It must have been difficult for the believers in Rome who had a Jewish background.  They had grown up believing that only the children of Israel (Jacob’s new name) and their descendants could be included in God’s family.  Then as they heard the gospel and trusted in Jesus, they found that non-Jews (Gentiles) were also discovering Jesus.  So those who worshipped Jesus came from such different backgrounds … how would they relate together?

Paul instructed them to accept each other as equal in God’s sight and therefore they were brothers and sisters.  If they despised each other, they would dishonour their Heavenly Father and their worship would be false.  The Jews needed to be generous and understand that their rich spiritual heritage had to be shared, because it provided the essential background to understand Jesus better (Luke 24:27).  

God’s mission to the world was not to exclude the Gentiles, but to include them - that was His promise to Abraham 2000 years previously (Genesis 12:1-3) - as they repented and followed Jesus Christ. His plan was for Jews and Gentiles (that is everybody in the world!) to have their sins forgiven, find peace with God and be united together in Christ (Galatians 3:28).  Paul was urging Christians, whatever their background, to come together as one family in Christ, to praise the Lord for His amazing salvation plan for people from every people-group on earth – as it will be in heaven (Revelation 5:9-10).

Naturally, we like those who are like us.  Language, colour, religious background, social status, occupation and age can so easily define us to other people … and them to us.  But if we are trusting in Jesus, none of those criteria should be barriers to our fellowship with other believers.  Indeed, if we even feel that way, our worship is spoiled and we have forgotten that Jesus is for everybody.  In the same way that the believers in Rome had to be instructed to accept other believers who were different, so we need to hear the same message and obey.