Romans 15

1. Those of us who are strong must be be willing to carry the “sickness” of those who are weak about things like this. We do not only please ourselves.

Our love for each other should be more important than doing certain things that we want to do. It is the same way in a marriage, we say to each other, "If it makes you feel bad then I will not do it."

Paul is suggesting that Christians who can only be happy if things are done in a certain way are like people who have some kind of sickness. The original word “weak” here comes from the word for asthma.

2. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.

If it makes a problem for my brother, I will not do it. I will tell myself, "You are not a baby. You can show Jesus that you are listening to His Spirit by not doing everything your way." We cannot help someone to do what is right if we cut them off.

3. For even Christ did not live to please Himself. As David said, “The insults of those who insult You, O God, have fallen on Me.”

Paul is saying, "Be like Jesus, go ahead and let the things that offend other people fall on your back. You did not become a Christian so that you can do the things that you want to do." Psalm 69:9

I came not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 5:30

4. Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

What if God had not given us the Bible? We would have to learn everything the hard way. This is why Christians who do not make it a habit to read the Bible are often discouraged and fall into depression.

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! Psalm 42:5

5 – 6

May God, who gives you this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is correct for followers of Christ Jesus.

Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is hard for us to see why Paul kept reminding Jews and Gentiles to live together for Christ. On the one side, the Jews have been taught that the Messiah would come to get rid of the Gentiles. On the other side, the Romans had been living in a city that worshiped many gods. They could not understand why Jews did not have idols and only ate certain types of food and based their lives on an old book.

So both sides had been taught to be careful of each other ever since they were children. Paul is asking them to not look at the things they see differently, but to look at Christ together.

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will have all that He has promised. Hebrews 10:36

7. Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

God did not tell us, “Go clean up your life first, and then I will accept you." We need to take people as they are. If Jesus could accept them, then we should also. He can teach them what they need to know much better than we can.

8. Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises He made to their ancestors.

Jesus went to the Jews first because God had promised to send the Messiah to them.

9. He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for His mercy to them. That is what David meant when he wrote: “For this, I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to Your name.”

When the Gentiles saw that the God of the Jews also loved them and had mercy on them they said, "Thank you Lord! You did not give us the same promises as the Jews, so You did not have to do anything for us, but You had mercy on us anyway!" Psalm 18:49

10. And in another place Moses said, “Be full of joy with His people, you Gentiles.”

Moses is saying that there will be a time when Jews and Gentiles worship together.
Deuteronomy 32:43

11. And yet again, the Psalm says “Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles. Praise Him, all you people of the earth.”

This Psalm is saying that there will be a time when the Gentiles worship the God of the Jews. Psalm 117:1

12. And in another place Isaiah said, "The heir to David’s throne will come, and He will rule over the Gentiles and be like a flag that gathers them. They will place their hope on Him.”

Isaiah is saying that the Gentiles will put their trust in the Messiah. They will gather around Him like an army that gathers around a flag. “He will stand as a flag... “ Isaiah 11:10

13. I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

People who do not know the Lord will not have joy and peace. When a Christian loses his joy and peace he goes back to what he already knows in the Bible and the Holy Spirit rebuilds him. It is the Holy Spirit who makes the Word of God real to us.

The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. John 14:26

The joy of the LORD is your strength! Nehemiah 8:10

14 – 15

I am sure, my dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of good things. You know these things so well that you can teach each others all about them.

Even so, I have been bold enough to write about some of these things, knowing that all you need is this reminder.

Paul knows that some of his readers are able to teach. He wants to give them a gentle reminder to become even better teachers.

16. By God’s grace, I am a special messenger (like a priest ) from Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Gospel so that I might offer you as an offering to God, set–apart by the Holy Spirit.

When we lead someone to Christ, and their life is changed, we lift our hands up and offer them to God like a priest.

17 – 18

So I have reason to be excited about all that Jesus has done through me in my service to God. Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them.

Some people need to watch us for a while and see if our life proves that we really believe what we say we believe. John 14:9–11

19. They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Yugoslavia

We see that Paul did not take credit for what God was doing. There are many warnings in Scripture for those who offer strange fire and take God's glory for themselves.

20. My ambition has always been to preach the Gospel where the name of Christ has never been heard, instead of where a church has already been started by someone else.

Paul knew that it is dangerous to try to take over someone else's ministry.

Sheep won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice. John 10:5

21. I have been following the plan Isaiah spoke about where he says, “Those who have never been told about Him will see, and those who have never heard of Him will understand.”

Paul reminds them that he wants to go to people who have never heard the Gospel.
Isaiah 52:15

22 – 23

In fact, my visit to you has been delayed so long because I have been preaching in these places. But now I have finished my work in these regions, and after all these long years of waiting, I am eager to visit you.

Paul sees that he has done all that he can in the places that he has visited and cannot wait to come to Rome.

24. I am planning to go to Spain, and when I do, I will stop off in Rome. And after I have enjoyed your fellowship for a little while, you can provide for my journey.

Church history suggests that Paul did go to Spain.

25. But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there.

The book of Acts shows us the troubles of the church of Jerusalem. They would have had a hard time finding a job and taking care of their families. The church leaders there specifically asked Paul for help. Galatians 2:10

26. Because the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the believers in Jerusalem.

They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 2 Corinthians8:4

27 –29

They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Gospel from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially. As soon as I have delivered this money and completed this good deed of theirs, I will come to see you on my way to Spain. And I am sure that when I come, Christ will richly bless our time together.

The original language shows that Paul hopes that this gift will “seal" the friendship between Jews and Gentiles.

30. Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit.

The more people you have praying for you, the more power there will be in your ministry. If you are not under the covering of other Christians, and do not ask for their prayers, you will not have very much power in your ministry.

31. Pray that I will be rescued from those in Judea who refuse to obey God. Pray also that the believers there will be willing to accept the donation I am taking to Jerusalem.

The book of Acts shows us that Paul was correct in thinking there would be trouble in Jerusalem. There were Christians who still were not sure about Paul and his ministry to the Gentiles. The leaders there asked him to do some things that would show that he is still a good Jew. Acts 21:23 – 24

32 – 33

Then, by the will of God, I will be able to come to you with a joyful heart, and we will be an encouragement to each other. And now may God, who gives us His peace, be with you all. Amen.

Paul only wanted to go to Rome if it was God's will. He wanted to go so badly that we are sure he was even happy to go as a prisoner!