I Boast in Jesus Christ

Dear Aldgate,

You guys are great. We have never met, or spoken or communicated to one another before, but I hear great things about you and your faith. I’d love to come and visit when I get the chance. Here is a brief 10,000 word break down of the gospel, that has quite a punch to it. But I have confidence in you, in your goodness, knowledge and ability to instruct each other. Peace out. Paul.

Did you think about the questions yourself? Who where the men in your life that influenced your faith, and how did they do it? Who actively pursued your spiritual wellbeing?

Born November 7, 1918. Converted to Christ in 1934.

When I asked my-self this question. who pursued and influenced my faith? The answer surprised me. Malcolm Wilson, Ray Bell, and Phil Brown. Malcom was my pastor at Gumeracha, Ray my pastor at Coromandel Baptist, and currently my mentor, and Phil Brown, and elder and friend that attended here. If my faith was a plant, these men were gardeners. They brought water in the form of scripture, sunlight in the form of prayer, fertilizer in the form of the encouragement. They even grave me a clip or too from time to time when I needed it. Though I am less fond of those memories. These men were in active pursuit of me. To teach and instruct.

One night in March, 1938, Billy Graham returned from his walk and reached the 18th green immediately before the school’s front door. “The trees were loaded with Spanish moss, and in the moonlight it was like a fairyland.” He sat on the edge of the green, looking up at the moon and stars, aware of a warm breeze from the south. The tension snapped. “I remember getting on my knees and saying, ‘God, if you want me to preach, I will do it.’ Tears streamed down my cheeks as I made this great surrender to become an ambassador for Jesus Christ.”

Well, I’m confused! This fella Paul, I have heard of him. I’m surprised to get a letter from him, but happy to receive it. What has me confused is the message. He said he likes us, and that he is confident in our goodness and knowledge and ability to instruct, but then he wrote 10,000 words on what the gospel is. Why did he do that, if he is confident in us? Why did he send this letter at all?

This is what the Roman church has received isn’t it. A letter from Paul saying that he had heard of their amazing faith, then unloads on them an very detailed account of the gospel. One that pulls no punches. Then get near the end in 15:14 and says that he already had confidence in their conduct, and knowledge. Why has Paul written this letter?

This however was not the surprise. While these men where a massive boon to my life, they were not the ones that watered the ground of my faith when there was not evidence of it at all. Like a tree there is a stage in faith where it is just a seed beneath the ground. Nothing can be seen. No evidence that it even exists. But… despite not being visible it still needs water, fertilizer. Someone must poor time and energy into it, even though there is no guarantee that it will ever even break the ground. And the one that did that for, was my Father.

In August, 1949, his faith in the Bible was put to the test. Charles Templeton had asked questions about the Bible’s truthfulness that Billy could not answer.

Billy went out in the forest and wandered up the mountain, praying as he walked, “Lord, what shall I do? What shall be the direction of my life?”

He taught me the bible quite literally from the day I was born. He prayed for me before I even drew breath, he encouraged me in ways that have seeped so deeply into the core of who I am, that I cannot tell where his influence began and where it ends. My Father pursued me like no one else. He pursuit me when there was not guarantee that I would break ground. He is apart of the background music of my life.

We can easily ask ourselves the same question about this preaching series. Aldgate, Mark and I think your great, you are filled with goodness, and knowledge and are able to teach one another. So why… did we spend 6 months of your Sundays going through Romans. If we are so confident in you, why did we rehash what you already know?

How essential these people are in our lives. People that pursue us. That desire our growth. That give of their time, they resources, and their lives for the sake of ours. People that walk with us, and follow us making sure that we are growing into someone worth while. People that act like gardeners for us. Doing all that they can to provide an environment that stimulates growth, even before there is evidence that there will be any.

He had reached what he believed to be a crisis.

How essential these people are in our lives. People that pursue us. That desire our growth. That give of their time, they resources, and their lives for the sake of ours. People that walk with us, and follow us making sure that we are growing into someone worth while. People that act like gardeners for us. Doing all that they can to provide an environment that stimulates growth, even before there is evidence that there will be any.

This morning we will be looking at Romans chapter 15. In particular chapter 15:14-21. And we will be answering the question, why Romans? Why was Romans written to the believers in Rome? And why was Romans preached to the believers at Aldgate.

Paul in chapter 15 14-21 tell us this morning that there is someone that is in pursuit of us. Someone that pursue us with more gusto, and power than even the greatest of earthly fathers. Someone that not only bring maturity and growth but continues it for the rest of our lives. Someone that keeps on giving. Someone that pursues not just, me or you, but everyone, even the people that reject him.

Lets read our passage.

Paul in chapter 15 14-21 tell us this morning that there is someone that is in pursuit of us. Someone that pursue us with more gusto, and power than even the greatest of earthly fathers. Someone that not only bring maturity and growth but continues it for the rest of our lives. Someone that keeps on giving. Someone that pursues not just, me or you, but everyone, even the people that reject him.

He saw that intellect alone could not resolve the question of authority. You must go beyond intellect. He thought of the faith used constantly in daily life: he did not know how a train or plane or car worked, but he rode them… Was it only in things of the spirit that such faith was wrong?

“So I went back and I got my Bible, and I went out in the moonlight. And I got to a stump and put the Bible on the stump, and I knelt down, and I said, ‘Oh, God; I cannot prove certain things. I cannot answer some of the questions Chuck is raising and some of the other people are raising, but I accept this book by faith as the Word of God.’”

14 I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. 15 Nevertheless on some points I have written to you rather 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. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, 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 as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the good news of Christ. 20 Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written,

This morning I want us to ask, and hopefully answer three questions.

“Those who have never been told of him shall see,

1. Who is in pursuit of me?

The next month was a turning point in Billy’s global evangelism, the Los Angeles Crusade. Overnight he became a nationally known figure. One year later, Newsweek called him “America’s greatest living evangelist”

1. Who is in pursuit of me?

and those who have never heard of him shall understand.”

2. How are they pursuing me?

2. Why are they in pursuit of me?

He never lost the unshakable conviction that God had called him sovereignly to the work of evangelism and that he owed everything to God’s initiative.

He told students in 1964 at Harvard Divinity School . . . “I used to think that in evangelism I had to do it all, but now I approach evangelism with a totally different attitude. I approach it with complete relaxation. First of all, I don’t believe that any man can come to Christ unless the Holy Spirit has prepared his heart. Secondly, I don’t believe any man can come to Christ unless God drives him. My job is to proclaim the message. It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to do the work, period.”

3. Why are they in pursuit of me?

3. How are they pursuing me?

There are three reasons this morning why Romans was written to the church Rome?

14 I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. 15 Nevertheless on some points I have written to you rather 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. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, 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 as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the good news of Christ. 20 Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written,

First, it was written the them, and preached to us… for GROWTH!

He is famous for saying that he preached too much and studies too little. However, John Pollock’s 1966 description of Billy’s habits of study were as follows:

14 I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. 15 Nevertheless on some points I have written to you rather 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. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, 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 as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the good news of Christ. 20 Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written,

“Those who have never been told of him shall see,

Pauls says that there are two things that He wants the church to grow in. Two things for us to develop in more.

Beyond all else Billy Graham studies the Bible, the supreme authority for his belief and action. Every day he reads five Psalms, covering the psalter in a month, and one chapter of Proverbs, the book that “shows us how to relate our own lives to our fellow men.” He reads through a Gospel each week, using commentaries and modern translations, and constantly returns to the Acts of the Apostles. He annotates throughout the Bible. “Sometimes His word makes such an impact on me that I have to put the Bible down and walk around for a few moments to catch my breath.”

All of this was saturated with prayer. “I have so many decisions to make each day, and so many problems, that I have to pray all the time”

(1) In v15-16 he says that he is ministering to the Gentiles so that their offering may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

and those who have never heard of him shall understand.”

So…who is in pursuit of me?

The offering that Pauls is speaking about isn’t the cash and coins we put in the offering bag earlier this morning. The offering of the gentiles is the offering of their lives. And sanctification means to be made holy. So Paul wants the lives that they are living for God to become more holy. To be more, all about God, and less all about the world.

There are many ways to measure the greatness of a mans impact. One of them is the incalculable eternal difference in being the human instrument in God’s hands, bringing hundreds of thousands of people out of darkness into light, and out of Satan’s authority into God’s family, and out of condemnation into forgiveness, and out of sin into holiness, and out of hell into everlasting joy with God. Not to mention the billions of practical effects for good in the way these people’s lives were changed in this world.

So…who is in pursuit of me?

Billy Graham died last year at the age of 99.

This passage is one of explanation. Not explanation of the law, or the gospel, or of liberty. It is an explanation of why the heck Paul has sent this letter. Why was the letter of Romans sent to the church in Romans. Why did Paul write it?

(2) The second area that Paul want the church to grow in is found in v18. Paul says that the aim of his ministry is obedience from the Gentiles. Not much explanation needed there. We all know what obedience means. Do what you are told is right.

This passage is one of explanation. Not explanation of the law, or the gospel, or of liberty. It is an explanation of why the heck Paul has sent this letter. Why was the letter of Romans sent to the church in Romans. Why did Paul write it?

So there we have it. The two things that Paul wants the church to grow in through reception of his letter is growth in the holiness and obedience.

Was it because they needed correction? Nope! Verse 14 makes that clear. I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sister, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. It seems clear that they are not in need of correction. Paul is confident in them. They are ticking boxes. It’s not for correction.

Who did Billy Graham boast in? I didn’t read some of Billy Grahams biography to you this morning to make much of Billy graham. Though certainly he did a lot. Quite a number of people here have benefitted from Billy’s ministry and evangelism in our lives. But I mention him in order to ask a question. Who did billy boast about? Here we see a man that has given his life to a purpose and a faith that runs so counter to the world. He endured hardships, suffering, endurance… he put aside his career and comfortable living, to spend all of his time concerned about the salvation of others. So who did he boast in? that gave him such drive and willingness to suffer?

Lot of other people have gone down similar paths to Billy in their lives. Elisabth Elliot, a missionary, Charles Spurgeon a preacher and pastor, George Muller who ran an orphanage, Lady Jane Grey a teenage martyr, and countless others. Who did they boast in that drove them to live lives to such extremes?

Instead Paul says in verse 15, that the reason oh dear Romans church that I have sent, this rather challenging letter. Is that I am a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. It’s because I have a boss. And he wants you. So he sent me.

But wait…

Paul says that the roman church is full! Full of goodness, full of all knowledge… How can we grow more, how can we fillup more if we are already full.

When I use to work in the city, I would often see one of the receptionists at the coffee place first thing in the morning. Why where they there, because our boss wanted coffee. It was part of their job to go and get it for him.

Intro

So when we see Paul sending a letter of communication to the church in rome, who do we see in pursuit of Rome? Is it Paul, or is it his boss. Jesus is in pursuit of the church in Rome.

My mother is a tease. When I was a child, and she offered to pour me a glass of water she would so often fill it to the point of being ever so slightly overfull. Funny, and irritating. As an adult, I now do this to others, and I understand the delight of doing it. It’s a bit sick, but it’s funny to watch people struggle. It takes a bit of skill to do it right. You want to fill it up to full and maybe a few drips past that. Nothing more. Any more and you just end up with wasted water and a failed prank.

Paul boast, like ???, ??? and ??? is in Jesus Christ.

So when we see Paul sending a letter of communication to the church in rome, who do we see in pursuit of Rome? Is it Paul, or is it his boss. Jesus is in pursuit of the church in Rome.

In v18 we see it again, but even more clearly. Paul says,

Main

Paul has said that the church in Rome is full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct. Does Paul not get how containers work? does he get the intricacies of eternity but not get year 5 volumes math. Once you are full Paul, that’s it. There isn’t any more. The rest is spilt on the floor. You are just spilling good teaching on the floor mate.

Conclusion

18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, 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 as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the good news of Christ.

Instead of seeing our selves as full jugs of water. See yourself as a fruit tree. When you see a fruit tree heavily laden with fruit, it is full. The branches are sagging with the weight of the fruit. It is a good tree, but a tree is not like a glass of water. It can grow to bear more fruit. It’s branches can get longer. Stronger, taller and wider. Although it may be full in this season, it could still grow to bear even more fruit in the next.

It is clear hear, that Paul is speaking of the pursuit of Jesus. It is Jesus who is seeking out the gentiles. And although we will get to the How and Why of it in a little, we can see clearly in this passage the Jesus is not just settling for the Church in Rome. So far Paul has been sent in pursuit of men and women from Jerusalem as far around as Illyricum. And Further

This too is the reason that we preach

It is clear hear, that Paul is speaking of the pursuit of Jesus. It is Jesus who is seeking out the gentiles. And although we will get to the How and Why of it in a little, we can see clearly in this passage the Jesus is not just settling for the Church in Rome. So far Paul has been sent in pursuit of men and women from Jerusalem as far around as Illyricum. And Further

20 Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written,

This leads to the second reason for the book of Romans to the church in Rome and to us here and now.

20 Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written,

“Those who have never been told of him shall see,

The second reason is, that we must be REMINDED.

and those who have never heard of him shall understand.”

Reminded about what? V15-16

and those who have never heard of him shall understand.”

Jesus has given Paul a job, he doesn’t just want Rome, or the greater portion of the Mediterranean. He wants the world.

15 Nevertheless on some points I have written to you rather 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,

Jesus has given Paul a job, he doesn’t just want Rome, or the greater portion of the Mediterranean. He wants the world.

This is why we now have faith at all. Jesus’ pursuit of humanity is insatiable. He wants everyone. He is in pursuit of everyone. And this includes us. This includes me and you.

Reminded about the Gospel of God. The good news of Jesus Christ.

By why? Why does he pursue us?

Why? Hasn’t the gospel done it’s job. Hasn’t it already brought us life. We are alive, and full now. What else is the gospel good for. What else can it do?

For so many of us thinking about the person or lack of a person in our lives that is in pursuit of us. That desires our growth in perfection and our growth in obedience to the lord is a sore topic. Those people are lacking. Even inside of the church the number of people, that really pour them selves into the growth of others is small and lacking. There is a great loss here. a great tragedy.

We have an Apple tree at home. It doesn’t not bear fruit often. I have talked to people at Bunnings, mitre 10 and google. And I now have a series of fertilizers and additives that you pour into the water giving it to the tree. With he hope that it will produce growth and fruit. None of these things have worked. For growth you need the right type of fertilizer.

Paul says that he has been sent for two reasons, that Jesus his boss, is in pursuit of the gentile world, us included for two reasons.

But this morning is not about what some have and others don’t. It’s not even about fixing the problem. It’s about recognizing the one person that we all have in common. The one person that that like me and my dad we have forgotten. The one person that has played such an integral part of our growth and faith that they have become apart of the background music of our lives. So integral that it is hard to say where they began and where they finish. The person that didn’t just care for a seed but created the seed in the first place. Didn’t just water it, but was the water itself. Didn’t just fertelize the plant, but was the nutrience needed. Didn’t just provide sunlight, but was the sun itself. Jesus was in pursuit of man. His gospel, his people his pursuit.

This morning let us give thanks, because we have a saviour that is in pursuit of us.

We already know that Paul wants us to grow now in holiness and obedience. What type of fertilizer will do the job. He says in v16 that he is a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God. The fertilizer that he is pouring over and around the church to bring growth… is the good news of Jesus Christ. This is after all the book of Romans. A detailed look into the gospel.

1. So that we might grow in our holiness. V16 says that paul has been sent so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In others words, Jesus has sent Paul to the gentiles, so that they, and you and I may be made holy. This is one of the things that Jesus desires for you. That your lives would be set apart, pure, holy for his purposes only. Being holy is not about what you do, as much as it is about what you are. It is the foundation upon which the rest of your essential person is built. A dog, does not do dog, it is a dog. But it does dog things because it is a dog in it’s essence.

So Jesus wants you to grow in being holy.

It is the in reading, praying, talking, meditating on the good news of Jesus Christ that we grow to be more holy. The book of Romans is fertilizer to us. It is everything that we need to grow.

2. And the second reason is in v18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles. In addition to your lives being made holy, he desires you to be obedient. To do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. Obedience is the action of being holy. It is the natural out flow of that growth. That in everything that they do, day in and day out there is obedience to the Lord. Every decision, every choice, your life is one of obedience to the Lord.

This is the second reason for the letter to the church in Rome, and it is the second reason for why it is good for us to go through as a church as well. We must remind ourselves constantly of the Gospel.

The Third reason for the letter to the church in Rome and for us here is the most important. Are you listening. The third reason for the book of Romans to the roman church and us here is that Jesus Christ is in active pursuit of you!

So Jesus want you to grow in holiness, and obedience.

A few weeks ago, we celebrated father’s day. And, we watch a video just before the sermon that had a series of interviews of people in our service being asked two questions. Who where the men in your life that influenced your faith, and how did they do it.

Jesus is in pursuit of the church in Rome, and the gentile world, including us so that we might grow in holiness and obedience.

But…there is always a but. What about v14. Isn’t the Roman church already doing this? They are already ticking the boxes of Goodness, knowledge and instruction aren’t they? And we could say the same. Isn’t Aldgate already full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. So has Jesus already pursued us. Is the Job done. There is holiness here, there is obedience. Praise God for that.

Did you think about the questions yourself? Who where the men in your life that influenced your faith, and how did they do it? Who actively pursued your spiritual wellbeing?

But just like the three men of faith that continued to tend to me as I grew, despite faith, holiness and obedience being present. Is that there is always more growth to be had. And Jesus doesn’t want the church in rome or you to stop growing where you are. But continue to grow in these areas. to grow more holy, grow more obedient. See how paul says that they are full of goodness and knowledge but they also teach one another. why do they need to teach one another if they are full. What improvement can there be. Clearly Paul is saying that although they are full of goodness and knowledge they are not yet perfect. There is more to be gained. There is more growth to be had.

When I asked my-self this question. Who pursued and influenced my faith? The answer surprised me. Malcolm Wilson, Ray Bell, and Phil Brown. Malcom was my pastor at Gumeracha, Ray my pastor at Coromandel Baptist, and currently my mentor, and Phil Brown, and elder and friend that attended here. If my faith was a plant, these men were the gardeners. They brought water in the form of scripture, sunlight in the form of prayer, fertilizer in the form of the encouragement. They even grave me a clip or too from time to time when I needed it. Though I am less fond of those memories. These men were in active pursuit of me. To teach and instruct. They are a blessing to my life that I will never forget.

Jesus desire for you to grow. He wants you to grow who you are as holy, and what you do as obedient.

This however was not the surprise. While these men where a massive boon to my life, they were not the ones that watered the ground of my faith when there was not evidence of it at all. Like a tree there is a stage in faith where it is just a seed beneath the ground. Nothing can be seen. No evidence that it even exists. But… despite not being visible it still needs water, fertilizer. Someone must poor time and energy into it, even though there is no guarantee that it will ever even break the ground. Someone that will actively pursue your wellbeing and growth. For me that was my Father.

He taught me the bible quite literally from the day I was born. He prayed for me before I even drew breath, he encouraged me in ways that have seeped so deeply into the core of who I am, that I cannot tell where his influence began and where it ends. He prepared his life, and habits in advance of my arrival by building godly habits. My Father pursued me like no one else. He pursuit me when there was not guarantee that I would break ground. He is a part of the background music of my life.

But how. How does he do it?

We went primary school shopping for Ella a few years ago. You must be prepared for these things… apparently. The principle or vice principle would take you on a tour, and tell you all about the teaching methods they use to instruct your children.

Look at our passage this morning. Paul was ministering to the Roman church under who’s direction. He says I am a minister of Jesus Christ. V17-18 Pauls says that he has a reason to boast in his works, why? Because it is Jesus, through Paul reaching out, and doing the work of ministering to the gentiles. Jesus is in hot pursuit of the church in Rome.

In Bible college we are given books upon books upon book on reading how to run a small group, a sermon, a lesson etc etc.

Which method will Jesus use in his pursuit of our growth?

For so many of us thinking about the person or lack of a person in our lives that is in pursuit of us. That desires our growth in perfection and our growth in obedience to the lord is a sore topic. Those people are lacking. Even inside of the church the number of people, that really pour them selves into the growth of others is small and lacking. There is a great loss here. a great tragedy.

But this morning is not about what some have and others don’t. It’s not even about fixing the problem. It’s about recognizing the one person that we all have in common. The one person that that like me and my dad we have forgotten. The one person that has played such an integral part of our growth and faith that they have become apart of the background music of our lives. So integral that it is hard to say where they began and where they finish. The person that didn’t just care for a seed but created the seed in the first place. Didn’t just water it, but was the water itself. Didn’t just fertelize the plant, but was the nutrients needed. Didn’t just provide sunlight, but was the sun itself. Jesus was in pursuit of man. His gospel, his people his pursuit.

This morning let us give thanks, because we have a saviour that is in pursuit of us.