“7 Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God. 8 For I say that Christ became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises to the fathers, 9 and so that Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and I will sing praise to your name. 10 Again it says, Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people! 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples praise him! 12 And again, Isaiah says, The root of Jesse will appear, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; the Gentiles will hope in him. 13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Verses 7-13 serves as a concluding statement of all that Paul has discussed in chapters 14 and 15. Paul’s summary is to say that God will be glorified as both Jews and Gentiles serve and welcome one another, for the sake of the gospel, despite their differences. In these verses Paul will show us that both Jews and Gentiles each have received great grace and mercy from God, and as a result, we all ought to praise and glorify Him together. This is the logical conclusion reached by Paul at the end of this entire section on living in harmony with our fellow believers, not judging them, but building up the weak, and being sensitive toward others’ consciences. In light of all that we’ve discussed through chapters 14 and 15, Paul now instructs his readers: Welcome one another as Christ welcomed you, and do it so that God may be glorified.
Paul shows us that the ultimate example of one who loves is Christ Jesus Himself. Paul goes on to tell us what about Christ’s life most shows us the love He has for His people. First, let’s note that Christ “…became a servant.” (v. 8a) He did not come to be served.
“and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” — Matthew 20:27-28
What an example to us of the attitude we should have toward the body of believers. We should not join a church just so that we can be served on by others. While it is important that we receive accountability, encouragement, and love from others, we should not show up on Sunday mornings only to be “filled up” by others, but more importantly to serve others! We should consider the needs of the church with an attitude of service, ready to help out wherever it is needed.
Second, Christ came to be a “…servant of the circumcised.” (v. 8a) When Paul speaks of the circumcised here, it is a reference to the Jewish people. Few Gentiles, except those wishing to be brought under the Mosaic Law, would have been circumcised. Also, judging by the context from verses 8b-9, Paul is not intending “the circumcised” to mean those that have been “circumcised of heart” as in Romans 2:28-29. So, Jesus came to serve His chosen people, Israel. Acts 3 records Peter speaking to an assembly of Jews about how Jesus the Messiah, whom they murdered, came to save them from their evil ways.
“‘God raised up his servant and sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.’” — Acts 3:26
Third, Jesus came to serve His chosen people, Israel, “on behalf of God’s truth.” (v. 8a) The ESV translates the phrase, “on behalf of God’s truth” as “to show God’s truthfulness.” Jesus was a servant to the Jews to show God’s truthfulness? Yes! Remember in Romans 1, Paul begins the letter with an explanation of the gospel of Jesus as a message that was promised by the prophets.
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God — which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures…” — Romans 1:1-2
In order that God might remain truthful, He sent His Son Jesus Christ in fulfillment of the prophecies recorded in the Old Testament Scriptures. God will be true to His promises! That is exactly what Paul says as he finishes verse 8: “on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises to the fathers.” (v. 8b) “The fathers” being, the patriarchs, those who fathered Israel, those to whom the establishment and redemption of Israel was promised.
“and so that Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy.” (v. 9a) Jesus came to serve the Jews so that God might be known as truthful and as one who keeps His promises. Not only did Jesus serve in this way, but He also served so that salvation would come to the Gentiles, who would glorify God for His mercy towards them. It is because of the promises God made to the fathers of Israel that the Gentiles have a means of salvation also. Jesus came to save Jews, and yet, through their disobedience, the crucifixion and murder of Jesus, and His resurrection and ascension, salvation has come to the Gentiles as well. We have all received grace and mercy from God through Jesus Christ, regardless if Jew or Gentile.
“Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.” — Romans 3:29-30
“This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants — not only to the one who is of the law but also to the one who is of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all.” — Romans 4:16
Speaking to the Gentiles about Israel, Paul said in chapter 11:
“Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs, since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable. As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience, so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now receive mercy.” — Romans 11:28-31
What is the appropriate reaction to the truthfulness and mercy of God poured out upon sinners? What emotions will we feel when we glorify God by serving the weak? Joy and peace! We find our hope and salvation in Christ Jesus and Him crucified, raised, and ascended. We find our hope in the heart-changing work of the Holy Spirit. Out of this hope, joy and peace overflow. We have joy because we are saved in Christ. We have peace because we will not be condemned or face God’s wrath because of what has been accomplished for us through Jesus Christ.