(#464) Romans 15 - Do Unto Others as They Want to Be Done Unto

The Christian Way of Living is an “other-focused” life.

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome To 

BARAH MINISTRIES

a Christian Church

Rory Clark

Pastor-Teacher

 

Good Morning!

 

Welcome to Barah Ministries…a small and intimate Christian Church with worldwide impact.  My name is Pastor Rory Clark.  At Barah Ministries, our God is the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We make a difference by teaching the Word of God from God’s perspective, and not from man’s perspective. 

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON - Do Unto Others as They Want to Be Done Unto

 

You’ve heard the golden rule quoted as, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  Perhaps that’s a bit too literal.  After all, this might be interpreted to mean that if you are smoker, then smoking around others is okay since that is what you would have others do unto you. Perhaps the golden rule is actually saying, “Do unto others as they want to be done unto.”  In today’s lesson we’ll continue to investigate how the Lord wants us to treat others.

 

In the opening of every lesson at Barah Ministries, we learn something about God.  A friend once asked me, in his best BRITISH accent, what I could tell him about this “god” I worship.  He is an atheist…he didn’t believe in God, nor did he want anything to do with God. Yet he asked me about God, thinking the question would stump me.  Here’s what I told my friend…

 

“God is a person.  He’s someone I have a relationship with.  He is my Creator, and everything about Him is at the center of my life and my success. I am who I am because of Him.  When you get to know Him, you’ll be getting to know a Person who is FORGIVING…He is JUST…He is RIGHTEOUS…He is SOVEREIGN…He is OMNISCIENT…He is OMNIPRESENT…He is OMNIPOTENT…He is IMMUTABLE…He has VERACITY…He is ETERNAL…He is GRACIOUS.  Best of all, God is LOVE… UNconditional LOVE.  Perhaps a story from the bible would best introduce you to Him…Luke, Chapter 15, Verses 4 to 7…”

 

LUKE 15:4 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them,

does not leave the ninety-nine other sheep in the open pasture and go afterthe one which is lost until he finds it?”

 

LUKE 15:5  “When he has found the lost sheep, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”

 

LUKE 15:6  “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’” 

 

LUKE 15:7  “I (the Lord Jesus Christ) tell you that in the same way…there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner (an unbeliever) who repents (who changes his mind about having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ)…than over ninety-nine righteous persons (believers in Christ) who need no repentance.”

 

I continued my story…“So Dave…you are lost…and today…you could make the angels in heaven rejoice with joy…for your whole life you have been thumbing your nose at your God and denying his existence with venom… yet He loves you UNconditionally…and He is looking for you this very minute.  In fact, there is no other word in any language that describes God’s attitude toward you better than LOVE.  First John, Chapter 1, Verse 8 says…”

 

FIRST JOHN 1:8 The one who does not love unconditionally does not know God the Father… for God the Father IS unconditional love (in His very Person).”

 

Unfortunately, the story has no happy ending for Dave as yet...but please join me in praying for him.  Welcome to a place where you can be loved.

 

Even though God’s love is indescribable, many have made the attempt. Phillips, Craig and Dean use a one-word description of God’s love for us…DEEP…in their song HOW DEEP THE FATHER’S LOVE FOR

US.

 

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

HOW DEEP THE FATHER’S LOVE FOR US

Phillips, Craig and Dean

 

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

We’re grateful, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word of God…

 

Father thank you for giving us Your Love…and thank you for teaching us to love as You do…let our love be reflected to every one we meet, especially by us sharing the gospel message of salvation with them…

 

…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s

name...Amen.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON - Do Unto Others as They Want to Be Done Unto

 

We continue our study of Paul’s letter to the believers in first century Rome at Chapter 15…let’s hear with our ears…and where possible let’s see with our eyes through reading the Scripture…what the apostle Paul has to say in this chapter of his letter…

 

ROMANS 15:1 Now we who are The Strong in Faith ought to keep on bearing with the weaknesses of those without strength (The Weak in Faith…The Strong are indebted to The Weak in this regard)…and we (who are The Strong in Faith) are not to keep on seeking just to please ourselves.

 

ROMANS 15:2  Each of us is to please his neighbor for his own good…for his edification.

 

ROMANS 15:3  For even Christ did not please Himself…but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You, God the Father, fell on Me.”  (Psalm 69:9)

 

ROMANS 15:4  For whatever was written (in Scripture) in earlier times was written to teach us…giving us endurance and encouragement through the Scriptures…so that we might keep on having hope.

 

ROMANS 15:5  Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another (to think the exact same way…operating in harmony) according to your union with Christ Jesus…

 

ROMANS 15:6  …(for what purpose?)…so that with one heart you believers in Christ may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

ROMANS 15:7  Therefore, keep on accepting one another…and keep on receiving one another…just as Christ also keeps on accepting us…to the glory of God the Father.

 

ROMANS 15:8  For I (Paul) say that Christ has become a servant (a diakonos) to the circumcision (The Jews…He is The Jewish Messiah)…on behalf of the truth of God the Father…to confirm the promises given to the fathers (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob)…

 

ROMANS 15:9  …and Christ has become a servant to the Gentiles to glorify God the Father for His mercy…as it stands written by King David, “Therefore I will give praise to You among the Gentiles, and I will sing to Your name.”

 

ROMANS 15:10  Again Moses says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”

 

ROMANS 15:11 And again a psalmist says, “Praise the Lord all you Gentiles…and let all the peoples praise Him.”

 

ROMANS 15:12 Again Isaiah says, “There shall come the root of Jesse (the Messiah…the

Lord Jesus Christ)…and He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, in Him shall the Gentiles hope.”

 

ROMANS 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so

that you will abound in hope by the power of God the Holy Spirit.

 

ROMANS 15:14 And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am absolutely convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness…having been filled with all knowledge…and you are able also both to counsel and to admonish one another.

 

ROMANS 15:15 But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God the Father…

 

ROMANS 15:16 …to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable… sanctified by God the Holy Spirit.

 

ROMANS 15:17 Therefore in union with Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God the Father.

 

ROMANS 15:18 For I (Paul) will not presume to speak of anything except what (supernatural things) Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles (to the gospel message) by the word I have said and the deeds I have done…

 

ROMANS 15:19 …in the power of signs and wonders…in the power of the Spirit…so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum (from Jerusalem in a full circle)…I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

 

ROMANS 15:20 And thus I aspired to preach the gospel…not where Christ was already 

named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation…

 

ROMANS 15:21 …but as it is written, “They who had no news of Him shall see…and they who have not heard shall understand.”

 

ROMANS 15:22 For this reason I have often been prevented (many times) from coming to you (in Rome)…

 

ROMANS 15:23 …but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you…

 

ROMANS 15:24 …whenever I go to Spain (a Roman colony)—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while—

 

ROMANS 15:25 …but now, I am going to Jerusalem in service to the saints there.

 

ROMANS 15:26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution (an offering) for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

 

ROMANS 15:27 Yes, they were pleased to do so (they gave voluntarily)…AND they are indebted to the poor saints in Jerusalem. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things…they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.

 

ROMANS 15:28 Therefore, when I have finished this…and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs…I will go on by way of you to Spain.

 

ROMANS 15:29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

 

ROMANS 15:30 Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the unconditional love of God the Holy Spirit…to strive together with me in your prayers to God the Father for me…

 

ROMANS 15:31 …that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints…

 

ROMANS 15:32 …so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God the Father and find refreshing rest in your company.

 

ROMANS 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

 

When we return from our five-minute break, we’ll take the offering and we’ll begin our verse-by-verse study of Romans, Chapter 15. 

 

FIVE MINUTE BREAK

Unconditional Love

Donna Summers

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON - Do Unto Others as They Want to Be Done Unto

 

Let’s welcome Deacon Denny Goodall with today’s offering message.

 

THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall

 

OFFERING VERSE

 

FIRST PETER 3:15…sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you…yet with gentleness and reverence…

 

OFFERING VERSE

 

FIRST PETER 3:16…and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

 

OFFERING VERSE

 

FIRST PETER 3:17 For it is better, if God should will it so, and He does…that you suffer for doing what is right rather than to suffer for doing what is wrong.

 

OFFERING SONG

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU

David Bauer, Instrumental

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON - Do Unto Others as They Want to Be Done Unto

 

God loves us so much that He would never consider leaving us on our own to handle things in our lives.  Psalm 46, Verse 1 says…

 

PSALM 46:1 God is our refuge and strength…a very present help in times of trouble.

 

Here’s Micah Tyler to tell us about our omnipresent God in his song EVEN THEN.

 

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

EVEN THEN

Micah Tyler

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON - Do Unto Others as They Want to Be Done Unto

 

Welcome back!  

 

In Romans, Chapter 14 we learned two very important things…don’t condemn others…and don’t hinder others with our conduct.  God is helping us learn how to treat others with unconditional love.  Today, we transition to Romans, Chapter 15 which adds a third, and conclusive message to Romans, Chapter 14…as believers in Christ we are to demonstrate the example of the Lord Jesus Christ in everything, especially in how we treat other people.

 

As you may remember, we dipped our toes into Romans, Chapter 15 just before we diverted to Resurrection Sunday and the Homecoming.  You may remember me telling you that Scripture in its original form was not divided into chapters and verses.  Chapters were introduced to the bible in the twelfth-century…and verses were introduced in the fifteenth century.  The divisions were useful, but they are not necessarily reflective of the original intent of the authors of biblical letters.  So while Romans, Chapter 15 is a new chapter…in the original text of Scripture, Romans, Chapter 15, Verses 1 to 7 actually complete Romans, Chapter 14.  With that in mind, let’s begin our study of the first passage of Romans, Chapter 15 beginning at Verse 1 and going through Verse 7.

 

ROMANS 15:1 Now we who are The Strong in Faith ought to keep on bearing with the weaknesses of those without strength (The Weak in Faith…The Strong are indebted to The Weak in this regard)…and we (who are The Strong in Faith) are not to keep on seeking just to please ourselves.

 

The Christian Way of Living is an “other-focused” life.  Said another way, it is not a selfish life.  There is nothing wrong with being self-concerned. But self-concern without a thought of others is what true selfishness is…always being concerned first and last and foremost with self…that is true selfishness.  Christians are invited to do unto others, as they want to be done unto. In living such an amazing life, we are invited to a lifestyle the apostle Paul describes in First Corinthians, Chapter 11, Verse 1…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 11:1 Be imitators of me…just as I (Paul) also am an imitator of Christ.

 

Christians are to be a reflection of their Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, in thought, in word, and in deed.  Are you?  When we are imitating Christ, we are not seeking merely to please ourselves.  We are interested in edifying others.  This is especially true in the spiritual realm. 

 

It’s really interesting to look at intimate relationships as we think about treatment.  As Christians, there is no finer way to build another person up than to lead them into a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and then to lead them to the Word of God.  What I have found in my life is that when you invite people to become believers in Christ, and when you invite people to consider the Word of God, you truly find out all you need to know about the person.  A person’s attitude toward God and His Word is going to be an exact reflection of their attitude toward you.

 

People who reject a relationship with God…people who reject His Word CANNOT be good for you.  And BELIEVE ME when I tell you, you will not change them…they will change you.  They will pull your underwear over your head and they will have you so confused you won’t know which end is up.  At a point, you’ll be so deeply into their web of spiritual life rejection that you will begin to reject God yourself…you’ll begin to revert to human solutions to solve your problem.  No advice from anyone will be able to pull you out of that toilet.

 

What is the example of the Lord Jesus Christ that Christians are to reflect?  John, Chapter 4, Verse 34…

 

JOHN 4:34 Jesus said to His disciples, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”

 

You’ll remember Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well in John, Chapter 4…the disciples were off buying groceries…and when they returned, the Lord gave them a lesson…spiritual food is more important than physical food.  As believers in Christ, our priorities are spiritual.  Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verse 10…

 

EPHESIANS 2:10 For we believers in Christ are God the Father’s workmanship…created to be in union with Christ Jesus for good works…which God the Father prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

 

We are God’s masterpieces…His works of art…and our good works are not to please Him…instead they are to reflect Him.  We imitate the Lord Jesus Christ when we live this idea…John, Chapter 8, Verse 29…

 

JOHN 8:29b “…for I (the Lord Jesus Christ) always do the things that are pleasing to God the Father (the One who sent Me).”

 

As believers we are to reflect Christ just as Christ reflected His Father.

 

The Strong in Faith, many times, will feel insulted because of their relationship with God and because of their spiritual life.

 

 

The biggest pain The Strong in Faith will experience is ingratitude. Let’s be clear on something.  The Strong in Faith are not being asked by God to tolerate The Weak in Faith with a condescending self-righteousness wherein we are forced to “put up with” others.  That’s not great treatment of others.  Instead we are to actually love it when we bear a Cross for others. 

 

 

We’ll continue to learn the lessons of LOVE as we continue to learn the Word of God in our next lesson.

 

GOD WANTS YOU!

Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life

 

The closing moments of our study are for the benefit of anyone who does not have a personal relationship with the Sovereign God of the Universe, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We want you to know that GOD WANTS YOU. 

 

Is religion the way?

 

Many people believe that religious rituals are their ticket into heaven. They embrace religious beliefs that tell them how to live a spiritual life. The religion claims either that there is a God…or there are many gods…but the religion does not tell you how to have a personal relationship with the gods. And despite all of your religious rituals, the religions do not GUARANTEE that following the rituals will get you into heaven.

 

In John, Chapter 4, Verses 13 and 14, the Lord Jesus Christ is talking to a woman at a well…a Samaritan woman whom the Jews wanted nothing to do with…after a brief conversation, the Lord says to her…

 

JOHN 4:13 “Everyone who drinks of the water in this well will thirst again…”

 

JOHN 4:14  “…but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him (the water of the gospel message) shall never thirst…but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life (the resurrection life).”

 

It is the Lord’s will for you to live with Him in heaven when you close your eyes in this life.  First Timothy, Chapter 2, Verses 3 and 4 say…

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 2:3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of the God who is our Savior…the Lord Jesus Christ…

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 2:4  …who desires all men to be saved and who desires for all men to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

The truth of how to get to heaven is as simple as a nine-word conversation with God…Luke, Chapter 23, Verses 42 and 43…

 

LUKE 23:42 And a thief being crucified next to Jesus was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”

 

LUKE 23:43  And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you…today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

 

Or if you prefer…it’s a five word conversation with God the Father… “Father…I believe in Christ.”  Simply believe…merely take God’s word for it in the matter of salvation…and that is the moment of eternal life for you.  

 

Who is this God who saves you?  The apostle Paul describes the Lord Jesus Christ…in First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verses 3 and 4… 

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:3 For I (Paul) delivered to you as of first importance what I also received… that it was Jesus Christ who died for our sins according to the Scriptures…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:4  …and that He was buried…and that He was raised from the dead on the third day…according to the Scriptures…

 

Now once the Lord saves you, no matter how hard you try, you cannot lose your salvation…John, Chapter 10, Verse 28 says…

 

JOHN 10:28 “…and I (the Lord Jesus Christ) give eternal life to believers in Christ, and they will never perish…and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

 

Anyone who tells you that you can lose your salvation is lying to you.

On the other hand, if you reject the relationship offer of this God who does not want you to perish, He will honor your rejection…Matthew, Chapter 13, Verses 49 and 50…

 

MATTHEW 13:49 So it will be at the end of the age…the elect angels will come forth and take out the wicked (unbelievers) from among the righteous (believers in Christ)...

 

MATTHEW 13:50  …and will throw the wicked into the furnace of fire…and in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

So follow the advice of Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31…

 

ACTS 16:31  “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and everyone in your household who also believes.”

 

Remember…our God will chase you down when you are lost.  Here’s June Murphy to sing about it in her song YOU RAN AFTER ME.

 

CLOSING SONG

 

YOU RAN AFTER ME 

June Murphy 

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

Thanks for coming!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for listening!

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