which God inspired.

So turn in your Bible to Romans 15:1 with Dr. Mitchell.

Romans 14:17-23 is the focus of this Bible study on the Unchanging Word Broadcast.

We are finishing up Romans 14 in this lesson.    

The theme of showing love to one's brother or sister in Christ continues. It is so much so that, we are exhorted to pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

The Apostle Paul makes it clear that this pursuit of love and peace is much more important and necessary than pursuing one's own personal preferences concerning how to live the Christian life. 

It is not that we are to give up on living our life according to our faith. We are exhorted to have our own convictions before God. 

However, if there is doubt about something, it is at this point one should seek God's Word concerning the matter. For whatever is not of faith is sin.

Turn in your Bible to Romans 14:16 with our teacher Dr. Mitchell to begin.

Welcome to the Unchanging Word Bible study. We begin in Romans 14:13 in this lesson.

The Apostle Paul writes in this passage how we should seek our brother's good by not being a stumbling block or hindrance to another believer.

The motive being one of love one for the other just as Christ died for each one of us because of His love for us.

The kingdom of God is spoken of here. It is comprised of three things…righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. We see that it is contrasted with material things like eating and drinking. The Holy Spirit of God is the one in whom the believer in the Lord Jesus has this righteousness and peace and joy. Both joy and peace are two of the nine fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23.

So, let's turn in our Bible to Romans 14:13 with our teacher Dr. Mitchell.

Romans 14:5-12 is where the Unchanging Word begins our study today.

The appeal in this passage today, is for believers to see one another in Christ and allowing each one to have their own convictions before the Lord. This is true for both those who are weak in faith and for those strong in the faith.

Dr. Mitchell points out that in the case of believers, Jesus is Lord of all. Jesus Christ is the Lord for all believers whether weak or strong. 

This eliminates the need for us to judge or show contempt to another believer in Christ. There is only one judge who can and will judge righteously and one day we shall all personally give account of ourselves to God. 

Dr. Mitchell also draws our attention to the fact that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the guarantee of the salvation of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ while at the same it is the guarantee of the unbeliever's judgment who rejects Christ. 

Open your Bible to Romans 14:5 to begin with Dr. Mitchell.

Romans 14:1-4 is the focus of our study on the Unchanging Word Bible study. 

In this chapter 14, the Apostle Paul now focuses on the relationships between fellow Christians in Rome. 

This chapter will deal with the relationship between the weak and the strong believers in the body of Christ.

Because of the culture of Roman society, there was an abundance of idol worship in the Roman religions. This idol worship involved sacrificing meat to the idols. 

New believers in Christ coming out of idol worship to serve the living and true God, consequently, associated eating meat with idol worship, and their conscience was conflicted. 

Other believers who had been longer in the faith, thought nothing of eating meat. There were no conflicts in the stronger believer's conscience. 

So, how does one resolve social conflicts in the body of Christ? This 14th chapter of Romans will  provide answers, principles to resolve these interpersonal conflicts.  

Turn with us to Romans 14:1 with Dr. Mitchell.

We continue in Romans 13:11-14 in our study today here on the Unchanging Word Bible study.

Beginning in verse 11, we see the incentive for loving Christian relationships. The incentive is the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a fact that Jesus is coming again, but when He is coming has not been revealed.  

Are you and I looking for His soon return? 

Jesus Himself said, 'Since I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself that where I am you may be also.' John 14:3

Dr. Mitchell explains these verses having to do with casting off the works of darkness and putting on the armor of light. 

We are to arm ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,

and let Him live His life in and through us in these evil days manifesting His love to those around us.

Here is Dr. Mitchell, Romans 13:11.

The Unchanging Word continues our study in Romans 13 which has to do with responsible citizenship before God in view of the return of the Lord.  The Christian's relationship to society is shown in this chapter. In this lesson, in verses 8-11, love to one's neighbor is the Christian's responsibility in practical living. 

Dr. Mitchell brings out the fact that love alone can keep the law. He says that government is not meant to  manifest love, It is meant to manifest righteousness. 

But we, who know God, manifest love. Love is the active principle of Christianity.

The incentive to love our neighbor is the coming of the Lord. And it is true that our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. Jesus can come at anytime and the whole person, spirit, soul and body will be saved. 

Although we do not yet see Jesus our Lord, we believe in Him and we love Him. Do you love the Lord Jesus?

Turn with us in your Bible to Romans 13:8 with Dr. Mitchell.

The Unchanging Word is in Romans 13:5-7 in this lesson. We will look at the God's purpose for government, for those are part of the higher authority.

It is important to remember how Jesus reacted and what He said while on trial and being questioned by a governing authority of His day in Jerusalem, Pontius Pilot. 

John 19:9-11 - 9 and he (Pontius Pilot) entered into the Praetorium again, and said unto Jesus, Where are you from? But Jesus gave him no answer. 10  Pilate therefore saith unto him, Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release thee, and I have power to crucify thee? 11 Jesus answered him, Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee has the greater sin.

Jesus took no revenge and let God, the highest authority, be the final judge.

Take your Bible and turn with us to Romans 13:5 with Dr. Mitchell.

The Unchanging Word Bible study welcomes you to this lesson in Romans 12:19 through 13:4. We will be listening to what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Gentiles believers in Rome concerning taking one's own revenge and submission to the governing authorities. 

During the days of the Apostle Paul, the emperor Nero was on the throne in Rome. Although he is not mentioned by name in Scripture, there is a reference to him as caesar in Acts 17 and Acts 25. And an angel of God, appearing to the Apostle Paul in Acts 27:24 told Paul that he must stand before Caesar but not to be afraid. 

Our lesson looks at both the responsibility of the Christian in society, to not take their own revenge but leave it to God and the responsibility of the governing authorities to the citizens of that society in the world, to provide protection from evil and commendation for what is good.

Turn with us in your Bible to Romans 12:19 to begin with Dr. Mitchell.