TAKING THE RIGHTEOUS ROAD
Romans 15:1-7

Introduction:      There are many roads in which to take in life.  For example; if you are not saved, you’re on the road to hell. If you are saved, you’re on the road to heaven. Even believers on their way to heaven can sometimes take a detour on roads against God’s will for their lives like the road of jealously or of complacency or of self-centered selfishness. I believe the Lord’s instruction in these verses before us today teach us the way of the righteous road of unselfishness.

I.          IT IS THE HARD ROAD (VV.1-4)

It is a great thing to treat others in the spirit of charity. It is a far greater thing to treat them in the Spirit of Christ! The Spirit of Christ demands we take the hard road. 3 things about this road worth considering:

            A.        A Cross-Demonstrating Road (vv.1-2)

·         Selfishness has no part in the Christian life. (Illus: we are not to continually give in to a weaker brother’s desires we are to act in a way that affects lasting benefit to him).

·         We help him carry the cross of his weakness.

            B.         A Christ-Displaying Road (v.3)

·         The Lord Jesus lived to please the Father and to serve and help man. (Illus: He died not just for the strong and steadfast but the feeble and faltering).

·         He was always going out of His way to bear another’s burden (Illus: the weak and lame; Peter, James, and John). Our excuses pale in light of the sufferings of Jesus. The spirit of Christ will make any such burdens light.

            C.         A Character-Developing Road (v.4)

·         Do we find this character-building road of shouldering the burdens of others burdensome?

·         The Scriptures are the cure. We must get back into the Book and see how God helped others over the hard places to comfort.

II.         IT IS THE HIGH ROAD (VV.5-7)

            A.        Respect For Others And Harmony In The Church (v.5)

·         What a name for God! How patient He has been with us (2 Pet.3:9).

·         The qualities that make for harmony are found in God Himself. (Illus: if only every believer would get to know the God of patience and comfort there would be no strife). The Spirit of God would prevail.

            B.         Rejoicing With Others And Happiness In The Church (v.6)

·         If believers focused more on glorifying God there would be far less time for criticism and discord.

·         Agreeing on all points may be impossible, but we should all agree (one mind & one mouth) that only the Lord is worthy to be glorified.

            C.         Reception Of Others And Hospitality in the Church (v.7)

·         God received you and me (warts and all).

·         We are to receive those who are genuinely saved.

Conclusion:       Let us beware of the spirit of self-centeredness and exclusiveness. (Illus: III Jn.10 – Diotrephes loved to the center of attention and was inflated with his own importance). We are to love one another, receive one another, treat and accept one another just like Jesus did us! When this actually happens there will be love in the house of God and love like that is contagious! People will hear about it and run to it, because it is truly lacking in the world around us!