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Scripture Reading : Romans 15:14

Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

In this verse Paul highly commends the Romans. He is not using flattery when he says that they were "full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another." Rather, he is stating facts as he knew them to be. The Romans evidently were in a healthy spiritual state. It is always a good thing to acknowledge any good in others. Paul always recognized the worth in others and we should, too.

Full of goodness

How wonderful to be like the Romans, "full of goodness." We are not likely to have much trouble with such, especially if we are that way, too. To be "full of goodness" is to be like our Lord Jesus Christ. He went about doing good (Acts 10:38). It is easy to talk to brethren who are full of goodness. However, some are filled with envy and misunderstanding, rather than with goodness. Such a heart seems always ready to misconstrue and find fault that the servant of the Lord dare not tell all that is in his heart, but is under restraint. Paul could freely write to the Romans.

Filled with all knowledge

There is an old saying: "Goodness is a matter of the heart, knowledge a matter of the head." How true. It is wonderful when both the heart and head are in the right condition. Some Christians manifesting the milk of kindness may be weak in knowledge; while others who have knowledge are hard as nails. It is indeed wonderful when goodness and knowledge go hand in hand—such condition quickly does away with difficulties among Christians. It is appalling how little some Christians know of the Scriptures. Truly we live in an age of spiritual childhood. Some preachers dare not preach the whole Word of God because many will not endure sound doctrine. Then again, some in our age cannot preach the whole Word of God because they simply do not know it. How wonderful it would be if every Christian was a real student of the Bible¹.

Able also to admonish one another

The highest commendation of our verse (Rom. 15:14) is that the Romans were able to admonish one another. How splendid it would be if the work of admonition was never needed. However, conditions are seldom so ideal—how thankful we should be when some are truly gifted to do this work. Sometimes even Christians do things serious enough to be dealt with before the matter goes too far.

Not many gifted for this work

Not many are suited to this work of admonition. The story is told of a certain Christian who had done things not at all commendable and needed admonition. The question arose among the elders of that local congregation of the Lord’s church² regarding who should visit him. One volunteered who was not suitable for the task, and instead of helping to solve the problem, his visit made things worse. One has said, "When you wash your brother's feet, do not use cold water, nor hot water, but lukewarm." The erring one must not be given a severe scolding, nor a chilly reception, but gentle yet faithful treatment. We must be like a doctor who gently applies the remedy, or carefully cuts into the sore. How faithful, yet how tender our Lord Jesus was with erring Peter. Even in unpleasant tasks, let us seek to be kind and gracious, even as was our Lord Jesus.

Footnotes:

¹ For more information on the Bible, see God’s Word in A Religion Library section of StudyJesus.com.

² For more information on the church of our Lord, see God’s Church in A Religion Library section of StudyJesus.com.