The Bible divides people into two groups. There are saints and there are sinners. Among the saints there are two groups too, the sents and the senders. The Apostle Paul explains all of this as he begins to bring this big beautiful letter to the Romans to a close.
Romans 14:1-15:13 is one section best studied in three parts. It offers a philosophy of the Christian life based on Christian love. When followed, it maintains unity in a church filled with different people with different opinions about different matters on which there are different interpretations of Scripture.
Remember one of Paul’s aims in writing Romans was to promote unity among a diverse body of believers. The Apostle wanted them to be united in the theology of the gospel (chapters 1-11), and also in the philosophy of the Christian life (chapters 12-15).
Flowing out of the previous context’s emphasis on loving one another (ref. Romans 13:8ff), Paul shows us some ways to take action; or, in this case, inaction, in order to enjoy unity with fellow believers and put forth a full witness for Christ. Sometimes, we just have to love and let live.
Love and holiness are communicable attributes of God. Love and holiness are indispensable to the genuine Christian life. Love and holiness are what the world needs to see most in the body of Christ. And, love and holiness can both be known for what they do not do.
Government, proverbially speaking, is ordained by God, necessary for mankind, and to Christians. Paul says it is “for your good.” So what is it good for? Great things, actually, if we look at government and participate in government from God’s point of view.
If you are a Christian, “the reason” God saved you is He loves you (ref. John 3:16). He saved you to “let your love flow,” towards Him and your fellow Christians. He also saved you to “let your love fly” outward “to all living things,” meaning in this case people who are not Christians.
We must let our love flow, from God to us, from God through us. God’s love through us goes to our fellow Christians first (12:9-13), then on to non-Christians (12:14-21). Let’s look first at letting our love flow to our fellow followers of Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul established a paradigm in his biblical epistles that can be clearly observed in the book of Romans. He details Christian doctrine first (Romans 1-11). Then, he moves on to our Christian duty (Romans 12-16). The key to both is the life and death and resurrection, the grace and mercy and peace, the great gift of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
“This world” aims for happiness, God requires holiness. It is wonderful when the two can coincide, but often they do not. A choice is required. The mind must be controlled, either by the spirit of the age, or the Spirit of God.
