God's Faithfulness and Mercy
Thinking about Romans 15:7-13.
Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name.”
And again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”
And again: “Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!”
And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:7-13)
After reminding the Christians in Rome to be likeminded toward each other with the mind of Christ, and to be of “one mind and one mouth” in their praise of God, Paul urged them to “receive one another.”
Both groups - the “weak” and the “strong;” the Jewish and Gentile Christians - needed to receive one another as brethren in Christ. Jesus had received them all to the glory of God, so who were they to reject one another when Christ had received them?
Then, with both the Jews and Gentiles in mind, Paul describes something Jesus did for each group that emphasizes something about God.
What Jesus Did for the Jews Emphasizes God’s Faithfulness.
Paul wrote Jesus became “a servant to the circumcision” - a common way Paul referred to the Jewish people (Philippians 3:3) - for “the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers…”
Jesus came to this earth (Philippians 2:5-8) to show God’s faithfulness to His promises to the Jew’s forefathers (Genesis 12:1-3; 2 Samuel 7:12-16).
Jesus is the truth (John 14:6) and it is the truth that will set us free (John 8:32). What Jesus did shows God’s faithfulness to the truth, and to keeping His promises to people like Abraham and David.
What Jesus Did for the Gentiles Emphasizes God’s Mercy.
But also, what Jesus did shows God’s mercy upon the Gentiles so that they might glorify God. And Paul pointed to several Old Testament passages to remind the Jews of this point.
“For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name” (2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49).
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!” (Deuteronomy 32:43).
“Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!” (Psalm 117:1).
“There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope” (Isaiah 11:1, 10).
It was always God’s plan for Jesus to come to earth for both the Jews and Gentiles - the gospel is for all (Romans 1:16-17). In doing this, Jesus demonstrated God’s faithfulness to the truth and His mercy.
These passages are yet another example of how Jesus is the “full explanation” of the Father (John 1:18).
God is faithful to His promises and is willing to extend mercy to all people. And Jesus shows both of these things to be true.
And so, Paul urges both groups - Jews and Gentiles - to receive one another in Christ, and to be filled with and abound in the joy, peace, and hope that comes from God.
