Receive One Another as Christ Received Us Romans 15:7

Paul the apostle prayed for the believers in Rome that, “the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus”, and he added, “That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In chapter fifteen and verse seven of Romans, Paul instructed the believers to, “receive one another, as Christ also received us” where we read:

Wherefore receive one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

The verse begins, “Wherefore receive one another, ...” Paul began with the word, “wherefore” which means “consequently, therefore and on account of this” “receive” or “take in as one's companion or by the hand with the collateral idea of kindness” “one another” which means “each other reciprocally and mutually”. Because believers in Jesus were to have “one mind and one mouth” to “glorify God”, they were to “take in” one another in the spirit of kindness.

The verse continues, “... as Christ also received us to the glory of God.” Paul added the words, “as Christ” which refers to “the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God” “also received us” or “even so and indeed took in with kindness all believers” “to the glory” which means “to the praise and honor” “of God” which means “pertaining to the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Paul referred to how Jesus “Christ”, to God's “honor and praise”, “took in all believers” in Him.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see his instruction to be like God in “receiving” one another. Anyone who has received Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord” became part of God's family, and they are to “receive one another” in the same manner God “received” them. Jesus came to “receive” everyone who will turn from their sins, accept Him as “Savior” and follow Him as “Lord”, and may all who read these words accept His open invitation.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome, “Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.