Sermon Tone Analysis

Wenstrom Bible Ministries

Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom

Wednesday April 28, 2010

www.wenstrom.org

Romans: Overview Of Romans 15

Lesson # 494

Please turn in your Bibles to Romans 15:1.

This evening we will present an overview of Romans chapter 15.

Romans 15:13 completes the sixth major section in the book of Romans and verse 14 begins the seventh and final major section of this epistle.

First six sections of the book of Romans: (1) 1:1-17: Introduction and Presentation of the Theme of the Epistle (2) 1:18-3:19: Both Jew and Gentiles are in need of the righteousness of God (3) 3:20-5:21: How to receive the righteousness of God (4) 6-8: How to live in the righteousness of God (5) 9-11: God’s righteousness is vindicated in His relationship to Israel (6) Romans 12:1-15:13: The righteousness of God manifested through believers in Jesus Christ.

In Romans 14:1-15:13, the apostle Paul instructs his readers that the righteousness of God is manifested in their conduct in relation to Christian freedom.

He instructs them to not judge each other in relation to eating and drinking and teaches them the principle of Christian freedom (14:1-12) and exhorts strong believers to not put up stumbling blocks for weak believers by what they eat or drink and exhorts them to walk according to the principle of love (14:13-23).

He closes this section by prohibiting selfishness and challenges them to imitate Christ (15:1-13).

The final section of the Roman epistle is contained in 15:14-16:27 where he discusses his ministry to the Gentiles (15:14-22), and his intention to visit Rome (15:23-33).

In Romans 15:1-13, the apostle Paul’s exhorts the Roman believers to maintain unity by avoiding selfishness and imitating Christ by demonstrating self-sacrificial love toward each other and putting each other first and receiving one another.

Romans 15:1, “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.”

Romans 15:2, “Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.”

Romans 15:3, “For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ‘The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.’”

Romans 15:4, “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

Romans 15:5, “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus.”

Romans 15:6, “So that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 15:7, “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.”

Romans 15:8, “For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers.”

Romans 15:9, “And for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, ‘Therefore I will give praise to You among the Gentiles, and I will sing to Your name.’”

Romans 15:10, “Again he says, ‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.’”

Romans 15:11, “And again, ‘Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him.’”

Romans 15:12, “Again Isaiah says, ‘There shall come the root of Jesse, and He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, in Him shall the Gentiles hope.’”

Romans 15:13, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

In Romans 15:14, we enter into the seventh and final section of the epistle.

In verses 14-15, Paul expresses his confidence that the Rome believers were living the spiritual life and relates his purpose for things he wrote in the epistle.

Romans 15:14, “And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.”

Romans 15:15, “But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God.”

The apostle in verses 16-22 discusses his ministry to the Gentiles.

Romans 15:16, “To be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:17, “Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God.”

Romans 15:18, “For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed.”

Romans 15:19, “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.”

Romans 15:20, “And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation.”

Romans 15:21, “But as it is written, ‘They who had no news of Him shall see,

And they who have not heard shall understand.’”

Romans 15:22, “For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you.”

In verses 23-29, Paul relates to the Romans his future plans to visit Roman and Spain after going to Jerusalem.

Romans 15:23, “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.”

Romans 15:24, “Whenever I go to Spain—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.”

Romans 15:25, “But now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints.”

Romans 15:26, “For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.”

Romans 15:27, “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.”

Romans 15:28, “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.”

Romans 15:29, “I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.”

In Romans 15:30-33, Paul requests that the Roman believers pray for his safety while in Jerusalem and that he may come to visit them.

Romans 15:30-32, “Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company.”

Romans 15:33, “Now the God of peace be with you all.

Amen.”