Welcoming One Another as Christ’s People
Notes
Transcript
ETS: Paul exhorted the Roman Christians to be humbly welcoming in Christ.
ESS: Being humbly welcoming is the expectation of those who are in Christ.
OSS: I want the students to be loving and welcoming to all in Jesus.
PQ: How?
UW: Reminders
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As we gather tonight I want us to think about what this room really signifies. We chose the term Refuge Youth because we believe that Christ is the True Refuge of our hearts and lives. Yet, in this reality we also understand that we are each individual parts of being that refuge for people. No matter who they are, where they come from, or what they bring with them we exist “for those who need hope in life through Jesus Christ.” This comes, in large part because that is what we are called to in the Scripture. As such we come together, put aside all of those things that might separate us, and be unified in the most important thing that unites us: Jesus Christ.
As I thought about what I wanted to share with you all tonight one verse was brought to my attention, Romans 15:7. Paul’s exhortation to the Romans was they were to “welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” This means that we are to welcome people as Christ has welcomed us into his family by his sacrifice on the cross! This kind of unity brings glory to God, the chief aim of our lives. So, tonight we need to ponder the question of how can this welcoming spirit be present in us individually and as a youth group.
We welcome one another in unity as Christ’s people by…
By Being Imitators of His Example (vv.1-3)
Foremost, as with any study of Scripture we must be careful to understand words. The “therefore” of verse seven indicates that Paul has just concluded why we are able to welcome people like Jesus does which glorifies God. To understand what is going on we must go all the way back to chapter 14!
Paul is settling disputes between weaker and stronger brothers concerning “disputable matters.” As such, Paul speaks to both parties but specifically, he calls the strong to exercise love for the weaker brother in abstaining from those things that might cause division! As such, the beginning of chapter 15 picks up on this reality and Paul stated they were to “please their neighbor for his good, to build him up.” Paul’s premise of making this claim is to point them back to the great example of Jesus! Rather Jesus, with no regard for his own well-being, took on our sins and bore our iniquities (Isaiah 53). Paul’s foundation for Christian unity is found in the person of Jesus. In verses 8-12 Paul reminds the Romans that Jesus became a servant to save both Jews and Gentiles.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
How can exhibit more of Christ’s humble servanthood in the way we treat those with whom we may disagree?
How does Jesus’ example of welcoming encourage you to treat those who maybe come here for the first time?
2. By Being Instructed in His Word (v. 4)
Paul would also emphasize the importance of God’s Word as it relates to all of Christian living, which includes unity. Paul’s quotation of verse three comes from Psalm 69 and is followed by a definition that emphasizes the sufficiency and scope of the Bible to us!
Particularly, all that was written before (for Paul the OT; for us all of Scripture) was written that we might be instructed in all that God would have for us. Moreover, it is in that instruction we learn endurance and are encouraged leading to an unshakeable hope in the promises of God!
2 Timothy 3:16 Thus, if we want to be people who are known for welcoming unity, we need to understand the significance of it from the Word.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
The allelon commands of the Bible illustration
How are you being guided by God’s word in the way you treat others?
Could it be that we read the commands of Scripture as “you do” as opposed “we do?”
3. By Being Dependent on the Graciousness of God
Paul’s final appeal was one not of telling, but of asking God’s gracious power be granted to the Romans. In the midst of controversy, Paul knew that it was God alone who could grant this kind of endurance, encouragement and unity. Unity is a gift given by God’s Spirit to His people to the praise of His name. Specifically because God is bringing people from every tribe, tongue, and nation to worship His Son to the praise of His glory. It is only God who could bring people scattered by sin into unity as the people of God (1 Peter 2:10).
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
Truly, welcoming all people into the fellowship of the gathered body is a foretaste of heaven to come.
How are you, and we as a group, welcoming others as we have been welcomed by Jesus?
