Paul's Priestly Passion

The Letter to the Romans

Paul and His Plans

Paul’s Priestly Passion?

Priestly Capacity (vv. 14-16)

Power in Christ (vv. 17–19)

Passion for the Unreached (vv. 20-21)

Introduction

Good morning and welcome to Countryside Vineyard!

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Joe Fager, one of the pastors here.

Today we’ll be continuing our study of Paul’s letter to the Romans

Chapter 15:14-21

Introduction

Today marks the entrance into the last major division of Paul’s letter to the Romans. We’re calling it, Paul and His Plans.

Paul opens a window into his own ministry here in Romans 15. But notice—he doesn’t do it to brag about himself. He does it to show us what Spirit-empowered ministry looks like, so that we can step into it ourselves.

These verses are like Paul handing us his ministry journal: “Here’s what God called me to do, here’s how the Spirit worked, and here’s why I kept pressing into places where Christ wasn’t known.” This is what Drives me.

Our title this morning is: Paul’s Priestly Passion

And what we’ll see is this: Christ calls us to boldly engage in ministry as Paul did—relying on the Spirit’s power to glorify Christ to our mission field.

Priestly Capacity (vv. 14–16)

14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. 15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 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.

Paul tells the Romans: “I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.”

He’s saying: You don’t need me in the room to have ministry. You’ve got the Spirit. You’ve got the Word. You’ve got the maturity to minister to one another.

And what’s true for them is true for you.

Why I came to the Vineyard Movement – Everyone plays

Moving on to verse 15 he says he has written very boldly by way of reminder.

If you remember the introduction his reason for writing is to ask the Roman Christians to help him on his way to Spain, it’s like a support letter.

But we can learn from this. When Paul opens his mouth, the gospel falls out. While I’m introducing myself and what my plans I thought I would just jot down a couple of notes about the gospel (the most important and most comprehensive exposition of God’s plan ever written).

It’s really all about Jesus. Bill – “does everything have to be about Jesus?”

Going on to verse 16 Paul talks about his ministry in terms of priesthood.

The Priesthood of All Believers

This is huge. Paul isn’t describing something unique to apostles. He’s describing something that belongs to all of us in Christ. Peter says it plainly: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Pet. 2:9).

What does that mean?

Access: In the Old Testament, only priests entered the Holy Place. Now, because of Jesus, every believer has direct access to God (Heb. 10:19–22).

Mediation: Priests once stood between the people and God. Now Christ is our one Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5), and through Him, we all can minister directly to one another.

Sacrifice: Priests offered animals. Now we offer spiritual sacrifices: our lives, our praises, our good works (Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:15–16).

Mission: Priests carried God’s blessing to the people. Now the Church carries the blessing of the gospel to the nations. (1 Peter 2:9 Matthew 28)

In short: We are all priests, because we are all in Christ, the High Priest.

Practical Everyday Examples

So what does this look like outside of Sunday morning?

In the home: A parent praying with their kids at bedtime—that’s priesthood.

At work: Listening to a coworker and offering to pray—that’s priesthood.

In crisis: Bringing a meal to a grieving neighbor with the comfort of Christ—that’s priesthood.

In worship: Singing praises, even off-key—that’s priesthood.

In witness: Sharing your testimony—that’s priesthood.

The priesthood of the believer means your whole life is to be a ministry. It’s not just what happens up front in church—it’s what happens in kitchens, classrooms, workplaces, and hospital rooms.

Transition: But if we’re priests, bringing people before God, then we’d better be careful whose work we’re presenting. Paul makes it clear: it’s not about what we achieve—it’s about what Christ has done through us.

Power in Christ (vv. 17–19)

17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. 18 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, 19 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;

Paul says in verse 17: “In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.” But then he immediately qualifies it: he only boasts in what Christ has accomplished through him.

He describes it: the Spirit did miracles, signs, and wonders—not as a show, but as proof that the message was from God. The gospel advanced not because Paul was impressive, but because Jesus was alive and the Spirit was active.

Notice the Trinitarian flow:

Paul serves Christ Jesus.

The Spirit empowers the work.

The Father gets the glory.

Application: When ministry bears fruit—don’t touch the glory. And don’t stop expecting the Spirit. Live with expectancy that God will validate His gospel with power.

Power tools - illustration

Start as a hand saw – God does all the work

We quickly transition to a power tool taking the work out of God’s hands. If God wants to make us power tools that’s fine, but we shouldn’t rush the process.

Transition: And when the Spirit really does move, it always pushes us outward. It creates a holy restlessness for those who haven’t heard yet. That’s where Paul’s heart beats loudest.

Passion for the Unreached (vv. 20–21)

20 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, 21 but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”

Paul says: “I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named.”

His compass always pointed toward the unreached. He quotes Isaiah 52:15 about the Servant sprinkling many nations—Paul sees that fulfilled as the gospel explodes outward to the Gentiles.

Illustration – Hudson Taylor:

When Hudson Taylor went to China, he refused to stay in the coastal ports where Western missionaries had clustered. He dressed like the Chinese, ate their food, and moved inland where Christ was not named. He said, “Why should anyone hear the gospel twice before everyone has heard it once?”

That’s Paul’s ambition in verse 20.

Paul aimed for the unreached—and if we want to walk in his footsteps, we can’t camp in our comfort zones either.

Application: Where are your unreached places? It may not be a foreign mission field. It could be your workplace, your family, your neighborhood. Who in your life has never heard Jesus’ name from your lips?

Transition to Conclusion: So here’s Paul’s picture: a priest presenting people to God, a servant giving glory only to Christ, and a missionary stretching always toward the unreached. But underneath it all, there’s only one reason this matters: the cross of Christ.

Conclusion

We can understand our role as priests. We can acknowledge the power of being in Christ. We can even agree that the gospel must go to the unreached. But if we don’t actually move, nothing happens. No lost are saved. No broken are healed. No lives are changed.

Paul didn’t write Romans just to fill our heads with knowledge. He wrote because the Spirit of God was moving him — and that same Spirit is here, moving you right now. He is stirring your heart to step out in one of these areas. Don’t quench the Spirit. When He speaks, listen and obey.

Maybe you haven’t been the priest in your home that God has called you to be. Repent, and ask Him to help you become the man or woman He destined you to be.

Maybe you’ve touched the glory, making ministry about you instead of Him. Repent, and give God the glory He deserves.

Maybe you’ve shrunk back from sharing the gospel. Then learn it, believe it, and proclaim it.

Here is that gospel: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. He was buried. He rose again on the third day. (1 Cor 15) Then He ascended — returning to the Father’s right hand, enthroned in power as our living High Priest. (Acts 1; Heb. 10)

This is good news because we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Peter declared, “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). And Paul reminds us: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17).

So if you struggle with sharing the gospel, stick to the Word. Faith is not born through clever arguments — it is born through the Word of God (repeat 10:17), empowered by the Spirit of God. Proclaim His gospel, and you cannot miss.

If you have never responded to this gospel, today is your day. Scripture says, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Heb. 3:15). Repent of your sins and turn to Jesus in faith. We are here to walk with you.

This isn’t about dabbling in religion. This is about surrendering everything to the One who surrendered everything for you. The cross wasn’t cheap. Your salvation cost the blood of the Son of God. And now He calls you to take up your cross, to follow Him, to join His priesthood, to live by His Spirit, and to carry His name to the ends of the earth.

Don’t just admire the gospel — answer it. Don’t just agree with Christ — give yourself to Him.

So, the invitation is simple but costly: Christ gave His life for you. Will you give your life to Him?

The altar is open. Come — for salvation, for surrender, for a fresh calling. Give Christ all of you.

In Jesus’ Name — let’s pray.