Paul has been talking about caring for the weaker brother in the faith, urging the strong to act responsibly and flaunt their freedom and become a stumbling block to the weak.
• The strong ought to walk in love and that means laying down their rights for the good of the weak.
• The benefit of certain actions like “eating meat” is so insignificant compared to the value of limiting my freedom to bless a weaker brother.
Paul concludes this subject beautifully in the next section (Rom 15:1-13), by drawing our attention to Jesus Christ, our great example.
• This conclusion is necessary and right because Jesus is and must be our common focus and rallying point, as believers of Christ.
• He brought us together and He alone unites us in the midst of all the diversity of views and practices. Listen to what Paul says in summary:
Romans 15:1-7
1We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2Let each of us please his neighbour for his good, to build him up. 3For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
THE EXAMPLE CHRIST SET FOR US
Christ set us the example. Like Him, we are to bear with the failings of the weak and not please ourselves.
• The strong have “ an obligation” Paul says, the responsibility to care for the weak. It’s like we owe it to them because we are the stronger ones.
This is the mind of God revealed to us in the OT. God has been instructing His people Israel to care for the poor, widows, orphans, and the aliens among them.
• Those who are powerful in our world tend to take advantage of the weak, but as people of God, we are to lift the weak and help them stand with us.
• Jesus tells His disciples not to be like the rulers of the Gentiles who lord it over their subjects (Matt 20:25-28).
• He says “whoever would be great among you must be your servant,27and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Paul says it twice in different ways: “Bear with his failings” (v.1) and “please him for his good, to build him up” (v.2). Two ways of describing the same thing.
• We are to support him in the areas of his weakness and we are to build him up so that he can gain the strength to stand up.
• We don’t leave him to struggle on his own, and we don’t leave him where he is.
• The welfare of the weak is our concern because it is the Lord’s concern.
• It is our obligation and responsibility to aid them in their spiritual growth.
This is a noble thing to do, but Paul directs our attention to Christ. This is the Christlike thing to do. It is what Jesus Himself would do.
• Christ did not please Himself but chose to “suffer the reproach of men” for our good. He quoted David’s experience in Psalm 69:9 to highlight his point.
• Paul uses his words: “the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me” to describe the insults Jesus received from men who are against God.
Jesus did not seek to please Himself. He was thinking of our good when He came, suffered and died for our sin.
• It reminds me of Phil 2 that Paul wrote later on to the Philippians about the attitude of Christ.
• Phil 2:3-5 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus…
Does the strong Christian think he is making a great sacrifice by giving up some food and drink? Then look at Christ! Try measuring your sacrifice with that of Christ’s.
• Nothing matches the sacrifice at Calvary, carried out solely with our welfare in mind.
THE ENCOURAGEMENT GOD GIVES US
Paul recognises that coming together as a community in unity is not easy. It takes humility and sacrifices but it is not hopeless or unachievable. This is the work of God.
• Christ has given us a great example and God is with us in this. He gives us the endurance and encouragement we need to live in harmony with one another. HOW?
4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus…
God did not leave us to strive for unity on our own, which to me is impossible (without His help).
• We see the words endurance and encouragement mentioned TWICE, so we know where we received them from - the Word of God and from prayer.
• 15:5 is a prayer to the God of endurance and encouragement.
• It is similar to the prayer Jesus made in John 17 before He departs – the prayer for unity among His followers.
Unity is the will of God and it is ENABLED by God. He will bring it to pass.
• It cannot be man-made. We PRAY for unity and trust God to change the hearts of men. We unite for the edification of the church and the glory of God.
• We unite in essential beliefs (doctrines), we express ourselves in the non-essentials (traditions or customs) with freedom, and we seek always to love and support one another in our growth.
6that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Imagine a choir with different voices – soprano, alto, tenor, bass; male and female, young and old, singing together in harmony. That’s the sound of heaven!
• We do not want to change the individuals into one common mould; they are going to express their unique voices, sing at different tones, and yet in harmony.
• Like an orchestra with the myriads of instruments making different sounds but coming together in one beautiful musical piece.
THE BEAUTY IN THE DIVERSITY
God makes us different. It is reflected in His creation. We can appreciate the differences more and seek to recognise that beauty is in diversity!
• Imagine a world with only one type of flower, one type of fish, one type of animal, or with everything in only one colour, like having a black and white TV or smartphone.
• The beauty is in the differences and diversities, and yet coming together in unity and harmony.
• If everyone is made the same, we spoil the picture. But when we come together and unite our hearts as one, that glorifies God!
1 Cor 12:18-20 “18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.”
• I believe it’s easy for God to make us like robots, sync our minds and cause us to think alike, but that would mars the beautiful image of God in us, which is one of variety, diversity and beauty.
• That’s the beauty of the church when all of us comes together as one!
Can there be ONE VOICE? Yes! God will make it happen!
• It has already been prophesied in the book of Revelation (Rev 7:9). We are given a glimpse of the end!
• We will hear that ONE VOICE praising God before His throne, coming from a great multitude that no one can number, from every nation, tribe, people, and language.
Can you imagine this, with all generations of believers since creation singing and glorifying God together?
• I believe we will be in awe and speechless, hearing this vast diversity of races from different generations, singing in harmony!
• We would be surprised at what God has done in bringing us together as the church!
Can this be possible? When we look at the church and see the quarrels among the weak and strong, the conflicts of views and differences in opinions?
• Yes, of course. That unity is a foregone conclusion! Christ is our hope.
• The coming together in unity is the will and purpose of God.
THE PURPOSE OF GOD IN UNITY
Paul reiterates in his concluding remarks that the Jew and Gentile believers would stand together as one church praising God.
• This has been one of the major themes of this book.
Romans 15:8-13 Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles
8For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles [the nations], and sing to your name.” [Psalm 18:49]
10And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles [nations], with His people.” [Deut 32:43]
11And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles [nations], and let all the peoples extol Him.” [Ps 117:1]
12And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even He who arises to rule the Gentiles; in Him will the Gentiles hope.” [Isaiah 11:10]
Root of Jesse refers to Jesus, the descendant of King David, the son of Jesse. Out of Jesse would come a Saviour whom the Gentiles would pin their hope.
13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
This is the plan and purpose of God, determined by Him in eternity past, and repeatedly revealed in the OT Scriptures.
• This is a revelation from of old, Paul seems to say, by quoting FOUR verses from the different parts of OT – the Psalms, the Law and the Prophets - written at different times and in different ways.
• The point is, this has been the eternal purpose of God - to save both the Jews and the Gentiles and unite them together in the praise of God.
• It is God’s will to see the world saved and be united in the worship of God.
Being the purpose of God, it is a certainty. We shall see the people of God standing together in unity and praising God in harmony. This is our destiny and a fitting end, to the glory of our great God.
• Paul, therefore, ends very appropriately with this benediction. 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
There will be challenges en route to that glorious end, but the Lord will grant us the endurance and encouragement we need, through the Scriptures and our prayers.
• We shall overcome and stand together as one church at the end of the day and praise God with one voice.
• This will surely happen. It is the HOPE we have in Him.
• May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Lord, for the freedom we have in Christ. You set us free from sin and from all that binds us in bondage to our past. Help us grow to understand your Word fully so that we can experience the true freedom we have in Christ. Let us live each day with hope, joy and peace, knowing that you are there with us and for us.
We thank you for the church, this community of faith. May we as the strong care for the growing ones and bear their burdens. May we continue to support and love one another, to accept and encourage each other as we see the Day of your return draws near.
Let us manifest a spirit of unity that can bring you honour and glory. Sustain us Lord until the day we see you again. This we pray in Jesus’ Name, AMEN.
You can hear the audio sermon with slides at https://youtu.be/eN1ne0TWWQM
and all our earlier sermons at https://tinyurl.com/KTCC-EnglishService
