ROMANS 13 STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN
DUTIES TO THE STATE
ROMANS 13:1-7
13:1-3: TO DEFY the civil government is to defy God, for God works in and through THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES: This principle holds true so long as the civil ORDINACE is not in opposition to God, but promotes GOOD WORKS: When civil rulers are in direct opposition to God, the believer must follow God- (see- ACTS 4:19; AND ACTS 5:29)...
13:4: BECAUSE THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT- is established by God, St. Paul calls civil authority GOD'S MINISTER... He is responsible to protect those who are GOOD and to execute punishment on those who practice EVIL...
13:5: BELIEVERS are commanded to BE SUBJECT to civil authorities NOT ONLY for fear of earthly punishment- (because of wrath), but because they know that in obeying the authorities, they are obeying God-(for conscience' sake)...
LOVE OF NEIGHBOR
ROMANS 13:8-10
13:9: SEE MY NOTES- (MATTHEW 22:39-40)...
THE DAY IS AT HAND
ROMANS 13:11-14
13:12: THE NIGHT is the life in this world, and especially life under the influence of sin and evil...THE DAY refers to the presence of Christ's Kingdom, both in the Church AT HAND and fulfilled completely in the age to come...
ROMAS 14 STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN
ROMANS 14:1-11
14:1: IN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY, there are things that cannot be compromised, and there are areas of flexibility...God is gracious and allows diversity in DOUBDTFUL THINGS- (v. 1), matters not related to essential doctrines and moral teachings...THE WEAK IN THE FAITH are people who assign primary importance to secondary matters...The two examples of the flexible areas given here involve food restrictions- (v. 2), and the observance of liturgical calendars- (v. 5), things which are the weak might try to judge others or to divide the Church...In both cases, we are commanded to give flexibility to others, just as God Himself does- (v. 3)...
14:7-10: BECAUSE WE ARE THE LORD'S- we have no business judging others 'based on our own ideas, prejudices, or cultural heritage...These things cause us to lose sight of the fact that we are united in Christ, who is our Lord and Judge...
LOVING FELLOW CHRISTIANS
ROMANS 14:12-23
14:13-21: A MATURE CONSCIENCE in Christ knows that no food is UNCLEAN OF ITSELF, and also known it must use discretion so as not to be a STUMBLING BLOCK to others...We behave righteously to be (1): ACCEPTABLE TO GOD AND (2): APPROVED BY MEN- (v. 18)
14:22-23: THOSE WHO HAVE STRONG FAITH can follow their conscience before God and avoid sin...According to St. John Chrysostom, those who are weak in faith may sin, not because the action is wrong itself, but because in their hearts they think betraying God and proceed anyway...This action IS SIN because it does not come from that person's faith...
PSALM 14 (15) STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN
PSALM 14 (15)
PSALM 14 (15): Lord, who may [a]abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
2 He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; 3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he [b]take up a reproach against his friend; 4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.
PSALM 14 (15): Teaches the Church the transfigured life the faithful are to live- (v. 1), as they look for the resurrection from the dead and the life of the world to come- (see-Nicene Creed): They are (1): TO BE HOLY inwardly and outwardly- (v. 2), and (2): TO LOVE their neighbor- (vv. 3-5)...And those who live this way SHALL NEVER BE SHAKEN- (v. 6), either in this world or in the world to come...
END WITH THE LORD'S PRAYER- LET'S DEPART IN PEACE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD MY BROTHERS SISTERS IN CHRIST...
JPCE SPIRITUAL TALK
NEVER HOLD BACK
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
JEHOVAH SHALOM!!!