"Welcome Others"

We’re in this together!

Who? Believers

What? Our relationship with Christ

Together in Christ

Believers are spiritually together in Christ.

Even those vastly different (Jews and Gentiles) - great potential for misunderstanding and mistreating.

We should make this practical by welcoming one another.

How should we welcome others? (v. 7)

“as Christ has welcomed you”

To receive or accept (Romans 14:1–3)

The way that Christ has related to us is the way we should relate to others in Christ.

Paul will elaborate on this in Romans 15:8–9.

“for the glory of God”

The purpose of Christ relating to you.

The purpose of you relating to others.

How did Christ welcome us? (vv. 8-12)

By serving (v. 8)

“Servant” - intermediary (waitor/waitress) between the circumcised and God (1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,”)

Christ is the Jewish Messiah (Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”)

Christ fulfills the promises made to the Jews (Romans 9:4 “They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.”)

Christ gave His life in service to others. That is how He welcomed others.

Romans 14:9 “For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”

Romans 14:15 “For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.”

Romans 15:3 “For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.””

Jews and Gentiles (vv. 8-9)

Notice the necessary relationship between them here.

One reason that Christ related to the Jews in this way was so that Gentiles also might have a relationship with God.

There is an interdependence (in the grand plan of God) though there is a vast difference.

Paul gives evidence that God’s plan always included the Gentiles (v. 9, 2 Sam. 22:50; Ps. 18:49) (v. 10, Deut. 32:43) (v. 11, Ps. 117:1) (v. 12, Isa. 11:10)

What is the benefit? (v. 13)

Hope that is unique to believers.

“Abound” - excessive, abundance, plentiful (present tense continuous action)

Notice it is a work of God. We should look to him for it.

Hope that is shared by believers.

Our unique hope is a shared hope.

We can make emphasis of a commonality that is greater than anything else in this life.

Stick together!

It is true spiritually.

We need to be true to this practically.

In action, but first and foremost, in attitude.

Benediction: Romans 16:25–27 “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.”

Scripture Reading: Matthew 21:1–9