Getting Grace; Giving Grace part 2
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Romans 15:1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.
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There is a strong clear reason God has sent us His grace! Free gift? Yes! Unmerited favor? Yes! His righteousness for our sin? Yes. However when I say reason I point to purpose!
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Romans 1:5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,
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We have God’s divine influence in our life that we might walk in obedience to the faith. Romans 15 show some more tale, tale signs if we have grace. Those strong in grace bear with the sense of right and wrong of the weak. Love them in their weakness. The church has not always been strong in this area; mainly because we have not had a great enough revelation of the love and grace of God! So many times the church leadership insist on the people pleasing them. This is a sign of the leadership not being founded in the grace of God. Godly leadership will have a servants heart and long to serve people and see Christ formed in the people. Grace changes motivation and desire from pleasing ourselves to pleasing other for their good and edification.
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Romans 15:3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me."
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Paul never stops pointing to Jesus and the work performed at the cross! Jesus gave His all so that you and I could live in His righteousness.
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Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
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Paul is pointing to where the foundation of our faith is! The scriptures are sure and steadfast. It is imperative that our hearts be established by the word of His grace! God has granted us patience and comfort; with that impartation we should impart to the weak with patience and comfort.
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Romans 15:6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.
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God calls us to receive one another and to walk in unity. Genuine grace calls the body of Christ together!
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Roman 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: "For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name." 10 And again he says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!" 11 And again: "Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!" 12 And again, Isaiah says: "There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope."
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Grace reaches to the Jews and Gentiles! Grace is inclusive to all who will call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Genuine grace has no room for racism and fractions and division. When Jesus Christ is the center piece of our faith our hearts are open to see Christ formed in the whole body of believers. Jesus is the root of Jesse and He is the one who shall rise to reign over all the earth.
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Romans 15:13 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. 14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, 16 that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
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After receiving the word of grace in the entirety of which Paul has ministered here in Romans, you are able to admonish and encourage one another. Paul was calling the body of Christ to walk in sanctification by the strength grace provides.
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Romans 15:17 Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient;
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The purpose of grace can not be ignore. If you have the grace of God, you will be drawn into obedience to God. That is the nature of the grace and truth that comes through Jesus Christ.
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Roman 15:19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation, 21 but as it is written: "To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand." 22 For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you.
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It is not just the writing of Paul that declares God grace; it is the life style of Paul and his selfless efforts and sacrifice of his own pleasure that declares the truths of grace.
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Romans 15:23 But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.
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Paul loved walking in fellowship of the saints and it was proper for the church to help him on his journey.
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Romans 15:25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem . 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain . 29 But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
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Paul walked with a desire to bless and to be a blessing taking offering from one church to minister to the needs of another.
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Romans 15:30 Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
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Paul put his amen on the message to the Roman church and much of chapter 16 is greeting and yet there are a few nuggets of grace I felt God wanted me to include in grace received and grace given.
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Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
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Paul warned those who preach contrary to the grace message. Those who try to convince you salvation is by your works or those who turn you from the object of your faith must ever be in the Lord Jesus Christ, avoid them!!
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Romans 16:19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
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Here we find the second amen to the letter to the Romans. Paul shows so clearly that it is the God of peace will crush satan under our feet! Then he blesses them with the phrase “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
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Romans 16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
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Paul gives another amen with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Never forget Romans was and is all about the grace of God.
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Romans 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations,according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith; 27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
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Paul teaches that the way to be established is at the preaching of grace and the preaching of Jesus Christ. From the opening of the letter to its very last verse, Paul is preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified is the only way to our victory and strength for obedience to the faith. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be upon you all.
God bless
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