The Dividing Wall Torn Down | Romans 15:8-13

Introduction: What seems unmistakable to me, when we come to verses 8-13 of Romans 15, is that the matters of conscience that threatened the unity of the Roman church, was a divide that largely existed between Jews and Gentiles. The welcoming of one another that must exist (vs.7), was an acceptance between Jewish and Gentile Christians. It would not have been true in every case, but in most cases, those who were strong in faith were Gentiles, and those who were still tied to OT dietary standards, and OT special days, were Jews who had come to faith in Jesus as Messiah. What Paul now means to show, is that what he is praying for, and what their obedient decisions would fulfill, is the very purpose for which the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world. Jesus was born, and lived, and died, and was raised from the dead, to save a people for God. He came to form one new man made up of both Jews and Gentiles. A redeemed people who will come from every tribe, and language, and people, and nation. *To pray that believers will glorify God together with one voice. *To command that believers welcome one another as they have been welcomed by Christ. Is to know, and to care, about the purpose for which Christ’s precious blood was shed. HE DID NOT DIE FOR US TO BE DIVIDED FROM OTHERS WHO WERE PURCHASED BY THAT SAME BLOOD. HE DIED TO MAKE US ONE. To say it another way, when we live in unity, and glorify God together in worship, we are giving expression to the Father’s answer to His own Son’s prayer. ESV John 17:11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. ESV John 17:22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, Christ’s prayers never go unanswered. We are not TRYING to be one. We ARE one in Jesus Christ. The question is whether we are living together in a way that expresses that unity? The truth given to us here is quite simple. It is not complicated. But embracing this truth and living it out is of utmost importance and should prove to be a profound motivation for unity in the Lord’s church. How can we not care about what our Lord came to accomplish? • THE UNITY ON DISPLAY IN CHRIST’S MISSION (vs.8-9a) I say this is simple, and here is why. In verse 8, Paul writes about what Christ’s mission meant for the Jews. • CHRIST’S MISSION REGARDING THE JEWS Jesus was a Jewish man. He came to fulfill the promises made to the Jewish fathers. The promises were made to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. There were also promises made with respect to Moses and David. TAKING DAVID AS OUR EXAMPLE: Jesus of Nazareth is the very one who fulfills the promise of a descendent of David who will sit on his father’s throne forever. ESV 2 Samuel 7:12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'" ESV Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. ESV Luke 1:30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Jesus is the fulfillment of those promises and many others. And His coming was a SERVICE to the circumcision (the Jews). It speaks of all that He was willing to do to fulfill God’s salvation promises given to the fathers of that people. THIS CONFIRMED GOD’S TRUTHFULNESS THIS CONFIRMED GOD’S FAITHFULNESS