Romans 15:22-29: "Desiring Fellowship"

We see in this section, Paul's desire to come to the believers in Rome. Paul begins with the statement, "For this reason I have often been hindered from coming to you". By "this reason" Paul is referring to the divine will of God for him to not "speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ". Only days after his conversion, Paul knew he was called to go out and preach the gospel to the Gentiles. He was commissioned by God to go to every area where the gospel had never been proclaimed and speak it to the people. Because of this Paul had been hindered from going to see the believers in Rome. So although we can see Paul's desire to encourage the saints in Rome, he understood God's plans superseded any of his desires. It was as if Paul was saying, "I would love to come see you, but I have no choice right now as God has other plans for me right now". However, Paul goes on to say, "but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you whenever I go to Spain". Here we can see that Paul has had his own plans for ministry. He has set aside some places he would like to go and encourage the saints, however, he is ready to change his plans if necessary, as he had for many years. Paul feels as if he has accomplished all that God had sent him out to do in those regions, and he could get back to his original plan of going to Spain and visiting the believers at Rome. As MacArthur points out, "[Paul] did not claim that God was calling him to minister either in Rome or in Spain, but he strongly hoped for and planned for both ministries".

Paul then reiterates to the Christians in Rome his purpose for wanting to see them, "for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while". This was almost like a vacation for Paul. He had desired to go and see a well established mature church to fellowship and be encouraged by. However, up to that point, there had been many in the region that had never heard the gospel, and it was the Lord's will that Paul tend to that need first. Paul had opened his letter mentioning his desire to see the believers at Rome, "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles". Here we can see Paul's heart to be with other believers of the same mind. So Paul felt he now could fulfill his own desire, since he had faithfully served the will of God. MacArthur writes, "Personal plans, no matter how unselfish and spiritually motivated, must be subject to God's plan. Paul's desire to visit Rome was strong, but his desire to obey God was stronger still. He had the self-discipline and steadfast dedication to fulfill what God had given him to do, setting his personal dreams aside until, and if, the Lord brought them to pass".

Paul tells his readers of one last priority that needs to be tended to before he can visit them. "But now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints". MacArthur writes, "Before Paul would be free to go to Rome, much less Spain, it was necessary for him to go about a thousand miles in the opposite direction to Jerusalem, in order to serve the saints there". This shows Paul devotion to ministry and setting aside personal desire for the greater good of the kingdom. Because of the great persecution, famine, and newly established believers in Jerusalem, "Paul had made an appeal to the churches of Macedonia and Achaia, who were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem", MacArthur writes. When understanding the context for which this offering was given we can see the importance of this trip that will once again take Paul away from his personal desire to be mutually encouraged by the believers at Rome. MacArthur helps us understand, "During this period there still was considerable animosity and distrust between Jewish and Gentile believers. The contribution from the primarily Gentile churches of Macedonia and Achaia, who, for the most part, were also poor, was a powerful gesture of love and reconciliation to the impoverished saints in Jerusalem, who were primarily Jewish. Paul was committed to taking that offering, along with representatives of the Gentile churches who gave it, in order to promote harmony in the Body of Christ". Paul, wanting to emphasize the importance of this trip to the saints at Rome so they may understand the ministry going on, and explain why he will be away from them for some more time. Paul explains the willingness of the Gentiles and the indebtedness they owed to the Jewish people. "Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things". MacArthur explains, "On the human level, all Gentile Christians owed their spiritual lives to the Jewish apostles, prophets, teachers, and evangelists whofirstt proclaimed thegospell of salvation in Jesus Christ. Therefore the Gentiles who contributed to the saints in Jerusalem acknowledgedtheyk were indebted to those Jews". Here we can see Paul further explaining the importance of his trip to Jerusalem. It was necessary for him to be there for the giving of this offering that it might promote unity in the body between Jews and Gentiles. Paul understood this to be more of a priority then getting to visit those in Rome. However, he explains, "therefore, when I have finished this and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain". We can learn from Paul's wonderful willingness to serve the body of Christ and help further the kingdom while putting aside personal desires until all of God's will has been accomplished.

Is it not true in our lives that when we know we are being obedient to God, even if it is hard or temporarily painful, that it is far more rewarding than the temporary pleasure we may get from doing our own thing? This was exactly how Paul felt when he writes, "And I know that when I come to you, I will come in thefullnesss of the blessing of Christ". Paul knew he had to put off this trip a little longer, because he understood God had him other places. For several years God had been calling Paul to all these other areas in which he faced persecution, stonings, shipwreck, imprisonment, etc. however, he knew it was what God planned for him. Therefore, when he had accomplished all that God had for him, he could go and enjoy the sweet fellowship of the believers at Rome, because it would be with the full blessing of Christ. How much more do we enjoy things when we know we are doing it with God's blessing. We lose much of the joy of an act when we know we are doing it outside of God's pleasing eye.