Obligations. Romans 15:1-6 V.1-2. Those who heard this letter read and understood its teaching, were some of those who would be considered strong in faith along with the apostle Paul. There are obligations that go along with spiritual understanding. When one is "overtaken in a fault," the spiritual ones are to seek him out and recover him. When one is burdened with the cares of life and the deceitfulness of those around him, the strong one is to draw near and shoulder that load. It is not that we are to put up with the wrong doing of others or simply say, "we will pray for you," but move alongside that neighbor, and for his benefit do what is necessary for him.
There are no specific guidelines in the Bible for some things, so those who are weak may be very cautious. It is not right to please ourselves at the expense of those whose conscience convicts the of something that is not specified. We should try to strengthen their faith by spending the time necessary to help them see biblical principles that apply to the situation. Those whose faith is strong, are charged to be people of understanding and patience when it comes to the scruples of those who are weak. The objective is that each will be built up in the faith and established in their understanding of the word of God.
V.3-4. The best example of how the strong meet the needs of the weak is our Lord Jesus Christ. Human hostility against God fell on the Lord Jesus Christ when He was here as a Man among men. He is the ultimate model for believers. Even though “He thought it not robbery to be equal with God, [He] made Himself of no reputation, and took on Him the form of a servant.” With self-denying love, He was willing to bear the curse of sin on Himself for our sake. Christ had patience with us and He expects us to have patience with each other.
The good He did for those who were hungry was simply that He fed them. Those who were outcast, He befriended. Those who were hurting, He eased their pain and provided healing. Those who had suffered losses and were emotionally distraught, He came alongside to comfort. What others should have borne; He bare. We learn in our hearts to have compassion as He had compassion for those who were "like sheep without a shepherd."
Patience was personified in the Lord Jesus and it is expected that we wait for God to work with confident assurance and trust, knowing He is the One who truly fulfills the needs of others through us when we meet our obligations. When we read the scriptures, we are comforted even in times of distress, knowing that God has a plan He is bringing to pass. When we learn from Him, we find the blessing of "hope" that is based on His promises.
The scriptures teach us how to have patient endurance, comfort and encouragement from God Himself that we might have hope in times when evil and spiritual darkness prevails. The Jews in the assembly at Rome would be encouraged by the covenant of grace of which they were now a part. They could look beyond the time of suffering and rejection to the hope of the restoration of the nation. Gentile believers who were outside the old covenant blessings, were now sharers in the blessing of salvation by grace through faith and that would have been their comfort and hope. Both Jews and Gentiles were united in the blessing of being redeemed people.
V.5-6. It is God Himself who gives to His people the endurance and comfort in our spirits that makes it possible for those who have differences to be unified in love. The strong and weak will never agree with each other in everything that arises, but we can all be unified in our praise and worship of God. Such unity brings glory to God who is faithful to His word and His people. The written Word of God reveals the character of our God that never changes. He who was patient and encouraging in the past, is the same today and enables us to be of one mind toward each other, whether strong or weak.
Even though there are differences of opinion, varying degrees of experience in the life of faith and differing gifts that may potentially cause disunity, all of the saints of God have one common purpose; we want to see God glorified and honored among His people and in the world. This desire motivates us to receive each other, not for what we get out of it, but to bring glory and praise to God. When we receive one another, it has a much higher objective than what makes me comfortable or what I want to get out of this fellowship myself. This is to be to the glory of God! What honor is given to Him when unified saints worship Him! What praise and worship in Spirit and in truth, rises to the throne of God when old and young, strong and weak, unite in holy convocation and with one voice glorify Him! What a blessed obligation!
Romans 15:1-2. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.”