Bible Reading for May 28 – Romans 15:1-33

“If you’d just think about things the way I do, if you would just get over your unreasonable scruples, everything would be fine, and we’d have no more quarrels.” That’s undoubtedly the way the Jewish and Gentile believers thought about each other in Paul’s day, as they disagreed about whether to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols, or whether they still needed to celebrate all the Old Testament festivals. And we modern-day Christians all too often fall into the same mode of thinking, having similar disagreements over everything from bishops to baptism, from speaking in tongues to the musical instruments used in worship.

But instead of insisting that everyone agree with us, Paul insists that we must follow the example of Jesus and seek our neighbors’ good, trying to build others up (v. 2). After all, Jesus laid down His very life so that sinners like us could have what we need, so that we might be saved. So, if we would truly be followers of Jesus, when disagreements arise the question for us must not be “What do I want,” but “What do you want?” We must not ask, “What do I need,” but “What do you need?”

But as we try to help others in this way, it’s so easy to try to keep our distance, to serve one another at arm’s length. Instead, Paul tells us in verse 7 that we must step out of our comfort zones and receive each other, welcoming our Christian brothers and sisters into our hearts and into our lives, in spite of all the ways we might think they are wrong.

And again, this is just following the example of Christ. For when Jesus gave up His life on the cross, He died in order to pardon people who were nothing more than rebels against His righteous rule. And since Christ brought sinners like us into His Kingdom, since Christ welcomed sinners who had no right to enter His presence, what reason could we possibly have to remain estranged from any brother or sister in Christ?

But we must not confuse such a pursuit of Christian unity with a need for uniformity. After all, as Paul makes clear in verses 8-12, even though Jews and Gentiles were so different, Jesus came to save people from both groups, so that He could demonstrate both God’s faithfulness to keep His covenant promises, as well as His mercy toward people from all over the world.

In short, instead of despising one another for our differences over non-essential things, maybe we can learn to celebrate that diversity. Maybe the rich tapestry of God’s Church, maybe the different ways Christians worship God all around the world can demonstrate more of God’s glory than any one congregation or denomination could possibly do by itself. And who knows? Maybe God put people in each congregation who see things differently so that His glory might shine more brightly as we show the world how we can love one another in spite of our disagreements.

Romans 15:1-33 (ESV)

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”
4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,
9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”
10 And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.
15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God
16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.
18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience– by word and deed,
19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God– so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;
20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation,
21 but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”
22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you.
23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you,
24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.
25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.
26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.
28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you.
29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,
31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,
32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.
33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.