Romans 15:4-13

The focus of this passage is on Jesus' acceptance of us (particularly us as Gentiles). However, the reason Paul wants to talk about Jesus' acceptance of us is because he has something he wants us to learn about our acceptance of each other. In typical Paul fashion, he doesn't get right to the point. He takes his time, builds his case, and then drops his big idea once he's defused any reasons we might have to disagree. So I'm going to insert us as his audience and then try to rebuild his case using a slightly different structure that helps to reapply his teaching:

1. Paul's assumption about our situation.

• He assumes we are waiting. Verse 4 points out that the Romans, and us, were waiting for the fulfillment of God's promises. We are today waiting for the final piece of our salvation. While Christ's sacrifice freed us from the penalty of sin, and the Holy Spirit has been given to us so that we can have victory over the power of sin, we are still waiting for Christ's return to eliminate the presence of sin around us. Sin's presence impacts our lives daily. Often we encounter suffering as a consequence of our own sin, but sometimes we also suffer consequences of other people's sins.
• It's not stated explicitly here, but we can all understand that every one has to deal with the presence of sin in different ways. We are all tempted, but some deal with more difficult and more addictive temptations. We all suffer, but some must endure much more painful and long-standing trials. We all long for something more, but for some the poverty from which their longing springs is much darker and encompassing than for others.
• He assumes we are waiting patiently. Obviously, he knows we are not always patient, but this is perhaps Paul's way of gently encouraging us to wait patiently. We don't know when Christ will make all things right, but we do have the Scriptural promises that it is indeed coming. We all need that reminder from time to time so we don't lose sight of the fact that this is not the end of the story, there is something more we are waiting for. We need to be patient in this in-between time.

2. Paul's formula for patient waiting.

• The easiest way to wait patiently, is to focus on others. Paul says it is fitting that followers of Christ live in harmony with each other. If we are pursuing harmony with our brothers and sisters, our focus will no longer be on ourselves. Sometimes, when I'm really hungry, I need to stop thinking about food. As long as I'm focused on my hunger and the food I'm waiting for, it only grows worse (even as I type this, my stomach growls). But when I start focusing on tasks I need to accomplish, people I need to contact, and anything else; eventually, I discover that the hunger has subsided. As we wait for Christ to make things right, we must move our focus away from how the presence of sin is kicking our butts, and focus instead on living in harmony with our brothers.
• A simple way to think about living in harmony is to remember the "Three S-Words of Christian Community". These are based on the example of Christ:

1. Submit -- What I WANT is not very important to me.
2. Sacrifice -- What I HAVE is not very important to me.
3. Serve -- What You NEED is extremely important to me

• Later, Paul suggests that the best way to pursue harmony with each other is to accept one another. This is really where Paul wanted to go. He desperately wants to see the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians accept one another. He sees divisions in the church that are keeping people from living in harmony and keeping people from waiting patiently for the Lord's return (because they are so focused on themselves). He recognizes that the solution is for the Jewish Christians to accept the Gentile Christians and for the Gentile Christians to accept the Jewish Christians.
• Acceptance needs to be more than just a recognition of the existence of others. Paul sees acceptance as a willingness (and a desire) to be united in worship with others. The sign that these Christians were accepting one another was that they were willing to worship God together. (vs. 6)

3. Paul's Reminder of Christ's Work

• Jesus came for the Jews to fulfill the promises God made to their ancestors. Therefore the Gentiles shouldn't scoff at the Jewish tradition, but should recognize how rich they are because Christ made it all real.
• Jesus came for the Gentiles so that they could be included in the family of God. Therefore the Jews shouldn't force them to be second class citizens or to conform to traditions that were not meant for them.
• By citing several psalms that refer to the day when Gentiles would be united to God, Paul makes it clear that this was not just some secondary plan or afterthought, but that all along it was God's plan to make the Gentiles his own.
• Most importantly, knowing that Jesus submitted himself to the Father by becoming human and sacrificed himself on the cross so that he could serve us should be all the motivation and example we need to accept one another, pursue harmony with one another and worship together so that our focus will be right and our waiting will be patient.

Concluding Thoughts: If the presence of sin is kicking you around and you are having a hard time waiting patiently for Christ to reveal Himself, you may need to get the focus off yourself and on to others!