As a minister of Christ Jesus, Paul sought the unreached, labored for the peace of the church, expected God to use him, and coveted the prayers of God’s people. There are many gold nuggets in Romans 15:20-33 that each Christian can apply to their own life and ministry.
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A Minister of Christ Jesus – Pt. 2
Romans 15:20-33
Last Sunday, we embarked on a study of the character of the apostle Paul. We called this study “A Minister of Christ Jesus” because of what Paul says of himself in 15:15-16, “But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles…” In Romans 15:14-33, I believe Paul was giving us a glimpse of his heart and life as a minister of Christ Jesus.
Paul was a servant of Jesus Christ, as every Christian is supposed to be. Remember, that just because you are not an Elder, Pastor, Missionary, Theologian, or Seminary Professor, that doesn’t mean that this section of Scripture doesn’t apply to you. It applies to you because you too are a minister of Christ Jesus. You are His servant.
Last week we began our study and we discovered three traits of a minister of Christ Jesus. He reminds the people of the truths of God. He ministers the gospel of God. He boasts in the works of God.
This morning let’s take a look at four more traits of a minister.
4. Seeks The Unreached For God (15:20-24)
Paul’s Calling
I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named. The word “aspired” refers to an ambition. In this case, Paul’s holy ambition. Paul was an ambitious person, but not for himself, but for the cause of Christ. So, what was Paul’s holy ambition? What did he aspire to? It was to preach the gospel. But not just to anyone. It was to preach the gospel where Christ was not already named. In other words, Paul was not an evangelist. He was a pioneer missionary.
So that I would not build on another man’s foundation. God had called Paul to go to places where there was no knowledge of Christ and preach the gospel, and plant churches. Paul finds support for this kind of ministry in Isaiah 52:15, “They who had no news of Him shall see, and they who have not heard shall understand.”
The Great Need
Paul had a holy ambition to preach the gospel to people who had never heard of Jesus Christ. Why would he do that? There is a popular idea today that all those who have never heard of Jesus Christ will go to heaven. God will have mercy on them, because they never knew the way of salvation. Now, is that true? Let’s think that through. If it is true that all those who do not know of Jesus Christ will be saved, then Paul didn’t need to devote his life to getting the gospel to the heathen. In fact, he was a fool, for he made tremendous sacrifices for nothing. What’s more, Jesus gave a foolish command to His disciples when He told them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Didn’t Jesus know that if you just let the heathen alone in their ignorance, they will all end up in heaven? And, if this idea is true, then world missions are completely unnecessary. No, world missions are worse than unnecessary. They are damning. Why? Because if we don’t go to the heathen, they will end up in heaven. If we do go them and preach the gospel, now they are responsible for repenting and believing in Christ. If they don’t trust in Christ they will be damned, but if we didn’t send anyone to preach to them, they would be blissfully ignorant and would have gone to heaven. So, under this theory, missionaries are doing more damage than good. If this idea is true, why spend millions of dollars, and send out people who will devote their lives at great cost and sacrifice to actually send more people to hell than would have gone there if they had never gone to the mission field? It’s ludicrous when you really think about it!
Why did Jesus send His disciples to preach the gospel to all creation? Why did Paul give his life to spread the gospel to those who had never heard of Christ? Why do we spend millions to send missionaries to every part of the globe? Because they are lost and will die in their sins if they do not hear and believe the gospel!!! People without Christ around the world are truly lost. We need to feel the weight of the commission Christ has given us. If we shut our eyes to the lostness of those around the world with no gospel witness, we are committing a great evil! We are not loving our neighbor as we love ourself. We are disobeying a direct command of Jesus Christ.
Why would he make the sacrifices necessary to take the gospel to the heathen?
Paul’s Strategy
Paul’s ultimate objective was to get to Spain. 15:23-24, “since I have had for many years a longing to come to you whenever I go to Spain – for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while…” 15:28, “Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain.” Why did Paul want to go to Spain? Because the gospel had not reached Spain, and Paul felt called to preach to those who had never heard of Christ.
Paul had a longing to come to Rome for many years. 15:23. Paul begins his letter by telling them this in Romans 1:10-13, “always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.” In 15:24 Paul says he wants to see the believers in Rome in passing, and to enjoy their company for a while, as he makes his way to Spain.
Paul had been prevented from going to Rome. Why? Because of his present work in these regions. 15:23. What was that work? 15:19 “from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” Now, that is an astounding claim! And what is even more astounding is what he says in verse 23, “with no further place for me in these regions.” What did he mean? He means his work was done from Jerusalem to Illyricum. Did that mean that everyone had been evangelized in this wide area? No, not at all. Paul told Timothy to do the work of an evangelist in this very area. What it means is that Paul had successfully planted the gospel and gospel churches throughout this region. Now, it was up to the churches to do the work of evangelizing all those in her city. Paul’s job was to go to these places where Christ was not named, and preach the gospel, make disciples, and plant churches which would carry on the work of evangelism. But after Paul had established gospel churches in those regions, his work was done. There was no further place for him in those regions. Paul can now leave and continue his pioneer missionary labors in Spain, so he can drop in on the Romans on the way there.
The book of Romans is in a sense a missionary letter. Paul is telling them what he teaches, and is asking them to help him on his way to reach the heathen.
Application:
We too should have a burden for the unreached. In Paul’s case, it was people who had never heard of Christ. In our case, it is people who have heard of Christ but are unconverted. Not everyone will be called to be a pioneer missionary. But every Christian should have a burden to reach the lost and make disciples of all the nations. Do you desire that God would use you in reaching the lost? Do you have a holy ambition to fulfill your calling? Are you willing to get out of your comfort zone and make sacrifices to bring the gospel to them? I pray you are! Let’s begin to reach out together to those who don’t know Jesus Christ as a church. It’s time we start reaching out with the gospel in spite of COVID-19. Will you join us?
5. Labors For The Peace Of God (15:25-28)
But now I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. How was Paul going to serve the saints in Jerusalem? And why would he take a 2,000 mile detour from what he was longing to do – namely, go to Rome on his way to Spain?
For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. There were poor saints in Jerusalem that needed help. This may be due to the famine in Judea that ran from about 44-48 A.D. These poor saints would come from a Jewish background. Macedonia was the region which had Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea for some of its major cities. Achaia was the region which had Corinth, Cenchrea and Athens for some of its major cities. The saints in Macedonia and Achaia would be primarily Gentile believers. Macedonia and Achaia are a long way from Jerusalem. Why was Paul so passionate about collecting an offering to help the poor saints in Jerusalem?
Some Historical Background. Jews despised and hated Gentiles. They had no dealings with them. They would not eat with them. They sought to avoid any contact with them. They referred to them as “Gentile dogs.” Some even believed God created them to fuel the fires of hell. So, it’s not surprising that when Jews and Gentiles are thrown together in the body of Christ, some conflicts would arise. We’ve already seen a few of them in chapter 14. Some Jewish Christians would not eat certain kinds of meat, and observed the Sabbath as a special holy day. Gentile Christians would feel free to eat anything, and regard every day alike.
Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:14, “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall…” Paul had a heart to unite Jew and Gentile, and bring racial reconciliation to pass within the church. He felt so strongly about this subject, that he was willing to put his mission to Rome and Spain on hold, until he accomplished a trip to Jerusalem. By having the Gentile churches take up a special offering for the poor Jewish Christians, this would show the Jewish believers how much the Gentile believers loved them and cared for them, and would go a long way to uniting them as one within the body of Christ. Paul labored for the peace of the church.
For if Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things. The Gentiles share in the spiritual things of the Jews. The Gentiles have been grafted into the olive tree. They are beneficiaries of the covenant God made with Abraham. They have been saved by the Messiah’s death and resurrection, who was a Jew. Therefore, they felt a responsibility to share with the Jews in material things. So, for many months Paul has been organizing a relief effort for the poor Jewish saints. He has been writing to the churches, and urging them to prepare this offering. Paul has traveled all over Macedonia and Achaia, and has received the offering, and is now planning on bringing the offering personally to Jerusalem. And all of this, even though he has a burning desire to get to Spain! This tells us how important it was for there to be racial reconciliation and peace in the body of Christ.
Application:
We must do all we can to bring peace and racial reconciliation to the body of Christ. We ought not be content to worship in an all white church, or an all black church. I can understand when those who speak a particular language all gather together. But if we all speak the same language, why are we dividing up? I never gave this too much thought until the Carmichaels and the Wades joined The Bridge. And now, especially, with Jerome being ordained as a pastor here at The Bridge. You say, “Well, different groups worship by themselves because their culture is so different.” Well, don’t you think that the culture of Jews and Gentiles was very different? Yet, Paul would never dream of planting an all Jewish church, and right down the street planting an all Gentile church. Why? That would illustrate that Jesus Christ is not able to overcome human differences and unite people who come from very different backgrounds. We should be very happy if the Lord will grant that people from all different nationalities and cultures unite together here at The Bridge, and we should do all we can to welcome all peoples, regardless of how different they are from us.
6. Knows He Will Be Used Of God (15:29)
I know. What did Paul know? 15:29 says that he knew that when he came to the Romans, he would come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. Paul wrote in Romans 1:11, “For I long to see you so that may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established…” Paul knew that the Lord had given him spiritual gifts, and Paul was determined to use those gifts to build up the church and glorify God. Believed God would use him to bring the blessing of Christ to the church.
Application:
We must be confident that God wants to use us and will use us. When you seek to step out by faith and do good, do you have a deep conviction that the Lord will use you to accomplish His will? When go out to evangelize, believe God will use you! When I step up to teach the Word of God, I must believe God will use me. When you step out to feed the homeless, believe God will use you. It glorifies God when we expect Him to attend our feeble attempts with His blessing. William Carey, known as the father of modern missions, once stated, “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”
7. Covets the Church’s Prayers for the Blessing of God (15:30-33)
Now I urge you, brethren. I beg of you please. This is of the utmost importance. If you forget everything else, do not forget this!
By our Lord Jesus Christ. The Roman Christians owed everything to Christ. He came down from heaven, redeemed them by His blood. They ought to be concerned with His interests. Therefore, pray for His sake, that His work might prosper, that His name might be glorified.
By the love of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit puts His love in our hearts for one another, even for those we have never met.
To strive together with me in your prayers to God for me. Paul was asking for earnest prayer. “Strive” was a term used in the Grecian athletic contests where each athlete put forth the utmost energy and effort. Prayer is the hardest work of the Christian. The world, the flesh, and the devil all conspire together to hinder our prayers to God. We must resist their influence. We must be in earnest, not be content with a few lukewarm prayers, but wrestle with God like Jacob did.
That I may be rescued. Paul asked for prayer for protection. The unbelieving Jews hated Paul, and felt he had become a turncoat and a traitor. They had tried to kill Paul before, and they might try again.
That my service may prove acceptable. Paul was concerned that the Jewish believers may not receive the offering. Their prejudice and animosities against Gentiles were strong. There was always the possibility that they would reject this gift which would be a blow to the unity of the church.
That I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company. We ought to pray specifically and boldly. We ought to expect that God will answer us, and lay hold on His promises. At the same time, we must be willing to resign ourselves to His will. Paul’s prayers weren’t answered in exactly the way he wanted. True, he wasn’t killed. God protected him. The Jews accepted the gift. He did come to them in Rome, but as a prisoner, and only after being imprisoned for two years. Let’s pray in faith, and be willing to submit to God’s sovereign will.
Application:
In all our service, we must be utterly dependent on God. Someone once asked Spurgeon what the secret was of his great success. He replied simply, “my people pray for me.” If we want to be used of God we must be utterly dependant on God. How important is your time alone with God in prayer? How committed are you to it? How earnest are you in it? Before you go to serve God, do you seek His presence, power and blessing through prayer?
Conclusion
A minister of Christ Jesus seeks the unreached for God, labors for the peace of God, knows he will be used by God, and covets the church’s prayers for the blessing of God.
Paul ends this section with a beautiful benediction in verse 33. He calls God, “the God of peace.” Oh how Paul needed God’s peace right about then! He was going to Jerusalem and didn’t know if he would come out alive. He was facing danger, hatred and possible arrest. He could face this journey calmly, in perfect peace, because he knew the God of peace. How about you? What are you facing? What trials and problems? Know this – the God of peace will be with you! And if He is with us, that’s enough!
I exhort you Christian, serve the Lord Jesus Christ! Serve Him according to His calling and the gifts He has given you. Serve Him with all your might. Let’s pray.
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