Romans 15:1–3 (ESV) The Example of Christ We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”

• Quoting from the Scriptures. (Psalm 69:9)

Romans 15:4 (ESV) 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

• As it is written, for whatever was written…
• Our instruction –
• Through ENDURANCE
• Through the ENCOURAGEMENT of the Scriptures
• We might have HOPE.
• Romans 4:23–24 (ESV) 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,
• Psalm 119:50 (ESV) 50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.
• 1 Corinthians 9:9–10 (ESV) 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.
• Something as obscure as a muzzle rule. Application!

1 Corinthians 10:1–11 (ESV) For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

• I don’t want you to be unaware.
• Our fathers were all under the cloud, passed, baptized, ate, drank – The Rock was Christ!
• With most – God was not pleased. They were overthrown.
• Nothing frightens me more than reading through these stories and seeing myself in the reflection.

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

• Examples for us!
• How many times do we learn by example!
• Tre and cooking.
• Tre and the phone.
• Examples – FOR YOU.
• Need help finding motivation against idolatry? Read their story.
• Need help finding motivation against sexual immorality? Read their story.
• Need help finding motivation against testing the Lord? Read their story.
• Any grumblers in the house?
• V 11 repeats v6 – EXAMPLES. FOR US.
• 1 Corinthians 10:11 (ESV) 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
• There are no ages left between now and Christ’s appearing. Avenger and Judge.
• Ready for Christ’s return? We should be. This is how.
• Revelation – about 350 allusions to the OT. Yet no direct quotations.
• The most biblical book in the Bible!
• 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV) 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
• Scripture is sufficient. All sufficient and the only sufficient.
• Psalm 138:1–2 (ESV) 1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; 2 I bow down toward your holy temple

and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.

• Think of all he has done for His name sake – Struck down men, Leveled empires.
• Luke 4:4 (ESV) 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’ ”

…(but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” (Deuteronomy 8:3)

• Luke 4:8 (ESV) 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ”
• Folks – how do we resist temptation?
• I heard a story of a little girl who said something really wise… When Satan approaches you, knocking at your door…
• Luke 4:10–12 (ESV) 10 for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ 11 and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” 12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
• Jesus’s defense.
• Satan’s attack is to twist. You see an appeal to the obscure over the clear.
• Getting too focused on the parts where scripture speaks softly.
• Titus 3:8–9 (ESV) 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
• 1 Timothy 1:3–4 (ESV) 3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.
• Stick with the clear.
• Luke 4:17 (ESV)17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
• The Scroll. This scripture is fulfilled in your hearing – what are the odds?
• Fine tuning of the universe argument – do we not think that His Word has received the same level of attention and care?
• Luke 19:46 (ESV)46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.”
• Luke 24:46 (ESV)46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,
• John 2:17 (ESV) 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Romans 15:4 (ESV) 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

• As it is written, for whatever was written…
• Our instruction –
• Through ENDURANCE
• Through the ENCOURAGEMENT of the Scriptures
• We might have HOPE.

Romans 15:4–7 (ESV) 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

• Phrased as a prayer.
• Through (The God of) ENDURANCE
• (Guzik, David) God’s delays are not His denials, and He has a loving purpose in every delay.
• (Mike Yarbrough) Delayed answers are not abandoned prayers.
• Through (The God of) ENCOURAGEMENT of the Scriptures
• Living in harmony. Glorifying God.
• John 17 – that they may be as one.
• Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, - for the Glory of God.
• As Christ has welcomed you? How did He? Fully and completely, or harboring a grudge?
• Covering your faults. Motivated in Love. To glorify God.
• Matthew 6:12 (ESV) 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Enduring people.

Encouraged people.

Hope-FULL people.

Harmonious people.

God-Glorifying people.

Resilient.

Romans 15:8–9 (ESV) Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles 8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”

• Jesus – Psalm 18. Jesus had a heart for the gentiles. He wanted them included in His promises.
• Paul is explaining that the Roman church needed to align their desires to match Christ’s. Jews and Gentiles, coming together to glorify God together.