THE BIBLE GIVES US HOPE

PROCLAMATION

“For whatsoever things that were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of The Scriptures might have hope.  Now The God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus;  That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Romans 15:4-6 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the Apostle Paul under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God in a letter to the believers in Rome.  Paul begins this chapter by stating that the strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak.  Let each of us please his neighbor and edify them. (Romans 15:1-2)  He states that The Scriptures were written for them and for future generations to come in order to teach and to encourage believers.  Then he prayed that God would give them the same attitude towards each other as Christ had towards them so that they could glorify God in unity. (Romans 15:4-6)  Christ ministered to the Jews so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be fulfilled, and so that the Gentiles might glorify God as it is written in Psalms 18:49 (Romans 15:8-11) and in Isaiah 11:10. (Romans 15:12-13)  Paul told them that he wrote boldly to them because of the grace that God had given to him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. (Romans 15:14-16)  He said that he would not speak on anything except what Christ has done through him to help the Gentiles become obedient to The Word of God. (Romans 15:17-22)  He told the believers in Rome that he plans to stop and see them on his journey to Spain, but now he is on his way to Jerusalem to give to them the contributions from the people in Macedonia and Achaia. (Romans 15:23-27)  Then he asked them to pray for him and his safety from the non-believers in Judea. (Romans 15:23-33)

 

APPLICATION

The Bible was written and passed down through the ages for us and for future generations to come.  It has been translated into almost every language so that all people of the world can be exposed to it.  However, we are not only to read it, but we are to behave as it teaches. (Romans 2:13 and James 1:22)  It also encourages us and gives us hope because it tells us that in the end we will win because The Lord God is with us.  The Bible is also the instruction manual for living a Christian life.  It teaches us how to treat fellow believers and how to treat others.  The more you read it, the more you will learn from it.  When the end comes, we win.