Romans 15 - Can Someone Be An "Online Only" Christian?
15 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
Paul continues to exhort the Romans to holy living. In a similar manner, as in chapter 14, he calls upon the strong to bear the burdens of the weak. Instead of being focused on pleasing themselves, their primary focus should be on their neighbor. Sometimes we make the Christian life complicated and burden new believers with all kinds of rules and regulations. But bearing the burdens of others and building them up in love is the primary call of a follower of Christ.
Jesus is our primary model for this type of living. Jesus' whole life was about bearing the burdens of others, which was supremely shown with we did for us on the cross. Jesus emptied himself and became a servant even unto death on a cross.
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
Paul uses the words endurance and encouragement. Endurance has to do with persevering through trials and temptations. Importantly these two qualities come from God, we cannot manufacture them. These two are inexorably intertwined, as it is the encouragement of others to help us to get through the tough times. This is why it is near impossible to be an "online only" Christian.
We all need each other. Discipleship doesn't happen in vacuum. We grow as we rub shoulders with each other, sharpen each other, exhort each other, and comfort each other. Paul ends these verses by talking about Jesus' love, which fulfilled the prophesies given to the Jews, but also made room for the Gentiles to come into the faith.
As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.” 10 Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” 11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.” 12 And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” 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.
Paul reminds the Romans that it was always God's plan to include the Gentiles in the plan of salvation. The purpose of the Jews was to bring God's promise of salvation through all people. It was also to bring the Messiah to the earth through the promises made to Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and David. This is where the term "the root of Jesse comes from".
The "Root of Jesse" is a symbolic term referring to Jesus Christ, drawing on a passage in Isaiah 11:1, which speaks of a shoot emerging from the stump of Jesse, the father of King David. This imagery depicts Jesus as both the descendant of David and the Messiah, with the "root" representing his lineage and the "shoot" symbolizing his divine nature. - Google AI
Paul lifts up three more important words joy, hope, and peace. These three are also interrelated. The hope we have in Christ and his victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil gives us joy and peace. This is a joy independent of circumstances, and a peace which surpasses understanding.
I am doing a funeral tomorrow for a close friend of 40 years. Though it is sad he died at the young age of 61, I have hope and peace through Jesus. While it is hard to imagine joy in a funeral, we are reminded it is the "joy of the Lord which is our strength". We can have joy knowing the one we love is in the presence of our Lord and Savior. Their suffering has ended, and they are in a place so great the scripture says,
"No eye has seen, nor mind has conceived, nor ear has heard, what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9
Paul the Minister to the Gentiles
14 I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15 Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me 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.
Although Paul's purpose moved to being the apostle to the Gentiles, he still had plenty to say to the Jewish believers. His hope was that as they grew in their faith, they would be able to teach one another. That was the true sign of maturity. Meanwhile, he was going to continue to boldly preach the gospel to the Gentiles.
17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 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 wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. 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.” 22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
If Paul was going to boast it was only about his service to God. He could not claim any of it to be of himself, but it was the Holy Spirit who worked powerfully through him, as we see in the book of Acts. The signs and wonders God did through Paul, and the other apostles, was a clear sign that the Holy Spirit was the one who was responsible for such miracles.
Paul's three missionary journeys, which were marked by many hardships and obstacles, showed that his primary passion was to preach the gospel to as many as possible. He kept looking for new frontiers to spread the gospel, where no one had preached before.
I know it can be a temptation to get comfortable in our cozy fellowships in the church.
Archbishop William Temple is credited with saying, "The Church is the only organization that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members."
Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome
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 visit you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see 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 Lord’s people there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people 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 contribution, 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.
One of the reasons why Paul said this was that he had never visited Rome and was longing to do. His ultimate goal was to make it to Spain. We know that when he did make it to Rome, he was put in prison. In the meantime he was going to Jerusalem to deliver the gifts from the churches in Philippi and Greece.
Paul had these plans; yet things did not work out according to his plans. He did go to Rome, yet not as a missionary on his way to Spain. He went to Rome as a prisoner awaiting trial before Caesar, where he would preach the gospel on a different kind of frontier. - Guzik
Paul also connects one's spiritual blessings with their material blessings. Although people should not give out of obligation, it is natural when we have been blessed spiritually to want to give back with our material resources. It is a sign of gratitude to God and the church or organization which has led us to and kept us in Christ.
30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, 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 kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Paul then beseeches them to pray for him. One of the clearest ways we express our love for someone else is to pray for them. We pray by our Lord Jesus and by the love of the Spirit. The love we have for others is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. This is the same love Jesus had and his given to us by His Spirit.
Paul asks them to pray that he would be received and welcomed by the brothers and sisters in the church at Jerusalem. He really didn't know what their response would be. Remember it is in Acts 21 where Paul is arrested and brought to the Jewish Sanhedrin in Acts 23.
Do you think about reaching those who don't know Jesus? Are you comfortable in the church where most everyone is a believer, or do you intentionally seek out gatherings of unbelievers so you might have a chance to show others the love of Christ. Notice I did not say preach at them!
Lord, give us the zeal and passion of our brother Paul so we might not rest until all people have had a chance to know you.
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