Do you ever say, "Well, somebody should have told me"? If you said it out loud, I'm guessing someone responded by saying, "We tried, but you weren't listening." Paul is reminding his readers that they have had lots of opportunities to know what to do.
"Scripture was written to teach you," and then he added, "Paying attention to scripture can give you what you need now--hope."
With attention to what had been taught, with hope for what was to come, they were instructed also in a necessity--to live in harmony with one another.
Their forming and maintaining a community was essential.
Look back at Romans 14 to see what the church was like. Then look around at your own congregation. How much harmony is there? How do you welcome visitors? How do you welcome those long-time members who hold opinions upsetting to you? How often do you even hear an upsetting opinion? Is it reassuring or disappointing to consider that we are to welcome each other just as Christ has welcomed each of us?
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