The Ministry Given to Paul

Introduction

The Apostle Paul has finished his main teaching in his letter to the church of Rome. As he closes out the letter he restates in a way restates his mission statement from the beginning of the letter in verses 8-17 of chapter 1.

Romans 1:8–17 NKJV

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Paul is restating his ministry that he has to Gentiles and where his ministry has gone and why he feels Christ desire to go to Rome.

Verse 14

Romans 15:14 NKJV

Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

English Standard Version Chapter 15

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.

The Apostle Paul has had very little to do with the believers in Rome (other than indirectly as we will see when we get to chapter 16), yet the church grown. He is convinced concerning them all (you is plural) to all the brothers and sisters in Christ who are in Rome.

The Epistle to the Romans 1. Looking Back: Paul’s Ministry in the East (15:14–21)

Paul now commends them for their spiritual maturity. Undoubtedly Paul walks on eggshells in his desire not to offend the Christians in Rome by assuming an authority over them that they would not recognize.

The church in Rome is:

Full of Goodness: Living righteous lives “high moral character”

Galatians 5:22–23 NKJV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

What is different about this letter that we no major issues in the church at this moment. They are not perfect, but no direct sin issue to the church or a specific believer is called out. It is possible that this is going to several churches in the Rome area (as Ephesians is a circulated letter). Yet, Paul has heard good things about the holiness of this church.

1 Peter 1:15–16 NKJV

but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Filled with all Knowledge

Gnosis - Understanding of God’s truth in their lives.

Able to Admonish/Instruct each other

The church in Rome was counseling, dealing with sin, encouraging one another and growing in the Word together.

Romans: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Paul the Partner in Faith

When God’s Word rules our hearts, His Holy Spirit makes us “rich in the true wisdom” and prepares us to admonish one another, to “teach and help one another along the right road.”

Romans: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Paul the Partner in Faith

He is saying, in effect: “In spite of all that I have written to you in this letter—with strong reminders that you were saved solely by God’s grace, made effective by your faith in His Son, with the admonitions for obedience to the Lord, for mortifying the flesh, for holy living, for exercising your spiritual gifts, for serving each other in love and humility, and all the other teachings—I am fully aware of your spiritual maturity and moral virtue, and I commend you for it.”

Verses 15-16

Romans 15:15–16 NKJV

Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

English Standard Version Chapter 15

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 writes and preaches boldly:

Acts 9:27 NKJV

But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

Acts 13:46 NKJV

Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

Acts 19:8 NKJV

And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.

Throughout his teaching he has given warnings about the power of sin and the dangers of being dogmatic (chapters 1-2)

Romans 2:1–3 NKJV

Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

Be careful that you don’t fall into that group, not practicing what you preach as what had happened to many of the Jewish leaders/teachers. It is a reminder and a warning to them in Rome. God had equipped Paul to preach, teach, and write boldly to the churches as an Apostle of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s mission was to be a Minister to the Gentiles.

Acts 26:12–23 NKJV

“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

Called to the Gentiles to be a minister and a priest service

1 Peter 2:5 NKJV

you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

You and I are priests. We make intercession for others. We have a High Priest (Jesus Christ)

Hebrews 3:1 NKJV

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

Romans: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Paul the Priest

As Paul ministered figuratively as a priest the gospel of God to the Gentiles, he did so in order that his offering of believing Gentiles to God, as it were, might become acceptable to Him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In faithful fulfillment of his unique apostolic calling, Paul’s supreme offering to God was a multitude of Gentiles, who by virtue of the Holy Spirit’s power had been sanctified and thus made acceptable for fellowship with the Father.

Verses 17-19

Romans 15:17–19 NKJV

Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient—in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

English Standard Version Chapter 15

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;

He glories in the work that God has done in and through Him.

1 Corinthians 9:16 NKJV

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

Romans: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Paul the Preacher

In both of his letters to the church at Corinth, Paul admonished the immature and proud believers there: “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Cor. 1:31; 2 Cor. 10:17). We have no right to take credit for any spiritual effect we have had, but every right to boast in what God has done through us, though we are weak vessels.

2 Corinthians 12:5 NKJV

Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.

2 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV

For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.

Throughout the book of Acts we see the power of Jesus in Paul’s life.

Acts 19:11–20 NKJV

Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

The Gospel was spreading from Jerusalem and Paul’s ministry or his influence had spread to Illyricum (north of Greece) while he might not have physically gone there people he discipled had continued on that way.

Verses 20-21

Romans 15:20–21 NKJV

And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation, but as it is written: “To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand.”

English Standard Version Chapter 15

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 wanted to go where those who had no heard the Gospel. Next week we will see why he desires to go to Rome. He has another mission field much further away.

Conclusion/Application

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. ~ Jim Elliot