Kingdom Life
Romans 15:1-7
The church at Rome spent a good bit of energy arguing on whether Christianity was a practice of restriction or freedom. Although the objects of the argument may have changed, people still wrangle over restrictions and freedom today.
We must realize that the devil is prowling looking for an opportunity to ignite divisions among the church. There are an untold number of ways that division can disrupt or halt the ministry and mission of the church.
Jesus understood that arguments and divisions would be one of our issues so he focused much of his final prayers on the unity of his followers.
11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (John 17:11, 20-23 ESV)
MeadowBrook must allow the prayer of Jesus to wash us of arguments and divisions. Etowah County must know that we are people of God who are unified in Jesus Christ. We must each protect and build unity! Unity in the church reveals the work and presence of God and disunity reveals the work of the devil.
1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:1-7 ESV)
Our obligation in life
Like all people, we were spiritually destitute, morally bankrupt and without hope before the Lord rescued us. Even in our new life in Christ, we still find ourselves with weaknesses—we do things that we don’t want to do and we fail to do what we ought. Yet, God remains with us and his promises remain ours to free us from the body of sin. What we have experienced in Christ Jesus, who came to us in our spiritual brokenness and stayed with us in our spiritual weaknesses, we are now obligated to demonstrate to others. (See Romans 15:1-2)
God’s desire for all of us is to grow strong in faith, in grace, in our understanding of the Bible and in the Lord. It is going to take discipline, but God is giving you the means and the power to grow strong spiritually.
Many people at The Brook have spiritual strength and maturity. God has a directive to each of you who are spiritually strong—you have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak.
Bearing means to pick up and carry the load of someone else. It is a continuing thought in the book of Romans. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love…. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. (Romans 14:14, 19, 21 ESV) This means that if the spiritually weak, those who do not understand the freedom that is theirs in Christ Jesus, abstain from something as a way to honor God, then we who are strong in faith should forgo our freedom and carry the load with them.
Our lives are not meant to be lived to please ourselves. Our lives are meant to be focused externally and lived for the fullness for others.
This idea is so anti-American culture, which is established on the principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our citizenship in the kingdom of God forces us to rethink the American dream and way.
Our source of living
Paul points out the two great sources for this kind of living—Jesus Christ and the instruction in the Bible.
[Jesus] 7 emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:7-8 ESV)
Jesus came not to please himself, but to please and honor the Father by coming to us in our sin and to rescue us.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13 ESV)
Once we determine to follow the steps of Christ Jesus, laying down our lives (our desires and even our freedoms) for the good of others, then God empowers us with the Holy Spirit to be conformed in the image of Christ.
This was evident in many narratives throughout the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23 ESV)
The source of power for this kind of living is the Holy Spirit and the source of instruction is the Bible. The Holy Spirit will use the Bible powerfully to transform your thinking, your purposes, your motives and your words and actions.
The results of a faithful life
We will live in harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus. This kind of church is a beautiful glimpse into the glory of heaven and into the kingdom of God.
We will with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
