Please join me at Romans 15 - starting at verse 1.

There’s a story about a father who was at home working inside the house while the kids were outside playing.  After a while the volume outside began to increase.  The kids began to level some pretty choice words at each other.

Finally the father realized that he was going to have to step in and do something.  So he opened the window and yelled at the kids to stop what they were doing - followed by a lecture about how people are suppose to treat each other.

Finally the father asked, “What game were you playing anyway?”  “Oh,” said the kids.  “We were playing church.”

Heard that?  Way to close to home.

There’s a familiar but very true comparison of Christians - comparing Christians to porcupines on a cold winter night.  They need to huddle together in order to warm each other, but, as they draw together, their prickly spines dig into each other and they have to pull apart.  All night long it’s a process of huddling together and pulling apart.

We realize this.  We have to admit that we struggle.  Yes?  No matter how unified a congregation might seem to be.

In what we’ve been looking at these past couple of Sundays - Paul is honest about our struggles.  He’s been using the very real struggles of the Romans Church - divisions along ethnic and economic lines - conflicts over worship and food - using these as an illustration to help us understand his teaching - to help us with our struggles at being the church.

Over the last two Sundays we’ve been looking at a section of Paul’s teaching that began in chapter 14 - verse 1 - a section of teaching in which Paul has been talking about avoiding conflict and healing division.

In 14:1-12 Paul said - when you hit an impasse - even when you know you’re right - chill with humility.  Put simply:  Lighten up. 

In 14:13-23 Paul said - when you hit an area of conflict - of division - stop judging each other.  Stop condemning each other.  Instead choose to help each other to go deeper in your faith - to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ.  Put simply:  Build up.

What we’re coming to - here in chapter 15 - is the conclusion of that teaching - the bear up each other part of Paul’s teaching.

Which is a good way for us to remember Paul’s teaching:  Lighten Up, Build Up, and Bear Up.

We’re going to break Paul’s teaching down into 2 sections.  Section 1 is in verses 1 to 6 and focuses on Our Obligation.

Let’s read 1 to 6 together:  We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.  For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”  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.  May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In verse 1 Paul says that “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” 

An “obligation” is something we’re… obligated to do.  Like owing money to someone - the bank - the IRS.  We are bound by the necessity of fulfilling our obligation.  No wiggle room.  No options.  It’s just what we do.  Period.  So - in real time - what does that look like? 

I heard about a pastor who was voted the most humble pastor in America.  The congregation gave him a medal that said, “To the most humble pastor in America.”  Then they took the medal away from him the next Sunday because he wore it.

When Paul writes about the one who’s stronger it’s almost a trick question.  Who are “we who are stronger”?

Paul warns the Galatians:  “For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”  (Galatians 6:3)

Proverbs 16:18:  “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

We need to be careful as we go through what Paul writes here because it would be easy for us to say, “Well, we’ve heard this.”  Or, “We get this.  Can we just move along?”  “Not one more Sunday dealing with conflict and division.”  As if we’re all stronger in our faith and past all this.

But we need to be careful for at least two reasons.  One - God inspired Paul to write this.  So it seems like God - and Paul - might be on to something here we need to pay attention to.

And two - while in some ways we may not be struggling with major division as a congregation... currently - major because there are always minors - we still need to be careful because there is another sucker punch coming from our adversary and those minors can quickly become majors.

Which one of us is the strong one?  Who has the greater more rock solid faith?  And who is the weaker brother or sister that we’re suppose to help?  Tough question.  Because we all are.

To bear the weaknesses of those without strength requires humility - taking ourselves down a notch… or more.  The stronger need humility if they’re to bear with those who are weaker.  The weaker need humility to accept that they need to be borne.  In either case - humility is the bottom line - letting go of our ourselves.

Which is what Paul says - we’re not here to please ourselves.  Being the Body of Christ - bearing up each other - isn’t about us.  We need to make sure we keep that front and center in our thinking.

Each of us faces the temptation - the tendency - to please ourselves - to do things for our own gratification.  Even humbling ourselves to help others can be about us.

The church in America is in serious serious trouble because we’ve assimilated the self-first, self-focused, culture around us.

“Church” as an institution gets evaluated based on the quality of the music or the preaching or the youth or children’s activities.  Did the kids enjoy themselves?  Not that “church” should be slightly less fun than a root canal.

But the questions get asked:  “Did it meet my needs?”  “How friendly were the people to me?  Did the pastor share 5 easy steps to having a wonderful Christian life?”  If the church doesn’t meet their needs they move on.  It’s amazing how many Christians are continually moving on.

So many people come to church for what they can get rather than what they can give.  Christians “church shop” - looking for a church that meets their needs - rather than prayerfully seeking God’s placement in a congregation where God’s word - the Bible - is valued as THE word of God with authority over our lives - where Jesus is lifted up as THE Savior we’re all desperate for - seeking after where God wills for them to serve - to sacrifice our lives for our Savior.

Looking around this congregation - this is Spirituality 101.  There are people here who seemingly can never get their lives together.  Marriages that are rocky at best.  Some suffer with addictions - depression - phobias - anger - bitterness.  Some have come with terrible backgrounds.  Kids are struggling with parents.  Parents are struggling with kids.  Some here are just plain hard to live with.

There are reasons why I’m here.  And it isn’t because I’m some super Christian amazing pastor who has his act together and is God’s answer for this congregation. 

Praise God He’s stuck all us nuts in one container!  Turn to the person next to you and tell them, “You’re a nut.”  Now tell them, “God loves nuts.”

God has put us here for each other.  We need to get beyond just pleasing ourselves.  If we’re going to bear with each we can’t be caring for others because we get recognition for it.  We can’t be coming her because of what we get - where the whole focus is on us.

Bearing with the weaknesses of each other exacts endurance - takes perseverance - requires commitment.  We’re here to lighten up - to build up - to bear up with each other.  For what God wants to do in us and through us in each other’s lives.

In verses 3 and 4 Paul gives us two examples of what he’s writing about - fulfilling our obligation to bear up each other.

In verse 3 he holds up Jesus Christ who clearly did not please Himself. 

On the night He was betrayed Jesus washes the feet of the disciples.   Takes off his nice clothes - takes a towel and a basin of water - and washes the dusty dirty disgusting - caked with whatever the disciples walked through on the road - smelly feet - all of them.  The teacher washing the feet of the students.  It’s an example of humility in real time.  A move that was counter our self-focused culture.  Jesus said, “What I just did you all need to do for each other.”  (John 13:1-20)

Jesus - on the night He was betrayed - Jesus told His disciples, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends…”  Meaning - you all need to be willing to die for each other.  (John 15:12-14)

Jesus - the almighty sovereign God - through Whom and by Whom and for Whom all things have come into being - to Whom we owe our very existence - the King of kings and Lord of lords - Jesus chose to set aside His prerogatives and rights as THE God - to humble Himself - to bear our weaknesses - our reproaches - our sins - on the cross.  All of them.

Which is Paul’s example of the attitude we’re suppose to have.  What it means for us to fulfill the obligation we have to bear the failings of the weak - our siblings in Jesus - to not please ourselves.

In verse 4 Paul uses the entire Old Testament as an example.  “Whatever was written former days.”  So, starting at Genesis 1:1 we’re going to read through the Old Testament together…  Just checking.

One of the ways to understand the Old Testament is to see it as one long illustration.  Which it is.  One long illustration from history.  Real people in real time going through real events in real places with real issues.  All of which God orchestrates as a illustration of Who He is - how much He loves us - and what it means to live in relationship together with Him. 

Real accounts about real people struggling to live with each other.  Not exactly the most harmonious lot.  At times not very humble.  And yet, in account after account - of people struggling to do what was right before God - people like Noah and Abraham and Joseph and Moses and David and Esther and Ruth and so on - in account after account we see God at work.  As they’re learning to trust God - God supplying strength and faith and courage and endurance and whatever was needed.

What Paul says should encourage us to do the same.  Because the ability to fulfill our obligation to bear up didn’t come from them.  And certainly isn’t going to come from us.

The writer of Hebrews writes this - Hebrews 12:1,2:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses - all these Old Testament saints that testify of God’s work in them and through them - let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely - our own penchant for focusing on ourselves - doing what pleases us - and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame - the humbling of Himself as He bore our reproaches - and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

Are we together?  To fulfill the obligation - to bear up each other - washing feet and dying and whatever it takes - that only comes as we’re focused on Jesus - by faith trusting Him not us.

Verses 5 and 6 are a prayer:  “May God do this in your lives.”

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In verse 6, when Paul writes about being in an accord he’s not talking about the car we drive.  He’s talking about what only God can do - bring unity in the midst of diversity.  To make us one.  When we bear each other up - persevere in love - set aside our selves - God brings us together - with one mind - one voice - in Christ - with one purpose.  Purpose being to glorify God.

Imagine an orchestra that only had a banjo section.  Picture that?  Might be interesting for a while.  Beethoven’s Fifth played only by banjos.  But after a while - listening to the great classics only played by banjos - a person might long for a bassoon or an oboe.  Orchestras have different instruments for a reason.  It just sounds better.  Those differences are greatly appreciated.  Especially when the orchestra follows the conductor - not whatever they want to do that pleases themselves.

We’re together?  All the nuts God has brought here - as we follow Him - He trains us - empowers us - uses us - blends us - guides us - and so on - even enables us to bear each other up - for His purposes - for His glory.  To God alone be the glory.

Hear this:  God glorifies Himself - testifies of who He is - when we’re united in Jesus Christ.  Try this with me, “God glorifies Himself…  When we’re united in Christ.”

Our obligation to bear each other up - with all our failings and weaknesses - there is no way we can fulfill that obligation on our own.

We can put on the greatest show - awesome worship - incredible ministries - inspiring facilities - thousands of people showing up on Sundays - send ministry teams to all 7 continents - and still fall short of our purpose as a congregation.  We can be the greatest singer - usher - teacher - musician - AV Dude or Dudett - pray great prayers moving prayers - whatever - and still fall short of our purpose as a child of God.

We cannot grow past - leap over - run through - our siblings in Jesus and bring glory to God.  We cannot fulfill our obligation without surrendering ourselves to God to fulfill it through us.

Bearing each other up is something that God does as we surrender ourselves to Him because we’re His body.  And, when we’re in one accord, people - outside these walls - people will notice His work in us.  To God be the glory.

That should challenge us.  To echo Paul’s prayer.  “God, may you cause  us to be of one accord in Jesus.  Keep us from serving ourselves.  If it pleases You to do so, bring glory to yourself through us.”

The second section of Paul’s teaching comes verses 7 to 13.  Which is about Our Welcome.

Let’s read together and then come back and do some unpacking.

Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.  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, 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.”  And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”  And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol Him.”  And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even He who arises to rule the Gentiles; in Him will the Gentiles hope.”  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.

Verse 7 is the key verse here.  It’s worth underlining and memorizing - marinating in.  Therefore - because we are to glorify God by bearing each others weaknesses - Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Back in 14:1 - when Paul began this section about conflict and division he began with the same instruction:  “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him…”  The person you have a disagreement with - welcome him.

We said - back when we looked at 14:1 - that the Greek word for “welcome” literally means to love on him - to receive him - to accept him - like we’d welcome a dear friend into our home.  Just like family.  Totally accepted as a part of our home. 

We said that meant that they have refrigerator rights.  Some people asked later, “What do mean by refrigerator rights?”  Refrigerator rights means that we have right to whatever’s in the refrigerator.  Grazing rights to whatever we find in there.  24/7/365 without needing to ask first.  That’s being family.  Mi casa es su casa. 

Imagine, we’re to welcome each other as Christ has welcomed us.  Because of Jesus’ work on the cross and the life that God gives to us in Him - as God’s kids - adopted - heirs of the riches of heaven - we’ve got refrigerator rights in heaven.  24 - whatever, ’cuase it’s forever.  Cool.  Yes? 

That’s welcoming.  Acceptance without qualification.

Paul writes, “Welcome one another”  “Accept one another.”

An oldie but goodie illustration.  There was a man who had twenty ducks which he put his son in charge of.  Each morning the son would lead the ducks out into the pond to play.  Each night the son would lead the ducks home again.

“The secret to herding ducks boy,” said the boy’s father, “is to make sure they are all in a row.  If you can’t keep your ducks in a row, you will never be a great duck herder.”  Duck commander 101.  Keep the ducks in a row.

Of course, if any of you have ever herded ducks you know from experience that keeping five ducks in a line is relatively easy.  Ten is difficult.  Twenty is just impossible.  You’re constantly running from one end of the row to the other putting your ducks in place.

Needless to say, the son never could keep his ducks in line.  For the rest of his days, he felt the disapproval of his father and all the other duck herders.  He died alone and dejected.

Can we all say, “Awwww.”

Let me ask you a question, “Are you accepted because of what you do, or because of who you are?”  Do you ever feel like you have to pass some kind of achievement test before you’re accepted?

Ever feel not accepted at church?  Any relatives who won’t speak to you?  Parents who won’t listen to your feelings?  A spouse who’s expecting you to be someone you’re not?  Friends - co-workers - who gossip about your shortcomings?  Are you wearing the right kind of clothes?  Driving the right kind of car?  Living in the right kind of house?  Whatever.  Are your ducks in a row?

Acceptance is when we feel free to be ourselves without any thought of being judged or criticized.  We feel safe - secure.  Acceptance is not based on achievement.  We just are.  Weak.  Messed up.  Hung up.  Nutted up.

That’s what Paul says here in verse 7.  God accepts us.  And, we could never earn that.  So, in the same way, accept each other.  If we accept each other as Jesus accepted us then we - like Jesus - will bring glory to God.

Verses 8 to 12 are an example of God’s acceptance of us.

In verse 8 Paul first speaks to the Jews - God’s chosen people.  Paul writes that Jesus became “a servant to the circumcised.”  Jesus was born a Jew - began His ministry with the Jews - offered salvation and the Kingdom of God first to the Jew - all according to what God said He was going to do.

Not because the Jews were anything special.  They were a small family living in a place called Ur (err).  But for purposes known only to God - God had been cultivating this family since Adam and the garden.  God chose them out of all the other families.  God chose to make promises to their forefathers - Abraham - Isaac - Jacob - and so on.  Choose to make them into a nation.  Chose to accept their worship and sacrifices.  God chose to fulfill His promises according to His purposes and to His glory.

Then in verses 9 to 12 - quoting from the Old Testament - Paul speaks to the Gentiles - all of us.  For purposes known only to God - God has chosen to bring salvation to the Gentiles - accepted us - gives us refrigerator rights - raises us up to praise Him. Not because we’re anything special - most of us are far from it.  God chooses to do all that because God chooses to do all that - for His purposes - for His glory.

Hold that thought.

Quick backfill.  We need to be reminded of what we looked at in chapters 9 to 11.  Very briefly.  Paul - writing about how God - in His sovereignty - His complete control and authority over everything - how Paul uses the Jews to bring salvation to the Gentiles and how God uses the Gentiles to bring the Jews to salvation in Jesus.  If that teaching only comes up with a blank go back and look at what’s online.

Here’s the point.  All that really levels the playing field.  Salvation not being by ethnic standing or what we do for God - earning His acceptance - but by what God chooses to do for us - Jew and Gentile.

It seems that the Christians in Rome - despite knowing what God - in His sovereignty - according to His purposes and for His glory - and by His love and mercy and grace choosing them - despite knowing all that it seems that the Christians in Rome were having a problem accepting each other - understatement.  A major division seems to have come because of ethnicity.  Possibly the Jews were stuck on the fact that they were God’s chosen people and somehow stronger or superior in their faith.  The Gentiles might have been flaunting their freedom from Jewish religious law.  Reveling in their “gentileness.”

Which came out in all those arguments about food and days that we’ve seen Paul write about.

The quotations here from the Old Testament are important not only because of what they say but because of where they’re from.  Together?  Not just what they say but also where they’re from.

Verse 9 comes from 2 Samuel 22:50 and Psalm 18:49.  Verse 10 comes from Deuteronomy 32:43.  Verse 11 comes from Psalm 117:1.  Verse 12 from Isaiah 11:10.

Paul is quoting from the major divisions of the Hebrew Bible - The Law - The Prophets - The Writings.  At the core of the Hebrew Bible - are promises made to the Jews about the salvation of the Gentiles.  Paul is  systematically using the Hebrew Bible to tell the Jews to get off of their ego trip and also to bring the Gentiles down to size.  Both Jew and Gentile have the same Messiah - Christ Jesus - by God’s love, mercy , and grace.

It doesn’t matter - Jew - Gentile - Swede - Norwegian - Mexican - Armenian - black - white - oriental - Baptist - Pentecostal - Presbyterian - E Free - or whatever line we choose to divide ourselves across.  It’s God’s grace alone that enables any of us to be here. 

Grace changes everything.  It is so hard to accept others when we struggle to accept ourselves.  But God does…  accepts us.  Us.  With all the baggage we come with.  God accepts us and so should we.  And God accepts even people who, oddly enough don’t agree with us and are full of failings and weaknesses.  God accepts them and so should we.

Paul writes, “Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.” 

Verse 13 is a prayer and a promise:  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.

In the midst of struggle and conflict and division - some of the ugliness we get ourselves into - it’s hard to imagine hope.  But Paul prays, “May God do this in your life.”  By the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit may He give you hope.  May He fill you with His joy and peace.

That’s not an empty prayer full of “religious happy thoughts” and “spiritual wishful thinking.”  Everything Paul has shared as examples for us - everything we know about Jesus - everything we read about the Old Testament saints - everything we see in God’s promises and His fulfillment of those promises - His acceptance of us - is there to encourage us to believe that He can and will accomplish these things.

Years ago I scribbled note in my Bible and I really don’t know who said this.  I wish I could take credit for it.  See if this helps.

“Fear is normal but should not keep us from being courageous.  Courage is doing the right thing while scared to death.  Courage is obedience with strength supplied by God.  Our part is asking God for the strength to take the first step.”

Isn’t that great? 

If we knew the process and path through whatever conflict or division is in front of us then the hope we’re looking at is based on our ability and not faith in God.  And let’s be honest.  Our ability and wisdom and extreme knowledge and selfish thinking is what got us here in the first.  What hope is there in that?

Courage to step forward in faithful obedience - lightening up - building up - bearing up - even if we have no clue what that may mean - that can only come as we choose to trust God.  The only real hope we have is in Him.

Choose to trust Him and we place ourselves in openness to the work of the Holy Spirit in us and through us for His purposes and His glory.  To God alone be the glory.

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Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.