Sermon Notes - Romans 15:7-13 - Littleby Baptist Church - June 22, 2025

1.        Paul has continued to build on how we are to care for other believers.

a.        Thinking about how our actions impact them.

b.       How it is part of our loving them.

c.        Helping them draw nearer to our God.

d.       Helping them to grow in their faith.

2.        Those who are strong in their faith are to not be a stumbling block to others.

a.        But all believers, those who are mature in faith and those who are new in their faith.

b.       Are to put others first.

c.        We are to lift up our fellow believers.

d.       Building them up.

e.        This is something all of us can do.

f.          Whether we have been a Christ follower for one day or for 50 years.

g.        We all have something to give to each other.

h.        A way of encouraging.

i.          A way of blessing.

j.          Something each of us can do to help another believer.

k.        A way of serving others.

l.          A way of loving others as we have been commanded to do.

m.     A way of loving as we follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus.

3.        As Paul writes this, he is writing to The Church.

a.        To those who have been transformed.

b.       To those who have been renewed.

c.        To those who have put their faith in Christ.

d.       They may be at different stages of their walks with Christ.

e.        Some are weaker and some are stronger in their faith.

f.          But each one is a child of God.

g.        A follower of Jesus.

4.        We are going to see some of the same themes as we continue.

5.        Romans 15:7

a.        The Holy Spirit through Paul is setting a very high bar here.

b.       He is telling the Roman church to accept each other as Christ accepted them.

c.        Pause – As Christ accepted them…

d.       A very high bar.

e.        So, what does that look like?

f.          To be accepted by Jesus their sins would be forgiven, so we need to be forgiving.

g.        We know they are a child of God, so they are family.

h.        They are welcomed with open arms.

i.          They are loved.

j.          There would be no division.

k.        It would not matter what a person’s background was.

l.          What they looked like.

m.     Or what they brought to the table.

n.        They would be welcomed, accepted, and loved.

6.        Welcoming someone as Jesus would welcome us, is a high bar.

a.        I would say that it might be more challenging than loving others as we love ourselves.

b.       Loving as we love ourselves is measuring ourselves to a human level.

c.        Welcoming as Jesus has welcomed us, is measuring to Christ’s level.

d.       We can try our best, but we will not measure up.

e.        We have our preconceived opinions.

f.          We prejudge people.

g.        We let frustrations get the better of us.

h.        Even as Christ followers, our sinful nature gets in the way of us welcoming others as Christ welcomes us.

i.          Thankfully our Lord forgives us.

j.          And we can try again.

7.        When we can look past all of that stuff.

a.        When we can get out of the way.

b.       When we can actually welcome others with none of that garbage.

c.        God is glorified.

d.       It is a high bar to strive for.

e.        But on that rare occasion when we do achieve it.

f.          Our God is glorified.

g.        It is amazing.

8.        Romans 15:8

a.        God became a man.

b.       Born a Jew as God’s Messiah for Israel.

c.        With two purposes.

d.       One was to fulfill the promises made to the Patriarchs.

e.        Genesis 12:1-3

f.          The ultimate blessing that will come through Abraham was Jesus.

g.        Jesus fulfilled that promise when He was born to Joseph and Mary.

h.        This was the first purpose.

9.        Romans 15:9a

a.        In Romans 11 we studied about how the Gentiles were grafted in.

b.       How God’s mercy allowed them to be added into the family of God.

c.        How we through the death and resurrection of Jesus we can be redeemed.

d.       Through our faith in Him we become part of His family.

e.        A gift of grace and mercy that we do not deserve.

f.          One that we are to give God all the glory and honor for.

g.        That was the second purpose.

10.   One thing we should note here.

a.        Paul is pulling the Jews and Gentiles together in God’s work.

b.       Jesus became a servant not for one or the other.

c.        But for both.

d.       And we are to welcome one another… not just those who are like us, but all believers.

e.        Jesus came for both.

f.          He fulfilled both purposes.

11.   Romans 15:9b (as it is written)

a.        Paul is quoting David when he had triumphantly defeated gentiles.

b.       People who did not believe in the one true God.

c.        When he successfully subdued them.

d.       It is believed Paul is using this quote to point to how Jesus, through His death and resurrection was triumphant.

e.        Triumphant in bringing gentiles, you and me, into submission.

f.          In doing so, they and us turned to Jesus and praise Him for the mercy He has shown us.

g.        Every person created will recognize Him as Lord and Savior at one point in their lives.

h.        Jesus is the only true Lord of lords.

i.          Every knee will bow.

j.          Every tongue will confess.

12.   Romans 15:10

a.        This time Paul is quoting Deuteronomy when Moses was calling for everyone to praise God.

b.       Jew and Gentile alike.

c.        At a time when many of the Gentiles likely would not have praised God.

d.       Israel was about to move into the promised land.

e.        The Gentiles did not know God.

f.          But now, through Jesus.

g.        Through what He did on the cross.

h.        Through His love.

i.          His sacrifice.

j.          His resurrection.

k.        The Gentiles in Paul’s day.

l.          Those in Rome.

m.     Those of us sitting here today.

n.        Can know our God.

o.        Can praise our God.

p.       Can join in the singing the praises of the One and Only God.

13.   Romans 15:11

a.        Coming out of Psalms.

b.       The Psalmist is calling the gentiles to praise God.

14.   We are seeing a trend here.

a.        Paul is using the OT to point to the Gentiles to praise God.

b.       He is trying to help connect the Jewish and Gentile believers.

c.        Helping them welcome each other as Christ would welcome them.

d.       All in order to bring glory to God.

15.   Romans 15:12

a.        Pulling from the prophet Isaiah this time.

b.       The root of Jesse will appear, some translations will say arise.

c.        Pointing to the descendent of Jesse… Jesus rising from the dead.

d.       He will rule the Gentiles & the Gentiles will have hope in Him.

e.        Paul is helping everyone at the Roman church see that their faith is connected.

f.          The Jewish believers need to accept the Gentiles as they are worshipping the same God.

g.        The Gentiles need to embrace the Jewish believers as the OT Scriptures foretold what they were experiencing.

h.        The OT scriptures that pointed to the Jewish Messiah and the Jesus that the Gentiles are worshipping are one and the same.

16.   As renewed and transformed believers.

a.        They needed to welcome each other.

b.       They needed to sacrifice for each other.

c.        To put each other first.

d.       A lesson that is true for each of us still today.

17.   Romans 15:13

a.        The God of Hope.

b.       The Hope, which is what we have knowing that we as followers of Jesus have a perfect eternity with Him.

c.        May our God fill us with His Joy.

d.       A Joy that is not based on our situation.

e.        Our Joy is based on knowing that we are His.

f.          A joy that is due to the fact that He loves us.

g.        May we also be filled with His Peace.

h.        A Peace that is not limited to our own understanding.

i.          A Peace that is not something that we can reason.

j.          A Peace that is greater than any turmoil that we may be facing.

18.   May our God of Hope fill us with His Joy and His Peace as we believe in Him.

a.        As we trust in our God.

b.       May our Hope in Jesus have no limits.

c.        As the Holy Spirit works in us.

d.       As He molds us.

e.        As He shapes us.

f.          As He continues to transform us and renew us.

g.        Helping us to live by faith.

h.        Growing our faith.

i.          Guiding us.

j.          Showing us how to welcome one another as we walk this earth.

19.   From what we have seen the last several weeks.

a.        It is God’s desire that believers work together.

b.       That we are one.

c.        That there is no division amongst us.

d.       That our backgrounds do not divide us.

e.        That we are united in purpose.

f.          That we come together to glorify our God.

g.        To help each other grow.

h.        To lift each other up.

i.          For us to grow as disciples.

j.          And ultimately to reach the lost.

20.   It starts by us drawing near to our God.

a.        Being purposeful in having heartfelt conversations with our God.

b.       Intentionally spending time in His Word.

c.        Committing to coming together and helping each other grow.

d.       Beyond that…

21.   If there is anything in you, that is preventing you from approaching fellowship with Christ followers in unity.

a.        As welcoming others as Jesus welcomed you?

b.       Ask God to show you what needs to change.

c.        If it is in you.

d.       Do you need to have a conversation with another.

e.        Ask for wisdom.

f.          Let the Holy Spirit guide.

g.        Then step out in faith.

22.   If you do not know Jesus.

a.        If you would like to know how much He loves you.

b.       If you would like to be forgiven of your sins.

c.        To be redeemed.

d.       I would love to talk with you.