Dr. Paul’s Worldviews

In Romans 16:17-27, the Apostle Paul closes his letter to the Roman Christians with instructions that are clearly at odds with today's ideas about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Paul warns the church in Rome about certain characters who would be divisive and scandalous. Those individuals were not only NOT Christians, even though many of them most likely wanted to be thought of as such, they were deceivers who would use Christian talk and flattery to trick the Romans into believing their deceptive, false "gospel." Naivete was something that the Roman Christians did not need to be, but instead, they needed to be wise. By way of application, Paul's instruction needs to be trumped from the roof tops today, in an age where false prophets and teachers abound, and have taken many well-meaning individuals hostage through cunning and deceit. Lastly, the Apostle Paul offers a short doxology, glorifying God through the Lord Jesus, and especially for the gospel message that was a "mystery," but is now fully revealed in the person of Jesus. Thank God for his grace! Thank God for his revelation! Thank God for his Son, who willing paid the sin debt of humanity in-full, so that sinners "may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in" Jesus. Amen!

As Paul begins to close his letter to the Romans, he takes timeout to greet his many friends and fellow co-workers in the Lord. Paul lists 26 individuals by name, along with several others not named specifically. It is further evidence that even though Paul had not founded the church in Rome, his personal influence was acknowledged over the course of the years, as well as the thousands of miles he traveled sharing the "good news" of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. They were his pals, in the vernacular, and those whom Dr. Paul points out are the Christian's only real friends in the world, namely fellow Christians.

As the Apostle Paul approaches the end of his letter to the Roman Christians, he reiterates his plans to visit them prior to journeying further to Spain. There was no more work for him to do, and finally the opportunity had arisen whereby he could now take the gospel to "the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Dr. Paul, though, points out that the Apostle's Paul journey was filled with difficulty and intrigue that he probably did not fully anticipate, as was recorded in Acts 21-26. So, Dr. Paul takes some time to discuss those difficulties by alluding to one of the most compelling chapters dealing with Paul's journey just prior to him boarding a ship and sailing for Rome, Acts 26. It is part of the reason why Paul would write the Romans, "I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ" (Rom. 15:29). Amen.

As the Apostle Paul winds down his letter to the Christians in Rome, he reminds them of his call to the Gentiles. That his ministry and priestly service was to spread the gospel to those who had not heard, so that their converted lives would be acceptable to God. Paul was sold-out on his mission, and serves as example to those who claim to be Christians, but seem content in their apathy and complacency.

In Romans 15:8-13, the Apostle Paul stresses the fact of Jesus' servitude to the Jews, as well as the Gentiles. The purpose was to not only reveal the truth of God in a real, tangible way, but to, as Paul wrote, "confirm the promises given to the patriarchs" and "that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy." Paul then resorts to showing from the Law, Writings, and the Prophets how the Gentiles were now a part of God's chosen people, alongside those ethnic Jews that were redeemed by the same principle of faith, through grace. Ultimately, such conversion on the part of God should instill joy and peace, through the Spirit of God, as the believer abounds in a hope that he/she otherwise was without prior to God's grace act of redemption through Jesus Christ.

All kinds of groups these days are clamoring for unity, whether in sports, politics, or even moral standards. The problem with their pleas is that none of them have an objective standard by which to validate the unity effort. In Romans 15:-7, the Apostle Paul addresses the subject of unity within the Christian faith. There were apparently some within the Church at Rome who were mature, except in the area of recognizing their obligation to help the less mature. Paul makes it perfectly clear that we, as Christians, are to bear one another's failings or burdens with the express hope of building others up, rather than tearing them down. Ultimately, though, by preferring other's welfare over ourselves, to the glory of God, an establishment of camaraderie or unity that takes place within the Kingdom of God. The mature become that much more mature, and the weak are matured, as well, as they grow in the image of God unto the glory God.

Fresh off instructing the Roman Christians to cease judging one another, the Apostle Paul drives home his instruction by telling them to refrain from placing any stumbling blocks before each other as well. Instead, they were to focus on what matters in the Christian faith, which is to live by faith and build one another up in the faith. Why? Because not all Christians are equally mature, and some take more time and nurture than others when it comes to understanding the faith they profess, as God works in everyone's lives to form and shape each individual to be God-honoring servants of Jesus Christ. Those who refuse or fail to comply with Paul's command are considered to be acting unfaithfully and hence destroying God's work.

In Romans 14:1-12, the Apostle Paul warns the Roman Christians about condemning fellow Christians regarding the eating of certain foods or worshiping on certain days. In one instance, the condemnation is legalistic, while in the other it is libertarian; both of which are self-indictments when considering the maturity of the Christian who engages in them. Let God do the judging and let the Christian focus on the main things involving the Gospel. For everyone will stand at the Judgment Seat of God one day, and not one Christian will be sitting on God's throne to help Him decide who is deserving of what.

In Romans 13:8-14, the Apostle Paul stresses what Jesus had talked about when asked about the greatest commandment. The exception is Paul addresses human relationships, specifically within the church. Christians are to love one another, and then by way of extension, love others. They were not to be like the world, whereby illicit sex and drunkenness were the order of the day. But they were to exemplify Jesus Christ, refrain from lusts of the flesh, and fulfill the law through the principle of love.

Romans 13:1-7 is probably one of the more controversial passages of Scripture when it comes to Christian conduct. In it the Apostle Paul instructs that all Christians should be in total submission to civil, government authorities. Why? Because Almighty God is the one who has ordained civil government to keep orderliness in society and evil at bay. What God has also done by issuing such an ordination is erase the idea that Christianity should have no part is conducting civil government. It is a major blow to those who believe that government should stress the oft-quoted "separation of church and state" and thereby set up a purely secular state. What God has in mind, though, is that a government that is run in "good" order is the ideal over one that is godless and lawless. For in the former there is orderliness and life, that ultimately glorifies God, while in the latter there chaos and death, that ultimately glorifies the "god of this world."

In Romans 12:14-21, the Apostle Paul continues his practical instruction on the Christian life, and especially that of avoiding hypocrisy, by taking a somewhere different course of action when it comes to dealing with evil. Rather than curse the persecutor, bless him. Rather than act arrogant toward the lowly, commune with them. Rather than taking out one's own vengeance upon evil people, if they happen to be hungry, feed them; if thirsty, give them something to drink. It is similar to what Jesus taught when he told his disciples to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" and "do good to those that hate you" (Mt 5:44; Lk 6:27).

In Romans 12:9-13, the apostle Paul emphatically stresses the need for all the Christians to exercise their gifts (previously mentioned in Romans 12:6-8) in a non-hypocritical manner. Their love for each other, as well as the Lord, was to be done without compromise or in a two-faced way. Their walk, as Christians, was to be done with zeal, not in laziness and apathy. They were to rejoice in hope, stay patient during times of trouble, and to be constantly in prayer, whether during the mountain peak moments of life or during the valley of the shadow of death times. Paul's admonitions are a prelude to other characteristics consistent with being a true Christian, rather than one who wears his Christianity on his sleeve.

In Romans 12:3-8 the apostle Paul stresses the need for Christian unity amid the diversity of all the members in the body of Christ. This is achieved through humility, rather than haughtiness, and exercising the individuals gifts that have been graced to the individuals, as they serve one another. It is a practical teaching that is an extension of the transformation of the Christian mind, which differentiates his worldview from that of the world.

The Apostle Paul transitions from his discussion about the Jews being placed on the back burner in God's salvific plan to practical discussions in the rest of the Book of Romans about how Christians are to think and live. He begins by looking at the sacrificial lives of the Christians versus the schematized world of unbelief. Too many Christians have yielded to the nonsense of the secular world that Christianity is not something to be personally contemplated; that a great gulf is fixed between faith and "science," which can never be bridged. That, though, is not what Paul argues in Romans 12:1-2. He points out that Christianity is not only a thoughtful faith, but completely logical and reasonable, with the starting point in the will of God, as opposed to the world, which ultimately resides in fallen humanity.

In Romans 11:25-36, the apostle Paul reveals that something mysterious has happened to the Jews that has led to the salvation of the Gentiles. The Jews have been "hardened" or made unreceptive of God's "good news." This came about through their rejection of their Messiah, and now God has turned to the "other sheep" that Jesus spoke about just before his crucifixion. Those "other sheep" are now those to whom the apostle Paul has been appointed, the Gentiles. God's ministry to them, although not totally exclusive of some Messianic Jews who will be redeemed, as well, is His focus until "the fullness of the Gentiles" is complete. That will be followed-up by a mass conversion of Jews at the end of human history on earth.

Although the Apostle Paul had commended the Christians at Rome for their faith (Rom. 1:8), there was a problem that needed to be addressed. Pride had crept in and caused some to look down on their Jewish counterparts. Such pride was not indicative of a true Christian faith and Paul had to issue a warning to remind those at Rome that it is only because of what God had done, by grace, that they were now a part of what was, at one time, exclusive to the Israelites. It is a warning that even Christians today should take heed; to make sure that if a person claims to be a Christian, that that assurance is based solely on God's grace through faith, and nothing else. Lest such boasting lead to being "cut off" or cast out of God's presence later when giving an account to the Lord Jesus Christ (see Matt. 7:21-23). Questions or Comments? Write podcast@capro.info

In Romans 11:1-12, the Apostle Paul explains what has happened to the Nation of Israel when God turned from them to the Gentiles. Is Israel finished, now, as God's covenant people? God has not rejected the Jews, has he? Of course not! So, what happened? They're currently occupying the land called Israel, but they're having so many problems. And what about the Gentiles? They were not God's people before. Why are they now? In this podcast, Dr. Paul explains the Apostle Paul's responses to key questions, and how that even though it might seem that Israel is kaput, due to their rejection of Jesus Christ as its Messiah, there is still a remnant; a remnant that will only get bigger when God is done dealing with the Gentiles.

Too many in contemporary Christianity have a warped view of evangelism. To them, they are the means that the Holy Spirit uses to reach the lost through the latest technological wizardry or emotively driven hoopla, oftentimes leaving out the gospel altogether. The apostle Paul makes it perfectly clear that saving faith comes through hearing the proclamation of the gospel, which entails telling the "dead" the truth about his/her deadness. That the gospel is centered in sound biblical teaching as the final authority, or something that Paul's Jewish brethren were very aware of, yet completely missed out on amid their obstinacy and hardheartedness.

In Romans 10:1-13, the apostle Paul continues his discussion and concern for his Jewish brethren, expressing how they managed to miss what God's righteousness is all about, even though they were quite religious otherwise. Jesus Christ is the goal of that righteousness, and the law is what drives a person to it. Those who try to circumvent that reality with their own brand of "ignorant" or "idiotic" righteousness will only leave them ashamed one day, as they stand before God in judgment unable to excuse themselves. Email your questions to podcast@capro.info Donations may be made to the Christian Apologetics Project. Thank you!

As is the apostle Paul's writing style, he repeated interacts with objections and arguments that he had experienced in the immediate context or from those throughout his ministry. Romans 9:19-33 is another classic example of Paul dealing with those who would object to God's absolute sovereignty in matters pertaining to the election of God's children. In fact, Paul broaches the subject of double predestination, whereby a remnant are chosen for "honorable use," while others are left to themselves for "dishonorable use." The latter of which are for a demonstration of God's power toward those receiving the riches of His glory.