1. Review Romans 13:11 and look for what is “nearer.” Read Ezekiel 3:20; Doctrine and Covenants 14:7; and explain in writing what we must continue doing to work out our salvation.
what is “nearer”: salvation. When we strive to keep the commandments and remain in righteousness we can find true salvation. We must strive for righteousness and not turn from it or deny it.
2. In Romans 12-13 Paul gave much counsel that leads to salvation. Read each of the following verses and list what Paul taught would help lead to salvation:
• Romans 12:1 – “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
To me, this is saying that we must be baptized and take upon us the name of Christ. And make sacrifices in our lives in order to live with him again.
• Romans 12:2 – “…be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
To me, the scripture is saying that we must not adapt to the world’s standards, but to Gods. It is also saying that we must strive to find knowledge and to educate ourselves, but to do it with the Holy Ghost, so that we may know what is true and what is false. We need to pay attention to what the Spirit is telling us as we dig through information the world has to offer.
• Romans 12:9 – “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”
To me, this is saying that we should love people without any fakeness, or without having a secret expectation or desire for reward. We should love as Christ loves. We should avoid the evil things people teach or practice and stick to the good that God has taught us.
• Romans 12:13 – “Distribute to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”
I’m pretty sure this is a reference to the Law of Consecration. Where we give our excess to those who need it. It is not important to have more than we need. Also to show hospitality to others without wanting gain or benefits.
• Romans 12:16 – “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend (GREEK MEANING: conforming willingly with the humble.) to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”
It is important to note that the “condescend” used in this context does not mean to patronize or humiliate, but to follow and imitate the humble. We must strive to not let our knowledge make us conceited or think extremely highly of ourselves to the point that we think others are lower, or dumber than us. That is Satan’s definition of “wise”, but not God’s.
• Romans 12:21 – “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good”
This one is self-explanatory I think. Do not let Satan trick or deceive you. Instead, overcome his guiles with thoughts of doing good to others and to lift the hearts of men.
• Romans 13:1 – “Let every soul be subject (GREEK MEANING: be submissive, render obedience) unto the higher powers. For there is not power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”
To me this says; listen to God, and to his counsel, the only real power on earth is God’s power (such as the priesthood power) and only God can ordain them.
• Romans 13:3 – “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same.”
This one was harder for me to understand, but what I think it is saying is that good people are not scared of rulers (Maybe rulers meaning God?) but people who are being evil are scared of them. At the end I think it is saying that when we are good we shall become rulers ourselves.
• Romans 13:8 – “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law”
Do not go into debt (and also possibly, do not let people go into debt to you?) but instead show love and kindness to those you meet.
• Romans 13:9 – “…Thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Self-explanatory, he tells us what we should not be doing, and what we should be doing. I think it is important to note that when we love our neighbors we are, for most things, not going to participate in the things Paul names.
3. Review Romans 14:1-13; 15:1-3. Then write answers to the following questions:
• What cautions did Paul give about judging?
That we should not judge each other just because we have different views or opinions.
• People may have different opinions and practices, but what is most important to remember?
That in the end, everyone will stand before God in the last days and confess the truthfulness of God.
• What additional insight comes from reading Doctrine and Covenants 38:25-27?
It further illustrates the message by saying that God loves us all equally because we are his children, and what parent, being perfect, puts one child over another or loves one more than another? None. We must loves each other like brothers and sisters and do no evil towards each other.
4. Review Romans 15:25-26, 31; 16:2, 15. Write the term Paul frequently used to refer to members of the Church in his day.
Saints
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