We are to accept each other as Christ as accepted us. In so many ways we are to treat each other in the way that God treats us. He forgave us, so we are to forgive each other, He is patient with us, so we are to be patient with others, He loves all, so we are to love all.
Paul says we are to accept each other so that God will be glorified, When we refuse to accept each other we often convince ourselves that we doing it to honour God. Now there are times when distinctions need to be drawn, but we must be very careful, for most of the time it is our own ego or sinfulness that is at the root of such actions, rather than true concern for the glory of God.
Jesus truly glorified God, and He did so by being a servant to the Jews, and sending the gospel to the Gentiles (who were outcasts as far as the Jews were concerned). Paul then quotes various Scriptures that show that it was always God's plan that the Gentiles share in the kingdom.
In v13 Paul talks about peace and joy. If we are full of peace and joy we are far less likely to waste our time considering ourselves better than others, and seeking reasons to disagree with each other. And we are to overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. It takes power to give us hope, for hopelessness can be so powerful. This is not just hope for ourselves, but hope for others. Again, we start to look down on people when we consider them to be beyond hope.
Paul says we are to accept each other so that God will be glorified, When we refuse to accept each other we often convince ourselves that we doing it to honour God. Now there are times when distinctions need to be drawn, but we must be very careful, for most of the time it is our own ego or sinfulness that is at the root of such actions, rather than true concern for the glory of God.
Jesus truly glorified God, and He did so by being a servant to the Jews, and sending the gospel to the Gentiles (who were outcasts as far as the Jews were concerned). Paul then quotes various Scriptures that show that it was always God's plan that the Gentiles share in the kingdom.
In v13 Paul talks about peace and joy. If we are full of peace and joy we are far less likely to waste our time considering ourselves better than others, and seeking reasons to disagree with each other. And we are to overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. It takes power to give us hope, for hopelessness can be so powerful. This is not just hope for ourselves, but hope for others. Again, we start to look down on people when we consider them to be beyond hope.
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