Romans 15: Stanly Community Church

Transcription

1 True Christians are all servants of God. That means we are to follow Christ s example of ministry. Just as He receives us into His kingdom for the glory of God, so we must receive one another and minister to that end. Every believer has been graciously granted entrance into the kingdom. The Lord s Church -- the kingdom s earthly representation -- is composed entirely of unworthy people for whom Christ died. And having secured our redemption, He has called us with His Gospel, justified us through faith, is sanctifying us in the Holy Spirit, and will ultimately glorify us with Him forever. How can we do anything other than humbly and zealously serve Him both now and in eternity? Yet, within the Church, there are believers from all walks of life and with various levels of spiritual maturity. This requires that we patiently help one another grow in the faith in order to best serve the Lord. Only as we are unified in our ministry can we effectively accomplish the will of God. So as Paul has been teaching us, beginning in Romans 14, this means bearing with one another s weaknesses. We must never compromise God s clear commands, but we must also avoid being critical over matters of conscience, which the Lord alone must judge. Like Jesus, our desire must be to build up one another in the faith, strengthening the Church and bringing glory to the Father. 1

2 Paul has presented us with a guide to ministry here in the final portion of his letter. He began by saying that love for others must be the deciding factor on matters where the Scripture is silent (14:14-15). He has also noted that obedience to the Lord is always the goal (14:16-18). And with these in mind, we must let the well-informed conscience do the work God intends (14:19-23). In addition, we must practice selflessness as demonstrated by our Lord Jesus (15:1-3), and utilize the indispensable resource of Scripture (15:4-6). Ultimately, as servants of God, we must follow Christ s example of ministry. This is the subject of Romans 15:7-13, as Paul closes out the practical section of his letter. A Servant s Guide to Ministry - Part IV (15:7-13) The Example of Christ (15:7-13) As we noted in our previous study, the Lord Jesus is so zealous for the glory of God that anything less than our spiritual maturity grieves Him (v. 3). Therefore, He selflessly bears with us to make our faith strong. For a strong faith means a productive servant, and that always results in God s glory. As He taught His first disciples: By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples (Jn. 15:8). 2

3 Paul s prayer in the previous verses was made to the end that [believers] may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (v. 6). Following that line of thought, the apostle now says in verse seven: Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Jesus set the example of Christian unity, by demonstrating how we bear with the weaknesses of those less mature in the faith (v. 1). Our perfect Lord and Savior has willingly accepted us into His kingdom, and He patiently seeks our maturity. How can we do anything less than love our Christian brethren in the same way? He has shown us grace, shall we not also do the same to one another, knowing that we are all equally unworthy to serve? Paul is taking us back to the principle of conscience. We must bear with one another s weaknesses. That is, we must allow for the varying levels of spiritual growth among Christians he has discussed. Disagreements over matters of conscience must not be a source of division. Rather, we are to leave it to God to judge these things, while focusing on spiritual growth in the essential doctrines of the faith (v. 4). And as our faith matures, the conscience will be properly trained. Thus we will not be hindered by spiritual ignorance, and we can serve in spiritual liberty, while helping others toward that goal (14:22-23). 3

4 Spiritual maturity makes us faithful servants, who accomplish God s will for His glory. Again, Jesus is the supreme example. Paul conveys this in verse eight: Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant... (v. 8a). The earthly ministry of Christ was faithfully carried out precisely because He was spiritually mature. Of course, as the only sinless human being, He never lacked in maturity. He always understood and accomplished the Father s will (Lk. 2:41-52; Jn. 4:34). And it was all for the Father s glory. This is the apostle s point in the remainder of the passage. In this regard, Paul makes two points. First, Christ was a servant to the circumcision... In other words, our Lord Jesus entered the human race as a descendant of Abraham -- a Jew (Matt. 1). He completely identified with the Jewish people and God s purpose in choosing them as His elect nation (Rom. 9-11). The sign of God s covenant with Abraham was circumcision. Like all Jewish men, Christ received that sign in His body (Lk. 2:21). He also fully understood the truth of God about the kingdom of heaven and Israel s part in it. He came bearing witness of that truth to His people, although they largely rejected Him (Matt. 4:17; Jn. 1:9-18). He arrived as God s anointed Servant (Is. 52:13-54:17), in order to confirm the promises made to the fathers (v. 8b). These being Abraham, Isaac and Jacob -- the patriarchs of the nation. All that God guaranteed in the Abrahamic Covenant, Jesus Christ confirmed in His ministry (9:5). 4

5 Second, our Lord was a faithful servant that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy (v. 9a). This was particularly meaningful to the non-jewish believers in the Church at Rome (Rom. 1:4-6). This truth would foster unity between Jewish and non-jewish believers who differed in matters of conscience. The promise of God to Abraham was that all the nations (i.e. peoples) of the earth would receive spiritual blessing through him (Gen. 12:1-3). Christ was the ultimate Son God promised Abraham. He will inherit the earth and rule over those of all nations who are made righteous by faith (Gen. 15:4-6; Rom. 4:9-25). As a faithful servant, the Lord Jesus accomplished His ministry at His first coming. He died for the sins of those who trust in Him (both Jews and Gentiles), so that they might receive the promise of faith (Rom. 4:16-17). That promise is the forgiveness of sins and eternal life for all who believe the Gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16-17). Although not named in God s covenant with Abraham s physical descendants, believing Gentiles were intended to reap its blessings as spiritual heirs (Jn. 10:16; Eph. 2:11-13). 5

6 That Gentiles would glorify God for His mercy to them has always been the Father s plan. Paul makes this clear by quoting several Old Testament passages that express God s desire for the Gentiles faith and praise. In verse nine, he recalls the words of David recorded in both Second Samuel 22:50 and Psalm 18:49. There, the king declared that he would confess God among the Gentiles as he praised the Lord in song. Paul likewise reaches back to Deuteronomy 32:43. There we find the song of Moses in which he called on the faithful among the Gentiles to rejoice...with [God s] people, Israel. Similarly, in verse 11, Paul quotes Psalm 117:1 which calls on believers of all nations to Praise the LORD and Laud Him. Paul concludes by referencing the prophet Isaiah (11:1, 10), who identified Christ as a root of Jesse (King David s father), who would rise to reign over the Gentiles. And In Him the Gentiles shall hope (cf. 2 Sam. 7:12-16). Thus the apostle quotes from the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms -- all Jewish Scripture and all expressing God s purpose for Christ and His ministry even to the Gentiles (cf. Lk. 24:27, 44-45). So Paul makes it abundantly clear that Christ was a faithful Servant. As such, He fully understood and accomplished the will of God for the glory of God. We must, therefore, follow His example by growing in our knowledge of the truth and bearing with other believers as they do the same. God is certainly glorified in this. 6

7 Paul concludes in verse 13 with a benediction. He intercedes for all Christians by asking the God of hope to fill [them] with all joy and peace in believing. Serving in God s kingdom, while living in this sinful world, requires that we keep our focus on the Lord. He is our hope, because He is our salvation and our life. Those who trust Him experience a joyful and peaceful unity which our common faith insures. Bearing with one another in the faith, therefore, becomes a realistic goal. To this Paul adds: that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit of God, indwelling and empowering each believer with the hope of Scripture (cf. 15:4), who keeps us continually progressing in sanctification. We abound in hope, meaning that we are ever maturing in our faith and are increasingly unified in Christ for service. As those justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, Christians are placed in God s kingdom to serve for His glory. Although we are all maturing at different rates, we can and must minister together. Paul has given us these guidelines for that express purpose. Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, is your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the ultimate Servant of God? Are you following His example of service? Do you bear with the weaknesses of other believers while you strive to do God s will? And are you committed to strengthening the Church in unified service for His glory? 7