accepting one another 

Romans 15 talks about accepting one another. this chapter comes after 14.

14 speaks of Paul addressing the problem between the strong in faith and weak in faith. Paul speaks of accepting them who is weak in faith.

the context speaks about not just food, but observation of days too (Romans 14:6).

verse 17 speaks about the heart of chapter 14.

God’s concern is not on what is seen, but rather, it is on what is not seen. when it comes to physical things, if a brother is doing it to the Lord, accept his faith, which is Christ, and him too.

He who behaves differently in the doing of such physical things (like food and observing days), shall not be judged, so long as his reason for doing so is for the Lord.

pls note that these physical things do not include what the Galatians were doing. they were doing it not to the Lord, but to the sinful nature.

chapter 15 opens up in an intersting way

1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

the reason you bear with the weaknesses of the weak is so that he who is weak may be built up by you, by first accepting him. acceptance makes a person to yield to words of grace spoken through you.

one famous passage of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery.

firstly, Jesus accepted her.

then, He instructed her righteousness.

being complete in knowledge

chapter 15 went on talking about this in verse 14:

14I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.

firstly, be filled with goodness is mentioned. we must first accept one another.

2ndly, before instructing each other correctly, be complete in knowledge and competency.

being complete in the knowledge is a gift from God.

Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding

Proverbs 9:10
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

wisdom is needed for getting the knowledge which is also understanding. being complete in knowledge is when you are filled by the Lord with wisdom and understanding.

being competent

gentleness in instructing a person comes unconsciously by first accepting he who is in Christ. this gentleness is the competency.

being competent is also a gift from God.

2 Cor 3:

5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

gentleness speaks of grace. Paul loves doing this: go down to one’s level (to a gentile, be a gentile. to a Singaporean be a Singaporean. to Elson, you have to be super gentle and nice – cos he is scared of authoritative tone.) HAHA. after which, Paul will instruct them with the knowledge of the Lord and bring them to repentence.

1 Corinthians 9:

21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings

summary

give weight to the hearer’s identity in Christ by accepting him 😀

yours in Christ,

Elson