Romans 15:1-6
Our debt to the weak
Welcome!
Would you open your Bibles to...
Rom. 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Pray
Intro
√ Paul continues the instructions he began in chapter 12 regarding how it is that we as Christians are to live.
You'll remember that we began this study by saying that these instructions are the…
"Practical application"
or we might say…
"It's where the rubber meets the road"
…regarding how the great truths which Paul shared in chapters 1-11 concerning our salvation ought to effect our lives.
That is, when a person is truly born-again we ought to be able to see the Nature of Christ growing in that person's life.
√ Chapter 15 deals with the Christians debt to his/her fellow man.
As we read in our opening scripture Paul exhorts us that we all have a debt to love one another.
Ex. Jesus illustrated this truth in the parable of the Good Samaritan.
His instruction was that every person is his "brother's keeper".
That goes against our human nature which is self-centered as echoed in Cain's disrespectful reply to the Lord's query about his brother in Gen. 4:9…
"Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
The truth is that most people today would rather not get involved with other peoples troubles.
Ap. Yet, as we'll see in chapter 15 we have a debt of love to others.
A debt to the weak - vs. 1-6
A debt to the lost - vs. 7-21
A debt to Israel - vs. 22-33
The instruction (vs. 1)
Rom. 15:1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
√ Bear with one another
We notice that Paul's instructions are tied to his previous thoughts in chapter 14 regarding the conflicts over "doubtful things" - personal convictions.
Once again he addresses his instructions primarily to those with a mature faith and tells them to…
"bear with the scruples of the weak"
Interesting! One might wonder why Paul addresses his instructions in chapters 14 and 15 primarily to those who are "strong" in their faith.
That answer…
Because their faith is mature - they're more willing to forsake themselves that they might serve their weaker brother.
Ap. Kids teasing each other - I expect the older children to not react to teasing from the younger kids - no "eye for an eye" mentality.
The same is true in the local church!
Paul recognized that those with a weaker faith would have more difficulty in dealing with the conflicts over personal convictions.
Therefore, Paul tells the mature believers to let it go.
Ex. The weaker brother may still try and pick a fight regarding food
The instruction is - don't fight back! Bear with the weaker brother and don't be drawn into a fight that cannot be won and that will not build up anyone's faith.
Ex. The senior saint in California
Matt. 4:3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
She had it in her mind that Satan wasn't sure if Jesus was really the Son of God because he said…
"If"
…I patiently explained that the actual wording in the Greek should be understood to mean…
"Since"
That is, Satan wasn't asking a question, he was making a challenge - a temptation.
But she couldn't get it and week after week wanted to go over it until I saw her point and agreed with her!
In the end I just had to tell her that she had made a good point and that her best commentator was the Lord - so take it to Him in prayer.
Ap. There are many things that are not worth fighting about!
2Tim. 2:14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.
If it's not a salvation issue - that is, directly related to a person's eternal destination - don't fight over it!
Good for you to know and understand the essentials of the Christian faith…
The Apostles Creed
The Nicene Creed
The Creed of Athanasius (affirming the doctrine of the Trinity)
…that you might pick your battles with discernment!
The application (vs. 1-2)
Rom. 15:1b …and not to please ourselves.
Rom. 15:2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.
√ Deny yourself!
Isn't that great! When it comes down to the practical application of Paul's instructions for how it is that we are to bear with one another…
…he takes us right back to the basics!
Deny yourself and serve your neighbor!
Friends, it's the same instruction that Jesus gave His guys…
Matt. 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
The reason I point this out…
…is that the foundational truth of living like Jesus - that is - to be a Christian - is found in these basic essentials.
Note how these three essentials of discipleship relate to our debt to the weaker brother.
• Deny yourself (live not to please ourselves)
• Take up your cross (live to please our neighbor -
bearing with them)
• Follow Jesus' example (WWJD)
The essentials of Jesus' message are so simple! I love that about the Christian faith…
…you don't have to be a theologian to understand the important stuff!
Just follow Jesus' example!
Ap. To bear with one another will cost you your pride!
You don't get to win all the arguments anymore! In fact, you'll find that you don't do a lot of arguing at all anymore!
Why?
Because you'll discover that most of what you argued about are the non-essentials - the doubtful things - personal convictions!
And, those issues that are important - salvation issues - the Person of Jesus Christ, etc.
Frankly, you don't want to argue with people about those, rather, you want to speak the truth in love in the hope that they will come to a knowledge of the Truth.
So then, let us each make it our goal to bear with one another in patience and love always remembering that someone else is bearing with us!
√ The goal
Note the end of vs. 2…
"leading to edification"
…to help one another grow in Christ!
That is, the motivation we have in bearing with one another is that we might help one another to grow-up in Christ.
Listen, everyone of us can learn something from everyone else in the Body of Christ.
None of us has it all together!
Some will be more Christ-like in our compassion.
Some will be more Christ-like in our communication
Some will be more Christ-like in our integrity
The point is that God uses each of us to instruct and help one another grow in our faith and witness for Jesus.
Ex. Paul & Barnabus' split over John Mark. Paul needed to learn to be an encourager like Barnabus.
So, we bear with one another that we might help one another grow in faith.
The example (vs. 3)
Rom. 15:3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”
√ Christ came to serve others
Ouch! Paul brings out the spiritual hammer!
He reminds the Christians in Rome that even Jesus, Who by divine right should have always been the One Whom all others served…
…set us an example by laying aside His rights and privileges to serve us.
Ex. The foot washing thing - John 13
The point is that if Jesus was (is) willing to serve those He spoke into existence…
…how much more should we serve one another through bearing with the little idiosyncrasies we all have!?
Ap. To bear with one another often means that we must give up our "rights"!
That's hard for Americans who are ready to fight over even the hint that some perceived right has been violated!
But remember, before you're a citizen of the USA - you're a citizen of heaven and are called to act like one!
Ex. When we were wrongly attacked by those who desired to split the church we chose not to respond to the nasty things said against us for the sake of the fellowship.
These people publicly predicted our quick demise, called into question everything we were doing, etc.
The lesson learned - while it was within our rights as human beings to defend our reputation, we chose not to that we might spare the flock from a fight that no one could win.
Instead we trusted our cause and our reputation to the Lord.
The result…
Since then these same people have helped to destroy another pastor and his church, and are on their 3rd church since they left here.
But we're still here!
So, when it comes to bearing with one another regarding issues as insignificant as personal convictions we are called to let it go because…
We want to build them up in their faith
Jesus set us an example to follow
The result (vs. 4-6)
Rom. 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Rom. 15:5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
Rom. 15:6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
√ Patience & hope
Paul reminds us that when we find ourselves frustrated with the growth of a brother or sister in Christ - especially one who is weak in their faith…
…that we are to look to the Scripture for hope. Because it's there that we will find God's provision to grant us the patience and comfort we need while we wait for them to grow up!
√ One mind
The church in Rome could not be an effective weapon in God's hand while there was division in the church.
"A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand"
Applies to the Church too!
√ God is glorified
A church that is of one mind is able to do the work of God and thereby bring glory to God in and through the people.
Close
√ Let it go! Bear with one another recognizing that Jesus bear with you!
√ Pray for unity that the church here in NW Arkansas might be effective and bring God glory.