ROM 15:1-3 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

>>The Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Romans teaches a well balanced theology—It describes the true character of God, and His relationship to us in the Person of His Son.

>>As we see from our text—in the Person of the Son of God we are taught wherein God is pleased in the condescending, self sacrificing Spirit of Christ.

ROM 15:1-3 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

>>Satan loves overreaction— He would either have you believe that Christ's life was only for the purpose of setting an example—thereby ignoring the merit of the atonement.

ROM 5:8-9 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

>>Satan's overreaction to this teaching is taught by many highly respected theologians—to the effect Christ's mission was to purchase our justification—and not to set an example.

>>See how this flies in the face of the context of our text

ROM 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to [Or, after the example of] Christ Jesus [as it says in the margin]:

>>The whole central theme of our text is an admonition "...not to please ourselves...[but to] please [our] neighbour for his good to edification. For [see how Christ is set forth as our example—`For'] even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me."

>>The fallen nature of mankind centers in self—which is the fountain of all sin—Selfishness was the rebellion taught in Eden's Garden, which brought about the fall of mankind.

GEN 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

>>To be born of God is to find that ugly monster of self removed—and to "Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification."

ROM 6:5-6 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

>>That sin of self exaltation is the king serpent that dwells in our heart by nature— See the disregard a natural man has for his neighbour

ISA 59:1-5 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

>>Our blessed heavenly Father's hand is not shortened that He cannot save.

JOH 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

>>Believing in Christ is to become renewed in the spirit of your mind and become His imitator.

EPH 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

>>This call of the gospel unto Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" 2TH 2:13-14, i.e., to become "...conformed unto the image of Christ" ROM 8:29, is taught throughout the Scriptures.

EPH 5:1-2 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

>>This "sweetsmelling savour" is what our text speaks of "For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

>>See how replete the Scriptures are with the admonition of our text—to look at the example of Christ in our attitude toward self—and our neighbour

PHI 2:1-5 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

>>The glory of the Father was our Saviour's chief delight—He came not to please Himself.

PHI 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

>>The "sweetsmelling savour" in Christ's "sacrifice to God," was that He gave Himself for us—Cf. EPH 5:2.

>>When Peter thought to defend our Saviour with the sword—Jesus told him, MAT 26:52-53 Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

>>These twelve legions of angels would have only stood in the way of the Omnipotent meekness—and condescension of our Saviour—Our text says—"For even Christ pleased not himself."

>>Our text admonishes us that we are to be a sweetsmelling savior unto God by our conformity to the Image of Christ as His imitators.

>>Our text says, "...not to please ourselves...please [our] neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself."

>>Our Saviour had no desire for all the pomp and parade that man seek to gratify that ugly monster—"self." The glory of the Father was His sole design.

JOH 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

>>If we desire to be conformed to that blessed image of Christ—the will of the Father will be everything to us.

JOH 7:16-17 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

>>If you would study the Character of the Lord Jesus from the cradle in Bethlehem's manger to Calvary's cross—you would see Him willingly, eagerly, in the face of all obstacles—doing His Father's will.

>>When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast," LUK 2:42

LUK 2:43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

>>Where did they find Him?

LUK 2:46-47 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

>>When they found Him they were frustrated, "...and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

LUK 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

>>Every sin against our neighbour is not only a reproach against the loving condescension of our Saviour, it questions His love and authority—and despises His sovereignty.

1JO 4:7-10 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

>>Now see the conclusion of the matter —and the perfect harmony with our text, 1JO 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

>>See what our text says Christ did for us

ROM 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

>>The reproach our Saviour bear for us is unspeakable! Carrying the reproach of God in His own bosom—patiently taking the reproach of our sins which He so hated

2CO 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

>>He came, not to please Himself, but to prefer us before Himself—should we not therefore prefer one another before ourselves.

>>The whole central theme of our text is an admonition to "...not to please ourselves...[but to] please [our] neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me."

>>Think of the condescension of our Saviour in order to make a way open for you and I to become reconciled with God

2CO 5:19-21 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

>>After bearing our reproach—and paying the penalty of our sins—that our sins should not be imputed unto us—now our Saviour condescends to plead and reason with us.

2CO 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God [and see His pleading ground]

2CO 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

>>In light of Christ's condescension to purchase our reconciliation with our offended Father—aught we not take heed to His plea to condescend as we are admonished in our text?

ROM 15:1-3 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

>>Our Saviour placed doing His Father's will ahead of His necessary bread— While the Samaritan harlot went into the city to tell the people "Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" we read, JOH 4:31-34 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?

34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

>>Our Saviour came not to please Himself—but to bear the reproach of His bride.

HEB 13:13-14 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.