An overall assumption of the rejuvenation of the heart by the Spirit of God and power accorded by the Holy Spirit to the believer. Presuming that those in the Roman church have been reborn, the apostle called upon the readers to live according to the instructions presented to them. It is just those with new life in Christ are able to undertake the principles acquired in this or any part of God’s Word – the heart is not bound to the law of God.

Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony (1989) is a book written by Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon both of whom were experts in theology. The book talks about the setup of the church and its relation to the culture. It claims that churches ought to focus on advancing Christian life and community as opposed to changing the secular culture (McCann, and Miller, 2005). The two authors are opposed to the notion that American or, for that fact, any other country, instead of trusting that Christians should see themselves as ‘residents aliens’ in a different land, apply metaphor of a colony to define the church. As opposed to aligning the world to the gospel or the gospel to the world, they are of the thought that Christians ought to be keen on aligning to gospel by themselves.

Hauerwas and Willimon go on to talk about ethics and the connection between Christianity and politics, criticizing the idea that Christians, or church in general, ought to change secular governments or become part of politics with a goal to change the society. Alternatively, the role taken up by Christians is to live in the model of Christ. As opposed to trying to persuade others to change their ethics or re-describe their ethics, Christians ought to create a model with new ethics with its basis in life, death and resurrection of Christ. Churches ought to be places that nurture and develop disciple.

Comparisons can be drawn from the two. The letters of Paul were writings that took place in an early time when compared to Resident Aliens (McCann, and Miller, 2005). The letters talk about Christians at the early church while the Resident Aliens is drawn from discussion of the modern church. Considering the two as popular laws with a basis in the Church, the Resident Aliens acquired a status in Roman law that was against the formal law which was contrast to the letters by Paul.

The Gospel of Matthew is based on the status taken by the early Christian in Israel, or in its relationship to Judaism. These are issues that arise from the time after Jerusalem fell. How do these Christian communities relate to others who have their origin in Israel? And it is significant that Jesus for Matthew is wholly a person from Israel. Hence, Matthew starts his gospel by acquiring all the genealogy of Jesus; he tried to show that Jesus was David’s son and is in the lineage of Abraham. For Matthew, Jesus is not David’s son, but of Abraham. He is from Israel and hence Jesus’s teachings is one that is not completely valid in the tradition of Israel’s teaching of law. Hence Matthew states that Jesus cam to fulfill the law and none will be disregarded.

Matthew is hesitant to reveal that this is the community for gentiles. It is vivid that there is a gospel for gentiles. The disciples as the gospel ends are directed to all nations and teach what Jesus imparted on them which is to fulfill the law.

Reference

McCann, D. and Miller, P. (2005). In Search of the Common Good. New York: Continuum.