Receive and Glorify - Rom. 15:1-13
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Basketball Coaching Basics
Instruction, Example, Purpose (End Result)
Exactly what Paul does throughout this letter to the Romans.
He addresses an issue through instruction, gives them an example to illustrate, then speaks of the end result obedience to His instruction will produce.
1. Instruction (vv. 1-2)
1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.
Here is Paul’s instruction
the strong - mature in the faith
should bear - endure something unpleasant
scruples - weaknesses
weak - without strength to endure
So:
Endure the weaknesses of those who can’t endure
Don’t live to please yourself
Delight your neighbor toward maturity
Take the extra steps required to bring them along.
Dwell with them in the hard stuff. Not so they will stay there, but so that you can build them toward spiritual maturity in time to come.
Join God on His mission of sanctification.
You won’t sanctify them, but God will, perhaps through you.
Now when it comes to these three instructions (review) We have the ultimate example in Christ:
2. Example (vv. 3-4)
3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”
4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
v. 4 - Even Christ didn’t please Himself - He did the Father’s will. He bore what we deserved.
So when we struggle with the instruction of not living for our pleasure, we look to the example of Christ.
v. 5 - however, God gave us the rest of scripture to look to also.
God gave us His Word for our learning.
As we learn what patience and comfort looks like throughout the scriptures, it gives us hope.
As we see God working through people throughout history, we gain hope that He can and will work in us too.
So, endure the weaknesses of others, don’t live for yourself, and delight your neighbor toward maturity - and when you grow weary in this - look to Christ and the Word.
And we, growing weary at times ask the question, WHY?
My kids do it.
The basketball team does it.
The Karate Kid did it.
You and I do it.
Why should I endure with the weak, die to self, and delight toward maturity?
Because, God has a:
3. Purpose (vv. 5-6)
5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God, who is patient and comforting, desires that you would be like-minded.
And as you have one mind and one mouth, the main thing remains the main thing.
With God at the center of our thoughts and at the center of our speech, what we promote is centered on Him.
Friend, your mind and your mouth work together to fulfill your created purpose.
It’s not to build your own kingdom, or to promote your own agenda.
Your purpose is to glorify God!
With the purpose of glorifying God (v. 6) with one mind and one voice (harmony, like minded - v. 5), Paul revisits the lesson and says:
7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.
Instruction: receive one another
Example: just as Christ also received us
Purpose: to the glory of God
Remember 14:1 - the foundational heart of unity in the church is receptive acceptance.
It is not the facade of friendliness or the simple toleration of someone.
The call here is to embrace a brother or sister in Christ, knowing that this bond supersedes our past and preferences.
We are called to love the faith siblings we have, not only the ones we want.
I am to receive the brother or sister who differs from me.
NOT BASED ON THEM, BUT BASED ON:
Example: just as Christ also received us
Christ received us. He embraced us. In our broken state, when we were least like Him, He received us.
As we know throughout the book of Romans that we have been studying, this acceptance was not based on our performance. It is not based on us, but on His own good grace and purpose of His will.
Because Jesus received you, you should receive your faith sibling.
Remember, the Roman church was comprised of Jews and Gentiles. Some were coming from a background of piety while others were coming from paganism.
Now, Paul is going to speak into this reception of Christ toward the church in vv. 8-12.
He says:
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,
9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name.”
10 And again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”
11 And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!”
12 And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”
This is what Christ did to receive sinners.
• v. 8 - He became a servant to the Jews for two reasons:
To fulfill the promises of God throughout the OT scriptures.
To show His mercy to the gentiles, and in turn, they would glorify Him
• vv. 9-12 - Paul gives citations from the OT to demonstrate God’s plan. In referring to passages from the Law, History, Poetry and Prophets, Paul is tying together the truth that the OT pointed to God’s plan to unite both the Jew and Gentile in the Messiah.
Christ is the ultimate example of this instruction. And we find the purpose of our obedience in the last part of v. 7:
Purpose: to the glory of God
Our purpose in receiving our faith sibling supersedes the here and now. It is not because we dislike confrontation so much that we just accept them. And it’s not simply lessening our biblical values on tier 1 issues.
The heart of our acceptance is found in our purpose, which is to glorify God.
Our extension of acceptance is not based in denominational affiliation, spiritual maturity, or social status. We we receive those who Christ has receieved, it promotes the glory of God.
Those without a relationship with Jesus take note of the speech you use in the office, at the sporting event, in the grocery store about that other person.
Your grace-filled speech promotes a grace-giving God.
At the same time, your grace-less speech promotes a grace-less God.
Paul applies this needy principle through the reality of the abiding Spirit.
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Christ accepted you, and Christ has accepted your faith sibling.
So choose to extend the grace it took to accept you.
You can’t do this on your own naturally.
This type of self-sacrifice requires a supernatural means - and if you are Christ’s you have that supernatural person in you - the Holy Spirit.
In essence, Paul says:
Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit who lives in side of you. As you walk in obedience to His leading, He will produce in you joy and peace (Galatians 5). And as you experience the joy and peace of His presence, you will dwell with your faith siblings with hope in God and His purposes being fuflilled in you.
No longer will you be hopeful to change you.
No longer will you need to be hopeful that God will change your faith sibling.
Your hope will be firmly set in God, who works according to His own will, according to His own time.
And as I rest in His will and His timing, in turn, I glorify Him.
Weekly Focus:
7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.
God is glorified when my reception of others reflects the reception of Christ toward me.
Reflect each day this week on Christ’s reception of you.
Obey as God leads you in relation to others.
Make God central with your mind and your mouth.
Lord’s Table