Bear the Weaknesses
Romans 15:1-3 NASB
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. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”
Under the Old Covenant
Relationship God had with his people of old, they were restricted as to what
they could eat or drink, they were to follow particular ceremonial laws, and
they were to keep the Jewish Sabbath.
But, after Jesus Christ died
on the cross for our sins, and was resurrected from the dead, and the New
Covenant came into place, God’s people were no longer under those dietary
restrictions, nor did they have to follow the Old Covenant laws. Now they were
under God’s grace and the law of love, which is to love God with all our hearts
and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, which sums up the law and the
prophets (Matt. 22:37-40).
But, some of the Jewish
believers in Jesus Christ hung on to some of the Old Covenant regulations with
regard to food and drink, with regard to the Sabbath, and with regard to
religious celebrations (See: Col. 2:16-17).
So, those who now had the
liberty in Christ to eat or drink what they could not under the Old Covenant,
and to see every day as a day unto the Lord, and the freedom to not celebrate
all the old religious festivals, were to be patient with those who were still
hanging on to those things.
Thus, those who felt that
they still needed to follow those old rules were not to pass judgment on those
who had the freedom not to follow them. And, those who were free from those old
restrictions were not to judge those who were not free yet, but they were to
accept one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, and to work together, as
fellow members of the body of Christ, toward mutual growth and maturity in
Christ.
For, these matters were not
matters of sin against God, but they were disputable differences, regarding
things that did not impact our fellowship with God or our eternal security.
And, today we still have many of these matters which fit in a “gray” area of
neither being bad or good, but neutral. Thus, we are not to judge others in
these areas if they disagree with us or if we disagree with them. But, we are
to accept one another in love.
Potential Problems
Nonetheless, so many who call
themselves Christians give a bad reputation to the Christian faith when they
argue (fight, quarrel) with one another, especially publicly, over matters not
of consequence to our salvation or to our eternal life in Jesus Christ. I personally
have seen so much nastiness between those purportedly who are brothers and
sisters in Christ, and in public forums, and over matters of little
consequence. This should not be!
But, I have also seen people
take such passages of scripture as this, in Romans 15, out of context, and to
make them say that we ought to tolerate willful sinful addictive behaviors in
other believers, and they call this loving one another. But, truly that is not
the message here, and it never will be.
For, if truly we are living to
do what pleases our neighbor, for his good, for his edification (improvement,
advancement), it will not to be to excuse away or to ignore his sinful
practices, but it will be to speak the truth in love to lead him or her to
repentance and faithfulness to Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For Our Instruction
Romans 15:4-7 NASB
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. 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.
But, the reality of the
situation is that some people will judge us by their own consciences, and by
their own religious rites, rituals, practices and ceremonies, of their own
choosing, but not according to God and His Word. They will judge us by
themselves, by their own personal prejudices, and by human understanding,
culture, society and worldly thinking and reasoning. And, in their judgments,
they may also reproach us for our freedom in Christ, our stand on the Word of
God, and our walks of faith in Christ.
But, Jesus went through all
of that already, before any of us would ever have to suffer in this way, and he
did so that we might share in the fellowship of his sufferings and follow his
example in how to respond to persecution and misunderstandings, and that he
might sympathize with us in our times of difficulty and persecutions, so that
we can find comfort in Him and learn from Him during these times of trouble.
Our Lord is our strength, our
counsel, our hope and our encouragement during such times. We can rest in the
Lord, rely on his mercy, trust in his promises, and believe in his sovereignty
whenever we are reproached because of our faith in the Lord and our stand on
what we believe is right; on what God and His Word approves or permits in our
lives and in our daily practices. He never makes allowances for willful sinful
practices, though.
So, the only way that we can
be of one mind and heart with one another is if we are of one mind and heart
first of all with our Lord, and in agreement with His Word (under the New
Covenant). This allows (makes room) for disputable differences which have no
consequence with regard to our salvation and eternal life with God, but it does
not allow for or accept continued and willful sinful practices (in lifestyle,
in our walks).
So, unity with one another is
unity with Christ and His Word. Then, with one voice and one mind and one heart
we can glorify God.
Abound in Hope
Romans 15:13 NASB
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
So, what is our hope? Our
hope, not wishful thinking, but what we believe has happened, is happening, and
will yet take place one day, is our salvation from sin and our eternal life
with God. It is that Jesus Christ died on a cross one day many years ago in
order that you and I might be free from slavery to sin and set free to now walk
in his holiness and righteousness.
It is that Satan no longer
has control over our lives, and now we can walk in victory over darkness
because Jesus already conquered sin, Satan, hell and death via his death on the
cross, and via his resurrection from the dead.
Our hope, too, is that, in
all this craziness that this world of sin brings upon the people of the earth,
and in all our persecutions, rejections, and mistreatments, and in all
sickness, injury, trials and tribulations, God is still on the throne. Amen! He
still rules supreme over all that he has made. He is still completely sovereign
over everything.
Even in all our weaknesses,
via sickness, injury, trials, and tribulations, he is sovereign, in control,
there for us, and he helps us, heals us, and leads and guides us in the way
that we should go. He strengthens, comforts and encourages us, too, and he
continues to fill us with hope, joy, peace and his love.
This is especially true
during times when we don’t have the strength to go on, or when the pressures of
this world are crashing in on us and we need wisdom to know what steps to take
next. He is always there to reassure of us of his love, his power, his
strength, and that he has it all under his control, and that he is working all
things together for good for them who love God and who are called according to
his purpose.
So, when we are feeling weak,
for whatever reason, we know we can go to him in prayer and that he will
strengthen and help us through it all.
The Solid Rock
Edward Mote / William
Bradbury
My hope is built on nothing
less
Than Jesus’ blood and
righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest
frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’
name.
When darkness veils His
lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging
grace;
In every high and stormy
gale,
My anchor holds within the
veil.
His oath, His covenant, His
blood
Support me in the whelming
flood;
When all around my soul gives
way,
He then is all my hope and
stay.
When He shall come with
trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be
found;
Dressed in His righteousness
alone,
Faultless to stand before the
throne
On Christ, the solid Rock, I
stand;
All other ground is sinking
sand.
Cornerstone
Hillsong
Christ alone; cornerstone
Weak made strong; in the
Saviour's love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all…
Sunday, May 20, 2018, 9:08
a.m. – Thank you, Jesus, for these encouraging words. Thank you for heartening
me today and for times of refreshing in You.
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