In Pursuit of Paul, Part 1 - Mar. 3rd, 2024

Introduction

Missionaries must desire God to prosper their work, otherwise they would not endeavor to spread the Gospel while enduring the challenges and hardships that ministry brings. However, this good success in their ministries will evade the most apt servant unless he aptly secures the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. Upon coming through his journey to the place where reflection, rest and fellowship prepares him in anticipation of the next leg of his mission, and having a chance to look back, seeing the good successes of answered prayer, spiritual growth and the full spreading of the Gospel, no temporal happiness compares to the joy and rejoicing of living a life well-spent for the Savior.

At the outset, it is important to observe the clear contextual division that lies between verses thirteen and fourteen of this fifteenth chapter of Romans. A brief overview of Romans shows that this tremendous treatise on Soteriology known to the modern believer as "The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans" has laid forth the Gospel up to this point by Paul in chapters one through fifteen. This is the Gospel of which Paul was "not ashamed" (1:16), and is absolutely needed by all sinful and guilty mankind (chs. 2-3). This is the Gospel that is available by faith, whereby the sinner can have the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to him (ch. 4). This is the Gospel which brings the tremendous benefits of justification before an Almighty God (ch. 5), and guides the believer on how to live in the Spirit rather than the flesh (chs. 6-8). This is the Gospel of which Paul yearns for the day that his kinsmen will receive it to the saving of their souls through Jesus, the Messiah (chs. 9-11). This is the Gospel whereby the saved, filled with the Holy Ghost, and desirous to love the Lord who redeemed them through loving service, are imparted such certain spiritual gifts as the Holy Spirit provides them for ministry within the local church, the body of Christ, of which they are members (chs. 12-14). It is this Gospel that Paul was called to travel abroad, taking it to the Gentiles by the will of God as His missionary church planter.

It will be the scope of this project to discern Paul's mission as understood from an exegetical and expositional pursuit of Romans Chapter Fifteen, and verses fourteen through the end of the chapter. Having discerned Paul's mission, it will be noted how he planned to carryout that mission, taking the Gospel to the furthest corners of the world in his day and time, and to take care as to what requests he had for prayer regarding his ministry in the Gospel, with an outlining overview of who he considered to be his most beloved partners in that ministry, while gleaning appropriate applications for how to approach missions within our own churches based off of his example.

I. The Missionary's Mission (Rom. 15:14-21)

Romans 15:14–21 KJV 1900

And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.

Paul here in verses fourteen through sixteen draws the believers at Rome, and believers today, to consider the work of the Holy Spirit when it comes to ministry.

A. Confident in Handling the Scriptures (Rom. 15:14)

“And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.” (Romans 15:14, AV)

Romans 15:14 KJV 1900

And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Paul's words as duly ordained to be an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, and under the moving of the Holy Spirit of God, by way of application encourage us today to be mindful of the place that the Word of God has in our lives when it comes to ministry. Paul was confident that the Roman Christians whom he loved were able to take the Scriptures, and remind each other of what God desires.

The "knowledge" that Paul is confident the believers at Rome have a good handle on is that "'knowledge' [which] is the understanding of the Christian faith and is particularly related to the capacity for instruction reflected on in the next clause." [John Murray, The Epistle to the Romans, vol. 2, The New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1968), 209.]

A proper handling of the Scriptures will result in a firm grasp of what G. Campbell Morgan called "The Fourfold Commission" in Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:48-49, and John 20:21-23. His argument is that there is a danger in only seeing one aspect of Christ's Commission, when four different Gospel writers have given us each their respective perspectives. With the presupposition that there are neither conflicts nor contradictions in each of these four evangelists, Missionary Manifesto is understood in its fulness only when all four are considered in their presentation of Christ's Commission. Consider Morgan's eloquent synopsis:

Matthew 28:18–20 KJV 1900

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mark 16:15–16 KJV 1900

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Luke 24:48–49 KJV 1900

And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

John 20:21–23 KJV 1900

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

It is as we discover the distinctions between these records that we also discover the harmony of the commission. Each is related to the Person of Christ, and each emphasizes one supreme value thereof. The King sends us to proclaim His royalty. The Servant calls us to coöperation in His sacrificial service. The Perfect Man calls us to demonstrate the possibility of perfection through His victory won in our lives. God manifest, sends us forth to exhibit “the excellencies of Him” Who has called us “out of darkness into His marvellous light.” [G. Campbell Morgan, The Missionary Manifesto (New York; Chicago; Toronto; London; Edinburgh: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1909), 23.]

B. Careful to Communicate from the Field (Rom. 15:15a)

“Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,” (Romans 15:15, AV)

Romans 15:15 KJV 1900

Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,

Even though Paul was confident that they could minister to each other the Word of God in Rome, he also knew that God's grace through his words from the field could be used to help them remember what it was that God wants to accomplish in and through them.

C. Ministry Focused on the Gospel (Rom. 15:15b-17)

1. Need for Grace to Give the Gospel (Rom. 15:15b)

“Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,” (Romans 15:15, AV)

The missionary's source of power must come "by the power of the Spirit of God." It is this same source of power that Paul encouraged the Believers in Thessalonica in by reminding them, and believers today that, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”

God is faithful even when mankind, including His children, are not, and it is God’s part to call His servants. However, His servants sometimes offer excuses like Jeremiah and Moses offered while forgetting that God is able to do in us what He’s called us to do. For example, Jeremiah offered God two different excuses as to why he could not do God’s will in Jeremiah 1:6, “Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.” His excuses were inability, “I cannot speak,” and inexperience, “for I am a child.”

Jeremiah 1:6 KJV 1900

Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

Moses, on the other hand, offered God five different excuses as to why he could not do God’s will: First, he felt that he was simply not good enough when in Exodus 3:11 he replied to God “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Secondly, Moses felt that he just was not smart enough as we read in Exodus 3:13, “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?”

Exodus 3:11 KJV 1900

And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

Exodus 3:13 KJV 1900

And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

The third excuse that he gave was that he did not think he was believable enough when in Exodus 4:1 he answered, “But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.” The fourth, and possibly most infamous excuse was that Moses did not feel that he was eloquent enough as seen in Exodus 4:10, “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”

Exodus 4:1 KJV 1900

And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.

Exodus 4:10 KJV 1900

And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

Then, when all else had failed, Moses attempted to discolor his own résumé before God, by saying that he did not think himself qualified enough in Exodus 4:13, “And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.” Yet, despite all of this, Moses’ excuses only angered the Lord, as seen in Exodus 4:14, “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses...”

Exodus 4:13 KJV 1900

And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

Exodus 4:14 KJV 1900

And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

The boldness of Paul in this, his defence, pulls back the veil exposing the true framework and foundation, or skeleton upon which Paul's entire ministry and mission is framed, namely, God's grace:

It is all-important to note that the main apology resides in the next clause and in what follows in verse 16. It is only because of the grace given him of God that he could dare to write as he did. This is characteristic of Paul. It is in pursuance of divine commission and the enduement with grace which belongs to it that he exercises his ministry (cf. 1 Cor. 9:16; Eph. 3:7–9). [John Murray, The Epistle to the Romans, vol. 2, The New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1968), 210.]

1 Corinthians 9:16 KJV 1900

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

Ephesians 3:7–9 KJV 1900

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

2. Need of Peoples to Hear and Respond to the Gospel (Rom. 15:16)

“That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 15:16, AV)

Romans 15:16 KJV 1900

That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

As seen from this verse, all that is done in missions must be centered around the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The verse begins with a phrase denoting Paul's goals or purpose in ministry (εἰς τὸ with the infinitive εἶναι). His ministry was by Christ, unto the nations, in a sense, in a priestly capacity...

[When he defines his ministry as “ministering the gospel of God” the apostle uses a word occurring nowhere else in the New Testament which may properly be rendered “acting as a priest”. John Murray, The Epistle to the Romans, vol. 2, The New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1968), 210.]

...taking the Good News, resulting in (ἵνα with the Subjunctive mood of γίνομαι) God's good pleasure through the lost being made holy, particularly through them trusting Christ for salvation, and then yoking together with God's called-out-assembly (His church) to be sanctified from the world through the work of the Holy Spirit.

As Paul has discussed the importance of having both God, specifically the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, and His Word, that is, as a missionary who is mindful of both the Scriptures and the Savior for whom he ministers, Paul now draws the believers at Rome to consider the great rejoicing that comes from being involved in the things of God, particularly as it pertains to mission work.

3. Need to Give Glory to Christ (Rom. 15:17)

“I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.” (Romans 15:17, AV)

Romans 15:17 KJV 1900

I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.

It is a telling observation whether or not a missionary deflects glory to Jesus through what God is doing. A minister who appears to boast about his accomplishments apart from accrediting the Lord is not a missionary who is currently worthy of financial support, but needs to mature in his walk before going to the field, lest he be setting himself and the churches who support him for failure.

D. Strategy in Mission Work (Rom. 15:18-20)

1. Aims in Mission Work - Obedience to God's Word (Rom. 15:18)

“For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,” (Romans 15:18, AV)

Romans 15:18 KJV 1900

For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

The missionary must be submitted to the power of God if he is to see the people group to which he has been called be fully permeated through and through with the Gospel. Without God's power, the Word will most likely not find free course.

2. Source of Power in Mission Ministry (Rom. 15:19a)

“Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” (Romans 15:19, AV)

Romans 15:19 KJV 1900

Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

The impact of the missionary is that like to casting a stone into a body of water. The spiritual impact will naturally resonate from the epicenter of his ministry location, rippling through as far as God wills it to make waves.

3. Goal of Mission Impact - Fully Preaching the Gospel (Rom. 15:19b)

Paul's words here are of great encouragement to the missionary. How will he know when he has met with good success? when, as Paul says, he can say that he has "fully preached the gospel of Christ." Notice what Paul did not mention here, namely a tally of people that he "won to Christ." While "winning" souls to Jesus is most certainly of paramount importance, and every missionary should undoubtedly be a soulwinner, the measure of success is not in the reaping, but rather in the sowing by faith, expecting that God will bring a harvest. We reap when we encounter the ripened fruit of the outcropping of the seed of the Word of God on good ground, but that's not the end-all. We must be about spreading the seed of God's Word as thoroughly as possible.

If God calls a missionary, he has a responsibility to obey Him. It is not his job to save souls or to bring revival. Those jobs belong exclusively to God. He is simply the messenger. He is the one who pleads for the lost to get saved, but it is not the missionary who saves, though he does his best for Jesus.

The songwriter Ensign Edwin Young penned:

I wonder have I done my best for Jesus,

Who died upon the cruel tree?

To think of His great sacrifice on Calvary!

I know my Lord expects the best from me.

How many are the souls that I have lifted?

How many are the chained I’ve helped to free?

I wonder have I done my best for Jesus,

When He has done so much for me.

No longer will I stay within the valley,

I’ll climb to mountain heights above;

The world is dying now for someone

To tell them of the Saviour’s matchless love.

How many are the souls that I have lifted?

How many are the chained I’ve helped to free?

I wonder have I done my best for Jesus,

When He has done so much for me.

It is the task of the servant called by God to simply "Go;" it is the job of the hearer of the Gospel to respond to that Gospel message.

4. Scope of Mission Work - Unreached Areas (Rom. 15:20)

“Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:” (Romans 15:20, AV)

Romans 15:20 KJV 1900

Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:

Here, Paul delineates his target. The primary focus of his ministry was to penetrate unreached regions with the goal of establishing a local church there. He was not looking to "build on another man's foundation." He was not in the business of building churches on "transfer membership." Strauss provides a vibrant summary of how the Apostle had grown to understand the scope of the work to which God had used him to accomplish:

[Pau] developed a fuller understanding of his commission as a minister of the gospel to the Gentile nations in verses 17–21 as he reviewed his ministry in the eastern Mediterranean. Because of God’s gracious gift of allowing him to present the Gentile nations as an offering to God, Paul exulted in all that God had done. As a priest, Paul had simply been the agent of God’s work. So the only thing he dared mention was what Christ had done through him in bringing about the “obedience of the Gentile nations.” Paul’s ministry focus was on not only the conversion of Gentiles, “but also their growth in Christian maturity,” an objective he stressed throughout his ministry. The “full dimension of Paul’s apostolic task … was not confined to initial evangelization but … included also the building up and firm establishment of churches.” God’s work, through Paul, had been the establishing of churches of maturing believers.... “Paul’s aim was to establish Christian congregations in strategic (mostly urban) centers from where the gospel could spread further to the surrounding regions.” In this way he “fulfilled the gospel” from Jerusalem to Illyricum by establishing strategic, maturing churches throughout that region, churches that could continue the process of evangelization after the apostle moved on. [Steve Strauss, “Missions Theology in Romans 15:14–33,” Bibliotheca Sacra 160 (2003): 461, 463.]

E. Scriptural Confirmation (Rom. 15:21)

“But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.” (Romans 15:21, AV)

Romans 15:21 KJV 1900

But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.

It is worthy to inquire of missionaries the Scriptural backing for why they are going to a particular field of ministry. Though the Bible was written aforetime, its truths still apply today in power. The Scriptures are not outdated, but "quick and powerful," that is they are living and able to disclose to the heart God's will.

The phrase "as it is written" is given in the perfect tense, which according to Moulton and Miligan (see Rogers and Rogers Exegetical Key for more information) indicates the abiding authority of the document, in this case, the Old Testament Scripture of which Paul quotes. Wallace's remarks on Romans 3:10 are also appropriate here:

This common introductory formula to OT quotations seems to be used to emphasize that the written word still exists. Although just beyond the reach of grammar, the exegetical and theological significance of this seems to be (in light of how it is used in the NT) that of present and binding authority. In other words, γέγραπται could often be paraphrased thus: “Although this scripture was written long ago, its authority is still binding on us” (a very loose paraphrase!). [Daniel B. Wallace, Greek Grammar beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996), 576.]

Paul had a Scriptural reason, grounded in the words of the prophet who had also surrendered to "go" for Jehovah (see Isaiah 6), specifically from vision of Isaiah 52:15, for why and where he was involved in mission work. This sets an excellent example for missionaries.

Isaiah 6 KJV 1900

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: The whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; And see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, And make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, And the houses without man, And the land be utterly desolate, And the Lord have removed men far away, And there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: As a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: So the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.

Isaiah 52:15 KJV 1900

So shall he sprinkle many nations; The kings shall shut their mouths at him: For that which had not been told them shall they see; And that which they had not heard shall they consider.

By way of application in considering the "Missionary's Mission," the words of Oswald Chambers concerning God's calling are apt:

If we are saved and sanctified, we are called to testify to it; but the call to preach is something infinitely other and belongs to a different category. Paul describes it as a “necessity”—“Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” [Oswald Chambers, So Send I You: The Secret of the Burning Heart (Hants UK: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1930).

May the words of Amos burn in the bones of any who feel compelled to take the Word of God to the people to whom God will lead him:

“Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.” (Amos 7:14–15, AV)

Amos 7:14–15 KJV 1900

Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.

II. The Missionary's Plans (Rom. 15:22-29)

A. Discerning Future Mission Objectives (Rom. 15:22-24)

1. Busyness in the Mission (Rom. 15:22)

Romans 15:22 KJV 1900

For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.

“For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.” (Romans 15:22, AV)

A rough literal reading of this verse would be as follows, "For this reason also I have been hindered many times to come to you." One can just see the tip of the iceberg concerning the servant-heart of Paul. What patience! What stick-to-it-ive-ness! What dedication! Yet, what emotions must Paul have experienced through his many years of endeavoring to establish local Bible-Believing Churches! It would be wise to have an idea of the possible hindrances in the particular region to which a missionary feels called to serve.

The force of the language here reveals the impact of separation that Paul felt over the years that he desired to make it to Rome but could not due to ministry constraints in his present region. But now that things seem to be opening up for him, he looks forward to the prospect of seeing his Brothers and sisters in Christ at Rome. Yet, as Paul continues on, the time that he will be allowed of God to spend at Rome will be in prison prior to his execution. God's thoughts are higher than ours, and His ways are past finding out. Yet, Paul's example is that of forward-looking faith, regardless of circumstances.

2. Working Oneself Out of Work (Rom. 15:23)

“But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;” (Romans 15:23, AV)

Romans 15:23 KJV 1900

But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;

How was it that Paul had come to the place where he had "no more place" in the region where he was at the time of writing this? May it be submitted that he had completed his Gospel "checklist" as seen in Acts 14:21-23?

“And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” (Acts 14:21–23, AV)

Acts 14:21–23 KJV 1900

And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

As Detwiler puts it, "On reaching the end of their days, in this world, followers of Christ should be able to say the same words [as Christ in John 17:4], knowing that they have done their part in completing the work God has given them to do, namely, to 'make disciples of all nations' (Matt. 28:19)." Throughout his chapter on "Paul's Approach to the Great Commission," he explains how Paul was focused on making disciples through the fruit of Gospel preaching, then nurturing disciples into spiritual maturity, as well as organizing disciples under proper spiritual authority, and then entrusting disciples to the care and keeping of God so that he (Paul) could go to the next place and do it all over again. their part in completing the work God has given them to do, namely, to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19). [Roy B. Zuck, ed., Vital Missions Issues: Examining Challenges and Changes in World Evangelism (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Resources, 1998), 70.]

It is important that long-term goals and plans be discerned as to the missionaries to be supported by the local church. Paul wrote to Timothy about the importance of committing the "things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses" to other faithful men, who then in turn would be able to "teach others also." Commenting on this verse, Dr. Paul Chappell notes:

If we are not constantly perpetuating leadership and teaching the doctrine of the Word of God, then we are hindering the future of Gospel ministry. Every man of God must come to a point in his life and ministry when he realizes that he is passing the baton of the Christian faith to the next generation. [Dwight Tomlinson & Paul Chappell, Sending Forth Laborers, A Biblical Handbook for New Testament Missions (Lancaster, CA: Striving Together Publications), 127.]

3. Planning for Future Endeavors (Rom. 15:24)

“Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.” (Romans 15:24, AV)

Romans 15:24 KJV 1900

Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.

As Paul makes plans to go into what was an unreached area of his day, he reminds the Believers at Rome of the part they do with him along his way. Consider one preacher's application of this:

This is important because of what he does not say and what he does say. He does not say: “Everyone in Rome who is obedient to the Great Commission will go with me to Spain, or will go to some other unreached place or people group.” What he does say is: “My hope is that you will refresh me and then help me in my mission to Spain.” In other words, he calls the church in Rome to be senders, wardens of the mission. He wants them to be partners in his mission, supporters.

So we like to say that you have three possibilities in world missions. You can be a goer, a sender, or disobedient. The Bible does not assume that everyone goes. But it does assume that the ones who do not go care about goers and support goers and pray for goers and hold the rope of the goers. Paul was linked with many churches and they sent support to him over and over again. [John Piper, “Sermon: The Revelation of God’s Righteousness Where There Is No Church (Rom 15:14–24),” Southern Baptist Journal of Theology Volume 9 9, no. 4 (2005): 84.]

B. Discerning Immediate Mission Objectives (Rom. 15:25-27)

1. Needs on the Home-front (Rom. 15:25)

“But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.” (Romans 15:25, AV)

Romans 15:25 KJV 1900

But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

A study of corresponding Epistles, namely 2 Corinthians 8-9 along with Philippians, will disclose that the Believers (here properly called "Saints" by Paul) back in Jerusalem have had a rough going. In distress and poverty, the original epicenter of the events surrounding the outpouring of the Gospel to the ends of the earth have fallen on hard times.

2. Helping Those Who Have Helped Us (Rom. 15:26)

“For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.” (Romans 15:26, AV)

Romans 15:26 KJV 1900

For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

Paul had the privilege of being an encouragement to the Saints in Jerusalem by bringing them much needed help financially. What a joy that must have been to Paul to see their faces as he deposited that tremendous love offering into the offering at Jerusalem! One might well imagine the same joy upon a pastor and congregation who have faithfully given to missions for years, and perhaps have fallen on difficult times, only to have a missionary return home, and bring a substantial gift back to his sending churches, collected from the churches that have started as a direct result of their previous faith-giving! What a blessing that would be. How infrequent of an occurrence is it in our day; and how easily forgotten the home churches feel when they give, and give, only to wonder if it ever accomplished anything.

3. When the Senders Might Need Support (Rom. 15:27)

“It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.” (Romans 15:27, AV)

Romans 15:27 KJV 1900

It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

What are the missionary's plans when it comes to maintaining a finger on the pulse of his sending churches? Will he be willing, should the tables be turned, to send support back to the home front if the Lord causes the churches in his mission field to prosper? Does he have a burden to "strengthen the things that remain..."?

C. Determination for Future Mission Work (Rom. 15:28-29)

1. Finishing the Present Tasks (Rom. 15:28)

“When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.” (Romans 15:28, AV)

Romans 15:28 KJV 1900

When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

With the Western Horizon in his longsighted purview, the immediate task is to head Southeast to Jerusalem. Once that has been faithfully handled, he fully intended to carryout what he had delineated back in Romans 1:11-13:

“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.” (Romans 1:11–13, AV)

Romans 1:11–13 KJV 1900

For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

2. Faith in God's Blessing on the Gospel (Rom. 15:29)

“And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.” (Romans 15:29, AV)

Romans 15:29 KJV 1900

And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

Yet, all the while, Paul was confident that the Lord would multiply his efforts to reach Spain by in part through his time of which he looked forward to with the Believers at Rome.

It has been the great joy of this pastor to see men head off to the field with the support of our church, only to learn later how the Lord multiplied the faith of our people, and the labors of the missionary as needs were met beyond our capacity to see the Gospel penetrating further than our finite reach could go. What are the missionary's plans to see the work thrive beyond what our church can finitely give?

III. The Missionary's Prayer Requests (Rom. 15:30-32)

A. Striving Together - Partners & Personnel (Rom. 15:30)

“Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;” (Romans 15:30, AV)

Romans 15:30 KJV 1900

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

In brevity, these following verses provide a wonderful exhortation with instruction as to how to pray for our missionaries.

B. Deliverance from Unbelievers - Protection (Rom. 15:31a)

“That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea;” (Romans 15:31, AV)

Romans 15:31 KJV 1900

That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

Our missionaries need God to deliver them from unbelievers in the regions to which they go with the Gospel. Many stories of missionaries relate the dangers that are of grave concern, such as being robbed, beaten, imprisoned, detained, and such like. What can the missionary share with the church pertaining to the dangers and difficulties he might face? These are difficult things to share, and many times are neglected in "Prayer Letters" because the missionary might fear discouraging the supporting church, and thereby might lose support if the church knew exactly what was going on. Yet, we must know how to pray.

C. Acceptance Among the Saints -Power (Rom. 15:31b)

“...and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;” (Romans 15:31, AV)

Romans 15:31 KJV 1900

That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

Paul's ministry to the Saints at Jerusalem needed good success. How do our missionaries today need good success in making it to their final destinations? Can we as churches pray that their deputation time will be as brief as possible, and that what is needed can be raised in a timely manner to get them to the field faster?

D. Fellowship & Refreshment while Following God - Provision (Rom. 15:32)

“That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.” (Romans 15:32, AV)

Romans 15:32 KJV 1900

That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

Mission work is long and arduous many times. What are the plans of the missionary when it comes to avoiding burnout in the ministry? What times of refreshing has he planned for himself and his family?

IV. The Missionary's Partners (Rom. 15:33-16:27)

For the scope of this project, the writer will here include only the outline, with the purpose of expanding in future preaching and teaching.

A. Maintaining Relationships Permeated with God's Peace (Rom. 15:33)

Romans 15:33 KJV 1900

Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

B. Letters of Recommendation (Rom. 16:1-16)

1. Testimony of Servant-Leadership (Rom. 16:1)

Romans 16:1 KJV 1900

I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

2. The Church's Role to Receive the Lord's Laborers (Rom. 16:2)

Romans 16:2 KJV 1900

That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

3. Selflessness & Sacrifice for Ministry (Rom. 16:3-5a)

Romans 16:3–5a KJV 1900

Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:

4. The Value of First-fruits on the Field (Rom. 16:5b)

Romans 16:5b KJV 1900

5. The Importance of Labor (Rom. 16:6)

Romans 16:6 KJV 1900

Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.

6. The Value of Godly Mentors (Rom. 16:7)

Romans 16:7 KJV 1900

Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

7. The Need for Leaving One's Heart in the Mission (Rom. 16:8-9)

Romans 16:8–9 KJV 1900

Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.

8. The Importance of Proving People (Rom. 16:10)

Romans 16:10 KJV 1900

Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household.

9. The Impact of Politics in Missions (Rom. 16:11)

Romans 16:11 KJV 1900

Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.

10. The Value of Teamwork in Mission Labors (Rom. 16:12)

Romans 16:12 KJV 1900

Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.

11. The Need for Thankfulness toward Tributaries to the Mission (Rom. 16:13-16)

Romans 16:13–16 KJV 1900

Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them. Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

C. Dealing with Divisiveness (Rom. 16:17-18)

Romans 16:17–18 KJV 1900

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

1. Recognizing Dividers & Offenders (Rom. 16:17a)

Romans 16:17a KJV 1900

2. Remaining Steadfast in Doctrine (Rom. 16:17b)

Romans 16:17b KJV 1900

3. Resisting Idolatrous Deception (Rom. 16:18)

Romans 16:18 KJV 1900

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

D. Formula for Joy in the Ministry (Rom. 16:19)

Romans 16:19 KJV 1900

For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

1. Obedience + Good - Evil = Joy

Conclusion

By way of conclusion, may the reader grant permission to this writer to break protocol by introducing new information not previously considered? Yet, this "new" information will serve as a good summary of converging the main thoughts already presented in a manner that will hopefully prove to be memorable. These principles stand timelessly true when it pertains to "Sending Forth Laborers" into the mission field for God:

First and foremost, there must be a love for Jesus Christ that compels the Christian to give his life in sacrificial service to his Lord...Second, a missionary must have a divine calling...Third, the missionary candidate should be doctrinally grounded before going to the field...Every missionary must know what he believes and why...[with a] minimum knowledge base [in] The Doctrine of God...the Holy Spirit...the Virgin Birth...the Deity of Christ...Salvation...the Church...Heaven and Hell...the Second Coming of Christ...the Inspiration of Scripture... [and] the Doctrine of Separation (Both Ecclesiastical and Personal). Fourth, there should be a measure of success in the ministry at home before going to the foreign field.... What qualifies a man to plant churches on the mission field? He must have a passionate love for Jesus Christ, an undeniable life-calling from God, a solid understanding of biblical doctrine, and a measure of success in ministry here at home. A committed life, a called heart, an educated mind, and a proven track record--these are the four primary qualifications that I believe God will bless as we seek to send those upon whom God has placed His hand. [Dwight Tomlinson & Paul Chappell, Sending Forth Laborers Into God's Harvest (Lancaster, CA: Striving Together Publications), 23-28]

Are not each of these exemplary traits seen in the Apostle Paul's presentation of his Missions Ministry here in the latter part of this mighty epistle of the Gospel of Jesus to the Believers at Rome? May the Lord continue to raise up more "Paul's" in our churches today, who can go out and turn the world upside down for Jesus!