Friday, October 16, 2015

Reading through Romans-Joy and peace in believing

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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."
Therefore receive one another: Instead of letting these issues about disputable things divide the body of Christ, we should receive one another just as Christ received us - in the terms of pure grace.
As it is written: Paul quotes a series of passages from the Old Testament demonstrating that God intends that the Gentiles to praise Him. Instead of dividing of disputable matters, Jews and Gentiles should unite in Jesus over the common ground of praise.
I will confess to You among the Gentiles: The quotation from Psalm 18 describes Jesus Himself giving praise among the Gentiles.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace: The prayer and blessing concluding the section is appropriate. As God fills us with the blessings of His joy and peace in believing, we are equipped to live in this common bond of unity God calls us to.
Dear God, thank you for daily filling me with the blessings of Your joy and peace in believing!  You are so awesome!

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