04.44. LESSON 44

LESSON 44 The old, inbred, mutual intolerance of Jew and Gentile made their becoming "One new man" in Christ, "so making peace," difficult. Jews had been rocking in the cradle of law so long that they could scarcely learn to walk in grace. The Jew-Gentile question, a burning issue that threatened the very life of the early church from Cornelius onward, found a prominent place in the inspired writings of the time. Because the question involved the perpetual, elemental warfare between the flesh and the spirit, divine wisdom preserved these writings for us. The way Paul brings this question into Romans again is evidence that it had a part in causing the unbrotherly behavior among brethren of different background and spiritual discernment. "For I say that Christ has been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy" (Romans 15:8-9). This means Christ, not only fulfilled the promises God made the Jewish fathers, but also, though no promise was made Gentiles, God had them in mind from the beginning, and purposed out of pure, uncovenanted mercy, in due time, to graft them into the covenantal olive tree, that they too might have hope in Christ. To use another figure, God always intended Gentiles should draw from his public well of salvation, without having to get license from the Jews. Therefore, it being God’s will that both be saved, Jews, praising God especially for his fidelity and. Gentiles especially for his mercy, should be knit together in brotherly love, for no matter what they ate, or what days they kept, without "The Spirit of Christ" they were "none of his" (Romans 8:9). A statement of this conclusion for Jews, particularly, who were the chief offenders in the feud (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16), might run: "Since God included the Gentiles in his original plan, and since Christ now receives them, you should receive them too, without arrogant condescension." As final proof, Paul uses four Jewish Scriptures—the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets all represented, as Christ himself used all three in his post-resurrection instruction (Luke 24:44)—to show that Christ was intended from of old for Gentiles as well as for Jews. The Holy Spirit, knowing how selfish and loveless brethren would always be with one another about discretionary things, gave through Paul the timeless admonition: "Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves... For Christ also pleased not himself." As a big brother in a family feels responsible for his little brother, so a Christian favored in brain, education, and personality should feel toward his brethren who are less favored in these particulars. Rather than flaunting his advantages, let him have them to himself "before God" (Romans 14:22); let him, remembering he is his "brother’s keeper," use his ability and lawful liberty as trusts from God, in the "meekness and gentle-ness of Christ," to build up the whole church in love. If Christ bore all the wickedness his worst enemies could inflict, surely his disciples can forbear the weaknesses of their friends! If eating flesh caused his "brother to stumble," Paul would "Eat no flesh for evermore" (1 Corinthians 8:13).

It is amazing how this simple, spiritual, sufficient divine way oils the machinery of church life, both corporately and individually. Without it, many tangled problems, including those that often arise concerning borderline vocations, entertainment. and amusements, are not soluble. I have read of a big dog, that ordinarily swam the swift river which ran through his master’s estate, going far out of his way to a bridge, when a little dog was to cross with him!

God and His Word The fact that Paul characterized God as "The God of patience... of comfort... of hope... of peace" (all in Romans 15:1-33) points up how fundamental to true religion God’s character is. Inasmuch as worship fashions the character of worshippers after the character of the god they worship, Christians who worship God in spirit and truth will grow in patience, comfort, hope, and peace. Their worship at church, at home, and in secret must be designed and conducted in such a manner as to increase in them the sense of God’s personal presence, reality, and character—upon this depend the depth and genuineness of their religion.

How can Christians afford to forsake their "own assembling together," when Christ, giving them the unspeakably blessed privilege of meeting and getting better acquainted with him, meets with them (Matthew 18:20)? Is not the abstruse spiritual meeting and communion with Christ, and the eating of him in order to live (John 6:57) the real purpose of their assembling? The less the inner, spiritual life and understanding worshippers have, the more importance they attach to outer, fleshly things, such as meats, days, forms, and ceremonies. Note that Paul’s characterization of God with its bearing on worshippers supports his plea for the unity and peace of the church pertaining to things of no intrinsic moral value, for it is difficult to live in peace with impatient, peevish, hopeless, fussy people.

Paul finally takes leave of the subject, over which he has lingered from the beginning of Romans 14:1-23, with the great benedictory prayer: "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13). Behold, the largeness and fullness of this short prayer! Does it not put to shame our poor, little praying? God is the God of eternal hope, which his worshippers drink in from him. Joy is energetic, peace is restful, and hope is an unfailing tonic for drooping spirits on dark days. But all depends on "believing," the deep, solid granite ledge upon which the human side of Christianity rests. "All things are possible to him that believeth," but not a single thing of endurance is possible until he believes. The God of patience and of hope! What, if God should become impatient and lose hope! Has he not always had ample cause (has he any less cause now?) to grow weary of mankind? "It is of Jehovah’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed" (Lamentations 3:22). God is patient, restful, and hopeful because he is eternal. "Through the ages one increasing purpose runs"—"One far-off divine event to which the whole creation moves." God is infallibly working out his glorious destiny for his universe (Colossians 1:18-20). God’s world must at last be right (Luke 18:7-8). Give him time! "Blessed are all they that wait for him" (Isaiah 30:18).

What of God’s word? It is God’s means, says Christ in John 6:44; John 6:55, of drawing men, who hear and learn, to himself. Every line in the Bible from Genesis through Revelation was "written for our learning." But, no matter what other riches we may gather from its sacred pages, we have not "learned" until we come intelligently to God, worship him in spirit and in truth, and become "A habitation of God in the Spirit" through Christ (Ephesians 2:13-22).

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