Down an Unfamiliar Road

SOMETIMES FAITH COMES AFTER SEEING

This story was written by a doctor who lived and worked in South Africa. I could not find his name, but from personal experience, such as Dr. Paul Osteen, many of them do this labor of love. As the story goes…

One night he worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all he could do, she died leaving behind a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. It also proved difficult for the medical team to keep the baby alive, as they possessed no incubator. And besides, they didn’t have the electricity needed to constantly run an incubator. The small medical center also provided no special feeding facilities.

Although they were serving on the equator, nights often grew chilly with treacherous drafts of cold air. One student-midwife went to get the box they kept for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby needed to be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle.

The midwife came back shortly in distress to tell us that in filling the bottle, it burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). “And,” she exclaimed, “That was our last hot water bottle!” There’s an old saying in the West, that it is no good crying over spilled milk. But in Central Africa, it might be considered fruitless crying over burst hot water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down winding forest pathways.

So this doctor told the midwife to put the baby as safely near to the fire as she could and to sleep between the baby and the door to protect it from the chilling, cold drafts of air that blew in. He told her, “Your job will be to keep the baby warm.”

The following day at noon, as the doctor did most days, he went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with him. He gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. He explained their problem in trying to keep the tiny baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. He also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother died unexpectedly.

During prayer time, as they went from child-to-child who prayed giving their request to God, one ten-year-old girl, named Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of the African children. “Please, God” she prayed, “send us a hot water bottle. It’ll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead so please send it this afternoon.”

The doctor gasped inwardly at the audacity of the girl’s prayer when she added, “And while You’re about it, would You please send a doll for the little girl so she’ll know You really love her?” As often with children’s prayers, an adult is put on the spot as to what to say. Could he honestly say, “Amen.” He was doubtful that God could do such a thing, even for an innocent believer like Ruth.

So he took the middle lane and told here, “Oh, yes, God can do anything and everything, the Bible tells us so. But sometimes there are limits, aren’t there?” He knew that the only way God could answer this particular prayer would be having a parcel containing these items miraculously sent from his homeland in time for it to arrive that day. He started living in Africa some four years ago, and I never ever received a package from home. And besides, if someone did send a package, who would think of putting in a hot water bottle or a baby doll, seeing his practice was in a facility on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while he was teaching in the nurses’ training school, a message was sent to tell him that there was a car just pulled up at his front door. By the time he reached his house, the car was gone, but there, on the veranda stood a large package. He felt tears well up in his eyes. He didn’t want to open the box alone, so I sent for the orphanage children to come help him.

Together they pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. They folded the paper, taking care not to accidentally tear it. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on this large cardboard box. Excitement mounted as the time drew near to open this mysterious package.

As the flaps came up revealing its contents, on top he saw some brightly colored, knitted jerseys folded neatly. Eyes sparkled as he lifted them out of the box and passed them out. Then came knitted bandages for their leprosy patients. This was followed by a box of mixed raisins and small currant-like fruit called “sultanas,” used to make fresh batches of buns. Oh my, that would provide something wonderful for the weekend.!

Then, as he put his hand in the box again, he felt something that made him gasp. Could this really be what he thought it might be? He slowly took hold of it and slowly pulled it out – yes! A brand-new, rubber hot water bottle! Little Ruthie screamed with joy. And that’s when it hit him! He didn’t have enough faith to ask God to send it; he really didn’t think it would possible, let alone probable.

As he looked up he saw little Ruth in the front row of the children with a big grin on her face. She rushed forward, crying out, “If God could send the bottle, He must have sent the doll too!” So she started rummaging around at the bottom of the box. That’s when her little mouth fell open as she pulled out a small, beautifully dressed doll. Her eyes sparkled with joy. She never doubted it would come! Looking up at the doctor, she asked: “Can I go with you and give this doll to that little girl so she’ll know that Jesus really loves her?”

After examining the mailing label and a letter inside, the doctor found out that this package was in transit for five whole months. It was packed up by his former Sunday school class whose leader said God told him, and obeyed, to make sure there was a hot water bottle put in the box for shipment. Yes, a hot water bottle to the equator. And one of the girls in his Sunday school class brought a doll for any little African girl to enjoy – five months before ten-year-old Ruth’s prayer for God to get it to them that afternoon. This truly proved what God told the prophet, Isaiah, “Before they call, I will answer.”¹

What a lesson this is for us who often pray in desperation, not anticipation. It’s not so much that we don’t believe God can answer, but we’re not sure He will answer right away. Just remember, any answer to prayer does not depend solely on our ability to pray but in God’s ability to answer. – Dr. Robert R Seyda

FACEBOOK FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND FOLLOWERS

We are about to embark on our next journey through Chapter Sixteen of the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Romans. It is one of the least read and taught on chapters in this marvelous Epistle. And the reason given is that it is only a list of names that we don’t recognize.

I like what early church preacher Chrysostom had to say: He noted that there are many, even some apparently good commentators, who hurry over this part of the epistle because they think it is pointless and of little importance. They probably think much the same about the genealogies in the Gospels. They see it as a catalog of names and think they can get nothing good out of it. But people who mine gold are careful even about the smallest specks that eventually add up to be very valuable. Chrysostom laments, sad to say, some of these commentators even ignore huge bars of gold!¹

There is much that these names can teach us if we are only patient and dedicated enough to examine them. When we think that on the anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, all the names of those who perished in that terrible act of terror are read. We may not recognize any of those names unless they were somehow connected to us. Yet, we listen in reverence for the price they paid for the freedom we enjoy.

Let’s look at these names here in Romans Sixteen the same way. By reading and seeing what the Apostle had to say about them is our way of paying respect to these early church champions of the Gospel and our Lord Jesus the Christ. So I encourage you to go along and see what we find out about these heroic disciples of Christ that may inspire us in our walk with Him.

I’m so proud of all of you who’ve stuck with it so far and proved yourselves as true lovers of God’s Holy Word. It’s our last chapter in this great letter, so there’s no reason to quit now when we are so close to the finish line. God loves those who don’t give up and persevere to the end. God bless you all, you have my greatest admiration.

We will begin Chapter Sixteen this coming Monday, February 18th. I’ll be looking for your names as you say that you like what you are reading. Again, God bless you for being such wonderful students of this wonderful Book of Romans.- Dr. Robert R Seyda

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

SUMMARY OF CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Paul continues his discussion from chapter fourteen on how the strong believers are to fellowship with and have patience with the indecision of the weak believer. So Paul encourages the strong to be focused on uplifting the weak, not tearing them down. He reminds them of the unselfish actions and obedience to God’s will by Christ, thereby offering Him as an example. He also reminded them of the value of the Scriptures in the First Covenant and pleads for them to develop patience so that with one mind and one mouth the Jews and Gentiles may glorify God together as one body in Christ. Finally, he calls on them to show love and kindness to one another to the glory of God, just as Christ served both Jews and Gentiles in fulfilling the prophecies about Him in the First Covenant in order to initiate the Final Covenant. Paul then offers a prayer that God might fill them with joy and peace so that they may abound in hope with the help of the Holy Spirit.

At this point, Paul begins to draw this epistle to a close by making remarks concerning his apostleship and plans to see them someday. Although he recognized their own abilities in the faith, he still felt it appropriate to write to them in an instructive way. He mentions that any delay in coming to see them is caused by his design to preach where Christ is unknown to people who’ve never heard the Gospel. Paul then tells them of his plan to come to Rome on his way to Spain. But first, he must go to deliver to the believers suffering hardships because of the Romans, the contributions he gathered from the Gentile saints in Macedonia and Achaia. Realizing the danger of such a trip entails, he asks to be remembered daily in their prayers.

So in the end, all Paul really wants if for all the saints in Rome to live in harmony together and glorify God together without worrying about their differences. Remember, Christ is equally with the Jewish-Christians and the Gentile-Christians, too. So he asks them in a nice way to be nice to each other. Paul actually has a good feeling about the Romans. He knows they’re upstanding people who are knowledgeable and can help each other do what’s right by God.

His real reason for writing to them is to tell them all this and to give them advice because of his special relationship with God as an appointed Apostle. That should be respected by all of them. It’s not that Paul is trying to brag about his special status in the church, he only brags about all the good things that God has done through him.

For example, Paul won hundreds of converts throughout the Roman Empire, but that’s all God’s doing. He’s the one who made that happen. Paul’s not usually in the business of preaching about Jesus where people already know him. He also doesn’t usually come into a church community he didn’t start, like the one in Rome, and start handing out advice. No, never. That’s why he hasn’t been to see the Roman Christians in person yet. He’s been meaning to, but there are just so many non-believers who need to hear the good news first hand. Paul’s got a busy schedule.

But now he’s concluding that part of his ministry, so he’s going to first go to Jerusalem and then head over to Rome and stay a while on his way to preach the Gospel in Spain. Before that, Paul must go to Jerusalem to provide assistance to the believers there. The good folks in Macedonia and Achaia collected funds for the poor there and he’s going to deliver the money. Paul tells that these Gentile-Christians are more than happy to share their material blessings with the Jewish-Christians in Jerusalem because they’ve gotten such a large share of the spiritual blessings from Christ. Paul’s also hoping that the Romans might pray for him so that he doesn’t get taken down by the non-believers in Judea (like what happened to Jesus) so that he could say that he was an Apostle to all Christians, Jews and Gentiles alike.

And with that Paul finishes this chapter with a benediction and request for God’s blessings on this final leg of his ministry, and in the hope that he will be able to follow up this letter with a personal visit to the saints in Rome.

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER FIFTEEN (Lesson XXVII)

Adam Clarke (1760-1831) gives a summary of what he’s read so far in this epistle, and especially as it applied to his day and age in England, which also finds relevance to our day: In the preceding chapters Paul encourages believers to work hard as it relates to the necessity of looking out for one another, helping each other, and trying one’s best to share opinions and let others share their opinions on those religious matters which are not essential to the salvation of the soul. Most of the disputes among Christians concern procedural points – rites, rituals, and ceremonies. Even the simplest issues have contributed their part in promoting such animosity as to divide congregations. Forms of worship and methods of carrying out ordinances such as baptism and communion have been influential in causing this type of disturbance.

Clarke observed that when one person believes that another person who holds such and such an opinion is wrong, they feel compelled to pity them as being misguided them and try to set them straight if at all possible. On the other hand, if those being disciplined believe the one trying to correct them is wrong because they do not see things the right way either, chances are both are standing precisely in the same spot on the same ground but looking in opposite directions. That is when mutual respect and patience are called for. What makes this so hard is that the longer the belief was held, the more difficult it is to let go. Jesus found this out when He came and Paul discovered the same thing. And, needless to say, what Clarke experienced in his day is still true today.¹

In Paul’s benediction here at the end of chapter fifteen, Robert Haldane sees an echo of the angelic host that greeted the arrival of God’s Son on the day of His birth in Bethlehem. It is this peace which the angel, with the heavenly host singing behind him, celebrated the event by saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” The Aramaic Version reads: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good hope for men.” The Apostle writers expressed this in their salutations by saying, “Grace and peace be with you, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”² However, it is important to notice that Grace is placed first because without which there would be no Peace. Paul employs here the title, “the God of peace.” It indicates that the people of God enjoy free access to the Lord and the assurance that their petitions will be heard.

We might ask, is there anything God’s children cannot get from the One who laid aside all His wrath and breathes out only grace and peace upon them? The answer is: only if it’s contrary to His will. Such things are most often selfish requests for oneself or a plea for retribution and punishment on someone who tried to hurt them. If and when anyone says something meant to embarrass us or make us look silly, just thank them for giving you the opportunity to suffer for your Lord who suffered for you. We see, then, the efficacy of the peace of God, and what consolation believers experience and what confidence they have toward God in their prayers as a result. This comes by knowing for sure that they are praying to the God of peace.³

On the doctrinal aspects of what Paul says here in these verses, Charles Hodge points out that the effects of prayer, especially intercessory prayer, are real and are an important source of power and strength. Not only in its influence on the mind of the one praying, but also in securing the blessings for which they pray for themselves and others. Paul directed the Roman Christians to pray for the exercise of the divine providence in protecting him from danger, and for the Holy Spirit to influence the minds of the brethren in Jerusalem. This he would not have done were such petitions not given to God with earnestness and sincerity.⁴

Hodge then notes that there were people who were prejudiced against him, but that was no reason for him not to extend his ministry to them. The Jewish Christians were ready to denounce Paul and list him a persona non grata. Yet he went to all the trouble of collecting contributions for them and was very concerned that they should accept his services. The danger is neither to be courted nor fled from but engaged with humble trust in God. We should pray for others in the same way as they enter into their trials and conflicts and believe that our prayers, when sincere, are a real and great assistance to them. It is a great blessing to have confidence in the prayers of the righteous.⁵

Puritan preacher Charles Simeon told his listeners that they should strive in prayer for others as though they were wrestling for their own lives. They should be assured, it is not a few lukewarm petitions that God expects from them, nor any dry, rehearsed addresses to God composed for one’s own benefit. So he pleaded with them to be earnest in living for the Lord Jesus Christ. And for their own soul’s sake to strive with God in prayer, and never to let Him go till they obtained from Him the desired blessing. Plead with Him for mercy through the Redeemer’s blood; plead with Him for a more abundant outpouring of His Spirit upon their souls; plead with Him, to continue the good work He began within toward the goal of perfecting it to the end. Then will all these blessings descend upon them and God will be glorified in their everlasting salvation.⁶

It is interesting to note that somewhere before 107 AD, and approximately forty years after Paul was martyred in Rome, one of the Apostolic leaders, Ignatius, the Bishop of Antioch, where Paul received his ordination to go out as a missionary to the Gentiles, was able to visit Rome but for an entirely different reason. Ignatius was so intent in dying as a martyr for Christ as his greatest act of discipleship, that he wrote the church in Rome and shared his heartfelt anticipation of going to Rome to die.

Ignatius told them that through prayer to God he was granted by his captors the privilege of seeing their most worthy faces for which he earnestly begged God to grant him. For as a prisoner for Christ Jesus’ sake he hoped to greet them personally, if it was indeed God’s will, and be considered worthy of attaining the end he sought, that being to die as a martyr for Him. He noted that his arrest and becoming a prisoner started just as God planned it, and he prayed that he might obtain His grace without giving up or being hindered in completing his goal. He expressed concern that their love for him might end up being a disadvantage in that it might tempt him to want to stay alive. He told the Romans that it was easy for them to accomplish what their goals in serving Christ, but it would make it difficult for him to complete what he started out to do for God if their love for him proves too big of a barrier in carrying out his plan. What a contrast to Paul’s request from this same church when he faced possible martyrdom in Jerusalem.⁷

Paul closes here with a benediction. His words indicate that he fully intended to visit Rome and stay there for some time so that he could have some needed rest.

THE END OF CHAPTER FIFTEEN

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER FIFTEEN (Lesson XXVI)

On the subject of Paul’s request for prayer that his goal may be realized and he would be granted the right by God to visit Rome, Robert Haldane suggests that we may learn from this that when we are sent by the Holy Spirit on an errand of importance, and we need plenty of prayer for success in our journey, how much more do we need prayer in our daily lives! God certainly encourages the exercise of prayer, especially that we pray for success when we do His work. Another aspect of what we read here in this passage is that it is one of the strongest defenses against the theory, by some, who propose that prayer is a useless exercise because God will not change His mind. We see here that Paul believed it was not only lawful and proper to pray to the unchangeable God, but that it is our duty to pray to Him to cope with whatever difficulties we may run into while trying to do His unchanging plans. We’re not praying that He won’t change His mind, but that we won’t change our mind.¹

Charles Hodge summarizes what he sees as Paul’s concerns about his impending visit to Jerusalem. He notes that there are three objects for which he particularly wished them to pray: his safety, the successful purpose of his mission and that he might afterward come to them with joy. There were many reasons for Paul to dread the violence of the unbelieving Jews, evidence is found in the history of this visit to Jerusalem written by Luke.² They started by trying to destroy his life, then accused him in front of the Roman governor, and ended up having him imprisoned for two years in Cæsarea. It didn’t get any better because he was eventually sent to Rome in chains. The unbelieving Jews were not the only ones he worried about. Even some narrow-minded Jewish Christians there, who were prejudiced against him as a preacher to the Gentiles and advocate of the liberty of Christians from the yoke of the Jewish Ceremonial Laws, were unforgiving in their hostility against him. That’s why he pleads with the Roman believers to pray hard that the mission he was on to help the suffering believers in Jerusalem might be accepted by all the saints there.³

Preacher Charles Spurgeon remarks that he too recognized Paul’s dilemma concerning extremely biased saints in Jerusalem who hated the fact that uncircumcised Gentiles were allowed equality in the Church. They were still tied to their Jewish bonds, and Paul was a little afraid that when he told them the offering he was bringing was from Gentile churches in the west, it might not be graciously accepted by them. So by asking the Roman believers to pray about that matter, he hoped the news of their support might change some minds back in Jerusalem. For Spurgeon, this raises this question: Is there anything about which believers may not pray? For instance, it would be ludicrous for anyone to pray that a Christian girl sexually assaulted by a criminal suffer a miscarriage because the one who committed the assault was a sinner. In God’s eyes, there is no need for that infant to suffer the punishment of another person’s crime. So we should only bring to Him in prayer those things He approves of. So Paul asked the Christians in Rome to pray about his journey to Jerusalem and also to pray for the door to open for him to visit Rome.⁴

Jewish scholar David Stern notes that Paul told the Thessalonians, who some of the disobedient people in Jerusalem were,⁵ and that it was the Judean nonbelievers who took issues with Paul ministry to the Gentiles.⁶ His answered prayer proved more literal than Paul wished,⁷ and it turned out to play a major role in him eventually realizing his desire to visit Rome.⁸

Stern then goes on to talk about Paul’s second request, that his mission to bring them some relief would be accepted by the saints in Jerusalem. Why would they refuse such a heartfelt gift? Aside from the humiliation of being seen as charity cases, resentment among believers at Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles remained even though the Jerusalem leadership stood solidly with him. The relationship between Paul and some of those not in leadership positions produced plenty of friction, and his temper may have added to the heat. Yet, it is reasonable to infer that the Messianic community in Jerusalem gladly received the fruit of his labor that he brought with him⁹.¹⁰

15:32-33 Then, if God wants me to, I will come to you. I will come with joy, and together you and I will be refreshed. The God who gives peace be with you all. Amen.

Paul always left things in God’s hands. More than once God sent Paul to places not in his plans and prevented from going to places he wanted to visit. But in his mind, if God expressed His will this way, then let His will be done. So we see that when they put Paul in chains and Agrippa and Festus decided to send him to Rome, he accepted it without question.¹¹ Paul did not take being in prison as a negative. In fact, he wrote the Philippians and said: “Christian brothers, I want you to know that what happened to me helped spread the Good News. Everyone around here knows why I am in prison. It is because I preached about Jesus Christ. All the soldiers who work for the leader of the country know why I am here. Because of this, most of my Christian brothers saw their faith in the Lord made stronger. They have more power to preach the Word of God without fear.”¹² I like what Dr. J. Vernon McGee said about this. He hears Paul speaking very emphatically to the Romans. For instance, when the believers in Philippi heard that Paul was in prison, they sent a message to him by their pastor, Epaphroditus, and it probably went something like this: “Oh, poor brother Paul, we feel so sorry for you. Now your great missionary journeys are curtailed; you are in prison, and the Gospel is no longer going out!” McGee imagines this as Paul’s reply: “Look, I want you to know that the Gospel is going out, and the things happening to me won’t curtail the Gospel being preached, but actually furthered the Gospel.”¹³

On Paul’s closing remarks to this chapter, a number of early church scholars share several thoughts. For Ambrosiaster, because Paul’s mind is dedicated to delivering the gifts to Jerusalem from the Gentile churches he visited in the West, he wants their mind to be open and receptive to his mission, seeing it as their fellow believers’ love for them. That way, they could join together in one accord to give thanks to God on their behalf. Let them rejoice that because of the ministry God gave him, there were many made happy and now praising God, who otherwise would be lost in darkness forever. The God of peace is Christ, who said: “My peace I give to you, my peace I leave with you.”¹⁴ This is what he prays for them, knowing that the Lord said: “Behold I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”¹⁵ Paul therefore wants them to be the kind of people in whom the Lord Jesus Christ dwells, who showed them His spiritual presence will take away all the discord caused by human logic. And since they willingly received the truth, they may now live peacefully in that truth.¹⁶

Then Pelagius sees Paul arriving in Rome some years later and telling the believers there how his offering from the Gentile churches was accepted at Jerusalem and will then speak the Word of God with peace of mind. There are few things more difficult to overcome than heaviness of heart when trying to teach the Word of God. That’s because the God of peace dwells only in those who are peacemakers. It is good that Paul concluded this chapter with peace, because things go so much smoother when everyone is in peaceful agreement with each other.¹⁷ And Theodoret is convinced that Paul harbors no desire to do anything apart from God’s will. Paul called God, “the God of peace” for a reason, he was concerned about those at Rome who were battling one another or at least who were suspicious of one another. He wanted them to be at peace with each other because of the controversy which they were having over the observance of certain Jewish ceremonial laws.¹⁸

In response to Paul’s closing benediction, Martin Luther comments on the need for invoking the abiding presence of the God of peace. This will help everyone understand that the “God of peace” means the God who is worshiped in peace, just as the “God of hope” means the God who is glorified through hope. Idols and images are gods of contention. Luther then goes on to question whether the Apostle Paul ever got to Spain. He quotes from a work by Jacques Lefèvre d’Étaples (Jacobus Faber Stapulensis (circa 1455–1536),¹⁹ a French theologian and humanist who referenced a passage from an apocryphal document saying that he did.²⁰ However, Luther doubts that such evidence is genuine.²¹

With regard to Paul expression that he longed to visit the believers in Rome, John Calvin notes that Paul suggests that prayer would be profitable for them also, as they prayed that he not be killed in Judea. The same goes for Paul’s wish to come to them in joy. It certainly would be advantageous to the Romans for him to come to them in a cheerful state of mind and free from all grief, that he might work among them with more energy and enthusiasm. And by using the word “refreshed,” again it shows how fully persuaded he was of their brotherly love. The desire of this all being part of God’s will reminds us of how necessary it is that we be diligent in prayer, for God alone directs all our ways by His wisdom.²²

Our Pastor, Rick Warren, at Saddleback Church here in Lake Forest, California is the best expository teacher I’ve ever listened to. Since I’m some sixteen years older than him, I can safely say, he reminds me of myself. That’s why I connect so well with him. He just started a new series of messages on “Why You Need To Think About What You Think About: Rethinking Your Life.”

I want to share his basic outline with you to give you some points to ponder. Under each major point, I will add my Reflection.

1. MY THOUGHTS control my life, BUT I CAN control my thoughts!

“Be careful what you think about because your thoughts run your life!” Proverbs 4:23 (NCV)¹

“. . . your life is shaped by your thoughts.” (TEV)²

[Reflection: All our thoughts are generated from something our six senses pick up. That’s where our control comes in. For instance, if you don’t like what you’re hearing, turn it off; if you don’t like what you are seeing, turn your eyes away; if you don’t like what your sensing, rebuke yourself and move on.]

2. ANY CHANGE I WANT IN MY LIFE will start in my mind.

“Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind.” Romans 12:2 (TEV)

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world – your mind and heart – put right. THEN you can see God in the outside world.” Matthew 5:8 (Mes)³

[Reflection: Today this is called introspection. It is a soul-searching, heart-searching, mind-searching process. When a clock, car engine, or appliance stops running, it most often must be taken apart and examined to see what part is not functioning properly or even broken. God’s Word is our Spiritual Mechanics Manual.]

3. I CAN CHANGE how I feel by changing the way I think.

David: “My heart is breaking, so I TURN my thoughts to God.” Psalm 42:6 (TEV)

Jonah: “When I’d lost all hope, I TURNED my thoughts once more to the Lord.” Jonah 2:7 (TLB)⁴

[Reflection: The idea that David’s heart was breaking and Jonah was so hopeless is because they were looking in the wrong direction or at the wrong object. They knew that the one thing that would help clear their vision was God and His Word. That’s one reason why we go to church so that through a song, testimony, and God’s Message we can focus again on what’s right. That’s the only way to know what’s wrong.]

4. EVERY BEHAVIOR IS BASED ON HOW I FEEL ABOUT changing the way I think.

“….think carefully about your behavior.” Haggai 1:5 (NJB)⁵

ASK: What lie am I believing right now?

“A foolish person will believe anything. But a wise person THINKS ABOUT what he does.” Proverbs 14:15 (ICB)⁶

[Reflection: As the old saying goes, if you don’t stand for anything you will fall for everything. Since thoughts control our actions and words, that’s where our behavior and reaction to things begin. It’s what your mind uses to process what your hearing, sight, and emotions. If you hear a knocking sound in your car engine, it’s usually because it’s not getting enough oil. The more Word of God we have in our mind the more the oil of the Holy Spirit can keep it running smoothly.]

5. ANYTIME I SIN, AT THAT MOMENT I’m believing a lie!

“There are ways that some THINK [is] straight, but they lead in the end to death. ” Proverbs 14:12 (NJB)

“Temptation comes from the lure of our own inner desires. These evil desires lead to evil actions, and the actions lead to death.” James 1:14-15 (NLT) ⁷

[Reflection: Sometimes the lie that sets off our thoughts and emotions may be the one we’re believing or the one we’re hearing. Pastor Warren said that his Dad told him the reason why a fisherman puts the bait on the hook is because a fish won’t bite an empty hook. So we can learn from this that it’s not the bait that catches the fish, it’s the hook. Sometimes our eyes and ears are reaching for the bait without realizing there’s a hook inside.]

6. AN UNSEEN WAR IS GOING ON in and for my mind.

“It seems to be a fact of life that while I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I want to do God’s will so far as my new nature is concerned, but there’s something else deep within me that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin inside me. In my mind, I want to be God’s servant, but instead, I find myself still enslaved to sin.” Romans 7:21-23 (TLB)⁸

[Reflection: Some think that long prayers or voluminous reading of God’s word will do the trick of bringing this battle to an end. The Apostle Paul found out that as a dedicated Pharisee, that didn’t work. The real answer came when he learned that we live by what our faith tells us, not by what our eyes and ears are telling us.⁹ This is another way of saying that we can only take control of these mixed emotions through sanctification. This is the act of subjecting ourselves to purification. Cleaning out all those things that start the fight in the first place. This is done by using the cleansing solvent in God’s Word.¹⁰.]

7. TO WIN THE BATTLE IN & FOR MY MIND, I MUST HAVE God’s Spirit and God’s word within me.

While we live in the world, we don’t fight the same way the world does. We fight with God’s weapons, not worldly ones. Our weapons have God’s power to demolish the enemy’s strong places. We can knock down all the worldly arguments and prideful defenses that set themselves up (in our minds) against the knowledge of God. In this war, we capture every rebel thought and we make it give up, and obey Christ!” 2 Cor. 10:3-5

“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. ” Romans 8:6 (NLT)

Jesus: “If you learn and obey my Word, you will be my disciple. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

[Reflection: Just reading a Devotional Guide, watching a church service on TV, or even going to church is not enough to really impact your thinking. Highlighting interesting thoughts in the Devotional Guide; writing down what the TV pastor or evangelist is saying, and taking notes in church during the pastor’s message is also a good step. But it’s not until you tell someone else about what you learned that really puts God’s Word into action. That’s because the Word of God is like a seed. As long as it stays in a box, it will not produce any harvest. You have several ways to share: your phone, your email, Facebook, a home Bible Study, or a personal visit. Try it! Then watch how you grow in the Word.]

8. MY GOAL IS TO learn to think like Jesus.

“Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through, and more, learn to think like Him.” 1 Peter 4:1 (Mes)

“Your thoughts and attitudes must be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5

“We have the mind of Christ!” 1 Corinthians 2:16 (NIV)¹¹

[Reflection: When we put the phrase, “have the mind of Christ,” then we can certainly add, “to think like Him.” Paul then gives us the formula to follow: “Consider the example that Jesus, the Anointed One, has set before us. Let His mindset become your motivation. He existed in the form of God, yet He gave no thought to seizing equality with God as His supreme prize. Instead, He emptied Himself of His outward glory by reducing Himself to the form of a lowly servant. He became human! He humbled Himself and became vulnerable, choosing to be revealed as a man and was obedient. He was a perfect example, even in His death – a criminal’s death by crucifixion!”¹² (TPT)¹³

The example given here is not to be Jesus, but be like Jesus. That means, to adopt His attitude, His mindset. He refused to hold onto something that would keep Him from doing what His Father sent Him to earth to do. Instead, He willingly sacrificed whatever it cost to get the message out about God’s plan of salvation for all who believe. He did not expect nor demand that those He went to would receive Him like a prince or a king. In fact, to show how He really felt about His mission and role in God’s plan, He washed His disciples’ feet. And when it came to living or dying because of His relationship with God the Father, He willingly chose to die in order to fulfill His Father’s will.

9. RETHINKING MY LIFE TO MATCH HOW JESUS THINKS IS CALLED repentance.

“Repent – change your mind and return back to God – so that all your sins may be erased – blotted out and wiped clean – and so that times of refreshing . . . and recovering . . . and reviving . . . may come from the presence of the Lord!” Acts of the Apostles 3:19 (AMP)¹⁴

[Reflection: I agree with Pastor Rick that the word “repent” is so misunderstood by the world today. When they are told to “repent,” it’s like telling them to put on sackcloth and ashes, sit out in the public square, and let people see how really repentant they are. But that is not the true meaning of the word “repent,” The Greek verb metanoeō literally means “meta” to change, “noeo” one’s mind. The word “noeo” points to a person having understanding. They can think and form an opinion; this allows them to discern and make up their mind about something. But it also suggests a mind being directed, looking for an answer or the truth and then become part of what they feel is true.]

Here is a letter that Jesus asked the Apostle John to write to the church in Ephesus: “I know your good deeds, your hard work, and your perseverance . . . But I’ve noticed this: You don’t love me as much as you used to at first. So REMEMBER what it was like before you fell away, and REPENT – change your mind and attitude, and RETURN to doing the things you did with me at first!” Revelation 2:2, 4-5 (Paraphrase)

NOTE: If you like this here on Points to Ponder, let me know. If enough of you are interested, I will certainly share it with you each week until it’s finished. – Dr. Robert R Seyda

HOW MUCH ARE YOU WORTH?

When I read this and remembered my precious mother, my five sisters, ladies I’ve met in church ministries over the years, my wonderful wife and the women in our families, I thought it would be great six days before Valentine’s Day falls to share it with you. Maybe, this will inspire you to send a Valentine’s Card to someone you haven’t thanked in a long time.

Women have strengths that amaze men:

They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love, and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in.

They stand up to injustice.

They don’t take “no” for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They make doctor’s appointments for the whole family.

They serve as a pharmacist, nurse, and caretaker for all sick family members.

They even go to the doctor with a frightened family member.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes, and skin colors.

They’ll drive, fly, walk, run, text or e-mail you to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope, and love.

They show compassion and share ideas.

They give moral support to their family and friends.

Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

However, if there is one flaw in women: they forget, or are not sure, just how much they’re worth. It up to us to let them know.¹

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER FIFTEEN (Lesson XXV)

Robert Haldane is struck with Paul’s concept of the love of the Spirit in this verse. Some understand this to be the Spirit’s love for Christ’s followers. Others see it as their love for one another which the Spirit brought in with Him.¹ The expression make sense either way. The love of God may be either God’s love to us, our love to God, or our love for each other. Accordingly, in the Scriptures, it is sometimes used in one sense or the other, but never signifying the three separately at the same time, only in unity. It is always the relationship between the person and the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, along with circumstances that determine the meaning. In other words, you never read where it says, the Father loves you, and the Son loves you, and the Holy Spirit loves you, in the same verse.

In any case, the love that the Spirit brings with Him into our hearts that helps us then to love one another is the most probable meaning here. Now, from this principle of pure love, Paul entreats the Romans to pray for him. Love is not the fruit of a person’s natural heart. People are by nature tolerant of one another. The closest they come to love is called infatuation brought on by attraction. When sinners believe in Christ and are redeemed, the Holy Spirit produces in their hearts love for one another. So this phrase, whether it refers to the love which the Spirit produces in believers, or that which God and Christ and the Spirit have for them together clearly implies the Trinity.²

Paul’s statement to the church in Rome suggesting that he might be in severe danger in Jerusalem may make them wonder why he didn’t come visit Rome and Spain first and then go on to Jerusalem after things quieted down. But his request that they pray for him should be a motivating factor for them to ask God for his protection so that he eventually makes his way to Rome for their benefit. As we know from the story in Acts of the Apostles, Paul did get to Rome, and the prayers of the believers in Rome no doubt played a large role in his surviving a long journey in chains, shipwreck, being bitten by a serpent, and weathering strong storms at sea. God fulfilled Paul’s dream and the Roman’s excitement over his coming but not exactly in the way they thought it would.

Robert Haldane wants to know what was the thing for which the Apostle requested the prayers of his fellow Christians? Was it that he be delivered from death and danger in the discharge of his duties as an Apostle, especially by those who despised him back in Jerusalem? This shows that no matter how willing we may to be to sacrifice our lives for Christ’s sake, yet we should be attentive and not lose our lives out of carelessness. Life is too valuable to be thrown away. The Apostle is not ashamed to admit to his fellow believers in Rome that he is anxious about falling into the wrong hands, that’s why he requests in the most fervent way that they pray for his protection and preservation from death. He was not inviting this persecution and danger, but he sensed that it was on its way.

Haldane remarks about how different this is from the attitude of Ignatius who was born a few years after Jesus’ ascension, and later became Bishop of the church in Antioch. He seemed to call for the prayers of his brethren that he might be honored with a crown of martyrdom, not to be shielded from his enemies. In one of his letters he wrote: “I came bound from Syria for the sake of Christ, our common hope, trusting through your prayers to [that I be] permitted to fight with beasts at Rome, that so by martyrdom I may indeed become the disciple of Him who gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God.”³

Haldane agrees that Christians ought to be willing to give their lives for Christ rather than deny Him or refuse to do any part of His known will. But it is not only lawful but proper to use every means possible to stay away from danger unless it is necessary for the Gospel sake. If even an Apostle, in the cause of Christ, seemed so desirous of preserving life, what are we to think of those today that seem to have no respect for the life God gave them and act carelessly, almost with indifference. It’s like they don’t really care if they throw it away. This does not just mean doing some daredevil stunt or driving too fast on a curvy, narrow road in the winter time, but by not being careful about what they eat and drink.⁴

15:31 Pray that I will be protected from those in Judea who refuse to accept our message. And pray that this offering I’m bringing to Jerusalem may be looked upon favorably by God’s people there.

There is no reason to believe that Paul was speaking about any of the Apostles in Jerusalem or the Council over which James the brother of our Lord was in charge, as the ones who were a threat to him. Instead, it could be those mentioned in Acts of the Apostles chapter fifteen that were former Pharisees, like Paul, who did not like the fact that he did not insist on male Gentile converts being circumcised. And we also know from Acts twenty-one that there were many Jews that felt offended by Paul’s preaching in the synagogues in Asia Minor, who might be in Jerusalem for their pilgrimage, and word got to Paul that they were out to get him.

We catch a glimpse of this in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians: “It was the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the early prophets. The Jews made it hard for us and made us leave. They do not please God and are working against all men. They tried to keep us from preaching the Good News to the people who are not Jews. The Jews do not want them saved from the punishment of sin.”⁵ And in his second letter Paul to the Thessalonians he asks for prayer because of non-Christians who were very much against his ministry.⁶ Then there were those who formerly worked with Paul, like Demas, but turned against him.⁷ In any case, we know that Paul would not leave Jerusalem a free man. God’s plan meant getting the Apostle to Rome as a great learning experience for all.

In Paul’s request that through their prayers he might be saved from the persecution by opposing forces from Judea currently in Jerusalem, Chrysostom believes that Paul was more aware of the danger facing him than he admitted. This is no doubt this was one of the reasons he asked so earnestly for their prayers.⁸ Such a thought is not illogical since through his ministry the Holy Spirit prompted Paul on many things. We might say that Paul sensed bad things coming his way but did not mention it openly to prevent his followers and those praying for him from becoming discouraged. It is also within bounds to believe that Paul remembered how he persecuted the church and knew all the forces that were available to those who continued to do so.

When it comes to Paul’s claim that he feared for his life upon going to Jerusalem, Luther agrees that the Apostle Paul knew of the persecution awaiting him. We read what he faced while staying at Philip the evangelist’s house in Cæsarea on his way to Jerusalem.⁹ From such facts, it is clear that this letter was written some thirty years after the death and resurrection of our Lord, namely, during the time of Roman Emperor Nero.¹⁰ On the other hand, John Calvin points out that Paul dealt with slanderers from the beginning of his ministry. That’s why he wanted to be humble in his approach to the Romans, showing that he would be willing to do all he could to come to them, even if it meant he may not be accepted by all. Calvin feels that this disposition of mind is something we all should imitate, so that we may not cease to do good to those of who are not happy about our ministry, to begin with.¹¹

John Bengel writes that Paul’s encouragement of the Gentile Greek and Jewish Roman believers to support their Christian brethren back in Jerusalem was an important matter. Not only because it provided needed sustenance and relief, but also it might unite the Jewish believers and the Gentile believers in closer bonds of love. Bengel feels that Paul wanted the Jewish believers in Rome to be impressed by the generosity of the Gentiles, which they were demonstrating for the sake of Jesus’ name. This certainly would afford the Jews plenty of proof of the truth and power of the Christian faith, and of the rightful place of the Gentiles in the Christian church¹².¹³

In this verse, Robert Haldane sees a possible hidden factor that could make the whole thing blow up in Paul’s face when he read the line: “May be looked upon favorably.” It might seem strange that Paul would say something like that. Why would he fear that a love offering brought to help supply the wants of the distressed would not be acceptable to them? Yet Paul makes it a matter of the most earnest prayer for himself and his brethren to whom he writes, that the saints at Jerusalem might be disposed to receive the gift cordially. This certainly shows that after all these years there were still plenty of Jewish members of the Church in Jerusalem and Judea who were not happy with so many Gentiles joining the church who did not share their commitment to Jewish ceremonial laws, especially doing away with the requirement of circumcision. So it might be possible that they view these offerings as charity rather than a gift from their fellow believers. And no Jew would accept a handout from a Gentile?

Would it be wrong if we expected more out of the early church in those days? In the Apostolic churches at that time, we indeed see none recognized as members who were not believers in Jesus as the Messiah and Savior. But just like today, there were believers with every degree of weakness, both in knowledge and in character.¹⁴ Calvin understands Paul’s doubts with respect to the acceptableness of the gift of the Gentiles, to involve prejudice against himself on the part of the believing Jews. But this provides no defendable foundation for him to fear them. Furthermore, there are ways to prevent such danger without exposing Paul to persecution from the opposition. Why not send the money by the hands of others? That’s certainly one way to guard against the supposed prejudice of the misguided brethren in Jerusalem, and thereby prevent the danger of death with respect to Paul from the hands of unbelieving Jews.¹⁵

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER FIFTEEN (Lesson XXIV)

John Calvin also senses that Paul was anxious to finally go to Rome and share with them all that Christ shared with him. For Calvin, when Paul says, “I know that when I visit you,” may be explained in two ways: First, that he is expecting the Gospel he brings to produce plenty of fruit. That’s because when the Gospel produces the Fruit of the Spirit it will then continue to grow into even greater blessings of the Gifts of the Spirit. Secondly, in order that his going there will be even more fruitful, he tells them it is the result of a long-held desire to see them and share his knowledge of the Gospel with them. But such an outcome would depend partly on his ministry and partly on their faith. That’s why he promises, that his coming to them won’t be a waste of time. He will be well-prepared when he comes to distribute all that he received from Jesus the Messiah by the grace of God. And he plans to do this with all the insights which their minds are prepared to receive.¹

Robert Haldane comments on Paul’s use of the term “seal the fruit,” and defines this in several ways. For some, the meaning appears to be that the word “fruit” means the results of having faith in what the Gospel says. Another interpretation suggests that by saying “fruit,” Paul is thinking of the outcome and results of his visit. This would include their growth in understanding the Word better and the changes it will make in their attitude toward sinners outside the church and saints inside the church.

As to the “sealing of this fruit,” it is to be remarked that a seal was used to stamp anything as genuine and to distinguish it from a counterfeit. Now, such spiritual fruit gave convincing evidence that their faith proved real, and that the Gentiles received the Gospel, not in name only, but in truth. Today, we might think of this idea of sealing fruit by observing the process called “canning,” by which fruit is sealed in glass jars after placing them in boiling water and then pouring in wax on top before the lid is applied. As the jar cools it creates a vacuum inside and prevents contamination from the outside. The main reason such fruit, and even vegetables, are canned this way is so that later on in the year when fresh fruit and vegetables are no longer available, a family may still enjoy them during the winter. Sometimes, in our preaching and teaching, we offer fresh fruit from the Word of God then sealing with God’s power to make sure its fresh for them to use in the future, especially when times get tough.

For others, the contribution of the Gentile churches to the poor in Jerusalem served as fruit of their faith in Christ. The Apostle sealed this fruit when he delivered it to the Jewish believers as gifts from their Gentile brethren. It represents him as personally undertaking responsibility of transporting this contribution to not only make sure that it got there but that all of it got there. But Paul expressed an even higher expectation of his taking this love offering to Jerusalem than distributing the gifts and money. He wanted this compassionate expression by the Gentiles to remove any doubts and disarm the jealousy of the Jews with respect to their being part of the Church. Haldane feels that no other object of sufficient importance might detain Paul from visiting Rome and Spain but the joy of bringing the Jews and Gentiles together in unity of spirit and fellowship. Paul placed the union among Christians before the carrying of the Gospel to new areas.²

One Jewish writer gives his view of the “full blessings” of Christ. It is found in the key term, “the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel.” Although the congregation in Rome knows Yeshua, they still lacked having the full knowledge of what the Gospel promises to believers. Paul felt they needed to comprehend the message of the relationship of their faith to the destiny of Israel. It is interesting how many lessons are taught in churches based on this letter of Paul to the Roman church. The Epistle to the Romans is considered by many to be the doctrinal stronghold of the Christian faith. The message for Christians is taught primarily out of chapters 1-8 and 12-15. Rarely, if ever, does one hear a sermon preached on the themes found in chapters 9-11 that deal with the Gospel and the Jews, or one on any part of Romans as interpreted in the context of that section. The “fullness” of the Gospel seems to be lost and replaced by something Paul would not recognize. For him, Yeshua became the faith and hope of Israel.³

15:30  Brothers and sisters, I beg you to help me in my work by praying to God for me. Do this because of our Lord Jesus and the love that the Holy Spirit brings into us.

Now Paul solicits the prayers of those in Rome not only for his sake in carrying out the plans he made but also for Jesus’ sake. As he told the Corinthians: “We do not preach about ourselves. We preach Christ Jesus the Lord. We are your servants because of Jesus… Every day of our life we face death because of Jesus. In this way, His life is seen in our bodies.”⁴ This was the attitude of the Psalmist who wrote: “Teach me to do Your will, because You are my God; Let Your good Spirit guide me on ground that is level. For Your name’s sake, Adonai, preserve my life.”⁵ And Paul captured this same thought when he wrote the Philippians: “Therefore, if you have any encouragement for me from your being in union with the Messiah, any comfort flowing from love, any fellowship with me in the Holy Spirit, or any compassion and sympathy, then complete my joy by having a common purpose and a common love, by being one in heart and mind.”⁶

Paul was fully aware of the power of prayer. As he told the Corinthians: “You also help us by praying for us. Many people thank God for His favor to us. This is an answer to the prayers of many people.”⁷ He also requested prayer from the Ephesians: “Pray for me also. Pray that I might open my mouth without fear. Pray that I will use the right words to preach that which is hard to understand in the Good News.”⁸ And Paul sent this word to the Colossians: “Epaphras says hello. He is one of your people and a servant of Jesus Christ. As he prays for you, he asks God to help you to be strong and to make you perfect. He prays that you will know what God wants you to do in all things.”⁹ And twice he asked the Thessalonians for prayer.¹⁰

When it came to Paul’s request for prayer on his behalf, several early church scholars write a number of things. Ambrosiaster, for instance, makes the point that Paul asks for their prayers. He did not do this because he felt deserving of them but because he followed the principle that the church ought to pray for its leaders. That’s why when many ordinary people join together in prayer and agree with one another on what they are praying about, God will not ignore their prayers. Therefore, if the Romans desired a visit from the Apostle, then let them pray earnestly that the door opens to him so that they may receive him in the joy of brotherly love.¹¹

Early church scholar Pelagius adds that Paul asks the whole church to pray for him because he knows that when many people pray together their prayers produce results. When the Jews had James the brother of John killed in Jerusalem, Peter was set free from prison by the prayers of the brethren at the same time. They prayed not so much for his good as for their own, so that they might be strengthened by his teaching.¹² Spiritual love leads us to pray for one another.¹³

In response to Paul’s request for the Roman church to pray for his safety, John Calvin notes that it is well-known from many passages how much ill-will prevailed against Paul among his own Jewish brethren on account of false reports about what he taught the Gentiles. In particular, that the Torah no longer applied when it came to the rites, rituals, and ceremonies of Jewish customs – especially circumcision. These ceremonial laws were being devalued as not useful or necessary in order to be a Christian. He knew of the slander being attached to innocent Gentile believers, especially by those Jewish believers carried away with fanatic zeal for the old way. Add to this the testimony of the Holy Spirit which forewarned him that bonds and afflictions awaited him in Jerusalem.¹⁴ The more the danger, the more he asked for prayer.¹⁵

John Bengel takes notice of Paul’s request for prayer and observes that prayer is a form of striving, or contending, especially when people meet resistance. Paul is the only one of the Apostles who asks for the prayers of believers for himself. He often does this at the conclusion of his epistles, but not without reason or cause. For instance he writes this way to those he treats as his sons or children with the dignity of a father such as Timothy, Titus, the Corinthians, and the Galatians. He also requests prayer from those he treats as his equals as a brother would do to a brother, such as the Thessalonians, Ephesians, Colossians, and, therefore, so also the Romans. Some feel that this is another reason to believe that Paul is the author of the Book of Hebrews.¹⁶ His requests for their prayers are introduced with great elegance.¹⁷”¹⁸

Puritan preacher Jonathan Edwards makes a very important point here concerning the love we have for one another as children of God. For him, the natural human love that we all share with our family and friends is not good enough when it comes to loving our brother and sister in Christ. The Scriptures speak in many places of Christian love as being the same as the love the Spirit placed within them. As Paul told the Philippians, “If there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from His love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.”¹⁹ Perhaps the reason why there is so much discord and disharmony among church members and denominations lies in the fact that the love they claim to have for sinners does not apply to their fellow believers. Obviously, such love does not flow from the Holy Spirit as its main source.²⁰

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER FIFTEEN (Lesson XXIII)

Adam Clarke speaks about the intended effect of Paul’s call for donations. No doubt he hoped for a generous contribution sent by each congregation in the much poorer areas around Greece, most of whom were populated by Gentile believers. This might certainly engage the affections of the Jewish Christians back in Judea who were initially very reluctant to accept Gentiles into the Church without first submitting themselves to Jewish ceremonial laws. By doing so, he might be able to establish a coalition between converted Jews and Gentiles that translated into ministries spreading the Gospel even further. And this shows why he so earnestly requests the prayers of the Christians in Rome for his trip to Jerusalem to be successful so that they joined him in thanking God for what they were able to contribute.¹

Robert Haldane touches on what he feels is the true motivation of Paul’s insistence that he first go to Jerusalem before heading out for Rome and Spain. It involved more than just delivering the offerings he collected so far. Paul thought about visiting Rome, the capital of the world, earlier in his ministry and then going on to carry the Gospel into Spain where no one ever heard it preached. More than once conditions prevented him from visiting the Roman Christians, and yet, in spite of feeling so strongly about going there he’s headed instead for Jerusalem carrying money for the relief of the poor. But someone might ask, isn’t preaching the Gospel greater than serving tables? Weren’t there others to give this responsibility to without burdening Paul? Obviously, those who ask such questions are forgetting that God’s plans for Paul to be in Jerusalem were bigger than just delivering an offering.

In fact, Paul felt that preaching the Gospel proved more important than taking time to baptize believers,² so why did he decide to spend so much time carrying a love offering from Gentile Christians to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem? No one questioned the need and how much help it gave those struggling in that city to hold on even longer. Also, what a golden opportunity to improve the attitude of the Jewish believers in Judea toward their Gentiles brothers and sisters scattered abroad. No one questioned the news about a scarcity of food and clothing for believers in Jerusalem.³

According to historical records, in the year 66 AD, the Jews of Judea rebelled against their Roman masters. This occurred the same year the Jews martyred James, the brother of John, in Jerusalem. In response to the rebellion, Emperor Nero dispatched an army under the generalship of Vespasian to restore order. By the year 68 AD, they eradicated the resistance in the northern part of the province and the Romans turned their full attention to the conquest of Jerusalem. That same year on June 9^th, Emperor Nero committed suicide creating a power vacuum in Rome. In the resulting chaos, the Romans declared Vespasian the new Emperor so he returned to the Imperial City. It then fell to his son Titus to lead the army stationed in Israel in an assault on the holiest city in Israel.

The Roman legions surrounded Jerusalem and began to slowly squeeze the life out of the Jewish stronghold. By the year 70 AD, the attackers breached Jerusalem’s outer walls and began a systematic ransacking of the city. The assault culminated in the burning and destruction of the Temple that served as the center of Judaism. In victory, the Romans slaughtered thousands. Besides those spared from death, thousands more were enslaved and sent to toil in the mines of Egypt, others were dispersed to arenas throughout the Empire to be butchered for the amusement of the public. The Temple’s sacred relics were taken to Rome where they were displayed in celebration of the victory. The rebellion sputtered on for another three years and finally died out in 73 AD with the fall of the various pockets of resistance, including the stronghold at Masada. Since many scholars believe that Paul wrote this letter to the Romans around 58 AD before he went to Jerusalem where he was arrested, that means the fires of revolt already smoldered in Galilee and Judea. First, between the Jews and the Christians, and then between the Jews, Christians and the Romans.

F. F. Bruce shares what he sees in Paul’s extending the opportunity for the Roman believers to share in helping out the saints in Jerusalem. His concern extended not only toward his Gentile converts’ recognition of their spiritual indebtedness to Jerusalem and the need to establish a bond of fellowship and brotherly love between them, but it also came at the climax of Paul’s third missionary journey before he set out on another expedition to a new field of ministry in the west, including Spain. It also proved to be the opportune time for him to do something for the believers back in Jerusalem where it all started. What a great possibility for him to present offerings and gifts to Jerusalem from Gentiles out west to show their love and appreciation for the earliest saints of God and followers of Jesus Christ. It showed that Paul’s apostleship to the Gentiles counted for the good of the Church. This stood as a sign not only to the Jerusalem church but in the sight of God. Perhaps Paul planned to consummate his thanksgiving for the past and his dedication for the future by an act of worship at that very place in the Temple where the Lord once appeared to him and sent him away to the Gentiles everywhere⁴.⁵

15:27 They were happy to do this. And it was like paying something they owed them because as non-Jews they were blessed spiritually by the Jews. So now they should use the material blessings they possess to help the believing Jews.

Paul explains what motivated the Gentiles won to the Lord to give of their material means to help struggling churches in Judea. With the destruction of the Temple and razing of Jerusalem by the Roman army being only years away, we see how the church formed in the Upper Room which added thousands of converts on the Day of Pentecost now faced a long period of persecution and poverty. But there existed a good reason why God forced them out of Jerusalem. If the church didn’t spread to Syria, Phoenicia, and on to Asia and Europe, it might die there as a sect in the City of David.

When it came to sharing both spiritual and material blessings, Ambrosiaster feels that in this way the believers among the Jews were given a choice to rejoice in God’s willingness to save the Gentiles through their ministry. For these Gentiles, by giving themselves completely to the service of God and not caring at all about the things of this world, offered an example of good behavior to all believers. Then too, the Apostle wants everyone to keep an open and maintain a compassionate heart so they feel burdened to give and to do good works with a willing heart because whoever hopes for mercy from God must be merciful to others. For if mankind is merciful, how much more is God merciful? For this is the standard: those who receive mercy should be merciful. As the Lord said: “Blessed are the merciful, for God will be merciful to them.⁶”⁷

On Paul’s collecting of funds to help believers in Jerusalem and Judea to cope with the economic situation, Jewish scholar David Stern notes that years earlier the leaders of the Jerusalem Messianic community urged Paul to “remember the poor.”⁸ He wrote about the present collection on their behalf.⁹ So well did he succeed in making the Gentiles tzedakah (charitable) toward the Jewish poor a part of his Gospel that this project, initiated by the believers in Macedonia and Achaia, turned out much bigger than he hoped.¹⁰

15:28-29: I am going to Jerusalem to make sure the poor get this money that has been given for them. After I have sealed the fruit of this effort, then I will leave for Spain and stop to visit you on the way. And I know that when I visit you, I will bring you Christ’s full blessing.

As we see, Paul lays out plans for future travels, but first, he must take care of some urgent business of delivering the offerings given by the fellowships he visited in Greece and Macedonia. As he wrote the Colossians: “The Good News came to you the same as it is now going out to all the world. Lives are being changed, just as your life was changed the day you heard the Good News.”¹¹ Paul wanted this outreach to continue into Spain. There is no record of any churches being in Spain in Paul’s day, nor did any Jewish settlements exist there. However, we are told that Rome did a thorough job of establishing itself in Spain by the time Paul planned to go there. And yet it is unlikely that his motivation included getting to know the Roman administrators and businessmen who managed the affairs of that province. The opportunity to hear about Christianity in the major cities of the Empire will come. Paul aimed his mission statement to those who populated the countryside and who, for so many centuries was influenced by these Romans and other foreigners.¹²

On the subject of Paul’s promise that when he arrived in Rome he’d be coming in the fullness of Christ’s blessing, early church theologian Origen asks: “What does Paul mean by this?” In Origen’s mind, he feels that Paul is talking here about not wanting anything to distract him from his mission to provide help for the believer’s in Jerusalem for which he feels responsible to God. He harbors no interest in doing it to impress people. He simply offers all he did for God as a labor of love. Then he plans to turn to the next chapter in his life.¹³

Martin Luther is impressed with Paul’s motivation for wanting to visit Rome. For the Apostle, this is all about the blessing that comes from sharing the Gospel so that Christians may grow and mature in the knowledge of the Lord. This same desire is echoed in Peter’s second letter: “Grow in the loving-favor that Christ gives you. Learn to know our Lord Jesus Christ better. He is the One Who saves. May He have all the shining-greatness now and forever. Let it be so.”¹⁴ The Apostle Paul does not promise to bring prosperity to the Romans, but the riches contained in the Gospel.¹⁵