06/05/11  Sermon:
“The Scriptures Give Us Encouragement!”
( Romans 15:1-33 )
     ************************************************************

     Today is the second to the last sermon in my sermon series on the Book of Romans.  If at all possible, I strongly encourage you to attend next Sunday for the last sermon in this series because in next Sunday’s sermon I will sum up the basic points made in this sermon series on the Book of Romans.

     As for today’s sermon, the text is Romans chapter 15 – and let me say up front that I could easily preach several sermons on this chapter of Romans because in this chapter Paul deals with various subjects.  Having said that, I’ve decided to sum up Romans chapter 15 in a brief manner by focusing on what Paul says in Romans chapter 15:4.  Let me read those words again:  “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

     Did you hear what Paul said?  The Scriptures give us encouragement!  How do they do that?  The Scriptures encourage us by pointing us to God’s promises for us as they are ultimately fulfilled in Christ and His work for us.

     For example, in Romans 15:3 Paul writes:  “For even Christ did not please himself but as it is written:  ‘The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.’”  Paul quotes from Psalm 69 where King David writes about how he is being persecuted because he is striving to be faithful to God.

     Well, what is true for King David is even more true for the Son of David:  The promised Savior who would come from David’s family line, Jesus the Christ, our Lord.  Jesus was willing to be faithful to God and speak His truth, and so Jesus suffered the insults of those who hated God’s truth.  

     Paul’s point in today’s reading is that Psalm 69 and the entire Old Testament is ultimately a picture and prophecy of Jesus and His work for us.  In fact, Paul speaks of this at the very beginning of Romans chapter 1 where we read:  “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God – the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son,…”

     Now do you see why God wants us to study Holy Scripture – including the Old Testament?  All that was written in the past in the Old Testament was for your sake to point you to Christ and His work for you.  

     Therefore, the Old Testament is not a boring history of ancient people that does not relate to our lives today.  By no means!  The Old Testament is YOUR HISTORY because beginning with Creation in the Book of Genesis God traces His plan throughout history – His plan to save you from your sins through His Son, promised in Holy Scripture.

     Listen to what Paul writes about this in 2nd Timothy chapter 3:  “…continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

     Did you hear that?  Scripture is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.  We learn many important things from Holy Scripture.  But most of all, Scripture makes us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus!  This is why Scripture encourages us.  Scripture points us to Jesus and His work for us.

     Therefore, I would encourage all of you to get involved in a daily Bible reading routine if you are not doing so already.  I know what some of you will say:  “But pastor, I’m so busy.  I don’t have time to read the Bible every day.”  

     I understand.  I’m busy, too.  But the fact is that we all have the same amount of time:  24 hours per day.  Therefore, it comes down to priorities.  What is important to us.  We’ll make time for whatever is important to us.  

     I’m convinced that we ALL have plenty of time to read the Bible every day – even if it’s only 15 minutes per day.  We can do this because there are plenty of things we all make time for every day, and none of those things are as important as making time to read Holy Scripture so that we might be encouraged in our faith.

     Don’t think of reading the Bible as a burdensome duty you must perform.  That kind of attitude comes from the devil.  Instead, think of reading the Bible as a gift you get to receive.  Reading Scripture gives God an opportunity to bless you with encouragement.

     Of course, many will say to me:  “But pastor, there’s so much in the Bible I don’t understand.  I can’t figure out how it all fits together.  I don’t see how it relates to my life today.  So why should I bother?”  My response is as follows.  

     First, you might not understand everything you read in the Bible.  But that’s exactly why you need to study it on a regular basis – so that you CAN eventually understand its message and how it relates to your life today.
     Second, there are tools available to help you understand the Bible’s message.  For example, I’d encourage you to get a copy of the new “Lutheran Study Bible” available from Concordia Publishing House.  You can order it online or I can get you their “800” number so you can call them and order one.  The “Lutheran Study Bible” is filled with articles and notes that will help you understand particular passages within their context.

     Finally, if you have a hard time understanding parts of the Bible, come to me with your questions.  That’s why I’m here.  I’ll do my best to answer your questions.  If I don’t know the answer to your question off the top of my head, I’ll do some research and get back to you.  

     In addition, please consider attending the Bible classes I offer – especially on Sunday mornings.  During Services I have around 20 minutes to preach on a text.  But during Bible class I have an entire hour to explain the details of a biblical text and answer any questions you may have.  

     As your pastor, I’m here to give you encouragement from the Holy Scriptures – and one of the best ways I can give you that encouragement is during Bible Class as we examine the Scriptures thoroughly together.  The Scriptures reveal to you YOUR place in God’s salvation history – a history that is HIS STORY, that is, Christ’s story.  

     With that understood, allow me to sum up very briefly some of the important points Paul makes in today’s reading from Romans chapter 15.

     Paul begins today’s reading by summing up what he taught us in Romans chapter 14, which was the basis for my sermon last Sunday.  Simply put, as people who have forgiveness and the hope of eternal life in God’s love because of Jesus and all He has done for us, we are now set free to love and serve others as Christ loves and serves us.   Therefore, Paul writes:  “Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”

     Now, this doesn’t mean that we become “people pleasers” and affirm people even when they are in the wrong.  Instead, Paul means that we should be willing to serve others and seek their good just as Christ serves us and seeks our good.  

     This is the opposite of the devil’s message so prevalent in our culture – a message that says we should put ourselves first and use others to meet our own selfish goals in life.  In contrast, Scripture encourages us to be like Jesus who forgives, loves and serves us. 

     Therefore, we strive to become servants of others.  We love and forgive each other just as Christ loves and forgives us.

     Paul then goes on to talk about the importance of Christians being unified as we follow Christ.  Now, this does not mean that we agree to disagree as we tolerate error and false teaching for the sake of human unity.  No!  This evil unity is far too common today and God is not pleased with it. 

     Instead, the “spirit of unity” God desires is a unity created by Holy Scripture.  As we unite ourselves around God’s Truth revealed in Holy Scripture we will with one heart and mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This is another reason for us to study the Scriptures together.  As God’s Word shapes us, He thereby unites us as one Body in Christ.

    The next thing Paul goes on to teach us takes up most of Romans chapter 15.  To sum up this section briefly, Paul simply teaches us that the Old Testament Scriptures show us how God chose the Jews to be His instrument through which He would bring God’s Truth to all people in this world.  In other words, the Old Testament clearly teaches that God’s plan is to save ALL people through His Son who came into this world through the Jews.

     Why did Paul need to stress this point?  Well, sadly, some Jewish people had misinterpreted the Old Testament by selective reading.  They wrongly concluded that God loved only faithful Jews and didn’t care about anyone else.  

     But Paul quotes several passages from the Old Testament to show that God planned to use the Jews to bring salvation to the Gentiles – and that word “Gentiles” refers to every other human being who is not Jewish.

     Now do you understand what I mean when I say that the Old Testament is YOUR history?  The Old Testament shows us God’s plan to save ALL people from sin and damnation through His Son.  God entrusted His Word to the Jews and promised that the Savior of all people would come through the Jews.  

     Therefore, the Old Testament, which God used the Jews to write and preserve, is meant for ALL people because the Old Testament lays out God’s plan of salvation in Christ – and this salvation is meant for ALL people; for YOU.

     The Old Testament Scriptures encourage us because they reveal to us God’s plan to save all people from sin and the eternal punishment that we deserve.  In fact, you can’t even understand the New Testament without the Old Testament.  In the same way, the Old Testament makes no sense unless you see how it is fulfilled in the New Testament.  That’s why this sermon series is titled:  “The Romans Roadmap.”  The Book of Romans is like a map that directs us through the Old Testament and shows us how it leads to Christ and His work for us.

     Finally, Paul spends the rest of Romans chapter 15 to explain to the Church of Rome how he hopes to visit them and receive support from them so that he can continue Christ’s Great Commission by bringing the gospel to Spain.

     Paul also encourages the Church of Rome to give a special offering to help the Jewish Christians in the Jerusalem area who are being persecuted because of their faith in Christ.  This reminds us that we Christians are a family, and we are to help each other during our times of need – especially if we are suffering because we are being persecuted for our mutual faith in Christ.

     Paul then ends Romans chapter 15 with these words:  “The God of peace be with you all.  Amen.”  God has given you peace because He sent His Son to be your Savior.  Because of Jesus, your many sins are forgiven.  Because of Jesus, you are at peace with God.  Because of Jesus, you have nothing to fear because not even death can separate you from God’s love and the hope of eternal you have in Jesus.

     My friends, we live in tough times.  Not only do we have to face all the problems common to all humans who live in this cursed world.  On top of that, we Christians may sometimes suffer additional persecution of various kinds as we witness for Jesus and strive to live for Him.

     But in the midst of all of the difficulties we face, God gives us encouragement from His Holy Scriptures which teach us so many good and important things – especially the mercy, love and hope we have in Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

     So, give thanks to God every day that you have His Holy Scriptures in the English language.  Give thanks to God every day that you have the joy and privilege of reading those Holy Scriptures and attending a Church where God’s Holy Scriptures are taught and preached faithfully.  Always remember Paul’s words:  “…everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

Amen.