Romans 15:1-13
Today’s Passage: Romans 15:1-13
Paul, as he masterfully explains the gospel through Romans , toward the end of the book starts to APPLY the gospel to our lives: how we live, the way we interact with authority, and how we interact with each other.
Here is what we know: the truth of the gospel does not just affect our relationship with God but it also affects our relationships with others… or it should.
In the end of chapter 14 he talked about guarding others around us from stumbling even at the cost of our own freedom.
Freedom is a funny idea in the Christian life. We praise Jesus for giving up HIS rights while trying everything in our own power to hold on to ours. Paul after talking about guarding each other in chapter 14 continues this line of thinking into chapter 15 where he talks about it from the lens of the example of Jesus.
What do we learn about how we relate to others from Jesus?
1) BUILD THEM UP (v.1-4)
This is true even at the “giving up our freedoms.” I think a great question to ask is “Is there anything I would be unwilling to give up if it upbuilt others around me spiritually?”
Paul talks about how even Jesus did this! You can read about this in Philippians 2.
2) LIVE IN HARMONY (v.5-6)
We are to live in harmony with others. We are to live in unity. This is Paul’s command in Ephesians 4. This is Jesus’ prayer for us in John 17. This is a command from God for us as followers of Jesus. Why? So that we reflect God’s heart and the gospel (v. 6, Philippians 1:27).
3) TREAT OTHERS HOW JESUS HAS TREATED YOU (v.7)
This is one of my favorite parts of what Paul wrote right here. To treat others how we have been treated. How did Jesus treat us? Full of rejection? Frustration? Avoidance? Or full of grace? Mercy? Love?
How can we treat others like this around them and build them up?
And then I think Paul reminds us of the why in verse 13… HOPE.
Jesus brings hope for the WORLD, not just for US. Let’s share this hope with others and invite them into the greatest life they can ever experience… life with Jesus.
Written By: Nick Parsons
Paul, as he masterfully explains the gospel through Romans , toward the end of the book starts to APPLY the gospel to our lives: how we live, the way we interact with authority, and how we interact with each other.
Here is what we know: the truth of the gospel does not just affect our relationship with God but it also affects our relationships with others… or it should.
In the end of chapter 14 he talked about guarding others around us from stumbling even at the cost of our own freedom.
Freedom is a funny idea in the Christian life. We praise Jesus for giving up HIS rights while trying everything in our own power to hold on to ours. Paul after talking about guarding each other in chapter 14 continues this line of thinking into chapter 15 where he talks about it from the lens of the example of Jesus.
What do we learn about how we relate to others from Jesus?
1) BUILD THEM UP (v.1-4)
This is true even at the “giving up our freedoms.” I think a great question to ask is “Is there anything I would be unwilling to give up if it upbuilt others around me spiritually?”
Paul talks about how even Jesus did this! You can read about this in Philippians 2.
2) LIVE IN HARMONY (v.5-6)
We are to live in harmony with others. We are to live in unity. This is Paul’s command in Ephesians 4. This is Jesus’ prayer for us in John 17. This is a command from God for us as followers of Jesus. Why? So that we reflect God’s heart and the gospel (v. 6, Philippians 1:27).
3) TREAT OTHERS HOW JESUS HAS TREATED YOU (v.7)
This is one of my favorite parts of what Paul wrote right here. To treat others how we have been treated. How did Jesus treat us? Full of rejection? Frustration? Avoidance? Or full of grace? Mercy? Love?
How can we treat others like this around them and build them up?
And then I think Paul reminds us of the why in verse 13… HOPE.
Jesus brings hope for the WORLD, not just for US. Let’s share this hope with others and invite them into the greatest life they can ever experience… life with Jesus.
Written By: Nick Parsons
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