The Example in ROMANS 15

By Michael Griego on January 3, 2025 • ( 0 )

Christians say they we should all try to act like Jesus. Is this even possible? Is it even still relevant? Interesting to see what the Apostle Paul actually says about this in the BOOK of ROMANS. ◊

It’s almost trite to hear people say that we should all be like Jesus. Even the somewhat passe question of yesteryear “What would Jesus do?” sounds today almost too simplistic for our modern sophisticated society.

But is it?

It’s common for Christians to say that they should all try to act like Jesus. Is that even possible? Is it even relevant today?

Fresh on the heels of Jesus’ time on earth, it’s interesting to see what the Apostle Paul actually said about this in Chapter 15 of the BOOK of ROMANS in AD 57.

I, and many others, would strongly maintain that it is still quite relevant. But just in a way that most people don’t think.

Love and Instructions for All
After laying out how Christians should behave relative to our governing authorities in ROMANS 13 [We should legally submit unless asked to violate God’s law], and how we should behave relative to those with differing opinions in ROMANS 14 [we should practice kindness, grace and respect], Paul is still Christ-focused as the model of behavior for all of us.

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. (Romans 15:1-4)

That is, we should endure as Christ endured, as taught in the Scriptures.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5-6)

So that in unity of mind and voice, we [Christians, made up of former Jews and Gentiles] bring glory and praise to God. And in doing so, we may overflow with hope by the power of the Spirit of God.

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.”

Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”

And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.”

And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:7-13)

It Really is About the Mission
Paul is very encouraging here to the Roman Christians (again, made up of Jews and Gentiles), but also clearly laying down a firm message: his role is in preaching the news about Jesus to the Gentiles.

I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:14-16)

And Christ did the work. All that Paul did was via the power of the Spirit of God. Paul was the obedient vessel. His coverage was from Jerusalem to what is today Albania, north of Greece (Macedonia), due east of Rome – over 1,000 miles.

Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written:

“Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”

This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you. (Romans 15:17-22)

Then On to Spain
Paul was tirelessly on a mission. He was to pass through Rome on his way to Spain. But only after returning to Jerusalem to deliver funds raised in Macedonia for the poor in Jerusalem. He made it back to Jerusalem, but never to Spain.

But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. The God of peace be with you all. Amen. (Romans 15:23-33)

Yes, the mission was to preach about Jesus, our Lord God and Savior, the model (or example) of love, peace. servanthood, strength, encouragement, unity, and steadfastness, and truth.

And Paul was the mere messenger. But what a messenger he was – a model (or example) for us of everything Christ-like via the power of the Holy Spirit of God.

When we read the letters of Paul, we see a man who did what Jesus would do. But not for his own or other’s benefit, or to make the world a better place, but rather for the purpose of glorifying God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And that is still the very relevant objective of anyone who would claim the name of Christian.

Are you a model or example of Christ-likeness like Paul?
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I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. – Romans 15:18-19