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.
Romans 15:14 begins the final phase of the book whereby Paul dealt with personal issues he wanted the Romans to know. He also set forth his philosophy of ministry and his personal plans that came out of it.
14 Now I myself am confident [stand convinced] concerning you,
Paul had to rebuke the Roman church but he was still confident in them.
my brethren,
Mention of “brethren” is a personal touch from Paul.
that you also are full of goodness,
“Goodness” here is probably kindness. The church had a plentiful supply of kindness.
filled with all knowledge,
Paul believed that the Roman church understood Christianity. Biblical faith always comes in the form of knowledge. We cannot know God in a vacuum.
able also to admonish one another.
They were able to function practically within the Christian faith because they were “filled with all knowledge.” They had the capacity to influence others.
PRINCIPLE:
Spiritual maturity does not function on reaction but on principle.
APPLICATION:
Immature believers operate on a trigger-like reaction to what people say about them or do to them. Maturity does not function by reaction but by principle. Immaturity uses retaliation and vengeance as its method for relating to others. Maturity does not react to poor treatment from others by paying them back in kind.
People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be, not what you nag them to be. Some Christians are reluctant to agree to a suggestion because that decision will have to stand the test of performance or further approval.
