Romans 15:14-33
From Jerusalem to Illyricum
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.”
Plan to Visit Rome
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.
Paul journeyed with the gospel all over the known world surrounding the Mediterranean from the beginning in Jerusalem all around between Italy and modern turkey in the Roman province of Illyricum, roughly corresponded to today's Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Slovenia. He faithfully proclaimed the good news of the life, teachings, atoning death on a cross of cursing to save us, and resurrection to life from death that all who come to Him share in. He also made it clear that the power and wisdom to do this was entirely from God’s Spirit working in and through him with empowering and enabling grace. He wrote to encourage the believers in Rome near the end of this letter to remind them that their spiritual growth was visible and effective to reach others as well; they were commended for their goodness, extensive scriptural knowledge, and ability to admonish one another with godly wisdom by that same Spirit working in them. We do well to likewise encourage one another’s sanctification to spur each other on (Hebrews 10:24-25) as we meet in our assemblies today. Paul also wrote to remind them boldly on points needing work or clarification to keep them on track similarly as Apollos needed direction early in his walk of faith (Acts 18:24-25, 26-28) but with a more mature group of readers in Rome he addressed here. He was able to speak directly to them like this because he was known and trusted as minister chosen by God to speak truth in love to them. May we who serve also be so well known as His and trusted for the work of God’s wisdom and love in and through us as well! Then we see how he ministered the gospel to the non-Jews who were also called by the gospel as God’s people in Jesus Christ as set apart for God by His Spirit working in them just as He did among the Jews at Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. The apostle only had reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God and not himself or his own abilities or knowledge, and did not dare to speak to claim or boast of anything that Christ had not accomplished through him by that power and wisdom of God. He boasted in Christ and His Spirit working in him as we also must continue to do as we imitate him (1 Corinthians 11:1) who imitated Christ. Paul also set the example of a missionary who does not constantly retrace the steps of others before him but who endeavors to reach the unreached who need the gospel. He quoted Isaiah 52:15 to proclaim the good news to those who have not yet heard that they might have their ears opened to understand and have faith to believe and receive Jesus Christ for deliverance from the penalty of sin, namely God’s eternal wrath, and be granted eternal life by grace. He went on to share his plans to continue on to Rome to see them face to face after aiming to do so for such a long time and necessitating this letter until then. He also let on that his intent was to continue spreading the gospel around Italy all the way to Spain that the whole known Greek speak world of the Empire might hear and turn from sin to Him who died and rose again. He spoke of ministering monetary support along with the spiritual which holds as a pattern even today for the church for the ministry of the word of God with God’s blessing. He ended this passage by asking for their prayer support born out of love put in their hearts as they strived with him to tell everyone this good news and serve the saints of Jesus Christ who are all called in Him (1 Corinthians 1:2) as their acceptable service of worship (Romans 12:1) until he arrived with joy and refreshing fellowship by the will of God who brings His servants together. May we do likewise!
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