For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.  (5) Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be likeminded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, (6) that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lod Jesus Christ.  (7) Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.  (8) Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, (9) and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:  “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name”. 

The letter to the Romans was written by the Apostle Paul.  In Chapter 15 of Romans, Paul has completed the theological body of this letter and is now – in the verses we study today – addressing the unity of the church.  The central theme here is acceptance of one another.  This was easier for the Christian Gentiles than the Jewish Christians because the Gentiles were not constrained by Jewish scruples;  the ceremonial and historical culture, spiritual and racial pride of God’s chosen people.

At issue here is the mature believer vs the weak believer – both Jew and Gentile. With the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus the Mosaic law was no longer binding on the Jews. The Jews had lived since Moses with the law and ceremonial requirements. The Gentiles had no such background. The Jewish believers had trouble letting go of the prohibitions of the past – rituals, prohibitions, dietary requirements, and the keeping of the Law. Paul is writing to urge the strong and the weak, the mature believer and the immature believer, despite differences on non essential issues, to pursue loving harmony and unity for the glory of God.

In Christ we are all connected – there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. Paul appeals to the Old Testament and the prophets to make his point that we are saved by grace through Christ, not righteous works which no man can do.  No man can earn heaven.  And we must model this acceptance to others in the church family.  The Old Testament clearly shows Gentiles are included in God’s grace – all are included who trust in Christ and together we then glorify God,