We shared this special message with our listeners at the start of our Podcast Episode: Mind of Miz Bible Study (Romans) #42 Romans 16: 17-20 as a transition from the last few Bible Study episodes before, where we have focused on the particulars of the church of Rome and have had time to consider the importance of our own local churches.
We have reached the point in this study where we only have 3 lessons to go including today’s lesson. What a remarkable journey this has been. Even as we approach the end, we still have much to learn and glean. Chapter 16 truly has been a pleasure to soak in.
I must admit, while I have read it before, I had never taken the time to dive into it as I have the last several weeks. I have been moved by the story lines and the Christian living that is presented in this chapter.
As I think about my own personal journey about church life – starting off in a small Pentecostal church in Chicago and now enjoying fellowship in a church which does not claim any denomination as its own, though it has adopted, to some extent, the 1689 Baptist confession, and as one of the elders once told me, they align much in the same vein as Charles Spurgeon, my church is dedicated to the exposition of the word of God above all things. We are not driven by programs, but by the Bible. I was blessed to be able to pack up my belongings and together with my wife make the move to Dallas to be a part of such a unique body in the sea of American churches today.
I do not claim my church is perfect, it couldn’t be, I’m a member. But it’s a precious part of who I am. I hope, that as you have been listening to the study of this chapter, you have been able to meditate on how blessed you are to be part of your church.
If you are not part of a church that strengthens you, rather, you are part of a church that burdens you, I hope you have meditated on how you can be an agent of change where possible, and that you recognize that since there is no perfect church, often, what we lack is the living out of the gospel with those with whom we do fellowship.
If, however, you find yourself churchless, you are also spiritually homeless. These are the questions you ought to meditate on, where do I worship, alongside whom do I worship with, to what body of priests am I accountable, that is to say, who are the men and women you fellowship with who can tell that you’re spiritually weak and in need of prayer, in need of an encouraging word, or even, a stern rebuke. No Christian is called to Christ without also being called into the body of Christ, his Church.
You then who are churchless, near and far, I implore you, as a fellow brother in Christ, that you seek diligently for the place where you can unite to the body of Christ, for while you are part of that body universally, and may count yourself among God’s elect, you suffer greatly by not doing the work only the Church of Christ an execute.
Don’t listen to my words without attempting to catch the palpitations of my heart that beat for you. I am nothing without Christ, and without his word I would be lost. But I do have both, and beyond that I have the privilege of teaching you, the listener. I have found myself at the mercy of God’s sovereignty with the task of leading a Bible study that began, not by my own desire, but sparked by your questions and your desire to know more. Not that I do not desire to lead such a Bible Study, I often find that I am most useless, lacking in talent and natural gifts, often the least smart one in the room, without formal study, with no accolades, yet enabled by the Spirit of Christ to be good, a term I use loosely here, if for nothing else, the preaching and teaching of his word. And I count that as my most prized possession on the earth, that a simpleton like me could utter God’s word, as revealed in scripture, by way of teaching or preaching.
As Martin Luther said, the nature of God’s word is to be heard, which means the Nature of God’s word is also to be spoken, even as I write, I wonder if these words I read can have the impact that spontaneous words have, but I continue in humble submission to my own limits of memory, praying that you will recognize that as I write this, that you, the listener, have been in my heart, even when you are not present before me.
It has been the constant meditation upon God’s word that has propelled me to act differently, to greet differently, to esteem my fellow brother and sister more. To hold others higher than I hold myself, to give credit to others more. To not have a high estimation of myself, to live joyously in knowing that God’s sovereignty reigns. That it pleases God to do good unto others. Let us all do good unto one another – greet one another as Paul has taught us, with a holy kiss.
This is a highly desirable position to take, if we can rightly comprehend Paul’s words to us, because what follows, is a warning that we must all heed, and if we are not in the right mind, if we are not in a position of humbleness, the one with the other, then I’m afraid that we will miss this warning. Let’s look at it together.
Commentaires