15^th Chapter of Romans

(All verses are from the New International Version)

Romans 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

LOVE IS MORE THAN PLEASING OURSELVES

This verse really should be part of the previous chapter since it is a continuing thought carrying over from chapter 14 verse 23. Remember these divisions were added long after these letters were penned. Some of them utterly make no sense at all in my opinion, like this one here.

Notice how again Paul identifies the strong with those who have not restricted themselves with extra-covenant convictions such as not being able to eat certain things or having to celebrate certain days. Letting your faith depend on extraneous objects, customs or times is not considered something mature, as we saw in the previous chapter. Paul says these are the failings (asthenēma: infirmity; error arising from weakness of mind) of the weak! Nevertheless, if you consider yourself strong and free in Jesus you have an obligation to bear (bastazo: lift, carry up, sustain) with those you consider to be of weak faith; the goal being not to please yourself.

To bear with your brothers means to put up with their weaknesses by saying only what can encourage them and build them up in Jesus:

Ephesians 4:29 NIV Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

No criticisms (constructive or otherwise), no suggestions on what they should do about their prospective restriction, no thumbing your noses at them or allowing yourself to cop an attitude or get frustrated. I am not saying to say things that may enable their particular crutch like: “oh that’s so spiritual”, or “that’s such dedication”, or anything like that. Just keep it real and say you have a very different opinion if asked and keep it to the Scriptures.

Thus the strong have a definite responsibility for the week and the obligation to see that they make it. He must, in a sense, carry them in a manner like that of a strong man carrying a little child. In no instance must his personal liberty as a Christian be allowed to interfere with duty toward the weak. The claim which the weak brother has upon the aid and encouragement of the strong is based upon his redemption in Christ and may not be rejected by the strong, regardless of what personal inclinations and Christian liberties of his own should be sacrificed to the fulfillment of that duty. – Coffman

You’ll get in trouble if you want to flaunt your freedom or if you want to defend your freedom when someone has been grieved by your practice of it, as we saw in the last chapter. If you do that you are not really strong in the faith since you are just being selfish.

1 Corinthians 10:31-33 NIV So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God-- 33 even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Romans 15:2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Our goal of building one another up is a goal attained by the mature of faith, according to the Holy Spirit. These four stages of maturing love are reflected in the work of Bernard of Clairveux’s, The Four Degrees of Love. Bernard was a French monk born in 1090 AD who reflected on how our motives for practicing love change as we mature:

1- Love me for my benefit – the most basic (carnal) love; the first one we learn to be able to survive – “That is the flesh, which can appreciate nothing beyond itself.”

2- Love you for my benefit – is a love practiced because we know we cannot survive on our own. We need others to help us make it. We graduate to this motive for loving and love through it for most of our teen and early adulthood years. I dare say most of us come into the body of Christ knowing this kind of love in ourselves. “To love others as something necessary to his own welfare, not for other’s sake, but selfishly”

3- Love you for your benefit – this is the stage of love that most of us attain in our walk with Christ. It is a very mature form of loving; loving people for their benefit, for their own good – seeking their good and not our own, as Paul mentions in this verse. It is this form of love that is sharpened and put into practice in the church. Of this degree Bernard says: “Surely he must remain long in this state; and I know not whether it would be possible to make further progress in this life to that fourth degree and perfect condition wherein man loves himself solely for God's sake.”

4- Love me for your benefit – the highest degree of love has to do with loving ourselves for the benefit of others. In this degree we freely practice the Golden Rule and the Greatest Command: Love God with all your heart, soul mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. I believe this is the love that marriage and parenting teaches. If you don’t learn it while being married without kids you will surely learn it when you have kids. Those who go through marriage and parenting without reaching this stage are those who probably end up being frazzled, frustrated, parents who suffer the empty nest syndrome for making their kids be the center of attention for most of their married life. Concerning this degree Bernard will say: “Doubtless it will be reached when the good and faithful servant shall have entered into the joy of his Lord (Matt. 25:21), and been satisfied with the plenteousness of God's house (Ps. 36:8). For then in wondrous wise he will forget himself and as if delivered from self, he will grow wholly God's. Joined unto the Lord, he will then be one spirit with Him (I Cor. 6:17).” Although he hints at this degree only being obtained in heaven, it may be that some saints get to it while they live here.

Building each other up implies sacrificial work. Work not for our sake or our interest but for the interest of the brethren you are building up. The process of building each other up is similar to building anything – Paul himself compares it to building a building:

Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:8-15 NIV 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Paul’s words are echoes of what Jesus Himself said:

Luke 6:46-49 NIV "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

So to build each other up we need:

1- A blueprint – the Word of God – Rom 10:17 – the words of Christ – speak only the word of Jesus to your brothers to always point back to the cornerstone of their faith!

2- A cornerstone – Jesus Christ – the chief cornerstone – as shown in the Gospel (1Co 15:1-4)

3- A foundation – the apostles and prophets – the very words of God which provide the basic doctrine and pattern of truth to be obeyed

4- An architect – the Holy Spirit – Eph 3:16 – The Spirit strengthens us from within – remember the Holy Spirit is not finished with anyone of us yet; help build with wholesome words and actions

5- A scaffolding – superficial and temporary structure – Heb 13:7, 17 – the encouragement, guidance and counsel of your leaders who watch over you – any counsel you can provide should only be intermediary; the brothers need to stand on their own faith eventually, resting on the faith of Jesus Christ

6- Structural beams – the actual weight bearing structures that allow you to build up and out – these are the trials and tribulations that strengthen your faith – James 1:1-4; 1Pe 1:6-7

7- Finish – Genuine faith that is worth more than gold – the result of glory and honor to Jesus Christ when He is revealed! – 1Pe 1:7

Remember our goal is not to cater to our brethren’s whims and wishes, but to please him for the purpose of building him up, for his ultimate salvation:

1 Corinthians 10:32-33 NIV 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God-- 33 even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Romans 15:3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."

Jesus shows us the road of sacrificial work unto the salvation of others:

Philippians 2:5-8 NIV Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!

Paul quotes Psalm 69:9 here, showing how personal Jesus takes the insults and mockery directed at His Father. If Jesus was out to please Himself He would have tried to please people’s scorn and mockery of God. Instead, Jesus did not please Himself but the Father; and in doing so, became the source of salvation for all those who obey Him (Heb 5:8-10).

John 15:12-13 NIV My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

In the same way, mature brethren ought to look after pleasing their Father in Heaven that by their actions they please God and stimulate growth amongst the weak of faith.

Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

The scriptures are the road map to hope

Here again is a reference to the blueprint we ought to use for building each other up – the very work of love we need to get involved with to build the house of God. In doing so not only are we pleasing each other spiritually, but most importantly pleasing the Father as we grow up into Jesus Christ:

Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Only when we follow the roadmap of scripture will we be building the house of God and building something that will last forever! Any other recipe has no hope! All that was recorded in the past shows us time and time again how hopeless it is to deviate from God's word and to hope in the world. From the scriptures we find Jesus, our true hope in whom we are justified by faith.

1 Corinthians 10:11 NIV 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

Galatians 3:24-25 NIV So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

Romans 15:5-6 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Notice how Paul desires for them, the Roman Christians, to depend on God only. Only God gives:

1- Endurance – the strength to continue onward without failing

2- Encouragement – the motivation, inspiration and courage to continue the good fight – rejecting evil and embracing the goodness of the Lord

3- Spirit of unity – the maturity to not judge one another when it comes to matters of opinion and conscience and to judge yourself first in the Lord

You have to be actively following Jesus (John 8:31-32); plugged into His word which gives you real faith (Rom 10:17) and hope (Rom 15:4), and His Spirit that promotes peace (Rom 8:6; Rom 14:17) and unity (Eph 4:3).

The Spirit defines unity as being able to glorify God with one heart and one mouth.

One heart…

Loving the Lord our God with all our heart means giving over all our emotions to the pursuit of the glorification of God our Father. All our desires, aspirations and goals for living this life must be aimed at exalting the Lord Jesus through the work He has given us in His kingdom. Not only is this the only satisfying and fulfilling thing for all humans, but we will quickly advance to the highest degree of love when our hearts don’t condemn us for having weak faith.

One mouth…

Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks… (Mat 12:34; Mat 15:18; Luke 6:45) if you are full of the goodness of God, un-dependent and un-enabled by the worldly things and your own evil desires, you will speak good things and build up one another. All you will say will result in the glory of God and in the edification of your brother. Your words are a good measure of where your faith (soul), loyalty (heart) and maturity (mind) is.

1 Corinthians 1:10 NIV I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

1. Divisions undermine the message of the Gospel.

2. Divisions promote man-made doctrine.

3. Divisions come as a result of extra-biblical judgments applied to the brethren

4. Divisions do not glorify God

5. Divisions are not the way of Jesus

6. Unity is what Jesus prayed for – John 17:20-23

7. Unity shows the world we are on the side of truth, on the side of Jesus

Those who are truly plugged into the Spirit will not judge one another on matters of conscience and will sacrifice themselves to please their brothers for their own good – to build them up. This is how the body grows up together, with each part doing its work, agreeing with one another (doctrinally) and conceding to each other’s wishes (when it comes to matters of opinion) to promote harmony and unity. The result? We will glorify our head, Jesus Christ, which will in turn result in glory to the God and Father of our husband.

Romans 15:7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Having the spirit of Jesus guiding us and being depended on the endurance and encouragement God provides for us through the word, the Spirit and each other in the church we will pursue acceptance of one another in the same way Jesus has accepted us – just as we are. This is the message we will be preaching: one of inclusion in Jesus.

If we are children of God and members of the body of Christ we look to be inclusive, not exclusive. The world’s MO is exclusivity which results in attitudes of entitlement, elitism and socio-economic stratification. Jesus sought to end all that division by making us all one in His body:

Ephesians 2:11-18 NIV Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)-- 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Ephesians 3:6 NIV This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

Praise to God is given by how accepting we are of each other, leaving all judgments to God on matters of conscience. Mature Christians seek to accept one another in the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 NIV 14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

Romans 15:8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs

JESUS UNITES JEWS AND GENTILES

Jesus gave himself up as the unifying force and factor of God's plan. We have been called to play a role in the unification of all things, not the dispersion of things, except perhaps for evil:

Ephesians 5:11 NIV Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

Jesus served and gave himself up for a people that rejected Him initially. As some realized God's plan they gratefully accepted the plan of God because they understood Jesus confirmed the promises of God to the patriarchs.

Jesus accepted us for fellowship with Him even though our faith and morals were not as strong as His. Thus we have no reason not to accept other Christians who may not agree with us (14:1). Jesus did not take advantage of His strength but accepted the role of service (Greek diakon) to fulfill God’s mission set forth in Scripture.

– Disciple’s Study Bible

Romans 15:9 so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name."

Gentiles also benefited from Jesus sacrifice – a people that did not seek or know God gloried in their salvation brought by Jesus. Through Jesus God’s mercy to all peoples was shown – his acceptance of all peoples, whether Jew or Gentile – all brought under one head: Jesus Christ.

Paul is quoting 2Sa 22:50 and Psalm 18:49 as proof texts that the inclusion of the Gentiles was long known about in the prophecies.

Romans 15:10-12 Again, it says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people." And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples." And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him."

Three quotations from Deut 32:43, Psalm 117:1, and Isaiah 11:10, continue to prove God's desire to be all-inclusive in His plan of redemption.

Jesus, the Messiah, was not only the hope of the Jews but also of the Gentiles unbeknownst.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The issue of trusting (believing) God, as opposed to just believing in God, is really the core of the problems the Roman church was experiencing. If Paul is aiming to do anything in this letter, it is to help the brethren trust God and rely on Him as opposed to their own judgments and suppositions. The Jews presupposed to know God and the Gentiles relied on their gut instincts so Paul is showing them both that trusting God is the only way to go. Only through God's truth in the scriptures can we have joy and peace – trusting God with uncertainty and the things we cannot see. Our God is the God of hope, because He keeps His word – we can trust His judgments (in the Bible):

Jeremiah 29:10-11 NIV This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

When we trust God with all our heart, as Jesus said in (John 14:1-4): we will be filled with

1- Joy – the joy of the Lord strengthens us and is unchanging as opposed to the joy of the world which is fleeting and dependent on changing things.

2- Peace – the peace Jesus gives us is not like the world gives. The peace of Jesus is everlasting and gives rest to our souls whereas the peace the world gives is dependent upon people’s self serving desires.

3- Hope – God's hope is out of this world, literally! It is a hope that will carry us beyond the grave and outdoes everything and anything you could ever want or need. “Hope that is seen is no hope at all”, as the scripture says, “Who hopes for what he already has?” (Romans 8:24). True hope cannot be fabricated by man’s effort. Hope comes from what we can understand of scripture, not from man’s opinions.

Particularly the Spirit’s work in us along with our trusting in His work will not just fill us with hope, but we will be overflowing (abounding) with hope – meaning this hope we carry will go beyond our hearts as we share it with others. Only those who receive the Spirit of sonship when they are incorporated in Christ (baptized for the forgiveness of their sins) can bear these fruit of the Spirit (Acts 2:38; Gal 5:22). As I have previously quoted, hope is one of the big three that remains with us today and will carry us onward to Heaven:

1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

And only in Christ are all these blessings given:

Ephesians 1:3 NIV Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

This joy can come only through believing, and I pray you, brothers and sisters, never be drifted away from the child-like faith in what God hath said. It is very easy to obtain a temporary joy and peace through your present easy experience, but how will you do when all things take a troublous turn? Those who live by feelings change with the weather. If you ever put aside your faith in the finished work to drink from the cup of your own inward sensations, you will find yourself bitterly disappointed. Your honey will turn to gall, your sunshine into blackness; for all things which come to man are fickle and deceptive. The God of hope fill you with joy and peace; but it will only be through believing. You will have to stand as a poor sinner at the foot of the cross, trusting to complete atonement. You will never have peace and joy unless you do. If you once begin to say, I am a saint; there is something good in me, and so on, you will find joy evaporate and peace depart. – Wilbur M. Smith

People who do not know Christ are without God and therefore without hope (Eph 2:12).

Romans 15:14 I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.

Paul: Minister to the Gentiles

Although Paul has a lot of encouragement, correction and advice for the Romans he also confides in the faith of Jesus that has saved them, giving them the strength to overcome any struggles as they believe in the goodness of God living in them through the Holy Spirit. Paul knows that greater is He who is in them than the one who is in the world:

1 John 4:4 NIV You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Romans 14:4 NIV Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Philippians 1:6 NIV … he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

We as Christians reflect our trust in God by not only believing we ourselves have overcome but by also confiding that others who may appear to be weak of faith have also overcome because they are dependent on God's strength and Jesus power in them, not on themselves! When we judge our brother’s extra-biblical convictions we are declaring they need to depend on themselves to be overcomers. Let us not demean their faith in Jesus!

By the same token we ought to never lose hope and view each other with the goodness and love of the Father’s eyes, not engaging in suspicions or haughtiness. We need to recognize that in Christ we are:

1- Full of goodness – the goodness of the Lord through the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22; Mat 12:35)

2- Full of all (complete in) knowledge in Christ (Col 1:10; Eph 4:13; 2 Pe 1:8). This doesn’t mean you know all things and don’t need to be instructed, but that the instruction you receive from the word is thorough (2 Tim 3:16-17).

3- Able to teach (instruct) one another, since you are receiving the instruction of the Lord and ought to teach one another in the making of disciples (Mat 28:19-20)

In doing so Paul sought to encourage the Romans that by no means he thought they were incompetent or that they needed his encouragement to be complete. Paul is merely presenting himself, along with his credentials as we will see in the coming verse, as a servant of Jesus and qualified to give such encouragement as an apostle. He didn’t see himself as someone who could complete something in them because that would mean their faith in Jesus was not enough!

In the same way we need to be careful how we present our instruction and admonition to the brethren – remember that God can make them stand! That doesn’t mean we don’t need encouragement and admonition, of course we do since we are incomplete! But our faith in Jesus is what will really produce fruit, not necessarily hearing things over and over and not doing anything about it:

James 1:22-25 NIV Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

Romans 15:15 I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me

Paul justifies his need to remind them boldly as a minister of Jesus Christ, which is the role of the gifts Jesus gave to men (Eph 4:8):

Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service…

Namely apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. They need to boldly remind the church of the hope they have in Christ!

2 Peter 1:12-13 NIV So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body,

The grace Paul is referring to is the appointment he received from God as an apostle – which carried special confirmation and responsibility as we see in the next few verses.

Romans 15:16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

God's grace for Paul carried clear directives:

1- To be a minister of Jesus to the Gentiles

2- To carry out the priestly duty of proclaiming the Gospel of God

3- That the Gentiles may become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Spirit

Since most of us are Gentiles we are filled with gratitude for Paul’s accomplished priestly duties, for it is greatly by his conviction that we have heard the Gospel today. This directive is not just Paul’s but it also belongs to us as we continue to carry the Gospel to every creature under Heaven. We do not share in the apostolic ministry, but certainly in the ministry of proclaiming the Gospel of God that our neighbors, co-workers and family members may become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Notice how clearly the work of the Spirit is presented here. I will read between the lines of what Paul declares in this verse and add all that he said before in previous verse about Jesus’ role in the matter:

In order to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit to become an acceptable offering to God we need to be served Jesus. Jesus had to come first, before the Spirit, to provide for the purification of sins before God's Holy Spirit could dwell in people.

Hebrews 1:3 NIV The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Once people enter into this covenant provided by Jesus’ blood and are purified, the Holy Spirit can come and do His sanctifying work.

This is why Paul first says: “I am a minister (leitourgos: a servant of the temple; one busied with holy things, of a priest, of the servants of a king) of Jesus Christ”.

The word used here for minister is very different in meaning from the traditional use of minister (diakonos) in the New Testament.

Once again, as he did in the beginning of chapter 12, he is presenting an image of a priest of the temple offering an acceptable sacrifice before the Lord. The language he is using is specifically of priestly duties. Leitourgos is found many times in the book of Hebrews as the author explains the duties of the priest. As priests ourselves under the New Covenant (Rev 1:6; 5:10), our prime directive is to offer acceptable sacrifices unto the Lord, amongst them:

1- Our bodies and minds in total surrender – Romans 12:1-2

2- Works done in obedience – 1Pe 1:2

3- New disciples – Mat 28:19-20

Paul also wants the Jewish brethren to understand that their Gentile brothers are clean by the same Spirit that lives in them through Jesus Christ. Everyone that comes into Christ is clean and acceptable before God and therefore we should accept them.

Romans 15:17-19 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done--by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

Paul testifies that he gloried in Christ as he carried his service to God. He did not glory in himself, as if this was a plan he hatched himself or carried out by his own might. He simply submitted himself to the Lord's work in him and around him.

Glory is defined as making that which is hidden or secret known. I believe this verse is connected to Philippians 3:1-4 where Paul talks about having no confidence in the flesh. Paul in his transformation put aside all the things people could say about him to put the focus of what's going on in his life on Christ. When someone comes to me and tells me I am a good bible teacher because I work in a school, I correct them by letting them know it is by the power of Christ that I am what I am. So my question to you is what do you glory in? ...house, car, ability, relationship etc…? – Robert Young

1- He only wanted to speak about what Jesus did through him – Paul viewed this boasting as a right he had since Jesus deserves all the glory and is glorified when He uses sinners like us. Paul frequently boasted about this and gloried in his weaknesses (2Co 12:19).

a. How he led the Gentiles to obey God – the Gospel Paul preached was a Gospel accepted by obedience to God's message. It was not a faith only Gospel, as many claim, but a message that needed to be accepted by obedience (2 The 1:8; 1Pe 4:17).

i. By what he said and did (in word and in deed-ESV) – depending on the version you are reading, the emphasis of these words and deeds may seem to lie with Paul or with the Gentiles he was converting. In any case, both readings can be acceptable. Paul led the Gentiles to God by what he said (God's words) and by what he did (signs and miracles). Since the signs and miracles are declared in the next verse, most likely then these words and deeds should be attributed to what the Gentiles did and said because they had obeyed God. In other words, their conversion was shown by true repentance (Acts 26:20).

1. By the power of signs and miracles – this shows where the power of conversion and preaching rested. The power of testimony came by the Holy Spirit. This was a visible sign of the Spirit’s working in delivering the conviction by God's word. Sings and miracles were a ministry given to the apostles only as they carried out the word of God at that time (Mark 16:20; Acts 14:3; 2Co 12:12). Today, since the word of God has already been confirmed, the Spirit continues His mighty work unseen in the hearts of men as they hear the word of Christ and their hearts are judged (Heb 4:12). Only the devil uses false signs and wonders today to lead people astray (2The 2:9).

a. Through the power of the Spirit

From Jerusalem to Illyricum Paul fully proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus. This is to say, from east to west he gave the full counsel of God, without holding anything back and without taking out or adding anything on his own accord.

Romans 15:20-22 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. Rather, as it is written: "Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand." This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.

Paul details his wish of carrying out his calling amongst those who have never heard of Jesus. He didn’t want to build on someone else’s foundation and he quotes Isaiah 52:15 as a reference. Paul considered himself an expert builder because Jesus was the foundation for all he preached (1Co 3:10-11). The Gentile eyes were opened largely through the ministry of Paul (Acts 26:14-20). This is the reason why he also has not been to Rome since the Roman Christians came to know Jesus by someone else other than Paul.

Ambition defined by dictionary.com: an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment. And so I ask another question to you, what is your ambition? Remember Matthew 6:1-2. If we look for the praise of man we will receive our reward in full; that being only the praise of men and not praise from God. But on the other hand our ambition should be to obtain honor from God when He welcomes us to His heavenly kingdom and says, “Well done good and faithful servant.” The reality in all this is that whatever my ambition is in this life that is what I am going to glory in. And so take heed if you find yourself talking about your house, car, job, children, etc. most of the time; or should I say more often than you are talking about Christ... If the shoe fits, take it off. – Robert Young

Romans 15:23-25 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there.

Paul's Plans

Apparently Paul thought his work in the regions where he had preached was done. There were no other peoples in those regions who didn’t know about Jesus and the churches he had planted would continue to reach out to their communities with the Gospel. This tells us the Gospel was spread far and wide in less than one generation! Just a few men had taken this Gospel throughout the known world at the time. Paul, one of these ever active missionaries was looking for communities where no one had heard about Jesus. Perhaps that’s why he was headed for Spain.

Rome was a place where Jesus’ church was already growing so Paul was not in a hurry to go there. He did not think they needed anything special from him other than a spiritual gift (Romans 1:10-12). This shows how humble Paul was and how he was dependent upon God – knowing the Lord was working in the Romans through His Spirit. He didn’t presume to be needed as if the church depended upon him. If the church indeed was a human establishment then someone in Paul’s position would have thought it necessary to examine an affiliate and lord over it like any other human supervisor or administrator.

Paul’s desire at the time was to go to Spain. He planned to make a pit stop at Rome to encourage and edify the brethren and to have them help him get onto Spain. This may have involved some financial assistance as well as the gathering of more supplies and encouragement for his journey onto Spain. His pit stop at Rome apparently was for some time. In those days when you traveled a long way you didn’t just visit someone for a day and kept moving. Traveling was very tiresome because it involved a lot of walking unless you were in a boat. So when Paul was going to stop at Rome on his way to Spain, he planned on staying in Rome for some time, as he says, “to enjoy their company for a while”.

Before he was planning on heading towards Spain he had some work to finish in Jerusalem. He was bringing some aid to the brother’s there– benevolence for those who were in need which he had collected from other congregations. Paul was not one to forget the promise he had made to the other apostles, “to remember the poor…” (Gal 2:9-10). The collection Paul mentions to the Corinthians (1Co 16:1-2) could have been a part of this benevolence Paul was taking to Jerusalem.

Romans 15:26-27 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.

This benevolent gift was part of the love owed to one another. When someone in the church is in need or hurting we owe it to them to help them as our family in Christ. The other congregations were pleased to contribute to the need of the saints – the Macedonians even giving beyond their ability as they were going through some severe trials (2Co 8:1-5). Because the benevolence was headed for a mainly Jewish part of the world, Jerusalem, Paul anticipated some concern amongst the predominantly Gentile churches that were aiding and therefore encourages them by reminding them of their place in the tree (kingdom) planted by God (Romans 11:11-24).

1 John 3:17-18 NIV If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Galatians 6:2 NIV Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Romans 15:28-29 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

Paul wasn’t necessarily in a hurry to get to Rome. He is clearly describing his current priority in completing the task of making sure the churches in Jerusalem received the fruit of love from the rest of the congregations in Asia Minor. He describes their benevolent giving as fruit – fruit of the Holy Spirit and the grace that was working in each of the members as we studied in Romans 12:8.

Acts 20:35 NIV In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

Ephesians 4:28 NIV He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ…

Was he indeed arriving in the fullness of the blessing of Christ? However it might have seemed to the grand apostle, it was true. During the years ahead of him in Rome, Paul would plant the gospel seed in the very heart of the pagan empire; that seed would germinate and grow, and at last shatter the mighty empire of the Caesars into fragments. There he would write the letters which, more than those of any other mortal, would define Christianity for all subsequent ages. There he would indeed teach, not merely Spain, but twenty centuries of the generations of mankind. There he would baptize members of the royal establishment. There he would seal with his blood the truth and sincerity of his matchless life of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The blessing of Christ, indeed, not merely Paul's but that of the world for ever afterward! – Coffman

Paul never imagined he would come to Rome as a prisoner of the Gospel! But as a prisoner he continued to encourage the Roman church for two years:

Acts 28:30-31 NIV For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:30 I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.

Paul really wanted to complete his mission, get onto Spain and also encourage the Roman church. Perhaps he felt that somehow all that would be hindered? Perhaps he foresaw some problems in Jerusalem? As we know a brother warned him not to go:

Acts 21:10-15 NIV After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.' " 12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done." 15 After this, we got ready and went up to Jerusalem.

Acts 28:17 NIV Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: "My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.

So perhaps this urgent need for the prayers of the saints was requested by the apostle.

Romans 15:31-32 Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.

Paul specifically asks to be rescued from the foreseeable problems he expected in Judea and Jerusalem.

Acts 20:22-24 NIV "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

We can see the boldness in Paul and his desire to serve Jesus unto death. What a noble and humble apostle! No wonder he was able to do mighty deeds in love! He was mighty in the Spirit!

Romans 15:33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Paul went through much heartache to finally get to Rome. God delivered him from all he feared could go wrong in Jerusalem and enabled him to be in Rome, even as a prisoner to encourage many. Perhaps this was not the way Paul originally envisioned himself coming to Rome but it sufficed. This is why Paul was at peace in his soul:

Philippians 4:7-9 NIV And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

He entrusted himself fully to God’s grace. Amen means “so be it” or “let it be so”.