Romans 15:7-33

It is our desire to go through the entire bible chapter by chapter book by book. We’ve been studying the New Testament as it was written historically which is different from the layout in your bibles. But doing it this way shows how these men and women followed the work of the Spirit in the early church.

It took decades even as it does for us today to discover all that God has revealed in these pages.

As Chuck Missler used to say “the bible is an integrated message system from outside our time domain”. This morning we come to:

The Point of the Matter

This letter could be divided up into three sections

1] the benefits of the gospel Chapters 1-8.

2] Israel’s purpose: past, present and future in Chapters 9-11.

3] How saved Jews & Gentiles should treat each other: Chapters 12-15:6.

And finally we come to a closing summary of how the effects of Christ’s ministry fulfilled God’s promises. To who? To Abraham and to Israel.

4] God’s plan to fulfill His promises through His Son!

Genesis 12:2–3 LSB

And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

This was the Abrahamic covenant 400 years before Israel existed as nation. God came to a pagan man who wasn’t even seeking God to create His own chosen people by promising Abraham a son even though his wife Sarah was barren. Abraham believed God and He counted it to him as righteousness or justification by grace through faith! While Abraham and Sarah tried to help God out through Ishmael, God did not regard this child as the son of promise. It took 25 years but it happened! Abraham was 99 and Sarah was 75!!

Yet many believers today are ignorant that this event was linked to the gospel or plan of our salvation for all peoples of the earth.

Galatians 3:8 LSB

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.”

So God’s plan began way back in Genesis 3:15 - but first He chose a people for Himself

400 years later Moses led the nation to the land of promise and YHWH reminded them.

Exodus 19:5–6 LSB

‘So now then, if you will indeed listen to My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

Another promise was the Sinai covenant. It was conditional; based upon Israel’s obedience to represent God’s mercy, grace and forgiveness as a kingdom of priests to all people! But if they disobeyed, the nation would be destroyed.

Deuteronomy 28:63 LSB

“And it will be that as Yahweh delighted over you to prosper you and multiply you, so Yahweh will delight over you to make you perish and destroy you; and you will be torn from the land where you are entering to possess it.

Oddly, God had to bring this fact up over and over since Israel was still chasing idols in the promised land. We all know Israel failed the mission of being His witnesses and the nation was divided and scattered. The first ten tribes taken into captivity by Assyria. About 250 years later Judah was taken to Babylon.

So God reminded Israel again through the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 43:10 LSB

“You are My witnesses,” declares Yahweh, “And My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no god formed, and there will be none after Me.

By the time their Messiah showed up, Israel had enjoyed small victories. Like the Persian Empire where Esther was queen and the Jews defeated Haman, when the Greeks ruled, Judas Maccabees reclaimed Jerusalem, and now the Roman Empire. But this man from Galilee didn’t fit the picture of a warrior and deliverer and ironically Yeshua was amazed at the faith the Gentiles had in Him but saddened by the word of God made void by the traditions the Jewish leaders who considered their own Messiah as demon possessed and had Him crucified as a blasphemer! Yet to their surprise He rose again and repeats the same command YHWH gave to Israel through Isaiah.

Acts 1:6–8 LSB

So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” But He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the end of the earth.”

Yeshua gave the same command “You are My witnesses”. To do what? 1] Preach the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 2] Make disciples. How? By teaching people what Jesus said!!

Then at Pentecost, it wasn’t the promised land this time but the promise of the father. As the Holy Spirit came upon 120 Jews in the upper room. And there appeared to them tongues like fire resting on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. As they spoke in different languages, 15 Gentile nations heard the wonderful works of God and Peter followed the mockers by preaching the gospel and 3000 were saved and baptized that day.

Most of them went home becoming witnesses themselves, this time filled with the Holy Spirit. The church was born. Acts 2:10 says there were visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes or converted Gentiles.

So the churches in Rome were likely founded by these Jewish and Gentile converts but nobody knows for sure. House and old synagogue churches began and somehow Phoebe who was a deaconess from Cenchreae knew these leaders because she delivered the letter to them.

Read 16:1-2

Now I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; [port city near Corinth] that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a benefactor [financial supporter] of many, and of myself as well.

Now some 30 years later Gentile churches are starting up everywhere as prominent Jews were being driven out. Paul said they were, works of the law and the covenant of circumcision. They were non-essentials but it slowed their growth.

So after Paul exhorts the Gentiles to accept these Jews who were weak in faith, we were not to pass judgment on opinions, to show contempt and be fully convinced in our own mind regarding food, drink and days, for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!! We are to please our neighbors for their good, and build them up not beat them up with scriptures!! But Romans 15:4 makes more sense as we finish this chapter.

Romans 15:4 LSB

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

Of course this verse alone can be applied by itself but we’re going to see it in its context! And I never connected the following passages to this statement but it makes sense.

Romans 15:7–13

7-9 Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision [Jews] on behalf of the truth of God to confirm 1] the promises given to the fathers, and 2] 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.” [Psalm 18:49]

10 And again he says, “REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE.” [Deut 32:43]

11 And again, “PRAISE THE LORD ALL YOU GENTILES, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE HIM.” [Psalm 117:1]

12 And 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.” [Isaiah 11:10]

Four passages written in earlier times for our instruction through the perseverance “to abide” and the encouragement of the scriptures that we might have hope - of what? Both Jews & Gentiles worshipping God together as the church!! Now Paul links that “hope” of God to fill us with joy and peace in a blessing!

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.

Now Paul shares his final thoughts on the message of Romans

14 But I myself am also convinced about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, having been filled with all knowledge and being able also to admonish one another.

In other words; “I believe in you guys!”

15-16 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 by God for me 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, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Paul explains his intentions of this letter. 1] to minister to Gentiles by God’s grace and minister as a priest sharing the gospel of God. What does this mean? We often think of a priest with a white collar and black robe. But a priest’s job in Israel was to represent God to the people and act as an intercessor for the people to a relationship with God.

17-20 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. For I will not be bold to speak of anything except what Christ has brought about through me, leading to 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 all around as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

I hope when all is said and done, I can have a reason to boast in things pertaining to God and speak boldly the things Christ brought me by word, deed, signs and wonders in the power of the Spirit. And frankly I see those things in front of me right now! All of you!!

But in Paul’s mind he was far from done!!!

20-21 And in this way I make it my ambition to proclaim the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; but as it is written, “THEY WHO HAD NO DECLARATION OF HIM SHALL SEE, AND THEY WHO HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND.”

This is the last half of verse of Isaiah 52 - but the first part is He will sprinkle many nations, Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him! Isaiah 53 is a famous Messianic prophecy. These days a small town may have 30-50 churches where Christ has already been named. And we wonder why many are driven by a consumer mentality because they are looking for something to suit there own needs. But Paul’s desire was to get to those people who never heard. I wonder if this town would flourish much more and believers be more effective if there less competition, denomination and condemnation and there was just one gospel preaching church filled with the Spirit and all believers of Cottage Grove gathered in one place. Wow.

22-25 For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you; 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—for I hope, passing through, to see you, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while. But now I am going to Jerusalem to serve the saints. Acts 20 confirms this.

Acts 20:16 LSB

For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

As a Jew, Paul still wanted to attend Pentecost - But there was also a famine and he was collecting funds from the Gentile churches for all the churches starving in Jerusalem.

26-27 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to share with the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 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.

So Paul’s plan was to deliver all the offerings from Gentile churches not for his $12 million mansion or $70 million jet! He was going to serve the Saints and give them the money!! So these Gentiles weren’t giving to get a hundredfold return in their finances but rather felt indebted to the Jews for receiving the gospel from Jerusalem!! Paul’s plan was to head to Spain after this and stop by the churches of Rome to visit.

28-33 Therefore, when I have completed this and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain. And I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. Now I urge you, brothers, 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, [Judaizers] 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 rest in your company. Now may the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

We know Paul had been warned by a prophet named Agabus in Acts 21 but Paul was determined to go anyway and as predicted those disobedient Jews saw him in the temple with two Jewish men with shaved heads they threw the crowd into confusion crying out, “This is the man who teaches to everyone everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides, he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” Which wasn’t true! But they laid hands on Paul he was arrested anyway and though he used it as an opportunity to share the gospel the religious leaders grilled him and forced him to appeal to Caesar Nero which got him to Rome under house arrest in rented quarters for two years so it’s possible that the readers of this letter got a chance to go see him. We will finish Romans

The last verses of Acts say he was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, unhindered. From there he wrote Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians. His later letters, 1 & 2 Timothy, Ephesians and Titus, suggest his visits to Ephesus, Macedonia, and Crete. But in the spring of 68 A.D. Paul was martyred under Roman authority.

He fought the good fight and finished the race. Did you know this Christian life is a fight to the finish? People you thought you knew will betray you, turn on you, treat you as an enemy, defame you and test your faith!! Paul exhorted At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me. [the counter reaction?] May it not be counted against them. Folks, I’m not there yet but I’m going to keep fighting until I finish!

[Romans 16:17-20

Too often we’re being told as Christians to look for fuzzy feelings and speak away no problems. -

It’s true, they come from time to time but we must keep fighting the good fight of faith and finish our race but we have to fight these emotions in the Spirit not look for them in the flesh and that’s not always easy! Sometimes we blow but in those times we learn to trust in God’s grace and keep running! Don’t let anyone convince you to give up especially if they claim to be believers! As Paul said. Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

Now next week we will be studying Shavuot or Pentecost, the feast of weeks so good timing as I like to cover these feasts as they are happening.

Shall we break bread together

COMMUNION

Hold us together

I want to pray the end of Romans 16:25-27 over you:

Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to the gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the Gentiles, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.

PRAY over SACK LUNCH

In two weeks we break into the gospel according to Luke!