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 God
has given us to serve Him faithfully. We should render quiet
obedience unto civil government, knowing there is no power
but of God. We should receive our weaker brother whose
understanding in matters of indifference is incomplete, but who
sincerely strives to serve God. We must always act with
conviction and good conscience toward God, helping one another
to serve Him.
Jews
and Gentiles should receive one another, as Christ has received
us, to the glory of God. For He became a servant to both, in
order that God's promises might be confirmed and His mercies
glorified. This is the good news which I have been called to
preach, and which I felt compelled to preach, regardless of the
cost.
Before
I can come to you I must go to Jerusalem to deliver a gift from
Gentile saints to their needy Jewish brethren. Such gifts are
proper, and may help to heal Jew-Gentile relations. Pray that
this gift may be accepted.
Convey
our personal greetings, and those of the saints here.
Dedicated
to the glory of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
----------------------------
TERMS WARRANTING SPECIAL ATTENTION:
RIGHTEOUSNESS:
once spelled "rightwiseness," refers to the
"character or quality of being right or just." As
respects man, it means to have right-standing before God. It
does not imply absolute perfection,
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being frequently applied to imperfect
men (Heb. 11:4, 1 Pet. 3:12), sometimes on the basis of their
doing (Psm. 106:31, 1 Jn. 3:7). In such cases the term has a
certain relativity, for man stands right only through the
mercies of God and forgiveness in Christ. We should be content
to use the term as God has used it in His holy word.
JUSTIFIED:
"Just by acquittal from guilt," or simply, "free
from guilt." Since "all have sinned" none are
free from guilt except as God's plan for making man righteous is
applied, i.e. forgiveness, in the blood of Christ: Rom. 3:24-25,
4:6-8, 5:8-9).
PROPITIATION:
appeasement of the one wronged (God). In the O. T. type, the
place of appeasement was the "mercy seat" (Heb. 9:5,
cf. Rom. 3:25). Christ died for us, and lives (the resurrected
life, pleading for us at the mercy seat) as our propitiation.
RECONCILIATION:
complete change o f relationship, change thoroughly; cf. 1 Cor.
7:11. We must be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20) and to this end
the "word of reconciliation" is preached. Christ is
our means of reconciliation in that He alone propitiates (Rom.
5: 8-11). "Atonement" (K.J.) should be translated
"reconciliation" in v. 11.
GLORIFIED:
the ultimate condition, made possible through Christ; contem-
plating even the redemption of our body (Rom. 8:11, 13,
17, 18, 21, 23 , 30). First, a body made servant to our spirit,
and God's Spirit; and perhaps a reference even to our ultimate
state. There is marvelous progression in these terms. Study
them!
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