Lifepoint Church
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Architect of Grace [Romans] Part 33 - The Others
Lifepoint on YouVersion. Thank you for joining us at Lifepoint this morning. Follow along with the message using this YouVersion app and see all of the notes and details from today's sermon. If you want more information about the church feel free to visit our website at http://lp.church
Locations & Times
Lifepoint Church
250 Johnston St SE, Decatur, AL 35601, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:45 AM
Intro
Paul gathers the themes and principles he has taught in Romans 12-14 together and points us to Christ as the supreme example. He shows us how to live with one another in unity, how Christ came as a servant for both Jews and Gentiles, and how God’s plan is to bring all nations together in worship.
Paul gathers the themes and principles he has taught in Romans 12-14 together and points us to Christ as the supreme example. He shows us how to live with one another in unity, how Christ came as a servant for both Jews and Gentiles, and how God’s plan is to bring all nations together in worship.
Paul identifies himself with the strong. Reminder, the strong are those with a mature understanding of Christian liberty (Romans 14). To bear with is not a call to simply be tolerant of others, but to come alongside and actively support them. It means carrying the burdens of those whose consciences are sensitive.
The goal is not pleasing ourselves but pleasing our neighbor for their good, to build them up. Christian freedom is not for self-indulgence but for self-giving love.
Paul points to Christ as our model and example. He quotes Psalm 69, a messianic psalm shows Christ bearing reproach for the sake of God’s glory. Christ gave up His rights, endured shame, and bore the reproaches of sinners. All for our salvation.
If Christ bore reproach for us, how much more should we bear with the weakness and mistakes and errors of others.
The Old Testament, written centuries before, is for our instruction today. Scripture consistently provides examples and encouragement to endure in trials and offers encouragement in weakness.
Unity and endurance in the church depend on being shaped by God’s Word.
Paul then turns to prayer as a help. If you struggle with bearing with those that are weak, or you are not sure how to use your spiritual strength, or you have a difficult time sacrificing on behalf of others, ask the Lord to help you.
Like Paul, who has been shaped and changed by the gospel, the Lord can help you in your thoughts and practice toward others as well.
Unity is not an end in itself, but unity is important, because it leads to the health and growth of the body and results in worship to the Lord. When the church, diverse and imperfect, sings with one voice, God is glorified.
The pattern we follow is as Christ has welcomed you, who did so at great cost while we were sinners and enemies. The purpose for loving, caring for, building up, and showing grace to others is for the glory of God.
Salvation has extended beyond Israel to all nations, including the Gentiles. Those who were once far off, now glorify God for His mercy shown to them as well. When diverse believers welcome one another, God is glorified.
So, we no longer view ourselves as better but see our strength as an opportunity to serve our brother or sister, as Christ has done for us.
Paul strings together four OT quotations, showing God’s plan for the nations was always foretold. The whole of Scripture is clear: God’s plan always included Jew and Gentile together in unity and worship of the One True God.
For us, it is still God’s plan to continue to bring in and raise up new believers into the faith. And our responsibility is not to look down on them because of their immature, yet growing, faith but to use our strength to build them up.
Our world is fractured by division, pride, and self-pleasing. The church is called to be different. We are called to bear one another’s burdens, to welcome one another as Christ welcomed us, and to worship together in unity.
When we do, we display the faithfulness of God to His promises, the mercy of Christ to the nations, and the power of the Spirit who fills us with hope.
Online Giving
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https://lpdecatur.churchcenter.com/giving