ROMANS
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Please turn in your Bibles this evening to Romans chapter 15 as we continue our study through the Word of God. We are going to be concluding tonight Paul’s fifth and final main division of his letter to the Romans that deals with application, applying the things of God to our life, walking accordingly. This section began in Romans chapter 12 and concludes in Romans chapter 15, verse 13.
From Romans 15:14 through Romans 16:24 Paul gives his conclusion to this letter to the Romans. This section can be broken down as follows: Romans 15:14-21, Paul’s ministry; Romans 15:22-33, Paul’s future plans for service; Romans 16:1-24, we see Paul’s personal greetings to the brethren in Rome as well as the greetings of others to the brethren in Rome. Paul’s letter concludes with his closing benediction in Romans 16:25-27. With that said, let’s jump into our study this evening beginning in verse 1 of Romans chapter 15 and see what the Lord has for us.
Those that are strong in the faith, those who walk in the liberty they have in Christ are to bear up, support those who are weak in the faith, those that are bound up by legalism. This is not to keep them down, but to lift them up, to make the weak strong in the faith. You see, our focus is not self-centered but others-centered, to bring to them the Good News of Jesus Christ, the good things of God. Paul said in Romans 14:19, “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” Can you imagine what would happen in the body of Christ if that was the attitude – building up instead of tearing down?
The ultimate example for us is Jesus; He came to fulfill the will of the Father and in doing so He completed the work. Paul made this same point in Philippians 2:5-8, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Jesus willingly obeyed and suffered bringing glory to God, and thus, we should follow His example, serve others even when they come against you. It is as Jesus said in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Growing up my parents taught me lessons to apply to my life so that when a situation arose, I would know how to respond. Granted I didn’t always listen to everything they said and I had to learn my lessons many times the hard way, going through them, but it is not what I had to do if I would have listened in the first place. God has also given to us lessons to learn from, the things that have happened to people as they lived their lives. You see these lessons of faith were not only for them, but for us also. Many of the situations they went through are similar to what we have gone through, are going through or will go through in our lives. Thus, as we read their stories we can gain insight in what God has said, what He did with His people back then, it will give to us hope, peace, it will build patience within us as we wait upon Him to see us through it! You see, lessons of faith.
Paul, in Ephesians 4:1-3 tells us, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Notice that he speaks of “the unity of the Spirit.” I truly believe that the unity that God is speaking of can only come as we submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit. How are we to “think the same” when each person is looking out for himself rather than others? Only by submitting to the Holy Spirit can we find the unity that God desires and that unity is based in Jesus!
Also, notice that our unity glorifies God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Don’t let the prayer of Jesus fall on deaf ears, for Jesus prayed, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” John 17:20-23. If we truly have the mind of Christ there will be unity among the brethren and a desire to build people up in the faith!
How did God receive us? Paul tells us in Romans 5:6-11, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” That is how we are to receive people, unconditionally. The Greek word for “receive” is PROSLAMBANO (pros-lam-ban’-o) and it carries with it the idea “to take to oneself.” When you grab your spouse and bring them close to you what are you doing? Showing them love! When we bring people close to ourselves, when we, in a sense, get into their skin to understand them, we love them, as God would have us! And again Paul says this kind of love towards others brings glory to God. It is as Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Spurgeon gives to us this insight on how we are to receive others as Christ has received us. He said: “Christ did not receive us because we were perfect, because he could see no fault in us, or because he hoped to gain somewhat at our hands. Ah, no! But, in loving condescension covering our faults, and seeking our good, he welcomed us to his heart; so, in the same way, and with the same purpose, let us receive one another.” It is as Peter put it, “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’ Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:8-10.
Think of all the things that Jews and Gentiles can dispute over and yet, Paul focuses on the one thing that should unite them together, Jesus Christ! Listen to what Paul said in Ephesians 2:11-16, “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh — who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands — that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” Christ has demolished those walls of division; don’t start putting them back up again!
God fulfilled His promise to the Jews by sending forth the Savior of the world – Jesus. God extended His mercy to the Gentiles by receiving them into the family of God, with the Jews, through Jesus Christ so that we together can praise God. How do we know this is true, especially for the Jew to believe what Paul is saying? Because Paul quotes out of the Psalms – (Psalm 18:49 and 117:1) – Romans 15:19, Romans 15:11; the Law – Deuteronomy – (Deuteronomy 32:43) – Romans 15:10; and the Prophets – Isaiah – (Isaiah 11:1, 10) – Romans 15:12.
As Paul concludes this section on application, which began back in Romans chapter 12, he does so with a benediction or a prayer of blessing upon believers. Notice he doesn’t say both Jews and Gentiles, why? Because they are one in Christ and as God fills you with joy, peace and hope you then can go forward in the power of the Spirit in the unity of Christ to a world that needs joy, peace and hope, which are found in Jesus!
Now we are going to move into Paul’s conclusion to his letter to the Romans and it will continue on through Romans 16:24. Paul’s first closing remarks deal with his ministry; so let’s begin reading in verse 14.
The Christians in Rome knew these things but Paul is writing to remind them to be full of goodness, to be filled with knowledge, to admonish each other and-so-on. He was reminding them to do what was right! Let’s face it, how often does God need to remind us of things! And truly, when you think about it, after teaching you the Word of God for the past 8½ years, I am, for the most part, reminding you of things that you already know. Peter tells us in II Peter 1:12-15, “For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.” He was going to keep reminding them of the things he already shared with them. Folks, when you really think about it, it is not what you know but how well you know what you know – are you applying it to your life because God has touched you and you desire to live a life that is pleasing to Him?
In verse 16 Paul is speaking of the Gentile converts, those who were saved through his sharing the Gospel message, and they are an acceptable sacrifice unto God. That not only goes for Paul, but all of us, as we share our faith and someone comes to know the Lord, it is a sacrifice unto God, sweet-smelling. Of this G. Campbell Morgan said: “What a radiant light this sheds on all our evangelistic and pastoral effort! Every soul won by the preaching of the gospel is not only brought into a place of safety and of blessing; he is an offering to God, a gift which gives Him satisfaction, the very offering He is seeking. Every soul carefully and patiently instructed in the things of Christ, and so made conformable to His likeness, is a soul in whom the Father takes pleasure. Thus we labor, not only for the saving of men, but for the satisfying of the heart of God. This is the most powerful motive.”
Before his readers can come to the wrong conclusion and think that Paul is boasting in what he has done, he gives all the credit and glory to God who accomplished all these things through him. What a great lesson for us, that no matter what great things we may accomplish, it is that God has done these things, enabled us to do the things we could never do on our own!
What was the focus of Paul’s ministry? Today you might get some strange answers from sending letters out to the community to see what kind of church people want, to social activities but not Paul, his focus was the Lord Jesus Christ, the Gospel message! There is a story of a little girl who went to church with her dad and behind the pastor was a cross with Jesus on it. As this man stood at the podium, he was a big man, he completely blocked out Jesus, this little girl could not see Him as he stood up there. One Sunday one of his assistants filled in and he was a lot smaller. During the service that week the little girl turned to her dad and said, “Daddy, where is the man who blocks out Jesus?” Folks, keep the main thing the main thing, keep focused on Jesus and don’t distract people with other things, covering up Jesus!
Now the book of Acts doesn’t tell us when Paul went to Illyricum, also known as Dalmatia in the Scriptures, but it corresponds to the former Eastern European country of Yugoslavia and he probably went there during one of his stays in Macedonia. Also, keep in mind they didn’t travel by plane or cars or trains, obviously, but went by foot usually and from Jerusalem to Illyricum is some 1400 miles! Not bad when you think about it. Today it is hard for people to drive 30 miles to church in a car!
Paul was not interested in building upon another’s work or foundation but to go and spread forth the Gospel message where people have not heard it yet. To justify his actions he quotes out of Isaiah 52:15 showing his obedience to the Scriptures in speaking the Gospel message in new areas.
Now Paul speaks of his future plans for service from verse 22 through verse 33 or the end of this chapter. Here we see Paul’s desire to fellowship with the brethren in Rome and then head to Spain, which was the western limit of the Roman Empire. That was to be a new frontier for Paul to go and share the Gospel message, but he also wanted the support, the prayers, the fellowship of the brethren in Rome before he went.
Paul’s plans did not turn out like he thought, he did make it to Rome, but he was under house arrest for 2 years, waiting to appeal his case to Caesar Nero. After 2 years he was released because there were no real charges against him. But during his stay in Rome, under house arrest, this was in a sense a new frontier for him, and he would ultimately share the Gospel message with the leader of Rome, Caesar Nero! Now Nero heard the truth and he rejected the truth and we can see that there was a turning point where Nero came down with an iron fist against Christians, he was like a mad man! He rejected the truth and tried to stamp it out, but like Paul tried to do, it just won’t work, God won’t let it!
Did Paul ever make it to Spain? I believe he did. As I have said, he spent 2 years in Rome under house arrest and then he was released, there was no real legal case against him. And according to the writings of Eusebius Paul did preach in Europe and Spain before he was re-arrested by Rome and placed in a dungeon awaiting his execution and in II Timothy Paul knew his life was coming to an end and he was encouraging Timothy to carry on the work and he spoke of his life, that it was drawing to a close in II Timothy 4:6-8 as he said, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
Before Paul went to Jerusalem he stopped in Corinth, where he wrote this letter to the Romans from, and he was bringing a collection of money from the Gentile churches to help the church in Jerusalem, brethren that were hurting, having very hard times. We are told of this collection in I Corinthians 16:1-4, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.”
Also, in II Corinthians 8:1-4 we are told, “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.”
Why did Paul say that the Gentiles are in debt to the Jewish believers? Because of all they gave to the Gentiles, spiritually speaking and thus, Paul’s point is simple, since the Jews gave so much to the Gentiles in a spiritual sense, the Gentiles should give to the Jews to help them in their time of need! Here again we see that our giving is a sacrifice unto God, it is fruit that is born in our lives as we give not out of our abundance but out of our poverty as the Gentile churches did.
Does prayer really work? Is prayer important? Paul thought so and he coveted the prayers of the believers in Rome to pray for his safety as he goes to Jerusalem for he was warned and thus he knew that “chains and tribulations await me.” We see this played out for us in Acts 20:22-24, “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Paul was not going to be moved from the course that was set before him but he also was not going to go without a foundation of prayer being laid for his desire was to edify the believers in Jerusalem who were under intense persecution from their fellow Jews and that as he spoke to the unbelieving Jews of Jesus, they might receive Him! Also, that he would eventually come to Rome and that their meeting would be refreshing to all the believers there, including Paul himself.
That phrase “strive together” comes from the Greek word SUNAGONIZOMAI (soon-ag-o-nid’-zom-ahee) and it literally means to “agonize together.” Like Paul, I covet your prayers to keep me strong in the faith, to protect me and my family, to give me the wisdom I need for the work I am doing, to help me hear the Lord as I prepare these studies, and-so-on, and not only for me but also for the leaders of this church, it is vital! The power of prayer in supporting pastors is important, especially as we are stepping forward with the message of Christ, a message the enemy does not want to go out!
Prayer does work folks; God hears and honors our prayers as John tells us, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” I John 5:14-15. Now God doesn’t always answer our prayers as we would like them to be answered or in our time but it is always for our best. God has a plan; He has a purpose as John Courson tells us with this true story:
“I once read an article in the paper about a woman in Alaska who tried to call her sister in Idaho, but she mistakenly dialed a house in Vermont because she dialed Vermont’s 802 area code rather than Idaho’s 208 area code. The woman in Vermont who answered the call was, at that moment, suffering a severe heart attack. As a result, the woman in Alaska heard only a gasping voice on the other end of the line, saying, “Help me. Help me. Please, God, help me.” The woman in Alaska was able to work with telephone operators and emergency personnel to save the Vermont woman’s life.”
When you are praying do you really think you are dialing the wrong number or you are getting a busy signal or God has caller ID and won’t answer the phone? Of course not, God is always waiting to hear from us and we as believers need to strive together in prayer, agonize together in prayer, it is that important!
What a great way to close, having the God of peace fill our lives. As I begin to close this evening let me share with you this prayer from a Confederate soldier that goes like this:
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health, that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for,
But everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself,
My unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men, most richly blessed.
It is as Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-11, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” The idea is, don’t give up, keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking because God desires to give to you those things that will help you to grow, he is not going to hold back! As we close, let me restate the words of Paul as he ended this chapter, “Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”