2. 1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
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Recall the Jew/Gentile context. Here the Gentiles are actually the “strong” as they were not legalistic in their approach to serving Christ.
Paul wraps up this extended discussion of the requirement for Jewish~Gentile harmony with a final call to this required unity.
Romans 15:1-13

3. 1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
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“ought” ~ action based upon the idea of debt or obligation
“bear with”
to lift (properly a heavy burden), lift up, carry; carry off.
to raise upon a basis, to support; to take up and hold, to bear; to bear or carry about as attached to one's person; hence sometimes, to wear.
Romans 15:1-13

4. 1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
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“ought”
“bear with”
“failings” ~ Literally the word (adunatos) means “weakness” or without power/ability. The context here is over~limiting Christian conduct, deeming it as wrong/sinful due to cultural constraints.
Romans 15:1-13

5. 1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
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“ought” ~ “bear with” ~ “failings”
Because Jesus has born our failings (the cross) and still bears them thru the process of sanctification, we are obliged to bear the far lesser failings and goofy notions of the brethren.
Being carried/born requires that we bear.
Having been forgiven requires that we are forgiving.
Not that there is anything about me that anyone else has to bear or forgive.
We need to lovingly tolerate each other, and perhaps even yield to them, without agreeing with weak positions.

6. 1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
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Something greater than my contentment is at stake here
Romans 15:1-13

7. 1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
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Who is my neighbor?
Oh.
Romans 15:1-13

8. 1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
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Who is my neighbor?
What about my good?
Oh.
Romans 15:1-13

9. 1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
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We are supposed to bear with others like Jesus bears with us constantly.
“But that is not fair!”
What does fairness have to do with grace and mercy.
The cross is totally about unfairness.
We must therefore treat others “unfairly”, not as they might deserve.
Romans 15:1-13

10. 1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
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Name five Biblical characters who did not have to endure?
Hebrews 12
Romans 15:1-13

11. 5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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With some folks, we need divine endurance! God already has that to deal with us!
Some of the brethren are so burdensome that we need divine encouragement to continue to deal with them.
Verses 5b and 6 ~ Do recall how Jesus relates to you and me and the endurance that this requires of him. We are supposed to relate to each other like that.
His example with his disciples.
Romans 15:1-13

12. 7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
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To take to oneself; to take one by the hand and draw them aside.
That example of Jesus toward us again.
Romans 15:1-13

13. 7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
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Gentiles, remember that your salvation is of Jewish origin.
Jews, remember the Gentiles are fully and equally included.
Romans 15:1-13

14. As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing the praises of your name.”
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These Old Testament citations hammer home the inclusion of the Gentile in the intent of God.
The Jews have no choice but to understand this and accept them as brethren of equal standing before the Lord.
Checking back to Acts 15 in 50 AD, this should not even be an issue!
Romans 15:1-13

15. As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing the praises of your name.”
10Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
Romans 15:1-13

16. As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing the praises of your name.”
10Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
11And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples extol him.”
Romans 15:1-13

17. As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing the praises of your name.”
10Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
11And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples extol him.”
12And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”
Romans 15:1-13

18. 13May 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.
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This is addressed to the blended Church, no longer considered “blended” but one body.
What is our hope in?
A non-futile life
inclusion/forgiveness/eternity
That we are not in control
Romans 15:1-13

19. 13May 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.
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This is addressed to the blended Church, no longer considered “blended” but one body.
What is our hope in?
Therefore, there is no need to thrash about.
Hope ought to be transforming us absolutely.
We know that it all turns out right.
We out to have this non-sensical joy.
Romans 15:1-13

20. 13May 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.
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This is addressed to the blended Church, no longer considered “blended” but one body.
What is our hope in?
Therefore, there is no need to thrash about.
Hope ought to be transforming us absolutely.
The conviction of the Spirit is the source of the hope.
Romans 15:1-13

21. Take Homes
7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
This will not be easy, but is required.
Passing on the Grace and Mercy given to you.
We come to Christ, each with our own personal and cultural contexts. We must each be in the process of sorting out what activities are Biblical and which are cultural/personal. We must be patient with each other as we are all in this process which cannot be forced lest we encourage the violation of conscience.
Give each other a break!
Romans 15:1-13