Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
These words from Paul are written specifically to Roman Christians. The Roman church was a mix of Jews and Gentiles, and, because of their vastly different religious pasts, they were finding it difficult to get along with one another (I believe there is a lot more to the story, but this article only allows me so many words). More than that, they were struggling to even accept one another. Thus it is that the apostle urges them to remember that Christ died for all of them, and that that knowledge should be what shapes their attitudes and their responses to one another. He encourages these ancient brothers and sisters to “walk in love” in order that they may reflect the great gifts of grace and salvation that they have received—gifts that none of them has earned.
It is these same gifts that we have received in our lives as followers of Christ. We understand, at least on some level, that our salvation by grace was granted us “not because of works done by us in righteousness” (Titus 3:5), but because God is so incredibly good. His primary concern is the righteousness and holiness of his people. Because of this, he has gone to immeasurable lengths to restore us to him. This is truly an “inexpressible gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).
Because we know what God has done, we in turn express grace to others. This is not to say that we are to condone rebellion against God, but it is a call to us to kindness and mercy as we relate to one another and to people outside the faith. It behooves us to constantly remember that without God we are nothing. Without him we have no hope and no future. With him, however, we have everything—and that is all because of God.
–Ricky