Some Concluding Appeals - Romans 15:14-33

By Pastor Rich Paradis

Paul now continues his discussion related to the offering of oneself as a “living sacrifice” by discussing his own ministry and what it has entailed up to now. He will also share what he hopes it will look like moving into the future. Paul, as he has shared his own theology and its practical outworking, is now going to share from his own testimony of God’s work in and around him. Remember, Paul has never met those that he is writing to so he does not know them nor do they know him personally.

 

 

I.                   Paul’s Ministry To This Point    Romans 15:14-21

a.       As Paul opens this paragraph, he takes a few sentences to acknowledge the Jewish believer reading this letter. There has been evidence that the previous discussion regarding the stronger / weaker brother had definite application to a group of Jewish believers in this group as it related to dietary restriction and observance of days discussion in chapter 14.

b.      While Paul has offered some correction and teaching to these readers, he will now offer a few words of commendation  in Verse 14 to their potential in following his teaching regarding the Gentiles around them. These are not empty words that are hoping for a response. He is “convinced” of these truths about them and their character. There are three characteristics of these readers that he will remind them of as a challenge to going forward in the right spirit. As opposed to the things that Paul wrote to other churches (i.e. Corinthians and Galatians) about their lack of such characteristics, this list should have been a compliment to his readers.

                                                              i.      Full of goodness – This goodness is a fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22) and was evidence of their walking in the Spirit, especially in a place known for its immoral behavior and sin.

                                                            ii.      Filled with all knowledge – They are knowledgeable in the things of the Lord. One might wonder why he would write such a systematic letter to people with this level of knowledge. The answer will come in the next verse.

                                                          iii.      Able to admonish one another – This group of believers had shown themselves to be able to correct and counsel one another toward godliness and Kingdom living.

c.       Paul continues, in Verses 15-16, to share the “why” of this writing. Paul has written this letter with both its corrections and its encouragements because of what has been revealed to him in his own life. Remember Paul’s own conversion in Acts 9 and its revealing of God’s grace to him. He is now sharing that same recognition and reception of this grace with those that are in the cultural capital of the world at that point. Acts 9:15 states the calling of Paul to be a minister of the gospel to the Gentiles, the non-Jew. He not only sees this ministry as a calling, but as an opportunity to involve himself in the sacrificial work of the priest of the Old Testament. The Gentiles would be an offering that he would present by way of his ministry that would be solely for the glory of God. Note the empowering of the entire Triune Godhead in Verse 16 in Paul’s ministry. What a privilege to preach for this audience!!

d.      With that in mind, Paul continues in Verse 17-19 to discuss the source of his boasting: the gospel of Jesus Christ. Any good thing that Paul would bring to the Gentiles would be a direct result of that which had happened to Paul himself. Any of what Paul would say or do would be in response to the difference that Jesus Christ had made in his own life. Paul’s ministry from Jerusalem to Illyricum (a reference to the scope and distance of his ministry reach at that point) would, through signs and wonders as demonstrated regularly in the book of Acts, result in the gospel being preached in the entire region under discussion by the power of the Holy Spirit. Some have estimated the distance that Paul travelled at this point in history to deliver the gospel at over 14,000 miles!

e.       With this incredible ministry in focus and the completion of it documented here, Paul now continues in Verse 20-21 to discuss his plans for the future. Paul’s own call to preaching the gospel did not end at the places where the gospel had been heard. It was to reach to pioneer places around the world. His desire was not to build on the work of another man, but to build on the work of Christ in his own heart to the places where His name was yet unknown. One of Paul’s favorite places to quote is the book of Isaiah, and he does that here by quoting Isaiah 52:15 which notes the call to take the message to those that have never heard, which will be demonstrated by the great Servant himself.

 

II.                Paul’s Ministry Going Forward    Romans 15:22-33

a.       Paul offers the entirety of the previous section as his reason for not visiting them in the past in Verses 22-23. He has been about the work of sharing the good news of Christ in the entire region of the eastern Mediterranean, but now his work is done. This does not mean that he has personally shared the gospel with every person of the region, but it does mean that he has taken the gospel to the cultural and influential centers of the region with the hope that the lives that are changed there under his preaching will translate into missionaries to the neighboring smaller towns and rural areas.

b.      His hope is that he will finally satisfy his longing to see them on his way to Spain. Verses 24-25 has Paul sharing that his visit to Rome at that point will be to both secure their help and to enjoy their company for a while. The help that he will hope to secure is encouragement in travel, finances for the effort, and possibly even a few team members to travel with him and participate in the work.

c.       But there is work to do first! Verses 26-29 tell us of  his first priority: getting an offering from the Gentile believers in Macedonia and Achaia to the poor believers in Jerusalem. These Gentile believers were not only pleased to make this offering, they had a feeling of indebtedness to these Jewish believers. Why? The gospel had been shared with them by Jewish believers so they felt a sense of gratitude and indebtedness to those that had brought the good news to them. They “needed” to share in the care of these hurting Jewish believers as a response to all that they done for them. As soon as this offering and its explanation is delivered by Paul, he will take off toward them on his way to Spain full of blessing from the Lord.

d.      In the meantime, Paul commissions his readers to be in intercessory prayer for him. Verses 30-33 offer the details of these prayers. Again, note the entire Triune Godhead empowering this prayer effort! Both Paul and these believers will have a common source of empowerment in all that will possibly be ahead, God Himself!

e.       There is a problem that Paul and those around him know of. There are disobedient ones in Jerusalem that would love to not only stop the delivery of this much-needed offering, but also capture Paul and hinder him from further ministry. Acts 20:22-23 gives evidence to this situation. Strangely we know that he is ultimately captured and will be transported to Rome but not in the way that he had hoped. Whether he ever gets to Spain is unknown, but he will visit Rome not as a travelling missionary but as a prisoner!! But for now, we hear Paul offering peace toward his readers until he gets there.

 

III.             An Application For All Of Us

a.       What a wonderful example of commitment to the work of the gospel!

b.      Are there people in your spiritual journey that you are “indebted” to? How could you bless them and encourage them to continue the work?

c.       Are you aware of believers that are in need? How could you bless them with both your gifts of help and your prayers?