Section 12

church. Obviously, Paul is speaking of the local church, not of the universal church. It is impor tant that Paul points out that Gaius was the host of the whole church, not of all the saints. There is a difference between showing hospitality to the church and showing hospitality to the saints, for we may care for the saints without caring for the church. But Paul's concept in this book is related not mainly to the saints, but to the church. In our giving of hospitality, the church must be in our consciousness and concept. As you extend hospitality to others, what concept do you have? Do you hold the concept that you are providing hospitality to the saints or to the church? If you have the proper concept, you will realize that your hospitality is not simply to certain saints, but to the whole church.

THE CHURCH IN THE HOUSE

In verse 5 Paul sends greetings to the church in the house of Prisca and Aquila. Using this verse as a basis, some say that the church in a house is different from the church in a city. How ever, if you consider this matter carefully in con text, you will see that the church in the house of Prisca and Aquila was actually the church in

the city of Rome. The church in Rome held its meetings in Prisca and Aquila's house.

If we would have the proper practice of the Body life today, we must be general in receiving all kinds of believers. As long as a person genu inely believes in the Lord Jesus, we must receive him, even though his opinion may differ from ours with respect to doctrine or practice. Fur thermore, we need to be in a local church and honor the locality of the church. How I thank the Lord for chapter sixteen! In this chapter the Holy Spirit clearly indicates that for the practice of the Body life, we need to be the local church. Wherever we may be, we must be in the church in that locality.

This booklet is compiled from

Please feel free to share this eBooklet with others.

See more titles in this series at

www.lsm.org/booklets.

SEE LINK S TO P U R CHASE

AUDI OBO O K • EB O O K • P R IN T Life-study of Romans

Purchase Life-study of Romans

Click on the badge for the format

you wish to purchase.

Audiobook

eBook

Available at LSM Bookstore U

FO Q

www.lsm.org/life-study-romans

↑ Back to top