{"id":220,"date":"2011-09-22T21:46:19","date_gmt":"2011-09-23T01:46:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/realbiblestudy.com\/?p=220"},"modified":"2011-09-22T21:56:39","modified_gmt":"2011-09-23T01:56:39","slug":"romans-157-with-comments-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.realbiblestudy.com\/?p=220","title":{"rendered":"Romans 15:7 (with comments) Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/fb:like>

Romans 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

CROSS REFERENCES FOR FULL-TEXT STUDY, PART 3:<\/strong><\/p>\n

receive<\/strong>. Mk 6:11. *9:37-41. Lk *9:5, 48. 10:8, 10, 38, 39. 15:2. Jn 13:20, 34. Ac *9:26-28, 43. *11:25, 26. *16:15. 17:7. 2 C +*6:9. 7:2, 15. Ga 6:1. Ph 2:29. Col 4:10. 1 T 5:17. Phm 12, 17. He 13:1, 2. 1 P 2:17. 3:8. +*4:8-10. 1 J 3:14. 2 J %10. 3 J %8-10.<\/p>\n

CROSS REFERENCE TEXTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mark 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. <\/p>\n

This text in Mark 6:11 surely emphasizes the importance our Lord Jesus Christ placed upon “receiving one another.” Failure to receive a fellow believer who could well be or become an instrument in God’s hand to bring needed instruction or encouragement hinders the proclamation of the Gospel. Hindering the true Gospel by failing to receive its message bearers brings the possibility of severe repercussions, for Jesus said it would be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than it will be for those who failed to receive God’s messenger.<\/p>\n

The fact that Scripture states here that the judgment of Sodom and Gommorah would be “more tolerable” should, as a point of Bible doctrine, alert us to this very clear teaching that there are degrees of punishment in hell.<\/p>\n

I have already proven<\/b> from Matthew 25:46, the last prior citation of Scripture at the end of Part 2 of the cross references for Romans 15:7, that eternal punishment will last just as long as eternal life will. Since eternal life never ends, neither does eternal destruction or eternal punishment, anymore than God will ever end, for His eternal duration is described by the very same Greek word. “Eternal” in this connection does not describe finality of result, but unending duration of the punishment, punishment which includes torment (Luke 16:24. See also Isaiah 33:14 and Matthew 8:29 in this regard).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Mar 9:37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
\nMar 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
\nMar 9:39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
\nMar 9:40 For he that is not against us is on our part.
\nMar 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
\nMar 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. <\/p>\n

The disciples had been arguing amongst themselves who should be the greatest. Mark in his Gospel gives a much abbreviated account of what is reported more fully in Matthew and Luke of similar discussions and questions that arose among the disciples.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
\nMat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you<\/b>: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
\nMat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
\nMat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. <\/p>\n

In this passage Jesus plainly commands that there should be no hierarchy established in His organization or his church. Such a device was the province of the Gentile rulers, but among the followers of Christ, Jesus commanded “It shall not be so among you.”<\/p>\n

Most denominations seem to have ignored this passage. Most local churches have ignored it too. Some denominations pride themselves that they are in strict obedience to this command of Christ, yet in some cases such denominations have a more tightly closed fellowship than most other churches which do have a hierarchy!<\/p>\n

Often the fruit of disobeying this command of Christ is the failure to “receive one another,” as commanded by Christ, and further commanded by Paul.<\/p>\n

That Jesus considers this to be a most serious matter is confirmed by what He said in Mark 9:42,<\/p>\n

Mar 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.<\/p>\n

It is further confirmed by what Jesus said next:<\/p>\n

Mar 9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
\nMar 9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
\nMar 9:45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
\nMar 9:46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
\nMar 9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
\nMar 9:48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. <\/p>\n

Since the “fire is not quenched,” the fire continues in the eternal age which follows this present age, and continues forever.<\/p>\n

Some argue that “unquenchable fire” is mentioned in the Old Testament where it simply means the fire could not be put out until the fire accomplished its object, such as the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. Surely the fire in Jerusalem was unquenchable, for the Jews could not put it out, and it accomplished God’s purpose of punishment. But that fire did end, it did not last forever. But those who would argue from such an example that the unquenchable fire Jesus threatens will likewise have an end once its mission is accomplished have forgotten the lesson about “eternal” that I presented from Scripture. Sometimes “eternal” is used in a finite sense with reference to things that pertain only to this world or this age. But when “eternal” is used with reference to what takes place in “the age to come” it has an infinite sense as to its duration. So with the word “unquenchable.” In this age, it is limited in duration; in the next age, the eternal age which follows this one, “unquenchable” has an infinite sense, and is unlimited in duration.<\/p>\n

Again, this proves that Jesus taught that eternal punishment in hell never ends, but continues undiminished in intensity of torment forever. That is why Jesus said more about hell than anyone else in the New Testament. He warned us all to avoid it at all cost.<\/p>\n

But notice Jesus spoke of this subject in the context of “receiving one another.” Jesus said whoever received Him received Him that sent Him, that is, God. Jesus also said that whoever failed to receive those He sent failed to receive Him.<\/p>\n

Now the practical spiritual question to face is this: Have you truly received Christ?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Luk 9:5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. <\/p>\n

Luk 9:48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. <\/p>\n

We must be very careful about just who we respond to with the action of shaking “off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.” I had the unfortunate experience of having a local Jehovah Witness leader do just that to me. He had just told me that he looked up the cross references I had shared with him for Isaiah 55:3. He said he realized I was correct, and that he and his organization must be wrong. He told me he could not leave the organization because of his family, and because of his business ties to the congregation who formed a good part of his customer base. He said he was glad he did not have to fear eternal punishment, for he would “die just like a dog.” Unfortunately for him and everyone else who believes that mistaken doctrine of annihilation, God in His written Word the Bible does not offer that option<\/b>!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Luke 10:8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: <\/p>\n

Luk 10:10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
\nLuk 10:11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
\nLuk 10:12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.<\/p>\n

Luk 10:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
\nLuk 10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. <\/p>\n

Martha and Mary clearly received Jesus into their home. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and heard His word. That is an example of what we ought to do: receive one another as He commanded, and hear His Word.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Luk 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. <\/p>\n

Jesus received others, even those who were not received by “polite society.” Sinners were attracted to Christ, not repulsed by Christ. Yet we know from the record we have of what Jesus taught that he did not tone down his message to make it acceptable to them or anyone else.<\/p>\n

I wonder if making doctrine acceptable is not one of the root causes behind the rationalistic approach to Bible doctrine practiced by some religious denominations who change the doctrine to fit their sensibilities, just like those who believe and teach the doctrine of annihilation do. The error behind this approach which rejects the doctrine of eternal punishment is the failure to understand the character of God taught in the Bible. Abraham understood this full well when he said (Genesis 18:25), “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Some would rather take it upon themselves to judge God and tell Him what is right, rather than receive the full truth of what is taught in the Bible.<\/p>\n

If you must modify the Gospel Jesus preached and taught to fit your own preferences and mistaken notions about the character and attributes of God, you are not teaching the true Gospel, but a false Gospel which is not the Gospel at all but what Paul calls “another Gospel” (Galatians 1:8, 9), which places you under a severe Divine curse.<\/p>\n

God’s Word says:<\/p>\n

Psa 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. <\/p>\n

It also says:<\/p>\n

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. <\/p>\n

Eternal life is dependent upon knowing BOTH God and Jesus Christ. Only those who truly know God and Jesus Christ can be saved. The Psalmist stated that those who know God’s name will put their trust in God. The opposite is also true: those who do not know God’s name cannot put their trust in Him. Knowing God’s name means understanding and believing in His attributes–all of them, not just the ones we prefer. Instead, they will depend upon adherence to a creed, to keeping the commandments, to observing the Sabbath, to doing good works, but they will not in simple faith trust the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ,<\/p>\n

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Joh 13:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. <\/p>\n

Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. <\/p>\n

It is pointedly a matter of obeying the command of Christ to “love one another, as I have loved you,” when we keep the command to “receive one another.”<\/p>\n

Failure to receive one another is a failure to love one another as Christ commanded us to do.<\/p>\n

The pastor who told me, “Jerry, you talk too much about the Bible and too much about the Lord” the first time he came to my home clearly failed to receive me. Nearly five years later after he and his church board rejected my membership application (I had been invited by them to attend and complete the membership class), he suggested that I “find a church that believes like you do and go there.” Now that is hardly receiving one another in the manner Jesus commanded. I shudder to think of the blood that is on the hands of those who made such a decision to reject me and my family. In other churches I’ve attended prior to that one I was well received. I was provided ministry opportunity like teaching Sunday school, which resulted in many young people coming to Christ, who for the most part are these many years later still committed to following Him according to His Word, the Bible. But in this community, where I was rejected, three young people just last week received life prison sentences for murder, an altogether senseless murder that took place in a house I pass everytime I go to town. Could the lives of those teenagers who planned and committed the terrible murder of one teen’s father and attempted murder of the mother (who was stabbed 20 times) have been changed by the Gospel? I certainly believe that is the case. There are some churches that have apparently failed to communicate the Gospel to the sinners in the community.<\/p>\n

The pastor and church board that rejected my membership should have had me meet with them to explain myself, and demonstrate that my doctrine is strictly in accord with what the Bible teaches. Their church creed stated Christ would rule for 1000 years during the Millennium. I stated in my comments that while that is true, the Bible clearly teaches that Christ will reign forever on this earth (Luke 1:32, 33). The church statement of faith stipulated immersion as the mode of Christian baptism. I stated immersion is an acceptable mode, but the Bible speaks of sprinkling or pouring in connection with baptism as well (Hebrews 10:22). My membership was rejected over such very minor matters of doctrine.<\/p>\n

I trust that pastors who may happen upon this commentary will take it to heart, and exercise their responsibility to thoroughly teach the truths related to Romans 15:7 as reflected in the associated cross references I have furnished. Teach these truths to your congregation. Teach these truths to your leadership. Failure to do so may well thwart the ministry of the Gospel to others in your midst and beyond your own congregation.<\/p>\n

But the best in this series is yet to come, for I have not yet exhausted the presentation of these cross references for Romans 15:7, so “stay tuned” for the next installment!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/fb:like><\/fb:like><\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Romans 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. CROSS REFERENCES FOR FULL-TEXT STUDY, PART 3: receive. Mk 6:11. *9:37-41. Lk *9:5, 48. 10:8, 10, 38, 39. 15:2. Jn 13:20, 34. Ac … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[108],"tags":[466,469,438],"class_list":["post-220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-verse-by-verse-studies","tag-romans-157-cross-reference-study-part-3","tag-romans-157-cross-reference-study-with-comments-part-3","tag-romans-157-in-depth-study"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realbiblestudy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realbiblestudy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realbiblestudy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realbiblestudy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realbiblestudy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=220"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.realbiblestudy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/220\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realbiblestudy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realbiblestudy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realbiblestudy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}