“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.”
Bear with the failings of the weak
Bear: support
Physically, emotionally, mentally
Galatians 6:2
“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”
Romans 13:8-10
“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,’ and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Love one another
And not please ourselves
To be self-centered and self-seeking is more natural to us
When people have strength they usually want to use it for their own advantage
We should use that strength for someone else’s advantage
Build people up
Please his neighbor
Sacrifice your time for somebody
Even if it is uncomfortable
Encourage them
Galatians 5:14
“For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’”
Romans 15:3-4
“For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ‘THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.’ For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
Quoted part
In quotes because he is quoting Psalm 69
Embodies the idea of what Jesus did on the cross
He let peoples’ wrongdoings fall on him
He sacrificed himself
Instead of us working to get to heaven, we accept Christ’s sacrifice
Jesus really is the ultimate example of self-sacrifice and love
We have this wonderful hope
Hope: Romans 5, 8, 12
Instead of knowing just this current life
We know that one day we will be with God in heaven
All bad things will cease to exist
Romans 15:5-7
“Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.”
Same mind: same understanding as Jesus Christ
God came to earth as Jesus and died for us on the cross for our sins
Accord: passion
One passion for Christ
Because of the basic understanding
One voice: one mouth
Romans 12:4-5
“For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”
The Body of Christ
We need to be united
About God and Christ
We need to glorify God
We need to have the same mind, one accord and one voice
We need to accept each other
For EVERYTHING!
If we do not work together, then we cannot do anything
We really have no good reason to not accept someone
No reasons exist
Christ has accepted us!
Paul here is painting a wonderful picture about how the Body of Christ can be
All of these things stem from love
Others’ centered
Building each other up
Sacrificing for one another
Striving for unity
Accepting one another
Why is he reviewing these key opponents?
Romans 15:14-21
“And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; but as it is written, ‘THEY WHO HAD NO NEWS OF HIM SHALL SEE, AND THEY WHO HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND.’”
Why does this all matter?
So that we can move out and tell people about what Jesus did
Paul is convinced that the Romans know enough to tell people about Jesus
He brought them the Good News
He has equipped them
An offering acceptable to God
The act of us making a personal decision for Christ
Has nothing to do with how many good things we do
All about Jesus dying on the cross for us and having a relationship with Him
The Holy Spirit
After we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit comes in us
We have the help to transform our lives
This is the powerful punch of how Paul is ending his letter!