Sunday Romans 15:7-13

Unity in the church matters greatly.

Click here for an online Bible. Romans 15:7-13

Paul’s concern is for unity within the church of Rome. There was a lot of potential conflict between the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians. They came from such different backgrounds that conflict was very likely.

Paul uses several quotes from the Old Testament to show them that the situation in which they find themselves is what God had intended all along. He chose the Jewish people to be His special community, but He had always intended to include all nations into the community.

Neither group should feel superior or inferior. They were all called by God to respond to the gospel. The mission was superior to their cultural backgrounds. They were now called to unity in Christ.

Sometimes our church backgrounds get in the way of unity. We are so sure about the “right” way to do things that we often lose sight of the mission that Christ has given us. We have to see beyond our culture (especially church culture) to see what Christ has called us to be and called us to do.