Romans 15:7-9
7 “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted [e]us, for the glory of God. 8 For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision in behalf of the truth of God, to confirm the promises given to the fathers,9 and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written:
“Therefore I will give praise to You among the Gentiles,
And I will sing praises to Your name.”
10 Again he says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people.”
11 And again,
“Praise the Lord all you Gentiles,
And let all the peoples praise Him.”
12 Again Isaiah says,
“There shall come the root of Jesse,
And He who arises to rule over the Gentiles,
In Him will the Gentiles hope.”
Christ also accepted us: God accepted us in Christ, and we are to accept others as an expression of this. Paul wants his fellow Christians to see that God accepts them as they are, weaknesses and all.
Circumcision…and Gentiles: Paul’s theme of Gentile inclusion into God’s plan of salvation continues (Romans 9:30). Jews and Gentiles are both included in Christ. This would have been especially poignant because of the clicks that had apparently formed in the Roman church. But Paul urges both groups to shed their cultural and ethnic identity and to submit to their oneness in Christ (see Galatians 3:28). Paul is again speaking of God’s election of the Gentiles, even using Old Testament Scripture to make his case. Two groups have become one in Jesus Christ.
