Prayer: Gracious Lord, thank You for the strength that comes from abiding in You, the one true Vine. Teach me to rest daily in Your sustenance and support. Amen.[1] – Jim Purdue
Main Scripture: Romans 15:1-32
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." 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. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (1-6).
Associated Scriptures:
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:2-6).
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 3 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity (Colossians 3:12-14).
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me (John 17:20-23).
Correlative Quotes:
First, it is a togetherness of discerning thought, a matter of solidarity in perception of, and belief in, what is real and true. …Jesus referred to this when, earlier in his prayer, speaking of the faithful eleven he said: “I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them” (John 17:8).[2] J. I. Packer
Paul's ultimate goal in the section of Romans, as his prayer in 15:5-6 reveals, is to create unity in the church at Rome.[3] – Douglas J. Moo
Since the goal of interpersonal relationships among Christians is a unified glorying of God, Paul concluded his commands with “Accept one another” Certainly, Christians can receive others who differ with them on nonessential matters. Jesus Christ received them so that they can bring praise to God (lit., "unto the glory of God"), which is the purpose of Christian unity[4] (15:6). John F. Walvoord
Above all, the Holy Spirit, who indwells in every believer, is the true fount of oneness. Quaint, queer, strange bodies, some of the Christians were in this land of ours two hundred years ago, strangely different in outward manners from their brethren of 1866, but when we talk with them through their old folios and octavos, we find, if we be the Lord’s people, that we are quite at home with them. Though the manifestation may vary, yet the same Spirit of God works the same graces, the same virtues, the same excellences, and thus helps all saints to prove themselves to be of one tribe.[5] – Charles Spurgeon
Study:
Chapter 15 of Romans is a message of exhortation. Paul is exhorting the Church at Rome to be imitators of Christ, to be unified through the grace of God. It is as if he is preaching to the members of this young and excited congregation encouraging them to go to the next step in their spiritual maturity.
Those who are immature are encouraged and instructed to get with the program and stop complaining about how they are being treated. On the other hand, those who have the knowledge of Christ and His plan and purpose for life are urged to be an example in their words, actions, and resolve that others may benefit from it.
It is amazing how relevant the scriptures are to all times and all places. The very things that Paul is encouraging the Church at Rome to practice and teach are the same things we need to be practicing and teaching today.
The simple truths of this message in Chapter 15 are timeless. The message of Paul is that we are supposed to act, feel, think, love, and support others the way Christ did before He became flesh and blood while He was here with us on earth, and now He is with us in the form of His Holy Spirit. This message is the secret to a Christian life that pleases God. It is also the message of unity and stability within the local church as well as the church in its all-encompassing sense.
No Christian or local church is perfect. We are being exhorted by this message to work towards perfection. In describing our walk toward perfection, Paul uses the words “perseverance” and “encouragement” (Romans 15:5). Using the gift of perseverance combined with the encouragement we are always receiving from God; we are to be continually moving toward the image of Christ by practicing holiness.
I Timothy 4:6-10 tells us that if we want to be “good servants” of Jesus Christ we will “labor and strive” toward Godliness because “our hope is fixed on the living God.” In addition, we are to be recurrently encouraging others through modeling and teaching them to do the same. In that light, 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” Grace inspires unity.
Preaching is an essential part of the worship service. The one who is chosen by God as the leader of the congregation is to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) so that all can understand. Those who are given the gift of teaching within the congregation are to teach the principles in greater detail.
Finally, Christians must have a forum where they can openly and freely discuss what they have been taught and determine how they can use this teaching in their own personal lives. As we learn the Word of Truth, we will become closer together in our understanding and begin approaching the goal of being of one mind.
When we worship Him, we must worship for the right reasons. The songs that we sing, the prayers that we raise to Him, as well as the preaching or teaching that is done should be in one accord with the ultimate purpose to glorify God.
“To be perfectly united” does not mean that Paul required everyone to be exactly the same. Instead, he wanted them to set aside their arguments and focus on what truly mattered -- Jesus Christ as Lord and their mission to take the light of the gospel into a dark world.”[6]
The key to our hope is found in the work of the Holy Spirit. As we seek the direction of the Holy Spirit and we see His working in our lives, we will find that our hope is strengthened. As we find in Romans 5, our hope will not be disappointed.
Summary Statement:
I have always loved this saying: “In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity.[7]” – St. Augustine
It is the Spirit of God through the salvation of the believer that brings about the unity of believers. It is our relationship with the work of Jesus in His birth, life, death, and resurrection that has brought us together as one body of believers. We are not of this world. Religion did not save us. Catholicism did not die for our sin. The Presbyterians, Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, Mormons, Assemblies of God, Churches of God, Episcopalians, or any other religion or denomination did not die for our sin. Jesus died for our sin. He alone is our Savior and Lord. The world would unify us into denominational doctrines and traditions. They would classify us according to our worldly similarities. We are not to be unified by anything except Christ alone. He redeemed and justified us through His unconditional love. All those who believe and have made Him Lord are one in Jesus. We are all unified in Christ.
Lessons within the Lesson:
What does it mean to be of one mind with God and with other believers? Read Philippians 2:2-4.
How do we make it a reality in our lives?
Is it necessary for Christians to agree on everything? Read Romans 15:5.
How can I have consideration for those who may have an opinion different than my own?
[1] Jim Purdue, The Gift of Jesus: MyDaily Devotional, © 2015 by Thomas Nelson, All Rights Reserved, p. 49.
[2] J. I. Packer, Taking Christianity Seriously, © 2007 James I. Packer, Anglican Network of Canada, p. 5.
[3] Douglas J. Moo, NIV Application Commentary, Romans, © 2000 Douglas J. Moo, Zonderan Grand Rapids Michigan, p. 25
[4] John F. Walvoord, Bible Knowledge Commentary/New Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries. All rights reserved.
[5] Charles Spurgeon, Unity in Christ, Public Domain, 1866, spurgeongems.org/sermon/chs668.pdf, P. 4.
[6] The Life Application Commentary Series copyright (C) 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 by the Livingstone Corporation.
[7] St. Augustine, Public Domain, 1627, faculty.georgetown.edu/jod/augustine/ quote.html, from an article, A Common Quote from St. Augustine, Posted by Steve Perisho. P. 1.
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