Reading: Romans chapter 15 verses 5-6
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one heart and one mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
You expect to find a benediction near the close of a letter;
• And the end of this letter would be chapter 16 verse 27.
• But Paul chose to write this benediction elsewhere .
• It is deliberately written at the end of a long section in this letter
• (chapter 14 verse 1 to chapter 15 verse 13). That focuses on unity in the Church
Quote: American author & humorist Mark Twain used to say:
• “He put a dog and a cat in a cage together as an experiment,
• Just to see if they could get along. They did,
• So he put in a bird, pig and goat.
• They, too, got along fine after a few adjustments.
• Then he put in a Baptist, Presbyterian, and Catholic;
• Soon there was not a living thing left”.
• Sadly Bible history and church history bear record to Mark Twain’s observation;
• That so often Christians do not get along with each other!
Ill:
E.g. Luke chapter 9 verse 45:
• Even the twelve disciples argued among themselves;
• And they even did it while Jesus was right there with them!
Ill:
E.g. Acts chapter 15 verse 36-41:
• The apostle Paul himself had a strong falling out with Barnabas over John Mark,
• As to whether or not they should take him on the mission field.
Ill:
• And some of the New Testament churches;
• Broke the heart of the apostle Paul with their disputes and divisions.
Now in his letter to the Romans the apostle Paul dropped this blessing into his teaching:
• Because he wanted his readers (and that includes us!)
• To share in the blessing he was writing about – the blessing of unity.
Note: The problem
• The problem in the Church at Rome that caused the disunity;
• Was that the congregation was made up of two types of people.
• The congregation included both Jewish and Gentile believers;
• This meant a huge clash of cultures and understanding.
e.g.
• (a). Some who became followers of Jesus from a Jewish background;
• Had a hard time leaving behind their Jewish customs & traditions;
• e.g. they thought that they needed to maintain kosher homes;
• e.g. they thought they need to observe special days & follow the Jewish religious calendar.
• (b). Other followers of Jesus from a Jewish background who were strong in the faith;
• Understood that they no longer needed to obey dietary regulations;
• They no longer needed to keep special days;
• (c). Those converted to Christ from a Gentile background;
• Had never practised the law of Moses, so it meant nothing to them;
• They knew that everything they needed was found in Christ and Christ alone!
Between these groups there developed bad feelings.
• They judged and condemned each other,
• They no doubt stuck together and formed cliques that divided the Church.
• This disagreement marred & weakened the Church in their witness for Christ;
• And also robbed them of fellowship with the whole of the Church fellowship.
• And it also spoilt their own enjoyment of the Lord himself.
Note: The solution:
• Paul gives three instructions to these (and all) Christians;
• On how to heal the divisions among God’s people.
• (1). Accept one another in Christ (14: 13-23).
• (2). Build one another up in Christ (14: 13-23).
• (3). Seek to please one another for the sake of Christ (15:1-7).
• The benediction that we are looking at this morning;
• Comes at the end of this third instruction.
• Unity is not based on things cultural, national or organizational.
• Unity is based on things spiritual – i.e. our position in Jesus Christ!
The Benediction:
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the (one attitude) same attitude of mind toward each other that (one example) Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(1). Unity comes from God.
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you…”
Quote:
• “We don’t look alike, we don’t act alike.
• We don’t dress alike.
• We have different tastes in the food we eat.
• The books we read, the films we watch, the cars we drive and the music we enjoy.
• We support different football teams or have different leisure interests;
• We ascribe to different philosophies and differ over politics.
• Our weights vary, our heights vary,
• So does the colour of our hair and skin.
• But we all have one thing in common;
• We all know Jesus Christ as saviour & Lord of our lives!”
Note:
• Unity is not uniformity.
• Ill: Mormons all dress the same. Ill: J.W.’s all believe exactly the same.
• Unity is diversity held together by love and truth.
Quote:
“Believe as I believe—no more, no less;
That I am right (and no one else) confess.
Feel as I feel, think only as I think;
Eat what I eat, and drink but what I drink.
Look as I look, do always as I do;
And then—and only then—I’ll fellowship with you”.
• Unity is not uniformity.
• Unity is diversity held together by love and truth.
• Ill: When a choir sings in unison, the sound is lovely;
• When a choir sings in parts, the sound is even more beautiful.
• Ill: A garden of one variety of roses would be fragrant and beautiful;
• But a many-coloured rose garden is even more beautiful.
• If you plant a variety of flowers within the roses – the results are even more stunning.
• Ill: An orchestra is only an orchestra when it is made up of different instruments;
• Flute, French horn, drums etc all playing in harmony together.
Paul is not teaching that all Christians have to agree on everything:
• In chapters 14 and 15 he has been talking about accepting each other;
• In spite of the disagreement on secondary matters.
Ill:
• Unity grows from within;
• Uniformity is forced from without.
• Unity is living, it grows and expands;
• But uniformity is dead and brittle, and the least jarring thing breaks it.
• Unity allows for variety and diversity,
• But uniformity demands conformity.
• Unity is based on love and thrives on love,
• But uniformity is defensive and is based too often on fear.
Quote: The Puritan preacher Thomas Brooks:
"Away with all discriminating names, discord and division become no Christian.
For wolves to worry the lambs is no wonder, but for one lamb to worry another, this is unnatural and monstrous."
• Spiritual unity does not come naturally to God's people.
• We have to work at it.
• Also true spiritual unity is never at the expense of truth.
• We need to be reminded again of Augustine's counsel:
• Quote: St. Augustine:
• “In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity”.
Remember the New Testament teaches unity not uniformity:
• Uniformity – is fellowship based on a series of external laws.
• Unity is being held together by internal life, love and truth.
• We come from different backgrounds;
• But in Christ there is unity in diversity.
• Ill: Galatians chapter 3 verse 28:
• “In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor fee, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”
Ill:
• Eugene Peterson has caught the spirit of this benediction;
• In his paraphrase ‘The Message’.
“May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all.
Then we'll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!”
(2). Unity centres in Christ
• The phrase “as you follow Christ”;
• Lays down a personal condition that we cannot and dare not ignore!
• NLT translates it: “as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus”.
• Weymouth translates it: “in accordance with the standard Christ Jesus sets”
• Praying, singing and talking about unity have their place;
• But as we do those things THEY MUST always lead on to us obeying what Christ says.
• Unity is a by product of a faithful disciple;
• As we follow the master – we are therefore going in the same direction!
• Quote: Amos chapter 3 verse 3:
• “How can two walk together unless they be agreed?”
Unity is a by product of a faithful disciple;
• Ill: Fruit is the by product of a healthy fruit tree.
• Ill: Honey is the by product of a healthy bee (or beehive).
• Ill: Growth is the by product of a healthy baby.
• Ill: Unity is the by product of a healthy Christian!
Ill:
• One hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork;
• Are automatically tuned to each other?
• They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other,
• But to another standard to which each one must individually bow.
• As Christians if we are tuned to Christ (right in our relationship to him);
• That will be evidenced by the unity we show in our relationships to others.
Ill:
• When Paul wrote this letter to the Church in Rome;
• He was living in Corinth.
• Corinth was a Church full of problems, full of disunity;
• e.g. 1 Corinthians Chapter 1 verse 11: Tells us they were a Church split in four ways.
• Paul’s remedy for that Church, his solution to their arguing and disarray;
• Was simply Jesus Christ!
• e.g. Paul has one message that he writes again and again, and it is all about ‘Christ’.
• e.g. He alone is the foundation on which they need to build (1 Corinthians Chapter 3 verse 11)
(3). Unity begins in the heart
Note:
• That little expression “One heart” (verse 6a)
• So that we don’t misunderstand what he is saying Paul gives us an example;
• You need “the same attitude of heart & mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had”.
• Paul has used that same illustration already in verse 3:
• “For even Christ did not please himself”.
• The ‘heart & mindset’ of Jesus Christ was for the good of others not self.
Ill:
• In the Greek language that the New Testament was written down in;
• They were spoilt for words to describe ‘love’ – they had at least five to choose from.
• The word that was chosen was an old word that was not in common use;
• Greek word ‘agape’ – unconditional love (love to those who do not deserve it!)
• ‘Agape’ love has to do with the mind not just the heart,
• ‘Agape’ love is not simply an emotion or feeling.
• Agape’ love is a principle by which we deliberately choose live by.
Ill:
• Perfect example says Paul is Jesus Christ;
• e.g. Philippians chapter 2.
• The problem in the Church at Philippia was ‘selfishness’.
• The Christians wanted things their way e.g. wanted to be served rather than to serve.
• The solution to the problem was once again to point people back to Jesus Christ:
• And so Paul says; ‘Look & learn’ - “Look at his attitude and learn from his actions!”
• “Agape” love is not simply an emotion or feeling.
• ‘Agape’ love has to do with the mind not just the heart,
• Agape’ love is a principle by which we deliberately choose live by.
We don’t like to admit it but division is caused by selfish desires:
Ill:
• A group of people gathered outside a pet shop window.
• Everyone was taken up with the litter of new born pups on display.
• One person was heard to say;
• “Look at how the cuddle together to keep each other warm”
• Another commented; “they are not cuddling together to keep each other warm,
• They are cuddling together to keep themselves warm!”
• Sometimes we appear to be helping others but really we are helping ourselves.
• Sometimes we appear to be united but really we are disunited in practice.
Quote: Pastor and author Bob Smith lists some of our self-deceptions:
• “Others have prejudices, but we have convictions.
• Others are conceited, but in me it’s self-respect.
• When you spend time on your personal appearance,
• In others it’s vanity; but in me, it’s just making the most of my God-given assets.
• In others, it’s touchiness;
• But in me, it’s sensitivity.
• In others, it’s worry;
• But in me, it’s concern.”
• Because so often we look out for number one (we are selfish):
• Paul prays we will have “One mind”.
• And he tells us what that mind should be;
• “The same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had”.
Ill:
• Toward the end of the fourth and the beginning of the third century B.C.
• There was a very famous architect by the name of Sostratos (So-stra-tos).
• The king of Egypt used him in order to build the famous beacon light of Alexandria.
• The lighthouse was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
• The king’s purpose in building this beacon light;
• Was that the ships might find their way into the safety of the port.
• When the building was completed, the architect Sostratos;
• Chiselled his own name on a stone that was part of the building.
• He did not want it to be readily visible and so he covered it with clay and whitewash.
• On top of that he wrote with gold letters the king’s name.
• His plan was that in time the waves would wear away the clay and wash it away;
• And in time, his own name would appear.
• As Christians we were made as a lighthouse to the world:
• When they look at the Church they should see the name Christ!
• But sadly too often the name of Christ has been replaced;
• And in its place all people tend to see is the word disunity!
(4). Unity is expressed openly
“so that with one heart and one mouth (voice) you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ill:
• John Wesley was an Anglican clergyman and Christian theologian.
• Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, with founding the Methodist movement.
• George Whitefield was an Anglican itinerant minister ;
• Who helped spread the Great Awakening in Great Britain and, especially, in the British North American colonies
• It was a well known fact that they openly disagreed on doctrine;
• They even published open letters in the British newspapers.
• Somebody asked Whitefield if he expected to see Wesley in heaven.
• "No, I don't," said Whitefield.
• "For John Wesley will be so close to the throne of God, and I so far back,
• That I will not see him."
• If true - a gracious attitude indeed,
• But it is still too bad that these gifted men could not unite their hearts while on earth.
In the verses that follow this benediction (Romans chapter 15 verses 5-12):
• The apostle Paul describes a great choir of both Jews and Gentiles;
• Praising the Lord with one mouth.
Ill:
Paul then cites four passages from the Old Testament:
• Verse 9 Paul quotes Psalm 18 verse 49.
• Verse 10 Paul quotes Deuteronomy chapter 34 verse 43.
• Verse 11 Paul quotes Psalm 117 verse 1;
• Verse 12 Paul quotes Isaiah chapter 11 verse 10.
Note:
• Each quote is very significant;
• And Paul uses them to show a beautiful progressive truth:
• Verse 9 Paul quotes Psalm 18 verse 49.
• To show the Jews glorifying God among the Gentiles.
• Verse 10 Paul quotes Deuteronomy chapter 34 verse 43.
• To show the Gentiles rejoicing with the Jews.
• Verse 11 Paul quotes Psalm 117 verse 1;
• To show all Jews and Gentiles together praising God.
• Verse 12 Paul quotes Isaiah chapter 11 verse 10.
• Christ shall reign over Jews and Gentiles.
And until that day when Christ returns and sets up his earthly kingdom:
• You and I (regardless as to whether you are Jewish or a Gentile);
• You and I who were once enemies to God and separated from by our sin.
• We can praise him this morning;
• Because he has reconciled us ‘in Christ’ and he has revealed to us the Living God.
(5). Unity glorifies God
“so that with one heart and one mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ill:
• Jesus made it clear that unity among his people;
• Was even more important than our public worship.
• Ill: Matthew chapter 5 verse 23-24.
• First get reconciled – unity!
“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you,
leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.”
We glorify God:
• When we are reconciled to other believers;
• And we accept other believers – whatever their label!
Quote: Robert C. Chapman (Pastor, teacher and evangelist. Known as the "apostle of Love")
“The titles given to the Church in Scripture bespeak heavenly unity,
• Such as the body,
• The vine,
• The temple of God,
• A holy nation,
• A chosen generation,
• A royal priesthood.
• Such words set forth the Church of God as a witness for Him in the world;
• But the names which have been invented by men are names of sects, & declare our shame”
Ill:
• Being much concerned about the rise of denominations in the church,
• John Wesley tells of a dream he had.
• In the dream, he was ushered to the gates of Hell.
• There he asked, “Are there any Presbyterians here?” “Yes!”, came the answer.
• Then he asked, “Are there any Baptists? Any Episcopalians? Any Methodists?”
• The answer was “Yes!” each time.
• Much distressed, Wesley was then ushered to the gates of Heaven.
• There he asked the same question, and the answer was “No! No?”
• To this, Wesley asked, “Who then is inside?”
• The answer came back, “There are only Christians here.”
Unity glorifies God:
“so that with one heart and one mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
• Ill: In the Old Testament the Hebrew word translated ‘Glory’;
• Means ‘Weight, that which is important and honourable’.
• Ill: In the New Testament the Greek word translated ‘Glory’;
• Means “Opinion, fame”
I GUESS YOU CAN SUMMARISE THE ‘GLORY OF GOD IN TWO ASPECTS:
(a). Has to do with character – Hebrew understanding of the word.
Quote:
Theologians tell us that the “Glory of God” is the sum total of all that he is, the manifestation of his character.
The glory of God is not an attribute of God, but rather is an attribute of all his attributes!
He is glorious in wisdom and power, glorious in his mighty works and glorious in the grace he bestows upon us”
Ill:
• We remember the testimony of John & Peter;
• Who were allowed to catch a glimpse of his glory on Mount of Transfiguration.
Ill: John chapter 1 verses 14b:
“We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth”.
Ill: 2 Peter chapter 1 verses 17-18:
“But we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain”.
(b). Has to do with opinion & fame – Greek understanding of the word.
• Christ had this type of Glory when he was with God in heaven;
• Before the foundation of the world.
• In the incarnation he laid aside his glory, his majesty;
• Becoming a no-body, a helpless baby, a little known carpenter from Nazareth.
• Yet because of the cross and the resurrection and exhalation;
• He has received his glory back again.
• Ill: Stephen saw it in Acts chapter 7.
• Ill: John saw it in the book of Revelation
• One day, the world, those above the heavens and under the earth;
• Will all acknowledge it, when they declare “Jesus Christ is Lord”.
