Indebted by the Gospel

Romans 1:13–15 KJV 1900

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. I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

He Desires to Bear Fruit

Romans 1:13 KJV 1900

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.

Rom 1:

There is the fruit of the Spirit which we bear by walking in the Spirit

Galatians 5:16–23 KJV 1900

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

But I believe that Paul refers in our passage to the fruit of the sower

Matthew 13:3–9 KJV 1900

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matt 13:3-9

Paul desires to sow the seed of the Gospel onto good ground in Rome as he has among other Gentiles.

May God grant us this sort of sowers heart that we might have an earnest desire to see the seed of the gospel take root and grow in the hearts of others.

He Desires to Pay His Debt

Romans 1:14 KJV 1900

I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

Rom

Why does Paul consider that he owes a debt to the Gentiles?

He doesn’t owe them something because he has received anything from them. This debt is not because of what they have done for him but rather because of the gospel.

Not many Christians consider that the gospel creates a debt. We know that the gospel teaches us the Christ paid a debt with His own blood that we could not pay. But Paul speak of a debt that the gospel has created.

There are two ways that you can become a debtor. 1. If you receive or borrow from someone. 2. If someone intrust you with something that is for someone else.

Paul is indebted to the Gentiles because he has received the good news which is for all people. He is a steward of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 4:1 KJV 1900

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Paul see himself as one who has been in-trusted with the good news he is therefore a steward of the gospel.

Matthew 25:14–28 KJV 1900

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

If we have received the gospel then we have been in-trusted with the gospel as stewards of the gospel.

He is Ready to Proclaim

Romans 1:15 KJV 1900

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

As much as is within him, Paul was ready to tell the good news of Jesus Christ to everyone including the Romans.

We must be ready to preach the gospel. It was Benjamin Franklin who said “By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail” And it was the Apostle Peter who said “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you.” Do you know what you would tell someone if that asked you what must I do to be saved. Prepare yourself to share the gospel and perhaps God will present you with an opportunity to do so.

King James Version Chapter 3

be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 3:10 KJV 1900

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 5:12 KJV 1900

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Rom 5:123

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:8 KJV 1900

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9–10 KJV 1900

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13 KJV 1900

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.