Romans 15:14-21: "Boldness for Christ"
Paul will now begin to conclude his letter to the Romans. In this current section Paul defends his boldness and ministry to his brethren. He takes one last breath to close his letter, and as he does he focuses his attention back on them now that they have heard all he has written them in the previous 14 chapters. He writes, "And concerning you, my brethren". By writing this, Paul is making it more personal. He has laid some deep theological groundwork in the previous parts of this letter, and now he is going to bring it back around to pastoral care for them as a brother and sister in the Lord. He continues, "I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able also to admonish one another". MacArthur writes, "He is saying, in effect, 'In spite of all that I have written to you in this letter-with strong reminders that you were saved solely by God's grace, made effective by your faith in His Son, with the admonitions for obedience to the Lord, for mortifying the flesh, for holy living, for exercising your spiritual gifts, for serving each other in love and humility, and all the other teachings- I am fully aware of your spiritual maturity and moral virtue, and I commend you for it'". Paul is lovingly coming alongside them and telling them that he understands he has given them a lot to chew on, but he is confident in their ability, with the power of the Holy Spirit to live a life "full of goodness, filled with all knowledge" being able to "admonish one another". Understanding the background of all Paul has written before this, he would expect his readers to understand that they are "full of goodness" because of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and nothing inherent within them is good. He would also expect them to know that by knowledge, Paul is referring to spiritual understanding that has been revealed to us through God's Word and illuminated to us through His Spirit. He would also expect them to understand that through the authority of Scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit, with an attitude of love we are to come alongside one another and admonish each other.
After the brief encouragement Paul explains the boldness of what he has written to them. Paul writes, "I have written very boldly to you on some points, so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given men from God". Throughout Paul's letter to the Romans you can see some very serious and strong cautions. MacArthur writes, "[Paul] gave the church many other commands and admonitions too numerous to repeat here, but all of them were given in a spirit of love as well as boldness, so as to remind them again. He was not teaching them things they had never heard but was reminding them of truths they did know. He did not speak forcefully because those believers were untaught and immature but, to the contrary, because they were spiritually strong and well-equipped". Paul is basically telling them that he knew he was writing to mature believers who would take the bold language Paul used and apply it to their lives. He wanted them to know that it was only through the "grace that was given by God" that he was able to write to them in such a way. Paul was not claiming that he was superior to them and he had all the answers, rather, he was telling them that only by the grace of God, were these things revealed to him to share with them.
Paul now moves to explain his purpose in ministry, "to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God". We no longer have the need for priests as they did in OT times. Instead, "Consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession" (Heb 3:1). As believers in Christ, He stands as our mediator at all times. However, Christians are priests in the sense that "As living stones, [we] are spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (I Pet. 2:5), and we "are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that [we] may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light" (I Pet. 2:9). Therefore, as believers, we act as priests in bringing others into God's presence. Paul obviously did this on a large scale throughout the countries he traveled. Therefore, MacAthur writes, "As Paul ministered figuratively as a priest the gospel of God to the Gentiles, he did so in order that his offering of believing Gentiles to God, as it were, might become acceptable to Him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In faithful fulfillment of his unique apostolic calling, Paul's supreme offering to God was a multitude of Gentiles, who by virtue of the Holy Spirit's power had been sanctified and thus made acceptable for fellowship with the Father".
Not only did Paul work as a priest, but poured out his heart as a preacher to the Gentiles to bring them the good news. He writes, "Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me". Because of all that Christ has done for him, and the new position he has before God because of Christ's work on the cross, Paul has all the reason to boast about God. Paul tells us of his boldness in Christ, His boasting about the things of God, but he does so in complete humility, because he understands that everything that he has accomplished has been by God, through him. MacArthur points out, "From what we find in the New Testament, Paul would seem to have had more reason to boast than any of the other apostles, including Peter and John. He was used by God to reveal more of the New Testament than any other human writer, and the greater part of the book of Acts focuses on his ministry. But Paul discounted his own merits, both before he was converted as 'rubbish' (Phil 3:8)". Recognizing all that Christ has accomplished through himself, Paul gives the result of his labor, "resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit". We should all take note of Paul's example. It's so easy for us to point out the things which we have accomplished and let others know about it. Even in ministry this can be a temptation. We often take too much credit for the salvation of those we have ministered to, thinking that somehow our clever speech or great knowledge was what lead someone to Christ. Paul, however, understood, that it is only in the power of the gospel, completed by Christ's resurrection that reconciles sinners to God. Paul understood that it was only by the power of the gospel, and the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer that was causing the transformation of the Gentiles, and the signs and power to authenticate the work. Christ's ministry through Paul was so effective "that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ". Paul was thorough and extremely faithful when it came to preaching. He not only preached the gospel everywhere he went, he spoke with boldness the complete truth of the gospel, not leaving out anything. MacArthur writes, "Paul was the ideal master preacher. He was humble, faithful, genuine, divinely blessed, thorough, and unswerving".
Lastly, we see the aspirations of Paul, and his desire to spread the gospel to everyone who has never heard it. Paul writes, "And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build upon another man's foundation". Paul knew that after he was called by Christ, he would have to suffer for his name. Much of the suffering and persecution that was inflicted to Paul was because of his many travels all over to spread the good news. Although not wrong to build on another's foundation, it was Paul's aspirations to spread the good news to those who had never heard it before. MacArthur writes, "It was not that it is wrong to build on another minister's foundation, because that process is part of God's plan for establishing and maintaining His church. Paul explained to the factious church at Corinth that he "planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth' (I Cor. 3:6). In that instance, Apollos had built on Paul's foundation, which was perfectly in accord with the calling of both men. It is still God's plan that some believers lay the foundation by bringing unbelievers to saving faith in Christ (evangelists) and that other build up those converts by ministering God' Word to them (pastors)". Paul then quotes from Isa. 52:15, "They who had no news of Him shall see, and they who have not heard shall understand". It is vital that people understand and effectively carry out their roles. Paul was obviously called as a missionary to go out and spread the good news, while he left behind various converts to continue the growth. It was Paul's desire to fulfill his role and Scripture by sharing the love of Christ with all he came in contact with. We must have the same heart, to love others enough to tell them about the love of Christ.
After the brief encouragement Paul explains the boldness of what he has written to them. Paul writes, "I have written very boldly to you on some points, so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given men from God". Throughout Paul's letter to the Romans you can see some very serious and strong cautions. MacArthur writes, "[Paul] gave the church many other commands and admonitions too numerous to repeat here, but all of them were given in a spirit of love as well as boldness, so as to remind them again. He was not teaching them things they had never heard but was reminding them of truths they did know. He did not speak forcefully because those believers were untaught and immature but, to the contrary, because they were spiritually strong and well-equipped". Paul is basically telling them that he knew he was writing to mature believers who would take the bold language Paul used and apply it to their lives. He wanted them to know that it was only through the "grace that was given by God" that he was able to write to them in such a way. Paul was not claiming that he was superior to them and he had all the answers, rather, he was telling them that only by the grace of God, were these things revealed to him to share with them.
Paul now moves to explain his purpose in ministry, "to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God". We no longer have the need for priests as they did in OT times. Instead, "Consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession" (Heb 3:1). As believers in Christ, He stands as our mediator at all times. However, Christians are priests in the sense that "As living stones, [we] are spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (I Pet. 2:5), and we "are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that [we] may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light" (I Pet. 2:9). Therefore, as believers, we act as priests in bringing others into God's presence. Paul obviously did this on a large scale throughout the countries he traveled. Therefore, MacAthur writes, "As Paul ministered figuratively as a priest the gospel of God to the Gentiles, he did so in order that his offering of believing Gentiles to God, as it were, might become acceptable to Him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In faithful fulfillment of his unique apostolic calling, Paul's supreme offering to God was a multitude of Gentiles, who by virtue of the Holy Spirit's power had been sanctified and thus made acceptable for fellowship with the Father".
Not only did Paul work as a priest, but poured out his heart as a preacher to the Gentiles to bring them the good news. He writes, "Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me". Because of all that Christ has done for him, and the new position he has before God because of Christ's work on the cross, Paul has all the reason to boast about God. Paul tells us of his boldness in Christ, His boasting about the things of God, but he does so in complete humility, because he understands that everything that he has accomplished has been by God, through him. MacArthur points out, "From what we find in the New Testament, Paul would seem to have had more reason to boast than any of the other apostles, including Peter and John. He was used by God to reveal more of the New Testament than any other human writer, and the greater part of the book of Acts focuses on his ministry. But Paul discounted his own merits, both before he was converted as 'rubbish' (Phil 3:8)". Recognizing all that Christ has accomplished through himself, Paul gives the result of his labor, "resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit". We should all take note of Paul's example. It's so easy for us to point out the things which we have accomplished and let others know about it. Even in ministry this can be a temptation. We often take too much credit for the salvation of those we have ministered to, thinking that somehow our clever speech or great knowledge was what lead someone to Christ. Paul, however, understood, that it is only in the power of the gospel, completed by Christ's resurrection that reconciles sinners to God. Paul understood that it was only by the power of the gospel, and the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer that was causing the transformation of the Gentiles, and the signs and power to authenticate the work. Christ's ministry through Paul was so effective "that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ". Paul was thorough and extremely faithful when it came to preaching. He not only preached the gospel everywhere he went, he spoke with boldness the complete truth of the gospel, not leaving out anything. MacArthur writes, "Paul was the ideal master preacher. He was humble, faithful, genuine, divinely blessed, thorough, and unswerving".
Lastly, we see the aspirations of Paul, and his desire to spread the gospel to everyone who has never heard it. Paul writes, "And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build upon another man's foundation". Paul knew that after he was called by Christ, he would have to suffer for his name. Much of the suffering and persecution that was inflicted to Paul was because of his many travels all over to spread the good news. Although not wrong to build on another's foundation, it was Paul's aspirations to spread the good news to those who had never heard it before. MacArthur writes, "It was not that it is wrong to build on another minister's foundation, because that process is part of God's plan for establishing and maintaining His church. Paul explained to the factious church at Corinth that he "planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth' (I Cor. 3:6). In that instance, Apollos had built on Paul's foundation, which was perfectly in accord with the calling of both men. It is still God's plan that some believers lay the foundation by bringing unbelievers to saving faith in Christ (evangelists) and that other build up those converts by ministering God' Word to them (pastors)". Paul then quotes from Isa. 52:15, "They who had no news of Him shall see, and they who have not heard shall understand". It is vital that people understand and effectively carry out their roles. Paul was obviously called as a missionary to go out and spread the good news, while he left behind various converts to continue the growth. It was Paul's desire to fulfill his role and Scripture by sharing the love of Christ with all he came in contact with. We must have the same heart, to love others enough to tell them about the love of Christ.
posted by amesfam | 9:28 AM
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