“Romans 15:1-21”

Sunday, March 11, 2018

“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ‘THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.’ For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, ‘THEREFORE I WILL GIVE PRAISE TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND I WILL SING TO YOUR NAME.’ Again he says, ‘REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE.’ And again, ‘PRAISE THE LORD ALL YOU GENTILES, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE HIM.’ Again Isaiah says, ‘THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE, AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES, IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE.’ Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man's foundation; but as it is written, ‘THEY WHO HAD NO NEWS OF HIM SHALL SEE, AND THEY WHO HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND.’”

---End of Scripture verses---

Paul had previously written that brothers and sisters in Christ should “pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another” (14:19). I believe that He is showing us in today’s verses that the bulk of this responsibility falls squarely upon the shoulders of the “strong” brethren in a local church of Christ. He tells us in verse one that the strong should not only “tolerate” the weaknesses of the weak brethren, but actually “bear” those weaknesses (verse 1). The ones who have strength are to help those without strength to carry their “burdens” (Galatians 6:1-2).

There is a very practical reason for this. The “strong” brethren in this instance are those who can do or refrain from doing certain things that are permissible by God without violating their consciences, while the “weak” brethren cannot (14:23). But when it comes right down to it, where there are differences of judgment and opinions that can cause disharmony among brethren in Christ, somebody has to be the bigger person. Doesn’t it just stand to reason that a “strong” brother is in a better position to “give up his rights” in order to keep the peace and help a brother stay faithful? Whenever we sacrifice our rights in order to “please” or help other people, we are rightly following in the footsteps of Jesus our Master (verse 3; Philippians 2:5-11).

“Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (verse 4). Paul cited Psalm 69:9 in verse 3 in order to demonstrate the selflessness of Christ Jesus as our perfect example to follow in our dealings with our fellow man. In verse 4 he insists that everything written in the Old Testament (things “written in earlier times”) is beneficial for our spiritual well-being.

Even though we are currently bound by law to God’s covenant with mankind in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-2; 7:22; 8:6-13; 9:15-17;i 12:24), God still gives us valuable “instruction” on how to live lives that please Him in the pages of our Old Testaments. Not only does He equip us to serve and please Him better, we also learn “perseverance and encouragement” when we read those old (true) stories of God’s faithfulness in His interactions with our spiritual forefathers and with the people of the world in general. It fills us with “hope” when we learn, time and time again, that God is just and merciful, and can always be trusted in every situation because He is always true to His word, and always makes good on His promises.

One thing we learn about in the Old Testament is that God’s chosen people Israel were to keep themselves “separate” from the Gentile world and their common idolatrous practices and overall sinfulness. But in Christ Jesus, the wall that separated Jews and Gentiles has been torn down, and all people can now come to Him in obedient, righteous faith (verses 7-13). Paul seems to be making an argument from the greater to the lesser in these verses. If God can unify such divergent groups as Jews and Gentiles in Christ Jesus, surely He can help to unite the “strong” and “weak” Christians together in a congregation of His sanctified people.

Paul went on to say that God has made him, “a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit” (verse 16). Some people insist that Paul is claiming to hold the office of a literal priest in the New Testament church, but he is clearly using figurative language here in order to make an important point.

Paul is saying that his ministry as “Apostle of the Gentiles” (11:13) is very much like the service of an Old Testament priest offering acceptable sacrifices to God. The sacrifices that He is offering here is are the Gentiles themselves, and the instrument he uses to “offer them up” to God is the Gospel. What he accomplishes by using this terminology is to show the Jewish Christians, in their own familiar jargon, that the Gentiles are now “clean” and “sanctified” and “acceptable” to God, and therefore should be embraced as brethren.

In the church of Christ, all the petty differences that alienate people from one another are obliterated by the blood and the love and the goodness of Jesus our Lord!

Please read Romans 15:22-23 for tomorrow.

Please come worship God with us today at the Taylorsville Road church of Christ today.

3741 Taylorsville Road. 9:30 AM Bible class. 10:30 AM worship period. 5:00 PM worship period.

Hope you all have a blessed Lord’s Day!

- Louie Taylor

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