Commentary on "All the Rest Is Commentary"

MARTIN L. CAREY

 

Day 6: Thursday, September 23, 2010 - Fitting Benediction

 

Overview

“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, ‘The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.’” Romans 15:1-3

The Lesson for today asks what important Christian truth is found in the passage quoted above, and how can we live out this principle. Further down the page, the Lesson tells us that the Messiah came in human flesh, and “gave a demonstra-tion, not only of what God is like but also of what humanity may become by laying hold of divine power.”

 

Observations 

Verses 1 to 3 indeed contain a wonderful gift, worth the effort of unwrapping it. Here Paul gives us the ultimate reasons for putting up with the annoying failings of those with weak faith—and to welcome the condescending brother with strong faith. Jesus didn’t please Himself, but bore all the reproaches coming to us, ones that we had coming. He became sin for us, though innocent. Because He came to serve, giving His life as a ransom, we can have endurance, encouragement, and hope. Seeing what Christ has done for us, we can bear the weaknesses of others.

How can we find the ability please others and build them up, even when they eat, drink, or worship in ways that disturb us? Back in 14:1 Paul told us to welcome our brothers who are weak in faith, but not to draw them into a quarrel about food, drink, or keeping days. The principle here is not to tear down their belief, but to build them up. The result will be to strengthen their faith instead of putting them on the defensive.

But here is the problem. What if this weak brother is really very legalistic about his diet, and believes some very extreme things about his food giving him fitness for heaven? Remember, in Galatians Paul dealt very strongly with them and confronted them about their practices. They were definitely not acting out of faith, but were abstaining and observing days out of a desire to improve their salvation. The hearing of Christ crucified had brought them forgiveness and the Spirit’s power, yet they weren’t satisfied. They wanted to earn more blessings by following Moses’ laws.

In contrast, the weak brothers in Romans 14 are abstaining and observing out of faith and honor for God. These brothers and sisters were to be treated very gently. We also want to show discernment between the legalist and those who are merely weak in faith.

This text we all learned as Adventists, and it clarifies how we honor God from faith:

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1,2

What does Paul mean by a “living sacrifice?” Back in Romans 6 we learned that our old self “was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing” (Rom. 6:6). Because we died with Him, we also will live with him (6:8). That is why we won’t present our “members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness” (6:13). Romans 6 shows us that our bodies become instruments of good, so we’ll be loving people who build up and welcome different-acting people of faith.

We can see in 12:1, how we are presenting our bodies to God as a living sacrifice, because we have Christ’s resurrection life in us. Verse 2 tells us how it is done, through the renewing of our minds. As Adventists we always understood this text to be a directive for making our bodies as healthy as possible, making us fit to serve God. We missed the whole context and flow of Paul’s message here. Our living bodies are to serve God through a renewed mind that loves and treasures the crucified Christ. We are motivated by the “mercies of God.” We act out God’s mercy in love and sacrificing for others for their good.

One can have an extremely healthy body and be serving the prince of this world. Concentrating on physical health and self-improvement, will not give us a sense of the mercy of God, or be empowered by the Spirit to sacrifice for our neighbor for his good. Being an instrument of righteousness can only come through the power of the Spirit upon the mind. That Spirit only comes through the Gospel of mercy, for the undeserving. Romans 12:1 is talking about building up the body of Christ, not building our bodies. The Cross of Christ takes away our narcissism, renewing our mind by the Spirit. We’ll have something else to boast about besides our heart rate or longevity:

“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14

 

 

Summary

1. We can bear the failing of the weak in faith knowing Christ’s sacrifice and mercy to us who were weak with sin.
2. Discerning the difference between those weak in faith and the legalists requires discernment between earning God’s favor from pride, and humbly honoring God.
3. In presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, by transformation through the renewing of our minds, we properly worship God.
4. Transforming our bodies for better physical health is not “spiritual worship,” but can merely build our pride.
5. Our bodies will be “instruments of righteousness” when our minds are driven by the “mercies of God,” which we see in Christ’s sacrifice for us.

 

GO TO DAY 7

 

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