Receiving One Another in Christ
Pastor Tan Thai · Apr 30, 2023
This sermon emphasizes that the church is a gathering of sinners and therefore will experience disagreements and conflicts. The Apostle Paul devotes extensive teaching in Romans 14-15 to guide believers how to receive one another when they differ on non-essential matters such as food and observance of days. Rather than despising or judging one another, believers must receive each other as Christ received us, with love and forbearance.
The first section presents the context and challenge facing the church. When Christ ascended to heaven, He left His disciples three things: Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and the church. Among these three, the church is a gathering of sinners, so disagreements, offenses, and errors are inevitable. The Apostle Paul devotes extensive teaching (36 verses from Romans 14:1-23 through 15:1-13) about how believers should conduct themselves toward one another when they disagree, especially in his letter to the church at Rome. This demonstrates Paul's deep concern for this issue and its importance in church life.
The second section analyzes the problems causing disharmony and the wrong ways of addressing them. Two main issues are food (some believe one can eat anything, others eat only vegetables) and observance of days (some view all days as the same, others regard certain days as special). Some believers want everyone to follow the Law of Moses and condemn those who disagree, withdrawing from those who do not share their convictions. Paul acknowledges there are both weak believers (lacking knowledge or strong faith) and strong believers (possessing deeper understanding or greater freedom). However, the error of both sides lies not in their different beliefs but in their attitudes: the weak condemn and accuse; the strong despise and look down on others. Both replace Christ as judge rather than allowing Him to transform lives.
The third section reveals the correct solution: receiving one another in Christ. The word "receive" (proslambano) in Romans 14:1 means to draw near, open one's arms in welcome, and accept as a friend. Paul reiterates this in 15:7 by using Christ as the model—He received us when we were sinners and alienated from Him. Receiving does not mean agreeing with wrong thinking but accepting the person in error and helping them mature. Paul teaches three principles: focus on essential matters (proclaiming the Gospel and teaching Scripture) rather than peripheral issues; surrender personal freedom for the sake of weaker brothers and sisters (as Paul himself renounced apostolic rights); and accept and edify one another instead of condemning or accusing. The church becomes strong when both the strong and the weak learn respect, forbearance, and love for each other for God's glory.
The fourth section applies the message to the modern church. Although the specific issues (food and days) differ today, the biblical principles still apply to other disagreements (styles of worship, dress codes, Bible translations). It is crucial to distinguish between essential matters (believing the Gospel) and non-essential matters (details of conduct or lifestyle). The saying "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all, charity" summarizes this spirit. The church's primary purpose is not to change one another's character but to proclaim the Gospel and teach Scripture—the work of the Holy Spirit. The strong in Christ must willingly yield and seek reconciliation. Those with serving gifts in the church must surrender personal freedom to minister to others—just as a skilled cook should not criticize poor cooking, or a skilled person should not mock clumsy work. Finally, believers must realize that their living or dying is not for themselves but for the Lord, so they must live to serve God and love their brothers and sisters.