The Epistle to the Romans
Lesson 23
All Believers are “in Christ”

Reading Assignment: Romans 15

Introduction
The conclusion of our studies in Romans is rapidly approaching. Never for a moment, however, should we think of the final chapters of this incomparable epistle as being insignificant or some unnecessary appendage. Keep in mind that all scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16).

In this lesson, we shall see again the Christian’s responsibility to others, the oneness of Jew and Gentile in the Gospel, the ministry of Paul to those of us who are Gentiles and practical reminders and exhortations Paul gives to the church at Rome and thus to all of us.

Importance of this Lesson

• If for no other reason, the importance of this chapter is in the great texts such as verses 13,19,30.
• Additional importance, of course, is found in the repeated exhortation to the strong regarding the weak.
• Also we find the great reminder that the Gospel was first offered to the Jews.
• It is important to remember that saved Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ.
• It is also important to remember that Paul was uniquely called and empowered to minister to the Gentiles.

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The Lesson

Outline:

1. The Christian’s Responsibility to the Weak – Romans 15:1-3
2. The Oneness in Christ of Born-again Jews and Gentiles – Romans 15:4-13
3. Paul Uniquely Chosen and Called to Minister to the Gentiles – Romans 15:14-21
4. Paul’s Final Reminders and Exhortations – Romans 15:22-33

I. THE CHRISTIAN’S RESPONSIBILITY TO THE WEAK – Romans 15:1-3

1. Verse 1 – We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak.
   • Paul includes himself among the “strong.”
   1. The word “then” has the same meaning as “therefore” and, of course, refers back to Romans 14. The “we” included those so deep and strong in “the faith” that they had learned to live according to the principles of Christian behavior presented in Romans 14, which we studied in the previous lesson.
   2. The reference here concerning the “strong” and the “weak” relates back to Romans 14:1. The “strong” are those, who through the knowledge and application of the scriptures, had deepened, matured and grown strong in “the faith.”
   3. The “weak” are those who have been poorly, partially or erroneously taught in “the Word” and thus had limited understanding in the Word and grace of God and thus were “weak in the faith.” Remember that “the faith” relates to the entire scope and body of Christian doctrine.
   4. Those who are truly grounded not only in the knowledge of the scriptures but in the Holy Spirit and understanding of the grace of God, should not find it difficult to put up with or exercise restraint and patience toward those who are spiritual immature. We should always remind ourselves of our own weaknesses and of God’s patience with us.
2. Verse 2 – The latter part of verse 1 is best identified with verse 2. Read it as follows …and not to please ourselves. Let everyone of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.
   1. …And not to please ourselves. – Remember, no man lives or dies to himself (Romans 14:7). We are the Lord’s (Romans 14:8) and all we do and say should be as “unto Him.” The Christian should never strut or flaunt his liberty in Christ and thus ruthlessly step on the feelings, opinions and convictions of weaker brethren and thereby destroy them (Roman 14:15).
   2. Let everyone of us please his neighbor for his good… This does not mean that we are to bury or sacrifice our deep convictions to please some weak, worldly, carnal or perhaps unsaved neighbor. This falls under the umbrella of guidelines for Christian behavior. We are to always live for others and not for ourselves. Paul, in this, was a remarkable example. In 1 Corinthians 10:32-33, he wrote, “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”
   3. to edification – Note here again Romans 14:19, …follow after the things…wherewith one may edify another. To edify is to build up. We are not to tear down or destroy our neighbor or weak brother but to strengthen and build him up.
3. Verse 3 – For even Christ pleased not himself… – In sacrificial, self-denying living for others, Christ is our supreme example. He came “not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). “For your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Read also 1 Peter 2:23-24,3:18 and Psalm 69:9 from which the rest of this verse is taken.

II. THE ONENESS IN CHRIST OF BORN AGAIN JEWS AND GENTILES – Romans 15:4-13

1. Verse 4 – For whatsoever things were written aforetime time were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope – This is readily confirmed by verses such as 2 Timothy 3:16,17; 1 Corinthians 10:11; Romans 4:23,24.
   1. Verse 5 – …that we, through patience… – In Romans 5:3-4, Paul placed experience after patience, saying, tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope. In Hebrews 12:1, we are exhorted to “run with patience the race that is set before us.” In
      1 Thessalonians 5:14 we are encouraged to “be patient toward all men.” To develop patience is to become God-like, since God is a God of patience (Romans 15:5). He is certainly patient with us and we need to be with one another, especially the strong with the weak.
   2. …and comfort of the scriptures… – There is nothing comparable to the comfort of the scriptures…. Jeremiah cried, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them: and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart…” (Jeremiah 15:16). Who can describe the comfort the scriptures have been to the lonely, the discouraged, the sick, the dying, the sorrowing, and the forsaken. The psalmist said that the happy man delights in the law of the Lord, meditating in it day and night and is like a tree planted by the water (Psalm 1:2,3).
   3. …might have hope – Patience, together with faith in the scriptures, makes hope; the hope of Christ’s return, an exciting expectant reality in our lives.
2. Verse 5 – Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another, according to Christ Jesus
   1. Here Paul expressed his great desire that the God of patience and comfort would make these graces a reality to those Roman Christians (and to us). Such graces will make them to be likeminded or of one mind toward one another through Christ Jesus.
   2. When all we do and say is in the name of Christ, as unto Christ and for the glory of Christ, there will be a spiritual unity in the church that greatly transcends intellectual and minor doctrinal differences.
3. Verse 6 – That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. While there may be wide differences in cultural and ethnic backgrounds, in over-all knowledge and understanding of the scriptures and in the degree of educational achievement, there is still a basic and wonderful spiritual unity among all true believers whose chief desire is to glorify God.
4. Verse 7 – Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God
   1. Note again Romans 14:1,3, where the strong are exhorted to receive the weak because God hath received him.
   2. Remember that to receive one is to welcome him (or her) warmly and completely into one’s fellowship.
   3. We are to receive others as Christ has received us. Aren’t you glad that Christ takes us as we are, rich or poor, Jew or Gentile, educated or illiterate, strong or weak. We are all one in Christ! (Note Colossians 3:11.)
5. Verses 8-12 – Read carefully all five verses.
   1. That Christ …was a minister of the circumcision… means that He came initially and primarily to minister to Israel. “He came unto His own” (John 1:11). “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). The Gospel was offered “to the Jew first” (Romans 1:16).
   2. He came first …to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. In other words, to confirm what God had spoken and promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the prophets. All the promises referring to the Messiah were fulfilled in Christ who claimed to be that Messiah (John 4:25-26). Thus, the integrity, truth, and faithfulness of God to keep His promises were confirmed in and by Christ.
   3. Beginning at verse 9 and through the balance of the chapter, the word Gentiles is used ten times. Remember that to Israel pertained …the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises (Romans 9:4). But Israel rejected their Messiah (John 1:11; Matthew 11:20; Matthew 27:21-25). God then offered His mercy to the Gentiles (Romans 15:9). Review here Romans 11:1-32. Note particularly verses 30-32 since they relate so well to the verse we are now studying. Read also Ephesians 3:1-12.
   4. Verses 9-12 are remarkable. Verses 10-12 begin with And again, and again, and again, as though Paul really wanted to drive home the message of God’s mercy toward the Gentiles for which we, as Gentiles, should glorify Him (verse 9). To emphasize the message, Paul sited four Old Testament prophecies:
      1. verse 9 –…For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles (nations), and sing unto thy name (Psalm 18:49).
      2. verse 10 – …Rejoice, ye Gentiles (nations), with His people (Deuteronomy 32:43).
      3. verse 11 –…Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles (nations); and laud him, all ye people
         (Psalm 117:1).
      4. verse 12 – …There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles (nations); in him shall the Gentiles (nations) trust (or hope)” (Isaiah 11:10).
6. Verse 13 – While there is much more to the chapter, Paul here seemed to offer a benediction.
   1. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing…. Both joy and peace are the result of believing the great truths of the gospel, especially those presented in the Roman epistle.
   2. …that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Ponder in your heart the many ministries of the Holy Spirit to and for the believer. Through His presence and power He makes the glorious hope we have in Christ such a reality that we can abound in it.

III. PAUL UNIQUELY CHOSEN AND CALLED TO MINSTER TO THE GENTILES –
Romans 15:14-21

• While the doctrinal and expositional character of Romans apparently is concluded with verse 13, we must never think of the remaining verses as being inconsequential. Romans 15:14-16:27 contain a series of afterthoughts or postscripts which contain precious and remarkable truths and must be seriously accepted as part of the inspired Word of God.

1. Verse 14
   1. It is evident that Paul was kept fully aware of the spiritual condition of all the Gentile churches.
   2. While neither he nor any other apostle had visited Rome, he had learned that their faith is spoken of throughout the whole world (Romans 1:8).
   3. He further knew them to be …full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
   4. The saints had matured in grace and in the knowledge of the Word to the extent that they were able to exhort and establish one another in the faith. O, that all Christian churches today would have such a reputation and testimony!
2. Verses 15-16
   1. Nevertheless – Lest any at this church might feel they had no need of Paul’s ministry, Paul here reminded them that he was uniquely commissioned by God to take the transforming message of grace to the Gentiles. Read Acts 9:15; Ephesians 3:1-11.
   2. The word minister carries a much deeper connotation than simply an apostle. The word actually means that Paul was an officially employed administrator serving in the capacity of a ministering priest in behalf of the Gentiles.
   3. Paul remained constantly aware of the fact that he was not simply another apostle but was especially chosen of God to carry the message of God’s saving grace to the Gentiles.
   4. The offering up of verse 16 refers to the Gentiles whom Paul, serving in the capacity of a ministering priest of the Lord Jesus Christ, offered up to God as acceptable because believing Gentiles are sanctified by the Spirit. In other words, there is now no distinction between Jew and Gentile. The gospel is good news to all men. Note also Ephesians 1:14-18; Colossians 3:11.
3. Verses 17-19
   1. …therefore – This refers back, of course, to verses 15 and 16. Paul, indeed, had much in which to ...glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. Was he not especially chosen of God to be the ministering priest to the Gentiles? And was he not given the full revelation of the grace of God?
   2. Paul would take no honor or credit for the wonderful things God had done at Pentecost and beyond, or the great work of the other apostles whose ministry was primary to Israel. He did speak, however, of his own ministry among the Gentiles.
   3. Paul mentioned five things that caused the Gentiles to become obedient to the claims of the Gospel: The WORD and DEED, mighty SIGNS, and WONDERS and the POWER of the Holy Spirit. You can read of these things in the book of Acts.
   4. Paul had preached the Gospel of Christ from Jerusalem to Illyricum. In other words, all over Asia Minor right up to the borders of Rome! Remember that he had never been to Rome. He wanted them to know what God had done elsewhere. He may have felt that he had well-covered Asia Minor and was now ready to come to Rome.
4. Verses 20-21
   Paul blazed new trails. Like a true missionary evangelist, he preached to the previously unreached. He would not build on another man’s foundation. He ministered to the heathen, idol-worshiping Gentile cities and territories where Christ and His Gospel were not known. Verse 21 is a quote of Isaiah 52:15.

IV. PAUL’S FINAL REMINDERS AND EXHORTATIONS – Romans 15:22-33

1. Verses 22-24
   1. Verse 22 – Paul felt constrained to explain once more (note Romans 1:13) his inability to go to Rome. He had been totally involved with the previously unreached cities of Asia Minor which hindered him from visiting Rome.
   2. Verse 23 – The phrase …having no more place in these parts… indicates again that Paul felt his ministry in these areas was fulfilled and that now he was ready to come to Rome.
   3. Verse 24 – Paul fully anticipated a journey all the way to previously unreached Spain!
      He felt that the church at Rome would assist him on the way with both gifts and prayer. First, however, he expected to spend a joyful time with them. The phrase, if first I be somewhat filled with your company could read, “but, first, I must, in some measure at least, have my fill of your company.” The NIV puts it “after I have enjoyed your company for a while.”
2. Verses 25-29
   1. Verses 25-26 – A remarkable feature of this section is that it contains probably the first illustration of giving to foreign missions. Paul’s desire was to go to Rome but first he must make one more trip to Jerusalem. The churches of Macedonia and Achaia, which included the churches of Philippi, Thessalonica, Corinth, etc., had raised a voluntary love offering for the needy saints at Jerusalem. Paul was returning to Jerusalem to present that offering to them. Read Acts 11:29 and 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15. This was a beautiful expression of love and gratitude for the people and the place from which the Gospel had come. Love offerings have been common in the true church ever since.
   2. Verses 27-28 – Even today the Gentile church owes an eternal debt of gratitude to Jewish Christians to whom the Gospel was first given and from which it came to us! Read
      Romans 11:13-25 and 1:16. The Gentile churches were blessed in spiritual things springing from the saved of Israel. They now are duty-bound to repay for such blessing in carnal things, that is, in earthly, natural or material things. Read again 1 Corinthians 9:7-14. Note in verse 28 that Paul regarded the giving of material things for the work of the Lord as a tangible fruit of his ministry. Note Philippians 4:17 and 2 Corinthians 9:11-14.
   3. Verse 29 – Paul was confident that he would get to Rome, though at this time he had no idea it would be as a prisoner (Acts 27-28)! The phrase fulness of the blessing could read “the full measure of the blessing of Christ.” Paul was confident that when he did finally arrive in Rome it would be with full apostolic power and blessing.
   4. Verses 30-32
      1. In verse 30, we find one of the great verses and revelations concerning the purpose, power and nature of prayer to be found anywhere in scripture.
         1. Paul begged (I beseech) the saints at Rome, …for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake… and in response to the love of God given to them by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:30) that they …strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
         2. The word strive means to agonize or to wrestle. It reveals the kind of praying that gets results. In Colossians 4:12, Paul referred to Epaphras as “always labouring fervently for you in prayers.” James 5:16 says that it is “The effectual fervent prayer” that avails much. Of Christ, our example in all things, it is written “and being in an agony he prayed more earnestly” (Luke 22:44).
         3. While volumes could be written on the nature and power of prayer, it is, at the least, astonishing to observe that God prefers to make His work in this world dependent upon the prayers of His people. Read 2 Timothy 1:1-3; Revelation 5:8,8:3; Philippians 4:6,7; James 5:16; Ephesians 6:18,19; 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
      2. In verse 31, Paul expressed the realization that he had enemies in Jerusalem who hated him because of his defection from the Jews religion (Galatians 1:13-14). He also knew that some, out of pride, would not wish to accept a love gift from Gentile churches. He pleaded for prayer that he would have safety and success.
      3. In verse 32, to have safety and success at Jerusalem meant that Paul would come to Rome “by the will of God” with the joy of the Lord in his heart. How good it is always to labor for the lord with joy and the assurance that you are in His will.
      • In verse 33, there is a precious benediction. God is not only the source of our joy, He is also the “God of Peace.” Note Philippians 4:9 and Hebrews 13:20. Peace is surely what this troubled world needs. But while it will not be enjoyed by the world until Christ reigns in Jerusalem (Isaiah 9:6-7), you and I can experience perfect peace in our hearts today (Philippians 4:6-7; John 14:27). What a blessed note on which to conclude this interesting chapter.

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