Paul writes. Imitate me. as I also imitate Christ. We call that following Christ, we call it discipleship. Do those words mean anything or have they become white noise?
Have you heard these things so much that they just bounce off?
Well The fact is, many Christians they're still getting it, they're still doing it, it's not bouncing off, it is doable. Christianity is doable and there are many Christians doing it. This is Cross-Reference Radio with our pastor and teacher, Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Romans.
Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about Cross-Reference Radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. And now here's Pastor Rick with part 2 of his message called Learning is for Doing in Romans chapter 15. Verse 2. Let each of us please his neighbour for his good leading to edification. Again, Paul is trying to fix this mess.
That Did not exist only in the church at Rome. He'd already been through at Carnath, which certainly was through the churches in Galatia. Is going to stay even into Revelation. Christ is out of the seven churches, he's saying, You know, five of you, I got a big problem with you, and if you don't fix this, I'm leaving. Pretty serious how he addresses those churches.
The darling church, Ephesus. The investments that she enjoyed. Paul taught there. Apollos, Timothy, John the Apostle. That church was so blessed.
Only to end up Leaving their first love. They lost their passion for Christ. And in its place they had a passion for religion. Christless Christianity is no joke. Verse 2, let each one please his neighbor.
for his good leading to edification. And I've covered something about yielding. But the most powerful argument for Christian conduct is the example that Christ has left us. He pleased his father. Everything was about his father in heaven.
Now you can disagree with some Christians. On their non-essential biblical views or church policy. And they'll crumble. They get in the flesh. Catch an attitude, argue, withdraw from serving.
Leave the church, try to take others with them, all because. You hurt their feelings. Don't be that guy. You cannot get anything done as a body in Christ. with those kind of troops.
You've got to be tougher than that, all of us. Thin skin does not serve Christ well. It's okay to take hits. Trust God. I don't like Him any more than you do.
I'm looking forward to going to heaven just like you are. No pastor likes, oh gosh, I got to talk to this person.
Well, woo-hoo, this is the most fun I'm ever going to have. Wait till I get finished with this person. It's never that way. And so We take hits too. And Christians should understand that God is saying to them Trust me.
I'm not going to leave you. You know what you're supposed to do. You've learned from the scriptures. Learning is for doing something. Not just learning because, ooh, look at all the notes I have.
We're supposed to demonstrate our faith in Christ. I know this pastor in Rome was dealing with such junk, foods and days and fragile feelings. Do I believe? This is the way The world? Absolutely.
But do I behave this way? I hope not. You know, even bowling alleys have rules and regulations. You gotta wear the right shoes to go on their floor. You can't just take a basketball and knock down pins.
How about a 12-gauge? And just, I'll fix those pins. They'll never get up again. There are rules, there are restrictions, and we understand that when we go to the world, why don't we get it when we come to the church? Why do we think we're entitled?
to assert ourselves. When Christ has already laid it out.
Well, I hope I don't sound angry. I'm not angry, but I want to be firm on these things. Matthew 7: Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the prophets.
So, my point is: Paul is saying, What I'm telling you in the church at Rome is something that Christ taught, it's something that he gave to Moses. Leviticus chapter 19, verse 18. You shall not take vengeance. A lot of Christians Wanna hurt somebody? And so they'll pull out of a ministry, they're going to get you.
Don't be that guy. You shall not take vengeance. bear any grudge against the children of your people. But you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh, I am God Almighty.
Christian learning is for doing. You read that verse, you learn about it. Are you going to do it? Maybe somebody at work will ask you, what did you do in church Sunday?
Well, Pastor cleaned my clock. He tried to get us all. to march together. to row together. To fight together.
That's what he was trying to do, because that's what the apostles and prophets were doing before him. Bible study is not a theory. It's not to be abstract. is to be concrete.
So, you cannot say in good conscience, I love expository Bible teaching so long as I like it. Conviction doesn't care if you like it. It says you're guilty. Or not? Preaching is to be more than teaching.
It is supposed to deliver a message directly from God to those being preached to. Mm. Many of you, of course, you get it. You pray for your pastor. No matter what church you find yourself in, you pray because you understand this is something God has ordained.
Well, Matthew. I mentioned John the Baptist earlier, and now I circle back to him, Matthew 11, verse 7. As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John. What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
Is entertainment your attraction? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments. Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. You can find that elsewhere.
But this is what you cannot find elsewhere. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. What is a profit?
Well, let's contrast. The priest is one who sends the offerings up from the people to God. Primarily. A prophet primarily is the one who brings the message from God to the people. And that's the role of the pastor.
He is to bring a message to the people. His outline is right here. He just has to develop it for application. Because there are many applications, and he has to find out which one is for the people who will be in front of me. One of my favorite Bible teachers, G.
Campbell Morgan, he pastored Westminster Chapel in London. Back in the early part of the last century, the 20th century. He had a peephole. on his office door.
So he can look out. And see Who he was going to preach to? And if you've done long-term preaching, you understand the value of that. There's a spiritual, there's a heart, oh man. It's just a very important thing.
I don't have a peephole. I would want one that is like a telescope.
So I could watch you driving. In yeah. Oh, this is so stupid. Leading to edification. What does that mean?
Well, get her done. That's what that means. These things are for us to get the job done. Christ-like behavior improves everything. We are issued gear from God for a reason.
If you've been in the military, I would think When you were issued gear, you might not have even been able to identify what everything was. But you knew it was for a purpose. For me, I put to use all of it. I remember leaving one time, I left a tent peg. I said, I don't need that.
The drill starts to choked me for not having that. I never forgot to bring it again.
So I could hit him with it. No, no. We're issued gear for a reason. You're issued a Bible for a reason. You're issued verses for a reason.
You're given the Holy Spirit for a reason. Everything we do. As Christians, is for a reason Christianity is not random. The universe is not random. Discipleship is not random.
All of it is through hard work and care. If you don't care, you won't work hard. If you have cares that are bigger, they're going to get the attention. Which dog wins the fight? The one you feed the most?
And so may our liberty in Christ be matched by our devotion to Him. Easy words to preach. And sometimes it's relatively easy to do them. But for the long haul, You're going to have to be ready. Verse 3: For even Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, the reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.
Will our Lord live to please the Father? And that led to salvation, redemption. He died not Only for Christ did not only die for the strong and the steadfast and the brave. And the scholarly, he died for them too. But also for the weak and the feeble and the malfunctioning.
Also, for the strong who have moments of malfunction or weakness. He healed the broken. He taught the ignorant? He loved the sinner. He was patient with Peter's blunders.
And Peter had quite a few big ones. And of course he was patient with Paul's blunder. of persecuting the church and hating him. He gave his betrayer another chance. That would be Judas, knowing.
that his purse of thirty pieces of turncoat money was still jingling in the bag. and he called him friend, Give him one more chance. I say that a lot because I think it's one of the most beautiful pictures in the scripture. Christ, when he was being betrayed. How he handled Judas, how he handled Peter as Peter used the sword in violence.
to defend the Lord and was corrected. He, Jesus Christ, is our motive Four not entirely disregarding the weak. for not being rude You other Christians. As we look at the recipients of his grace, as I just mentioned, those Men Peter and Paul, even Judas. Mature saints measure everything by Christ.
What does he want, especially when we are in convenience? Are your feelings more important to you than God's word? You have to answer that question. Is any of this registering? Is this just another Bible study?
Or is any of it ringing a bell? For those of you who need this bell, to sound within your heart. Don't be afraid if you're convicted. That's the love of God. giving you a chance to work with him to fix it.
His convictions are not condemnations. He's not applauding that which is wrong, but he's working to. Work through it. Colossians 2. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.
rooted and built up in him. And established in the faith.
Now here it comes. as you have been taught. Learning is to do something. He continues abounding in it with thanksgiving. Served long enough.
Serve hard enough. And you will find times where you have to force yourself to be grateful verbally. You know, you get it. God's given you things that you don't deserve. But there's other things you want and you're not getting.
And these two can box it out. They fight it out in your heart. And I encourage you, if and when you come to those days, it's okay. to force yourself. To praise the Lord.
Nonetheless, there used to be a song, Hallelujah. Anyhow. Never, never let the devil get you down.
Well, I don't remember something comes your way Look to the Lord and say hallelujah anyhow. Look, as Pentecostal song, it's a good song. There's doctrine in that. He continues, but as it is written, the reproaches of those who reproach you fell on me. Paul is quoting Psalm 69, verse 9.
He's applying it to the life of Christ. Paul, as has been his habit, is just quoting. Quoting scripture. Because, of course, it means something. In obedience, Christ faced shame to accomplish the mission for the Father.
And so, 1 Corinthians 11, Paul writes. Imitate me. as I also imitate Christ. We call that following Christ. We call it discipleship.
Do those words mean anything or have they become white noise? Have you heard these things so much that they just bounce off?
Well The fact is, many Christians they're still getting it, they're still doing it. It's not bouncing off, it is doable. Christianity is doable and there are many Christians doing it. Learn to take orders and blessings will follow.
Now Proper orders, and by that I mean You don't take orders from a three-year-old unless they say, I'm hungry. That's one you got to act on. What is the alternative to not learning how to take orders as a Christian? What is the alternative? The church in Corinth is in one of her episodes.
That would be it. Verse 4: For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we, through the patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope.
So, having quoted Psalm 69 concerning Christ, Paul reminds us that Old Testament Scripture never goes out of style. It's permanent in its value. It is forever relative. The grass may wither, the flowers fade, but the word of God stands forever. And so.
The Bible that he had in those days, as he's being used to make the New Testament, was the Old Testament. And it never went out of style. There were things about it fulfilled that were developed, of course. All of the temple sacrifices.
Sometimes it's a good pit stop. to just take that 13th chapter of Hebrews and read that. As Christians, as churchgoers, just read Hebrews 13, because it sort of just is an overview of. Our assignment as believers is very edifying. Coming back to verse 4, he says, we're written for our learning.
The title of the message, Learning is for Doing. We can't cry to the God.
Well, why didn't you tell us? Why didn't you teach us? Can't say that. He's done that. God's word was given even with people not yet born in mind.
Your New Testament REFERENCE ACTS two thirty nine. Romans four, twenty three and twenty four. 1 Corinthians 10, verse 6 and 11. James 5:10. That's just a few.
of God saying, I'm giving my word to you. and future generations. He continues in verse 4. that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Well, scripture is efficacious, it gets things done. Comfort. not instruction. is what someone who is In distress. or going through grief That's what they crave.
However, Without being instructed In the things of Christ, You may be ill-equipped. to give comfort in time of need. You don't want to give hollow comfort. Oh, to be all right when it's not going to be all right. That's not the kind of comfort that helps.
To learn these things in Christ is the best way, and that's what he's talking about throughout this section. If you just glance down at the bottom of verse 5, he says, according to Christ Jesus. You can put that over your entire Bible.
Now, coming back to verse 4, that we through the patience and comfort of scriptures might have hope.
Now verse 5, Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another according to Christ. Again, he has in mind the fights that are taking place in the church. He wants unity according to Christ. God has not rushed. He's not easily irritated.
He's left that for me. and is not unmindful of the dreads of life. When you read the word comfort in scripture, you read God saying, I'm not going to deliver you. From what you're going through right now, but I will comfort you in the midst of it because I'm well aware of what this life throws at you. But if I took out all the Christians From this world What would be left?
Well, we're going to find out at the Great Tribulation period.
Well, we're not. But those left Well, even then, God will have his witnesses. There will be the 144,000 and the tribulation converts to carry on. The work.
Well, grant to you, he says here in verse 5, to be like-minded towards one another. Obedient like-mindedness, impossible without the Holy Spirit, possible with Him is what He wants to do. Respect for other believers leads to harmony in the church, leads to being effective outside the church. Otherwise, are we not hypocrites? If we don't behave in church, yet we want to get people to come to church.
How's that work? Comforting others sometimes calls for personal discomfort. And if you care for somebody who is maybe physically sick or hurting, you're going to have to make sacrifices to help them. And we call that love. And are we not impressed, even in many of our hospitals, there's such good care people get.
In many of our hospitals, and even by some that are not believers.
So, anyway, by the way, Christian unity does not require that we unite. Under things that are against Christ. I cannot unite with people who pray to Mary, not spiritually.
So he says according to Christ. an unleavened standard. Do you think this is harsh? Find out what the wrath of God is about. That's harsh.
Well, really don't find out. Avoid it. Verse 6, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Mind and mouth agreement born out of conviction. Luke 6, verse 45: For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
Can we stay united? Under pressure. There's a big difference between Marching in formation and Keeping up with a fire team. Anybody can talk a good fight. How about under pressure?
How about when you're not getting what you want? in the church. Unity under pressure should be a Christian mindset. We should draw lines in the sand and say, I'm not going to cross this line. Again, and we ask what are the alternatives?
He says here In verse 6, That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now when he says and Glorify our God and Father. It is not the end of also, but rather of equality. God is the Father. And the Lord Jesus Christ, its sharp distinction there between the Father and Son, has no hint of inferiority. It's an easy thing to prove, I guess, with logic.
You have children? They're not inferior to you. And they're not you. But they are human like you.
Well, in the deity, the son is not inferior to the father. He is equal to the Father. And it comes right out and says it in one particular place, Philippians chapter 2. Verse 7 now, therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
Now I'm getting a little bit ahead of myself. When we get to chapter 16, which is one of the beautiful chapters of Romans, Paul's going to rattle off all these names of the saints that he loves so much. that are in this church in Rome. He sends his greetings to them. That's what all this is for.
Many of those saints that he's going to name were doing the things. That were right. they were following the instructions, but maybe not all of them. This letter would have been read out loud. Notice the genius of Paul.
To call the weak Out loud. and at the same time build them up. Because they're going to hear about The weak are the ones that won't eat the meat. And they're going to hear about The stronger Christians that have to Because Kind to them nonetheless and not allow these fights to take place. Therefore, verse 7: receive one another just as Christ also received us to the glory of the Father.
this injunction to receive one another, is addressed to the Jews. Not all of them, but some of them who look down with contempt on the Gentiles. Thought they were low-class believers, second-class believers. But it also is also addressing those Gentiles. that were uptight about the Jews.
Boy, these Jews that do this, they do that. And so he's saying, Look. You, your church, you in your church. You gotta fix this. It's magnificent, I think.
Well, I want to close with this fact.
Sometimes it is. Better to separate than to try to force a fit. When Abraham and Lot, when their workers were fighting each other, And they realized they had to go in different directions. We read.
So Abraham said to Lot, please. Let there be no strife between you and me. And between My herdsmen and your herdsmen. For we are brethren. There's not enough to divide on.
But it had to separate. He says, Just as Christ also received us. John 13, 15, For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you. He says to the glory of God at the bottom of verse seven, Well, God is honored when we behave like His Son, when we even try to behave like His Son. Our objective, our mission, our role is to be Christ-like, and from that flows.
The kingdom of God. Close with this verse. John 12, 31, if I If I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all peoples to myself. Christ's likeness gets things done. Mm-hmm.
Thanks for joining us for today's teaching on Cross Reference Radio. This is the daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel at Mechanicsville in Virginia. We're currently going through the book of Romans. If you're in need of hearing this message again or want to listen to others like it, head over to crossreference radio.com. We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast too, so you'll never miss another edition.
Just go to your favorite podcast app to subscribe. On our website, you'll be able to learn a little more about the ministry of Cross-Reference Radio, so make a note of it, crossreference radio.com. That's all we have time for today, but thanks so much for listening. Pastor Rick will be back next time in the book of Romans here on Cross-Reference Radio. Mm.
