Paul the Gospel Priest

Rom 15:14-21

Intro.

· Well, after all, Paul thinks we are able to minister to one another, at least a little! (v. 14)

· Speaking of ministry, what is this Paul is saying about his own? This sounds strange/familiar.

· Our RC friends would amen the title today! But would they appreciate the spiritual reality?

·

Ø The objective of gospel ministry is to produce sacrificial offerings to God.

·

I. The sacrifice Paul desired (v. 16)—“the offering up of the Gentiles”

A. What is offered? The host? The transubstantiated bread and wine? No! People.

B. How is it offered? Acceptably.

1. Thru grace given by God (v. 15; cf. 1Co 15:10).

2. Thru the gospel of God (v. 16).

a) Preached (v. 19).

b) Written (v. 15). Equivalent to preaching!

3. Having been sanctified by the Holy Ghost (v. 16).

C. To what is the allusion? The sacrifices of the Old Testament.

1. Let us choose an example—Lev 1:10f.

a) It is killed (v. 11) The blood is sprinkled (v. 12)

b) Cut in pieces (v. 13) Washed (v. 14) Offered (v. 15)

2. The Lord Jesus Christ personally fulfilled this type for us in every detail.

a) Killed (1Co 15:3) Blood sprinkled (Heb 13:20)

b) Cut in pieces (crown, lashed, beard, nails, sword)

c) Washed thru death from our sins (Heb 9:28)

d) Offered (Heb 9:28)…How are we involved?

3. Let us look at one more example, appropriate for living sacrifices—Lev 16:5f

a) The scapegoat

(1) Killed for sin (v. 9). Its blood is sprinkled (v. 15-19).

(2) Cut, washed assumed because… Offered (v. 9).

b) The live goat set free (limitations because still in Old Testament; the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world not yet manifested).

D. How does the allusion apply to us? “being sanctified by the Holy Ghost”

1. We died in our Lord Jesus Christ, but live (Rom 6:2, 6-11; Gal 6:14; Col 3:3; 2Co 5:14-15; 1Pe 2:24)

2. The blood of Christ has been applied to us

a) Purchased (Acts 20:28) Justified (Rom 5:9)

b) Brought nigh (Eph 2:13) Redeemed and reconciled (Col 1:14, 20)

c) Consciences purged (Heb 9:12-14, 22)

d) Access (Heb 10:19) Delivered from vain traditions (1Pe 1:2, 19)

3. Cut in pieces

a) Pricked in the heart (Acts 2:37) We “die” (Rom 7:9)

b) Secrets of the heart exposed (cf. “inward parts”; 1Co 14:24-25)

c) Our insides exposed (Heb 4:12-13)

4. Washed

a) Lessons from washing feet teaching (Jn 13)

b) Great sinners washed (1Co 6:9-11) Cleansed (Eph 5:25-26)

c) Thru regeneration (Titus 3:5) Thru reformation (Heb 9:10)

d) Bodies washed (Heb 10:22) From sins (Rev 1:5)

II. Conclusion: now…offered

a) That is what Romans is all about…

b) That is what our lives are all about… Are you a living sacrifice?