Romans 15:4-13 The verses before our text deal with congregational life when we don’t agree with one another about things not addressed in the Bible. In these cases we are forbidden by God from standing in judgment over one another and questioning one another’s faith. Instead we are commanded by God to bear with one another in love.
These Spirit-inspired words about congregational life still matter today. It would be foolish to expect that hundreds of people in a congregation from diverse backgrounds and experiences will always agree with one another. It’s simply not going to happen this side of heaven. And so the counsel and command of God still stands: do not judge one another but bear with one another in love.
But how do we do that? Where do we find the spiritual resources necessary to live in peace and harmony with one another in our congregation when we disagree? That is what we hear from God’s Word tonight. The Bible says that:
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.
I want to give you two word pictures that I hope will help you understand what the Bible is talking about when it comes to endurance and encouragement.
First of all, picture a weight lifter holding a barbell above his head. The weight is pressing down on him but he is determined to hold it up. That is the meaning of the word endurance—the strength to bear up under pressure that weighs us down.
Now think about a long trench full of soldiers in WWI. Bullets are whizzing over head, bombs are raining down. The soldiers are scared to death. But there in the trenches with them, running up a down the lines, is an officer who is calling upon them to be brave and do their duty. That is the picture behind the word encouragement.
Endurance and encouragement are the spiritual resources that we need when it comes to our life together in the congregation—especially when there are disagreements.
We are bound to one another by a common confession and faith-- but that doesn’t mean we are always going to agree with one another about every little thing. There are going to be difficulties and disagreements that weigh down upon us like a barbell that we have to hold up. We need to be encouraged to love one another and bear their burdens.
Endurance and encouragement are going to be needed so long as we are in this world and Paul says that we can count on God giving them to us. They are spiritual gifts that come through hearing his Word so that we can grow in Christ-likeness and live in harmony with one another. The Bible says:
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus…
The scriptures which give endurance and encouragement come from the God of endurance and encouragement. The God who inspired the words of Scripture is the same God who empowers our life so that we can live in harmony with one another.
The word that Paul uses there for harmony means like-minded—in other words: we think about things the same way. But isn’t that that the very problem so many congregation have with one another—that the members don’t see things the same way?
That is why Paul adds those important words: in accord with Christ Jesus. In other words, it is not so much that we think about things the same way among ourselves-- but we make sure that we are thinking about things the same way as Jesus Christ.
The true measure of Christian harmony is not just that we get along with one another—there are plenty of congregations and church bodies that get along with one another because they have abandoned the standard of the Bible and no ones cares. In those places, their unity and harmony is an offense against God.
What does matter is that our harmony as a congregation comes from being united by Jesus Christ—his word and will having the final say in all that we say and do.
Where he has NOT spoken, then it is his love that is to be evident in our lives as each of us endeavors to put others ahead of ourselves—willingly laying aside our personal preferences for the good of our brothers and sisters. The Bible says that we are to live in harmony with one another so that: together we may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When there is division and discord among Christians what the world hears is not a united voice of praise to God or a common witness to the goodness of Jesus Christ--but what they hear instead are the complaints of one Christian against one another. Griping and complaining does not serve to glorify God or extend the saving mission of Christ.
Instead, we should follow the example of Jesus Christ and treat our fellow Christians as Christ treats them. The Bible says: Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. And so the question is: how did Christ welcome us? Just as we were—spots and wrinkles and blemishes.
He reached out to the woman caught in adultery- and ate dinner with Zacchaeus- and made a place for disciples who would fail him in his hour of need.
Our congregation becomes Christ-like when there is a place in our midst for people who don’t look like us or sound like us—people who have different experiences or perspectives from ours—people from a different place in society.
If Christ has welcomed them into God’s family by faith- we are to welcome them and make a place for them in our congregation. This is why Christ came to earth—not only to reconcile us to God-- but to reconcile us to one another. The Bible says that:
Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,
When Adam and Eve sinned it not only wrecked their relationship with God-- it wrecked their relationship with one another-- and not only for them-- but for all their descendants down to the folks sitting in these pews this evening. But Christ came to reconcile all people to himself and all people to one another.
That reconciliation was a promise that God made first to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and then renewed again and again with his ancient people Israel. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—Moses and David and the prophets-- all knew this promise of reconciliation-- and in the fullness of time God kept his promise and sent his Son who was born of the Jews to save the world.
God’s faithfulness was proved beyond any doubt in his gift of a Son whom the Bible says become a servant of the circumcised—that is the Jews.
Just think of the graciousness of God in that statement! The people who abandoned the Lord—the people who in large measure stopped looking for the Messiah—were given the gift of a Savior who would bring them back to God by his sacrifice on the cross—forgiving their sins and giving them life by his resurrection. And not only for them-- but for the world. The Bible says that Jesus also came:
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."
God the Father sent his Son into the world to show his faithfulness to his covenant promise to his covenant people, the Jews. But from the very beginning, God intended to save all people.
The messiah would come from the Jews but he would be for the world. He was sent so that we too might glorify God—so that we too can rejoice in God’s salvation—so that we too can know his wise rule and live with him forever.
What are our their petty differences compared to our unity in the Lord who always had in mind the desire and purpose and plan to save us and unite us into one body of his Son Jesus Christ? What are our disagreements compared to the unity we have as fellow believers in Christ?!
The encouragement and endurance we receive from God through his Word is the power we need to get past differences that don’t matter and turn our eyes of faith to the future and the eternal life we will one day share with one another. The Bible says:
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.
Just as the God of endurance and encouragement gives endurance and encouragement to his people-- so does this same God of hope give hope to his people. We don’t have to wonder or worry about what the future holds for us or for our congregation because the joy and peace we have right now as God’s children-- will also be ours in the future.
The same Holy Spirit who has brought us to faith and made us a part of Christ’s body in this place will continue his work among us, drawing us ever closer to one another so that we may, with one voice, glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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