Bear With One Another | Romans 15:1-13

In Romans 15:1-13, Paul continues his teaching on Christian unity and addresses how we should respond when fellow Christians have different convictions, opinions, and consciences.

Rather than pleasing ourselves or judging those who think differently, Paul calls Christians to bear with one another, build one another up, and pursue unity. The ultimate example is Jesus, who did not please Himself but willingly carried our burdens.

In this lesson, we explore:

•  What it means to “bear” with our brothers and sisters 
•  How Christians can disagree without dividing 
•  Why we should build one another up rather than judge 
•  How Jesus is the ultimate example of selfless service 
•  The role of Scripture in giving us endurance, encouragement, and hope 
•  What it means to live together in harmony and with “one voice” 
•  Why our unity ultimately brings glory to God 
•  How our hope in Christ helps us endure our differences 

📖 Text: Romans 15:1-13

Paul's message is simple but challenging: we don't have to agree on everything to be unified in Christ. Because Christ bore our burdens, we can learn to bear with one another.

“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.” — Romans 15:13 

Transcript

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SPEAKER_00 0:03

Good morning. We don't have a clicker up here, so if someone has one, just bring it here and I'll borrow it from you. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_01 0:18

I'm so glad you guys are here. It's always good to just come together and to worship God and to now study his word. If you have your Bibles, let's turn over to Romans chapter 15. Romans 15. We are almost done with this sermon series in Romans. Just this Sunday and next Sunday. Today we're going to focus on Romans 15. Look at that this morning and tonight. And then next Sunday, we'll finish with Romans 16. But this morning we're looking at verses 1 through 13. And we're going to, before we finish off this chapter, verses 1 through 15, throughout Romans 14, and now as he goes into Romans 15, if you can't tell, Paul is very passionate about them being unified. And so as we dive into these verses, the first half of Romans 15 is really just a continuation of Paul's point from Romans 14. This is almost like a Romans 14 part two. It's just a continuation of his argument here, his thoughts. How do we deal with matters of opinion and conscience? To recap, let's look at Romans 14 real quick and just look at verses 1 through 3 so we understand some of the context. Romans 14, 1 through 3. As for the one who is weak in faith, so he introduces weak in faith, not weak in because of sin, but weak because of a conscience. Welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains. And let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats. For God has welcomed him. And that's how he's going to end our section in Romans chapter 15. In the church, there are matters of opinion. People have opinions. That was true then, and that is true still today. There are things that people are comfortable with that others just are as comfortable with. I want you to think of this though. I want you to think about this issue because if we look at Romans 14 and we look at Romans 15, I want us to see it actually from a positive lens. Because we're seeing this, because these are issues, it means that they're not just spending a couple hours a week with each other. If they were just spending a couple hours a week with each other, they were only seeing each other on the first day of the week, then these things really shouldn't matter. What someone eats or what days they think of are important really shouldn't matter. What someone's eating, drinking, all these things, if there's if it's done in their private homes, well, it's done in their private homes, right? Well, Paul says, well, no, not exactly. And this is what I want you to see is that Romans 14 and Romans 15 are in this book, and they're in this this book of Romans for a reason. These are issues because they are unified, and that's a good thing. Paul tells us, if you look at Romans 14, you look at verse 20, he says, but I don't want you. He's urging them, I don't want you to split over this stuff. He says, Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. We can tell that they know each other pretty well. And that is a good thing. When I look at Milwaukee, we have a family here and we know each other very well, and that is a good thing. They know what they eat, they know what they drink, they know what they do in their everyday lives, and that's good. Now, granted, they're probably hanging out a lot, they're probably fellowshipping with each other often, not just a couple times a week, maybe every day, maybe several times a week, we don't know. But they know each other intimately, they're close and they're unified. And Paul doesn't want these things here to be an issue in which they divide. And so he's urging them not to do that. And we shouldn't want that either. So you can look at these chapters as really a good thing about our unity and how close we are. The closeness that we have is a great thing. How do we deal with and connect with those of a different conscience? And this is where Paul begins Romans 15. He lets us know how we can do this. And this is really the thesis, the main idea I want you to walk away with, and how he opens up this chapter. He says, you can bear with one another. Romans 15, verse 1. We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak. So he introduces the strong and bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. We have an obligation, we have a duty, we have a responsibility, he says, to bear. Now, does that mean we have an obligation to put up with? Some translations will say that. The NRSV will say put up with. And I don't think that's very accurate when you look at the context, when you look at the heart of what Paul's trying to say, because he's going to bring up Christ as an example of why we bear with our brothers and sisters. It's not that we do so begrudgingly or because we have to. Jesus didn't go to the cross because he's like, well, I guess I have to. He went to the cross because he loves us. He bore the sin because he loves us. He realized it's what he had to do. We have to bear, it says. And so when you look at the definition of that, that word bear means, you can see it on the screen, it's to actually take up. It's to help carry. It's going the extra mile to carry the failings of the weak, he says. Now, failings is also a strong word because it can sound like moral failings, but that's not what we're talking about, right? If you look at the context of Romans 14, it's not that the weak are a weak in sin, but in conscience. I think other translations do a better job at this if we compare real quick at showing us the unity that we should be seeing in these verses, especially when you look at the Greek and you realize that word failing is just the root noun for the word weak. And so you could read it that the strong ought to bear with the weakness of the weak. And that's why you have the new American standard saying, now we ought who are strong to bear the weakness of those without strength and not just please ourselves. The CSB is very similar to this. The King James Version says they add or translate that word failure to scruples. Notice that we who are strong ought to bear with the scruples, and scruples just means that there's some doubts and there's some things that I'm just uncomfortable with. We need to bear with. So Paul is saying, look, if you're the stronger, if you're the stronger conscience, you don't get to do whatever you want. You don't get to please yourself and look down on your brothers and sisters. You don't get to do that. Paul is saying, if you're the stronger conscience, the stronger brother, I need you to be the stronger brother. Not just in understanding, not just in intellect. I need you to be the stronger brother in practice as well, to actually take up, carry, and take on the qualms and the scruples of the stripter brother. Take it on as if it's your own. Now you might be asking, but why? Why would I do that? Paul tells us in the next verse, Romans 15, verse 2. He says, For their good, let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up. Building up. You can see there is to encourage, to edify. It literally means to build a structure. That is the idea. We're spiritually building each other up. Romans 14, verse 19 will even tell us that it's for mutual upbuilding. And this is where in my studies I came to something that was groundbreaking and trying to understand why do we bear with the weak? The reason the strong are carrying the scruples of the weak, it's for their good. But how can we expect anyone? Think about this. How can we expect anyone? If we're carrying the burdens of the weak, how can we expect anyone to grow under the weight of judgment and feeling inferior? We can't. We are to grow together and we're to help our brothers and sisters, and he says in Romans 14, not to judge them, we need to grow together. And they can't grow. Brothers and sisters cannot grow under the weight of our judgments. We need to bear with them. How could we ever earn our salvation by ourselves on our own merit, on our own will, if Jesus didn't take on the burdens of being human himself? Carrying the load of the weaker brother actually helps our brothers and sisters grow. Often when this happens, they can see clearly how their ideas and their convictions often fit on others. It acts as a mirror almost. But here's the thing: when we bear with the weaker, it creates a deeper relationship. And that's the idea because we're talking about unity, a real relationship. That's what we should want with our brothers and sisters, where we can have conversations and ideas can be discussed without fear of judgment. I can tell you, I am much more willing to listen to someone who bears with me than someone who from afar judges me. I think that's true for all of us. This is how we please our brothers and sisters for their good and their growth, building them up. Paul says, this is what Jesus did. The idea is like we're following the example of Christ. Romans 15, verse 3. For Christ did not please himself, but as is written, the reproaches of those who reproach you fell on me. Now he's quoting Psalm 69, which fun fact is the second most quoted Psalm in the New Testament. But I read this and I can't help but think of the sacrifice that Christ made for us, for you, for me. And that should motivate. That should be enough motivation for us to carry the burdens of the weak. That should be enough motivation. Did Jesus get punched, scourged? Did he have to carry that cross up Calvary, that burden, and take on your sin so you can look down at your brother and say, I don't really want to carry their scruples. No. He took on sin and carried that burden. And if that's the case, then it should be ridiculous to think that you can't help your brother with their burdens. Because in comparison, it is nothing. What Christ did should be enough motivation for us to do the same. Jesus didn't please himself. Neither should we in that sense. He wanted to see people grow. And even throughout his ministry, he told us that. He says in Mark 10, 45, that even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to what? But to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Luke 22 is another example. Luke 22, verse 27, for who is the greater? The one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? He says, But I'm among you as the one who serves. And Philippians 2, one of my favorites, verse 7, says Jesus emptied himself, taking on the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. If Jesus became a servant, we could do the same. I think sometimes the reason we are unwilling to carry the burdens of the weak, as Paul said in verse 1, is because we are afraid that we might get stuck with that burden. And this happens sometimes in church, where someone with a maybe a stricter view on something takes that burden and abuses it and uses it against others and dominates their brothers and sisters. And that is not Romans 14, verse 19, mutual upbuilding. It's not where he says, So let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. The strong and the weak build each other up together. We need to look within and ask, what is my motivation? And he shows us that. You want to look at Romans 14, verse 6, we need to ask, are we doing things unto the Lord? Are we doing things in honor of the Lord? Or is it just so I can get my way and please myself? What I love about the scriptures though, and what's encouraged me is I studied Romans 14 and 15, is that the wisdom of God prevents a lot of these things if we just follow what he says here. We follow what he says, then we can continue, even though we disagree, we can continue in fellowship and unity, and that is the goal. But here's the thing: how do we grow then as Christians if we're to grow together? He says in the scriptures. Romans 15, verse 4. For whatever was written in former days was written for our what? Our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures, we might have hope. So now that the stronger brother here is helping the weak, he's taking on that burden. That's a good thing. He says, Let us be unified, let us grow together. How do we do that? Through the instruction of scripture. That means we actually have to learn from scripture. The scripture actually helps us endure and encourage. It helps us build up in a way. Because think about it, if the stronger are helping carry that burden, they probably need some endurance. And if the weaker there are worried and they have some scruples, then they probably need some what? Some encouragement. We both do. We all need endurance and encouragement. We get that from the scripture. The scripture, you see, can help us and providing tools for growth and for unity. But that means we have to be open to what scripture teaches. We should, to the best of our ability, filter even our personal convictions and opinions through the lens of scripture. But the thing is, even though we may disagree, even though some may be stronger and some may be weaker, we all have the same hope. We all have the same hope. We may go to the scriptures for endurance, but through endurance and through the scriptures, we have hope. Through the encouragement of the scriptures, he says, we have hope. We all go to the scriptures, but we all go to the scriptures with the same hope. And that hope is that we will be with Christ. You know, Zach made a great point in class that the way we can get through the how is often if we know the why. And Paul is telling us that. Like, this is our hope that we get to be with Christ. He is our King. I think a great example of that that encourages me is in Revelation, if you want to turn over there, Revelation chapter 7, that gives us a picture of our hope as we all as Christians stand before the throne of God here. Revelation 7 paints a beautiful picture of unity. Revelation 7, verses 9 through 12, where it says this after this I looked and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, right, Jew and Gentile, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne, and before the lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, to Christ. And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders of the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom, and thanksgiving and honor and power and might to be our God forever and ever. Amen. That hope, which we read about in scripture, should encourage us to endure the trials of just mere opinions that we may have. At this point, though, in the text, if we go back to Romans 15, Paul begins to change his tone here. He shows us his prayer, what he's been praying, what he wants from them, as if he's talking to God here, and he connects what we get from Scripture. That encouragement, that endurance that we get from Scripture, well, the reason is because Scripture comes from God. We get it from God, he tells us. Verse 5, Romans chapter 15, verses 5 and 6 say, May the God of endurance and encouragement, right? That thing you get from Scripture comes from God. Grant you to live in such harmony with one another, an accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He's showering them with blessings there. And I love how at the end here he's beginning to paint for them a picture of what unity looks like, even though they may disagree. What he's been saying since Romans 14 is leading to this. What you read comes in the scriptures, comes from God. And we need often endurance, we need encouragement that comes from God that's gonna keep us in harmony, he says. But you might be thinking, what's the point of all this? Like, why not just surround myself with people who think like me? Wouldn't that be much better, much easier? So much easier to do that, right? But the problem is that is self-serving. What did Paul tell us earlier? Not to please ourselves. I shouldn't have to think this, right? I shouldn't have to deal with people who just have these silly ideas. But the answer is there in verse 5. Everything we're doing needs to be in accord with Christ Jesus. Like if Jesus is our king, and he's king over this person, he's king over you, he's king over me, and we're all trying our best to serve him, then I'm gonna serve with my brothers and sisters. Because we're all serving God. I can disagree, and that's okay. But they are my brothers and sisters whom I serve God with together. Notice a few words though that he uses to paint this picture of unity. He says harmony and with one voice, right? I hear those words and I'm picturing just a song, right? Where we're singing, we're together. Even if someone may be singing out of key, we're still, that includes me, right? Often, we're still together. This is what we're doing here. With one heart, we are creating harmony. And when we do that, when we do that, we glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we are unified. And so he says, let us be willing to welcome people that we may even disagree with. Why? Because Christ welcomed us while we were still sinners. Look at verse 7. He says, Therefore, therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God. This is how Paul begins to end his section here by reminding us that they had some disagreements. They had to deal with, and he's going to show us here, that they had to welcome even the Gentiles. Christ welcomed the Gentiles. You can do the same. And so we might look at our culture and look at some examples today of where we as Christians may have divided over some silly issues. But when you look at what they had to deal with and bringing together Jew and Gentile and merge completely different kinds of lives and ways of lives together, and to do that in harmony, that was challenging. But they could do that even though they disagreed because of who they served. Look at verses 8 through 9, and this is where he doubles down on the scriptures where I tell you that Christ became a servant, a servant to the circumcised, the Jews, 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. What is to think about that for a second? Because when we think that our brothers and sisters are wrong on this issue, right? They have the wrong idea about this. We should be able to, no matter what, even though we disagree, not think like that, but realize that we can stand together on God's truthfulness. Because what God says is true. This is what Christ demonstrated. This is why we're told in verse 8, he became a servant to show the Jews God's truthfulness. That everything the scriptures have been talking about, this Messiah, you can see in me. You know that Messiah that you're looking for? Jesus says it's me. That king that you're looking for that connects the world, that connects divisions, that connects Jew and Gentile, that that is me. That king that is bigger than your opinions, your preferences. That king that connects the strong and the weak and gives you the endurance and the encouragement to do so. That's me. That's Jesus. And this is so the Gentiles and all Christians can glorify him because the church should be unified. And when we are unified, we glorify God together. And this is where he gives us four examples. He just nails it down. And he says, here's four Old Testament passages that show the truthfulness and confirm what we all see in the scriptures, the hope that we really have. We can go and read through those. Look at verses 9 through 12. As it was written, Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles and sing to your name. There's the idea of praise. And again, it says, 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, and there's that idea of hope. In him will we hope. That keeps me going. The hope of God that fills us with all joy and peace. Because if we didn't have that hope, a hope of a resurrection that we read about this morning, the hope that we are adopted as sons, if we didn't have that hope, that the quarrels and the things that we may bicker over, the scruples that we may have, if those things are not overcome when Christ returns, then we might as well give up. But our hope is in Christ, and so we endure. Knowing that God sets all things right, our convictions, our opinions that we may have today don't matter when we stand before God and his throne. He is the God of hope, so that we can abound in hope. And that hope helps us stay a unified church. That hope helps us continue in fellowship with joy and peace, even though we disagree. We can put joy and peace first. So the main idea when you look at Romans 15, 1 through 13, that Paul wants you to understand is that as Christians, we are to bear with our brothers and sisters, bear with them and their weakness. And to help them, actually help them carry that. Carry those convictions, even if you disagree, because what Christ did for us, He did it for us, we can do it with our brothers and sisters as well. Now, maybe you're not a Christian, though. Maybe you're not a Christian, and if you're like me, you're probably wondering why should I be a part of something where I have to deal with difficult people? Right? I think that's a fair question. When you look at the world, the world is full of people who disagree, it's full of separation and division and divorce. It's full of hopelessness. There's no hope. I think a better question to ask is if you're not a Christian, why should you continue to be a part of a world that encourages division? Well, I don't dis I disagree with this person, I don't agree with them on everything. Well, I'm just not gonna do anything with them. Why should I be a part of a world that actually encourages me to dispose of people I disagree with? So my encouragement to you, if you're not a Christian, is actually take the harder, more rewarding road and endure with people. Encourage people and actually serve Christ because Christ did that for you and bore your sins. And if you want to be baptized and come out with newness of life, you can do that this morning and be a part of his family while we stand and we sing.