Romans 15:4-7

A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 105 Chapter 15:1 - 13

“Be Christ Like.” - Part 1 15:4 - 7

By Pastor Randy Johnson

1. Verse 4 - 5 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (5.) Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:”
1. The scriptures were written for our learning; without a doubt everything we understand and believe doctrinally absolutely should be scriptural.

a. 2 Peter 1:20 – 21 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (21.) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

b. Probably be the greatest sin of today is ignorance of Gods word. There is a difference in believing what some man teaches and what Gods word teaches.

c. The greatest teaching in Gods word is salvation; God says you think you have eternal life; the scriptures are proof that you do. John 5:39 “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

2. In verse 5 we are commanded to be more like God; patience and consolation.

a. Patience means – endurance – and consolation means – solace or cheerfulness in times of trouble.

b. This is who God is; it is His very nature, and the prayer here is that this God grant us these images that we also may have unity in Christ.

c. Unity is impossible without these to attributes.

d. 2 Corinthians 1:2 - 4 “Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (3.) Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; (4.) Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

e. Romans 12:16 “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”

f. 1 Corinthians 1:10 “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

3. “…grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:”

a. The word “grant” has a very wide application in which it is used, although here it should be used as to meaning - to give, to bestow, or to deliver up to – therefore it is used in a sense that it is a gift from God.

b. The only way a church can be in unity and without division or in strife is to be likeminded to God.

c. John 17:21 - 23 “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (22.) And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: (23.) I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”

d. 1 Corinthians 1:9 - 10 “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (10.) Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

2. Verse 6 “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1. This is the will of God; “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God…” Acts 4:24 “And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:”

a. Some must set their differences aside, (the eating or not eating of meat) and just worship the Lord. We cannot in unison worship God if there is not some compromise on the little things because we are all going to believe something different.

b. Jesus prayed for this church unity; John 17:20-23 "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; (21.) That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (22.) And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: (23.) I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."

2. No good comes from schism among the brethren. 1 Corinthians 12:25 "That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. (26.) And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. (27.) Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
2. Verse 7 “Romans 15:7 “Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”

1. Not with major differences but with minor differences. Let’s not forget this goes back to the meat thing. This is not a reference to Baptist and Catholicism worshiping together this will never happen while we are on this earth.
2. Matthew 10:40 "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me."
3. However this does include the weak brethren.