Pleasing Others Pleases God

Romans 15:1-13

July 22, 2007 Pastor Jack Harpold

We have considered three great principles of Christian conduct in Romans chapter 14, conviction, conscience, and consideration of the weak brother, which continues in chapter 15.

Paul shows in Romans 15:3 that Jesus is really the only safe example to follow. Jesus teaches us to be patient and long-suffering and to avoid offenses.

In verse 5 Paul says God bears patiently with us. He is "the God of patience.” If God bears patiently with our offenses, we ought to bear with each other in the same way. God has accepted both Jew and Gentile into His household, and this is an example of how we should accept into our fellowship those of differing viewpoints. We must embrace those who love the same Lord, and bow to the authority of the same Scriptures, even though they may differ on neutral matters. In a great many things, it is a duty to have our convictions - but at the same time, it is an equal duty to permit others to have their convictions (when not in conflict with God’s Word).

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves (vs. 1).

A guiding principle to govern the conduct of every Christian is that we are to seek to please our neighbor for the purpose of building others up in the faith. Everything we do in our Christian walk and conduct exerts an influence upon the lives of our fellow men, especially upon fellow Christians.

Paul insists the strong should show consideration for the feelings and prejudices of weak believers. He wrote to the Corinthians, Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble (1 Cor. 8:13). In other words, Paul said, "I can eat meat. I love a good pork roast. But I will not eat it if it is going to offend my brother.” Seek the interests of the other person. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). Keep in mind that we are still in the area of questionable things, things that are not mentioned in Scripture as wrong.

When we receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we are made partakers of His divine nature. We have the mind of Christ. For even Christ pleased not himself, but as it is written, the reproaches of those who reproached You, fell on me [Rom. 15:3]. Jesus never put His own interest and pleasures first.

Paul now begins to talk about the fact that Jews and Gentiles are in one body to glorify God. For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope [vs. 4]. All Scripture was written for our instruction that we might live a life of righteousness.

Paul here says that it was written for "our learning."

A great sin in the church of Jesus Christ is ignorance of the Word of God. "Well, I don't know much about the Bible, but…” Why doesn't he know much about the Bible? God wants you to know His Word. As a church member, are you boasting that you are ignorant of the Word of God? We need to get down to business and find out what God has said to us in His Word.

What will knowledge of the Bible do for you? "That we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” The Word of God imparts patience, comfort, and hope.

You won't find hope in the daily newspaper. You won't find hope in modern literature. Look at any field and see if you can find hope. There is none. It is dark and dismal when you look out at this world. The only place you can find real hope is in the Word of God.

The Lord says, "Come on up here and get in the sunshine of hope!" That is what the Bible will do for you. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come (1 Cor. 10:11). One person said that he was going through a very dark period in his life and that the study in the life of David delivered him from suicide. Well, that is the reason God put these things in His Word.

When we become one in Christ Jesus, our conversation is radically transformed, beginning to glorify God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be likeminded toward one another according to Christ Jesus [Rom. 15:5].

The goal of it all is that the body of Christ might be bound together as one in the common bond of love and consideration one for another.

Paul pauses to pray that the blessings channeled through the Word of God might have their effect upon both Jews and Gentiles in the body of Christ; not that they should see eye to eye with each other on meats and drink - they won't - but that they might demonstrate that they are one in love and consideration one of another. That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 6). There should be such a harmony in their praise that they reveal the unity of believers.

We must always remember that there is nothing good in ourselves. If unity is to become a reality, if Godliness is ever to become a part of ourselves it must come from outside. God must put it within us.

Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God (vs. 7).

God receives man - both strong and weak, high and low, Jew and Gentile - on the simple acceptance of Christ. Now let both the strong and the weak receive each other in fellowship. The glory of God is the supreme objective.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit (vs. 13).

"The God of hope" is a new title for God. The believing heart finds here the Rock of Ages who is the shelter in the time of storm. "The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.” This is what a study of Romans should do for you.

Now I myself am confident, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another (vs. 14).

Paul offers a gentle apology for his frankness and boldness in speaking to the Romans in the doctrinal section. It was not because they were lacking in goodness and knowledge, but rather because they possessed these qualities that Paul was able to be so explicit. Isn't that wonderful? He gave us the Epistle to the Romans so that he could talk to us about these important issues. An understanding of Romans is an essential part of your Christian growth. Every Christian should make an effort to know Romans, for this book will ground the believer in the faith.

Someday all of us will be changed into His image and His likeness. Then we will agree on all things.

The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit begins with Jew and Gentile at the moment of regeneration when the Holy Spirit makes His abode within the believer.

Paul wrote boldly to the Romans but was apologetic because he recognized these saints probably did not need his instructions. Nevertheless he wrote with confidence to them. There is no personal assumption in this. He is a servant of Christ Jesus and is doing His will. There is one thing that should never characterize a servant of God, and that is pride. We should never be overbearing, but rather take the position we are serving the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is in charge.

If the Lord has come into your life, He will clean you up. A clean tongue and one that declares the Word of God accurately is what a great many folk need today.

This chapter concludes with Paul's benediction:

Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen [Rom. 15:33].

"The God of peace" shows that Paul experienced peace in prison, in chains, in storm, and in shipwreck. I pray that you and I might have that kind of peace in our lives.

The Christian’s hope is not for a better world, but for a new world. The Christian’s hope is not for better conditions, but for a new age when Jesus Christ shall come back and reign upon this earth.