Help One Another to The Glory of God with Selfless Joy ⋆ Effie Darlene Barba %

Last week, we looked at Romans 14. How the strongest in the faith are not to flaunt the freedom that they have in Christ Jesus. Particularly not before those brothers and sisters who have concerns. In chapter 15 Paul expounds this idea. We are called to help one another to the Glory of God with selfless joy. Remember, our freedom is not liberty to sin. Rather, we are freed from both the chains of sin and the law. Knowing that the law could never save us, we have nothing to boast about. Only our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross and His Resurrection can save us. The Holy Spirit comes to indwell us the moment we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This as we acknowledge humbly our sin and inability to save ourselves. He guides us to become more like Jesus.

Since our sanctification is His job, I have nothing to boast of in myself. Also, I know He will accomplish the sanctification of every true believer. Whatever it takes. Therefore, it is not my job to transform another’s Christian journey, even if I wish I could. I cannot grow their faith. Only God can. I rest in freedom, leaning into the Holy Spirit to accomplish His work in me. That allows me to enjoy Jesus Christ, Glorify God the Father, while basking in a selfless love. If my faith depends wholly on Him, what can I add to that. Therefore, if I am wholly dependent on Him, I get a glimpse of the magnificence of His Glory.

That Makes Me Want to be Like Him

Jesus Christ left the splendor of heaven. He humbled Himself to come to earth to die for my sins. In all He did, He did to glorify the Father.

Jesus spoke these things; and raising His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, so that the Son may glorify You, just as You gave Him authority over all mankind, so that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on the earth by accomplishing the work which You have given Me to do. And now You, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world existed. John 17: 1-5 NASB

With selfless love, He humbled Himself to the Glory of God the Father. He taught us to help one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. All that we do should be to bring Glory to God.

God Dictated These Words to His Prophet Isaiah

This is what the Lord says:

“Heaven is My throne and the earth is the footstool for My feet.

Where then is a house you could build for Me?

And where is a place that I may rest?

For My hand made all these things,

So all these things came into being,” declares the Lord.

“But I will look to this one,

At one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at My word. Isaiah 66:1-2 NASB

Just as Isaiah fell before the throne of God, trembling at the Majesty, Holiness, Power and Splendor of God. So should we. That kind of beholding of Him, as displayed through His Word (Jesus Christ), should call us to fall prostrate before Him. Trembling at the magnitude of who He is, we cannot experience anything less than a selfless joy. That self-less joy in Him gives us the ability to bear each other’s burdens.

We Help One Another By Bearing Each Other’s Burdens

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. Romans 15: 1-2 KJV

Bearing each other’s burdens or infirmities means we get underneath that burden with them. We then help to lift the weight from their shoulders, letting the Holy Spirit guide us. Just as Christ took upon Himself our sin, our shame, and our reproach all on His shoulders.

For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. Romans 15: 3 KJV

Humanity HATES God. All the blasphemy, all the cursing against, all the lies cast against God, Jesus bore. At the same moment, reaching out in love to save those performing such acts. Paul in his zealous religious fervor prior to coming to a saving knowledge of Christ presented just that. Who could better understand this than Paul.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4 KJV

A deeper understanding of this is presented in the John McArthur Study Bible.

15:4 things . . . written before. The divinely revealed OT. written for our learning. Although Christians live under the New Covenant and are not under the authority of the Old Covenant, God’s moral law has not changed, and all Scripture is of spiritual benefit (1 Cor. 10:6, 10, 11; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21). Paul’s description of the benefits of Scripture certainly includes the NT, but speaks primarily about “the sacred writings”—or the OT (2 Tim. 3:15–17). patience. See note on 5:3. comfort. Lit. “encouragement.” The Word of God not only informs believers how to endure, but it also encourages them in the process. hope. See note on 5:2. Without the clear and certain promises of the Word of God, the believer has no basis for hope (cf. Ps. 119:81, 114; Eph. 2:12; Jer. 14:8).¹

How Can We Help One Another to the Glory of God?

Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15: 5-6

Just as Paul suddenly prayed for his readers. “the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another just like Jesus Christ. That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Yes, thank God for his patience and consolation without which I could never achieve this. He will give us that ability as well. Yes, His Patience at my insolence, pride, and stubborn desire to do things my way. His consolation when I fall to my knees knowing how dreadfully I failed Him. He is the power to perform what I cannot on my own.

Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. Romans 15:7 KJV

Jesus Ministered to the Jew and Gentile, as should we

Paul went back to the Old Testament to remind his Jewish brothers in Christ. It was foretold the gentiles would come to Christ. That had even been part of the mission to the Jewish people. They were to be a light to the world. But alas as we know they chose rather to become like the world in darkness. We are all told to bear each other’s burdens to the Glory of God. So, we must discover how in Christ.

Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. Romans 15: 8-12 KJV

Then in prayful mode, Paul once more tells us how to help one another.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15: 13 KJV

We are to help one another through the power of the Holy Spirit as God fills our hearts with ALL Joy and peace because of our faith in Him. Then we truly abound in hope which allows us to do the impossible, love our brother as our self and place them above our own self.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

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Please note: This Post only has quotes from the KJV Bible except where otherwise indicated

¹ J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

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