Sunday Morning Service

Romans 15:14-33 (Click scripture reference for audio access)

"How Should I See Myself?"  •  8.12.12  •  Sunday Morning Service, Calvary Christian Fellowship

Intro.

- The doctrinal portion of the book of Romans is now completed. Paul has masterfully laid out the essentials of the gospel that God has given to Him.

- What follows is personal, perhaps even post script, but revealing as how Paul viewed his own ministry in light of the Roman church.

- Without intending it to be, this section of Romans opens a window into what it was like to be in ministry in this first century of Christianity.

- Paul's description of himself and his expectation of the church, given her knowledge provides us with a candid look into what was normal Christianity.

Text

• Romans 15:14 : "Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another." : Paul was persuaded and satisfied that his was not the sole voice for unity within the Roman church. This group of people was mindful of all that God wanted to do in their midst.

- They were full of goodness. They were morally excellent, upright, people. Galatians 5:22 lists "goodness" as an extension of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

- Additionally, they were filled with all knowledge, knowing the ins and out of Christian life.

- An environment of goodness and the knowledge of Christian living should then lead to what Paul mentions that they were capable to do with one another.

- He expected that they were able to admonish one another.

- "Admonish" is also translated "warn" or "warning." The sense is that we are to look out for each other and warn each other of the dangers that our paths might take us on.

- It's our pride that says that we know what's coming and we have thought through certain things, but the truth is that we need each other's experience and knowledge of God's Word.

- Paul does not even mention the Pastor! He expects that the people of God would take care of and be competent to counsel one another. This same expectation is necessary today.

- You and I need to admonish one another in the Word as well and I'm grateful that is the case!

- Today, too many churches are lining up to get their Pastor to counsel and care for them at the expense of actually taking the responsibility themselves.

- This roars against our predisposition to isolate ourselves from any semblance of real accountability and community.

- How can we admonish another if we are not in the habit of being together or if we don't share with one another? How can we admonish one another if we are not in the Word?

- The church is a place of mutual admonition and if we are not active and consistent in that role, we are being, at the very best, woefully negligent to our Lord!

• Romans 15:15,16 : "Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit." : They are good, knowledgeable and competent, but Paul was given a mandate!

- He had been called and given the grace of God to focus on them! This is why He wrote so boldly to them.

- He wrote boldly of the world's condemnation. He boldly confronted potential anti-semitic attitudes with explanation of sovereign election. He boldly rebuked a lack of charity toward weakness.

- He did this "reminding them." The Authorized Version says that he "put it in mind." They knew these things. They had the knowledge, but they needed a refresher course!

- We do not need new knowledge. We simply need to be reminded of the knowledge that we have forgotten! He did this because he viewed himself as a Gentile Priest to God.

- I prefer the ESV translation of verse 16, which says, "to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit."

- The word "minister" refers to one who engages in the work of worship. The Greeks would use this word of a person who worked in the temples of the gods.

- Paul saw this vocation as an illustration that fit his life, except that his service to God was fulfilled in passing out the gospel of God! This was his message that he was serving.

- And when the Genties received salvation, they became an offering that Paul was bringing to God, which was acceptable and sanctified, set apart by the Holy Spirit.

- Paul was given the gospel to serve to the people and when they received it, the people being living sacrifices, were offered by Paul to the Lord!

- That is a beautful and challenging thought: What are you doing with the gospel and what are you bringing to the Lord in terms of sacrifice? May we be faithful and fruitful!

• Romans 15:17-19 : "Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient—in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ." : The NASB captures verse 17 the best, in that the sentiment is one of boasting in the Lord, in the things which are God's.

- He would dare to do anything for Christ, but he would shudder at the thought of you associating him with having accomplished it of himself! That is a humble man!

- It's an ironic sort of statement, in that Paul was arguably the most daring man that has ever lived. This word "dare not" is the very opposite of that.

- It seems to be true that the men that have accomplished the most in the Christian life are the ones who are least willing to talk about it! That is the mark of a truly great individual.

- It is a recognition that the greatness of God's grace has been accomplished through them. Because it is God working through them, they recognize that they are simply channels.

˚ "If only one man would give himself entirely and without reserve to the Holy Spirit, what that Spirit might do with him! Why should I not be that man?"    D.L. Moody

- Paul noted that God had worked through his speech or actions. God made his words and deeds effective for Gentiles obedience! That is a powerful consideration.

- What can God do through your words and deeds? To the watching world, does your Christianity lived out make a bold proclamation?

- Does speaking about Christ aptly explain the way that you live? Does the world nod and say, "Yes, that makes sense!"

- In Paul's life these two things matched and God made the Gentiles obedient to the faith! When these two aspects of your life match, won't we see similar results? Let it be so!

- For Paul and the Apostles, this was a miraculous time of establishment of the gospel. God allowed great signs and wonders to take place, some of which we saw in the book of Acts.

- God, through Paul, brought blindness upon Elymas in Acts 13:11 which happened at the first stop on the first missionary journey! Acts 19:11,12 reports unusual miracles through handkerchiefs!

- These signs pointed to the veracity of Paul's words and the wonders brought the awe of Christ into the moment. How was this accomplished? By the power of the Holy Spirit!

- The Holy Spirit's job is to point people to Christ! He does this all day every day, even today!

- How can we as Christians think for a moment that He does not want to fill us and effect the same power through our lives! Be presently filled with the Holy Spirit!

- By this time, Paul had travelled from Jerusalem to Illycrium, which was about the furthest point west, just short of Italy. This represents a rugged 1400 mile journey to the edge of the Empire!

- Every where he had gone, he fully preached the gospel! This doesn't refer to his message, which we know he proclaimed fully, but that he availed himself to every possible opportunity!

- Can that be said of you? Are you making the most of your opportunity to preach the gospel?

•  Romans 15:20,21 : "And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation, but as it is written: 'To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand.'" : Paul saw himself as a priest and a pioneer! He wanted to go where no man had gone before, to speak the name of Christ, where it had not yet been named!

- The phrase "made it my aim" might also be understood as an ambitious striving. Paul worked hard to expand the knowledge base of Christ's name.

- He was not a man that wanted to build on pre-existing material. That was not Paul's gifting. As an Apostle, his gift was to establish churches and train leaders.

- Paul is not indicting other men coming to build upon foundations that were laid. That was a Pastor Teacher's duty, but not his and he has a verse for it!

- He quotes here from Isaiah 65:1, the next to last chapter in Isaiah, which speaks of God revealing Himself to the nations. When the Apostle read this, it sparked an explanation in his heart!

- This was the enterprise that he was to invest himself in! He wanted people that had not heard, so that he could see this verse fulfilled.

• Romans 15:22-25 : "For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem." : Paul saw himself as a priest and a pioneer, but he saw the church as his partner!

- Paul's visit to the Romans was delayed because of his desire to preach where Christ was not already named. Most believe that the book of Romans was written while Paul was in Corinth.

- It was in Corinth that Paul felt the loneliest, ministering in a very difficult place, but once the church was established, there wasn't any more work for him to do there.

- His next target audience was Spain, which would have represented the end of the earth!

- His plan was to stop in Rome and allow those who were part of that church, the chance to bless him, to help him on his way.

- The word "help" is very practical, meaning to make him fit for his journey. He anticipated that they would supply him with his needs for the journey, partnering with him materially and physically.

- There are times along the way in Acts when Paul gathered men to travel with him.

- This was Paul's plan, but he also had a priority to deliver the offering from the Gentile churches to the church in Jerusalem.

• Romans 15:26,27 : "It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.'" : The people of Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to give materially because they had been invited into Israel's blessing.

- They saw themselves as being people who owed the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem the debt of brotherly love in Christ. They rightly viewed themselves as debtors to the Jews.

- Jerusalem had been the centerpoint of the Christian faith when the day of Pentecost happened and from there, the good news of Christ had spread out to all the known regions.

- But there was a great cost for those first believers. Many lost their families' inheritance or employment station on account of their confession of and conversion to Christ!

- This is why we find a communal group growing in Jerusalem in the early chapters of Acts. Then, when the church was dispersed by Paul's, then Saul's persecution, the church was decimated.

- It was God's plan to send the church out and when they did, they were not silent! They brought the good news out into the world.

- The wonderful news of salvation and the union that believers have with Christ, the forgiveness of sins and the wonder of God's love, were all spiritual things that the Jews shared.

- What are material things in comparison with that? The Gentiles had received what they did not have and gave the Christian Jews what they did not have!

- Sometimes the most spiritual thing we have to give is material in nature! How many have partnered with missionaries by faithfully supporting them financially?

- How many have given of their resource to fund different outreaches in their community?

- This is the way of the church: We are to always be willing to be the vehicle through which God disperses both spiritual and material blessings!

- Paul did not put this on the Macedonians and the Achaians. THEY viewed it as their debt! It pleased them to act in this way.

- Paul did not manufacture this in them. It was their genuine desire for themselves!

- This is how a church is to function: Listen to God and act accordingly! If you are waiting for me to suggest how you should serve, I will, but you might wait a long time!

- It's much better to ask Him yourself and give your attention to that leading from the Lord!

• Romans 15:28,29 : "Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ." : This phrase is peculiar to our ears, but the meaning of a "seal" was expressive of authentication.

- When Paul brought this gift to Jerusalem, he was vouching for the people who had given it.

- The NASB renders verses 28 this way: " Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain."

- The Apostle was saying that this gift came from a proper motive to bless the Lord and His people. From there, Paul would go visit them, bringing with him the fullness of blessing!

• Romans 15:30-33 : "Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen." : Paul saw the church as a partner in practical things as well as in prayer.

- Paul understands that this gift will bring a blessing to the believers in Jerusalem, but that there were those who would oppose him.

- Because of that, he calls upon the believers in Rome to strive together with him in prayers. Literally, he is calling them agonize with him in prayer!

- The picture is one of a great and mighty, strenuous struggle, which both parties were to enter into together. Certainly, as we have been privileged to watch the olympians, we witnessed this!

- He is calling them, as the NEB puts it, "to be his allies in the fight!" "Run with me in prayer over these items that concern me!"

- Notice that these were to do this through the Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit. We have our access to God through the agency of Jesus Christ.

- It is in the love of the Spirit that we are directed in our prayers and those prayers are made to the Father. Here is the Trinity in action, working together for our benefit.

- Both the prayers of Paul and the Romans were answered in an indirect way. God did deliver or rescue Paul from those who did not believe.

- He received a beating and was put into prison, but oddly enough, this was really a deliverance from the unbelieving Jews!

- This was the first part of his prayer. The second part was that the gift would be acceptable or "well received" by the saints.

- One might say it like this: "Pray that this gift is received in the spirit that it was intended! Let it bless them to receive it!"

- When these two things were accomplished, Paul was going to go unburdened to Rome, with joy and by the will of God, in hopes of being refreshed with them.

- The idea is that they would simply be at ease, such as ones who are sleeping are refreshed after an afternoon nap!

- Paul was looking forward to being with the Romans, because it would be a wonderful time of mutual enjoyment.

Conclusion

- Having spent some time reading this, let me ask you, "How do you see yourself?" You are a Christian, therefore you are a Priest! What are your words and deeds serving up?

- What offering are you bringing to the Lord? What unsaved people will owe their allegiance to Christ to your endeavors?

- Paul saw himself as a priest and a pioneer. He wanted to go. I pray that some of you will sense this call as well.

- Paul saw the church as his partner, both practically and prayerfully. Are you a good partner? There's plenty to help with and there's plenty to pray about!

- May the Lord speak abundantly and clearly to you about His vision for you to you now!