Romans 15

Romans 15

vs 1 obligation means that it is our duty, The mature believer has an obligation to bear with the doubts and fears of those who think certain things are wrong. bear with The mature believer is bound and indebted to Christ to bear with the failings of the weak. This idea mean to carry another man or figuratively to bear an obligation. The strong may find themselves frustrated by the failings of the weak, thinking their concerns and worries seem trivial. Those who are strong are not only to tolerate the weak but they are to help the weaker brother by helping them through their burdens in practical ways and by loving them as they do it. Gal 6:1-2 , 1 Cor 9:19-22 , Phil 2:2-4

vs 2 Please his neighbor Those who are strong should be concerned for the weaker among the congregation. Pleasing our neighbor is not about trying to please men but rather encouraging the weaker brothers so that they will be built up.  Rom 12:10 , Rom 12:16 , 1 Thess 5:15 Build him up The strong person should never compromise their character yet neither should they force the weaker one to change before they are ready. Rather the stronger person should bear with the weaker while helping them to grow in the faith. Rom 14:19 , 1 Thes 5:11 , Rom 15:14

vs 3 Christ did not please himself Christ came to do the will of the Father, not to please himself or people. Christ came to die on the cross and his mission was to please the Father. John 4:34 , John 5:30 , John 6:38 , Phil 2:6-8  Likewise stronger believers should be willing to limit their freedoms in order to care for and teach the weaker believer the truth.  The reproaches... fell on me A quote from Psalm 69:9.  Because Christ chose to do the will of the Father and not please himself, he suffered reproach and insult. Men that hate God showed that same hatred toward His Son that He sent. John 1:10-11

vs 4 written in former days This is a reference to the Old Testament. for our instruction Christians live under a New Covenant and are not under the authority of the Old Covenant. Yet God remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. God's moral law has not changed and we can learn God's character from all of Scripture. 1 Cor 10:6 , 1 Cor 10:10-11 , 2 Peter 1:20-21 we might have hope The Old Testament Scriptures show us that God is faithful to those who believe. That although our circumstances may seem hopeless at times, our Lord is the Creator of heaven and earth and he is faithful. Just as Christ appeared the first time as our Savior to all who believed, He is coming again and we have a genuine hope that one day He will be our King. Psalm 46:1-2 , James 1:2-4 , Romans 5:1-5

vs 5 live in harmony refers to different tones coming together in one song. Paul urges the strong and the weak, despite their different views on non-essential issues, to pursue loving harmony in Christ. Rom 12:16 When Scripture is silent on issues we should also remain silent on issues and love each other. Weather Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, slave or free we are to love one another in spite of our differences of opinion that often come from circumstances. John 17:22-23 .

vs 6 with one voice The unity of believers in Christ is to be real in our minds and in our confessions.  glorify God and Father Our genuine praise of unselfishness and genuine love through Christ bring glory to God the Father. 2 Cor 1:3 , Eph 1:3 , 1 Pet 1:3

vs 7 welcome one another We are to welcome each other despite our differences of conscience. As Christ has welcomed us into his family despite our misunderstandings and immaturity, we are to welcome others who are growing in faith. There is not to be one-sided acceptance. The world will take notice and know we are disciples if we treat each other with acceptance and brotherly love despite our differences of opinion. Believers are to accept each other despite their differences over disputable matters. This brings glory to God. Matt 10:24 , Eph 4:32

vs 8 The greatest example of harmony is that God united the Jews and Gentiles together in one body through Jesus Christ. a servant to the circumcised Jesus came as the fulfillment of the law, as a Jew and servant to the Hebrew nation. to confirm the promises God was faithful to his promises given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

vs 9 I will praise you among the Gentiles, At the same time Christ came to show mercy on the Gentiles. Jesus Christ showed mercy to Jew and Gentile alike under his ministry and through his atonement all men can come directly to God through faith in Christ. Here Paul uses the passage from Psalm 18:49 , 2 Samuel 22:50 to begin to show evidence of God's mercy toward the Gentiles, not only among the Jews.

vs 10  And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”  This is the "Song of Moses" Deut 32:43 While Moses poetically narrates the recent history of Israel and reminds them that hope only comes from trusting in God, Moses also calls the Gentiles to rejoice with the Jews. vs 11 Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles This comes from Psalm 117:1 This is a call for Gentiles to praise God. For some Jews it must have been a shocking thought that Scripture taught that the God of the chosen Jews was also the God over all the earth. He was also the God of the Gentiles and the Gentiles were called to praise Him. God's grace and agape love has always been offered to all nations. We are reminded of the faith of Rahab and Ruth, both Gentiles in the lineage of Jesus Christ.

vs 12 to rule the Gentiles, in him will the Gentiles hope Isaiah 11:10 gives a clear Messianic prophecy that the Gentiles will put their hope in him or believe in the Messiah. Jesus is the heir to David's throne and will one day in the millenial kingdom sit upon the throne ruling the nations from Jeruselum. vs 13 God of hope This verse sounds like a benediction as Paul transitions to his next subject. Paul reminds us that faith in the Lord God Almighty is the only true hope of mankind. The Creator of all things and Savior of all. Through faith we have the power of the Holy Spirit. The peace and joy that comes with an assurance that Jesus will come for us one day and take us to be with him.

vs 14-16 Paul never actually visited the church in Rome yet he is satisfied they are full of goodness, knowledge and abilities. How can this be? Paul knows that God Himself indwells the church in Rome and that through the Holy Spirit they have these qualities. This is why he boldly writes the way he does about the truth of doctrine. To minister to them of what they already possess in the heavens. Eph 1:3 That through the ministry of his letter given by the Holy Spirit they might be sanctified through the Holy Spirit as God confirms it in them. vs 14-15 give Paul’s reason for writing the letter of Romans. He wrote it to remind them and minister to them doctrinal truth so that they might be sanctified.

vs 17-18 reason to be proud Paul gives glory to God for what is being done. Paul proclaims that the good that has been done in his ministry has not been because of him but because of Christ in him. 1 Cor 1:27-29 , Col 1:27 , Rom 8:9 , Gal 2:20

vs 19-21 God uses signs and wonders to confirm His message and messengers to a people group. We see here that God used signs and wonders to confirm them where Christ had not yet been named and when God’s written revelation was not available to people. The quote in vs 21 is from Isaiah 52:15 and its context is prefiguring the crucified Jesus Christ and how the message about Him will go out to many nations and Kings who have never heard.

vs 22 hindered Paul was being prevented by God from going to Rome because of his ministry to the Gentiles. While Paul desired to be with them, God had other plans for ministry.

vs 23-24 At this point Paul had introduced the gospel to all of Asia minor and the Gecian Peninsula. He concluded that he no longer had work in these regions. Acts 19:8-10 Paul had plans to journey to Spain and to stop by and see the Roman church on his way. An example of how it is good to make reasonable and carefully laid out plans while knowing God can change them at any time. Prov 16:9 Spain was known for

vs 25-28 Paul had been collecting an offering for the poor in Jerusalem from the Gentile church’s. 1 Cor 16:1-3 , Acts 11:27-30 , 2 Cor 8:1-3 , 2 Cor 9:12-13 , Gal 2:10