REJOICE WITH THEM THAT REJOICE AND WEEP WITH THEM THAT WEEP

ROMANS 12:15

            The church is the family of God. Paul told Timothy, “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (I Timothy 3:14, 15). Here the church is the “house of God” which is the same as saying “family of God”. All Christians are brothers and sisters in the family of God. Everyone who is in this family has done the same thing that every other one has done. They have heard the gospel (Romans 10:13-17) and have believed the gospel. They have turned from their old sinful lives in repentance and confessed Jesus Christ as Son of God and taken Him as the Lord of their lives (Romans 10:9, 10; Acts 8:37). Then they were baptized to be saved (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38), and were added to the Lord’s church which is the body of Christ (Acts 2:47). By the direction of One Spirit they were baptized into One Body (I Corinthians 12:13). As such they are all drinking of the one Spirit being led by Him and walking after Him (Romans 8:1-4; 8:14, 16). Their inheritance is heaven and Christ is a joint heir in the same legacy.

They love to see their brethren do well in the world as well as in the service of Christ. When something good happens and a brother or sister rejoices all the church rejoices with them. When troubles come to a brother or sister and they week then all the church weeps with them. The church members are very close to one another because they all have the same Father and the same Lord.  They also have the same goal of the home in heaven (John 14:1-6).

            1. They all rejoice when one obeys the gospel of Christ.

The joy of one who has obeyed the Lord is wonderful! “And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” (Acts 8:38, 39). Everyone he met he would tell them that he had found Jesus Christ and had been saved by his blood. In Acts 16:34 the Jailer of Philippi also rejoiced believing in God with all his house. This man had a lot to rejoice about. He had been saved. His family had been saved. Paul and Silas had been faithful through trials and had taught him the truth. He had lived to repent and be baptized thus having his sins washed away in the blood of the Lamb. All Christians rejoice with people like these when they obey the gospel.

            2. They all meet together and worship as one.

All join in the songs. Though the prayers are led by one man they all still make it their prayers and say “amen.” Each one profits from the sermons where they are encouraged to love and good works. (Hebrews 10:24). Before and after the worship hour they spend time talking together and rejoicing together. Or maybe it is a time of death, or sickness, or debilitating disease and so they weep with one another.  Truly worship is a time of rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep.

            3. When a brother is overtaken in a fault the spiritual ones seek to rescue him and restore him.

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1). A converted brother who has fallen in sin and is now restored means that a soul has been saved from death and  a multitude of sins have been hidden (James 5:19, 20). What an occasion of rejoicing this is to all Christians.

            4. When one is weak in the faith he is received and encouraged.  

“Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.” (Romans 14:1). We do not live to ourselves. Our lives touch all the Christians and we help one another. “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.” (Romans 15:1, 2). Christ encourages us and we encourage one another.               

            5. There is a time of rejoicing when there is marriage.

Christians rejoice when there are scriptural marriages knowing the honorableness of marriage and the sanctity of the home. Christians also weep when there is trouble in the home.    Christianity is about rejoicing and weeping with our brethren. 

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