God brings those who believe into His family and provides eternal peace. Along with the benefits of our adoption, we are given power to glorify Him.
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Peace in Believing
Romans 15:1-13
- There is a good bit of variety in our passage of the day
- We touch on a number of topics relevant to Christian living
- Most of them relate to our participation within the body of Christ
- How we relate to one another, while both growing in faith
- How we remain unified, while glorifying God
- And how we reach others for Christ, while submitting fully to the Holy Spirit
- “Peace in Believing” a phrase from Romans 15:1-13
- And today’s theme
- The text leading into our passage of the day talks about those who are strong and weak
- Believers who are different – not one better, one worse – but different
- If you are stronger than I am, that doesn’t mean you are better, but it may mean I need help
- If I have a heavy load to carry, my knees may buckle
- While you may be able to bear that same load with no difficulty
- Christians are at different stages in their discipleship
- We need each other
- And we all have a role, given by God
- Things to remember as we start…
Romans 15:1
1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
- This is an exhortation to every strong church member
- And should be an encouragement to every weak church member
- We each have needs and responsibilities
- Neither should be pleasing self, both eagerly prepared to help
- One may have strengths another does not
- That one must show patience
- And ought to bear with the weak
- What’s more…
Romans 15:2
2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
- What is good, what is best for others must be first in our minds
- We should seek to do things that help others grow stronger in faith
- This will mean putting self aside
- Concentrating on their needs, not our own
- Accepting responsibility for edification
- Because we have an example…
Romans 15:3
3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
- Christ came as a servant
- He humbled Himself
- The words of this commentary may help:
“Christ when on earth, made it his great object to do the will of God, to finish the work which God had given him to do, and not to seek his own comfort and enjoyment.”
“…he was willing for this to endure whatever trials and pains the will of God might demand, not seeking to avoid them or to shrink from them.”
“…in his life, he did not seek personal comfort, wealth, or friends, or honors. He denied himself to promote the welfare of others; he was poor that they might be rich; he was in lonely places that he might seek out the needy and provide for them. Nay, he did not seek to preserve his own life when the appointed time came to die, but gave himself up for all.”
- In this direct quote from Psalm 69:9, we are reminded of that which He faced
- And He is to be our example in service to others
- As the Old Testament scriptures often provide lessons…
Romans 15:4
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
- All that which God provided in scripture is for our benefit
- Those stories with which we relate, can be inspired, or informed
- Or those words of wisdom, prophecy, or law
- Every portion, when divided rightly, can be our chief tool for growth
- Guided by the Holy Spirit, that dwells in every believer
- We are comforted by them
- And provided with true hope
- Especially when they – as they so often do – speak of our Savior
- It is this truth and our relationship with Christ, that we have unity…
Romans 15:5
5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
- All patience and encouragement come from God
- Only He can grant this sort of like-mindedness
- And He does it for those who have faith in Him
- Who trust His scriptures together
- And who act toward one another as He has described in this scripture
- If this is the case…
Romans 15:6
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- This is not a like-mindedness for the sake of uniformity
- It does not make us religious robots of some sort
- Rather, it allows us to reflect God’s communicable attributes in the world
- To show those who do not know Him who He is
- To give a good opinion of Him to all who observe us
- Both observing us individually
- But also observing us in our work and interaction together
- As we both have the same Father
- Are grown to maturity by the same Spirit and word of God
- And can speak the same word of testimony about His miraculous transformation
- That quickened us – raised us from death unto life
- This is the mission to which we are called…
Romans 15:7
7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
- Christ has accepted us
- In the same way, we ought to accept one another
- Some may be easier to receive or accept than others
- And while we may think of ourselves as the easy ones to accept
- We were all sinners
- And yet Jesus loved us
- And He saved every one to glorify Himself
- Our story of grace is useful to reflect who He is
- And our lives of service can do the same
Romans 15:8-9
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
- While Jesus came as a Jew
- Minister to Jewish people
- Confirming the promises of God made beforehand to the people of Israel
- Gentiles, those outside Israel, can also glorify Him
- The fact is, we “who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ”
- Ephesians says we were “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world”
- But after coming to faith in Christ “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God”
- This realization is worth singing about
- Worth rejoicing about…
Romans 15:10-12
10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
- Jew and Gentile together, in unity, may rejoice and be glad
- No barriers separate us in any way
- The God of Peace may be lauded by us
- For we had no hope without Him
- Now, together, we are unified in Him
- And have a home in heaven that cannot be taken away
- He is our King – and indeed King over all
- Knowing this…
Romans 15:13
13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
- We find our theme in this final verse
- How can a believer, knowing all this, not have peace
- For He has brought us into His family
- Given us the ability by His Spirit to glorify Him
- To be unified with all who know and serve Him
- What a God to praise!
- What a gift to sing about!