My unofficial and 'not-so-in-depth' analysis reveals that a church in Georgia holds the record for the most times it has split. This church, in a town of about 5000 people, has reported to have split 48 times at last count. The splits began in 1911 when there was a disagreement on whether the offering should be taken up before the sermon or after. A split occurred. Then 4 years later they split again disputing whether to have flowers in the sanctuary or not. The latest split was whether it was a violation of the Sabbath to check your email on Sunday. One of the elders of one of the 48 churches said they feel they have it right now. They've clarified their view of doctrinal purity. They were hoping to grow from their current membership of 6 people.
Church splits happen. But it's incredible when we begin to research why. One church split over a piano bench. During one service the offending piano bench was removed from the building; during the next service it was brought back in. Churches have split over the color of paint and one split over the spelling of hallelujah.
All these things fall in the category of 'doubtful things' Paul spoke about in chapter 14. These are things that could go either way; we are able (and likely) to have varying opinions. Since there is no eternal consequence or significance either way, we aren't to dispute over these things; to do so is to major in minors and be distracted from the important. Taking minor things and making a major ordeal over them then becomes significant because it can cause people to stumble and become a distraction from the important things.
How can we be clothed in Christ and presenting our self as a living sacrifice while we demand the paint color we want to the detriment of all else? It's ludicrous. Paul began his conclusion of this point in Romans 14:19:
19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Paul's concluding remarks regarding doubtful things continue as we begin chapter 15.
Romans 15:1-6
Who would define themselves as weak? I have to think most folks would consider themselves strong and look upon others as weak. In reality, we are all weak in some way. In the fellowship of believers, we may be dealing with folks struggling in a area in which we are much stronger. Paul commands the believer to bear with weaker one, even at the cost of our own pleasure or convenience. The strong are the stable and spiritually mature:
- Those not rocked by the winds of change or the threat of persecution;
- Those who aren't attempting to gain favor with God by some work; diet, days or traditions.
- This is not a 'stand up straight and poke your chest out' toughness. It is a sinner living in reliance to Jesus Christ.
Paul uses this word 'strong' in a couple more places:
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)
The word used for scruples is translated as weakness or infirmities in other versions. This is a weakness that originates in the mind or in someone's thinking. It might be an immaturity of faith or a weakness of faith caused by some other influence. You might see a new believer overwhelmed by all that is before them as they are still learning and still growing and not necessarily understanding the promises of God. Or you might see someone who has been beat down or abused by religion. This could be a person that had some bad experiences with a church or was involved in a cult. It might also be someone who had an abusive relationship with their father and now they struggle to trust this relationship with a heavenly father. This weakness might be a total lost of confidence or trust; or it may be a blind spot where someone is seeking favor with God through some work. In reality, we don't know what's going on in the mind of other folks. This is why we offer grace.
Paul encourages us to find reasons to get along with our brothers in Christ instead of finding reasons to war with each other or separate from each other. We are to receive and edify one another. To edify is to 'build up' and should be looked upon as helping in the construction of an incomplete, but ongoing building project.
We ought to dwell in unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ because we are inexorably linked together in Christ. We are part of the one body and in fact will spend eternity together.
The word translated to 'bear' means to pick up and carry. This isn't a figure of speech where we pat someone on the back and say I'm thinking about you or I'm praying for you. This is to literally pick up, with your hands, the person or issue dragging them down. Paul said if we are strong then we should use our strength to pick up the weakness of those without strength. Picture coming across a fellow believer bearing a heavy yoke that is weighing them down, sucking the life out of them. The strong doesn't pat them on the back and wish them well, encouraging them to take the yoke off. The strong is pictured as stepping up and taking the weight of the yoke, easing and edifying their brother.
For us this means bearing up alongside those that are new or weak. We help them, stand with them, and pray with them. Hopefully we show them what Christian maturity looks like. We show them how to hold on tight in tough times. At the same time, we are showing them how to bear up another, serve another. What if everyone served like you? Edified like you? What would the church look like? Some day that person will overcome their weakness, they will mature and will have been discipled in how to do this for another.
We learned from Chapter 14 that Christians don't always get along. Not only should we get along but we should go out of our way to battle our own selfishness. Getting along can be done without any personal contact at all; Paul is not calling us to stay away from tough situations but to be engaged in them. Paul said in verse 2 the goal is to please my neighbor. This obviously implies involvement, investment.
We are reminded of the lessons of Christ, the ultimate example of sacrifice and service. Jesus didn't dwell among us to please Himself. He came and gave his life for us.
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:5-11)
Paul quoted Psalm 69:
"The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me."
Men hate God and in that hatred they brought reproach in the form of false accusations, slander and shame. Jesus took all of that first hand. That's the example Paul wants us to see. Jesus didn't wait for someone else to do or say something nice before he acted. He came down as flesh to make God known among men, to walk with us and be the perfect sinless sacrifice for all men. He bore the burden for us.
While the Christians of Paul's time were arguing over food and the esteeming of days, some felt they were having to go too far to sacrifice for their brother. Paul told them to weigh their sacrifice against what Jesus did.
Paul gives us some tools to help us in our efforts in unity. These tools are God's word & Prayer. All scripture was written to teach us. By the scriptures we have patience & comfort and from that patience and comfort we have hope. We've seen this word translated to 'patience' often. It means 'patient endurance'. We serve the God of patient endurance and comfort. By the scriptures we learn there is a time that is coming; it's when all the promises are fulfilled. We have comfort from these promises. We patiently wait as we draw comfort from the revelation of an awesome God. No amount of reproach brought against us can change that fact. The mocking, scoffing, slander and whatever else doesn't make any difference when we've allowed the word to change our life. Our response to the reproach of the world becomes a testimony. People will see that no matter what happens or what is said they can't take away your hope. There is a joy that doesn't come from anything based in this world, therefore nothing in this world can take it away.
Paul's prayer is for God to grant them:
- To be like-minded toward one another.
- That we may Glorify God with one mind and one mouth.
While we all may think different and have differing opinions, we come together before God through Christ. He is our common ground, our common denominator. To be like minded, to speak as one, we must all live in this place of common ground before Christ. It is in prayer we get our mind on God's mind. If we have put aside our self and our eyes are focused on Him, if we are truly seeking Him out through the bible and prayer, then we should find that we are likeminded with other believers. We can't be like minded with other Christians if we aren't Christ-like ourselves. Prayer can't be moving God to my way of thinking; prayer has to be moving my way of thinking to God. As we seek Him in prayer and learn how to place Him in the center of our life we become Christ-like and become like-minded with other believers. When we do that, God gives encouragement, endurance and a spirit of unity among His people. His desire is that we would have one heart and mouth to glorify God, not a bunch of individuals or different groups that are all divisions of the body.
There are many denominations that have different traditions and some difference in doctrine and that's okay. Different denominations aren't the enemy. If a group follows after Christ and believes the essentials then they are part of the one body of Christ. We should be likeminded and be willing to glorify God with one mind and one mouth.
Romans 15:7-13
Paul concludes that we should, 'Therefore receive one another.' It's time to put away the petty divisions and stop focusing on the things that divide or separate us. We should receive one another as Christ received us. Jesus didn't receive us because we deserved it or because we had it all figured out. He didn't receive us because he couldn't find any faults in us. He accepted us without condition. We brought nothing to the deal, He brought it all. He did it not for His own glory but for the glory of God. We should receive one another in a similar way, without condition, for the glory of God. This reflects the humble child of God who has the heart of a servant.
As Paul speaks this to the Romans, He is talking about the Jews and gentiles becoming one, confirming this is the biggest division they had to deal with. Jesus was a Jew and was raised as a Jew. All He did was done to confirm the promises made through the Jews. Then also, the gentiles would glorify God for His mercy.
It has always been God's plan to save the gentiles and to bring the Jews and gentiles together in His kingdom. Paul gives this list of OT scriptures to prove from God's word that it has always been his plan. There is also an interesting progression in these scriptures you may not notice if you just read through them too quickly.
- The first scripture could be from 2 Samuel 22:50 or Psalm 18:49; they are the words of David. It reflects the Jews glorifying God among the gentiles.
- The next scripture Paul quotes is Deuteronomy 32:43. These are Moses' words and they show the gentiles rejoicing among the Jews.
- Verse 11 is from Psalm 117:1 calling for gentiles to worship the Lord and all 'you people' includes the Jews to unify in praising Him.
- And finally, Paul quotes Isaiah 11:12 where Isaiah prophesied the birth of a savior that would come from the root of Jesse. This is a reference to the Jewish messiah. Yet He would also rise to reign over the gentiles.
Note the Jews rejoice among the gentiles; the gentiles rejoicing among the Jews; the Jews & gentiles together praising God; and Jesus Christ ruling over the unified Jews & gentile Christians.
(Paul could have also quoted: 1 Chron 16:31; Ps 22:27; 96:10; 102:22; Is 49:23; Is 60:3, 9–14; Is 19:23–25; Is56:3–8)
Paul speaks a great benediction for the Roman Christians and for us to cap this discussion of unity in the body. He told them what they needed to know to be filled with joy and peace leading to hope, reminding them our God is a God of hope. He could only speak God's word to them, but he could not make them united.
Romans 15:14-21
Paul begins to close this letter. He wanted them to know he had confidence in them. This church had been around for 10 years or so, they weren't new to these things. He didn't write all these things because he thought didn't know any of it or because he thought they were uneducated or undiscerning. Paul said he had confidence that they were full of goodness, the moral excellence coming to them as a fruit of the Spirit. He knew they were filled with knowledge and that they were completely capable of admonishing one another. However, it was his job as a minister of Jesus Christ to minister to them. It was his job to sharpen them up. Yes, they might have heard all these things before but now they heard them explained by Paul and countless millions have heard it also because it was recorded here in the scriptures.
Paul said he wrote a little more boldly on some points. I actually think he pressed on every believer with a serious intensity. You can't read this letter and not examine all that you believe. He started at the bottom and laid a solid foundation before he begins to build. Every believer, no matter how many times they've heard it, could hear this again and be edified. That's what Paul said he was doing for them. He wrote this to admonish them.
As a minister of the gospel, he was ministering to them. His calling was to take the gospel message to the gentiles and in doing so he prayed the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. It was in His heart and passion to build them up so they would be set apart and found acceptable to the Lord. And they were set apart. Many of those who came to faith were built up by Paul. He glorified in Christ all that had been accomplished. Paul knew that much had been done, but he would never take any credit for it. By himself he had done nothing.
He said he wouldn't even consider talking about the stuff that was outside what Christ accomplished. His accomplishments were nothing. All that was accomplished was by fully preaching the gospel from Jerusalem to Illyricum, which was an area along the Adriatic Sea straight west of Thessalonica on the Egnation way. We don't have any record of when Paul went there. From Illyricum he could look across the sea toward Italy (maybe even see it) and dream of further west toward Spain. Paul fully preached his gospel message with signs and wonders from the Holy Spirit all along the way. Illyricum had been the outermost region Paul had preached, but God had put more on his heart.
Paul said it was his aim to go to the places where Jesus Christ was not known. There was nothing wrong with preaching Christ where he was known but Paul saw it as his ministry to open up new frontiers. Paul did not have a comfort zone to hide in. He spoke about Jesus to folks who had never heard. He left building on another man's foundation to other folks. He saw his work and calling as the fulfillment of the scripture.
" To whom He was not announced, they shall see;
And those who have not heard shall understand."
This quote is from Isaiah 52:15.
Romans 15:22-29
Paul didn't get to Rome as he had previously desired. However, he no longer had a place in Ephesus or Corinth. He had been called to those places but now his work was done. He was ready to move on. Now it was his plan to go to Rome on his way to Spain. He planned on staying with them as he traveled through. There are some legends that say Paul made it to Spain and on to Britain but there really isn't any evidence of it. There's one late 1st century historical writing that some see as possible indication:
He [Paul] taught righteousness to all the world, and when he had reached the limits of the West he gave his testimony before the rulers, and thus passed from the world." (1st Clement V.7)"
The limits to the west would have been Spain, leaving many to think Paul did actually make it there. Paul got to Rome but he got there in chains and that's most likely where he spent the rest of his days.
Paul first had to go back to Jerusalem. We know Paul ended his 3rd missionary journey and took a ship and traveled back to Israel and then on to Jerusalem to deliver an offering to the Christians in Jerusalem. This offering Paul spoke of was an act of unity by the gentile churches. They had taken up an offering to assist the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. The gentiles were thankful because they were partakers of a faith that came by way of these brothers. They saw it as their duty to minister to them in material things. In delivering the gift, Paul had a run in with the Jews from Galatia and the riot broke out. He was arrested and questioned and that was the start of his journey to Rome. After going to Jerusalem, it took over two more years before he got there because he was sitting in prison. We see the story of Paul arriving in Rome in Acts 28. He had anticipated coming to them in this fullness in the power of the Holy Spirit with signs and wonders and miracles. We don't know for sure how that went but we can imagine Paul's blessing when these folks came and met him. They received Him as a brother. The unity and edification he preached to them became a blessing that came back on him.
Romans 15:30-33
Paul asked that they strive with him in prayer. The word 'strive' is 'struggle' in the NIV (sunagonizomai). It is a combination word, one of which is 'agonizomai'. This word speaks of agonizing in the arena; it's a life and death struggle that might be year by year or minute by minute. It is joined with another word meaning we agonize together and not against each other. We join the fight of another, together to fight, labor, strive, struggle and grind through life with joy and hope. We are a group fighting and straining together toward a common goal. I believe those brethren did strive with Paul in prayer. All these prayers were answered. He was delivered from the Judaizers, although it didn't look it for a while. His service for Jerusalem was acceptable to the saints although it created a riot among the Jews. And Paul did come to them and they were refreshed together.
Of course, none of these things happened easily. I'm sure none of this happened how Paul thought it would or should but it all happened in God's time, perfectly, serving Him and His purpose along the way.
It is clear that Paul engaged them in the work of eternal things. He shared his vision and the heart God gave him to attain even greater things. He sets an example of the strong and mature in the Lord. When Christians bite and snark at each other over doubtful things, the work of God ends up getting set aside of forgotten about while we war to have our way. Do we have dreams of service to the Lord? Is our passion displayed for the glory of God? Are we driven outside our comfort zone by them?
©2008, 2014, 2022 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater
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