MESSAGES OF PAUL
His plans
Chapter 15: 14-33
In the rest of this chapter, Paul states his reason for writing to the Romans and his great desire to visit them. Paul wrote this letter because he was so convinced he was fulfilling his mission to instruct the Gentiles in the Gospel.
Although he had not yet gone to Rome, he was sure they would accept his admonitions, knowing that the recipients were “full of goodness", "filled with all knowledge" and "able to admonish one another."
Paul explains that he was bold to write to them as he did, because he had been appointed minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles. This statement of his apostolate gives legitimacy to the work of Paul as inspired by God. His ministry was like a priesthood in which the Gentiles were presented as a gift, which he wished, would be acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit through the new birth.
This teaches us that every soul earned by the preaching of the Gospel is not only taken to a place of safety and of blessing, but constitutes an offering to God and every soul carefully and patiently instructed in the Gospel gives pleasure to the Father. It is a great motive to persevere in evangelism and teaching.
However, Paul did not take pride, bragging in himself for the good results of his work, but in Christ Jesus for what He did through his intermediary. A humble servant of Christ should not grow vain with the success of his work, but must always remember that he is nothing in himself, that he has nothing that was not first given to him, and that he can to nothing for Christ except by the power of the Holy Spirit that operates in him.
In this sense, it would be presumption of Paul to have the audacity to take advantage of his position, the pulpit to which God rose him, to speak about anything other than what Christ had done through him, to be obeyed by the Gentiles. He could testify personally of what he spoke, and of his actions, signs and wonders in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul did not attribute to himself the merit of the work of God performed by others, especially among the Gentiles. Obviously, he could not boast of what took place on the day of Pentecost, the beginning of the ministry that resulted in the Gospel being brought to the Gentiles, or the fruit of the beginning of the ministry among the Gentiles, through the visit made by Simon Peter to the centurion Cornelius. However, the Lord Jesus had detached him for the ministry among the Gentiles.
The signs and wonders were the credentials of the apostles and prophets to give them authority to preach and teach the Gospel while the New Testament was not written. The believers had to be very careful to discern who was a true apostle and whom they were listening to. Luke informs us: "they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands". So they were able to strive with "the unbelieving Jews that stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren" (Acts 14: 2.3).
The day came when the signs and wonders no longer identified the servants of God. The apostle John, near the end of his life, wrote: "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him" (2 John v. 10). Already at this point, the identification of a man of God was made only by the sound doctrine found in the word of God, and so it has been up to our days. Today it is our enemy that uses signs and wonders to catch and remove people to fanaticism and false teaching.
Writing to members of another church (Ephesians 2:20), Paul stated that they were fellow citizens with the saints and members of the family of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.
In another letter, Paul advised that, although as a wise builder he had laid the foundation of the church in Corinth by the grace of God, “nobody can lay another foundation than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:10 .11).
Paul's ministry began in Jerusalem and its surroundings, and extended as far as the Roman province of Illyricum, north of Macedonia, going from the Adriatic Sea to the river Danube.
By following this route, his objective was to preach the Gospel in territory where it was still unknown. His audiences were composed primarily of Gentiles who had never heard of Christ before, and in this way, he did not build on the work already started by others.
The example of the pioneering work of Paul making him go only to places where there was no Christian witness is not a standard to be observed by all who dedicate themselves to the ministry of evangelism. Some are called for the continuing, strengthening and teaching in existing churches.
The sowing of Paul among the Gentiles was the fulfilment of a prophecy "So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; for what had not been told them they shall see, and what they had not heard they shall consider." (Isaiah 52: 15).
Furthermore, Paul had often wished to meet with the believers of the churches in Rome but had to postpone going there in order to serve those regions that needed to hear the Gospel message. He gave priority to evangelism over assistance to existing churches.
Paul had in mind travelling to Spain, which would give him an opportunity to stop on the way to visit the churches of Rome, enjoy their fellowship and receive their assistance if necessary to go on to Spain.
Now he was going to Jerusalem “to minister to the saints." No doubt, he could give spiritual ministry there, but he had a primary duty to deliver some funds to the believers in Jerusalem, so this must be the ministry mentioned here. More details are given in 1 Corinthians 16:1 and 2 Corinthians 8 and 9: the believers in Macedonia and Achaia had contributed cheerfully and spontaneously to a fund intended to alleviate the suffering of the needy saints in Judea. The Gospel message had come to them through Jewish believers, and this was a practical way to show their gratitude.
Paul went to Jerusalem at the end of his third missionary journey, with the intention of going to Rome next, as mentioned by Luke in Acts 19:21. (In Jerusalem, the church received him well, but when he went to the temple, the Jews sought to kill him. Roman soldiers arrested him, and eventually sent him as a prisoner to Rome, to stand trial in the Court of Caesar to whom he appealed).
Paul finished with a fervent plea for their prayers. He asked the brethren to "strive" with him in prayer to God that he might be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea and that his service for Jerusalem might be acceptable to the saints, so that when visiting Rome he would come with joy by the will of God, and refresh them. He ended the letter wishing the peace of God to be with all of them.
R David Jones
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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.
15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God,
16 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.
17 Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God.
18 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—
19 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.
20 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,
21 but as it is written: "TO WHOM HE WAS NOT ANNOUNCED, THEY SHALL SEE; AND THOSE WHO HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND."
22 For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you.
23 But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you,
24 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.
25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.
26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.
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.
28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain.
29 But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
30 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,
31 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,
32 that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.
33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Romans chapter 15, verses 14 to 33