Answering the Call | Romans 15:15–21
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But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, but as it is written,
“Those who have never been told of him will see,
and those who have never heard will understand.”
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Paul had a calling on his life. His calling was to be a servant of God, a pastor of the gospel to the Gentiles. That was his calling. There are some truths here for me:
THE REALITY OF THE CALL (v. 16)
THE REALITY OF THE CALL (v. 16)
God does call some out for particular ministry in particular places.
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Peter and others were called to go to the Jews.
Philip seems to be called to go out as an Evangelist.
James was called to shepherd the church at Jerusalem.
Paul and Barnabas were called to go out into the Gentile world and preach the gospel.
I am called to be a pastor and revitalizer. That is my calling. It's what God has equipped me to be.
God is still calling young men into the pastorate.
"Paul introduced himself at the beginning of the letter as one who had ‘received grace and apostleship’ (see the commentary on 1:5), and now he says that it is because of this grace that he is in a position to write boldly as he does. But he writes in this way also because of his calling to be a minister ‘to the Gentiles’, among whom the majority of his audience are numbered (cf. 1:6)." - Colin G. Kruse
Like Paul, I have a calling to "offer up" our church as a "fragrant offering" before God. My work as Pastor is my calling.
Today is the day we recognize Mothers in the United States, and if you're a mother, you too have a calling, along with your husband if he is still alive, to offer your children, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren to God as a sacrifice. That, along with being a help-meet with your husband, is your primary calling.
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Pastoring a church, mothering a family, fathering a family, these are HOLY offerings to God.
These are HIGH callings.
The word for offering is the same as used in Ephesians 5:2 in speaking of Christ.
And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
And Parents let me say, that one of the highest and greatest gifts God can give you is to raise a child of God, called by God to the ministry of God.
Mothers one of you may be raising the next pastor of Truitt Baptist Church. And that is a Holy calling. Fathers your son may be the next evangelist who leads the next great revival in our nation. One of your daughters may be called by God to marry a pastor and to walk with them as they faithfully teach the word of God, and young ladies before you're offended, I find no greater gift to the church than a godly woman who leads quietly and patiently and faithfully beside her husband. The world says that is belittling to women, but I say it is the greatest gift.
Where would Martin Luther have been without the blessing of his faithful wife, the former nun Katharina Von Bora Luther?
Where would Charles Spurgeon have been without Susannah?
Where would Jonathan Edwards been without Sarah?
I think there is no greater gift than the gift of raising a servant of God.
The PROVISION of the Call (v. 15;19)
The PROVISION of the Call (v. 15;19)
When God Calls he Equips with Specific Gifts (v. 15; 19)
But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God
by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;
God called Paul, and He Equipped Him for the the ministry he gave him. Paul had giftedness that helped him accomplish that work.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
The gracious truth of scripture is that God gifts those he calls.
It was apparent to many in my family that I would one day preach, though to others it was far from apparent!
My grandmother tells of the time when I was 5 or 6 years old and I visited their church and the pastor that Reformed Seminary would send to their tiny congregation did not show. Before anyone knew it, 5 year old Dennis has slid a chair to the pulpit, pulled out a Bible and told the congregation to turn in their Bibles and mumble out my first sermon!
Now, I was unregenerate at that time, but like Paul affirmed in Galatians 1:15-16, “it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace that I might preach Him”!
As it has been said over and over, “Where God guides, he provides.”
But Paul understood that he had to develop his giftedness and encouraged us to develop it.
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
There is a provision to the call, God gives to those he calls. And that includes your calling today. You are called to know God, to love people and to share the gospel.
As Greg Laurie notes, “We might think the work of evangelism is only for those who are called to be evangelists. Granted, there are those in the church whom God has raised up to be evangelists. And though it is true some are called to be evangelists, it is also true that every Christian is called to evangelism—to evangelize.”
We are called to evangelize first and foremost our own families.
The RESPONSIBILITY of the Call (v. 16,18)
The RESPONSIBILITY of the Call (v. 16,18)
God's Calling Brings About a Great Responsibility (v. 16)
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed,
Paul's call to ministry brought with it a great sense of responsibility.
Notice what Paul says, last week he said, "I'm satisfied with you..." but this week he says, "but on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given to me by God..."
Paul's calling was to share the Gospel with the church. Thus, he has to again and again remind them of that gospel. As the great Anglican pastor of the 20th Century John Stott noted, "(The apostles) kept reminding the churches of the original message and calling them back to it."
That's the great purpose of preaching: To call God's people to the first things.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
Paul more than anyone else knew that he would have to answer to God for how he preached the gospel.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
And you will too. One day, each of us will be held accountable for how we handled the gospel, how we raised our children, and how we loved God and loved people.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
The REWARD of the Call (v. 17, 20-21)
The REWARD of the Call (v. 17, 20-21)
Ministry brings with it the greatest Reward (v. 17, 20-21)
In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.
and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation,
but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”
Paul understood that the r
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.