"Uh, I Forgot…"
Today's Three-minute Bible Study
Print, Study and Apply
Title: "Uh, I Forgot…" ------------------- Date: 11/4/2001
Keywords:
"memory"
Welcome
to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual
temptation.
Passage: Romans 15:14-15*
14. And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able also to admonish one another.
15. But I have written very boldly to you on some points, so as to remind you again…
Questions
1. How does Paul characterize the Christians at Rome to whom he is writing? Do you get the idea that he thinks they are losers?
2. In the letter to the Romans, we find many exhortations to either stop sinning or to begin some new holy habit, implying that the readers were not doing all they could do to honor God by their lives. Based on the passage above, to what might Paul attribute the Romans’ lack of practical godliness?
Practical help
Don’t miss the import of verse 14, above! Paul’s confidence was well-placed. Christians truly are "full of goodness." (If you want to find out how to become a Christian, click here.) They are redeemed and re-made. They have new hearts, are forgiven, Heaven-bound and permanent members in God’s family. They have the knowledge they need — ALL the knowledge they need — to please God. They are well-equipped to serve those around them, even through the ministry of admonition, a difficult ministry to fulfill as it takes wisdom, love, and courage.
Given that all of this is true, why has Paul found it necessary in Romans to tell his readers to not judge each other, to not be haughty, to not take their own revenge, to not be overcome by evil, to not commit adultery, etc.…?
Verse 15, above, says that he wrote "very boldly on some points" because they had short memories. Ever wonder why Scripture so often exhorts us to "remember"? It is because the people of God have notoriously short memories!
Paul’s "reminding" had to do with the factoids of verse 14. He wanted to make sure that they remembered who they REALLY were, confident that if they just remembered THAT, they would walk/live as they should.
To all Christian eXXit readers, remember who you are! You are good on the inside. You know what you need to know. You have what it takes to minister with wisdom, love and courage. What in the world is a man/woman like you doing messing around with smut?
Rejoice, be free and walk away from it!
eXXit
homepage
Index of three-minute studies
Copyright 2001 by eXXit
*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright
The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by
permission."
|