Christian Unity

We then that are strong [strong in the faith] ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves (15:1). Your faith may be strong. Great! Use it to hold up the weaker brothers, not to please yourself. Your concern should always be to help others.

Let everyone of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me (15:2-3). Christ took upon Himself the reproaches aimed at God, because He didn't live to please Himself. In like manner, we take upon ourselves the reproaches directed against Christ. Many times we're reproached for being too narrow or restrictive, because we seek to deny our flesh to walk after Christ. Jesus set the example for us of living not to please ourselves. If we seek in all things to please God, we'll never go wrong.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope (15:4). The Scriptures were written for our learning, so we would have hope through their message of patience and comfort. Paul prayed for the Ephesians that God would open their eyes of understanding, that they might know the hope of their calling (Ephesians 1:18). If we only understood all that God has in store for us in His eternal kingdom, we would gladly sacrifice to deny our flesh now for the hope of that glorious future with Him.

Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God (15:5-7). We should strive for unity of mind and heart, receiving one another and accepting our differences within the body of Christ. Differences do exist, but they need not divide us into splinter groups. We can accept one another in love, because Christ has received us all. This accepting love marks true spiritual maturity.

Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers (15:8). Jesus ministered to the Jews, the "circumcision," to fulfill God's promises to these people. When He first sent out His disciples, He said, "Don't go into the cities of the Gentiles" (Matthew 10:5). When the Gentile woman came to Jesus about her possessed daughter, He said, "I'm only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24). Christ came to fulfill the promises God made to the Jewish nation.

And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again Isaiah saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles (15:9-12a). The prophet Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would reign over the Gentiles.

Although Jesus ministered to the Jews in fulfillment of the promises of God, He opened the way for all to receive the forgiveness of their sins. Through His death and resurrection, the Gentiles have been brought into the mercies of God. In Him shall the Gentiles trust (15:12b).

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing - this peace comes by believing in the Lord - that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost (15:13). As Paul closes his letter, he ministers with benedictions and prayers for his readers.

And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another (15:14). The word "admonish" would better read "effectively minister" or "competently instruct." As Christians, we should be ministering God's truth to one another in love.

Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost (15:15-16). Paul speaks of his ministry to the Gentiles and his hope that their offerings, praises, and worship through the Holy Spirit might be acceptable to God.

I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem and round about into Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ (15:17-19). Paul's ministry to the Gentiles was confirmed through the signs and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Jews believed that a Gentile could only be saved by proselytizing and becoming a Jew. The idea that God wanted to save the Gentiles was inconceivable. However, the power of the Holy Spirit soon changed the minds of the Hebrew Christians. When the church in Jerusalem gathered together to discuss the Gentiles, Peter testified. "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning" (Acts 11:15). The work of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles proved that God would save them, too (Acts 11:18).

Then Paul testified of the miracles that God had worked upon the Gentiles. The miracles confirmed that the Gentiles had received God's Word. Paul speaks of "fully preaching" the Gospel of Christ among the Gentiles (15:19), because it was accompanied by many signs and wonders by the Holy Spirit. The miracles of healing in the early Church were signs to the unbelievers confirming the truths declared by the followers of Jesus Christ. Miracles weren't limited to the apostles, as they also accompanied the ministries of Philip (Acts 8:6), Stephen (Acts 6:8), and others.

Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation (15:20). Commendably, Paul didn't try to take over where someone else had started. He went to preach the Gospel where it hadn't been heard yet. As a result, Paul converted many people to Christ and discipled them. There were others who would then follow him around and seek to turn the new believers from Paul and his teaching. These men challenged Paul's apostleship and taught their own pernicious doctrines. They wouldn't evangelize but fed off the work of others. The same is true today. Many men go around with a message for the Church, bringing their false doctrines to the established body rather than going to the lost.

But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand. For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company (15:21-24).

Paul here writes on a more familiar level to the Roman Christians, expressing his personal desire to see them. At the time of this writing, Paul was delivering a gift from the Gentile believers to the saints in Jerusalem. He wasn't exactly sure about this visit to Jerusalem, for the Holy Spirit was warning him that bonds and imprisonment awaited him there (Acts 21:11).

Whether or not Paul ever went to Spain is a matter of conjecture. Certain legends tell of him preaching the Gospel in that land. These stories have never been confirmed and may simply spring from verse 24 in Romans 15.

Paul did journey to Rome as the result of his appeal to Caesar, when Festus was seeking to use him as a political pawn. He arrived in Rome under guard, but the believers in Rome came out to greet him. Paul had a powerful and effective ministry there, even though a prisoner.

But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints (15:25). Paul's ministry included bringing an offering to the believers. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem (15:26). The saints of Jerusalem, who thought the Lord was coming back very soon, sold their possessions and placed the money into one common fund. When the money ran out, they were in a financial crisis. Paul took an offering among the Gentiles as an example of their love for them. As a pastor of a Gentile congregation, I find it thrilling to take offerings for the Jews in Israel as a witness for Jesus Christ. How wonderful to shock these people with our love for them and by not asking for anything in return.

It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are (15:27a). I don't know by what standard the Gentiles owed the gift to the Jerusalem church, yet Paul understood the situation that way.

For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things (15:27b). When he wrote to the Corinthians, Paul told them to minister to the physical needs of their spiritual teachers. "For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn" (I Corinthians 9:9).

When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you [on my way] into Spain. And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ (15:28-29). Paul didn't realize that he'd soon enter Rome as a prisoner, but he did know that he'd come in the fullness of the Gospel of Christ. That's the only way Paul ever traveled!

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me (15:30). Paul requests that the believers agonize and strive in their prayers. The Greek word for "strive" in verse 30 is translated "press" in Philippians: "I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). Paul begs them to pray strenuously and with perseverance for him. "Put everything you've got into those prayers!"

Ministers need the prayers of their flocks. With Paul I urge you to strive in your prayers for your pastors. We need your prayers and we thank God for them. Pastors are sustained by the power of the Spirit through the prayer support of their congregations.

That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; that I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed (15:31-32). Paul asked the Romans to pray for three things. First, that he might be delivered from the unbelieving Jews. This petition was answered in an unusual way. When Paul was in the temple in Jerusalem, some of the Asian Jews reported that he had brought Gentiles into the temple grounds and had been teaching against Moses. This excited the crowd, and they grabbed Paul and sought to beat him to death. The Roman guard rushed into the melee and rescued him (Acts 21:29-32). So, Paul was delivered from the unbelieving Jews.

The second prayer request was answered when the church in Jerusalem received his offering. His third request, to come to Rome, was fulfilled, but not as Paul had anticipated.

Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen (15:33).