Thinking better about People.

Thinking better about people. Romans 15:1-7.

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Romans 15:1 (NKJV)

In a plea to stop the bickering, Paul cautions Christians to not stumble others with the liberties that they experience as Christians. Religious people have things that they do or do not do, in an attempt to be godly; but Christians are saved not by what they do, but by grace for believing in Jesus.

Christians have a restored relationship with God and there are no legalistic rules to follow; they only live by the conviction of the Spirit to be holy as God is holy. Therefore, Christians may do things that others might not do; yet not if it will cause another to stubble and miss an opportunity to know the Messiah Jesus.

Now even though Christians have freedom from religious rituals, they have a higher calling to live holy. Being willing to be led by the Holy Spirit, will direct a person to a righteousness that exceeds that of the religious Jew and Paul wants to ensure that Christians do not look down on non-Christians who do not act holy or should they criticize younger Christians who still feel obligated to the Jewish customs that they grew up to know God by. Paul says to bear their short comings.

The reaction to separate from other people is a characteristic of religious people. The Jew was taught to avoid unclean people and not be caught in their presence. They were to avoid things like foods that were considered unclean and like Christ told the religious leaders they cleaned the outside but inside they had treachery in their heart; a treachery that could take the life of a person who proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah.

You must remember that without the Spirit of God and a true relationship with God; all other religions are forcing lifestyles that resemble holiness, yet they have nothing to save them from sin. Because of this, you can find inconstancies that are so obvious.

Many religious groups, like the Jehovah Witnesses, claim to be the only church that follows God correctly; yet they have a history of prophesies that never came true. If judged by the Old Testament, the Watch Tower Bible and Track society is a false prophet.

In studying other religions, you find an underlying trend that they all are self centered. They look to an inner light, an inner goodness, and a center of divine nature inside of a person. They hold people in high honor; they consider religious leaders to having achieved a higher consciousness and their fame transcends generations. They erect men as their figureheads of their religion and worship the creation and not the creator.

Other religions focus on how to be a better person, how to live in harmony with nature, and how to become spiritually enlightened. Yet Christianity does none of that. As a Christian you are told that your sin has separated you from your God and the punishment for sin is death. Yet God took on himself the responsibility for our fallen nature and came, Himself, to die; to suffer the punishment that we deserved.

As Christians we know that inside our hearts there is nothing good; but when God enters and grace is received, a person will be transformed by a renewing of their mind. The external force of God enters our bodies, our minds, and our soul making us into people that will live forever.

Christianity above all other religion becomes unique in that Christ died and was raised from the dead; all other religious leaders are in their grave. To this Paul says, Christians should not look down on them for their weaknesses, their inconstancies, and their failures; but look to people as those who Christ chose to die for.

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me." Romans 15:2-3 (NKJV)

This is what Jesus taught His disciples; this is what they gleaned from His presence. Paul also wrote to the church at Philippi saying, Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8 (NKJV)

A Christian must remember that Christ came as a servant and put up with twelve bumbling, brawling, filthy mouth fishermen that had no etiquette or social graces. He lived with them, taught them, and became a mentor with the intent of leaving the care of the church in their hands.

These men who had so many ungodly behaviors where His choice and where in God's plan. Therefore, Christians are to look on all people with hope; looking past their infirmities and labor to elevate them to know God as their Father, be filed with the Holy Spirit, and be transformed by a renewing of their mind in Christ Jesus.

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4 (NKJV)

Now the thing to remember is that Jesus Christ never said to throw out the law, He came to fulfill the law and that Christians might fulfill the law. Therefore, the Old Testament is not to be forgotten and the teachings, prophesies, and examples are for the Christian church to digest as their own.

God did not stop an old religion and create a new religion. God continued to build a relationship with Israel that He spread to the entire population of the earth. He included Gentile nations and all of His works of old are to be remembered, taught, and contemplated when studying the newer works of God. In this, in these two testaments, there is harmony that we must use each to understand the other.

Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6 (NKJV)

Do you want to be a godly person? Then forgive those who wrong you and forgive those who wrong others. Be as Jesus who said on the cross, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."