Introduction

Greetings, beloved, and welcome to this gathering where we seek to draw closer to our Maker, learn from His word, and find solace in His promises. It's a joy to be here with you, and it's my prayer that as we open the Scriptures together, we will experience afresh the hope, love, and peace that comes from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, we're turning our hearts and minds to Romans 15:7-13. This Scripture, penned by the Apostle Paul, is a profound guide for us, a beacon of light in a world that often seems consumed by darkness. Let's read it together: "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: 'Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.' Again, it says, 'Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.' And again, 'Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.' And again, Isaiah says, 'The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.'May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

In these verses, we find an invitation to harmony, a call to hope, and a promise of happiness. We are called to accept one another as Christ accepted us, to find hope in the power of the Holy Spirit, and to rejoice in the promises of God.

Harmony in Acceptance

In the heart of the Apostle Paul's message, we find a call to unity, a plea for acceptance. We are urged to welcome each other, to embrace our differences, to celebrate our diversity. This is not a suggestion, but a command - to accept one another just as Christ accepted us. This acceptance is not based on merit, not dependent on our worthiness, but solely on the grace and love of Christ.

This acceptance is about truly welcoming each other with open arms, open hearts, and open minds. It's about seeing past our differences, our backgrounds, our cultures, and recognizing the image of God in each other. It's about celebrating the unique ways God has created each of us, and using those differences to bring glory to Him.

The acceptance that Paul talks about is active! It's not about simply avoiding conflict or keeping the peace. It's about actively seeking to understand each other, to learn from each other, to grow with each other. It's about creating a community where everyone feels valued, loved, and accepted.

This acceptance is for those who are different from us. It's for the Jew and the Gentile, the slave and the free, the rich and the poor. It's for those who are easy to love, and for those who are hard to love. It's for those who have hurt us, and for those we have hurt.

In this acceptance, we find harmony. Not a harmony that is forced or artificial, but a harmony that is genuine and real. A harmony that is born out of love, respect, and understanding. A harmony that reflects the very nature of God - a God who is diverse yet unified, a God who is three yet one.

Christian demands we have unity in diversity. It's about different voices coming together to create a beautiful symphony. It's about different parts working together to form a whole body. This harmony is gives glory to God. We should be showing the world the love, grace, and mercy of God through our love, grace, and mercy towards each other. This harmony requires effort, patience, and sacrifice. It requires us to die to ourselves, to put others before ourselves, to love others as Christ loved us.

Hope in the Holy Spirit

We now find ourselves drawn to the theme of hope ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO