| The first six verses of chapter 15 are a summary of chapter 14, but these verses lift up Christ as the example. Paul uses the terms “stronger” and “weaker” to describe the people in the church. The weak refers to believers with restrictive consciences regarding morally neutral practices. The strong refers to believers who understand their freedom in Christ. Paul calls the strong to use freedom lovingly instead of selfishly, and the goal is unity, peace, and building one another up in the church. Our culture trains us to cancel people, but Christ calls us to carry people. Psalm 69, Mark 10:45, and Phil 2 all point out how Jesus came as a servant to mankind. Christ didn’t misuse His freedom to take advantage of people; rather, He used it to serve others. Verse 4 references the Old Testament. Paul did not set out to write the “other half” of the Bible. The purpose of his letters to the churches was to reveal the mystery which was contained in the Old Testament-the revelation that God was making one new man out of both Jews and Gentiles (Eph. 2:15). To do that, he is continually quoting the Old Testament and explaining its meaning and relevance in light of the ministry and death and resurrection of Jesus. As we learn from the past (the OT), we are motivated to endure in the present, looking ahead in hope (confidence) to the future. Hope is not optimism. Hope is an anchor. In verses 5-6, Paul prays that the church would live in harmony. This is not a prayer to robotically agree on everything, but a prayer for their unity of mind in essentials. Why? “So that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In verse 7, Paul shows us that Jesus welcomed us (it is a finished fact), so we should welcome one another. As wide as we imagine the gap to be between ourselves and our most disliked enemies, Paul reminds us that there was never a gap wider than the one between us and God. If Christ has accepted us when we were weak, we can accept others when they differ from us in much less significant ways. Never make people earn from you what Christ freely gave to you. Paul then shifts to the Jew and the Gentile by quoting Psalm 18:49, Deut 32:43, Psalm 117:1, and Is 11:10. Paul is using the 3 sections of the ancient Jewish text, the TaNaK to show that the inclusion of Gentiles with Jews has always been part of God’s plan. It is not just a New Testament reality. The church is one of the only places where people who would never naturally gather become family. Paul ends this section with another prayer in verse 13 which speaks of hope. Hope isn’t a wish that may or may not come true. Hope is an expectation based on a promise of God. Because God always keeps His promises, we have a guaranteed future that awaits us. That is why we can endure trials with joy and peace. This prayer is a conditional promise: you must trust in Jesus in order to find that hope. Once you trust in Jesus Christ, your hope comes from the power of the Holy Spirit in you! Questions to consider: - We hear Pastor Justin every Sunday say, “welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you”. What does this mean in the context of today’s passage?
- Do I usually think more about my preferences or other people’s good? Give an example.
- Are there people Christians sometimes struggle to accept or love? Who? Why?
- What steals your joy or peace most often?
- How does remembering Jesus help us endure difficult people or situations?
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