Romans 15:1 Against Self-pleasing. I. We ought not to please ourselves. "We": who are the we? Christians, but not that alone. Among Christians, the strong. "We that are strong." The strength here indicated is not the general strength of the Christian character, although that in a measure is implied... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 15:2 Christ not Pleasing Himself Christian and Social Tolerance. I. Note, first, the rule of forbearance as laid down by the Apostle. We have to learn that, within the limits of what is not positively wrong, every one has the right to be himself, to develop his own nature in his own way, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 15:4 What is the true purpose of Holy Scripture? Why was it written? St. Paul replies, "Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning." And what kind of learning? we ask. St. Paul answers again, "That we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have, not... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 15:4 , ROMANS 15:13 The Twofold Genealogy of Hope. I. We have here the hope that is the child of the night and born in the dark. "Whatsoever things," says the Apostle, "were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience" or rather, the _brave perseverance_"and co... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 15:29 Christian Confidence. Consider the sources of our confidence in our Christian influence. I. There is the constancy of Christ Himself. The constancy of Christ is as much an article of our confidence as His beneficence. His image in the gospel story is that of one without variableness o... [ Continue Reading ]