The Foundations of Our Faith - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

What does it truly mean to build a church where everyone belongs? This powerful exploration of Romans 15:4-13 takes us back to the foundational principles that should unite us as believers. We're reminded that the early church faced the same struggles we do today—divisions over who's 'in' and who's 'out,' arguments about traditions versus grace, and questions about acceptance. Paul wrote to a Roman church he'd never visited, a community living under oppression yet still finding things to argue about internally. Sound familiar? The message calls us back to three essential foundations: the Word that gives us endurance, encouragement, and hope; the radical welcome that mirrors how Christ accepted us while we were still sinners; and unified worship that transcends our differences. We're challenged to examine whether we're building barriers or tearing them down, whether we're extending grace or making lists of requirements. The world is watching to see if we really practice what we preach. This isn't about compromising truth—it's about extending the same grace we received. As we await Christ's return, the root of Jesse who came for all nations, we're called to live out these foundations faithfully, creating communities where the least, the last, and the lost can find home.

The Foundations That Hold Us Together

In 325 AD, the Christian church faced a crisis that threatened to tear it apart. Bishops and believers argued so intensely about the nature of Jesus Christ that cities rioted in the streets. The question at hand: Was Jesus equal with God, or was He a created being beneath the Father? The debate grew so heated that legend tells us two bishops even came to blows over the matter.

This wasn't a disagreement about worship styles or church furniture. This was about the very foundation of what Christians believe. Eventually, 318 bishops gathered at the Council of Nicaea to settle the matter, producing what we now know as the Nicene Creed—a statement affirming that Jesus is "begotten, not made, of one being with the Father," and that the Holy Spirit is equally God. This gave the church language for the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

But here's the sobering truth: division within the church is nothing new.

A Letter to a Divided Church

When the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Romans—his longest epistle, often called his "PhD thesis"—he addressed a church he had never visited. Unlike his other letters written to congregations he had planted and nurtured, this was different. The Roman church already existed, and it faced unique challenges.

These believers lived in the capital of the empire that had crucified their Lord. They worshiped in secret, knowing their faith could cost them everything. Yet even under this external persecution, they found something to argue about internally.

The division was clear: Jewish believers who had grown up in the covenant faith versus Gentile believers who were new to the ways of God. The Jews thought they had an inside track—after all, they were the original covenant people. The Gentiles were being treated like second-class citizens in God's kingdom. Questions swirled: Did Gentiles need to convert to Judaism first? What about circumcision? Dietary laws? Holy days?

Even Paul, who had given up everything for the gospel and had been beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, and left for dead, wondered if he would be accepted by this church. Would the Jews think he was too lenient with the Gentiles? Would the Gentiles think his Jewish background made him untrustworthy?

Sound familiar? The same questions echo through church history and into our present day: Who's in and who's out? Who really belongs? How do we build a church where everyone who loves Jesus can find a home?

Three Foundational Practices

In Romans 15:4-13, Paul offers three foundational practices that can hold a diverse, divided church together.

The Word

"Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us," Paul writes, "so that through the endurance taught in the scriptures and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope."

The scriptures give us endurance because they show us we're not the first to struggle and we won't be the last. They give us encouragement because they demonstrate that God has never abandoned His people. They give us hope because they point to promises God will fulfill.

How do we know that "those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength" without the Word? How do we learn that "no weapon formed against us shall prosper" or that "weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" without diving into scripture?

The stories of Abraham's faith, Moses' leadership, David's failures and redemption, and the prophets' calls for justice—all were written for our instruction. There's nothing new under the sun. Whatever we're facing—grief, divorce, wayward children, difficult bosses—it's all in there. Someone has walked this path before us. And if they made it through, we can too.

But we can't be strengthened by a Bible that collects dust on the shelf. We can't be transformed by a Word we never study. Getting back to basics means opening the Bible daily, studying it deeply, and letting it shape our minds, challenge our assumptions, comfort our hearts, and guide our steps.

Welcome

"Accept one another," Paul instructs, "just as Christ accepted you in order to bring praise to God."

Notice what he doesn't say. He doesn't say accept only those who agree with you, look like you, think like you, or vote like you. He says accept one another—all of one another—just as Christ accepted you.

And how did Christ accept us? Did He wait for us to get our theology straight? Did He require us to clean ourselves up first? Did He make us prove ourselves? No. Christ accepted us while we were still sinners. He welcomed us while we were still broken and embraced us while we were still works in progress.

Romans 5:8 reminds us: "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Our unity doesn't come from uniformity. The Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome didn't agree on everything, but they could still worship and break bread together because they knew they were all accepted by Christ.

This isn't an invitation to abandon truth or compromise the gospel. It's an invitation to extend grace to those who are still growing, just as grace was extended to us. When someone walks through the doors looking for Jesus, our response should be "welcome," not a list of requirements.

Many people today have no problem with Jesus—their problem is with Christians who live like they don't really believe. The world is watching to see if Christ is real in us.

Worship

Paul prays "that with one mind and one voice, you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Notice: unity in worship, not uniformity in opinion.

Something supernatural happens when God's people come together in worship. When young and old, rich and poor, people from every background lift their voices together, we experience a taste of heaven on earth. Despite our differences, disagreements, and diversity, we become one voice praising the God who saved us, sustains us, and is coming back for us.

The Root of Jesse

Paul references Isaiah's prophecy about "the root of Jesse"—a messianic title pointing to Jesus' lineage through King David's father. Isaiah prophesied that this root of Jesse would arise to rule over all nations, not just Israel. Gentiles included.

During Advent, we're not just anticipating Jesus' birth—we're anticipating His return. The One who came as a suffering servant will return as a conquering King. The One who died on a cross will come back wearing a crown. The One rejected by the world will be acknowledged as Lord by all creation.

That's our hope. Not because everything is perfect now, but because we know this isn't how the story ends. In the end, Jesus wins. Evil will be defeated. Every tear will be wiped away.

Until He comes, we have work to do: diving into the Word, welcoming one another, and worshiping the one true God in spirit and in truth. These are the foundations that will hold us together when storms of division threaten to tear us apart.

May He find us faithful to these foundations, living out the way He first showed us.