ROMANS
CHAPTER 15
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
OBSERVATION
STAGE
The purpose of
the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the
normative rules of language, context and logic 
which limits the observer to the content offered by the book of Romans.
This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more
importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective
comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.
Remember that
something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in
view.
*** EXCERPTS
FROM CHAPTERS 14 ***
Or
skip to verse 15:1 
A)
BELIEVERS IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH FELLOW BELIEVERS ARE TO: (1)
PURSUE PEACE, NOT CONFLICT (2) PURSUE THINGS WHICH BUILD UP, NOT TEAR
DOWN (3) SUPPORT THE WORK OF GOD IN EVERY BELIEVER, AND NOT DESTROY IT
FOR THE SAKE OF FOOD OR ANY PERSONAL MATTER. SO IT IS WRONG TO EAT
ANYTHING - OR DO ANYTHING - IN MATTERS OF PERSONAL OPINION - WHICH
OFFENDS ANOTHER BECAUSE IT MIGHT CAUSE HIM TO STUMBLE AND FALL INTO SIN
THROUGH DOUBT AND/OR MISDEED OR CAUSE HIM TO BECOME A WEAKER BELIEVER
B)
PAUL ASKS A RHETORICAL QUESTION TO BE ANSWERED YES: 'DO BELIEVERS HAVE
BELIEFS ON PERSONAL MATTERS OF OPINION RE: HOW TO LIVE THEIR LIVES
BEFORE THE LORD?' THIS IS FOLLOWED BY PAUL'S ANSWER / COMMAND FOR
BELIEVERS TO BE FAITHFUL TO THEIR BELIEFS ON PERSONAL MATTERS OF OPINION
BEFORE THE LORD AND TO KEEP THEM PRIVATE SO AS NOT TO CAUSE OTHERS TO
STUMBLE. FOR BLESSED IS THE BELIEVER WHO DOES NOT CONDEMN HIMSELF BY
DOUBTING HIS BELIEFS THAT MOTIVATE HIS ACTIONS BEFORE THE LORD. HE WHO
DOUBTS BRINGS GOD'S TEMPORAL CONDEMNATION UPON HIMSELF BECAUSE HE IS IN
EFFECT DOUBTING THE SOVEREIGNTY AND CHARACTER OF GOD UPON WHOM THE
BELIEVER'S BELIEFS ARE TO BE CENTERED
1)
[Cf. Ro 14:5-8]:
*** END OF EXCERPTS FROM
CHAPTERS 14 ***
I)
[Ro 15:1-7]:
A)
BELIEVERS ARE TO EXPRESS AGAPE / SELF-SACRIFICIAL LOVE TOWARD ONE
ANOTHER: (1) BEARING ONE ANOTHER'S WEAKNESSES, (2) RESTRAINING AT TIMES
FROM PLEASING THEMSELVES IN ORDER TO AVOID OFFENDING THE WEAKER
BELIEVER, (3) BUILDING UP ONE ANOTHER IN THE FAITH. FOR CHRIST DID NOT
PLEASE HIMSELF BY INSISTING UPON USING HIS POWER AND AUTHORITY, INSTEAD
HE CONTINUED HIS GODLY MISSION TO BE A SACRIFICE FOR SINS AND AS A
RESULT RECEIVED THE INSULTS MEN DIRECTED TOWARD GOD
1)
[Compare Ps 69:1-9 NASB]:
B)
PAUL'S EXHORTATION TO BELIEVERS OF ACCEPTING FELLOWSHIP WITH AGAPE LOVE;
OF RESTRAINING AT TIMES FROM PLEASING ONESELF RE: PERSONAL MATTERS OF
THE FAITH SO AS NOT TO OFFEND AND OF EDIFYING FELLOW BELIEVERS PLUS MANY
OTHER THINGS WERE WRITTEN ABOUT BEFORE, I.E., IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, FOR
OUR INSTRUCTION SO THAT THROUGH THE ENDURANCE ACHIEVED BY PERSISTENTLY
FOLLOWING THOSE INSTRUCTIONS AND THE EXHORTATIONS IN THOSE WRITINGS, WE
BELIEVERS MIGHT BE GIVEN THE [SURE] HOPE OF GOD'S DELIVERANCE UNTO
PERSEVERANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT IN THE FAITH IN OUR TEMPORAL LIVES THAT
WE MIGHT BE GRANTED TO BE OF THE SAME MIND ACCORDING TO CHRIST JESUS SO
THAT IN TURN WE BELIEVERS MIGHT BE OF ONE ACCORD / ONE VOICE GLORIFYING
THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. SO BELIEVERS ARE TO ACCEPT
ONE ANOTHER AS CHRIST ACCEPTED THEM IN ORDER TO BRING PRAISE TO GOD
II)
[Ro 15:8-12]:
A)
PAUL PRESENTS THE PERSON AND FULFILLED MISSION OF JESUS CHRIST AS THE
FOCUS FOR ALL BELIEVERS: THE LORD BECAME THE SERVANT TO [THOSE OF THE]
CIRCUMCISION, I.E., TO JEWISH BELIEVERS, IN ORDER
(1)
TO UPHOLD GOD'S VERACITY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS BY SERVING TO FULFILL GOD'S
PROMISE TO THE PATRIARCHAL FATHERS OF A MESSIAH-SAVIOR OF THE WORLD
THROUGH THEIR SEED AND
(2)
THAT THE GENTILES AS WELL AS THE JEWS MIGHT GLORIFY GOD FOR HIS MERCY
AND GRACE TOWARD THEM
*** EXCERPT
FROM ROMANS CHAPTER 2 ***
AFTER
ABRAHAM BELIEVED IN GOD'S COVENANT FOR ABRAHAM AND HIS SEED OF ETERNAL
LIFE AND TEMPORAL BLESSINGS, GOD COMMANDED CIRCUMCISION OF ABRAHAM AND
ALL IN HIS HOUSEHOLD TO AFFIRM THIS EVERLASTING COVENANT WHICH
SYMBOLLICALLY REPRESENTS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD RECKONED TO ABRAHAM
AND ALL WHO BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL AS ABRAHAM DID
[Compare
Gen 17:1-14]:
[Compare
Ro 2:29]:
*** END OF
EXCERPT FROM ROMANS CHAPTER 2 ***
1)
[Compare 2 Sam 22:47-50]:
2)
[Compare Ps 18:46-49]:
B)
PAUL FURTHER CORROBORATES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT HIS EXHORTATION TO
GENTILE BELIEVERS TO: 1) REJOICE WITH GOD'S PEOPLE, ISRAEL FOR GOD WILL
AVENGE ISRAEL AND HIMSELF AGAINST THEIR ADVERSARIES AND PROVIDE
ATONEMENT FOR HIS LAND AND HIS PEOPLE AND THE GENTILES. 2) PRAISE THE
LORD FOR HIS MERCIFUL KINDNESS TOWARD THEM AND FOR HIS TRUTH WHICH
ENDURES FOREVER. 3) BE INFORMED THAT A ROOT - A DESCENDANT - OF JESSE, A
MESSIAH-SAVIOR OF THE JEWS - WILL RISE TO REIGN OVER THE GENTILES; AND
IN HIM THE GENTILES SHALL HAVE HOPE - OF TEMPORAL AND ETERNAL SALVATION
1)
[Compare Dt 32:36-43]:
2)
[Compare Ps 117:1-2]:
3)
[Compare Isaiah 11:1-10]:
III)
[Ro 15:13-21]:
A)
PAUL PRAYS THAT 1) THE GOD OF HOPE FILLS THE ROMAN GENTILE BELIEVERS AND
ALL BELIEVERS WITH ALL THE JOY AND PEACE AVAILABLE TO THEM AS THEY
EXPRESS ONGOING FAITH IN THE LORD FOR THEIR SALVATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE
AND FOR THEIR DELIVERANCE FROM TEMPORAL DIFFICULTIES, AND 2) THAT THEY
MAY ABOUND IN HOPE - THE FUTURE VIEW OF THAT ONGOING FAITH BY THE POWER
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1)
[Compare Ro 5:1-2]:
2)
[Compare Ro 13:11]:
B)
PAUL DECLARES THAT HE IS CONFIDENT THAT THE ROMAN GENTILE BRETHREN /
BELIEVERS ARE ALSO FULL OF THE GOODNESS OF GOD BY THE SPIRIT AND ARE
FILLED WITH ALL THE KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED TO ENABLE THEM TO ADMONISH
(INSTRUCT / CORRECT) ONE ANOTHER IN THE DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH
C)
IN VIEW OF THEIR COMPETENT KNOWLEDGE OF THE DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH
SUFFICIENT TO ADMONISH (TEACH AND CORRECT) ONE ANOTHER, PAUL'S VERY BOLD
REMINDER IN CHAPTERS 1-14 OF THOSE DOCTRINES WAS EXPLAINED AS THAT WHICH
CAME FROM THE GRACE THAT WAS GIVEN TO HIM BY GOD TO BE A MINISTER OF
CHRIST JESUS TO THE GENTILES TO MINISTER TO THEM AS A PRIEST OF THE
GOSPEL OF GOD IN ORDER TO MAKE AN ACCEPTABLE OFFERING OF THE GENTILE
BELIEVERS TO GOD, SANCTIFIED / SET APART FOR SERVICE TO THE LORD BY THE
HOLY SPIRIT
1)
[Compare Ro 1:8 NIV]:
2)
[Compare Ro 6:17 NIV]:
3)
[Compare Ro 12:1 NIV]:
D)
IN CHRIST JESUS, PAUL FOUND REASON FOR BOASTING OF THINGS PERTAINING TO
GOD. NONE OF HIS BOASTING GAVE CREDIT TO HIMSELF AND HE DID NOT PRESUME
TO SPEAK OF ANYTHING EXCEPT WHAT CHRIST HAD ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH HIM.
THIS RESULTED IN THE OBEDIENCE OF THE GENTILES BY WORD AND DEED. IN THE
POWER OF SIGNS AND WONDERS, IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT, FROM JERUSALEM
AS FAR AS ILLYRICUM, PAUL HAD FULLY PREACHED THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
E)
PAUL ASPIRED TO PREACH THE GOSPEL, BUT NOT WHERE CHRIST WAS ALREADY
PREACHED SO AS NOT TO BUILD ON ANOTHER PREACHER'S FOUNDATION. PAUL
QUOTES ISAIAH TO CONVEY THAT HE WOULD PREACH WHEREVER CHRIST WAS NOT
ANNOUNCED SO THAT THEY SHOULD SEE HIM; AND TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT HEARD
OF HIM SO THAT THEY SHOULD UNDERSTAND
1)
[Compare Isa 52:13-15]:
IV)
[Ro 15:22-33]:
A)
PAUL HADN'T VISITED WITH THE ROMAN BELIEVERS BECAUSE HE OCCUPIED HIMSELF
WITH PREACHING THE GOSPEL WHERE IT HADN'T BEEN PREACHED BEFORE. BUT NOW,
ON THE ONE HAND HAVING LONGED FOR THE COMPANY OF THE ROMAN BELIEVERS AND
ON THE OTHER, HAVING HIS SIGHTS ON EVANGELIZING SPAIN, HE HAD HIS
OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH THE BELIEVERS IN ROME ON THE WAY TO SPAIN
B)
PAUL GOES TO JERUSALEM TO MINISTER TO THE SAINTS. HE BROUGHT WITH HIM A
CONTRIBUTION FOR THE POOR FROM BELIEVERS IN MACEDONIA AND ACHAIA WHICH
THEY WERE PLEASED TO GIVE OUT OF GRATITUDE AND INDEBTEDNESS TO THE
JERUSALEM CHURCH FOR ITS MINISTRY OF SPIRITUAL THINGS TO THEM; WHEREUPON
PAUL PLANNED TO DEPART FOR SPAIN, BUT VISIT THE ROMAN BELIEVERS ON THE
WAY IN ORDER TO MUTUALLY BLESS ONE ANOTHER WITH THE FULLNESS OF BLESSING
OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
C)
PAUL REQUESTS PRAYER FROM THE ROMAN GENTILE BELIEVERS FOR DELIVERANCE
FROM HOSTILE UNBELIEVERS IN JUDEA WHERE HE IS HEADED; THAT HE MIGHT BE
OF ACCEPTABLE SERVICE TO THE SAINTS IN JERUSALEM, AND THAT HE MIGHT COME
TO ROME IN JOY AND BE REFRESHED BY THE BELIEVERS THERE
ROMANS
CHAPTER 16
