Rom 15:1-2 | KingComments | STEP | . In this section Paul summarizes what he said in Romans 14. In he counts himself with the ‘strong’ ones. He includes himself when he says “we”. This is not haughtiness, but awareness of who he has become in the Lord Jesus. “Who are strong” are the Christians who know that by the work of the Lord Jesus they’ve been set free from every law and every slavery. But this freedom shouldn’t be a cause of grief to the other brother who is not strong. You shouldn’t try to force him to accept your correct conviction. On the contrary, you must bear with his weakness. So here you have again to consider another as to what is profitable to him. Pleasing yourself is contrary to this thinking. You mustn’t do what simply pleases yourself. Philippians 2 says something similar: “Do not [merely] look out for your own personal interest, but also for the interests of others” ( ). . Then Philippians 2 gives the example that the Lord Jesus has given in respect to this ( ). It’s striking how the Lord Jesus is set as an example for us every time God demands something from us. For example, look at Colossians 3. There you read about forgiving each other, followed by the example of the Lord Jesus that says: “Just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you” ( ). And in 1 Peter 2 you can see the Lord Jesus very clearly as an example ( ). Servants or employees are spoken of there. It is written so they can learn from the Lord Jesus how they must behave. So, every time something is demanded of us, we must look at Him. If God asks something of us, we can always learn from the Lord Jesus how to do it. Here in you find the same thing: “For even Christ did not please Himself.” In His whole life, Christ set His mind on the honor of God. This was what He lived for. He wasn’t living for Himself; He was so perfect in all of His interactions with God that when God was disdained, He felt it as His own. The example given by the Lord Jesus gives you strength to do what is required. It is the same here in pleasing your neighbor. . The Old Testament is full of examples. When you’re exploring the Bible, everything that’s been written can teach you something. God had it written with that purpose. It’s not just a group of coincidences. 1 Corinthians 10 says everything that happened to Israel happened as an example for you ( )! For this reason, you must read the Scriptures. Then you’ll learn about endurance and you’ll find comfort. You need endurance in this life because the life in Christ is made difficult by opposition and lack of understanding. Keep going! This is the encouragement that comes to you from Scripture. You also need comfort in this life where so many things can cause you to become disheartened. In the Scriptures you find how believers found comfort with God. When you have found endurance and comfort in the Scriptures, then you’ll have “hope”. Hope turns your eyes toward the future. The moment will come when endurance and comfort will no longer be needed. Then perfection will have come. Differences between weak and strong believers will no longer exist. . Since these differences do still exist, endurance and comfort are still necessary. You can find them with “the God of perseverance and encouragement”. This God is your God! When you’re centered on Him, you’ll contribute to the lasting unity of the believers. The differences will not estrange you from any other. To learn how to endure and to find encouragement, where must you go? To the Lord Jesus. Nothing could stop Him in His walk here on earth. He endured no matter how strong the opposition. And who met with more opposition than He? No encouragement was found in this world for Him, not even with the disciples. He found encouragement in knowing the Father was always with Him. . If the Lord Jesus is our example in this way, we will with one accord and one mouth glorify God. If we quarrel with each other about things in which we should bear with one another, God doesn’t receive the honor due Him. When we learn to bear with one another, this will give us even more reason to glorify God. . To really accept one another we must realize how Christ has accepted us; He accepted us just as we are. And He knew perfectly how we would behave. But even so He still accepted us. He put away our sins by giving Himself up to death, but we retain our peculiarities. To the Lord Jesus this was no reason to turn us away. He accepted us in spite of our peculiarities, which are often so prominent. According to this example, we ought to accept one another. Now read Romans 15:1-7 again. Reflection: Which are you, the weak or the strong one? Why?

‏ Romans 15:1-2

Accept One Another

Rom 15:1-2. In this section Paul summarizes what he said in Romans 14. In Rom 15:1 he counts himself with the ‘strong’ ones. He includes himself when he says “we”. This is not haughtiness, but awareness of who he has become in the Lord Jesus. “Who are strong” are the Christians who know that by the work of the Lord Jesus they’ve been set free from every law and every slavery.

But this freedom shouldn’t be a cause of grief to the other brother who is not strong. You shouldn’t try to force him to accept your correct conviction. On the contrary, you must bear with his weakness. So here you have again to consider another as to what is profitable to him. Pleasing yourself is contrary to this thinking. You mustn’t do what simply pleases yourself. Philippians 2 says something similar: “Do not [merely] look out for your own personal interest, but also for the interests of others” (Phil 2:4).

Rom 15:3. Then Philippians 2 gives the example that the Lord Jesus has given in respect to this (Phil 2:5-8). It’s striking how the Lord Jesus is set as an example for us every time God demands something from us. For example, look at Colossians 3. There you read about forgiving each other, followed by the example of the Lord Jesus that says: “Just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you” (Col 3:13). And in 1 Peter 2 you can see the Lord Jesus very clearly as an example (1Pet 2:21). Servants or employees are spoken of there. It is written so they can learn from the Lord Jesus how they must behave. So, every time something is demanded of us, we must look at Him. If God asks something of us, we can always learn from the Lord Jesus how to do it.

Here in Rom 15:3 you find the same thing: “For even Christ did not please Himself.” In His whole life, Christ set His mind on the honor of God. This was what He lived for. He wasn’t living for Himself; He was so perfect in all of His interactions with God that when God was disdained, He felt it as His own. The example given by the Lord Jesus gives you strength to do what is required. It is the same here in pleasing your neighbor.

Rom 15:4. The Old Testament is full of examples. When you’re exploring the Bible, everything that’s been written can teach you something. God had it written with that purpose. It’s not just a group of coincidences. 1 Corinthians 10 says everything that happened to Israel happened as an example for you (1Cor 10:6 ; 11)! For this reason, you must read the Scriptures. Then you’ll learn about endurance and you’ll find comfort. You need endurance in this life because the life in Christ is made difficult by opposition and lack of understanding. Keep going! This is the encouragement that comes to you from Scripture. You also need comfort in this life where so many things can cause you to become disheartened. In the Scriptures you find how believers found comfort with God.

When you have found endurance and comfort in the Scriptures, then you’ll have “hope”. Hope turns your eyes toward the future. The moment will come when endurance and comfort will no longer be needed. Then perfection will have come. Differences between weak and strong believers will no longer exist.

Rom 15:5. Since these differences do still exist, endurance and comfort are still necessary. You can find them with “the God of perseverance and encouragement”. This God is your God! When you’re centered on Him, you’ll contribute to the lasting unity of the believers. The differences will not estrange you from any other.

To learn how to endure and to find encouragement, where must you go? To the Lord Jesus. Nothing could stop Him in His walk here on earth. He endured no matter how strong the opposition. And who met with more opposition than He? No encouragement was found in this world for Him, not even with the disciples. He found encouragement in knowing the Father was always with Him.

Rom 15:6. If the Lord Jesus is our example in this way, we will with one accord and one mouth glorify God. If we quarrel with each other about things in which we should bear with one another, God doesn’t receive the honor due Him. When we learn to bear with one another, this will give us even more reason to glorify God.

Rom 15:7. To really accept one another we must realize how Christ has accepted us; He accepted us just as we are. And He knew perfectly how we would behave. But even so He still accepted us. He put away our sins by giving Himself up to death, but we retain our peculiarities. To the Lord Jesus this was no reason to turn us away. He accepted us in spite of our peculiarities, which are often so prominent. According to this example, we ought to accept one another.

Now read Romans 15:1-7 again.

Reflection: Which are you, the weak or the strong one? Why?