Skip Navigation

Romans 15:1-13 – Live In Harmony

Study Guide
May 23, 2025

What’s The Point?

This passage is divided into two parts. Verses 1-7 repeats and summarizes Romans 14, by telling us to serve one another, live in unity, and love each other like Christ has loved you. Verses 8-13 then do a brief survey of Old Testament Scripture highlighting God’s inclusion of the Gentiles into his plan of salvation.

Everything Paul has been talking about—being unified, serving the body, and loving one another—is summed up in Christ. Christ sought our good above his own (v. 3). Christ granted us the ability live in harmony with each other (v. 5). Christ has welcomed us into his body (v. 7). The same way we were brought to faith in Christ is how we should continue. Christ is the one who accomplished our salvation for us, and he is also the one who has perfectly exampled the way we should relate with each other.

What is the end goal of us living together in unity? The ultimate purpose is not just for us to all get along. As a parent, there are times when I just want my kids to get along, but that is not what God has planned for us. Paul tells us why we should live together in harmony; we live this way so “that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 6). We will worship Jesus more faithfully as we are united in his body.

This next section, vv. 8-13, is just so encouraging. First, we see that God’s plan for salvation has existed much longer than we have. God knew when he called Abraham, all the way back in Genesis 12, that his plan would bring salvation to the world. Ephesians tells us that God chose us in Christ “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). Earlier in Romans we looked at God’s foreknowledge, this has been his plan all along to maximize his glory and bring nations to himself.

God’s plan of salvation reaches farther back than anything we could ever know or imagine. Paul cites multiple Old Testament passages, showing that God has been proclaiming the salvation of the Gentiles for centuries. Paul quotes and references Deuteronomy, 2 Samuel, Psalms, and Isaiah to bring to light God’s eternal plan that has now been revealed. This is how Paul goes on to speak of the plan for the salvation of the world in the rest of Romans 15.

Paul closes out the book of Romans with a bunch of personal greetings in chapter 16. We won’t go through all that, but it is a good reminder that Paul was a man who invested in people. He lived out these commands for unity that he has written about in earlier chapters. He loved the Church and wanted to see it flourish and grow. In fact, that is why he wrote this letter. Way back in the beginning of Romans 1, Paul said he was longing to come to them and desired to encourage them.

What an encouraging way to close Romans and this study. The goal isn’t to just know doctrine or just obey rules; the goal is godliness. The goal is to grow more into the likeness of Christ in what we believe, what we say, and how we live. Romans helps us in all these ways and Paul is an excellent example of what true faith looks like in the life of a believer.

Scripture Memorization

Romans 15:5–6

“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.

Prayer

Lord God, thank you for your plan of salvation. I praise you for your infinite  wisdom and power to accomplish such a glorious plan. Your ways are beyond what I can comprehend, yet you have allowed me to understand your grace. Thank you, Lord, for making salvation so deep and wide but also making it simple enough for me to understand. Help me to know you more and more everyday. Help me to grow from one degree of glory to another. Be gracious with me and continue to draw me to yourself. Amen.

Reflection

  1. God has given us the Church to encourage us and also help us worship him better. Thank the Lord for the people in your life that drive you toward Jesus.
  2. What are passages or stories in the Old Testament that point to God providing salvation for the whole world? (Hint: some were listed above)
  3. Think through everything you have learned in this study through the book of Romans. What has been the biggest thing you will takeaway from this study?

Discussion Questions

  1. What is the biggest thing you have taken away from this study?
  2. Have any of your beliefs changed as a result of studying the book of Romans?
  3. What is the next thing you are going to study?

If you have any questions feel free to reach out: harry@swoutfitters.com. All of the Scripture referenced in this study is from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.

May 23, 2025

Subscribe for Updates