Romans 15:7-13
Accept One Another Since Christ Accepted You
We are nearing the end of our study in Romans
- It has been an extremely profitable study, both on a personal and corporate level
This morning’s message will close out the major division of the letter1
- From Romans 15:14 to the end of the letter, Paul has some personal items to discuss
- But his theological emphasis will certainly give way to a more personal emphasis
Romans 14:1-15:13 focuses on the topic of preference issues
- Those subjects wherein we can differ
- Those matters that are not essential in order for us to have fellowship
We must be on guard, however, lest we make doctrinal matters preference issues
- Paul is not undermining the importance of doctrine
Quite the contrary, knowing doctrine is essential!
- This is essentially why the weak were weak – they had failed to grasp the significance of Gospel truth to
any number of non-essential matters
I find it interesting that the same issues that Paul addresses in Romans 14-15 are issues that Christians still
disagree on
- Celebrating various days
- Eating meat (perhaps for different reasons)
- Drinking wine (perhaps for different reasons)
This makes this series on preference issues all the more important for those of us living in the 21st century
- The Word of God speaks to these issues!
This morning, as Paul concludes the series on preference issues, he also concludes the doctrinal emphasis of the
book of Romans
- How he does so is very important
Let’s read Romans 15:7-13
Let’s take special note of the exhortation to accept one another
- Purpose – to glorify God (15:7-8)
- Proof – to fulfill the OT (15:9-12)
- Prayer – to abound in hope (15:13)
1
Robert H. Mounce, NAC, Romans, 260.
1
I.
Purpose – to glorify God (15:7-8)
7 Wherefore, accept one another,
Verse 7 sounds a lot like Romans 14:1, “Now accept the one who is weak in faith”
- But there is a big difference
In Romans 14:1, Paul was addressing the strong
- They had the responsibility of accepting the weak
But here in Romans 15:7, Paul has all believers in mind, “accept one another”
- There are no exceptions
- Every believer is to accept the other
Let’s remind ourselves what “accept” means by defining what it does not mean
- This isn’t the attitude of, “Well, I will have to put up with this person if I have to.”
Rather, the thought of accept is2
- To welcome freely and fully
- To take one in as a friend
- To receive someone with warmth, sincerity, and fellowship
- To embrace someone as a genuine brother/sister in Christ, as part of the family of God
Realize that “accept” is not an option
- It is a command that demands obedience3
just as Christ also accepted us
But why is it important to “accept one another”?
- What’s the big deal?
Paul gives the greatest incentive that could ever be given
- The apostle says that we are to accept one another “just as Christ also accepted us”
Believers are confronted with the amazing statement, “Christ …accepted us”
- Isn’t that mind-boggling?
- Isn’t that a statement of grace?
Romans has taught us who we were before Christ saved us
- Condemned sinners
- Unworthy sinners
Christ has openly and voluntarily accepted us, bringing us into His family
- That reality should prompt us to accept others
“It should not be too difficult to extend the hand of friendship to one who is loved by the one we honor and
worship”4
2
Leon Morris, The Epistle to the Romans, 478.
3
John MacArthur, Jr., The MacArthur NT Commentary, Romans 9-16, 274.
2
When a local church is divisive, quarrelsome, contentious, and judgmental, it gives the watching world cause
for rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ5
- This is the result when believers fail to accept one another as Christ has accepted them
We might ask the question, “How has Christ accepted us?”6
- He accepts sinners joyously (all who come to Him will be accepted)
- He accepts sinners in spite of their sin (b/c we are all sinners in need of Divine assistance)
- He accepts sinners impartially (there is no partiality with God)
- He accepts sinners to the glory of God
The more saturated we are with the Word of God, the more easily we will accept one another7
- We will understand the depths of God’s grace in accepting us
But if we are not in the Word on a regular basis, we will find it very difficult to accept others
- We will have an inflated view of ourselves
- We will have a very critical view of others
In Ephesians 4:32, Paul writes, “And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in
Christ also has forgiven you”
- Our pattern for how we should forgive others is found by looking at how Christ forgives us
Did you notice the subtle change between this week and last week’s message?
- There is no talk of strong and weak
- There is no talk of preference issues
The conversation at hand is simply this
- Christians interacting with Christians
The apostle has left the matters of preference in the past
- Those things don’t characterize us
The sad reality comes in when one believer refuses to “accept” another believer
- Both of whom have been accepted fully by the Lord Jesus Christ
to the glory of God.
The appropriate response of Christians toward one another is that of welcoming, accepting, and appreciating
one another
- Even when there are differences on minor issues!
I have said multiple times from this pulpit that the greatest aim and purpose for which we live is the glory of
God
- To see God glorified
- To see God praised
- To see God magnified
4
Mounce, 261.
5
MacArthur, 319.
6
MacArthur, 319-322.
7
W.H. Griffith-Thomas, St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, 383.
3
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To see God honored
Do you really think God is glorified, praised, magnified, and honored when His people are not accepting one
another?
- Certainly not
We may try to glorify God
- But we won’t achieve this if we are not accepting other believers
In the church of Rome, there were severe racial and ethnic issues8
- There was prejudice between the Jews and Gentiles
Jews were used to thinking of Gentiles as dogs
- Gentiles were used to thinking of Jews as religious snobs
Paul’s advice in Romans is quite amazing
- All of the differences were to be set aside so that believers could “accept” one another
Practically, this meant
- No more name calling
- No more sinful attitudes toward others
All of this needed to take place in order to bring about the maximum amount of glory to God
- Because if these issues were not taken care of, then God’s glory would be stifled
8 For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision
Paul continues to put the Lord Jesus Christ in front of us as the Example to follow
- But the apostle’s words may strike us as being a little odd
We know that Christ was a Servant
- “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for
many” (Mk 10:45)
Here in Romans 15:8, however, we are told that Christ became a servant “to the circumcision”
- Or, to the Jewish people
What about the Gentile people?
- That isn’t Paul’s focus right now
Christ’s ministry was first and foremost to the Jewish people
- “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Mt 15:24)
- “But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as
sons” (Gal 4:4-5)
As Jesus sent out His apostles, He told them “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of
the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt 10:5-6)
8
Alan J. Johnson, Everyman’s Bible Commentary, Romans, 249.
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Even the theme verse for the book of Romans hints at the priority of the Jews over the Gentiles
- “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,
to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom 1:16)
Immediately after the Fall, God made a promise about a future Savior
- “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall
bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel” (Gen 3:15)
Later in Genesis, God chose one man, Abram, to be the human lineage through whom the Savior would come
- His would be the blessed family
- Through him would come Israel, the chosen and elect nation
on behalf of the truth of God
Christ’s ministry to the Jewish people was “on behalf of the truth of God”
- God’s own faithfulness to His Word was at stake
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes”
- God never makes a promise that He doesn’t keep
All of His promises are “yes”
- Never “no”
- Never “maybe”
to confirm the promises given to the fathers,
Let’s go back to the original promise that was given to Abram
- “And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall
be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you
all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen 12:2-3)
The specific elements of the Abrahamic Covenant are
- Land
- Seed
- Blessing
Notice, however, that God promises Abraham, “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (emphasis
mine)
- Not just the nation Israel
- But “all the families of the earth”
God reaffirmed His promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Israel
- God reminded His people of His promises that He would fulfill
This will factor into the verses that Paul will begin citing in verse 9
- As early as Genesis 12, we have the promise that God will bless both Jews and Gentiles
Either God is faithful to His promises or He isn’t
- There can’t be a middle-of-the-road answer
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We oftentimes sing the hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness”
- How different it would be if the title were, “Great is Thy Unfaithfulness”
In the book of Lamentations, we are told, “The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His
compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness.” (3:22-23)
- God is faithful!
But we must remind ourselves of a sobering thought
- God didn’t enter into a covenant with the Gentiles in the OT!
- The promises that God made in the OT were with the Jews!
It was God’s great plan of redemption that His Son, Jesus Christ, would be born a Jew in order to reach out and
redeem both Jews and Gentiles9
- We are part of that plan of redemption
In Isaiah 49:6, God writes to His own Jewish people, “I will also make You a light of the nations so that My
salvation may reach to the end of the earth”
- The Jews as a nation failed miserably
However, Jesus Christ, a Jew Himself, was the light of the world
- Bringing salvation to Jews and Gentiles alike
II.
Proof – to fulfill the OT (15:9-12)
9 and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy;
Verse 8 was spoken in reference to the Jewish people
- Now Paul turns his attention to the Gentiles
- As a matter of fact, “Gentiles” are mentioned six (6) times in Romans 15:9-1310
His point over the next few verses is simple
- He will show that it has always been God’s plan to include the Gentiles as part of His people
To prove his point, the apostle Paul will use four (4) different OT texts
- One from the book of Deuteronomy, representing the Law
- Two from the book of Psalms, representing the Writings
- One from Isaiah, representing the Prophets
These three divisions – Law, Writings, and Prophets – are seen to encompass the totality of the Old Testament11
- One could easily say, therefore, that Paul used the entire OT to support his case
Notice in verse 9 that the Gentiles would “glorify God for His mercy”
- The reason for this is simple
9
Mounce, 261.
10
William R. Newell, Romans: Verse-by-Verse, 527.
11
Bruce Wilkinson and Kenneth Boa, Talk Thru the Bible, 1.
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There is no other way for a Gentile to be saved other than God’s mercy
- Perhaps there is no other Text that describes our pre-Christ situation than Ephesians 2
“Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “ Uncircumcision” by the socalled “ Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands — remember that you were at that time
separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise,
having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been
brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Eph 2:11-13)
Did you catch all of those descriptive phrases?
- Separate from Christ
- Excluded from the commonwealth of Israel
- Strangers to the covenants of promise
- Having no hope
- Without God in the world
It is God’s absolute and sheer mercy and grace that anyone is saved
- We as Gentiles have no claim on God!
Praise God for those words of verse 7, “Christ also accepted us to the glory of God”
- Salvation isn’t so much us accepting Christ
- Salvation is when Christ accepts us!
These four (4) OT Texts that Paul will cite have a natural progression to them12
- They build up to a pinnacle of praise
as it is written,
This standard phrase “it is written” is used very often to quote an OT citation in support of a given truth
- Here in verse 9, Paul uses it to quote Psalm 18:49
“THEREFORE I WILL GIVE PRAISE TO THEE AMONG THE GENTILES, AND I WILL SING TO THY
NAME.”
The actul reading of the OT Text is, “Therefore I will give thanks to Thee among the nations, O LORD, and I
will sing praises to Thy name.”
- You may notice that “the nations” in the Psalm passage is quoted as “the Gentiles” by Paul
In essence, these two are the same entity
- The Gentiles comprise every nation outside of Israel
God entered into a covenant with one nation, Israel
- Every other nation than Israel is the Gentiles
In this psalm, David is filled with praise and thanksgiving for God’s mighty deeds
- David is rejoicing over the defeat of his enemies
12
Morris, 505.
7
But notice what David writes, “I will give praise to Thee among the nations”
- David vowed to praise God among the Gentiles
- He vowed to sing in honor of God’s great name
This psalm is a song of victory that looks for God’s praises to be sung throughout the entire world13
- And we certainly see that being fulfilled today
Through Israel, God’s redemptive plan would extend even to the Gentiles14
- The Gentiles would be given mercy
10 And again he says,
Here in verse 10, Paul again quotes OT Scripture
- This time, it is from Deuteronomy 32:43
“REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE.”
This time, the apostle Paul quotes from the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32
- There are actually two songs of Moses
o One in Exodus 15
o The other in Deuteronomy 32
Moses here celebrates God’s victory over Pharaoh and his army
- God proved Himself faithful in protecting the nation of Israel as they left Egypt
- God had subdued His enemies
As he did in the OT citation just mentioned in verse 9, Paul substitutes “Gentiles” in the NT for “nations” in the
OT
- As we have seen, however, there is no room for panic or concern
They refer to the same people
- Non-Israelites
This reference, however, takes things a bit further than the previous reference
- Moses isn’t merely rejoicing alongside Gentiles, as in Psalm 18:49
Here in Deuteronomy 32, Moses is commanding the Gentiles – those who are not Israelites – to “rejoice…with
His people”
- Those who were part of God’s covenant are still invited to glorify God alongside the Jews
- Gentiles are called upon to give praise to God for His greatness in defeating the nations of the world
This is a strong passage that highlights the joining of Jews and Gentiles in the worship of God
- Amazing, isn’t it?
13
Morris, 505.
14
Mounce, 262.
8
11 And again,
Similar to verse 10, Paul uses a very simple phrase “and again” to signal yet another OT Text
- This time from Psalm 117:1
Psalm 117 is unique in that it is the shortest of the psalms
- 2 verses
Of course, Psalm 119 is the longest of the psalms
- 176 verses
“PRAISE THE LORD ALL YOU GENTILES, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE HIM.”
Here is the entire Text of Psalm 117, “Praise the LORD, all nations;
laud Him, all peoples! For His lovingkindness is great toward us, and the truth of the LORD is everlasting.
Praise the LORD!”
- The apostle quotes only verse 1 of this psalm
For the third time, Paul substitutes “Gentiles” in Romans for “nations” in the OT
There is a definite progression from the previous verse
- In Deuteronomy 32, Gentiles were called to worship with His people, the Jews
But allow the force of Psalm 117:1 to impact you
- The Jews are not even mentioned!
God included an entire psalm to call the Gentiles to praise the LORD (Yahweh – the covenant-keeping God)
- This should humble us, considering who we were before Christ!
12 And again Isaiah says,
For the fourth OT quotation, Paul alludes to Isaiah
- The opening words of Romans 15:12 tell us, “Isaiah says”
- Paul will quote from Isaiah 11:10
“THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE, AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE
GENTILES, IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE.”
This is a strong Messianic prophecy which speaks of Jesus Christ
- He is “the Root of Jesse”
The Messiah would come from the lineage of David
- Jesus is known as the Son of David
Jesus would also “rule over the Gentiles, in Him shall the Gentiles hope”
- With the evangelization of the Gentiles in the early church, we see a fulfillment of this
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God made it crystal clear that His plan of salvation was not restricted only to the Jews
- For the most part, the Church consists of Gentiles
We know from Romans 9-11 that there will be a future time in which the focus will again shift back to the Jew
- But for now, the focus remains on the Gentiles
It would be in the Messiah that the Gentiles would “hope”
- He would be their only opportunity for redemption
The author of Hebrews writes about this hope that is ours, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope
both sure and steadfast” (6:19a)
- The anchor holds the ship in place in the midst of a storm
What is your anchor?
- Does your anchor hold you and sustain you throughout the storms of life?
The Christian hope is the sure and steadfast anchor
- Because the Christian hope is grounded in the Person and work of Jesus Christ Himself
III.
Prayer – to abound in hope (15:13)
13 Now may the God of hope
Once again, Paul issues forth a prayer for these Christians at Rome
- Fascinating, isn’t it, that Paul prays so fervently for people that he has never met!
This should encourage us to be more faithful and fervent in our prayers
- For those we know
- And for those we don’t know
Paul then identifies God as “the God of hope”
- Most likely, Paul selects “hope” since he mentioned this in the Isaiah quotation from verse 1415
God is the One who inspires and imparts hope to His children
- Because of who He is, there can be hope, certainty, and assurance
- Because He is faithful, we can be hopeful
fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
Paul prays that the God of hope would “fill you with all joy and peace”
- The apostle desires that these believers would be filled to overflowing with “joy and peace”
It is highly important that we compare Paul’s prayer here in 15:13 with his statement in 14:17
- In 14:17 he wrote, “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy
in the Holy Spirit”
- In 15:13 he prays, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing”
15
F.F. Bruce, Tyndale NT Commentaries, Romans, 244.
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Our focus as believers should not be on preference, secondary issues
- Rather, our focus should be on kingdom principles like “peace and joy”
This is exactly what Paul prays for
- That God would fill us with these kingdom principles of “all joy and peace”
Let’s set this truth properly in its context
- Paul prays for believers to be filled with peace and joy
When we are filled with peace and joy, we will not be focused on personal preferences16
- We will experience joy when we serve others
- We will pursue peace by refusing to insist that our preferences be met
Don’t skip over the little phrase “in believing” here in verse 13
- It is only as we trust God that these blessings come about
When we step out and trust God, then this prayer of Paul will come true
- We will be filled with all joy and peace
that you may abound in hope
Paul didn’t simply pray that believers would have hope
- He prayed that we might “abound in hope”
The thought is that of overflowing, having more than enough, surpassing, and having an abundance
Believers will not have a limited supply of hope
- But they would be overflowing!
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
God never commands something from us without giving us the means of accomplishing those commands
- God doesn’t give us a command, then expect us to bring about the result in our own power and resources
God commands things from us that we can’t do in order to show us how much we need Him17
- We are driven to Him in prayer
- We are driven to Him in humble dependence
Frankly, we can’t live the Christian life apart from “the power of the Holy Spirit”
- When we try to do things on our own, we do so in the power of the flesh
- This is quite contrary to the power of the Spirit
When we walk in the power of the Spirit, we are able to do things that are humanly impossible
- Being patient with one another
- Overcoming sin
- Maintaining unity in the church
16
William Hendriksen, New Testament Commentary, Romans, 478.
17
John Calvin, Commentaries on the Epistle to the Romans, 524.
11
In about a month, I will do the humanly impossible
- I will fly from Houston to Russia
How can I do this?
- Simple!
- I will enter into an aircraft designed to travel long distances
When I step into an airplane, I am allowed to do things that are impossible otherwise
Likewise, when I enter into the power of the Holy Spirit, I am able to do things that are humanly impossible
When we as a church – both individuals and a church body – overcome the barriers around us, we know that
God is working in our midst
- We are a godly testimony to others around us
- We are bringing glory to God
Think of the potential divisions that exist among us
- Age
- Sex
- Ethnic backgrounds
- Financial blessedness
- Personal preferences
- Christian maturity
- Spiritual giftedness
Where else on this planet can you find such diversity, yet unity?18
- Only in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ
What a way to end the doctrinal section of Romans
- Nearly 15 chapters of doctrine has led to this point
Are you a follower of Christ?
- God will accept you when you come to Him with a broken heart and empty hands
Are you walking in obedience to the Lord?
- Are you focusing on primary issues or preference issues?
As a church, and individuals, let’s keep the main thing the main thing
18
Alva J. McClain, Romans: The Gospel of God’s Grace, 243.
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