Step by Step

For many weeks now, we have been tracking with Paul during the course of his discussion about the Christian’s responsibility in various relationships. The final portion of this discussion is the relationship between the stronger brother and the weaker brother. One of the most delicate of all relationships, and no wonder it’s the longest section in Paul’s discussion of these relationships. Paul began the conversation about the weaker, stronger brother in chapter 14, verse 1, and we come this morning to the third portion of that discussion, Romans chapter 15. Would God’s people please turn there.

In 14.1 through 12, Paul addresses both the weak and the strong about the reality of these differing convictions in areas where God’s Word is less explicit. And Paul introduced the potential for these things, and he did so very generally, eating meat and special days, These debatable areas of Christianity are inevitable in every culture, in every era. Matters of conscience, we call them gray areas. The apostle cautions both groups, the young, pardon me, the new believers, the weak, and the strong, seasoned believers, and he warns them of judging one another.

Instead, he urges them to be gracious to one another, focusing instead on their own effort to honor the Lord. Last week, in that second major section of 14.13 through verse 26, Paul called the stronger of these two brothers, especially, to a practical humility. Not just a low feeling, but humility that could be observed in his behavior.

To refrain from offensiveness. To avoid placing an obstacle in a brother’s path by stubbornly holding to one’s convictions and practices, regardless of its effect on others. To refrain from disgracefulness, abusing his freedoms to the point that others are led even to speak ill of the practice itself. To refrain from destructiveness, to avoid tearing down that which God himself is building, namely our brother. And then fourthly, to refrain from recklessness, living in complete disregard of others, or even in disregard of our own convictions.

Well, that brings us to chapter 15, to Paul’s final section on the stronger brother, weaker brother relationship. And he transitions from those more negative considerations, what they shouldn’t do, to exhortations of a positive nature what they should do. And we find this in verses one through 12 of chapter 15. Now, we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to his edification. or even Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, the reproaches of those who reproached thee fell upon me. For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the scriptures, we might have hope. Now, May the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, and for the Gentiles to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written, Therefore, I will give praise to thee among the Gentiles, and I will sing to thy name. And again, he says, rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people. And again, praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him. And again, Isaiah says, there shall come the root of Jesse, and he who arises to rule over the Gentiles in him shall the Gentiles hope.

Now, as thorough as Paul has been thus far in all these relationships, even in his discussion of the relationship of the weak and the strong, he’s not yet finished. And he seeks here to add three admonitions to what he has said so far. Throughout much of this discussion, Paul has focused his attention on those who are strong. strong in their faith. And he begins this section with that same focus.

Look at verse one, if you would. We who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength. But he doesn’t ignore the weaker brothers. They too have responsibilities. Verse two, let each of us please his neighbor. Verse five, be of the same mind toward one another. And again in verse seven, accept one another.

Those are all directed to both the weak and the strong. The noble goal of functioning together peacefully in the church is the responsibility of both the strong and the weak. So Paul, here is going to issue three final directives to both groups, the weak and the strong, but he does something very special here. For all three of his final instructions on the issue, he provides the ultimate example.

He calls attention to the example of Christ himself. One of the clear And most often repeated thoughts in the Gospels is that of following Christ. Come and follow me, Jesus said. In John chapter 10, Jesus says, my sheep, hear my voice. I know them and they follow me. Following Christ ought to be just that simple, like a humble sheep following closely after their beloved shepherd. Peter presents the same idea even more directly.

1 Peter 2.21 says that Christ left us an example to follow in his steps. As disciples, as followers of Christ, we are to seek to emulate Jesus Christ in every regard. Well, that’s essentially what Paul does here in this passage, is he calls us to follow Christ step by step, as he provides us with these three examples in which we are to emulate our Lord. I want to look this morning at observable footprints for following in Jesus’ steps, the first of which we find in verses one through four, if you would track back there.

First of all, Jesus Christ is our example of selflessness. Paul opens with a statement of propriety, that we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength. It’s not a command. It’s a sentence that sets forth an appropriate practice. He describes something that believers should do. At this point in the discussion, the statement really comes as no surprise.

Paul has already instructed the stronger brother to accept the weak, not to judge him, not to regard him with contempt, not to put an obstacle in his path, and certainly not to destroy him or tear him down. And so this statement really functions as a kind of a summary of all that Paul has said thus far. bear their weaknesses. In order to communicate his thought, Paul blends two beautiful verbs together, ought and to bear. By using this word ought, Paul communicates to them the manner in which they should behave toward their weaker brothers.

That word ought is often used to refer to a debt or an obligation to another. It’s frequently used in the Gospels to speak of something that is owed, a sum of money. Paul does use the word in that way as well, but most often he uses it in the second sense of an obligation to someone else. The form of the verb here indicates that it’s not a command, but it’s rather a strong encouragement.

We ought. And the question immediately arises, to whom do we owe this kindness? Well, we certainly owe it to Christ who redeemed us. We certainly owe it to Christ to be kind and to care for our brother. And we owe it to our brother as well as the one whom Christ has redeemed. Him for whom Christ died, as Paul urged in the previous section.

The second verb, to bear, speaks of hefting and carrying a burden. The apostle John uses this word to capture that very poignant moment, John 19, 17, when Jesus went out bearing his own cross. Think of it in these simple terms. Jesus bore his own cross, and all he asks of us here is to bear our fellow Christians’ burden. even if that means setting aside a Christian liberty. Paul echoes this same admonition in Galatians 6, 2. Bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ. This isn’t too much to ask, Paul says.

So this word doesn’t mean that the stronger of the two brothers merely tolerates his weaker brother. But as Paul indicated earlier in this discussion, we are to accept him in 14.1. We are to build him up, 14.19. The stronger brother is to be sensitive to his weaker brother’s convictions, even if it means setting aside something that he believes is permissible. The alternative to this, this idea of refusing to bear with Our brother, the alternative to this, Paul points out in the latter half of verse one.

Just pleasing ourselves, selfishly clinging to our so-called freedoms in spite of their impact on others. Instead, Paul continues, verse two, let each of us please his neighbor. That’s the antidote to this selfishness. This is just an application of the golden rule, isn’t it? Treating the other person as we would like to be treated. And when Paul says each of us, he points to both the weak and the strong. That’s who he’s addressing here.

Both are to cultivate an other-oriented mindset, putting others first. Paul says that our approach should not be what is pleasing to me, But what is good for my brother? What is edifying to my neighbor? And here again is the important idea of edifying or building up our brother. This is the precise attitude of heart that Paul urged of the Philippian believers in chapter two of his letter.

Do nothing. from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, regard one another as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interest of others. Paul provides support for this strong encouragement that he gives, and he provides that in verses three and four. Would you glance there? He cites, as his example, Jesus Christ. He is our inspiration for selflessness. Look at verse three, if you would.

For even Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, the reproaches of those who reproached thee fell upon me. For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction. Now, verse four. That well-known reminder of the Old Testament, it tells us that the Old Testament functions as kind of a storehouse of wisdom, and the believer should regularly go there to learn, to be instructed.

It was written for our instruction. Paul is explaining here the reason for his Old Testament quote in verse three. And the bottom line is that the scriptures teach and instruct us. Paul basically says the same thing in 1 Corinthians 10, 11. These things were written for our instruction.

The lessons that we glean by reading the Old Testament scriptures stir us to an unceasing faithfulness, or as Paul says here, perseverance, encouragement, and hope. And that hope is not wishful thinking in our modern understanding of that word, but rather a settled confidence in God’s faithfulness. Paul tells us, that one of the lessons gleaned from the Old Testament is that Christ did not please himself.

There’s no greater example of selflessness to whom Paul could have looked than Jesus. In his incarnation, as well as in his earthly life, Jesus thought only of others, not of his own rights and privileges. This, after all, is the Savior of whom Mark in 1045 of his gospel said, the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Had Jesus chosen just to please himself, sinful humanity would have remained forever doomed. But Jesus did not, would not please himself, and in that, he is the Christian’s supreme example of selflessness. Paul cites as proof of this selflessness a verse from Psalm 69.

The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell upon me. Paul, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, applies this verse in a very striking way. He makes clear that Psalm 69, from which he quotes, is a messianic psalm. Well, the Apostle John quotes from this messianic psalm as well. In John 2, 17, he cites verse nine of this psalm, zeal for your house will consume me there at the cleansing of the temple. In John 15, 25, he cites verse four, they hated me without cause. And so Psalm 69 is a messianic psalm, and the psalmist is referring to the incarnate Christ.

In the verse that Paul cites, Paul cites verse three of Psalm 69, The psalmist speaks of reproaches against God, which he, the psalmist, is receiving. They have fallen on me, says the writer of the psalm, but Paul makes clear, Paul makes clear that those reproaches ultimately fall not on the psalmist, but onto Christ himself. In his refusal to please himself, Jesus willingly took upon himself the full measure of the hatred that was aimed at God.

False point here? Jesus provides believers with the ultimate example of selfless living, refusing to please ourselves. So Jesus Christ is, first of all, our example of selflessness. And as those following in his footsteps, we too are to cultivate a selfless, others-oriented life. There’s a second observable footprint for following in Jesus’ steps, not only Christ’s example of selflessness, but Jesus Christ is also our example of harmony, peace, unity.

Would you look at verse five, please? Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another. Paul’s point here in chapter 15 is essentially a prayer. May God grant you. It’s as if we are invited in to listen in on Paul’s appeals and prayers before God. But as this prayer is for believers, we immediately hear what we are to do. And in that sense, this is a second admonition, and this one is an admonition to peace. Paul, first of all, acknowledges the nature of the God to whom he implores.

He is the one who gives perseverance and encouragement He is the one that bestows these things upon believers. These are the same exact graces that were mentioned in verse four. The fruit, remember, of drawing upon the Old Testament scriptures. It produces perseverance and encouragement. And these graces, as with all good and righteous things, are first found in God himself.

Scripture tells us that God is the God of peace, Philippians 4.9, Hebrews 13.20.

He is the God of comfort, 2 Corinthians 1.3.

He is the God of love, 2 Corinthians 13.11.

He is the God of grace, 1 Peter 5.10. As such, If we desire to emulate any of these graces of God, we must look to God to provide them. It’s one thing to read about biblical principles, to observe these nuggets of wisdom, lessons drawn from the lives of these Old Testament saints.

But we need the mighty infusion of the grace of God applied by the Holy Spirit to reproduce these kinds of things in our life. They don’t come naturally. There is no such thing as spiritual osmosis. Having learned what these graces are, we must plead for God to cultivate these things in us.

And in this case, to enable us to press on, to not quit, to persevere, and to look beyond our trials and difficulties, to be heartened, to be made joyful, trusting in God’s sovereignty, to be encouraged. We look to God for those things. So Paul prays, and he prays to God who gives perseverance and encouragement, but he asks for something still more. He asks that God may grant these believers to be of the same mind toward one another. It’s a prayer for unity.

Oneness of mind, oneness of heart and purpose. Character qualities such as these, perseverance, encouragement, and oneness are gifts of God. They’re not qualities to which we can attain by our own heart’s desire and effort, trying harder each day. They are gifts of God.

And so this is at once a prayer that the petty differences would be set aside, that these Christians would walk together, weak and the strong, thinking of their common Savior and Lord, and that they would recall that they are first and foremost brothers and sisters of the same family, the family of God. It’s a very overlooked feature here.

Paul uses one of his frequently used words, proneo. which refers to the exercise of the mind, thinking. You see, Paul knew that in order to change their habits and their behaviors, Paul had to first change their thinking. And here he addresses one of the most foundational changes of all, one of the most needful, that of a selfish and self-centered attitude.

He made this same exact plea back in Romans 12, regarding our relationship with those who are contrary with us. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not be haughty in mind. Don’t think you’re better than others. In his grand summary at the close of 2 Corinthians, he calls those Christians to be like-minded. Same word. To the Philippian church, teetering on the edge of division, He appealed that they would be of the same mind, same word.

And so here, Paul seeks to correct the every man for himself mentality. He wants to reform that, that the members of this growing and important work of God in the Roman community that they be of the same mind, that they be unified in thought and purpose. It isn’t so much doctrinal unity that Paul is urging here. Rather, it is a harmony of sentiment, a harmony of heart and mind. He desires that they be of one mind, even in these gray areas, those matters of conscience.

They are one in Christ, and he urges that they live like it and think like it. Well, here, too, he sets forth as an example our Savior of this kind of unity. Be of the same mind, he says, according to Christ Jesus. that phrase according to functions like a giant arrow, pointing us to Christ’s example. He calls believers to align their behavior toward others with Christ’s character.

Jesus had no agenda of his own. He came to do his Father’s will. Jesus was in perfect harmony with his Father and with his plan of redemption. And we have to notice and observe this purpose statement that Paul provides for us in verse six. That, so that in order that with one accord you may with one voice glorify God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the reason that Paul prays for oneness of mind.

In short, as the simple sentence tells us, it’s that we may glorify God. In glorifying God, we don’t bestow anything on Him. Rather, we merely reflect back to Him His own excellence. We lift up and we magnify His name before others in the world. When we conduct ourselves in a righteous and holy manner as we ought, we glorify God. And this again, as we’ve seen, is the chief end of man. First of all, to glorify Him and then to begin enjoying Him for all eternity. In this same purpose statement, he tells them of the means of glorifying God as well.

It is with one accord and with one voice, an inward heart element and an outward vocal element. The first of these, with one accord, is it’s the only time that Paul uses this word. But it’s used about a half a dozen different times in the book of Acts to speak of the prevailing unity of the early church, an amazing study. The second, one voice points to the verbal testimony of the church praising God, proclaiming him to the world. He prays that when God so works in a church, that they end up functioning with a common heart and a common message. That is what is pleasing to God.

Well then, Jesus is our example of selflessness. He’s our example of harmony. And thirdly, he’s our example of what I would call openheartedness. For this, would you look to verses seven through 12. We’re tracking with Jesus step by step as we’re called to do, observing the footprints, following in Jesus’ steps, in his example of selflessness, his example of harmony, and thirdly, Jesus Christ is our example of open-heartedness. Would you look at verse seven? Wherefore, accept one another, just as Jesus also accepted us to the glory of God.

Now, Paul opens his third point with the strongest statement yet, accept one another. It’s an imperative. This time it is a command. And the first word of this sentence, wherefore, flags this verse not only as Paul’s third point of chapter 15, but really a summary of the entire discussion begun back in chapter 14. In fact, that was the very first thing that he told his readers in 14.1, except the one who is weak in faith.

Here he expands his exhortation to include both the strong and the weak. Now the weak are called as well to accept the strong. Accept one another, he directs his readers. The strong are to welcome in those who are weak in faith without judging them, without showing contempt, certainly without tearing them down, not treating them like second-class citizens, but as beloved brothers. But likewise, The weaker brother is hereby ordered to accept his stronger brother, not only as a brother in Christ, but one who belongs to the Lord, one who loves and serves his Savior like himself, one who will one day give an account for the life that he has lived.

Both kinds of believers are called to this kind of openheartedness. And here too, Just as in the two previous points, Jesus Christ is set forth as our perfect example. Accept one another, Paul says, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

Now, here Paul stands on 11 solid chapters of doctrine that he has presented here in this epistle, and you remember the general outline, sin, salvation, sanctification, that is the work of God. Paul reminds his readers again that God is the one who saved them. God is the one who is sanctifying them.

Salvation is not something that we lay hold of by our own efforts. We are saved, if at all, by faith alone in Christ alone. And just as our salvation is all of God, so also is our sanctification. God sought us and saved us. He accepted us. And he says that this was all to the glory of God. And if God loved us and sent his son to die for us while we were yet sinners, then there is no reason, no justification for us to reject another simply because of some measure of difference in the way that we evaluate some debatable matter of Scripture. This unity too is to the glory of God. God is glorified in both of these things, in his great plan of redemption, in the salvation of sinners, as well as unity in the church.

In verse eight, Paul seeks to make one last argument for the sake of peace and unity, at least in the Roman church. And his argument, once again, centers on the person of Jesus Christ. Would you glance at verses eight and nine? For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers and for the Gentiles to glorify God for his mercy.”

Now, he basically argues here that Christ’s acceptance of us is the fulfillment of prophecies made to Old Testament Israel. And he closes this point, this entire section, with four Old Testament citations. Verse 9, 10, 11, and 12. But there’s a common thread that runs through all of them. All four verses mention the Gentiles. Look at verse nine, taken from Psalm 18, 49. I will give praise to you among the Gentiles.

David issues a call to rejoice before God in the presence of the Gentiles. Verse 10, taken from Deuteronomy 32, 43. Rejoice, O Gentiles, where Moses here calls the Gentiles to rejoice with God’s people. Verse 11, taken from Psalms 117, verse one. Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles. All peoples, including the Gentiles now, are called to worship. They are to join in this worship. And then verse 12, taken from Isaiah 1110. In him shall the Gentiles hope. Now the Gentiles enter into praise for their own salvation.

And that has led several commentators to surmise that the reason that Paul provides this theme is because the division in the Roman church was essentially Jewish versus Gentiles. I understand it, but that’s an unfortunate interpretation. I see a different purpose here entirely. I believe that what Paul is doing here is pressing an argument from the greater to the lesser. You see, the division between Jews and Gentiles was a massive gulf. Essentially, they hated one another.

But God, in his sovereign mercy, has opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles. He has united the two groups into one in the church. And that means that the lesser, these gray areas, these matters of conscience, cannot be allowed to divide Christ’s church.

Christ is our example of openheartedness in that he invited even the heathen, the Gentiles, you and I to the salvation that he came to provide to the Jewish nation. Jesus Christ is worth following. Jesus Christ is our example. He is our example in selflessness, in thinking of others before ourselves. He is our example in harmony, maintaining the peace that the Holy Spirit works into a church, and he is our example in open-heartedness, accepting, receiving one another, not treating people as if they are second-class citizens.

This is God’s work, and we dare not tear it down. We dare Not tear it down by holding to some area of freedom that we so desperately cling to. We dare not tear it down by hating our brother, treating him as nothing. Would you humble yourself before God himself?

Our merciful King, We come before you and we thank you for your Holy Spirit that so masterfully directed Paul to pen these words. Not only to give us three clear exhortations, three clear steps to follow in our Savior’s footsteps, but three clear things that so directly affect the life of the local church. We thank you for Christ’s example of selflessness, and we humble ourselves before you and plead with you that you would work into us this same kind of others-oriented living. Lord God, we thank you that you are the God of unity. You are the one that works it and provides it, and we pray, Lord, by Christ’s example, you would enable us by your grace to be of one mind with one another. And Father, we thank you as well that you have called us to be open hearted.

That just as you accepted of all people, the heathen, the Gentiles, into your offer of salvation. Father, you call us in the local church to be open hearted, to eagerly reach out to our brothers who are struggling. Brothers who may not have all the information that we think that we have. Brothers that are still fearful of practices that we embrace.

Lord, grant us the grace to be kind and open and accepting of others. Welcome them in as children of God, part of God’s family. Lord God, we thank you. We thank you for the gospel. We thank you for the gospel that was preached, even to the Gentiles, to draw them in. And Lord, if there are any here who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ, this gospel, this good news is for them.

That Jesus Christ has come and he has paid the penalty for sinners on the cross. We don’t do anything. We don’t earn our salvation. Lord, if you are at work in people’s hearts, if you are opening their hearts to the truth of the gospel of what Christ has done for sinners, Father, we pray that you would prevail upon them mightily, that you would bring them to repentance for their sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the only hope for sinners. It’s in Jesus’ name that we pray.