Paul, one who was strong. Romans 15:14-21 V.14-15. Beginning at verse fourteen, Paul puts the end-frame on the book of Romans that began in chapter one verses eight through fifteen. In chapter fifteen verse fourteen through twenty-one, we have teaching relating to the new covenant concluded. From verse twenty-two on is a personal part of the epistle.
To begin this concluding paragraph of the body of truth that had given, the apostle makes it plain that what he wrote was authoritative because he had been given grace by God to be the apostle to the Gentiles, set apart and guided by the Holy Spirit. The saints at Rome were to accept this epistle as the words of God to them through his servant. He was confident that they were truly devoted to the Lord and had knowledge of the truth that had been taught them, but there were some points that had to be made by him because of his calling of God.
Even though Paul had not been to Rome nor been involved in some other way in the work in that city, he was confident that their devotion to the Lord and their knowledge of the will of God was effective. Their fellowship as Jewish and Gentile believers was being maintained. He was conscious of the need of the believers there having a clear understanding of the universality of the impact of the Gospel.
The need of the saints of God having no barriers between them because of national, cultural or religious background had been addressed. He explains that he wrote this epistle to them as one who had personally experienced the grace of God in a very remarkable way. He had been saved as a devout Jew and had been designated by God to preach the Gospel and be the apostle to the Gentiles.
How can I know about people that I have never met and even be able to assist them and minister to their needs? Reputation is being made constantly whether it is the reputation of an individual or a group of believers. Every action and decision have some effect on those who are affected by it. Another way I can know people is by the fact that all believers appreciate the grace of God. That is one thing all true Christians have in common. The reputation of goodness is passed on from one group of people to another as they catch the vision of the Lord's will from each other. Knowledge and honesty between us are not things to ever take for granted.
Every believer has a God-given role to fill in the work of God and the kingdom of God. For us to excuse ourselves from taking hold of our responsibility is failure on our part. Each of us needs to commit ourselves to God and His work and He will put all that is done by many different people who have been given different gifts into one complete mosaic that satisfies Him. That is what an assembly is – the house of God.
The objective of knowledge and devotion, in the Lord’s people in general, and the use of individual gifts by each one, is holiness. It is God’s intention that each assembly of saints is separated unto Him and capable of representing Him in their part of the world. Paul’s work was a priestly work, and our “reasonable service” is a priestly work.
It is important for us in this day as well as those in Rome who read this letter, to first understand what it is. The teaching is the words and instructions to us from God the Holy Spirit. He is the One who inspired these words and they are to be accepted as divine authority on matters pertaining to the Gospel, the church of God, the local assemblies of God and individual believers in Christ. The written words of Paul are as important as the words he would speak if he were in their presence.
Written ministry is not to be given casually by those who write it, nor should it be taken as if it is not important. There is a distinct advantage in written ministry in that it can be reviewed and referred to over and over. Much of what is spoken in a public meeting is forgotten after it has been expressed. In written as well as spoken ministry, tact and authority go together. Spiritual knowledge of the word of God and the Gospel message, as well as encouragement, give both authority and acceptance to those who read the written word.
V.16. There is no question that the evidence of God's grace in brothers and sisters in Christ affects our lives in the assembly of which we are a part, or in the calling we have been given. Paul was known among the saints as the minister to the Gentiles. He knew part of His strength was to be a priest, ministering the Gospel to the Gentiles and offering himself on their behalf by being set aside for their benefit by the Holy Spirit. To be able to tell people of the blessings of the Gospel is an amazing privilege for anyone. So, Paul was able to boldly tell others of the grace God had shown to him in allowing him to make reference to God using him in preaching the Gospel. He was not glorying in this for self-centered reasons.
Paul had been given the grace to be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ to proclaim His word to the Gentiles. He recognized this work as a priestly duty in which one speaks for God to the people. In his case, his function was not involved with rituals but with the Gospel message. The result was the Gentile believers themselves were an acceptable sacrifice to God They belonged to the Lord and were set apart by the Holy Spirit as those who belonged to God.
V.17. As priests we too intercede for others. Paul was also a preacher of the Gospel of Christ. When anyone speaks for God, that person has been given a very responsible work for God. Not only do we represent others as a priest and seek to reach them as a preacher or teacher, but in reaching out to others areas as yet untouched, we are involved in the work of pioneering - of opening new doors for the Gospel.
Involved in being one who supposed to be strong in the Lord as a priest, preacher and pioneer - is also the need of having a stated purpose of bearing lasting fruit for the glory of God. And to this end, even the strongest believer recognizes the absolutely essential need of fervent, urgent, effective prayer. He must be committed to this and also needs the benefit of having others who will pray along with him for successful work in reaching others for the kingdom of God.
V.18-21. The ministry of the apostle Paul when he preached the Gospel to the Gentiles, was the work of the Lord Jesus Christ through His servant. He preached in the power of the Spirit of God throughout the eastern and middle part of the Roman empire. In his labors, he preached where the Gospel had not been known and God blessed his word in saving souls.
The Gospel was new to people in those places and even though they had not heard it previously, they understood the message when he preached it. God can do His saving work through a dedicated and sanctified person who is willing to go where God wants and do what He says. The doctrine of the Gospel was confirmed to those people by signs and wonders similar to what had happened when it first began to be sounded out to the Jews.