Romans 9-16

Salvation is “nearer.” We need to never turn from righteousness, for in the day that we leave it, it does not carry over to salvation. Keeping the commandments and enduring to the end are the requirements. I love this scripture because the converse is also true- in the day that we leave wickedness and repent, we cease to follow the course of that path and we receive God’s immediate help. The repentance process may not bring immediate fixes to the consequences of sin, but the promise is sure that we can be made clean, every whit.

Paul offers the following counsel for things that will help lead to salvation in Romans 12 and 13:

v.1: Present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God: a second by second living offering of our hearts to God’s will.

v. 2: Be ye transformed by the renewal of your mind: the world has so many things to say about who we really are. The messages confound and confuse the misdirected. Renewing my mind includes keeping my thoughts in tune with the Holy Ghost and treasuring up continually the doctrines of the Gospel. Being spiritually minded is crucial to enduring to the end, for it keeps my eye single to the glory of God and not the philosophies of man.

v. 9: Love the good and hate the bad.

v. 13: Care for the poor and needy.

v. 16: Treat everyone with love, whether they be rich or poor.

v. 21: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” The good things of the world will always overpower the evil things. If my life is full of God’s light, then there will be no room for darkness.

Romans 13:1- Submit to God’s will

v.3: Do good.

v. 8: Love one another

v.9: Obey the 10 commandments

What cautions does Paul give about judging?

1. Paul cautioned that judging is like a stumbling-block both for ourselves and for those of whom we judge. Stumbling-blocks in the scriptures often reference an obstacle in the way of progression. Judging therefore halts progression and keeps one from moving forward toward salvation.

People may have different opinions and practices, but what is most important to remember?

2. Every man practices his life differently, but as long as he lives for the Lord, the simple choices that do not relate to the commandments do not matter.

What insight comes from D&C 38:25-27?

3. The Lord esteems every man the same, and He wants us to look at each other in a similar manner. He wants us to be one with another, involving as complete a unity as the word “one” implies in the scriptures. If we cannot do so, we are not accepted by the Lord.

What word does Paul use frequently to refer to members of the Church in his day?

4. Paul frequently uses the word “saints” to refer to members of the Church in his day.