Let Us Stand and Glorify God

Sermon Passage

Romans 15:1–13 NKJV

1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name.” 10 And again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!” 11 And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!” 12 And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.” 13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Bear = To bear up under difficult circumstances. It does not mean to put up with.

Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament Chapter Fifteen

When an informed believer foregoes an action which he knows is right, but which a weaker Christian thinks to be wrong, and does it for the sake of not offending that weaker Christian, he curtails his own freedom of action, denies himself something that is legitimately his, and this is a burden to him.

Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament Chapter Fifteen

The pleasing one’s neighbor in this context refers to the act of the believer foregoing a legitimate act because that weaker Christian thinks it to be wrong. It pleases him because it removes a source of temptation to him to do that thing, and makes his attempt to live a life pleasing to God easier. But the stronger Christian is to do this only in the instance where the weaker Christian would be edified or built up in the Christian life.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Twelve: When Christians Disagree (Romans 14:1–15:7)

Of course, the great example in this is our Lord Jesus Christ. He paid a tremendous price in order to minister to us. Paul quoted Psalm 69:9 to prove his point. Does a strong Christian think he is making a great sacrifice by giving up some food or drink? Then let him measure his sacrifice by the sacrifice of Christ. No sacrifice we could ever make could match Calvary.

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Scruples = those limited by their weakness. Because of their lack of experiencial faith, they are limited in their capacity to act upon it.

Please = To cause someone to be pleased in another.

Observational Outline

1-6 = Opinions aside, we must learn that opinions are only that opinions.

Even if your opinions may be right, they should never take precedence over the edification of the Body of Christ.

Our bretheren need our support not our stiff arm.

7-13 = The ultimate goal of the Body of Christ is unity in the Spirit.

Receive one another, as Christ received us.

God strengthens your hope in Him through the inity of the people.

Who is the strong in the faith?\

The Strong Christian is the one in whom walks, talks, and listens with Jesus.

Strong Christians are strong not because they are knowlegable.

Strong Christians are not strong becuause they have been in church for many years.

Strong Christians are not strong because they know all the books of the Bible.

Strong Christians are strong because they abide in Christ.

The truth is we are highly opinionated people who want to be heard and want to be right.

True Christian strength is not human empowered, it is Divine powered.

Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV

6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Ephesians 6:10–11 NKJV

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Our strength comes from the Lord.

When you are strengthened in the Lord you will be willing to build up your fellow believer up rather than tear them down.

Unity in the church only comes when the people set aside their differences and focus on their agreeances.

Commentary on Romans Chapter 15.— Romans15:1–33

To know the mind of God, as revealed in the Scriptures, is to be strong; to be ignorant of it, is to be weak. It is not the man of the greatest intellectual vigor who is strong, nor the imbecile in understanding who is weak. Many of those who possess the greatest talents, and are most distinguished for mental acquirements, even although Christians, may be weak in respect to the things of God. And many who are of feeble intellect, may be strong in the knowledge of Divine things.

Robert Haldane

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Twelve: When Christians Disagree (Romans 14:1–15:7)

True Christian love is not selfish; rather, it seeks to share with others and make others happy. It is even willing to carry the younger Christians, to help them along in their spiritual development. We do not endure them. We encourage them!

The issue Paul delt with in chapter 14 was not just that there was a difference of opinion, it was that the people were not able to work together because of their differences.

As the church, we must not be willing to throw those who are have differing christian opinions to us, under a bus, for the sake of being right.

What the church must be, is like minded individuals, empowered by God to change the world by the truth that we all have in common; The story of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Here are some basic concepts that Paul want us to keep in mind when we feel we need to confront someone with a differening christian opinion.

Bear with the weaknesses of others. (1)

Monitor what you have to say and do. (2-6)

Accept that there is differences between us . (7-12)

Go on in the power of the Holy Spirit. (13)