Romans 15:4-5
4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. NKJ
Devotional
Patience and comfort is what every believer finds in God and His Word, because of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion death and His resurrection from the dead, and our trusting Him to save us. Patience is also what we find through the Scriptures and God’s promises in them for us. Since it is through the Living Word of God that we now also live. Whether here on earth as sojourners, or as a Body of believers spiritually alive and united to God, and each other, through Jesus Christ the Lord by the Holy Spirit. We have God’s patience both extended towards us, and exemplified through us, as we embrace and live out His promises for us.
It is for that reason that we must strive to be both patient, and like-minded towards each other, according to Christ Jesus. Now this being like-minded is in Christ Jesus; that is, it is a like-mindedness of our mutual faith, in our mutual Savior, through the saving grace of God through Him. Therefore it is not a like-mindedness in our own personal likes and dislikes. The Bible is very clear that the unity of the Spirit is not the end of our personal preferences on an innumerable number of things. In Rom. 14 the Apostle Paul warns about judging other believers on all such matters, whether observance of specific days, foods or fasting etc. since none of these commend us to God (vs. 1-13). Thus each follower of Jesus Christ is allowed to hold their own convictions on all, and any none-essential matters. That is a apart of the easy burden and light yoke Jesus Christ offers all people; freedom to practice ones faith in Him; to have a personal relationship with Him; without fear of alienation from Him, because of one's personal convictions on all non-essential matters.
Problems arise though when believers make their own personal convictions, or the traditions of faith that they’ve grown up under, and instead of enjoying these things freely, make these apart of our mutual faith’s essentials. Sometimes going so far as to separate themselves from other believers based on these things, and thus not on legitimate Biblical grounds. Now when that happens there is not only a willful rift in the unity of the Spirit that should not exist, there is also exemplified an unfitting and unsound zeal for God, as Apostle Paul warns about in his Roman epistle, which is not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Rom. 10:3-4
Now this misguided zeal maybe based on Old Covenant food statutes, or Sabbath observances, or denominational traditions born out of the commandments of men; and thus not according to the traditions the Lord Jesus Christ instituted, and the Biblical Apostles appointed for us. None of which commends the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to the grace of God through the New Covenant and the liberty found there (2 Cor. 3:17; Col. 2:20-22). Therefore we are warned about keeping the commandments and traditions of men, which only undermines Christ’s commandments and impedes both the unity of the Spirit and the grace of God towards all (Matt. 15:8-9; Rom. 4:4-5; Gal. 4:9-11; Eph. 4:1-6; Col. 2:20-22). For there can be no returning to the traditions of men, or the Law for a righteous standing before God the Father (Rom. 3:19-28; Gal. 2:19-21; 4:21-31; 5:1, 4-5; Phil. 3:7-9). For when that happens believers invariably forget to leave no room for the reconciliation of repentant sinners (Luke 18:9-14). “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.”
Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. NKJ
Devotional
Patience and comfort is what every believer finds in God and His Word, because of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion death and His resurrection from the dead, and our trusting Him to save us. Patience is also what we find through the Scriptures and God’s promises in them for us. Since it is through the Living Word of God that we now also live. Whether here on earth as sojourners, or as a Body of believers spiritually alive and united to God, and each other, through Jesus Christ the Lord by the Holy Spirit. We have God’s patience both extended towards us, and exemplified through us, as we embrace and live out His promises for us.
It is for that reason that we must strive to be both patient, and like-minded towards each other, according to Christ Jesus. Now this being like-minded is in Christ Jesus; that is, it is a like-mindedness of our mutual faith, in our mutual Savior, through the saving grace of God through Him. Therefore it is not a like-mindedness in our own personal likes and dislikes. The Bible is very clear that the unity of the Spirit is not the end of our personal preferences on an innumerable number of things. In Rom. 14 the Apostle Paul warns about judging other believers on all such matters, whether observance of specific days, foods or fasting etc. since none of these commend us to God (vs. 1-13). Thus each follower of Jesus Christ is allowed to hold their own convictions on all, and any none-essential matters. That is a apart of the easy burden and light yoke Jesus Christ offers all people; freedom to practice ones faith in Him; to have a personal relationship with Him; without fear of alienation from Him, because of one's personal convictions on all non-essential matters.
Problems arise though when believers make their own personal convictions, or the traditions of faith that they’ve grown up under, and instead of enjoying these things freely, make these apart of our mutual faith’s essentials. Sometimes going so far as to separate themselves from other believers based on these things, and thus not on legitimate Biblical grounds. Now when that happens there is not only a willful rift in the unity of the Spirit that should not exist, there is also exemplified an unfitting and unsound zeal for God, as Apostle Paul warns about in his Roman epistle, which is not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Rom. 10:3-4
Now this misguided zeal maybe based on Old Covenant food statutes, or Sabbath observances, or denominational traditions born out of the commandments of men; and thus not according to the traditions the Lord Jesus Christ instituted, and the Biblical Apostles appointed for us. None of which commends the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to the grace of God through the New Covenant and the liberty found there (2 Cor. 3:17; Col. 2:20-22). Therefore we are warned about keeping the commandments and traditions of men, which only undermines Christ’s commandments and impedes both the unity of the Spirit and the grace of God towards all (Matt. 15:8-9; Rom. 4:4-5; Gal. 4:9-11; Eph. 4:1-6; Col. 2:20-22). For there can be no returning to the traditions of men, or the Law for a righteous standing before God the Father (Rom. 3:19-28; Gal. 2:19-21; 4:21-31; 5:1, 4-5; Phil. 3:7-9). For when that happens believers invariably forget to leave no room for the reconciliation of repentant sinners (Luke 18:9-14). “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.”
Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
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