It sounds so simple.

Romans 15:7, the words of the Apostle Paul to the Christians of Rome, Capital City to the world. “Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”

The verb “receive” is interesting.

And the example that follows the command is captivating too.

Let’s get started.

“Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”

“Receive,” an imperative mood verb, is “proslambano,” a complex blend of both a preposition and a major New Testament verb. First, “lambano” means “to accept, to take (with the hand), to claim, to associate with a person as a companion.” It is not perhaps as emotional as its relative “dechomai.” But still it never harbors any hesitancy. Then the prefix “pros” means “to, toward,” almost “face-to-face” (with something or someone being the “focus”)!

Put it all together and we have a picture of … us in love, in Christ, opening our arms to those who are newly saved. Or those who have erred but returned. Or those whose personalities do not exactly “blend” with ours, but apparently love Jesus!

If they are “in Christ” … they should be “in our circles” of fellowship!

Maybe the earlier context will help illustrate here, Romans 15 begins … “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself.” This is somewhat clarifying, to me anyway. Often the Bible interprets the Bible!

Perhaps then “receiving” them means also “bearing (putting up) with their weaknesses, their little idiosyncratic quirks!” And trying “to please” them as well, literally keeping them “interested, excited” about the various things of God!

Do not think you’re “too good” to receive them, either.

If the person in question has repented of his or her sins, and turned to Jesus … we have no choice. “Receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”

Now to the parallel thought, the example given me for “receiving” others who are “in Christ.” Here it is: “As Christ also received us to the glory of God.”

Amazing!

Did Christ Jesus “receive” you?

He sure did me!

In like manner, to the depth humanly possible, I am then to “receive” my fellow Christians into my heart … into my sphere of friendship!

So much for “cliques” and “clubs” and “walls and barriers” in our local Church environs, then! No more “holier than thou” attitudes either. (Isaiah 65:5 uses that exact phrase!)

No wonder Church is good for a  newborn child of God!

All that acceptance and love and warmth there.

Ideally so, anyway.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell