 Hello, Lubega and John Paul, Jepina, Laidama for good to see all of you. Thank you for joining us. Also, warm welcome to our e-learning students who will be listening to these lectures later on. We'll continue our study on Romans chapter 13. We began looking at it on Friday. We'll continue with Romans chapter 13. Basically, we were considering several questions with regard to the governing authorities, because Paul is basically talking about the believers and the government and their relationship, the believers' relationship with the government. He's specifically mentioning it here because the believers, the church at Rome, were persecuted by the leader, by the government, and they were going through a real difficult and a hard time. So he's writing to them things that they might not be very happy to hear, adhere to, follow. But we know that Paul is writing this not in his own wisdom, in his own understanding, but he's writing this being led by the Holy Spirit. And even as he's writing this as a Holy Spirit leads him, I'm sure it's the Holy Spirit that will enable the church at Rome to see this in a positive way and to do what God requires them to do and what the Holy Spirit requires them to do. Okay, so before we continue our study on Romans chapter 13, can one of you please lead us in prayer, please? Anyone can do that in prayer? Dear Heavenly Father, we come here under the name of Jesus. We thank you for this day. We thank you for the class we're about to have. We thank you for Pastor Selena, whose blessing is all with all her teachings, Jesus. We thank you that you have filled her with knowledge and the ability to teach God, whereas we are listening to the classes help us to open our mind and heart and listen to the deepest truth of the Bible and help us to walk in it, Jesus, not just listening to it, but walking in the truth, walking with the kingdom mind, said walking with you as our priority in this life, Jesus. Let this be our motive as we are listening, help us to learn a little more deep about you through the class and everything that we learn, let us put into action and let us give you all the glory and honor in Jesus name I pray. Thank you, Jeffina. So we began considering a few questions with regard to governing authorities. The first one we looked at was in what sense are governing authorities appointed by God? And what about unjust, corrupt, and wicked leaders? So to answer that question, we looked at how God had instituted governmental authority. And we looked at a few points regarding that. We also looked at how we need to recognize that God has given them the permission. God has permitted them in that place of leadership, of responsibility. And I think that is where we stopped. We were going to answer this second point that we need to recognize God's permission. So we need to recognize that civic leaders and people in governmental positions as people who God has permitted. And hence we need to honor them for the position that they hold. And we need to see them in a way that they are there because God has permitted them. And without God permitting them, they would not be there in that place of authority. So there is a providence or permission of God where He allows or He permits people to enter into places of authority, whether they deserve it or not, or whether they have gained access to this place of authority and position lawfully or unlawfully. We know that we can see them as people who are being appointed by God in the sense that they have been permitted by God to be in that place of power and influence. So God's permission does not imply or God permitting them to be in that place of authority does not imply that God approves of all that they are doing and saying. That's very important for us to know that even though God permits them, whether they have come there lawfully, unlawfully, whether they deserve it or don't deserve it, it does not mean that God approves of everything that they do and they say. So we see this also throughout the scripture that kings and rulers are in their place by God's permission and God has permitted them to be in that place of influence and power at that particular time and place. And there are times when God sovereignly sets up one and puts down the other and God sovereignly stirs the king or the ruler to fulfill his or carry out his specific plan and purpose. Okay, let's look at these three scripture passages. I would like y'all to read aloud these three scripture passages. So one of you can please turn to Psalms chapter 75, read verses six and seven. Someone else can read from Daniel chapter two verse 21 and someone else please read from Daniel chapter four verse 17. So that's Psalm 75 verse six and seven. Can somebody read that please? Psalm 75 verses six and seven. More from the east, more from the west, more from the desert comes exaltation. But God is the judge, he puts down one and lives up another. Amen. Thank you, Jafina. So here we see that God puts down one and he exalts the other. Okay, Daniel chapter two was 21. Can somebody read that please? Daniel 221. For exaltation, oh sorry, Daniel 221 and he changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings and raises up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and acknowledged those who have some understanding. Amen. Thank you, Zalutoli. So he says he removes kings and he raises up kings. Okay, Daniel 417. Can somebody read that? Daniel 417. This decision is by the decree of the watchers and the sentence by the word of the holy ones in order that the living may know that the most high rules in the kingdom of men gives it to whomever he will and sets over it the lowest of men. Amen. Thank you, Zalutoli. So he says that the most high rules the kingdom of men, he gives it to whomever he wills and he sets over it the lowest of men. So here we see that, you know, God can, you know, in his sovereignty, he can put down one, he can sold another, he, you know, he can in his sovereignty also stir up kings and rulers to carry out his specific plans and purposes. And just to state a few examples, Pharaoh, you know, Pharaoh was in the place at that given time so that God could display his power in Egypt. Saul and David, you know, we know that Saul was acting out of jealousy, and he was all out with his evil intention to kill David. But yet we see that David, you know, even as he had the opportunity to kill Saul, you know, he does not do it. He calls him as Saul as the Lord's anointed. He recognizes that, you know, King Saul is there in his place of position because of God's authority. And in God, in his authority, his place Saul there as King. And then we also look at King Nebuchadnezzar, who God used to, you know, to destroy Israel, to destroy Jerusalem and to take them as captives. He used them to judge his own people. And then he also brings King Nebuchadnezzar to a place where he gets him to recognize that God alone is the true and living God. And of course we know King Cyrus, the Persian king, you know, who was moved by God to, you know, empower the Jews to return to Jerusalem and to build the city and the temple. But having said this, that God had, you know, permitted them to be in that place of authority, not everything that these leaders said and did was from God. Okay, we need to ensure that this truth is known. Okay. But in some way God used them to carry out his purposes, even though they were, you know, imperfect people or leaders. Let's look at another example how, you know, Jesus spoke about Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who was Roman governor with Judea. In John chapter 19 was 10 to 11, you know, the Pilate, Jesus tells Pilate, you have no, you could have no power at all against me unless it's given to you from above. So yeah, Jesus recognized that Pilate was in the place that he was in, because the Father had permitted him to be so. So while Pilate would be responsible for the decisions that he made, you know, Jesus says, that therefore the one who delivered me to you has the greatest sins. So he's saying, you know, even though he recognizes that Pilate would be responsible for the decision he's going to make regarding Jesus. Jesus also affirmed that the wrongdoing was not just entirely Pilate, but also, you know, those who delivered him up to Pilate in the first place. And that is the Jewish leaders, the high priest, the scribes, the Pharisees, Sanities, and also with the help of Judas. Okay, so even though God permits people into leadership positions, you know, it's not that he, you know, he does not approve of all that they do and say in their lifestyle, immoral lifestyle or the wrong lifestyle or the wrong decisions, but he can also sovereignly set up one, pull down the other and he can also use kings and rulers to bring about his specific plans and purposes. Okay, the third thing we need to keep in mind is government's responsibility. God's permission or a governing authority being appointed by God does not mean that the leader's character, you know, or their motives or their decisions, the actions that they make is all approved by God, is all directed by God, is all led by God. No, the leader or the governing authority is responsible for their own actions, for their own decisions, and they will be accountable to God for their words and their actions. Okay, like it says in Proverbs chapter 17 verse 15. Can somebody read that Proverbs chapter 17 verse 15? He who justifies the wicked in, he who condemns the just, what of them alike are an abomination to the Lord? Yes, so here he says, you know, he, God who justifies the wicked and he condemns the just, that means even if a just the righteous person does something wrong, God can, you know, judge them for their sin, condemn them for their sin. The fourth one is, you know, the choices and the actions of the people in the land influence basically, sorry. The choices and the actions of the people in the land influence who comes to place of authority in that specific land or that specific country or specific place. So we must remember that a nation always receives a government it deserves. You know, if a nation is filled with people who are corrupt, who have no regard for moral values, they will have leaders who do the same because after all the leaders grew up among them, you know, leaders are one among them. So, however, if the people change, you know, then the government will also change. Okay, so the government is therefore an expression of the people it represents. So we can say, you know, the week that, you know, we have a wicked government is because the government is coming from the people, you know, and that is how they have been raised up. That's what they've seen, that's what they have learned and that is what they're going to live out. But if the people change, you know, the government will also change because the government actually is an expression of the people it represents. Okay, and the fifth one, the fifth point is that God can steer the leaders for a specific purpose. We already saw this that, you know, God can use or change the heart of leaders or governing authorities of the civil government to release his specific purposes to fulfill his plan and purposes. And it's often done in response to prayer. Okay, so even as people have got pray, God would move on their behalf to change things in the land and to, you know, release his specific plans and purposes. Okay, look at what Proverbs chapter 21 verse 1 says. Can somebody read that, please? Proverbs 21-1. Proverbs 21-1. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord like the rivers of water. He turns it wherever he wishes. Amen. Thank you, Zealotoli. So the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord and God can do whatever he wishes with and move him in whatever direction or fulfill his plans and purposes, achieve what he wants to be done. Okay. So in Romans chapter 13 verses 1-8, Paul is saying that we are to submit to civic authorities. Okay, telling the church at Rome, it also implies to us, and we are to give them the honor to whom honor is due. And we need to recognize them that they are part of the institution who God has put in place. Even if they are ungodly or corrupt, we recognize that God can still work out his purposes through them. Okay. And what do we do? You know, we need to pray. We need to intercede and we need to expect God to work out his purposes. And ultimately it's God who is the final authority who can override or can stop, you know, whatever he wants to stop, whatever these rulers, authorities are doing. He can stop them and God can intervene and override the wrong that they intend to do and he can do all this in response to our prayer. Okay. So so important for us as a church to pray. So important for us as individuals to pray to God to see what we want to change in our government, in the rules, in the laws, in the decrees that they make in the way the administration that they bring about the infrastructure that they bring about in our city and in our nation. So when we pray, you know, God moves and he intervenes and he does what his will is in accordance with his will. But on the other hand, you know, we also need to, from our side, need to respect and honor those in authority just like scripture tells us and we should not fight what the leaders are doing. And we don't fight them as long as what they are doing and saying does not violate what God's standard is or what God has required of us or what God's laws and his word as says of us. Okay. So we can ask the question to what extent do we submit to the governing authorities? You know, it says be subject. Subject means, you know, means to submit. So we have to submit in all things as long as, you know, it does, it does not contradict the laws of God. In such cases, we obey God before man. Okay, so as long as as aligned to the law of God, you know, we, you know, we follow it. And as long as it's not aligned to the law of the will of God, the word of God, you know, that's when we, we don't obey man, but we obey God. Okay. Let's look at two instances in Acts chapter four. Okay. Or we look at that a little later. But you know, okay, one is in Acts chapter four, we look at two instances. Sorry. One in Acts chapter four and the other one is in Acts chapter five. In Acts chapter four, we see that Peter and John have been preaching and teaching the name of Jesus. And, you know, they are commanded, you know, by the Sanhedrin, by the rulers not to preach. And teach. Okay. So they're brought before the Sanhedrin and, you know, they are commanded not to teach and preach. And that, you know, but Peter and John answer and say, you know, is it right for us in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God? You judge. So they say, hey, who do we listen to? You know, because he's talking to the Sanhedrin. He's talking to these religious leaders who know the Old Testament law and, you know, the Torah and they know that they have to obey God rather than man. So they say, hey, you tell us what is right in the sight of God, whether it is to listen to man or to listen to God, you judge. Okay. And they say, we cannot speak things which we have not seen or heard. And then in Acts chapter five, we see that the apostles are going around preaching and teaching and they're all taken and put into prison. And at night, the angel of God comes and releases them from prison. And the angel of God tells them, now go to the temple and preach and teach what you have heard and what you have seen. Okay. So the next day morning, the Sanhedrin meets and the Sanhedrin sent and asked for the apostles to be bought. And when the soldiers go, they see that the cell is empty. The prison cell is empty and they are all shocked. And then some people tell them, hey, these men that you have had in prison, they're there in the temple and they are preaching and teaching. Okay. And we see that, you know, they're commanded strictly, they're brought to the Sanhedrin, they're commanded strictly not to teach in the name of Jesus. Okay. And again, you know, Peter and the other apostles, they answer and say, we ought to obey God rather than man. Okay. If the government is telling us to do some things that is against God's law or his word, then we at those times, you know, we need, what do we do? You know, we need to obey what God has commanded us, what he has given us in his word and we obey his law. Okay. But at the same time, we need to be careful not to violate other people's personal space or government space. Okay. And for example, we have a law in our land that, you know, in the city that we are from, I am from, that we are not supposed to preach and teach and baptize and all of those things. So, you know, so we don't, we adhere to the law in terms of not going and openly preaching and teaching, or even if we go and openly preach and teach, we get permission from the police. If you want to have a crusade or we want to have a do something in a mall or an outreach or we want to do some kind of ministry, we get permission from the, you know, from the police. Okay. But, you know, at the same time, we need to be careful that we don't violate people's personal space. We don't do it where, you know, where we can get into trouble and then say we are persecuted that is bringing upon ourselves unnecessary problems and difficulties and also the government space. If you want to meet or we want to preach and teach, we do that in our church, in our home setting, you know, and not in our office or not in other people's home, which can cause a problem to, or it can seem as us breaking the law. So, we need to be very, very mindful of these things and yet we can, you know, exercise God given authority and right and that we can preach and teach the gospel. Okay. So, another question that we can raise up or we can raise up, sorry, it should be not raise our voice and express our concern or stand against injustice and wickedness. So, if a government is doing something that is unjust and, you know, wicked, shouldn't we raise our voice and express concern? Yes, we can while we walk in honor, while we honor the government and we walk in submission to governmental authorities. We can speak out, we can use our rights as citizens or the freedom that we have as people to express our ideas to raise our voice against injustice and wickedness. But, you know, it does not imply that, you know, we do this in a way that can, you know, go against or, you know, kind of retaliating or kind of bringing in this unity or fighting or a civil war or, you know, all of those things. Okay. But we can raise our voice against injustice and wickedness. Okay. Okay. Look at was Proverbs chapter 25 verse five. Can somebody read that please. Take away the wicked from before the king and his throne, a throne will be established in righteousness. Thank you. So here, you know, in the modern day context of people phrase their voice, you know, of righteousness before, you know, before leadership was saying what is what needs to be done right or what is done. It is wickedness or injustice, injustice, you know, we can help the government be established in righteousness. Okay. Proverbs chapter 31 verses eight and nine says, open your mouth for the speechless, you know, open your mouth to judge righteousness and plead the cause of the poor and needy. So when we see injustice, when we see the poor, the, you know, the lowly being oppressed and wicked things being done against them, they are neglected. Or the needs of people in the lower strata of our society are not being met. We can raise our voice, we can do something and, you know, we can plead their case. That action is taken. Okay. We also see in this chapter that, you know, Paul is referring to the government as what does he call them as? What does he call them? I mentioned this in the last class. Anyone remembers in the first few verses he calls them as in chapter 13. What does he call the government or the civil authorities as anyone? Hello, anyone in the class? He calls them as God's ministers, right? Remember I said that on Friday, calls them as God's ministers. Okay. Now the word ministers, similar to the English word for beacon. So this represents God's intent for governing authorities for them. Actually, when he's called Paul is referring to them as God's ministers. He's, you know, his intent or God's intent to the Holy Spirit here. You know, revealing this to Paul is the Holy Spirit's intent or God's intent is that they also, you know, are like God's ministers or deacons. Okay. Although, you know, most of them, you know, in practice may fail to live up to this calling. But as long as they're doing things that are righteous, you know, we cooperate with them. But if they are doing something that is unjust or this injustice and wickedness, then we do what we can in the framework that has been given to us as citizens. We can do what we can do to talk or to raise our concerns or to raise our voice. Okay. So in verses one to seven, Paul has asked us to obey the governing authorities. Okay. Verses three to five. He says we submit. We have to submit to the governing authorities was three. He says to receive. Why should we do that? So that in verse three, he says to receive their approval and versus four and five. He says we submit to governing authority so that we avoid punishment and was five. He also says for conscious sake. And it was a six to seven. He says it's important for us to pay taxes and give honor and what is due to the government. Okay. So that was Romans chapter 13 versus one to seven. We'll move on to versus eight to 14 before that anyone has any questions. Okay. Questions. Can one of you please read Romans chapter 13 versus eight to 14. Please. Roman chapter 13 versus eight to 14. Can anyone read that things? This chapter 13 versus eight to 14. Oh, no on anything except to love one another. For he who loves another has fulfilled the law for the commandments. Murder. You shall not steal. You shall not bear witness. You shall not covered. And if there is any other commandment or all summed up in the same, namely, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love. There's no harm to neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. Okay. And so it is knowing the time that now it is high time to awake out of sleep for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent. The day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast off the works of the darkness and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lust. Amen. Thank you. Thank you, Jafina. So in verse eight, Paul says the key to submitting to governing authorities to obey them, to pay taxes to them and all of those things, the key is love. Okay. And he says, if you love, you will do no harm to your neighbor. Okay. And also when you love, you will love the Lord and you will keep the law. So loving people is essentially the fulfillment of the law because when we walk in love, we are basically able to keep all the other commandments. So love is basically the key here. When we love God, we will love people irrespective of who they are, what they do. And also in loving people, he's saying, we are fulfilling the law. And we also keep all other commandments. So you see how smartly, very wisely, Paul is mentioning these things because he's telling them, hey, you need to submit to governing authorities. You need to obey them. You need to respect them. You need to honor them. You need to pay your taxes, which is for the Jew is something very difficult to actually listen to, pay and do. Okay. And here he's saying, you know, when you love, you're actually, he's coming back to the law because for the Jews, the law was so important. Everything had to do with the law. So he's very smartly, you know, very cleverly, he's saying, you know, you know, or the key to doing all of these things to the government in your life is love. And he says, if you love, then you're actually keeping the law. And he's saying, remember that, you know, when you love that you're not only, you know, you're keeping all of the other commandments, you're not breaking any commandment because he's saying all of the commandments is summed up in this. You shall love your neighbor as your self. Okay. So look at how, you know, he's a very, very, very intelligent smart man. You know, the way he writes, the way he brings in his thoughts and the way he gives basis for what he is saying so that no one can argue, no one can go against what he is saying. And of course he has the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Okay. And he says that love must be our standard. In verses 11 to 14 he talks about the personal life of the believer, the way we live as believers. So, you know, he's saying that, you know, we, how we need to live, we need to live as in purity, live as in the day. So he says, awake the night has gone, the day has come. So we need to live as one who is awake, not one who is still in deep sleep and slumber, which means we need to live as people who are always alert, knowing what we are doing mindful of what we're doing and, you know, doing what is right and honoring in God's sight. Okay. This is cast off the works of darkness. We get rid of the deeds of darkness. That means, you know, do away with the deeds of darkness, don't have anything, you know, with the deeds of darkness. And he says, put on the armor of light means put on righteousness as the SN armor, which means in everything that you do, say, think, act, you know, do what is right in God's sight because you have been made righteous. He's already spoken about that, how we've been made righteous, not by keeping the law by place. And what Jesus has done for us on the cross and how he's made us righteous, how he's justified us. So he's saying, put on righteousness SN armor. And then he says walk properly, which means, you know, walk decently, walk in a God honoring way, walk in a way that's pleasing in God's sight, which is acceptable in God's sight. Walk honestly before God. And he says avoid rivalry, wild parties, drunkenness, you know, indecency, sexual immorality, loneliness, lust, sensuality, you know, strife, horrors, arguments, fighting, envy, jealousy. He says, you know, do away with all of these deeds of darkness. And how can we walk properly? We need to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. So we see that Paul uses this face, put on the Lord Jesus Christ often. He also writes this in his letter to the church at Colosse and to the church at Ephesus. So, you know, what does it mean? You know, when you wear something, everyone gets to see it, right? Everyone sees, people see what you wear. So here he's saying, you know, be clothed with Jesus, which means he's saying, you know, be completely covered or be fully attired with Jesus Christ or be just so full or be soaked with Jesus Christ. And he says put on Jesus Christ in the way that you think, you act, your mannerisms, the way of life. So that when people see us, you know, it's good as seeing Jesus Christ. That's what he means when he says put on the Lord Jesus Christ. So that's what he's saying to the church at Rome. You know, even though things are difficult and challenging and persecuted, he's saying put on the Lord Jesus Christ, which means be soaked, be completely covered, fully attired with Jesus Christ in the way you think, you act, your mannerisms, the way of life, so that people can see Jesus Christ in you. And put on the Lord Jesus Christ also means assimilate. You know, assimilate everything about Jesus in you so that when people see you, they see Jesus. And he says, don't give room for any of the carnal nature or the deeds of the flesh, the things of the flesh. Okay, don't give room for the flesh to exercise itself. And he says, make no provision for the flesh. Provision means what? You know, preparation, you know, when you are, provision means basically when you are making preparation for your future needs. Or there is, you're preparing for in anticipation to fulfill a specific need. So here he's saying, you know, do not make any preparation beforehand to meet the sinful desires of the flesh. Now to say it differently, he's basically saying, you know, prepare beforehand ahead of time to deny the things of the flesh or its sinful desires. Which means we need to already have to put strategies and things in place in our lives, even before we are going to face those temptations. So we know what are some of the temptations we will face in life. You know, I know what as a single lady, what are some of the temptations or the fleshly carnal nature that I can face. So, you know, I need to have strategies in place for myself, you know, things, boundaries that I put in place for myself, so that I don't, you know, step in out of my boundaries. And then, you know, mess up with my life and breathe the Holy Spirit or break the heart of God. So beforehand, ahead of time, we need to prepare ourselves so that we can deny the sinful desires of the flesh. Okay. And so he says, preempt the flesh and cut off any opportunity for it to have its way in our lives. That means don't give the flesh any opportunity or don't give the sinful desires to be satisfied. Nail it, crucify it, you know, deprive the flesh of any chance of having its way or say no, even before the flesh makes its request. So, you know, as people of God, we need to, you know, be preemptive in terms of, you know, taking ahead of time or planning, you know, what are some of the things that we can fall prey to, or what can Satan, you know, put in our way to stop us from being effective in the calling and the plan and the purpose and our testimony and the assignment that God has given to us or the calling of the position that God has given to us. So, you know, put some strategies and boundaries in place, you know, I have put some strategies and boundaries in place in my own life, which I follow and, you know, and I'm mindful of, you know, when I relate with people, you know, I know what is my boundaries, how much I can, to the extent I can go, what I should avoid, what I should not do, and all of those things. So, you know, it's important for us to do that so that, you know, even before we get into those situations and then we fall into sin and say, oh, I shouldn't have done that. So, put strategies in place and, you know, so it means that every day we put on Jesus, okay. When we put on Jesus, which means he says, you know, cloth your, put on Jesus Christ, okay. That's what he says, right, put on the Lord Jesus Christ. So, when you put on the Lord Jesus Christ, every day, you know, we would make no provision for the flesh, okay. We will make absolutely no provision for the flesh and that is how he ends this chapter. So, it's important that, you know, that we put on the Lord Jesus Christ so that we don't make any provisions for the flesh. And we have personal boundaries and strategies in place what we would do, what we would not do. I realize at times, you know, when I did not have my personal strategies and boundaries for certain areas of my life, I have, you know, I have messed up, you know, I have done things that are wrong and it's not God honoring me. So, I realize how important it is to place boundaries and strategies that you have so that you don't, you're mindful of it and you don't cross it and it is helpful for you as a person, okay. So, that was Romans chapter 13. Any questions? Does anyone have any questions? Okay. There are no questions. So, we move on to Romans chapter 14 where basically Paul is talking about respecting others. So, we'll begin reading Romans chapter 14. I think they are basically 23 verses. So, if all of you can read about, you know, three of you can read six, six verses. And the others in the fourth person can read five verses. And we don't know if we'll get done by the end of this class, but wherever we are, we can stop if we are coming to the end of the class time. Okay. So, can somebody read Romans chapter 14 verses one to six, please. Receive one who is weak in faith, but not to dispute over doubtful things. For one who believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat. And let not him who does not eat judge him who eats. For God has received him. Who are you to judge another servant? To his own master, he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another, another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced on his own mind. He who observes the day observes it to the Lord, and he who does not observe the day to the Lord, he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord for he gives God thanks. And he who does not eat to the Lord, he does not eat and gives God thanks. Emen, thank you, John Paul. Can someone else read verses 7 to 12? For none of us lives to himself and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord. For to this end, Christ died and rose and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother, or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, as I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So that each of us shall give account of himself to God. Thank you, Zealotolis. Can someone else read from verses 13 to 18, please? Or 19? Romans chapter 13 verses 13 to 19. Therefore, let us not judge one another anyway, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cross to fall in our brother's way. I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself. But to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is agreed because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore, do not let your good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore, let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may identify another. Amen. Thank you, Japhina. So can someone read the last few verses, please? Verses 20 to verse 23, right? Yeah, we have two more minutes. So can somebody read verses 20 to verse 23? Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things are indeed, all things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat, mate nor drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother fended or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is if he eats because he does not eat from faith for whatever is not from faith is sin. Amen. Thank you, John Paul. Just before we end in Romans 14, Paul is talking about how to relate to one another. He's talking about Christian living and two key points he highlights in Romans chapter 14. The first one is don't judge another brother or don't judge another believer who is expressing his faith a little differently from you. And the second thing is, you know, don't become a stumbling block to someone else, which means you live in such a way that when you are expressing your faith, you shouldn't cause or be a stumbling block to somebody else's faith. Whether it is eating, drinking, the way you dress, you know, the way you speak, the way you do things, don't be a stumbling block to someone else. So this is what he is basically talking in this chapter and we look at this chapter in detail on Friday. So your assessment is, I will release it tomorrow. Okay. And since you've requested for more time, I will, you know, give you time till Friday. Is that okay? Is that fine, everyone? I'll release it tomorrow and it's Friday now. Yes, Pastor. Okay. Thank you. Zalutuli, is that enough for you, dear? Yes, Pastor. Okay. Okay. Thank you everyone for joining class. See you on Friday. I will bless it. Thank you, everyone.