GOLDEN RULE
CHRISTIANITY
OASIS HAS PROVIDED YOU WITH THIS GOLDEN RULE STUDY. MANY HAVE HEARD OF
THE GOLDEN RULE BUT MOST ARE NOT AWARE OF WHAT THE GOLDEN RULE IS AND HOW THIS
GOLDEN RULE CAN AFFECT YOUR
CHRISTIAN WALK. LET US SEEK AND FIND THE TRUTH OF THE GOLDEN RULE TOGETHER, SHALL WE?
THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE ROMANS
CHAPTER 15
Welcome back to
Daily Bread! In our study today, Paul goes a step further in his instruction
about not judging other believers, and encourages us to be selfless and
hospitable, further urging us to put others above ourselves. Remember, the
Golden Rule wasn’t something that the public school system invented. It came
from Jesus. (But don’t tell them that, they’ll outlaw it.)
Matthew 7:12,
Luke 6:31
We that are strong ought to bear the burdens of the weak,
and not please only ourselves.
Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to
build him up.
For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is
written,
The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Psalms 69:9
Remember that whatever things were written formerly,
were written for our learning, so that we,
through patience and the comfort of the scriptures might
have hope.
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be likeminded
(of the same habit of thought)
one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God,
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So receive one another,
as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister in Israel for
the TRUTH of God,
to confirm the promises made to the fathers:
and so that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy;
as it is written,
For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles,
and sing unto thy name.
Psalms 18:49
And again he said, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with His people.
And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him,
all you nations.
Psalms 117:1
And again, Isaiah said,
There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to
reign over the Gentiles;
in Him shall the Gentiles hope.
Isaiah 11:1
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in
believing,
that you may abound in hope, through the power of the
Holy Ghost.
This is the second
time now in this letter that Paul has referred to hope and the Holy Ghost in
the same sentence. There’s a significant connection between them. The Holy
Ghost is our comforter, who Jesus sent to get us through until He returns.
Our hope, our longing, our cause, and the promise of God is that Jesus will
return and we will live with Him forever. So you can see how the power of
the Holy Ghost is what gives us our hope, which is what we live for. Cool,
huh?
And I myself also am convinced, my brethren,
that you also are full of goodness, filled with all
knowledge,
and also able to instruct one another.
Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly to
you in some ways,
to remind you, because of the
Grace that is given to
me of God,
that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the
Gentiles
,
ministering the Gospel of God,
that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable,
being sanctified (set apart, made holy) by the Holy Ghost.
Again, the offering up of the Gentiles is hoped for,
and the Holy Ghost is there to reinforce that hope.
I have reason to glory through Jesus Christ
in those things which pertain to God.
For I will not dare to speak of any of those things
which Christ has not brought about by me,
in order to make the Gentiles obedient,
by word and deed, through mighty signs and wonders,
by the power of the Spirit of God;
so that from Jerusalem, and round about to Illyricum,
I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ.
I’m for
real, Paul is saying. And I’m proud of it, and I’m proud of what I’m
preaching. The words, the works, the miracles, all of it is from the Holy
Spirit of God, and it’s all truly real.
Yes, in this way I have strived to preach the Gospel,
not where Christ was named (not where Jesus was already
preached about),
lest I should build upon another man’s foundation
(so I wouldn’t take another man’s credit),
But as it is written,
To whom He was not spoken of, they shall see:
and they that have not heard shall understand.
Isaiah 52:15
For this reason also I have been kept from coming to you.
The Romans had
knowledge of Jesus, whereas many of the Gentiles in the other nations had no
knowledge of Him, so the Holy Spirit guided Paul to other places first.
But now having no more place in these parts,
(
he had
accomplished his assignment)
and having a great desire these many years to come to
visit you;
whenever I take my journey into Spain,
I will come to you: for I hope to see you in my journey,
and to be brought on my way there by you,
if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
But now I’m going to Jerusalem to
minister to the saints.
For it has pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia (Gentile
nations)
to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which
are at Jerusalem (Jewish).
It has truly given them pleasure; and their debtors they
are.
For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their
spiritual things,
their duty is also to minister to them in carnal things.
So when I have delivered their gift I will come by you
into Spain.
And I am sure that, when I come to you,
I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel
of Christ.
Now I ask you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake,
and for the love of the Spirit,
that you strive together with me in your prayers to God
for me;
that I may be delivered from them that do not believe in
Judæa;
(don’t forget, there were many Jewish people who weren’t
believers in Judæa,
and Paul was CONSIDERED AS A TRAITOR by the Jewish
religious Leaders)
and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be
accepted of the saints;
that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and
may with you be refreshed. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
You wont’ want to miss our next study, so hurry back soon, and we’ll
share the final chapter of this letter from Paul to the Romans, and the
answers to your homework assignment too, right here at Daily Bread.
