299 - Les Feldick Bible Study Lesson 3 - Part 3 - Book 25 - Practical Christian Living

https://lesfeldickbiblestudy.com Through the Bible with Les Feldick LESSON 3 * PART 3 * BOOK 25 PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING Romans 12:17 "Recompense to no man evil for evil Provide things honest in the sight of all men." Now verse 18, and this will probably raise some eye brows. Romans 12:18 "If it be possible, (there's going to be times when it won't be possible, let's face it) as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." I said, "Is he a fellow believer? Here Paul is up before the great religious leaders of his day, and they're giving him a bad time. Do you think Paul just stood there like a milk toast? Then said Paul unto him, `God shall smite thee, thou whited wall (what is that? Paul calls him a blatant hypocrite: "You religious leader, you know nothing of the things of God"): for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?'" What did Paul do? He exerted his right even as a Christian. So here Paul exerted his legal privilege, and I see nothing wrong with that. Romans 12:19 If God is in control, and you know He is, and someone has misused you, give God time, He's going to square the matter, and I'd rather have God do it than me. And then the admonition in verse 20 and 21: Romans 12:20,21 "Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head, Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Now to Chapter 13, and Paul is going to talk about our attitude toward government. Was Hitler there by God's Sovereign divine appointment? Romans 13:1 For there is no power (no king, no prime minister, no president) but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." Nations have been given their free exercise, God isn't in there constantly haranguing them, but in spite of the fact that He has given individuals, and nations, that exercise of free will, after 6000 years of human history, where are we in God's program? Now verse 2: Romans 13:2 What if someday we should have a completely totalitarian, ungodly government? Well, first and foremost, it's the believers responsibility to live peaceably under that government. But I think the only place where we as believers will have the right to resist that government is when they go contrary to our Christian experience, and to the commands of Scripture. Then verse 3 is the reason: Why do we have government? Romans 13:3-5 Well we have to pay some taxes. Romans 13:6 "For for this cause (because of all the things that God intended government to do) pay ye tribute (taxes) also: for they (government) are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing." People paid taxes in Christ's time, and they've been doing it ever since, and they're getting better at it all the time aren't they? Romans 13:7a,8 Most never realize this complete difference between Law and Grace. Romans 6:14 Romans 6:15 shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." Now, since we're under Grace, love is the dominant force in the life of the believer. Remember, love is the fulfilling of the Law, so when love is operating, look what happens: Romans 13:9 "For this, `Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.'" The Ten Commandments, the Law. And when you get into the Book of Ephesians, Paul uses the one concerning children. Ephesians 6:1 It is absolutely incorrect to call our Sunday the Sabbath. So Paul never makes mention of that commandment concerning the Sabbath because we have nothing to do with that. Romans 13:10 "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: (if you love your neighbor you can't do him dirty, oh, he may do you some, but if love is operating as much as lieth in us we'll let God take care of it.) therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." Now where is the epitome of love expressed that fulfilled the Law? Love, It was His love for lost mankind that set His eyes to the Cross. It was love that nailed Him to the Cross. It was love that caused God to pour out mercy at the Cross. Romans 13:11a Romans 13:11b-14 Let's go on to Chapter 14. Here Paul is going to deal with the disputes between believers. Romans 14:1 Romans 14:2 Meat. And so all the way through Scripture there is absolutely nothing that says we cannot eat meat. Romans 14:3 "Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth:, for God hath received him." Remember what The Book tells us in Romans 8? Who can judge us? Paul absolutely rejects that out of hand. Now verse 4 and here Paul uses an everyday example. Romans 14:4a "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant?..." God is. Romans 14:5,6a Well, that's the liberty of the Christian faith. #LesFeldick #BibleStudy #Bible