In his application of the doctrine of justification by grace through faith alone, Paul continues to prescribe how those who are strong in the faith ought to relate to those who are weak in the faith.

Those who are strong, those who don’t feel they have to abstain from food or drink or consider one day to be holier than another (cf. 14:2-5, 16-17) because salvation is not by our works but Christ’s, ought to bear the weaknesses of those in the faith without this strength–not knowing the liberty that is in Christ. What does it mean for strong Christians to bear the burdens of weak Christians? Paul tells us; we don’t just live to please ourselves. So, there is a sense in which taking pleasure in the good gifts of God is a good thing. God desires us to enjoy His good gifts. But, that is not our only agenda. I often hear people tell me that they only care what God thinks or are doing this or that to serve God, not men. Such an attitude is fallacious. We don’t live merely to take joy in the good things of God. We also live in Christ to please our neighbors. I spent far too much time in the ministry not understanding the second part of this equation. Not only do we serve and please God, we serve and please others–even those who are weakest and understand the least in the faith we have been given. Life is not about us. Ministry is the highest level of self-denial for the edification of the weaker saints. We bear their burdens. The goal is always edification so that weaker saints may not be left in their weakness but grow in their understanding and application of salvation by grace alone through faith alone. Christ came to set us free.

Look at Paul’s words. Christ did not live to please only Himself. He literally took the weakness of His people upon Himself and took it to the cross. Through the Scriptures, His word, we all have hope, down to the weakest Christian. Because strong and weak Christians alike are focused on Christ, we can be of the same mind even though we are all at different places in our sanctification. What does it mean to be of the same mind? Too many Christians want everyone in their sphere to be like them, else perhaps not be very Christian. Unity is not uniformity. Look at the text, unity of mind means we are all trying to live like Jesus–who lived and died and rose for the edification of others. If we are trying to build one another up, how can we possibly be divided and tear one another down? It is impossible to do both.

Therefore, we accept one another. The strong accept the weak. The weak accept the strong. Christ became a servant. In our conversion to Christ, we all become servants–nothing worth boasting about and nothing that can make us conceited. 

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