Words of Welcome
3 Keys for Reconciled Relationships
Aaron Lee | Romans 15:7-13 | FCBCW Youth Worship | November 16, 2025
Question
What motivates a Christian to reconcile our relationships? What hope is there for Christians who always seem to find themselves in conflict? How can we be not opposing, but inviting?
I asked our class: What do you think is the biggest sin of your generation? Answers included pornography, rudeness, unkindness, isolation, pushing others away, and instant gratification. The common thread is broken relationships. Not knowing how to treat each other. We see this in the world, and we see it creep into the church. We put up walls. But God has a better way:
Big Idea
Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:7)
Paul has been teaching us how we are to live for the glory of God. Our previous passage talked about living in harmony with one another. Paul was writing this letter to the church in Rome, and they were made up of Jews and Gentiles. They were different groups of people. Different ethnicities, backgrounds, habits, and preferences. There were bound to be arguments, fights, and divisions. These are barriers to fellowship and not characteristic of the Christian life. Christians are to have harmony, unity, and one voice together in worship. So instead of putting up walls, Paul says to tear them down and welcome one another. Accept each other. Here Paul gives them three keys to reconciling their relationships:
Sermon Preview
These are the three keys to reconciled relationships:
Promise – God gives grace
Praise – God gives mercy
Power – God gives hope
1. Promise
The first key to reconciled relationships is promise:
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 (Romans 15:8)
Explanation
Just as Christ humbled himself to confirm God’s promises of grace to his people, so should Christians humble ourselves and give grace to others.
When Paul says that Christ became a servant to the circumcised, he means that Jesus humbled himself by becoming human, and then dying on the cross for their sins. The circumcised are the Jewish people. Paul is saying that Jesus died for the Jews. Now this is interesting, because if you remember the life of Jesus, many of the Jews actually hated him. He was not a national hero. They wanted to reject him as a Jew because they said he blasphemed God. Jesus served his own people, most of whom rejected him (John 1:11). But Christ continued to show that God is true to his promises. To confirm that God keeps his word. To verify that we can believe what God says. And the promise that God said to the Jewish patriarchs and to all the Jewish people is that our God is a God of grace.
That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (Romans 4:16)
When God spoke to the forefathers, God meant every word he said. The promises were real. Our God is true, truthful, and we can trust him. Jesus actually did the thing. He proved it. He reconciled for real. God giving his grace finds its climax at the cross. We must remember that God made promises to point us to his gift of grace – Christ on the cross. We must humble ourselves to show the same grace of our Savior. Go towards grace.
Application
So, will you go towards grace? What I mean by go towards grace is that will you lean towards it? Will you be inclined to it? Will you tend towards it?
I’m trying to give my kids more opportunities to make things right when they fight with each other. I’ll tell them that I’m not going to step in—I want them to fix it. Usually, that means someone needs to take the initiative to say sorry. Someone needs to stop moving away and start moving toward grace. Someone needs to take the first step toward kindness. Someone needs to make things right.
It’s worth pointing out that God takes the initiative and action in reconciliation. He seeks and saves the lost. He continues to pursue us when we push him away. To our Jewish forefathers, it’s God who makes the covenant promises. And it’s God who provides Christ as our sacrifice. I’m grateful to God for taking the initiative—and decisive action—to make things right between us when I was running away, when I hated him (Romans 5:8).
2. Praise
Our second key to reconciled relationships is praise:
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.” 10 And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” 11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” 12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” (Romans 15:9-12)
Explanation
Christ also humbled himself so that Gentiles would praise and worship God for his mercy – and this was always the plan, that others and outsiders would become part of the family of God.
Points 1 leads directly into point 2. Christ kept the promise of grace and in doing that it was so that the Gentiles would glorify God for his mercy. The Gentiles did not directly receive the promises of grace – but it was God’s plan all along to include them as recipients of his mercy. Whether grace or mercy, Jew or Gentile, it’s all through faith in Christ:
29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. (Romans 3:29-30)
And Paul goes on to support his claim with four proofs from scripture. From an argumentative standpoint, like if they were to debate or challenge Paul over this, Paul is clever. He’s saying that if you believe point 1, that Christ confirmed God’s grace, if you believe that is true (because of course you believe the OT scripture is true), then you’ll have to agree with the scriptural support here as well because of course you believe the Bible.
Paul uses the Old Testament to argue, and this is just another example of why knowing the Old Testament is important. He cites verses from 2 Samuel, Deuteronomy, Psalms, and Isaiah. These citations are spread across the entire Old Testament in all the major categories of literature. I think Paul was purposeful here, sort of like giving us an Easter egg for those who know that he’s being complete. And all these passages show that God had planned all along to include the Gentiles into the people of God along with the Jews to glorify him. If you look at how Paul presents them, there’s a progressive movement from Jews praising among the Gentiles, to Gentiles rejoicing with the Jew. Paul then says peoples, meaning a large group and multiethnic assembly – the Jews aren’t even mentioned here, they’re just lobbed in with everyone else. And then Isaiah is specifically called out, where he says the root of Jesse, Jesus, will rule the Gentiles. He will be the king of the Gentiles. They will be his people, and have the same personal trust and hope that the Jews have in their Messiah King. Not only is this talking about the Jews and Gentiles coming together in Christ, but it’s a foreshadowing of our final worship together in heaven. All will be invited and encouraged to come into the family of God through Christ our King.
Application
So, will you invite and encourage all to the family of God?
I remember my first time walking into the junior high band room. I had no idea how to play the drums; I thought we were all just there to learn. But the thing about the school band is that, while you might be new, there are already kids who know how to play. I felt like I didn’t belong. But there was a kid who remembered me from years earlier in elementary school. I’m just now realizing that he was the drum captain. And he welcomed me in. He said, “You’re going to get these sticks. You’re going to get this drum pad.” He sat me down and taught me some basic things. It’s crazy to think about it now, but he changed my life. He brought me into a family that shaped me from junior high through high school and, honestly, into much of the person I am today.
Christ, our Captain, invites everyone to come. And anyone who comes he will never cast out. He goes after the one wandering sheep. He calls out, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” He will teach us if we are willing to learn, and He will be a friend when we feel forsaken. He calls all of us to make it our mission to bring His sheep in. He is calling them—and us—all home, to make music together in worship.
3. Power
Our third key to reconciled relationships is power:
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope (Romans 15:13)
Explanation
God the Father fills you with joy and peace when you believe in Christ’s redemptive and reconciling work, and the Holy Spirit empowers you to hope in heaven that overflows here and now.
Christians will still continue to struggle in our relationships. We’re still sinners living in a fallen world. But we also have the Holy Spirit – and he gives us the power to push through towards a righteous life not just to Heaven but here on earth (Romans 14:17). The Holy Spirit has the power to sanctify us, to make us more like Christ, and he produces fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:16-26). The Spirit is a person who speaks, and the primary way the Spirit speaks to us is through Scripture:
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. (Romans 15:4)
Christians don’t despair when faced with the trials of strained relationships. We don’t run away. We cling to Christ and his word. Joy and peace is possible now because we trust in God, and we are hopeful by his grace. You can realize and celebrate the reality of reconciliation now. And when you do make things right, when you are able to reconcile your relationships, you give assurance to your salvation. Obedience is assurance. It’s discipline and discipleship. It’s motivation and perseverance. This is the hope that we have, when we see God’s grace realized in our lives.
Application
So, will you hope and hear the Spirit in scripture?
I know what it’s like to feel hopeless in a fight with my wife. You’re tired from talking. You’re exhausted from explaining. You feel alone. You’re looking for connection and community. We go to our phones. We go to our computers. We have a real Person and presence in the Holy Spirit, and we hear what he says through scripture.
The Holy Spirit helps us hear and understand scripture. The Holy Spirit illuminates scripture to us. To illuminate is to give light so we can see. So when you’re feeling lost and in the dark, the Holy Spirit illuminates God’s word, and the word shows us the ways we should go. The Christian is never without hope. The Christian is never alone. Yes, we have each other – but more importantly, we have the Spirit and scripture. Where friends and family fall short, God never forsakes us. His word is full of grace and truth. His words are sweet and pure. His words are a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. This is the way we endure and are encouraged.
The Gospel
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, (Romans 15:13)
Joy, peace, and hope come from believing in Jesus – specifically that Jesus is Lord (Romans 5:1-2). He is King over everything. What Jesus reconciles is not easy – he reconciles enemies, us and God. And by his blood, we are justified. And by his resurrection, we are made family and friends of God.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:10-11)
Answer
What motivates a Christian to reconcile our relationships? How do we tear down the walls and turn to welcome instead? The solution is our Savior. The key is Christ:
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near [welcomed] by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility … so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. (Ephesians 2:13-16)
God’s promises of grace, Christ’s demonstration of mercy, and the Spirit’s empowerment to hope. My brothers and sisters, the arms of Christ extend to you and show us how to love each other. I preach peace to you.
Conclusion
Jesus Christ tears down our walls and turns our hearts to welcome.
Words of Welcome
Where walls divide and separate
The blood has broken down
For Jesus Christ, restores, unites
With words of welcome now
A promise to the patriarchs
That God would give his grace
Is now fulfilled in Jesus Christ
His cross for sinners saves
The praise of God that nations sing
Was purposed and was planned
Mercy! Jesus Christ and King
The Lion and the Lamb
With power here to persevere
In Holy Spirit hope
For joy has come through Jesus Christ
And peace that overflows
Where walls divide and separate
The blood has broken down
For Jesus Christ, restores, unites
With words of welcome now
References
Romans: Reformed Expository Commentary by Daniel M. Doriani
The ESV Expository Commentary by Crossway
The ESV Study Bible by Crossway
The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary on Romans by Donny Ray Mathis II
Appendix
Verses about reconciliation.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)
9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:9-11)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[b] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17-19)
19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[a] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)
15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. (Ephesians 2:15-17)
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, (Colossians 1:19-21)