Christ made us acceptable in the presence of God, though we did not deserve it. In light of this, we should accept one another as we are, Gentile or Jew. Christ came to earth to be a servant to the Israelites, to prove that God keeps His promises to His people, and to bring salvation to the Gentiles. There are many Old Testament prophecies that tell of the Gentiles praising God.
Paul returns to the principle stated at the beginning of this chapter, accept one another just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. Righteously living by faith looks like bearing each other’s weaknesses, accepting one another, and following Christ’s example.
Jesus Himself came down to earth so that we could be accepted by God just as we are, as Paul notes in this passage. Yet again, he uses the Old Testament to show God’s great mercy to all peoples, as we see here, the Gentiles were prophesied to praise God for His mercy. Paul quotes Psalm 18:49, Deuteronomy 32:43, and Psalm 117:1. Christ met sinners where they were, and spoke truth to them, giving them the choice to put their faith in Him. We, as believers, are encouraged to accept one another in the same way, just as Paul wrote at the beginning of this chapter (verse 2), Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. In accepting and pleasing one another, our goal is to help each other grow in faith and character. We challenge each other to become more like Christ. This is what living harmoniously looks like, and it glorifies God by demonstrating the love of Jesus in action – accepting those who are not acceptable.
In this chapter, Paul references Christ multiple times as an example to follow (verses 3, 5-8). He explains that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers. Christ came down to be a servant to the Israelites (the circumcision) to fulfill all that God had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The original promise God made to Abraham included the promise that in him “all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). Those of us who are the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy because He extended mercy to all humanity, who are all weak in comparison to God, and because He has brought us into His grace. This acceptance was accomplished through Christ, who was a servant to both Jews and Gentiles. Christ is our example of how to accept one another.
Paul quotes Isaiah, admonishing the Gentiles to praise God because of the mercy extended to them. As it is written,
“Therefore I will give praise to You among the Gentiles,
And I will sing to Your name.”
Again he says,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”
And again,
“Praise the Lord all you Gentiles,
And let all the peoples praise Him.”
Paul’s gospel of faith leads to one purpose in the end of this letter: the glory of God. God is glorified when we accept one another, when we serve one another, and when we thank Him for His mercy. When we behave this way in our daily living, we demonstrate the love of God to others.
Biblical Text
7 Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. 8 For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, 9 and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written,
“Therefore I will give praise to You among the Gentiles,
And I will sing to Your name.”
10 Again he says,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”
11 And again,
“Praise the Lord all you Gentiles,
And let all the peoples praise Him.”
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