Romans: Discipleship

In Romans 14, Paul addresses the tension between believers who differ on secondary matters of conviction—specifically, what they eat, drink, or days of observance. He calls them the “weak” and the “strong,” not to divide them, but to teach them how to live in love. The “strong” understood their freedom in Christ, while the “weak” were often shaped by their past religious backgrounds and still wrestled with certain restrictions. Paul’s message concerning religious liberties must always be guided by love for the weaker believer. The Christian life is not defined by personal liberty or preference but by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit—the true marks of God’s kingdom.
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As Paul moves into chapter 15, he continues this theme by urging the strong to bear with the failings of the weak and to follow Christ’s example. Jesus did not please Himself but served others for their good, and His followers are called to do the same. Unity in the church flows from this kind of selfless love. Paul desires that the church in Rome—and by extension, all believers—would live in harmony, “so that with one mind and one voice” they might glorify God. In this way, the church becomes a living picture of the kingdom of God, marked not by pride or division, but by shared grace and mutual encouragement.

Romans 15:1–2

Paul opens chapter 15 with a practical call to action: “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.” The question naturally arises—what should the strong do? And what is their responsibility toward the weak?

1. Be considerate of those who are sensitive or weak in faith.
The strong in faith may be tempted to use their maturity or confidence to dominate or control others, but such behavior is spiritually destructive. Paul tells the stronger believer to bear with—or be considerate of—the one who is still growing in faith and may be easily influenced. The goal is not to manipulate or prove superiority but to walk in patience and gentleness. Christian strength is not measured by how forcefully we express our convictions, but by how graciously we treat those who don’t yet share them.

2. Be selfless
The call of discipleship—and especially of those strong in faith—is a call to the Kingdom of God, not the kingdom of self. Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve. When He calls us to take up our cross and follow Him, it is an invitation to selfless living. It is a declaration of surrender: “Lord, I want to serve You. I want to live for You. I have dreams and desires for my life, but I want You above all else.” This kind of selflessness extends into our relationships with others. Our treatment of those weaker in faith reflects whether we are serving Christ’s kingdom or our own.

3. Help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.
Paul’s instruction is not a call to people-pleasing but to genuine spiritual encouragement. The “strong” believer “walks in love” when he or she “pleases” rather than “pains” the “weak” believer (cf. 14:15). Love seeks the other’s spiritual good. Paul says the goal of pleasing others is “to build them up.” This means encouraging them in faith, strengthening their walk with Christ, and promoting unity in the body. The “good” of one believer contributes to the health of the entire community. When one member grows, all are strengthened. When one stumbles, all are affected. Thus, our actions toward the weak either build up or tear down the church.

Romans 15:3–4

Paul then answers the question: Why should we be sensitive to the weak and not seek to please only ourselves?

Because Jesus did not seek to please Himself.
He gave Himself for others in obedience to the Father. Philippians 2:7–8 captures this beautifully: “He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a servant and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”

Paul also quotes Psalm 69:9, which demonstrates Christ’s refusal to live for His own comfort. “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.” Jesus so fully identified Himself with the will and glory of the Father that the rejection meant for God fell upon Him. Paul may be subtly reminding the “strong” believers that their small sacrifices—such as refraining from certain foods or practices for the sake of others—pale in comparison to the suffering Christ endured for our salvation.

Paul also takes this opportunity to affirm the ongoing value of the Old Testament. Though believers are no longer under the law, Scripture remains essential for teaching, encouragement, and hope. He writes, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” The Old Testament still instructs us in righteousness, revealing the character of God and the nature of His promises. It strengthens our faith and gives us endurance as we await the fulfillment of God’s plan in Christ.

Romans 15:5–13

Paul’s teaching culminates in this section with a prayer for unity among believers. His argument unfolds around three central truths.

1. Because we are united in Christ through worship.
Christian unity is ultimately unity in Christ. He is the center of our fellowship, and the closer we draw to Him, the closer we will draw to one another. Paul prays, “May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.” The purpose of this unity is not merely social harmony—it is worship. “So that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” True unity always results in praise. When believers love one another across differences, the world sees a reflection of the reconciling power of the gospel.

2. Because we are accepted by Christ.
Paul echoes his earlier command in Romans 14:1, “Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.” Now he expands the call: “Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Acceptance is not about agreement on every issue—it’s about grace. Christ accepted us while we were still sinners, and now we are called to extend that same grace to others. Both the strong and the weak, Jew and Gentile, are welcomed into the family of God because of what Christ has done. Our unity, therefore, is not built on shared opinions but on shared redemption.

3. Because Christ was a servant to all.
Paul reminds his readers that Christ first came as a servant to the Jews “to show that God is true to the promises He made to their ancestors.” He fulfilled the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, offering salvation to Israel as the promised Messiah. Yet, Paul also emphasizes that Christ came for the Gentiles “so that they might glorify God for His mercy.” Through His death and resurrection, Jesus tore down the dividing wall of hostility, uniting Jews and Gentiles into one body. What was once separated by law, culture, and history is now reconciled through grace.

To affirm this truth, Paul cites four Old Testament passages—all highlighting Gentile inclusion and unified worship:

• 2 Samuel 22:50 — David praises God “among the nations,” showing that even Israel’s king envisioned God’s glory extending beyond Israel’s borders.
• Deuteronomy 32:43 — Moses calls the nations to rejoice with God’s people, celebrating divine mercy that reaches beyond one nation.
• Psalm 117:1 — A universal call: “Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples.”
• Isaiah 11:10 — Isaiah prophesies that “the root of Jesse” (the Messiah) will rise to rule the nations, and they will place their hope in Him.

Through these texts, Paul demonstrates that God’s plan of redemption has always been global. Christ is the fulfillment of this plan—the hope of both Jew and Gentile, the Savior of all who believe.

Paul closes this section with a beautiful benediction in verse 13:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Here, Paul gathers the main themes of his message—hope, joy, peace, faith, and the power of the Spirit. He knows the church at Rome faces potential division, yet he prays that their shared faith will overflow into confident hope. When believers live in this Spirit-filled unity, they become a living testimony to the world of the transforming power of God’s kingdom.

Conclusion
As we reflect on Paul’s teaching about relationships between the strong and the weak (Romans 14:1–15:13), it may seem distant from our modern setting, yet the principles remain deeply relevant. Paul presents two values that apply to every church in every generation--faith and love.

First, everything must be done from faith. Each believer must live in accordance with their conscience, shaped and educated by the Word of God. We are called to grow strong in conviction and liberty, grounded in trust that God’s grace is sufficient.

Second, everything must be done in love. Our liberty must never be used to wound or belittle another believer. Those who are strong in faith must serve those who are weak, remembering that each brother and sister is someone for whom Christ died. We honor, not despise them; we build up, not tear down; we respect their convictions even when we do not share them.

A wise guideline has often been repeated in the history of the church:
“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”

In matters of essential faith—those truths revealed in Scripture—we must stand firm. But in secondary matters, love must prevail. Faith informs our conscience; love respects the conscience of others. Faith grants liberty; love governs how we use it. When the people of God live this way—strong bearing with the weak, all walking in humility and grace—the church truly reflects the beauty of Christ’s kingdom on earth.

 

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