DOXOLOGY– This lesson needs to be read in the larger backdrop of the previous chapter which appeals to behavior that could easily injure the faith of believers who held specific personal convictions. Chapter 15 extends this topic, though now culminates into a grand doxological conclusion.

ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER — This phrase may be at the heart of chapters 14 and 15 (cf. v. 7); the basis for such mutual welcoming of Jew and gentile and what makes such human unity possible at all, is Christ. Paul provides us with one of those, "on one hand/one the other hand" constructs to explain his belief in Jesus as the Gift of welcoming. On one hand, he says, Christ’s coming fulfills God’s promise to Israel since by his advent he revealed God’s veracity concerning the promises made to the patriarchs—"that through you (Abraham) shall all the nations of the world be blessed." Simply put, in Christ God is faithful. But on the other hand, Christ is also the basic for welcoming for the gentiles too for by Christ’s coming he showed God’s mercy to all people so that, now welcomed through Christ, gentiles too can praise God. Simply put, God is merciful. As a result of being welcomed and accepted by God, everyone else can "accept one another" even as God in Christ accepted us.

connections

Growing up, did you ever experience offense that Paul refers to? You hold certain sensitivities from your Christian community and then run into other Christians who step way outside of your value system? What was your reaction?

How important are "rules" to you? Color outside or inside the lines?

How would others view you in relationship to your Christian discipleship? Sometimes offensive? Frequently reinforcing? Very accommodating? Flexible?

gambits

This chapter begins with the premise that Christian unity exists in Christ. How that works out and what that looks like in the community of differing individual values, opposite personalities, inequitable economics, and cultural mores is what Paul fleshes out in a specific context, but the principle being applicable to other contexts.

How can the issue of eating / drinking of that which has been offered to idols, impact our own understanding of behavior in Christian community? Though culture-specific, the discussion that Paul provides can intersect our lives—in three ways: [1]

the discussion of Christian unity can lift our vision beyond the problems we face in our individual churches to see that we are part of the larger plan of God.

the discussion helps us understand the inclusive nature of God’s love. God is after inclusion, welcome mat out, the doors and windows opened to the world.

Christian tolerance for those who reach different conclusions about faith and practice is part of God’s eschatological plan for shalom.

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[1] The three principles are the original ideas of Paul Achtemeier, in Interpretation Series: Romans (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1985), page 226.