Romans Part 45 – Romans 15:1-8
Verse 1-4
• “Now then we that are strong” – Strong in grace doctrine having the mind of Christ.
• “ought to bear the infirmities of the weak” – Gal 6:1-3, 1Cor 13:7, 1Thess 5:14.
• “and not to please ourselves” – This is hard to do in our flesh, it takes reckoning our old man dead in Christ, and our new man alive to God – Gal 2:20.
• “vs 2” – We are to use wisdom here and not try to please our neighbor in every little thing but in those things which are for his good (spiritually) unto edification – Rom 14:19, Eph 4:29, 1Cor 14:12, 1Cor 9:19-22. Our liberty give us opportunity to minister to one another but unto God – Eph 6:6
• “for even Christ pleased not himself” – Christ as an example, not following Christ teaching during his earthly ministry – 2 Cor 5:16, 1Cor 11:1, 10:33.
• “as it is written” – Quoting Psalms 69:9 – John 6:38, Matt 26:39, Phil 2:4-8,19-21.
• “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning” – We need all scripture – 2Tim 3:16-17, Rom 4:23-24, 1Cor 10:1-12.
• “that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” – A thorough working knowledge of the scriptures produces comfort and hope. We can patiently continue in comfort and hope knowing what God has done, is doing, and will do.
Verse 5-7
• Verses 5-7 is a summary and conclusion of this section on the weak and strong.
• “God of patience and consolation” – Patience is needed for the strong and consolation is needed for the weak.
• “to be likeminded one to another according to Christ Jesus” – Phil 2:4-5, 1Cor 1:9-11.
• “one mind and one mouth glorify God” – This becomes easy when we all believe the truth – Eph 4:3-6, 12-16.
• “vs 7” – Christ again an example. He received us when we were weak and saved us by grace – Rom 5:6-8
• The mind of Christ is to receive and edify one another in the truth and doctrine and using our liberty to minister to others and not to please ourselves. Christ is the perfect example, Paul followed Christ – 1Cor 11:1.
Verse 8
• “now” – Shows he is transitioning to a new subject
• “Jesus Christ was” – “Was” means he is doing something different now – 2Cor 5:16-17, Gal 1:11-12
• “minister to the circumcision” – Luke 2:21-24, John 1:11, Matt 10:5-6, 15:24,
• “to confirm the promises” – Gen 22:16-18, 26:4 – Luke 1:67-75. Duet 18:15-18 – John 1:45. Exo 19:5-6 – Mark 1:14.
• “made unto the fathers” - Israel’s fathers -Psalms 105:6-11, Exo 3:13-15.
• It’s interesting to compare verse 8 with verse 15-16. There is a contrast.
