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There is an interesting time period when raising kids – last week we talked about that point at which they realize they are not children anymore. Later there comes a time when they think they are adults – but aren’t really.
I’m not thinking of any of my kids, of course, but I’ve heard from many parents about this stage where the son or daughter has a lot of chutzpa – a lot of confidence – without necessarily having the knowledge and experience to back it up.
It used to be that daddy was always right – at this stage, daddy is always wrong. This is the point where parents need a great deal of patience – because if not handled well two things can happen – if you tell your child that they “don’t know the half of it – wait till you grow up” you can discourage them tremendously. But if you don’t provide them with any guidance they won’t have the tools to successfully navigate adulthood.
I’m not saying I have the answers at all – and I know none of us are perfect – but this concept is what Paul is getting at in chapter 15 – that we as mature Christians need to have great patience with the less mature. In context he’s talking about mature gentile Christians getting along with less mature Jewish Christians – but the concept applies to us as well as we deal with those who are not as mature as us in the faith.
1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
Paul’s continuing the thought from chapter 14. There Paul urged us to understand that just because we are free doesn’t mean we can ignore the immature when it comes to spiritual things. Some people think that Christianity means a bunch of rules and regulations to follow – when in reality it is a relationship that bears fruit – and that fruit is love – love toward the weaker brother. “Don’t sweat the small stuff” – don’t make a big deal over small issues – this is how many churches have been split. We need to major on the majors – the things of salvation.
Here Paul introduces another concept – not only understanding, but the idea of “bear(ing) with the failings of the weak.” The idea is not to just “put up with” but “bear with.” The Greek word means “to support as a burden.” It’s the same word used when Christ “bore” our sins on the cross. Our sins weren’t just a passing weight – but He supported us by bearing our sins. He will bear the marks of that burden for all of eternity on His hands and feet.
Now I’m not saying that we should suffer physically for the weakness of others – but if someone’s got a problem on spiritual grounds of eating meat, then we need to bear with that brother – it may cause us some physical discomfort by eating tofu burgers – but we’ll support him. We’ll get a lot farther by showing love, than by showing contempt.
Instead we should “build them up.” Instead of criticizing, we should find ways to encourage – instead of arguing about some minor point of Scripture – share a positive verse about the Lordship of Jesus, or how He’s borne our burdens – like Romans 15:3, for instance:
3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."
Did you realize that? So that when people rail on you they are really railing on Christ? When people poke fun at you they are really poking fun at Jesus? Paul quotes Psalm 69:9 – just after “zeal for Your house consumes me” comes this phrase. So look what Paul says next:
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
In a sense, Paul may be saying that with zeal and a mature relationship with God, will come insults – perhaps even from the weak Christians themselves. So we are to endure – and have encouragement from the Scriptures.
Psalm 69 goes on to say: 13 But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.
And He does answer – with salvation, yes – but I find it interesting where Paul goes with this:
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So what is uppermost in Paul’s heart is not the insults – those we must endure – but that God would give us a “spirit of unity among yourselves to follow Christ Jesus.”
I love this – sometimes Christians are forced into unity – afraid to say anything. Some Christians rebel against unity and say anything and everything that comes to their mind – backbiting and devouring each other. But here is the key to unity –
1. It comes out of endurance and encouragement from God – and
2. It flows when we focus on Jesus Christ.
So as we endure others – their failings – and believe me, Christians have plenty of them – supporting each other, building each other up – not to please ourselves, then focus on Jesus, not on politics or who got what or who is more important or on minor doctrinal differences – that’s when unity comes about.
7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
Listen – what kind of shape were you in when you accepted Jesus Christ? Were you perfect? No – but Jesus accepted you – in order to bring praise to God. So when we encounter brothers and sisters who are different than us, if we seek to accept and build, not insult and tear down – that too will bring praise to God.
Now I’m not saying that we just agree to agree – there are times when you have enough trust built up with someone to more accurately share the Scriptures with them – like Priscilla and Aquilla did for Apollos in Acts 18. This incredible husband and wife team didn’t publicly ridicule Apollos, even though he got some things wrong – they took him aside privately – and out came one of the most powerful apologists the church has ever known. It could have turned out much differently.
Paul’s audience for this letter, remember, are the Christians, both Jewish and gentile, in Rome. In many ways the gentile Christians are the strong ones – and the Jewish Christians the weak – as they haven’t caught up yet to the freedom from the law found in Jesus.
But Paul wants to remind all of them of this truth:
8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs 9 so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy,
The gospel came to the Jews first – Jesus came to confirm the promises of the Father, but also the gospel came to us gentiles – so both Jew and gentile can glorify God for His mercy.
as it is written:
"Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name."
10 Again, it says,
"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."
11 And again,
"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples."
Paul quotes from the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings – the three major sections of the Jewish Bible – all of which point to the fact that gentiles were always a part of God’s plan. Remember too, this was a huge sticking point in the early church.
12 And again, Isaiah says,
"The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him."
The “Root of Jesse” is a Messianic reference – Jesse was King David’s father – a ruler, and one that the Gentiles will hope in – amen! So Paul brings this idea of hope into a prayer:
13 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.
This is another of my favorite Bible verses. We could spend all day just looking at the intricacies of this verse – He is the source of hope – and as we trust in Him we will experience peace and joy and overflow with that hope – not by our own efforts of figuring how to work everything out – but by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I think this is also part of focusing on the Lord – and on how He has made us the same – not on our differences. I like what Paul says next:
14 I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.
By having the Holy Spirit in us we are full of goodness and complete in knowledge. When you come to a place of disagreement, mutually seek the Spirit’s wisdom – if you want to know the character of that wisdom consult Matthew 5 and James 3.
Next, Paul almost apologizes for how strongly he has made his argument:
15 I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
When God first called Paul He told him he was going to be a light to the gentiles (Acts 9;15). This isn’t something he took lightly – it was his “priestly duty.” You meant a lot to the Apostle Paul. Paul doesn’t really apologize – because what he has to say is so vital to our relationship with God and each other.
17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God.
He’s not boasting – its like what Jeremiah said:
Jeremiah 9:24 But let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.
We don’t have to “show off” with God has or is doing through us – but what we are so amazed of that we have to share it is that we are getting to know Him better and what He is doing - changing us, and those around us into His image.
18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done- 19 by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written:
"Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand."
Notice verse 19 – signs and miracles. This was the sign that Paul was an Apostle. The Apostles saw Jesus, were commissioned by Him, and performed miracles and signs to attest to the calling – Paul fulfilled all of these – we can trust that God spoke through Paul excathedra – with authority for God.
Another note – he says his aim was to not build on someone else’s work – but there is nothing wrong with that – remember what else Paul said:
Apollos was a good example - 1 Cor 3:6
6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
It just means for Paul he was to go to uncharted territory for the gospel. You may be called to that as well, or you may be called to come alongside and help an existing ministry – to water what has been planted – and that is great – wonderful, in fact.
For Paul – he was making his way through Asia to get to Rome. So in verses 22 through 29 he talks about his plans and how the churches made contributions to help the saints in Jerusalem. When Paul went to Jerusalem he was, of course, arrested and sent by ship to Rome – he got to Rome, but not like he planned.
22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.
So then in the final three verses Paul sounds as if he is done with the letter:
30 I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Paul requests prayer – this is so important. Sometimes we think that, “oh, so-and-so has it all together, they don’t need prayer.” Not true. We all need to pray for one another, I need you to pray for me – because when we are living a life for the Lord, it is a struggle.
The enemy is always out there to trip us up, make us ineffective or discouraged or divisionary. He says “The God of peace be with you.” We should pray for God’s peace to reign in this church and in our lives – pray that we would be strengthened to be delivered from the enemy, and effective to the saints.
Conclusion
Look back at verse 18. Paul says “18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done-“
We need to understand that it is not just what is said – its not just the Word of God read or spoken, or even applied – it is also what we do in response to it. James (2:26) said “Faith without deeds is dead.” That doesn’t mean we earn salvation by good works – it means that salvation causes us to act differently.
We need to appropriate the Word into our life – how do we do that?
1. Listen actively (be the good soil)
2. Respond prayerfully (Holy Spirit does the work)
3. Watch circumspectfully (look for ways He is changing you)
The other thing is found in 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity.
We need to realize that the Christian walk isn’t all great – there will be times of difficulty. Notice Paul says endurance, then encouragement. We need to stick with it, even when the road is rough – as we endure with the Lord, He gives us the encouragement to bear even more – in the process strengthening our faith.
James 1:2-5 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
