Romans Part 6: RESPONSESample

Acceptance

When I was four years old, my parents, my sister, and I moved from San Francisco to South San Francisco to a community of new homes in a neighborhood called Winston Manor. All the neighbors were first-time homeowners and most of the husbands were World War II veterans. We all became good friends and visited each others’ homes daily. The neighbors on Byron Drive accepted each other even though we had different backgrounds and names. There were the Garcias, the Jenkins, the Guerras, the Hillgroves, the Barbarattos, the Thigpens, and the Ainsles. All the children of these families went to El Rancho Elementary School together because it was just one block from our neighborhood. We were family.

Then, after a few years, a new family or two would move into the neighborhood. At first, there would be curiosity and questions: “What are they like? Could we accept them?” In the end, they became a part of the neighborhood family. They were accepted.

This is similar to what Paul is saying in the passage from Romans 15. Gentile Christians should accept Jewish Christians just as Jewish Christians were expected to accept Gentile Christians. Paul commands them to accept one another, especially since Christ has welcomed them. This acceptance of fellow believers, whether they are strong or weak, Christian Jew or Christian Gentile is "for the glory of God."

The passage continues with Paul quoting passages from the Torah, the Psalms, and the Prophets in which God calls for the Jews to include the Gentiles. Then, Paul ends the passage by writing:

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." v. 13.

-Libby Cross