1. We have been studying information
in the New Testament that was written "about" as well as "to" various congregations in the first century.
2. Our purpose for studying this
information is to help us know the Lord's will for His church today.
3. We are concluding this series of
lessons by examining several matters addressed in Romans, the letter that the
apostle Paul wrote "to" the church in Rome. Discussion:
I.
LET US
MAKE SEVERAL OBSERVATIONS
FROM PAUL'S PERSONAL
GREETINGS IN CHAPTER
16 IN WHICH
HE USED THE WORDS "CHURCH" AND "CHURCHES"
A. (vs.1-2) Paul commended Phebe, "a servant of the church."
B. (vs.3-5) Paul extended a greeting
to Priscilla and Aquila.
1. (vs.4b) "The churches of the Gentiles" were grateful for their
service.
2. (vs.5) A church was in their home
(1 Corinthians 16:19).
C. (vs.16) Paul extended a
salutation from "the churches of
Christ."
1. This expression does not exalt a
man, a doctrine, or a practice.
2. Rather, it exalts Christ, who:
a. purchased the church with His
blood (Acts 20:28)
b. is the head of the church
(Ephesians 1:22-23))
c. knows what takes place in the
church (Revelation 1:12-13, 20; 2:1).
D. (vs.23) Paul extended a
salutation from Gaius who was his host, "and
of the whole church."
E. These verses that contain "church" and "churches" emphasize the
importance of certain responsibilities that are to be fulfilled by members of
the church, including:
1. respect for Christ in the church
(Colossians 1:18)
2. love in the church (John
13:34-35)
3. service in the church (Galatians
5:13).
II.
PAUL DISCUSSED
SOME ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES IN
CHAPTERS 12-13 THAT
THE LORD HAS
GIVEN TO MEMBERS
OF HIS CHURCH
A. Earlier, Paul showed how a person
gets into Christ (6:3-4).
B. Those who have become members of
the church by being baptized into Christ have responsibilities to:
1. God: be consecrated to Him and
not conformed to the world (12:1-2)
2. self: not to be conceited (12:3)
3. the body (the church): use our
individual gifts (12:4-8)
4. other Christians (12:9-13, 15-16)
5. enemies (12:14, 17-21)
6. the State (13:1-7)
7. neighbors (13:8-14).
C. These verses that reveal several
responsibilities given to members of the church emphasize the importance of
obeying the 2 greatest commandments (Matthew 22:37-40).
