We must remember that God gives His Spirit at the cross, even as water poured forth from the rock that was struck (Exodus 17:1-7). We don’t get the Spirit by trying to obey the Law but rather from seeing the cross and believing its message. Paul asks this rhetorical question to the Galatians: Galatians 3:2 NIV I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Clearly, the Holy Spirit is given to those who hear the gospel and believe it, to those who embrace it and wash at the cross! And the Spirit of God enables all believers to look at the cross continually, to believe it afresh so as to affect our hearts, and to change the way we live. When we walk by the Spirit we don't gratify the lusts of our flesh. So the key is to keep washing at the cross daily, so that we keep experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit daily, so that we can powerfully war against our flesh daily.
Because of the cross there is hope for each and every person, no matter where they have come from in their past or what they have done in their sinful flesh. Each and every person who sees the cross and believes the message receives the Spirit and can live differently. Without exception.
Please take a look with me at the following passage:
Romans 15:2-5 NIV Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. (3) For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." (4) For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. (5) May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, Question 4. What is Paul alluding to in Romans 15:3 NIV?
In Romans 15:3, Paul is quoting from Psalm 69:9, where David is describing his experience before God. But Paul took that verse and ran to the cross with it, putting those very words in the mouth of Jesus. His point is to show that Jesus did not please Himself, but rather “others”, such as you and me, by receiving the insults and reproaches and persecution at the cross.
Paul says these words in Psalm 69:9 belong to Jesus: “the insults of those who insult you have fallen on Me.” Notice when these “insults” happened:
Matthew 27:27-31 NIV Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. (28) They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, (29) and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. (30) They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. (31) After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. Jesus took all the insults of human beings who were insulting almighty God. Jesus received those abuses, all that mocking, and all those insults, because He was not wanting to “please Himself” (Romans 15:3 NIV) but rather His “neighbor”, us! He went to the cross and took the abuse because He loves you and wanted to “please you for your good”, to “build you up” (Romans 15 verse 2) and give you eternal life. Stop for a moment and consider the love of Jesus! He was mocked, beaten, spit on, cursed, verbally and physically abused, because of the intensity of His love for you. He suffered and groaned under the burden of your sin, during His fake trial and all throughout His mocking and abuse, because He wants you for Himself! He was beaten down that you might be built up. He was mocked and cursed, ridiculed, scorned and derided, because you are loved beyond words and because He wanted to please you, not Himself, and bless you with eternal life.
Paul uses this gospel as an example of how “each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up” (Romans 15:2 NIV). Paul founded his statement about the Scriptures giving us hope on this glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. And so these Scriptures that were written in the past, were written about Jesus and the gospel, so that we might see Jesus lifted up on the cross, buried in the tomb, then raised from the dead on the third day. So that we might put faith in that message, believe it to be true, wash in it and receive all the blessings of those who now belong to Jesus as His purchased possession. So that we might be saved and set free. So that we might be established and stabilized in our faith.
Question 5. According to Romans 15:4-5 NIV, what is the purpose of the Scriptures?
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