The Unity of the Roman Church

This is a paper I wrote for my Romans class during my sophomore year during the Spring semester in 2012. This paper was written for Dr. Neil Nelson. The assignment dealt with reading the entire book and recording the instances of Jew and Gentile action within the Roman church. It is easy to see that Paul wished to see the Jews and Gentiles live in harmony with each other, and all other believers, as well as those outside the church and those in government. This is what Christ Himself taught, and what all too many Christians forget. If God is Love, then we are to love as He loved. So let's live like we ought to. I believe that the portions of the book that Paul writes on in unity all come back to a theme of the Gospel.

Unity of the Church

United through the Gospel

1:13 fruit among gentiles and Jews; 1:16 for the Jew first and also for the Greek – Paul sought to gain fruit from the Jewish believers in the surrounding churches in the area near him just as he also hoped to see fruit abound in the Gentile believers. This stated desire was a precursor to his confessions later in the book. He is most assuredly an apostle to the gentiles. That does not keep him from showing a desire to see that his countrymen are saved and growing in the faith and knowledge of Christ that he has become so fond of in devoting his life to. The Gospel does not work periodically with specific races. Because the Gospel went out to the Jews first does not mean that it no longer saves them, nor does it mean that it is no longer supposed to go out to them. But it shows that God operates with an agenda and has specific plans in mind for all the peoples of the Earth. The Jews and Gentiles are united by the Gospel into Christ.

2:9 judgments to both Jew and Gentile; 2:10 God will bless both Jew and Gentiles; 2:14 both Jew and gentile have revealed law from God; 2:24 Jew’s sin causes gentiles to curse God – Just as the message of salvation has gone out to all who would call on the name of Christ, so also must the consequences of unbelief. The consequences of unbelief are clearly laid out for the readers of this letter for the past generation and extends all the way down to today. Those who do believe will receive in unity the blessings of God. God is racially impartial, for man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. These people will be judged according to their deeds, and because they are good, they will live in unity as believers and in unity with Christ having died with Him. God sovereignly gave a revealed law to each nation, a law that could hold them accountable on the day of judgment. The name of God has been blasphemed because of the Jews. Now, the Jews must try to reestablish an example as the people of God, so that they may live in unity with the Gentile nations around them.

3:1 God still has special blessing for Israel; 3:9 Jew and gentile are under sin; 3:29 God is God of Jew and Gentile – Paul did not want the differences in blessing to tear apart the different believers in the church. Both are blessed to be united in Christ. Paul simply stressed that the Jews have some different blessings from those of the Gentiles. Paul does stress that both are equally under sin and will walk in unity to death, or in unity to the foot of the cross for God is the God of both Jews and Gentiles.

4:9 Faith not heritage brings salvation; 4:24 both Jews and gentiles imputed righteousness by faith – Paul wanted to make sure that both sets of believers knew that it is faith, not heritage that makes one righteous. This faith is what unified these different groups of people into one functioning body of believers. This is how the church was always to act. As a unified organism. The death of Christ has placed both groups into fellowship with Christ through the imputed righteousness of Christ from the atoning sacrifice. Christ promised to establish His church, and this can only happen through a unified body to a unified Savior.

9:24–26 God calls both Jews and Gentiles his people – Not just Paul, but God, calls all those who believe in Christ his/His people. Paul is united to both groups of believers through blood, but is united all the tighter through the blood of Christ. This is the unity of the believer. Complete familial fellowship with those who share almost no common ground with us, except our risen Savior.

10:12 no distinction between Jew and Gentile; 10:19–21 Gentiles provoke jealousy in Jews because of their blessing of Salvation – This goes back to 3:29. God is God of both Jews and Gentiles. He has no partiality and is willing to lavish love on whomever He wills and whomever kneels at His feet in repentance and faith.

11:11 Jewish jealously that salvation has come to the Gentiles; 11:12 Riches for the Gentiles and so much more for the Jews; 11:16–20 Gentiles grafted in among Jews; 11:21 cast judgment on both Gentiles and Jews; 11:25 Jews blinded until all elect Gentiles receive salvation – The mistake of the Jews has led to the uniting of the Gentiles into fellowship with the Jews. This does not make the tree weaker. It makes it stronger. Their gaffe allowed riches to be sent to the Gentiles, and how much will the fulfillment brought through unity of the church through Christ mean for the peoples of the earth? God tells the groups that they are not spared because they are special in some way, but because they have kept the word of Christ. This love is to unite them in dedication and love. Both groups of people are working hand in hand subconsciously and are fulfilling the will of God as they unite in the body of Christ.

United for Service

12:4–8 unity within the body (as a body) each fulfilling his gifted function; 12:16 be of one mind; 12:18 peace with all men – The body of Christ is designed to first, worship and love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Second, they are to edify each other every day through the use of their spiritual gifts. Gifts are not for the person who possesses them. Gifts are for the hearers and witnesses who may be unsaved, or who may have been brought into your presence for such a time as this. We are united into one body of believers in the death of Christ. Paul exhorts the believers to live in unity with one another and to avoid pride. Paul’s command to be at peace was a command to both groups of believers so that they may better uplift one another.

13:9 love your neighbor as yourself – What greater way to show unity in the body of believers than when we love each other. This love is to be unconditional. This is self-sacrificial love.

14:1–5 do not judge fellow believers for God is the judge; 14:13 replace judgment with effort to prevent placing stumbling block before brother; 14:14–23 extending love to brothers – God has placed us into union with Him so that we may be united with Him and fellow believers. We are, then, not to judge one another in a hypocritical way, or in ways that are contrary to Scripture. This passage is teaching that one of the best ways to build unity in the church is to respect the desires of others who may have different convictions than others. When it boils down to it, the thing we usually get mad about usually turns out to be no big deal. When believer’s are living in unity, they live in such a way that they are reflecting the light of the Son. They are not causing each other to stumble. This is how the Gospel changes people. Christians must take the initiative and never be afraid to admit that they were wrong. This unity is built through humility, and the desire to not make any of the Christians fall into sin. We extend love to our united brothers and sisters because we show grace when they have different convictions from us and how they take offense to some things that we believe.

15:1 bearing the weaker brother’s burdens; 15:2 please his neighbor; 15:5–6 like-mindedness 15:7–12 glorify God together 15:14 admonish one another15:15–21 preaching to Jews and gentiles; 15:27 love offering committed to each other – The unity of the body is integral to helping others bear one another’s burdens. The spiritually strong are to help and fight for the spiritually weak. This is what any family would do for theirs. We please our neighbor, because we are commanded to, in the form of the command “Love your neighbor.” Like-mindedness shares with it a sense of common values and beliefs that are often underestimated. But it also shares and creates a closer unity for the believers. But the question is “Why does God unite us?” The answer simple: So that we may bring glory to God. We are to glorify God together because we can(as Christians) glorify together. Part and parcel of being in a church is more than just exhortation. It involves not just showing grace to the person who committed the wrong. It involves a unity that places the believer in a position to remind his friend of the promises and love that Christ has for His children. Paul was commissioned to preach to the Gentiles first and foremost, but that did not prevent him from preaching to whatever Jews came across his path. The final act and proof of unity that Paul shared with the believers in Rome was the great love offering that Paul was gathering for the believers in Rome. The unity of Christ can sometimes be best shared when the people of God are placing themselves in risk to carry out the will of God. We are part of the family of God, and in that unity, we are never alone.