Romans 15:7 - Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Message: Welcome one another
Time: Written in AD 57 from Greece, to the Christians, both Gentile and Jewish in Rome
What the Lord is Saying:
"Therefore" - what is the therefore there for? Paul follows up his prayer with a command. His prayer focused on God's work of enduring and encouragement giving people the means to live in harmony with one another, of one accord, giving glory to the Lord God through Jesus Christ. The Spirit is working in our lives, sanctifying us, confirming the believer. In the verses before that prayer we are reminded that are lives are to be lived for peace and making others more important than ourselves.
Welcome one another
Therefore, we are to welcome one another. Other versions use the word, "accept". It means literally to take to or toward. It refers to accepting the presence of a person with friendliness, to welcome, to receive hospitably, to receive into one’s home or circle of acquaintances. This is not just a verbal eye glance, but this is an action of receiving one another. It's interesting, I notice something often going on in the world. There is a fellowship that occurs in the world, generally centered around alcohol. People love to get together and drink or have a get together or party. There is a fellowship that people desire. Christians have many opportunities to do this but often do not. I know right now in my life there is very little welcoming going on with other people. There is very little hospitality or receiving people in our home. But believers are to receive one another. There is to be close bonds. We have opportunities. We could do this. We have a myriad of friends that we could see more.
As Christ has welcome you
Contrary to the world, that may come together for a drink or to share a meal, the Christian's purpose is given as Christ has welcomed you. This section of scripture is talking about more specifically welcoming each others differences. It is welcoming that people have different convictions and welcoming that we are not all the same. We tend to only align ourselves with people that are like us. There is a definite danger here because we are to have a unity in our lives.
How did Christ welcome me? Just as I am. He took me as I am. I came to him by faith, not because of what I had done, but because of who He is.
For the Glory of God
Ultimately, this is what our acceptance of one another is for: the Glory of God. Again, it is not selfish and it is not just to be entertained, but it is for God's Glory. God is to be praised in welcoming one another. And we have the power to welcome different backgrounds, different interests, different convictions, all for the reason of glorifying God in heaven.
The world has this idea that Christians are to accept people's difference and treat those differences with an "anything goes." Christians do need to welcome others, but this doesn't mean that they believe different convictions are correct.
Promise: Welcome all those who place their faith in the God-man Jesus Christ.
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