Romans 15:1-13

Main idea: Christian relationships are designed to lean into the glory of God alone

Monday afternoon, I sat down with this passage and began to consider all the benefits that could happen around me if I extended more grace to others. People would be better. Christians would be more hopeful. Communities would have more unity. Lots of people would be blessed because I extended grace.

My first reading glazed over some really important words in verses 7-8. The end of verse 7 reads, “for the glory of God.” A summary of verse 8 is Christ became a servant to show God’s truthfulness.

Before I read our passage, I want us to see these verses are not about the response of other people. People are not projects. People are hurting. People are stressed. People are filled with anxiety. People are without friends and lonely. People are worried about money. People have struggling marriages. People have tension with family members. People are worried about upcoming life decisions. People have Jesus and wonder why life isn’t how the TV preachers described it.

What we do with these verses is about our response. They are about the posture of our hearts. Do we build relationships in a way that leans into the glory of God?

Building relationships with grace and encouragement aligns my heart with Jesus.

Romans 15:1–7 ESV

1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Verses 1-2 talk about two relationship in our life. The first relationship is people who aren’t in the same place spiritually. That could be for a number of reasons. I’ll mention five. Some people grew up in church and have no idea of the potential sin they have been redeemed from. Some have never been discipled and trying to grow on their own. Some have retired spiritually ~ they have stopped connecting, stopped serving, stopped growing. Some think they are okay just the way they are. Some are first generation Christians; they have no clue what they don’t know. There are other reasons people aren’t in the same place spiritually.

The second relationship is people who are close to us. Both geographically close and emotionally close. Our family. Our inner circle of friends. Our neighbors. Our work team. Our sports team.

In verses 1-2, Paul says that believers have a responsibility in every relationship to unselfishly bear some things for the edification of other people. Then, he uses Jesus as the example. Jesus cared for people in a way that pointed them to the Father, making them better humans and stronger Christians. When our relationship building is aligned with Jesus, we bear the failings of the weak and look out for the good of our neighbors. The journey is helping other people look really good. The result is the highest glory of God.

In verse 5, Paul reminds to be encouraged for the sake of the gospel. Sometimes building relationship is hard. The endurance of pouring into others is worth it. I think a mindset of giving to others instead of taking from others creates harmony that resemble heaven on earth. When Christians pour into others similar to how Jesus poured into others, I think there would be a visible improvement on the emotional quality of life. Living on that mission will always align our heart with Jesus.

In verse 6, Paul encourages us that aligning our heart with Jesus to build relationships will create an atmosphere of corporate worship that some Christians have never experienced. THAT TOGETHER WITH ONE VOICE YOU MAY GLORIFY THE LORD.

If the best worship happens on the other side of building relationships, then we should be working toward stronger relationships.

If the best worship happens on the other side of unselfish relational decisions, then we should often ask the Lord to grow our humility.

If the best worship happens when our hearts are aligned with Jesus, then we should ask the Lord to quiet our heart so the Holy Spirit can speak to us.

Building relationships with enduring joy offers hope to people outside Christianity.

Romans 15:8–13 ESV

8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” 10 And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” 11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” 12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Going back to 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.”

Jesus endured a lot of relational garbage to make sure the Jews had the first opportunity to accept the gospel. The entire OT is a declaration of the coming Messiah. Here I am. Let’s do this!

Jesus lovingly and joyfully enduring serving a group of people that many would reject and continue to reject, but he wanted to God’s truthfulness.

How did Jesus show God’s truthfulness? If we flip through the gospel of John, we find the answers. He quoted OT Scripture. He led by the example of being baptized. He endured strong temptation. He went on spiritual retreats. He performed miracles that changed nature. He healed people. He answered questions that were meant to trap him. He poured into his disciples. He was patient with his accusers. He surrendered to God’s will. He restored those who turned on him. He forgave those who didn’t deserve forgiveness. He got on a cross. He walked out of a tomb.

Historically, the majority of Christians are Gentiles ~ people outside the club, people that were hated, people that weren’t allowed to worship together or eat the same foods. The largest impact came from people outside the religious club. Jesus built relationships that leaned into the glory of God. His time on earth was never ONLY about the club - it was about reaching others for the praise of His glory.

Verse 9 - the Gentiles might glorify God. I will praise you among the Gentiles.

Verse 10 - Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.

Verse 11 - Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles.

Verse 12 - In him, will the Gentiles hope.

I don’t think anybody listening to this message is turning water into wine, or spitting in the mud and restoring eye sight, or stopping the wind, or feeding thousands with a kid’s meal, or getting on a cross, or walking out of a tomb. However, we do have opportunities to show God’s truthfulness by being baptized, by enduring temptation, by taking spiritual retreats, by answering questions meant to trap us, by being patient, and by extending grace and forgiveness.

Is it possible to continue doing what you’re doing with the people that you’re doing them with AND lean into the glory of God?

If we want people to want Christianity, is it possible we might need to model a type of Christianity that Jesus would model if we were walking on the earth? Is it possible that Lenawee county Christianity doesn’t require us to offer hope to people outside the club?

Paul ends this passage with a prayer ~”May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

Back to the beginning. People are hurting. People are stressed. People are filled with anxiety. People are without friends and lonely. People are worried about money. People have struggling marriages. People have tension with family members. People are worried about upcoming life decisions. People have Jesus and wonder why life isn’t how the TV preachers describe it.

If any of those things describes your week, I pray the God of hope would fill you and the power of the Holy Spirit would abundantly flow out of your life, so Jesus can be spilled all over the place. Lenawee county needs Christians who build relationship that lean into the glory of God.