Biblical Christianity 101, a study of the book of Romans

[Drich]

looks like we are ready for Chapter 12
In Chapter 11 is the last of what Paul had to say about the Jews and how we are related to them (Grafted into the covenant)

Chapter 12:1-8
begins to talk about the Holy Spirit and how he gifts us with different abilities, and how that will lead into worshiping God differently. This means we all will function in our religious lives differently. That what I can do for God may not be what another brother could do. Yet through Christ we both have the freedom to do it. This block of text is the preamble to our various denominational worship. In that we only have one charge. Hate and avoid evil and do what we can for each other out of love. The rest can be accredited to God as worship. where as before (and what many of you think Christianity is/should be) is prescribed methodical ritual and tradition.

9-21 goes into greater detail on how it is we are to love one another. Love not only the lovable, but also love those in whom we may want to loath.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?se...ersion=ERV

[Jenny A]

So which one is the original quote?

I have my doubts.

[TheRocketSurgeon]

Already put this in the other thread but apparently I must repeat myself:

Holy shit... is this asshole STILL rambling on like some kind of delusional schizophrenic hobo talking to his imaginary friends?

Come to think of it, that sums up his religious views quite handily.

[Drich]

Chapter 13 1-6
Is the a Major difference between all of Christianity and Sunni Islam. In that we are commanded to follow the rule of law in our various countries/not change them or think we are above them. Where as a Sunni Muslim (95% of all muslims) are commanded to place the world under Sharia Law./Convert the world or wage war on it till all nations are forced to worship their god.

8-14 explains how "The law" is completed by loving each other, and again avoiding evil.

Keeping in mind evil are not particular heinous acts, but the state of mind that covet and personally excuse/justify regular sin, as per what Paul outlined in Romans chapter 1 and 2

[Drich]

Chapter 14:1-23
It Chapter is a GREAT! Example of the rule that allows for all the different denominations of Christianity.

In essence Paul is telling those who are stronger in the faith not to judge those weaker. He gives examples about food. For some they thought it as a sin to eat meat, for others, they knew it was ok to eat meat. So for those one who could eat meat it was not ok to impose their belief of eating meat on to one who thought it to be a sin. why? Because for the one who thought it a sin to eat meat, for them it was.

We have so much freedom in Christ (because we have been made free from the law) we have the freedom to bind ourselves by how we want to worship God.

Paul also gives another example of those who observe certain days as being holy (Sabbath verse the first day of the week, or Saturday verse Sunday) or any other day Eg Christmas or Easter verses new moon or Passover. we are bound by our own convictions and are free to worship however we want so long as we do not become a stumbling block to the weaker brother. Remember our only guidline here is to keep from Evil, and to do what we do out of Love.

If we follow this command out to it's logical conclusion then it is not hard to see why like minded believers would gravitate towards each other creating churches/congregations that follow whatever dietary, or holy-day observances they might collectively have. Which again using modern terms is the reason we are all justified in our Jesus Christ centered Denominations and their beliefs. Now fast forward 2000 years and those 'stumbling blocks' come far more complex as our lives become more complex hence the reason for so many more expressions of Christianity. Which again we are free to do because we have been given the freedom to worship any way we want.

[The Grand Nudger]

Agreed, 2k years of increasing complexity in our lives - unfathomable to the authors of that book..rendered it irrelevant - leading to your current faith, and the faiths of your fellow christians; personally manufactured faiths which lean on an ancient document for the credibility they cannot produce themselves.

[Drich]

Chapter 15:1-13

I feel that these verses should have been made to be apart of Chapter 14 as they are all still talking about or freedom to worship how we like

14-20 Paul speaks about his work and gives credit to what he has accomplished to the Power given him by the Holy Spirit. Which from personal experience is not just lip service or false humility. If Paul's experience is anything like my own Paul was taken to the end of his natural abilities and beyond that. So that he knew anything else that came as a result of his involvement was not a result of his own abilities but it was given to him by the Holy Spirit.

22-33
Paul talks about a visit he wanted/planed to make to the church at Rome. remember his inability to go there is what prompted him to write this letter. He did finally go to Rome but not as a guest preacher but as a prisoner/citizen (meaning he did not have to await trial in prison, but he did have to rent a place and could not leave) while he waited to for his trial and execution.

[Drich]

Chapter 16 ends like any other letter, with some parting words and personal goodbyes.

[Rhondazvous]

If religious bullshit made the flowers grow, the Bible Belt would look like the Dutch countryside at harvest-time.  And that would be the best argument in its favor.  But it isn't even that useful.

Perhaps we're talking about dogshit here, where horticultural properties are concerned.

[Rhondazvous]

I kinda liked the flow of Chapter 9 so I think I will finish out that way, in that I will only quote something that I think may bring confusion.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?se...ersion=ERV

Chapter 10 1-4
Paul laments the loss of Israel to it's traditions and strict observances to the law. He basically says they simply do not understand that following the law no longer produces righteousness.

5-10 Paul uses a series of OT quotations to explain the reasons why their desire to continue to tow the line rather than seek atonement.

11-13 Paul expresses the unity between all believers in that we are all the same under the grace of God. that no one is 'better' than anyone else.

14&15 is a call to evangelize

16-21 Explains that even if we share the Gospel not everyone will accept it and obey God.

Jesus tells us (Matthew 11:21-23) if the cities that were destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah had seen the same worksto the Jews, they would have repented long ago.

So we have a god who withholds his word from people who would obey him and gives it to people who constantly disobey him.

so why is Paul lamenting. This is obviously part of god's magnificent plan and we should rejoice.