Please One Another: The Sovereign's Glory (Romans 15:5-7)

The highest motivation a man can have is to give God glory. The reason that this is the highest motivation a man can have is because the desire to give God glory flows from a heart of love. Christians, whether strong in the faith or weak in the faith, desire to give God glory because they love Him for first loving them. This section of Scripture gives us three ways to give God glory.

First, Christians give God glory by having unity of mind (Romans 15:5). Christians are to be unified in the essentials and give liberty in the nonessentials. The nonessentials are to never be allowed to become issues over which Christians divide. Since all Christians, whether strong or weak in the faith, are in the faith, they are to be of the same mind toward one another (Romans 12:16) and their unity is to be based upon their agreement in the essentials of the Gospel. Unity of mind means that we believe the same thing about the Gospel. If we do not believe the same thing about the Gospel then we cannot have unity of mind. If we do not have unity of mind about the Gospel then we cannot strive together for the Gospel. This is why we are told to “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ...standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27). Striving together for the faith of the Gospel means that we believe the same thing about the Gospel (unity of mind) and that we are standing together defending the Gospel (see Jude 3) as the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). Christians give glory to God by having unity of mind in the Gospel and by not allowing disagreements in the nonessentials divide the church.

Second, Christians give God glory by having unity of voice (Romans 15:6). Unity of mind in the essentials of the Gospel leads to unity of voice in declaring and guarding the Gospel. When Christians have unity of mind they also have unity or harmony of voice (literally, mouth). This means that in a cliché, “We are all singing off the same page in the Hymn book.” Disagreement in the nonessentials is to never interrupt the unity of mind or unity of voice among Christians. The Gospel is God’s tuning fork for His children and it gives us unity of mind and unity of voice so that God gets the glory for His amazing orchestration and harmonization of sinners saved by His grace. Christians give God glory by having unity of mind and unity of voice in the Gospel and by not allowing disagreements in the nonessentials divide the church.

Third, Christians give God glory by having unity of purpose (Romans 15:7). Unity of mind and unity of voice leads to unity of purpose. When we are unified in these three ways, we accept one another rather than fight one another. Christians cannot stand firm against those who corrupt the Gospel when they are fighting each other. Christians are to be of the same mind, maintaining the same love [accepting one another], united in spirit, intent on one purpose [striving together for the faith of the Gospel] (Philippians 2:2). The real purpose of the church cannot be achieved if our unity is something other than the essentials of the Gospel or if we do not accept one another when we disagree in the nonessentials.

When we disagree in the nonessentials, we please one another on the basis of the Sovereign’s glory. We get back to the basics and have unity of mind, voice, and purpose for the glory of God.

Please One Another: The Scripture's Instruction (Romans 15:4)

When we disagree with one another as Christians, first of all we are to please one another on the basis of the Savior's example. Second when we disagree with one another as Christians we are to please one another on the basis of the Scripture's instruction (Romans 15:4).

The principles found in Scripture are forever relevant. The Word of God is continually contemporary. Therefore it instructs us through how God has dealt with the men and women of faith in the past and how they suffered for their faith, laid aside their liberties, and were used by God for His glory.

When we disagree with our brothers and sisters in Christ in the gray areas we are to look to the permanent principles revealed in God's continually contemporary Word so that we can be instructed from the Scripture on how to please one another.

First, when we look to the Scriptures we find that God is faithful. God is unchanging. He is immutable. He humbles those who exalt themselves and he exalts those who humble themselves. We have examples in the Scriptures of how God deals with the unrepentant in severity and the repentant in kindness. Those men and women of faith in the Bible found God to be absolutely, utterly, totally faithful. Knowing that God is faithful enables us to please one another even at the expense of our own liberties.

Second, when we look to the Scriptures we are given perseverance. We can look at the men and women of faith in the Bible and see their suffering and their perseverance and be strengthened to persevere just as they did. This will enable us to endure all things for the sake of the elect (2 Timothy 2:10). Laying aside a few liberties for the sake of God's children isn't such a big thing when compared to the suffering endured by the faithful in Scripture. God is faithful and that gives us perseverance in difficult circumstances.

Third, when we look to the Scriptures we are given encouragement. We are encouraged by the Scriptures when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances and are reminded by God's Word that these difficult circumstances are actually a sign of salvation (Philippians 1:27-29). This is to give us encouragement in Christ (Philippians 2:1-3). God is faithful and that gives us perseverance and encouragement in difficult circumstances.

Finally, when we look to the Scriptures we are given hope. The Scriptures give us certainty (biblical hope) that we will be glorified after suffering for a while for our faith. Giving up a few liberties for the sake of the elect is nothing in light of suffering persecution for the faith and yet both are working for us a greater glory than the sufferings we are experiencing (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). God is faithful and that truth gives us perseverance and encouragement and hope so that we are able to lay aside our liberties for the sake of our weaker brothers and sisters in Christ. We learn this from the Scripture's instructions.