Glorify God Together
7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:
” For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles,
And sing to Your name. (2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49)”10 And again he says:
” Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people! (Deuteronomy 32:43)”
11 And again:
” Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles!
Laud Him, all you peoples! (Psalm 117:1)”12 And again, Isaiah says:
” There shall be a root of Jesse;
And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,
In Him the Gentiles shall hope. (Isaiah 11:10)”13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We should receive one another regardless of denomination as long as we all submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Bible. We have been purchased by a merciful God who seeks to redeem those who are outside His salvation. He does this for His own glory as He is the one who does all the work. What is our right response? PRAISE! Throughout the old testament, there are clues and outright statements that this day was coming and we see Paul touch on only a few here. God has done all the work necessary and once we repent of our sins and turn to Him alone for our salvation, forsaking our own works and relinquishing the control of our lives over to the King of all creation – that is when we can stop striving for His acceptance and rest in the finished work of Christ. God deserves ALL the glory and ALL the praise as without His sacrifice, none of us would stand a chance before Him on the day of judgment. Not me, or you, or the pope, or mother Teresa, or anyone. All stand naked in our sins before the mighty and sovereign King – without grace, we’d all fill Hell and God would be justified in doing so. To God alone be the glory!